Secret Witness
Reviewed by Fran Lewis
Fear comes in many forms in life. Imagine the fear, the fright and the horror of coming home and finding your child, your precious little girl, left with a responsible person, missing, kidnapped. Stephanie Alberts is about to realize every parents worst fears as she enters her home and finds herself living a nightmare no parent would ever want to experience. Enlisting the aid of the police and hoping that they find Jilly, Stephanie faces yet another memory of a past experience that led her to create a protective shield around herself. Stephanie was a victim of a violent crime, the perpetrator, her boyfriend, the reason, work related. The end result, devastating. A story that must be told as I review Secret Witness by Jessica Anderson.
As the truth comes to light we learn that Jilly was found not more than three hours later in the park seemingly unharmed. But, although there are no physical scars she seems to be harboring emotional ones that have not been fully addressed. Added to that she recalls the fear she felt when Stephanie was beaten and in the hospital and Stephanie is threatened by an unknown caller in her lab demanding she doctor DNA results to the callers satisfaction and to Detective Reids quandary when learning that she might have already done that and changed the outcome of his case. Who this person is and how he blends into the plot still remains to be seen as one little three year old child seems to fear expressing her thoughts and remains silent for now. But, there is so much more to this story that has not been revealed as an unknown person breaks into Stephanies house, a child whose toys are strewn and broken by this unknown intruder and one man who will not give up until he finds the answers he needs to protect her and Jilly. Reid Peters, whose memories of many incidents dealing with young children haunt his thoughts and his dreams making it difficult for him to relate to Jilly and other young children.
As the case progresses the tension between Stephanie and Reid increases and the temperature rises. More murders, another killing and several more threats until Stephanie feels she is at a dead end. A bomb explosion in her lab, sending her Aunt and daughter away wills that prevents this diabolical killer from getting at them? But, Stephanie goes that extra mile and finds the markers that match and the possible name attached to it will the killing stop? Is this the end of the road or will her family still be danger? What about her relationship with Reid?
Reid harbors secrets of his own as he flashes back on the abuse both he and his mother fell prey to from his father who was also a cop. But, it is far from over as right in front of their eyes with Reid there and Stephanie at home someone abducted Jilly again? But how, and why still remains to be seen? When Detective Sturgeon calls and learns that Jilly is gone, an all out search ensues but Stephanie only wants Reid to find her child and no one else. What happens will surprise the reader and Reid races the clock to find both Jilly and Stephanie and the reasons why the voice on the phone, the rapist could be in two places at once.
As Jilly and Stephanies lives are at risk and she has to decide whether to trust Reid or not, lives hang in the balance and one decision on her part will decide her fate and Jillys too. What will happen to her? Will they be free from this killer and why does he want revenge? Who is behind the bomb in the lab, the explosions, the rapes and the murders? How do they finally put the pieces together? You need to read this novel and find out for yourself. This reviewer will not reveal whose DNA committed the crime or if there is more than one involved. Who is the Secret Witness and this reviewer will not reveal what happens?
Fast paced, well-written, great story that is easy to follow and characters that are true to life and endear themselves to the reader. Secret Witness is definitely a good read for romance and mystery lovers.
Fran Lewis: Reviewer
