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No One To Hear You Scream
In upstate New York, Brett and Pamela Jameson find the house of their dreams on twenty acres of land. Bucolic and serene, it is the answer to all of their prayers. But their dream soon turns into a nightmare when violent ex-gang member Rory Madden, the property's former owner returns, and will stop at nothing to reclaim the home he lost to foreclosure. Rory unearths the secrets hidden within the Jameson family, and begins to leverage his knowledge to slowly drive wedges between them. When their seventeen year-old daughter Justine falls prey to Rory's advances, she becomes a co-conspirator, setting about a series of increasingly treacherous events that could forever tear the Jameson family apart.
A terrifying odyssey into the dark side of the American dream, No One to Hear You Scream captures the fear of the modern middle-class, the alienation of those left out, and the heart-stopping terror at the realization that it can all be taken away in an instant.
A terrifying odyssey into the dark side of the American dream, No One to Hear You Scream captures the fear of the modern middle-class, the alienation of those left out, and the heart-stopping terror at the realization that it can all be taken away in an instant.
268 pages, Paperback
First published March 22, 2011
12 people are currently reading
506 people want to read
About the author
Julia Madeleine
11 books137 followersJulia Madeleine is a Canadian thriller writer, artist, and entrepreneur from the Toronto area who co-owns a tattoo studio. She is the mother of one awesome twenty-year-old daughter, also a tattoo artist.
The majority of Julia's story ideas come from dreams and the occasional nightmare; character's conjured from her dark imagination that wake her from sleep and force her to write about them in the night. Julia enjoys writing short stories of mayhem and suspense which can be found published around the net, one of which was nominated for a Derringer Award in 2011. Visit Julia's websites for more information on her writing and art: http://www.juliamadeleine.com http://www.malefictattoos.com
The majority of Julia's story ideas come from dreams and the occasional nightmare; character's conjured from her dark imagination that wake her from sleep and force her to write about them in the night. Julia enjoys writing short stories of mayhem and suspense which can be found published around the net, one of which was nominated for a Derringer Award in 2011. Visit Julia's websites for more information on her writing and art: http://www.juliamadeleine.com http://www.malefictattoos.com
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
May 7, 2011
No One to Hear You Scream by Julia Madeleine ~ To Be Released 6/1 - #Review
Julia Madeleine skillfully spins an edge-of-your-seat thriller in her second novel, No One to Hear You Scream, published by Black Heart Books and due to be released June 1, 2011.
Brett and Pamela Jameson buy their dream house in upstate New York unwittingly becoming a target for violent ex-gang member Rory Madden.
Rory, one of the sons of Ulster born and bred in Belfast, flees Ireland for America, starts a new life in upstate New York and then is arrested and imprisoned on drug charges.While in jail he loses the home he built to foreclosure. A technicality sets him free and he’s determined to get his house back.
Justine Jameson, Brett’s daughter, moves with her parents to the secluded rural house. At first she loves their new home with the beauty of the serene countryside. She soon tires of the seclusion though with Brett and Pamela still working in Manhattan and leaving her home alone with her baby much of the time. She’s so lonely with her only friends left behind in the city. Is it any wonder she is so easily mesmerized by a stranger’s advances?
Julia Madeleine has carefully drawn a plot and developed characters to keep you turning the pages in No One to Hear You Scream allowing readers the pleasure of a suspenseful story that will keep you fascinated and frightened at the same time. Her inspiration for No One to Hear You Scream came from the year she spent living on a 30 acre property in the middle of nowhere.
Julia is the youngest daughter of Irish immigrants. She was born in Canada and now lives in Toronto with her tattoo-artist husband and teenage daughter. She combines writing fiction with being a tattoo artist herself and is obsessed with true crime shows and researching ways to kill people which makes her husband nervous.
Find out more about Julia’s books or read her blog by visiting her website at http://www.juliamadeleine.com/
Review by Lynnette Phillips, Avid Book Reviews
Julia Madeleine skillfully spins an edge-of-your-seat thriller in her second novel, No One to Hear You Scream, published by Black Heart Books and due to be released June 1, 2011.
Brett and Pamela Jameson buy their dream house in upstate New York unwittingly becoming a target for violent ex-gang member Rory Madden.
Rory, one of the sons of Ulster born and bred in Belfast, flees Ireland for America, starts a new life in upstate New York and then is arrested and imprisoned on drug charges.While in jail he loses the home he built to foreclosure. A technicality sets him free and he’s determined to get his house back.
Justine Jameson, Brett’s daughter, moves with her parents to the secluded rural house. At first she loves their new home with the beauty of the serene countryside. She soon tires of the seclusion though with Brett and Pamela still working in Manhattan and leaving her home alone with her baby much of the time. She’s so lonely with her only friends left behind in the city. Is it any wonder she is so easily mesmerized by a stranger’s advances?
Julia Madeleine has carefully drawn a plot and developed characters to keep you turning the pages in No One to Hear You Scream allowing readers the pleasure of a suspenseful story that will keep you fascinated and frightened at the same time. Her inspiration for No One to Hear You Scream came from the year she spent living on a 30 acre property in the middle of nowhere.
