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Virtue Falls #4
The Woman Who Couldn't Scream
From the New York Times bestselling author comes the fourth novel of suspense taking place in Virtue Falls, Washington.
Beautiful Merida is married to a wealthy older man who takes her around the world as his trophy. Merida is everything a man could want. But a traumatic accident years before left her without the ability to speak. When her husband dies, she knows it's her chance to exact revenge on those responsible for her accident—and that vengeance begins in Virtue Falls. Reinventing herself, she slips into village life, biding her time. But someone knows exactly who she is and will use this chance to finish what was started years ago. And this time an accident for Merida will mean silencing her forever.
Beautiful Merida is married to a wealthy older man who takes her around the world as his trophy. Merida is everything a man could want. But a traumatic accident years before left her without the ability to speak. When her husband dies, she knows it's her chance to exact revenge on those responsible for her accident—and that vengeance begins in Virtue Falls. Reinventing herself, she slips into village life, biding her time. But someone knows exactly who she is and will use this chance to finish what was started years ago. And this time an accident for Merida will mean silencing her forever.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published September 5, 2017
324 people are currently reading
3298 people want to read
About the author
Christina Dodd
98 books5,923 followersUpcoming:
— 6/30/26 TEACH THE TORCHES TO BURN: Daughter of Montague Historical Fiction #3 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
New and Now!
—MUCH ADO ABOUT MISTLETOE: Daughter of Montague Christmas novella https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
— THUS WITH A KISS I DIE Daughter of Montague Historical Fiction #2
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
— A DAUGHTER OF FAIR VERONA Historical Fiction Trade Paperback Once upon a time a young couple met and fell in love. You probably know that story, and how it ended (hint: badly). Only here’s the thing: That’s not how it ended at all…
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
— WELCOME TO GOTHIC: A Gothic novella in ebook (at last!) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
— WHAT DREAMS MAY COME Daughter of Montague novella 1.5 "I’m the daughter of Romeo and Juliet. Yes, that Romeo and Juliet. No, they didn’t die in the tomb…" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
— GIRL ANONYMOUS “Crackling sexual chemistry and a few love scenes guaranteed to scorch readers’ fingers as they turn the pages." — ⭐️ Booklist
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
Readers become writers, and Christina has always been a reader. Ultimately she discovered she liked to read romance best because the relationship between a man and a woman is always humorous. A woman wants world peace, a clean house, and a deep and meaningful relationship based on mutual understanding and love. A man wants a Craftsman router, undisputed control of the TV remote, and a red Corvette which will make his bald spot disappear.
When Christina’s first daughter was born, she told her husband she was going to write a book. It was a good time to start a new career, because how much trouble could one little infant be?
Ha! It took ten years, two children and three completed manuscripts before she was published. Now her suspense, paranormal, historical, and mystery novels have been translated into 30 languages and sold more than 15 million copies in print. Praised for her “brilliantly etched characters, polished writing, and unexpected flashes of sharp humor that are pure Dodd” (Booklist), her award-winning books have landed on numerous Best of the Year lists and, much to her mother's delight, Dodd was once a clue in the Los Angeles Times crossword puzzle. She lives with her family in the Pacific Northwest, where her 700 lavender plants share the yard with her husband’s various “Big Projects,” including a treehouse, zipline, and their very own Stonehenge.
Enter Christina’s worlds and join her mailing list for humor, book news and entertainment (yes, she’s the proud author with the infamous three-armed cover) at christinadodd.com. For more information on A DAUGHTER OF FAIR VERONA, visit daughterofmontague.com. Her legions of fans know that when they pick up a Christina Dodd book, they'll find the story, "Wildly entertaining, wickedly witty!"
Christina is married to a man with all his hair and no Corvette, but many Craftsman tools.
(Source: http://www.christinadodd.com )
— 6/30/26 TEACH THE TORCHES TO BURN: Daughter of Montague Historical Fiction #3 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
New and Now!
