Silent Scream

May 10, 2010
In La Plante's disappointing fifth mystery to feature London's Det. Insp. Anna Travis (after 2009's Deadly Intent), Travis looks into the stabbing murder of 24-year-old movie star Amanda Delany in her Belgravia mews house. The case is a jumble of dead-ends from the start, even though Delany had a reputation in the film community as a drug user prone to affairs with her male co-stars. But without a murder weapon, usable fingerprints, or even a motive, Travis and her team struggle to find viable leads. Complicating matters is the arrival of Det. Chief Supt. James Langton, Travis's former flame and ex-boss, who wants fast results. Eventually, Travis discovers not only that Delaney had been writing a scandalous memoir but that she suspected someone close to her was stealing her money. Travis is no longer a rookie (in fact, she's up for promotion to detective chief inspector), but her detecting skills are elementary at best, and the predictable plot doesn't give her much room to shine.

July 1, 2010
Ambition, greed, jealousy, and anger all play supporting roles in this well-crafted tale about the murder of a young British movie star. The secrets of Amanda Delany's life are slowly uncovered as the police team led by DI Anna Travis discovers several possible motives. Travis is caught between her ability to see beyond the obvious and her supervisor's need for instant results; this causes many false starts and misdirection for both the police and readers. VERDICTLa Plante, one of the best crime writers working today, adds her knowledge of the film industry to make this not only a well-thought-out mystery but a fascinating look into the lives of young people dealing with rapid success and extreme wealth. Val McDermid readers will enjoy this fifth entry in the Anna Travis series (after "Deadly Intent".

Copyright 2010 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2010
La Plante, a former scriptwriter for the acclaimed Prime Suspect, collars readers with an absolute wow of an opening chapter in which a woman fights down terror in a posh London townhouse; convinces herself the threat is only her imagination; returns to work the next day; and is found dead the next day, stabbed in bed. La Plante keeps the suspense high throughout this fifth entry in her Anna Travis series. Detective Inspector Travis is put on the investigative team for the high-profile murderthe victim was a movie actress just about to make it to the big time. The actress was also a mess physically and emotionally, addicted to drugs, starvation diets, and promiscuity. The suspect count includes dealers, lovers, rivals, and perhaps deranged fans. La Plante puts in a neat twist on the procedural staple of interviewing. Rather than merely describing the interview and leaving it at that, she follows Travis interview with a bit of dialogue, a thought, or an action that intensifies the suspense concerning each suspect. A consistently strong series.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)