Julia is the youngest daughter of Irish immigrants. She was born in Canada and now lives in Toronto with her tattoo-artist husband and teenage daughter. She combines writing fiction with being a tattoo artist herself and is obsessed with true crime shows and researching ways to kill people which makes her husband nervous.
Find out more about Julia’s books or read her blog by visiting her website at http://www.juliamadeleine.com/
Review by Lynnette Phillips, Avid Book Reviews
October 11, 2011
Here's an author that I will definitely be returning to! Great story, interesting characters and enough violence to keep me happy.
Madeleine takes you on a trip to a beautiful house in the remote countryside - the most beautiful spot imaginable and in this amazing setting she creates the home to die for (hehe...there's a pun there folks). If you love browsing through House and Home magazine then you'll pretty much have seen the type of house she creates. What more could anyone ask for? Oh yeah...the owner murders his girlfriend and buries her body in the woods at the back and he's built the house on the back of his drugs money. He's one of those Irish guys that (WARNING) women,....don't ever go near because he's got a twinkle in his eye, he can soft soap the pants off you and then he'll garrote you when he's bored and toss your body aside. And he's gorgeous (I was thinking Patrick Dempsey with an Irish accent and a couple of days' stubble.)
Anyway..twists of fortune and all that, Rory Madden (that's the Patrick Dempsey guy) ends up in jail and loses all his money and his house that he loves more than anything in the world gets sold from under his feet and Rory vows to get it back come hell or high water. Pity the family who bought it and my, do they have their own troubles!
Madeleine takes you on a trip to a beautiful house in the remote countryside - the most beautiful spot imaginable and in this amazing setting she creates the home to die for (hehe...there's a pun there folks). If you love browsing through House and Home magazine then you'll pretty much have seen the type of house she creates. What more could anyone ask for? Oh yeah...the owner murders his girlfriend and buries her body in the woods at the back and he's built the house on the back of his drugs money. He's one of those Irish guys that (WARNING) women,....don't ever go near because he's got a twinkle in his eye, he can soft soap the pants off you and then he'll garrote you when he's bored and toss your body aside. And he's gorgeous (I was thinking Patrick Dempsey with an Irish accent and a couple of days' stubble.)
Anyway..twists of fortune and all that, Rory Madden (that's the Patrick Dempsey guy) ends up in jail and loses all his money and his house that he loves more than anything in the world gets sold from under his feet and Rory vows to get it back come hell or high water. Pity the family who bought it and my, do they have their own troubles!
November 23, 2011
The term “novel” means exactly that; something original, something new. And, each novel should be exactly that.
Precisely what Julia Madeleine’s novel, NO ONE TO HEAR YOU SCREAM is. An original work.
For starters, it takes us inside the mind of a brutal criminal. Madeleine isn’t the first novelist to do so, but unlike many who attempt to convey criminals to their readers, hers rings true. As a former criminal myself, I’m perhaps more sensitive to how writers portray outlaws, and to be honest, most get it wrong. Trust me--Julia doesn’t.
This is a brilliant character study on several levels. Involved is a teenager with mental issues, a father and stepmother with mental and emotional issues, a criminal with mental issues—in short, a typical dysfunctional family. Seriously, the insights delivered into these characters are brilliant and come on nearly every page.
NO ONE TO HEAR YOU SCREAM reminded me in a way of Charles Bukowski’s best story (imo), “The Fiend” in that it delivers a man who is presumably totally evil to most who might know him, but shows the spark of humanity that resides in all of us, even the worst among us.
If you like your fiction dark and original and to keep you up late at night turning the pages, this is the novel for you.
Precisely what Julia Madeleine’s novel, NO ONE TO HEAR YOU SCREAM is. An original work.
For starters, it takes us inside the mind of a brutal criminal. Madeleine isn’t the first novelist to do so, but unlike many who attempt to convey criminals to their readers, hers rings true. As a former criminal myself, I’m perhaps more sensitive to how writers portray outlaws, and to be honest, most get it wrong. Trust me--Julia doesn’t.
This is a brilliant character study on several levels. Involved is a teenager with mental issues, a father and stepmother with mental and emotional issues, a criminal with mental issues—in short, a typical dysfunctional family. Seriously, the insights delivered into these characters are brilliant and come on nearly every page.
NO ONE TO HEAR YOU SCREAM reminded me in a way of Charles Bukowski’s best story (imo), “The Fiend” in that it delivers a man who is presumably totally evil to most who might know him, but shows the spark of humanity that resides in all of us, even the worst among us.
If you like your fiction dark and original and to keep you up late at night turning the pages, this is the novel for you.
Read
October 11, 2011“If you don’t want to play ball that’s your choice. But you’re not going to like what’s coming next, buddy.” – Rory Madden
What’s coming next in author Julia Madeleine’s No One To Hear You Scream is a world of manipulation, suspense, and terror, all of it orchestrated by Rory Madden. Originally from Belfast, Ireland, Rory has made a life for himself in upstate New York in a beautiful house set on twenty acres of secluded land.
