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Title:  Silenced Cry: A Sam Harper Crime Mystery
Author:  Marta Stephens
Website of Author:  http://www.martastephens-author.com/
Buy Now URL/Link:   http://www.bewrite.net/merchant2/4.00/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=B&Product_Code=978-1-905202-72-0

Detective Sam Harper, after a temporary suspension,  returns to duty and learns he has been removed from the case and even from the Narcotics unit and put into the Homicide division. He’s not happy. To make matters worse, he’s also faced with a new partner.

Struggling with memories of his partner’s death while working the last case, Sam begins on the first of a series of cold cases the Captain wants him to solve. No one was more surprised than Sam when he finds out the cold case involving the finding of an infant skeleton is actually connected to the case that haunts his every waking moment. Operating with everything in his power, Sam must barrel through every opposition that pops up before him along with a power-crazed Commissioner while running any and every lead he can find in order to solve the infant’s case. Sam is positive that when he solves the infant’s case, he will solve the case that got his partner killed.

The first chapters did a great job of setting the mood, tone, and background of the story. Though Ms. Stephens uses many characters, I had no difficulty focusing on Sam Harper. He’s the one who pushes until the cases are solved. He’s the one who has to fight all the oppositions rising from each of the other characters. Ms. Stephens did a superb job of handling the various characters and their stories and showing the connections between them all. This book is a fast read and held my attention from start to finish. I’m looking forward to future Sam Harper Crime Mysteries.

Marta Stephens lives in the Midwest with her husband, their daughter, son and three Boston Bull Dogs. She has a degree in Journalism/Public Relations, is a member of Sisters in Crime, Deadly Prose Critique Group and The Midwest Writer's Workshop.  Aside from her writing, Stephens has earned several awards in local competitions for her oil paintings, enjoys gardening, antique collecting, graphic design, and sharing moments with friends. She is an avid reader and believes that learning is a life-long adventure.

Silenced Cry Trailer=http://www.mydeo.com/videopopup.asp?CID=81412&XID=3257