—MUCH ADO ABOUT MISTLETOE: Daughter of Montague Christmas novella https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
— THUS WITH A KISS I DIE Daughter of Montague Historical Fiction #2
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
— A DAUGHTER OF FAIR VERONA Historical Fiction Trade Paperback Once upon a time a young couple met and fell in love. You probably know that story, and how it ended (hint: badly). Only here’s the thing: That’s not how it ended at all…
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
— WELCOME TO GOTHIC: A Gothic novella in ebook (at last!) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
— WHAT DREAMS MAY COME Daughter of Montague novella 1.5 "I’m the daughter of Romeo and Juliet. Yes, that Romeo and Juliet. No, they didn’t die in the tomb…" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
— GIRL ANONYMOUS “Crackling sexual chemistry and a few love scenes guaranteed to scorch readers’ fingers as they turn the pages." — ⭐️ Booklist
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
Readers become writers, and Christina has always been a reader. Ultimately she discovered she liked to read romance best because the relationship between a man and a woman is always humorous. A woman wants world peace, a clean house, and a deep and meaningful relationship based on mutual understanding and love. A man wants a Craftsman router, undisputed control of the TV remote, and a red Corvette which will make his bald spot disappear.
When Christina’s first daughter was born, she told her husband she was going to write a book. It was a good time to start a new career, because how much trouble could one little infant be?
Ha! It took ten years, two children and three completed manuscripts before she was published. Now her suspense, paranormal, historical, and mystery novels have been translated into 30 languages and sold more than 15 million copies in print. Praised for her “brilliantly etched characters, polished writing, and unexpected flashes of sharp humor that are pure Dodd” (Booklist), her award-winning books have landed on numerous Best of the Year lists and, much to her mother's delight, Dodd was once a clue in the Los Angeles Times crossword puzzle. She lives with her family in the Pacific Northwest, where her 700 lavender plants share the yard with her husband’s various “Big Projects,” including a treehouse, zipline, and their very own Stonehenge.
Enter Christina’s worlds and join her mailing list for humor, book news and entertainment (yes, she’s the proud author with the infamous three-armed cover) at christinadodd.com. For more information on A DAUGHTER OF FAIR VERONA, visit daughterofmontague.com. Her legions of fans know that when they pick up a Christina Dodd book, they'll find the story, "Wildly entertaining, wickedly witty!"
Christina is married to a man with all his hair and no Corvette, but many Craftsman tools.
(Source: http://www.christinadodd.com )
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October 8, 2018
"Noooo!" I screamed. "I finished it, I finished it!" In one day. I couldn't put down The Woman Who Couldn't Scream (Virtue Falls #4) Now it starts over again. The LONG WAIT until the next Virtue Falls book is written. I discovered Virtue Falls quite by accident. I had never read Christina Dodd before, but the third book Because I am Watching was sitting pretty as you please in the mystery section of the library. I devoured it. Went back and found the other two. Holy schmoles what a terrific series! Wonderful plots, fabulous characters, hot sex-wait did I really say that -and a setting I want to move to. I think after I move to Louise Penny's Three Pines I will purchase a vacation home in Virtue Falls, WA.
The Woman Who Couldn't Scream does not lose steam, not in the slightest. We have two major story lines, the mute, most beautiful woman in the world (MBWiW) moving to Virtue Falls to start a long anticipated plan to punish the man who caused her painful journey into being the MBWiW. We also have the continuing story of Sheriff Kateri Kwinault. Who doesn’t love Kateri? Who doesn’t want Stag?
Poor Kateri, she seems to have a serial killer and maybe a contract killer or two wandering around the town. Evidently the MBWiW late husband believes in suttee. There is also an escaped meth dealer who is out for some serious payback.
Kateri must make a choice about saving a dear comatose friend’s life by giving more of herself to the frog god, or to reject the powers offered by the frog god.
