Say No More

Say No More
He Started It

Adult thrillers
"'Did you see that silver Cadillac? What he did?' Jane Ryland powered
down the car window to get a better look. 'He plowed right into that
delivery van. Pull closer, can you?'"
When television reporter Jane Ryland becomes witness to what
seems to be a routine hit and run it quickly becomes anything but.
The DA wants her to answer some questions. And there are the cryptic
warning messages to "Say no more."
"And next to the pool, the unmistakable juxtaposition he'd seen
again and again over the past ten years on street corners, in blood
soaked living rooms, in a rain-sodden suburban woodland, even once,
years ago, on a klieg-lighted high school football field. A dark
shape on the ground, motionless, still, as of waiting for answers the
victim would never hear. The attending shape of the medical examiner
crouched over the body, ministerial, intent."
Homicide detective Jake Brogan (Jane's fiancée BTW) has been call
ed to the scene of a drowning that may or may not contain sinister
elements. The deceased, Avery Morgan, was a guest lecturer at a small
college (Adams Bay). Her upscale neighbors aren't forthcoming with
clues. Even the woman who called the police seems to be hiding
something.
"Was calling the police my first mistake?...But what she'd seen in
Avery's yard was so disturbing. How could she not report it?"
Willow Galt has ample reason for reticence. It has nothing to
do with Avery's fate. She and husband Tom have moved clear across the
country and assumed new identities. Her call to the police may very
well blow their cover.
It became surprisingly easy to keep to herself. Friends faded
away, most of them. She ordered food from the delivery place, got
books online, and sent assignments via email."
Isabel Russo is an Adams Bay student and victim of a traumatic
incident. When she reported it to her dean he did nothing to help
her. In fact he bullied her into remaining silent. She now is afraid
to leave her apartment.
"Just like he's handled yammering students complaining about
their unfair and life-ruining Cs. Or about the roommate who was too
dumb or stoned or noisy or quiet or rich or poor or whatever. These
were college kids, for God's sake. They had to learn that life wasn't
fair. Unless the parents were ready to join the endowment list. Then
lives could be made a little more fair."
And if scandal aversive parents want to give him gifts for his
part in making troublesome incidents go away Adams Bay College Dean of
Students, Edward Tarrant, isn't going to say no. These "gifts" aren't
all he's keeping on the down low. Exactly what was his relationship
with the deceased?
Hank Philippi Ryan, author of Say No More, spins these
narratives into a complex and intriguing web, one mystery lovers will
take delight in untangling. Can you figure the intersecting plots out
by the end of the book?

"We've been on this road trip before. Twenty years ago it was
Grandpa's trip for us, the grandkids, and it was because our parents
hadn't been getting along. Lots of yelling, lots of slammed doors,
and too many silent meals. Dad slept on the couch and pretended he
didn't. And Mom pretended not to be mad..."
Pretending and yelling are merely the mildest vices of the clan
portrayed by Samantha Downing in He Started It. Family relationships
consist of constantly shifting alliances. Avarice is rampant. Before
the last page every one of the ten commandments will be broken.
Take the Grampie and the kids cross country trek. The patriarch
is more Stephen King minor villain than loving ancestor. The
attractions they visit aren't exactly child friendly. There's a car
following the group for at least part of the trip. Chances are good
that, although it's allegedly for their benefit, Mom and Dad have not
signed off on the trip.
Now Grandpa's dead. But he's dictating a bizarre sequel. The
now grown kids are now heirs to his sizeable estate. But they won't
get a cent unless they reinact the road trip and scatter his ashes at
the end.
So the siblings, reunited for the first time in ages, along with
two spouses, are reenacting a nightmare. A truck is probably trailing
them. A couple of times their vehicle is sabotaged.
But the biggest danger for family members may not be one they
can shut out. They're not very good at sharing. At least one may
want the whole enchilada.
If you're a hard core thriller affecianado you'll want to get
your hands on He Started It.
On a purrrsonal note, it's a grey day. At least the rain won't start
until afternoon if my smartphone is accurate. Work was really light
yesterday. There were very few students. Probably with a day of no
classes those who could went to do something fun with friends. I envy
them. It's been so long!
The news that I'll be able to stay with Wells next semester and do the
work part of my internship in the summer has brought great joy to my
coworkers, management, and the students we serve. They need me,
especially where we're so COVID short staffed and I'm a dilligent
worker and morale booster. (Jules)
Well who can blame them? I need her. Hey, guess who's home!!! (Tobago)
Yep, Eugene. He's been at camp a few nights. I'm glad he showed up
before I went off to work. I don't hear from him while he's at camp
because there's no cell reception out in the boonies. (Jules)
A great big shout out goes out to Eugene.
Tobago and Jules Hathaway






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