Of course the fact he financed it all by selling drugs comes back to bite him when he’s busted in a sting and sent to jail. Unable to keep up the payments on the house, it’s foreclosed on and put up for sale. Enter the Jamesons.
Brett and Pamela are fed up with city life and looking for a place in the country. They think it would be a great change of scenery not only for them, but for their seventeen year-old daughter Justine too, especially since she’s just had a baby and is a bit overwhelmed by it all.
When they’re shown Rory’s beautiful house, standing empty and for sale at a steal of a price, they think they’re finally on the way to fulfilling their dream. What they get instead is a nightmare when a screwup by police springs Rory from jail on a technicality after only six months and he immediately heads back to upstate New York intending to get the house back that he worked so hard to build…no matter what it takes.
Knowing he can’t make a direct assault on the family, Rory beings by instituting a campaign of vandalism and anonymous harassment intended to get the Jamesons so unnerved they’ll leave “voluntarily.” When that doesn’t work he steps things up, digging into the family’s secrets and using them to sow the seeds of distrust amongst them and turn them against one another. He gets more leverage than he expected, however, when young Justine proves to be attracted to him and easily manipulated. As he worms his way deeper into their lives the stakes and the tension rise higher and higher, finally reaching a point of no return from which none of their lives will ever be the same again.
Julia Madeleine has absolutely nailed the characters in No One To Hear You Scream, layering them each with mixtures of virtues and vices which makes them undeniably human. Each player has believable motivations for their behavior, all driven by hidden secrets and desires that cause them to make decisions that aren’t necessarily in their best interests. Despite his overwhelmingly violent nature, Rory has a secret in his past that causes him great pain, tinting the lens through which he views life. Conversely, the Jamesons are hardly shrinking violet pushovers pure as the driven snow; there are skeletons in the Jamesons closets. Simply, there are no clear cut “good guys” and “bad guys,” and it is in that wonderful middle ground where Madeleine has skillfully crafted her tale of terror.
Of course crime can victimize one no matter where they live, but it’s infinitely more frightening to think of it happening in a place where there’s No One To Hear You Scream.
What’s coming next in author Julia Madeleine’s No One To Hear You Scream is a world of manipulation, suspense, and terror, all of it orchestrated by Rory Madden. Originally from Belfast, Ireland, Rory has made a life for himself in upstate New York in a beautiful house set on twenty acres of secluded land.
Of course the fact he financed it all by selling drugs comes back to bite him when he’s busted in a sting and sent to jail. Unable to keep up the payments on the house, it’s foreclosed on and put up for sale. Enter the Jamesons.
Brett and Pamela are fed up with city life and looking for a place in the country. They think it would be a great change of scenery not only for them, but for their seventeen year-old daughter Justine too, especially since she’s just had a baby and is a bit overwhelmed by it all.
When they’re shown Rory’s beautiful house, standing empty and for sale at a steal of a price, they think they’re finally on the way to fulfilling their dream. What they get instead is a nightmare when a screwup by police springs Rory from jail on a technicality after only six months and he immediately heads back to upstate New York intending to get the house back that he worked so hard to build…no matter what it takes.
Knowing he can’t make a direct assault on the family, Rory beings by instituting a campaign of vandalism and anonymous harassment intended to get the Jamesons so unnerved they’ll leave “voluntarily.” When that doesn’t work he steps things up, digging into the family’s secrets and using them to sow the seeds of distrust amongst them and turn them against one another. He gets more leverage than he expected, however, when young Justine proves to be attracted to him and easily manipulated. As he worms his way deeper into their lives the stakes and the tension rise higher and higher, finally reaching a point of no return from which none of their lives will ever be the same again.
Julia Madeleine has absolutely nailed the characters in No One To Hear You Scream, layering them each with mixtures of virtues and vices which makes them undeniably human. Each player has believable motivations for their behavior, all driven by hidden secrets and desires that cause them to make decisions that aren’t necessarily in their best interests. Despite his overwhelmingly violent nature, Rory has a secret in his past that causes him great pain, tinting the lens through which he views life. Conversely, the Jamesons are hardly shrinking violet pushovers pure as the driven snow; there are skeletons in the Jamesons closets. Simply, there are no clear cut “good guys” and “bad guys,” and it is in that wonderful middle ground where Madeleine has skillfully crafted her tale of terror.
Of course crime can victimize one no matter where they live, but it’s infinitely more frightening to think of it happening in a place where there’s No One To Hear You Scream.
May 16, 2011
Amazing characterization, twisting plots and constant action will keep readers riveted to the pages of No One to Hear You Scream!
No One to Hear You Scream is a story of blackened innocent. Questions, doubts, revenge and lies. The "gray people" totally sent shivers down my spine as goose flesh prickled, the passion sent tingles and the murders ripped my heart into tatters. I have to honestly say that Julia Madeleine wove a perfect story to send my emotions on a roller coaster ride with no breaks.
I hate to admit this, but I felt such a controversial compassion for Rory, the "bad guy" of the book. I kept thinking to myself "This guy is bad. He kills people. Why do I feel for him?" Crazy as it sounds, there it is. Of course, I also felt a deep empathy for Justine, her life and her baby girl. With so many emotions packed within No One to Hear You Scream, there was never a dull moment.