The MBWiW has moved into a B&B having disguised herself as best she can-going for a punk street look. Unfortunately the disguise doesn’t work well and she is surrounded by people who think they know her and in some cases, want her. This is really conveniently bad luck for her.
I wanted more; I wanted more of both Kateri and the MBWiW. Their stories intertwined, they were childhood best friends for awhile.
Of course I always have a quibble section; in this book it’s hard to find many. I missed Rainbow up and at ‘em, I want more Margaret. I hate the term “bang’. Go ahead, use the big kahuna F word, it can be very sexy in the right place. It would have worked fine here; after all, the book is explicit in other scenes, maybe not enough of those scenes? Hey-I’m new to this mystery, romance and hot sex genre.
I mentioned finding Because I'm Watching in the mystery section as a happy fluke, because it seems as if the Virtue Falls series is being marketed as romance. I rarely read books from romance writers (Dodd has helped change this) because evidently I have a dark soul. I think The Woman Who couldn't Scream is a terrific mystery with some great romance. Not a romance with some mystery served on the side.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
The Woman Who Couldn't Scream does not lose steam, not in the slightest. We have two major story lines, the mute, most beautiful woman in the world (MBWiW) moving to Virtue Falls to start a long anticipated plan to punish the man who caused her painful journey into being the MBWiW. We also have the continuing story of Sheriff Kateri Kwinault. Who doesn’t love Kateri? Who doesn’t want Stag?
Poor Kateri, she seems to have a serial killer and maybe a contract killer or two wandering around the town. Evidently the MBWiW late husband believes in suttee. There is also an escaped meth dealer who is out for some serious payback.
Kateri must make a choice about saving a dear comatose friend’s life by giving more of herself to the frog god, or to reject the powers offered by the frog god.
The MBWiW has moved into a B&B having disguised herself as best she can-going for a punk street look. Unfortunately the disguise doesn’t work well and she is surrounded by people who think they know her and in some cases, want her. This is really conveniently bad luck for her.
I wanted more; I wanted more of both Kateri and the MBWiW. Their stories intertwined, they were childhood best friends for awhile.
Of course I always have a quibble section; in this book it’s hard to find many. I missed Rainbow up and at ‘em, I want more Margaret. I hate the term “bang’. Go ahead, use the big kahuna F word, it can be very sexy in the right place. It would have worked fine here; after all, the book is explicit in other scenes, maybe not enough of those scenes? Hey-I’m new to this mystery, romance and hot sex genre.
I mentioned finding Because I'm Watching in the mystery section as a happy fluke, because it seems as if the Virtue Falls series is being marketed as romance. I rarely read books from romance writers (Dodd has helped change this) because evidently I have a dark soul. I think The Woman Who couldn't Scream is a terrific mystery with some great romance. Not a romance with some mystery served on the side.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
November 21, 2017
The Woman Who Couldn’t Scream by Christina Dodd is a 2017 St. Martin’s Press publication.
This one was worth the wait!
Anyone following my reviews may remember my extreme disappointment when I won a copy of this book on Goodreads, but it never came. But, good things come to those wait!! I finally got my winner’s copy! YAY!
But, since the third installment was so awesome, I a little nervous going into this one, but I needn’t have worried. The momentum carried over to this latest installment… and then some!
Merida, is beautiful, but can not speak. After the death of her obsessive husband, she is also rich- so she
returns to Virtue Falls with one thing in mind- revenge.
But, her plans go off the rails when several women are slashed to death, and her old lover recognizes her and as fate would have it, her old friend, Kateri is the sheriff.
Meanwhile, Kateri’s half sister arrives in Virtue Falls looking for the strange package Kateri’s deceased father sent her, believing it holds something very valuable. But, Kateri is busy hunting down the man who shot Rainbow and the person who is killing women in Virtue Falls, and attempting to understand her complicated relationship with Stag.
I do believe this series gets better as it goes along. Merida is a real mystery and her past is riddled with extreme pain, physically and emotionally. What is the history between her and the wealthy Benedict? Why is she seeking revenge against him? This is a very interesting and intense part of the story, and I loved how it all came together. Whew! Good stuff!
