Debra Webb Silent Reckoning

Silent Reckoning

Debra Webb

Silhouette Bombshell, Dec 2005, $4.99

ISBN: 0373513860

In Nashville, former teacher Merilee Walters became a homicide detective though she is deaf. Currently she investigates undercover a serial killer. The case is quickly complicated by her new partner Ray Patterson who apparently loathes women especially as cops and therefore is unable to cooperate with her. Even more perplexing to Merilee is that the inquiries seem to lead to two prime suspects with both having close ties with her former fianc Heath Woods whose girlfriend was the latest victim.

As the investigation continues Merilee also finds herself every attracted to her superior, Chief of Homicide Steven Barlowe. He would never break the code of ethics by seeing a direct reports individual. She may dream of her boss lying naked with her, but she too would never break protocol; besides stopping the murderer remains priority one.

Merilee is an intriguing police officer as she refuses to allow her deafness to stop her from doing her job and in fact applies her other senses to a much greater than normal degree in trying to solve the case. The who-done-it investigation is cleverly handled so that the audience observes the courageous intelligent Merilee seek clues. The three males in her life (the ex, the partner, and the boss) enhance the readers' observation of a strong detective.

Harriet Klausner