Voices

by Janice Law

here are persistent whispers from the past, growing increasingly stronger. Ever since Leslie had a miscarriage several months ago, she's felt as though there's more to her childhood than she understands-or can remember. Why are there no photographs of her as a child? Why can't she remember anything before the age of five? On the job at a local paper, Leslie finds a small human-interest story on the wire service: Ruth Eden, three years old, kidnapped from her Connecticut home twenty-five years ago. It resonates with her in a way that can't be just coincidence. Memories of a meadow, a car, and a sense of trouble brewing haunt Leslie until she decides she must seek out the Edens and find out the truth. But when Leslie locates the man who may or may not be her father, she learns that truth is a murky and convoluted thing-and that the ties that bind a family are often tangled and frayed.

240 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2003

About the author

Janice Law (b. 1941) is an acclaimed author of mystery fiction. The Watergate scandal inspired her to write her first novel, The Big Payoff (1977), which introduced Anna Peters, a street-smart young woman who blackmails her boss, a corrupt oil executive. The novel was a success, winning an Edgar nomination, and Law went on to write eight more in the series, including Death Under Par (1980) and Cross-Check (1997).

After Death Under Par, Law set aside the character for several years to write historical mysteries The Countess (1989) and All the King’s Ladies (1986). After concluding the Peters series, she wrote three stand-alone suspense novels: The Night Bus (2000), The Lost Diaries of Iris Weed (2002), and Voices (2003). Since then, Law has focused on writing short stories, many of which appear in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine. Fires of London (2012) is her most recent novel. She lives and writes in Connecticut.

Reviews

[Lynda · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was marked as “suspense” by the library and several other places have also insinuated that this is a suspenseful story. I don’t know why.

The book starts out shortly after Leslie has a miscarriage. A mishap with anesthesia causes her memory to be poor. She discovers an article about a little girl that was kidnapped 25 years ago and she’s convinced it is her.

She finds the family and tries to make herself a part of their lives.

Okay, the storyline was interesting, but I’m not sure why some elements were thrown in. For instance, her miscarriage is fairly important, but her sudden memory problems were not at all relevant. At no point in time did I believe she even remotely had a memory problem and the fact was just thrown out at me time and time again only until it was no longer a convenient excuse for the author to explain Leslie’s weirdness.

And suspense? Don’t get me started. I figured out the ending after Part One. The plot was entirely too predictable and the characters completely lacked emotion or conviction.

I wouldn’t classify this as a bad book, but there are too many flaws in it for me to say it was good.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very compelling story idea, but the characters were just not very interesting. A lot of the relationships were contrived. I just didn't enjoy the writing much. But the story idea kept me interested enough to finish it, so I guess that's something.

[Lorie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't really get into it or connect with the main characters. It was ok, but nothing great.

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

My last attempt at finding a good amnesia story. I give up.