I have also enjoyed getting to know Kateri, and I don’t know if I mentioned this before, but I also love, love, love her dog, Lacey!!
In this installment, Kateri really gets to show off her law enforcement skills, more so than usual, and proves once and for all she is the right person for the job, while she also deals with a host of personal issues, as well as the Frog God, which is always very interesting.
While each book in the series has been suspenseful, this one has a slightly darker edge to it, and fit more into a traditional format than the previous installments, and I thought it worked out wonderfully.
This is yet another outstanding installment in this series! Romantic suspense fans will love this one!!
Thank you, Goodreads, Christina Dodd, and St. Martin’s Press for providing me a copy of this terrific novel!!
This one was worth the wait!
Anyone following my reviews may remember my extreme disappointment when I won a copy of this book on Goodreads, but it never came. But, good things come to those wait!! I finally got my winner’s copy! YAY!
But, since the third installment was so awesome, I a little nervous going into this one, but I needn’t have worried. The momentum carried over to this latest installment… and then some!
Merida, is beautiful, but can not speak. After the death of her obsessive husband, she is also rich- so she
returns to Virtue Falls with one thing in mind- revenge.
But, her plans go off the rails when several women are slashed to death, and her old lover recognizes her and as fate would have it, her old friend, Kateri is the sheriff.
Meanwhile, Kateri’s half sister arrives in Virtue Falls looking for the strange package Kateri’s deceased father sent her, believing it holds something very valuable. But, Kateri is busy hunting down the man who shot Rainbow and the person who is killing women in Virtue Falls, and attempting to understand her complicated relationship with Stag.
I do believe this series gets better as it goes along. Merida is a real mystery and her past is riddled with extreme pain, physically and emotionally. What is the history between her and the wealthy Benedict? Why is she seeking revenge against him? This is a very interesting and intense part of the story, and I loved how it all came together. Whew! Good stuff!
I have also enjoyed getting to know Kateri, and I don’t know if I mentioned this before, but I also love, love, love her dog, Lacey!!
In this installment, Kateri really gets to show off her law enforcement skills, more so than usual, and proves once and for all she is the right person for the job, while she also deals with a host of personal issues, as well as the Frog God, which is always very interesting.
While each book in the series has been suspenseful, this one has a slightly darker edge to it, and fit more into a traditional format than the previous installments, and I thought it worked out wonderfully.
This is yet another outstanding installment in this series! Romantic suspense fans will love this one!!
Thank you, Goodreads, Christina Dodd, and St. Martin’s Press for providing me a copy of this terrific novel!!
July 16, 2018
Absolutely mind-blowing!
I’m so happy to report that ‘The Woman Who Couldn’t Scream’ is my most favorite in Virtue Falls series. Just when I thought this series couldn’t get any better, Christina Dodd did surprise me with this one. It was such a riveting read with the plot filled with suspense, mystery, and many clever and unpredictable twists and turns. Each revelation that was gradually revealed made perfect sense to me. I can say that this one went above and beyond my expectations!
In this book, you will meet two main couples—Kateri Kwinault and Stag Denali, and Merida Falcon and Benedict Howard.
**Possible mild spoilers ahead**
After suffering years of marriage to an abusive and manipulative husband, Merida ultimately got a freedom to get her revenge on Benedict, a man who betrayed her, destroyed her life, and shattered her hopes and dreams into pieces. She went to Virtue Falls in order to see her old friend, Kateri, and to stay under the radar for a while until her vengeance was accomplished. But things didn’t go according to plan. Her freedom was actually an illusion and dangers seemed to lurk around her.