In reality, the story, itself, is one that could easily happen anywhere, to anyone. It is real and deals with real people. The true possibility of the situations is one of horror, but not far fetched by any means. Perhaps this is one of the reasons it is such a captivating read. For lovers of suspense and thrillers, No One to Hear You Scream is a sure winner and a must read. This is Ms. Madeleine's second novel and I can't wait to read her first release, Scarlet Rose as well as her future releases.
To give readers a glimpse into No One to Hear You Scream, I wanted to provide a short excerpt from Chapter One:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He spied movement from beneath her skull as a pool of dark red crept steadily across the hardwood. Could it stain? Too late, he realized. He should have planned this better, put down some plastic.
Rory Madden cocked his head to one side and leaned over her body lying on the living room floor, her milk-white limbs splayed out awkwardly. He waited for the woman to inhale and release another agonizing scream, as he searched for the flutter of an eyelid, a twitch of her lips, anything. She didn't budge.
"You left me no bloody choice now, did you?" Rory sucked his teeth.
He inspected the wrench in his hand, knowing he should wash the end of it with bleach, though he didn't see any blood or hair. But forensics had a way of finding the most infinitesimal amount of DNA. One negligent moment could cost a lifetime of freedom - it was best not to be sloppy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And this, my friends, is just the tip of the murderous and suspense-filled story! Do be warned that there are scenes of violence, sexual situations and language. I would rate this close to an "R". Mild on all counts, but not for the easily offended.
Now, what are you waiting for?! Get yourself out there and grab a copy of this excellent book!! You may not get much sleep, but it will be well worth it, I promise you!
No One to Hear You Scream is a story of blackened innocent. Questions, doubts, revenge and lies. The "gray people" totally sent shivers down my spine as goose flesh prickled, the passion sent tingles and the murders ripped my heart into tatters. I have to honestly say that Julia Madeleine wove a perfect story to send my emotions on a roller coaster ride with no breaks.
I hate to admit this, but I felt such a controversial compassion for Rory, the "bad guy" of the book. I kept thinking to myself "This guy is bad. He kills people. Why do I feel for him?" Crazy as it sounds, there it is. Of course, I also felt a deep empathy for Justine, her life and her baby girl. With so many emotions packed within No One to Hear You Scream, there was never a dull moment.
In reality, the story, itself, is one that could easily happen anywhere, to anyone. It is real and deals with real people. The true possibility of the situations is one of horror, but not far fetched by any means. Perhaps this is one of the reasons it is such a captivating read. For lovers of suspense and thrillers, No One to Hear You Scream is a sure winner and a must read. This is Ms. Madeleine's second novel and I can't wait to read her first release, Scarlet Rose as well as her future releases.
To give readers a glimpse into No One to Hear You Scream, I wanted to provide a short excerpt from Chapter One:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He spied movement from beneath her skull as a pool of dark red crept steadily across the hardwood. Could it stain? Too late, he realized. He should have planned this better, put down some plastic.
Rory Madden cocked his head to one side and leaned over her body lying on the living room floor, her milk-white limbs splayed out awkwardly. He waited for the woman to inhale and release another agonizing scream, as he searched for the flutter of an eyelid, a twitch of her lips, anything. She didn't budge.
"You left me no bloody choice now, did you?" Rory sucked his teeth.
He inspected the wrench in his hand, knowing he should wash the end of it with bleach, though he didn't see any blood or hair. But forensics had a way of finding the most infinitesimal amount of DNA. One negligent moment could cost a lifetime of freedom - it was best not to be sloppy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And this, my friends, is just the tip of the murderous and suspense-filled story! Do be warned that there are scenes of violence, sexual situations and language. I would rate this close to an "R". Mild on all counts, but not for the easily offended.
Now, what are you waiting for?! Get yourself out there and grab a copy of this excellent book!! You may not get much sleep, but it will be well worth it, I promise you!
September 1, 2011
A mind blowing engaging thriller keeping you on the edge, page after page.
No One To Hear You SCREAM is a thriller that will leave you breathless, yet longing for another chapter. The story does not take long to unravel, from the start you can feel Rory Madden, a hot kick ass British, and one of the main characters, has deep dark secrets and will let no one stand in his way of what he wants. What it turns out he does want is a mix of revenge and satisfaction for losing his picturesque lakefront home, one he designed and helped build with his sweat and blood. It was his pride and joy. Rory's tainted background which includes, hatred, killings and terrorism felt a world away know that he is living in this serene and scenic area of upstate New York. However, his past still continues to haunt him. A past he thought he left behind in Northern Ireland. Hanging out with some of his former mates he soon finds out those he thought he could trust have turned against him. He soon finds himself in jail losing everything he has worked for and even his lawyer does not help his current situation. This story has many twists and at times you feel like Rory has a good heart and he just might lay low after he gets out of jail. But his feelings of betrayal and revenge continue to stew and seep through his blood and it does not take him long to decide he wants everyone out of his way, and most of all those that have deceived him. He also wants his property back and he will do anything he can to get it. I loved the character of Justine, the daughter of Brett and Pamela, who purchased Rory's home on foreclosure. Justine seems like the typical teen who just seems to have made some mistakes in life and wants to make it all right. But Justine has dark secrets that consume her daily life and after moving to upstate New York her feelings of loneliness make her feel more withdrawn and disconnected from her parents. When sweet talking Rory shows up at his former home with a postal justification. Justine innocently falls for Rory's good looks and charm. Just when you think Justine might turn Rory around from his life of crime, all hell breaks loose. Madeleine has created a thriller that is hard to put down and while keeping every page you turn fresh and intriguing, I found myself wondering what would happen next. There are so many surprises throughout every chapter that I did not see coming, and never would have guessed might happen. Maybe Madeleine will add a sequel to this novel as she has the potential to go far with these thrilling and sensational characters, I know if and when she does, I will be anxiously waiting.
