Title: Silent Witness by Shirley Wells
Dylan Scott Mystery #3
Publisher: Carina Press
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery
Length: 87,000 words
Book Rating: B
Review Copy Obtained from Publisher Through NetGalley
Summary:
After his ex-wife bled to death in a bathtub covered in his fingerprints, the case against Aleksander Kaminski seemed open and shut. Though sentenced to life in prison, he swears he’s innocent, a claim supported by his current wife.
Private investigator Dylan Scott finds himself drawn back to dreary Lancashire in a search for justice. The evidence against Kaminski is damning, but having been unjustly jailed himself, Dylan is compelled to pursue the case; if there’s even a small chance the man is innocent, he has to help. The other obvious suspect—the victim’s second husband—has a watertight alibi. But Dylan has a strong hunch that as usual, there’s more going on than meets the eye in Dawson’s Clough.
The deeper Dylan digs, the more secrets he unearths. The question remains: If Kaminski didn’t murder his childhood sweetheart, who did?
87,000 words
The Review:
Shirley Wells’ Silent Witness is the third novel in her popular mystery series starring British detective Dylan Scott. Like the other books in this series, it is an engrossing mystery with no shortage of suspects in Dylan’s investigation into who killed Aleksander Kaminski’s ex-wife Carly Walsingham.
Silent Witness picks up several months after Dead Silent ends. Many changes have occurred in Dylan’s life including his reconciliation with wife Bev and a new baby. Self-deprecating and wry humor catch the reader off guard as he tiptoes around postpartum Bev. Surprisingly enough, Dylan is quite dependent on his quirky yet helpful mother, Vicky. The only relationship he feels like he is on solid ground is with his thirteen year old son Luke.
The investigation into Carly’s murder takes Dylan in several unexpected directions. His investigation leads him to numerous suspects and it seems like everyone has secrets they are desperate to keep. Dylan’s hallmark dogged detective work finally breaks the case, but not before Dylan finds himself facing someone who is willing to do anything to keep the truth about Carly’s murder from surfacing.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of Silent Witness is the evolution of Dylan’s relationships with his wife and mother. While he is still mostly clueless when it comes to the women in his life, he definitely gets an A for effort in trying to keep Bev happy. While he still does not understand his mother, he is more accepting of her quirky behavior. The addition of a new baby adds an interesting dynamic to his various relationships and shows a softer side to Dylan’s personality.
Appealing protagonists, a tight plot and an engaging writing style keep the story moving at a brisk pace. Shirley Wells does a brilliant job keeping the killer’s identity under wraps. Silent Witness is a top-notch murder mystery that I highly recommend.
Read my review of Dead Silent HERE.