Kateri was elected Sheriff of Virtue Falls, the town’s first female sheriff. Who would have thought being a small town sheriff could give the word ‘challenge’ a whole new meaning. She had her plate full—from hunting for criminals who escaped custody to solving the mystery of gruesome murders. And to make matters worse, her sister just showed up at the police station with an ulterior motive for something. Her love life wasn’t much better either. She had a special feeling for Stag Denali, a man she suspected was responsible for a drive-by shooting. He was her lover but she didn’t entirely trust him. And that was a huge problem for her.
With the killers on the loose, Kateri had a boatload of work that seriously needed to be done. As she tried to unravel the case, her friend, Merida found out about the assassins who were after her. The more truth they discovered, the closer the fatal danger crept to Merida…
Well, as a fan of this series, I was delighted that Kateri finally had her own story. She’s a complex, strong, and kick-ass character. I admired her for her strength (both mental and physical), for how she’d survived each severe experience, and for how she'd become the person whom she could be proud of. And with Stag by her side, together they made each other happier than anyone else! Yeah, I felt like flying!
Merida is a well-developed character. She’s such a strong woman—my kind of heroine! It’s beyond my imagination how she managed to survive and get through those terribly tough times. I can say that what she had been through is the worst nightmare no one wants to experience. As a character, she won me over. I loved how smart and reasonable she is and how she could remain composed even in the time of crisis. But most of all, I loved .
The suspense part gave me a lot of thrills and chills, especially near the end of the book where I found myself on the edge of my seat, turning the pages non-stop to find out what would happen next. The murderer scared me out of my wits. Learning about how the victims died made me feel sick to my stomach. It was cruel and heinous, and this almost had me sleeping with the light on!
And it came as a real surprise to me when the truth about this killer was revealed. I didn’t see that coming! It was a huge shock, honestly!
The romance part was amazing. Although I felt like it took a back seat to the mystery and thriller elements, I enjoyed it anyway. It was a perfect combination of sweet, bitter, and spicy. The romance between Stag and Kateri was sweet, intense, and hot as hell. Stag is definitely a swoon-worthy man. It was very obvious that he had strong feelings of affection for her and she meant a great deal to him. So, it was up to Kateri to decide whether this man was worth risking her heart.
“You’re one of the good guys. Thank you for backing me up.” She took a long breath, bolstered her own courage. “I, uh, I love you.”
He laughed at her, and mimicked her. “I, uh, love you, too.”
…Ooooh, lovely, lovely, lovely!
I enjoyed the romance between Benedict and Merida as well. Both of them had a long history together. Actually, they should have lived a happy life together a very long time ago, but sadly, powerful unseen forces conspired to tear them apart. For them, true love came at a price... Nevertheless, it seemed like fate finally gave them a second chance, and no one deserved it more than this couple.
I can wholeheartedly say that both couples really made my day!
It felt so good to get lost in this book. The author took me on a page-turning ride and her story kept me engrossed until the very last page. I loved everything about this one and I was so blown away. Oh, I can’t say enough good things about it!
Without a doubt, this was a real winner for me. Loved it!
**I personally recommend reading books in this series in publication order.
I’m so happy to report that ‘The Woman Who Couldn’t Scream’ is my most favorite in Virtue Falls series. Just when I thought this series couldn’t get any better, Christina Dodd did surprise me with this one. It was such a riveting read with the plot filled with suspense, mystery, and many clever and unpredictable twists and turns. Each revelation that was gradually revealed made perfect sense to me. I can say that this one went above and beyond my expectations!
In this book, you will meet two main couples—Kateri Kwinault and Stag Denali, and Merida Falcon and Benedict Howard.
**Possible mild spoilers ahead**
After suffering years of marriage to an abusive and manipulative husband, Merida ultimately got a freedom to get her revenge on Benedict, a man who betrayed her, destroyed her life, and shattered her hopes and dreams into pieces. She went to Virtue Falls in order to see her old friend, Kateri, and to stay under the radar for a while until her vengeance was accomplished. But things didn’t go according to plan. Her freedom was actually an illusion and dangers seemed to lurk around her.