No One To Hear You SCREAM is a thriller that will leave you breathless, yet longing for another chapter. The story does not take long to unravel, from the start you can feel Rory Madden, a hot kick ass British, and one of the main characters, has deep dark secrets and will let no one stand in his way of what he wants. What it turns out he does want is a mix of revenge and satisfaction for losing his picturesque lakefront home, one he designed and helped build with his sweat and blood. It was his pride and joy. Rory's tainted background which includes, hatred, killings and terrorism felt a world away know that he is living in this serene and scenic area of upstate New York. However, his past still continues to haunt him. A past he thought he left behind in Northern Ireland. Hanging out with some of his former mates he soon finds out those he thought he could trust have turned against him. He soon finds himself in jail losing everything he has worked for and even his lawyer does not help his current situation. This story has many twists and at times you feel like Rory has a good heart and he just might lay low after he gets out of jail. But his feelings of betrayal and revenge continue to stew and seep through his blood and it does not take him long to decide he wants everyone out of his way, and most of all those that have deceived him. He also wants his property back and he will do anything he can to get it. I loved the character of Justine, the daughter of Brett and Pamela, who purchased Rory's home on foreclosure. Justine seems like the typical teen who just seems to have made some mistakes in life and wants to make it all right. But Justine has dark secrets that consume her daily life and after moving to upstate New York her feelings of loneliness make her feel more withdrawn and disconnected from her parents. When sweet talking Rory shows up at his former home with a postal justification. Justine innocently falls for Rory's good looks and charm. Just when you think Justine might turn Rory around from his life of crime, all hell breaks loose. Madeleine has created a thriller that is hard to put down and while keeping every page you turn fresh and intriguing, I found myself wondering what would happen next. There are so many surprises throughout every chapter that I did not see coming, and never would have guessed might happen. Maybe Madeleine will add a sequel to this novel as she has the potential to go far with these thrilling and sensational characters, I know if and when she does, I will be anxiously waiting.
June 7, 2011
Justine Jameson has her share of problems. She's a teenage single mother of an infant baby, recently moved back in with her father and stepmother after the failure of her relationship with the baby's father. Her parents' relationship is hanging by a thread, as is her father's business.
And that's not the worst of it. Justine hears things; voices in her head warning her of a horrible fate awaiting her child, warning her she is incapable of caring for a baby, making her fear for her very sanity.
When the dysunctional family buys a recently foreclosed home in a tiny, isolated New York town, things go from bad to worse for Justine. Her father works long hours attempting to save his business, her self-involved stepmother disappears for long stretches at a time, and Justine feels isolated and alone until she meets Rory Madden, a bad-boy Irish expatriate who sweeps her off her feet.
But Rory Madden may not be exactly what - or who - he appears. His past is one of violence and deception, and his motives are unclear, at least to Justine. When she discovers a strange text message on her stepmother's cell phone, a deadly chain of events is set into motion that threatens everything Justine Jameson holds dear, and death and destruction lurks around every corner.
NO ONE TO HEAR YOU SCREAM is Julia Madeleine's second book, and it is written with an eye for detail that draws the reader into the plot. As the wheels of apparent coincidence and ill will begin to turn faster and faster, the suspense builds until the reader is left turning pages in a breathless attempt to discover who - if anyone - will survive a violent showdown.
The characters are layered, developed fully and richly, and every one of them has a secret which influences their actions. It is this fully developed characterization which, more than anything else, draws the reader in and makes him care about the outcome of the book, which remains in doubt right up until the very end.
Julia Madeleine is a name to watch, and NO ONE TO HEAR YOU SCREAM is a winner.
And that's not the worst of it. Justine hears things; voices in her head warning her of a horrible fate awaiting her child, warning her she is incapable of caring for a baby, making her fear for her very sanity.
When the dysunctional family buys a recently foreclosed home in a tiny, isolated New York town, things go from bad to worse for Justine. Her father works long hours attempting to save his business, her self-involved stepmother disappears for long stretches at a time, and Justine feels isolated and alone until she meets Rory Madden, a bad-boy Irish expatriate who sweeps her off her feet.
