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La Plante, Lynda - 'Silent Scream'
Hardback: 656 pages (Sep. 2009) Publisher: Simon & Schuster Ltd ISBN: 1847375456

Amanda Delaney a rising British film star, promiscuous and a drug user is found brutally stabbed to death in her recently acquired mews house in London. The suspects include three famous actors who have had affairs with her, one having left his wife and children for Amanda before she finished the relationship. Amanda's three friends from before her big break, and still reliant on her for rent and hand-outs, are also questioned. Also Amanda's agent is evasive, secretive and difficult.

Detective Inspector Anna Travis and her colleagues find the murder investigation frustrating and slow, not made easy as Amanda's parents are seemingly cold and uncaring about their daughter's death. Anna's ex-lover Detective Chief Superintendent James Langton takes charge of the operation making life difficult for the team, particularly Anna.

This is the fifth DI Travis book and this continues to be an excellent and enthralling series from this very experienced author, who has an impressive writing pedigree. Both a murder mystery and a police procedural, it shows the meticulous attention to detail which can lead to mistakes as officers work long hours. Anna's relationship with Langton continues to dominate her work and private life. The author's long experience with police novels is augmented by her knowledge of the acting and film industry and this enhances the story. I highly recommend it and I look forward to the next Anna Travis novel. My only criticism relates to Anna and others referring to themselves as Detective Travis etc - surely this is an Americanism and in Britain their full rank is referred to? This however does not detract from an exciting and well crafted book which keeps your interest and makes you keep reading.

Geoff Jones, England
November 2009

Details of the author's other books with links to reviews can be found on the Books page.
More European crime fiction reviews can be found on the Reviews page.



last updated 8/08/2010 14:47