Carla Cassidy, Without a Sound

Without a Sound

Carla Cassidy

Signet, December 2006, $6.99

ISBN: 04512200021

Pleasant Hill, Missouri Police Detective Owen Tolliver calls Haley Lambert to inform her that her widowed sister Maggie Ridge has been murdered in her home. Haley immediately quits her job in Las Vegas to fly home to care for her eight year old niece Molly. Owen and his partner Frank Marcelli, next door neighbor of her late sibling, tell her that evidence strongly suggests Maggie probably knew the culprit. They also state that Molly was there at the time of the homicide, but will not or cannot speak. They suggest she make an appointment with psychologist Dr. Grey Barnes, although he empathizes he does not work with patients. Molly knows everyone wants her to speak, but before dying her mom warned "don't make a sound".

Haley worries about what to do with Molly, as she has never been the responsible one. She also fears her attraction to Grey who reciprocates her feelings. Though Molly is seeing Dr. Tredwell, Grey is there for the child and her aunt. As they fall in love, neither realizes someone else is there for Molly, but that person plans to kill the child before the little girl can identify her mom's killer.

WITHOUT A SOUND is a tense romantic suspense thriller in which clues are provided as to who the killer is, but are cleverly disguised by Carla Cassidy to keep the audience guessing and reading. The lead couple is a fine pair, with both having trepidation over adult love for one another, but not so towards Molly, even if Haley fears she will fail at providing stability for her niece. The killer's motives seem weak and overly used in fiction, but no one will care, as this is an exhilarating tale.