But Rory Madden may not be exactly what - or who - he appears. His past is one of violence and deception, and his motives are unclear, at least to Justine. When she discovers a strange text message on her stepmother's cell phone, a deadly chain of events is set into motion that threatens everything Justine Jameson holds dear, and death and destruction lurks around every corner.
NO ONE TO HEAR YOU SCREAM is Julia Madeleine's second book, and it is written with an eye for detail that draws the reader into the plot. As the wheels of apparent coincidence and ill will begin to turn faster and faster, the suspense builds until the reader is left turning pages in a breathless attempt to discover who - if anyone - will survive a violent showdown.
The characters are layered, developed fully and richly, and every one of them has a secret which influences their actions. It is this fully developed characterization which, more than anything else, draws the reader in and makes him care about the outcome of the book, which remains in doubt right up until the very end.
Julia Madeleine is a name to watch, and NO ONE TO HEAR YOU SCREAM is a winner.
August 8, 2011
I was fortunate enough to pick up a copy of Julia’s novel, and I was really impressed. In an interview she admits that the basic premise was based on reality: she and her husband bought a country house in foreclosure only to be vandalized by the former owner, still angry at losing his house.
In her own words: “When it started to escalate we called the police to report the vandalism and they were the ones who told us they believed it was the former owner. Apparently he was well known to the police. So that night I had a dream where this guy is standing at the end of my driveway with a shotgun. From this image my character Rory Madden, was born. And I wrote the book based on him.”
Picture Julia inspired, typing away in a lonely house with her husband gone, a house she’s so new to that they haven’t even put blinds up yet. Julia, obsessed with this novel writing the most horrendous passages without knowing if the ‘angry former owner’ wasn’t stalking the property at that very moment, perhaps even peeping in through the window at that very moment and watching her type . . .
The writing is top notch: psychologically mature, believable and complex; good narrative flow, and tightly edited. But the characters are what really hook you, especially the villain Rory Madden.
I’m unsure when Julia left Belfast as a child to grow up in Canada, but she obviously knows Rory’s ilk well – her drawing of him and his internal workings is pitilessly believable. His intensity reminded me of De Niro’s fire in CAPE FEAR, though Rory is not derivative of that at all.
I could go on and on but I’ll leave it at this: NO ONE TO HEAR YOU SCREAM is a well crafted page turner that will grab you from the first page and keep you racing along til its cataclysmic conclusion. I recommend the book wholeheartedly.
In her own words: “When it started to escalate we called the police to report the vandalism and they were the ones who told us they believed it was the former owner. Apparently he was well known to the police. So that night I had a dream where this guy is standing at the end of my driveway with a shotgun. From this image my character Rory Madden, was born. And I wrote the book based on him.”
Picture Julia inspired, typing away in a lonely house with her husband gone, a house she’s so new to that they haven’t even put blinds up yet. Julia, obsessed with this novel writing the most horrendous passages without knowing if the ‘angry former owner’ wasn’t stalking the property at that very moment, perhaps even peeping in through the window at that very moment and watching her type . . .
The writing is top notch: psychologically mature, believable and complex; good narrative flow, and tightly edited. But the characters are what really hook you, especially the villain Rory Madden.
I’m unsure when Julia left Belfast as a child to grow up in Canada, but she obviously knows Rory’s ilk well – her drawing of him and his internal workings is pitilessly believable. His intensity reminded me of De Niro’s fire in CAPE FEAR, though Rory is not derivative of that at all.
I could go on and on but I’ll leave it at this: NO ONE TO HEAR YOU SCREAM is a well crafted page turner that will grab you from the first page and keep you racing along til its cataclysmic conclusion. I recommend the book wholeheartedly.
July 27, 2011
Rory Madden wants his custom built home back and he will stop at nothing to get it! After being arrested in a drug sting Rory loses his home to foreclosure. It wasn't like he didn't have the money to make the mortgage, it was that he was locked up and couldn't get to it, so he tells his lawyer where the money is hidden and instead the lawyer tells him the money is gone. Rory knows the lawyer stole his money, and when he is released from jail on a technicality, he decides he is going to get his money back and not only that he is going to reclaim his home, no matter what!
Brett and Pamela Jameson have been living in a tiny condo in the city, but when Brett's daughter Justine moves back in with a new baby they decide its time to start looking for houses in the country. They find the perfect foreclosed home, only thing is its the home Rory is bent on getting back. What lengths will he go to in order to reclaim what he feels is rightfully his?
This is an action packed, suspense filled novel that had me feeling a bit sorry for the bad guy Rory. Sure I mean he is cocaine using,drug dealing killer but his longing to know what happened to his missing sister struck a chord.As we meet each of the characters in the Jameson family we learn that they are struggling. Brett is dealing with the fact that his business is about to go belly up. Pamela is responsible for a terminally ill mother, is dealing with the fact that she lost her only child four years ago and is keeping a major secret from her husband. Justine is dealing with being a new mother at the age of seventeen and is emotionally unstable making her the perfect person for Rory to use.
"NO One To Hear You Scream," will take you on an emotionally charged suspense filled thrill ride that keeps you guessing how things will work out in the end!
