“Ripple Effect” is an intrepid thriller written by Amy Rivers and the last installment in the A Legacy of Silence series. Kate Medina, a psychologist, had been investigating the abhorrent practice of human trafficking with her fiancé, FBI agent Roman Aguilar, in her hometown of Alamogordo, New Mexico. Her efforts had been futile, especially in nabbing the kingpins in the ruthless operation. She had her suspicions of the current chief of police in the area, Bill Gunnison, believing he played a hand in protecting the abusers.
When Medina’s sister Tilly, a sexual assault nurse examiner is kidnapped along with her teenage friend Hannah Bross, Kate must race against time and launch a plan to unearth the seedy activities of this powerful trafficking ring. Her efforts to nab the criminals are met with a dead end at every turn including the murder of a prospective informant. This only causes her to dig deeper and gather more evidence.
Amy Rivers has written a high-strung story that thrusts us into one of today’s most complex and dreadful problems. She drives the story full-tilt, diving into the underbelly of this issue, examining the physical and emotional effects of victims subjected to this form of abuse. Her book delivers everything it promises, hitting the bull’s eye with every word she uses to create tense scenarios. The free-flowing dialogue also accomplishes much, as do the vivid descriptions, the result being a cinematic plot that leaves a lasting impression.
One major aspect I found appreciable was the great characterization here. Rivers uses characters to create a great amount of unease in the story, a fitting atmosphere for some scenes. The characters are plausible and easy to relate to with their own frailties and strengths. Their vulnerability, sense of terror, and culpability are palpable even with their strong sense to carry on and speak out. As the last book in the series, it is advisable to read the previous volumes which will assist in finding easy footing in this riveting text. Altogether, “Ripple Effect” by Amy Rivers is a juicy thriller bound to garner a wide audience.