Not A Sound

Adult chiller 

     "There is nowhere to go.  If we step away from Stacey's car we will be directly in its path.  I push Stacey against her car door and press as close to her as I can, trying to make ourselves as small as possible."

     Amelia, a nurse, had been escorting a patient to her car.  An out of control vehicle had slammed into both of them.  The patient had been killed on impact.  Amelia was left deaf.  Unable to participate in a hearing world, Amelia had turned to alcohol until her husband, David, had kicked her out of their home.

     Two years later Amelia's life has changed for the better.  She's no longer drinking, able to resist temptation when it arises.  Sign language classes and a service dog, Stitch, have greatly improved her ability to actively engage in life.  Although she and David have not reconciled, he now allows her to see her beloved stepdaughter.  In fact she's scored a job interview.  What could possibly go wrong?

     How about the discovery of a corpse close to her home?  The morning of her interview Amelia and Stitch go paddle boarding in a river near their house.  On the way back Stitch discovers the body of a woman.

     Only it isn't the body of a stranger.  Gwen is a former colleague and friend of Amelia's.  It's been two years since they were in contact.  But Amelia is sure foul play was a factor in Gwen's death.  A sketchy looking stranger attends her funeral.  And looking back at her unread emails, sees a recent ominous one from Gwen.

     People close to her do their best to dissuade Amelia from investigating on her own.  She doesn't listen to them...

     ...even after she has reason to believe the killer is coming after her.

On a purrrsonal note, at the beginning of winter vaca I'd promised the librarians at Orono Public that I'd shelf read the whole juvenile (including YA) wing before spring semester.  Yesterday I put in five hours, determined to keep my promise.  Now I just have the nonfiction sections.  Maybe I'll be able to complete this task tomorrow on the way home from a meeting on campus.  (Jules)

My Jules isn't going any further than the mailbox today.  We have the tree lights on.  She's brought out the cat treats.  We've played my favorite game, peekaboo, three times already.  Celebrate good times!  (Tobago)

A great big shout out goes out to the service animals who add so much to the quality of life for people with disabilities and the dedicated professionals who train them.

Tobago and Jules Hathaway 

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