Brett and Pamela Jameson have been living in a tiny condo in the city, but when Brett's daughter Justine moves back in with a new baby they decide its time to start looking for houses in the country. They find the perfect foreclosed home, only thing is its the home Rory is bent on getting back. What lengths will he go to in order to reclaim what he feels is rightfully his?
This is an action packed, suspense filled novel that had me feeling a bit sorry for the bad guy Rory. Sure I mean he is cocaine using,drug dealing killer but his longing to know what happened to his missing sister struck a chord.As we meet each of the characters in the Jameson family we learn that they are struggling. Brett is dealing with the fact that his business is about to go belly up. Pamela is responsible for a terminally ill mother, is dealing with the fact that she lost her only child four years ago and is keeping a major secret from her husband. Justine is dealing with being a new mother at the age of seventeen and is emotionally unstable making her the perfect person for Rory to use.
"NO One To Hear You Scream," will take you on an emotionally charged suspense filled thrill ride that keeps you guessing how things will work out in the end!
May 20, 2011
‘One negligent moment could cost a lifetime of freedom – it was best not to be sloppy.’
Brett and Pamela Jameson were looking for a home in upstate New York. A nice home, with some land, where Brett and Pamela they can live with Brett’s seventeen year old daughter, Justine, and her baby, Abigail. Brett and Pamela find the perfect home as the result of a foreclosure. This fulfilment of a dream will become the beginning of a nightmare.
The home’s former owner, Rory Madden, lost his home while in jail. Once out of jail, he wants the home back, and seemingly will stop at nothing to achieve this. By finding out secrets about Brett and Pamela, Rory is able to play them off against each other. And his biggest ally becomes Justine, who is extremely vulnerable and very susceptible to Rory’s charm.
Will Rory achieve his objective, and at what cost? Will Justine overcome her own demons? And what about Brett and Pamela? Is their version of the American dream worth the price they have to pay?
There’s plenty of action in this novel, and there are plenty of dark secrets uncovered and exposed as the novel races towards its conclusion. I enjoyed the energy in this novel, and quickly became caught up in the story: anyone’s dreams can become nightmares; anyone’s secrets can be exposed. Just ask the Jamesons.
This is Ms Madeleine’s second novel, and I have enjoyed them both.
Please note: I was offered, and accepted, a copy of this novel for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Brett and Pamela Jameson were looking for a home in upstate New York. A nice home, with some land, where Brett and Pamela they can live with Brett’s seventeen year old daughter, Justine, and her baby, Abigail. Brett and Pamela find the perfect home as the result of a foreclosure. This fulfilment of a dream will become the beginning of a nightmare.
The home’s former owner, Rory Madden, lost his home while in jail. Once out of jail, he wants the home back, and seemingly will stop at nothing to achieve this. By finding out secrets about Brett and Pamela, Rory is able to play them off against each other. And his biggest ally becomes Justine, who is extremely vulnerable and very susceptible to Rory’s charm.
Will Rory achieve his objective, and at what cost? Will Justine overcome her own demons? And what about Brett and Pamela? Is their version of the American dream worth the price they have to pay?
There’s plenty of action in this novel, and there are plenty of dark secrets uncovered and exposed as the novel races towards its conclusion. I enjoyed the energy in this novel, and quickly became caught up in the story: anyone’s dreams can become nightmares; anyone’s secrets can be exposed. Just ask the Jamesons.
This is Ms Madeleine’s second novel, and I have enjoyed them both.
Please note: I was offered, and accepted, a copy of this novel for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
January 12, 2016
So far I've been pretty lucky with first-reads. This is only my second book I've received from it, but I have loved both. I wouldn't have discovered this without first-reads, so I'm glad I received a copy.
I was quickly sucked into the story, although it took a while to build up intensity it still kept me captivated. I had mixed feelings towards the antagonist, whom at times I liked and sympathized towards, but then at other times I hated him and would be happy when he was dead and gone.
At times I questioned who the "good" people were in the situation. Sometimes it seemed obvious but then something would happen that would make you question it.
I was quickly sucked into the story, although it took a while to build up intensity it still kept me captivated. I had mixed feelings towards the antagonist, whom at times I liked and sympathized towards, but then at other times I hated him and would be happy when he was dead and gone.
At times I questioned who the "good" people were in the situation. Sometimes it seemed obvious but then something would happen that would make you question it.
September 16, 2011
A book that's hard to put down. Right from page one to the last page you are pulled into murder and mystery. A book you NEED to read "just one more page" before going to bed. Awesome reading, well written. Highly recommend.
October 23, 2021
Good thriller!
November 18, 2013
In No One To Hear You Scream, Julia Madeleine brings you into the dark edges of domestic tranquility. Rory, a former fighter in the Troubles of Northern Ireland, is sent to jail, losing the home he built by hand. Freed six months later on a technicality, he discovers his house has been foreclosed and has new owners, Manhattan transplants; failing businessman Brett, his wife Pamela and his daughter, Justine, a single mother of seventeen struggling with mental instability.
Rory is hell-bound to get payback for his incarceration, and to get his home back, consequences be damned. But he also must come to terms with the disappearance of his sister Frances, fifteen years prior.
