Silent Witness

by Diane Burke

A double homicide has left the quiet town of Country Corners reeling. Sheriff Elizabeth Bradford is shocked by the crime…and by her urge to protect the only witness—a five-year-old autistic boy. For little Jeremy, Liz will do anything—even team up with psychiatrist Dr. Adam Morgan, the former high-school sweetheart who shattered her trust.Back then, Adam thought leaving town was his only option. He's never stopped regretting it. Jeremy holds the key to a killer's identity. And with Jeremy—and Liz—now in the crosshairs, Adam needs to find answers before he loses everything he cherishes.

Genres: Romance, Love Inspired Suspense, Love Inspired, Mystery, Christian, Suspense

288 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

This award winning author lives in Central Florida. She loves to visit the beach, spend time with friends and family, read, and, of course, write, write, write.

She loves to hear from her readers. Catch her on her website dianeburkeauthor.com for her latest books or write her at diane@dianeburkeauthor.com

Reviews

[Rebecca Cecil · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED THIS BOOK. ABOUT A AUTISTIC BOY WHO SEEN HIS PARENTS KILLED THEN HID. THE KILLER IS NOT SURE WHAT THE BOY SEEN BECAUSE HE DID NOT EVEN KNOW THE BOY WAS THERE. VERY GOOD STORY AND SURPRISES HERE AND THERE. LOVED THIS BOOK ABOUT A BOY WHO CAN NOT SPEAK AT LEAST NOW WELL, THIS BOOK IS ABOUT LOSS, SELF EXAMINATION,LOST LOVE, NEW LOVE AND A CRIME IN THE MIDST.

[KC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liked the book. Exciting.

[Anita Draper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Diane Burke proves she’s a master of suspense in her newest tale of chilling excitement. With emotions key to her creations, Burke raised my ire, quickened my heart, and made me tear up, all within pages of each other. I railed my anger at the drug-induced villain whose sole goal was to lay his hands on a 5 year-old autistic boy. Standing between the villain and the victim are two people who thought they’d never see each other again, and when they did, their sparks flew across the pages, igniting a flame that couldn’t be doused by time or circumstance. Sheriff Elizabeth Bradford must set aside her beleaguered past to protect the boy even if it means butting heads with the man who broke her heart 15 yrs ago. Dr. Adam Morgan might have a certificate qualifying him for psychiatric care of the autistic child, but she knows from experience that a piece of paper doesn’t mean squat when a life is at stake. Except she can’t be both protector and investigator, so she allows Adam into her life for the boy’s sake and tries to defend the wall of stone she’s built around her heart.

A battle of wits…a cauldron of memories. Can a small boy bring Liz and Adam together again, or will they allow a killer to tear them apart forever?

If you like sitting on the edge of your seat in breathless anticipation, then Silent Witness is the book for you.

[Leigh Duncan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love reunion stories and, in Silent Witness, Diane Burke has crafted a beautiful one!

A double-murder in a small town brings Sheriff Elizabeth Bradford face-to-face with the one who broke her heart, the one she can never forget. But Adam isn’t the same boy who left town—left her—so many years ago. For one thing, he’s discovered faith, and puts that faith into action. Some things haven’t changed, and Adam’s insistance on calling her Lizzie stirs up all the feelings Sheriff Bradford thought she’d buried. As the two work together to protect an orphaned, autistic child, Lizzie and Adam face enough challenges to keep the reader on the edge of their seat.

A beautiful story, beautifully written. Diane Burke has another winner in Silent Witness.

[Judine Brey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book did a great job of balancing the red herrings and the actual suspect through foreshadowing, but what impressed me most was how Burke characterized 5-year-old Jeremy. She made the autism clear without having it come across as a caricature. I also thought that the amount of time it took Liz to trust Adam again was appropriate. Their confessions about what really happened 15 years earlier made for a good wrap-up at the end. It's almost a shame that minor characters Charlie (short for Charlene) and Sal were in a relationship by the end of the novel - I would like to see more of them.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story had many twists and turns. Sheriff Elizabeth Bradford thought she had everything worked out in life until a senseless murder takes place in her town and an old love Dr. Adam Morgan is called in to help with their surviving witness, five year old Jeremy Henderson. Adam and Elizabeth learn they can't trust anyone and they need to learn to trust one another fast before time runs out.

[John Hanscom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good book, one of the two or three best I have read in these "love insipred mysteries." It was "inspirational without being "preachy," and had a good plot line. The author used the term "instrumental" too often and too close together, but that is a quibble.

[June · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book by Diane Burke. One of those where I thought I knew who did it but then twists and turns had me doubting myself. In the end it was as I thought but its always fun to see if the author can change my mind.

[Deb Kastner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always enjoy Diane's books and this one was no different. She clearly did extensive research on autism and presents a very realistic picture. Sweet love story, great suspense plotline. Very nice read!

[Barbara Gard]

very good

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haven't had a book in this series grab me & hold my attention like this one. Bravo Diane Burke !! Lots to like in this read !!!

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read. I didn't want to put it down after I started.