Madeleine's real strength is in her ability to hop voices between characters, and reveal a very tense dynamic in each of them. People are a complex mix of dreams and aspirations, motives and intentions, and the changes in these things, almost on a dime at the right moment. Madeleine captures that exceptionally well. She also creates the landscape of Penn Yan, an upstate New York town in the Finger Lakes region where this takes place. Aside from picturing it, you feel it.
Rory is hell-bound to get payback for his incarceration, and to get his home back, consequences be damned. But he also must come to terms with the disappearance of his sister Frances, fifteen years prior.
Madeleine's real strength is in her ability to hop voices between characters, and reveal a very tense dynamic in each of them. People are a complex mix of dreams and aspirations, motives and intentions, and the changes in these things, almost on a dime at the right moment. Madeleine captures that exceptionally well. She also creates the landscape of Penn Yan, an upstate New York town in the Finger Lakes region where this takes place. Aside from picturing it, you feel it.
March 8, 2013
I am a big fan of thrillers and enjoy discovering new authors, self-published or not. No One to Hear You Scream was an enjoyable read. The story tells of a family's move from the city to the country into what should be their dream home. Unfortunately, the former owner is determined to get it back - at any cost. He wheedles his way into the life of the seventeen-year old single mother, Justine, who has had psychiatric issues and still suffers from paranoia and distrust. As in every good plot, it reaches a nail-biting climax.
My only negative is that this could do with a final edit as, from halfway through, lines of text recurrently break up which is a little irritating when the reader wants to race along with the action! Apart from one or two typos, it is otherwise well-written with believable characterisation.
My only negative is that this could do with a final edit as, from halfway through, lines of text recurrently break up which is a little irritating when the reader wants to race along with the action! Apart from one or two typos, it is otherwise well-written with believable characterisation.
April 19, 2012
This is actually a very good book since I've read the last thriller book and review it on the blog. The author really got me hooked with all the suspense and twists. The book is more like a psycho-thriller book that would make you wonder and keep guessing what is going to happen and who's the culprit. The mysteries of the past also mysterious to the readers. The plot is well organized and so detail but not too dragged to make you lost interest. The storyline of dysfunctional family, with every members have their own issues, makes the story well-blended and resulting a great thrill. Am definitely will wait for her next book in future.
June 13, 2013
This was unnerving. First point of note: Madden is no one-dimensional monster. As dreadful as he is and his actions are, he still has a core of humanity. I found the story highly believable and enjoyed seeing Brett and Pam's secrets come to light. I also thought Justine and her battles with psychic demons highly convincing. Brava, Julia Madeleine!
I also want to note that this book was the key introduction vast number of other authors who have been entertaining me. I noticed a link to Heath Lowrance's work at the end of the Kindle edition, and from there one door kept opening another.
I also want to note that this book was the key introduction vast number of other authors who have been entertaining me. I noticed a link to Heath Lowrance's work at the end of the Kindle edition, and from there one door kept opening another.
November 19, 2012
I did not like No One to Hear You Scream by Julia Madeleine because it was way to hard to follow. The book jumps around from one character to the other each chapter and it also doesn't make much sense. I would not recommend this book if you are looking for an easy read and need something short. This book takes lots of thought and time to understand what's happening. If you are looking for a challenging book I would pick this book. But yet to me it is not a very good book.
July 17, 2013
The plot of this book sounded interesting, but it felt like it took forever for me to read it. None of the major characters in the book were very likable and it's hard to care what happens to them. A dysfunctional family and a psycho manipulator killer should make for an easy read, but I almost gave up reading it, which is very unusual for me. It did have some good suspense and others may like it more than I did. All I can say, is try it.
April 22, 2013
This one just wasn't for me. I was annoyed by Justine, not empathetic to her. She seemed to me like she was just whining the whole time.
There are too many books on my list to stay bogged down in one I'm not enjoying.
Sorry.
There are too many books on my list to stay bogged down in one I'm not enjoying.
Sorry.
December 2, 2012
This one gets a 4 because it is more than 3.5 but not quite a 4. Interesting characters and character development. I wanted to not like some of them but could only really pull that off with Rory. The others seemed to be caught up in unresolved issues of past circumstances.
January 18, 2013
No One To Hear You Scream is great. It kept me wanting more. I had a hard time putting it down. The characters, with their flaws, were great. The story was awesome. A well written novel. This book takes you through a course of so many emotions. Highly recommended.
March 14, 2012
Meh. Forgettable.
August 29, 2012
received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
November 6, 2012
Great thriller.
July 7, 2015
Atmospheric chilling and deep. The story is a good one but the strength of the book is the feelings that are created and how they differ from chapter to chapter. The book works the imagination
April 24, 2016
I had high hopes for this book but was disappointed. The final few chapters were where the book had the story I was hoping for. The ending actually made me wish there was a few more chapters.
Read
August 13, 2016I liked this story better when it was called Cape Fear.
Too much set up, not enough action and a few too many typos.
I didn't care about any of these people.
Too much set up, not enough action and a few too many typos.
I didn't care about any of these people.
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