Kateri was elected Sheriff of Virtue Falls, the town’s first female sheriff. Who would have thought being a small town sheriff could give the word ‘challenge’ a whole new meaning. She had her plate full—from hunting for criminals who escaped custody to solving the mystery of gruesome murders. And to make matters worse, her sister just showed up at the police station with an ulterior motive for something. Her love life wasn’t much better either. She had a special feeling for Stag Denali, a man she suspected was responsible for a drive-by shooting. He was her lover but she didn’t entirely trust him. And that was a huge problem for her.
With the killers on the loose, Kateri had a boatload of work that seriously needed to be done. As she tried to unravel the case, her friend, Merida found out about the assassins who were after her. The more truth they discovered, the closer the fatal danger crept to Merida…
Well, as a fan of this series, I was delighted that Kateri finally had her own story. She’s a complex, strong, and kick-ass character. I admired her for her strength (both mental and physical), for how she’d survived each severe experience, and for how she'd become the person whom she could be proud of. And with Stag by her side, together they made each other happier than anyone else! Yeah, I felt like flying!
Merida is a well-developed character. She’s such a strong woman—my kind of heroine! It’s beyond my imagination how she managed to survive and get through those terribly tough times. I can say that what she had been through is the worst nightmare no one wants to experience. As a character, she won me over. I loved how smart and reasonable she is and how she could remain composed even in the time of crisis. But most of all, I loved .
The suspense part gave me a lot of thrills and chills, especially near the end of the book where I found myself on the edge of my seat, turning the pages non-stop to find out what would happen next. The murderer scared me out of my wits. Learning about how the victims died made me feel sick to my stomach. It was cruel and heinous, and this almost had me sleeping with the light on!
And it came as a real surprise to me when the truth about this killer was revealed. I didn’t see that coming! It was a huge shock, honestly!
The romance part was amazing. Although I felt like it took a back seat to the mystery and thriller elements, I enjoyed it anyway. It was a perfect combination of sweet, bitter, and spicy. The romance between Stag and Kateri was sweet, intense, and hot as hell. Stag is definitely a swoon-worthy man. It was very obvious that he had strong feelings of affection for her and she meant a great deal to him. So, it was up to Kateri to decide whether this man was worth risking her heart.
“You’re one of the good guys. Thank you for backing me up.” She took a long breath, bolstered her own courage. “I, uh, I love you.”
He laughed at her, and mimicked her. “I, uh, love you, too.”
…Ooooh, lovely, lovely, lovely!
I enjoyed the romance between Benedict and Merida as well. Both of them had a long history together. Actually, they should have lived a happy life together a very long time ago, but sadly, powerful unseen forces conspired to tear them apart. For them, true love came at a price... Nevertheless, it seemed like fate finally gave them a second chance, and no one deserved it more than this couple.
I can wholeheartedly say that both couples really made my day!
It felt so good to get lost in this book. The author took me on a page-turning ride and her story kept me engrossed until the very last page. I loved everything about this one and I was so blown away. Oh, I can’t say enough good things about it!
Without a doubt, this was a real winner for me. Loved it!
**I personally recommend reading books in this series in publication order.
June 30, 2024
This is a well-written, entertaining, fast paced, romantic suspense novel. It has a likable, intelligent, strong and capable female protagonist, wit, a touch of humor, murder, mystery, intrigue, suspense, romance, twists and turns, and a gratifying conclusion. This is a fabulous conclusion to Ms. Dodd's outstanding Virtue Falls series. It can be read and enjoyed as a stand alone, but it is even better when it is read in order. I listened to the audio book and the narrator, Ms. Andi Arndt, is truly talented, and does an excellent job creating unique voices for the characters.
September 4, 2017
Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by the Author and Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an fair and honest review.
The Virtue Falls series books all have captured my attention and have delivered gripping suspense and wonderful romance. In "The Woman Who Couldn't Scream" we got a twofer story that delivers twice the suspense and twice the romance. It takes awhile for everything to develop, but it is well worth the wait.
Beautiful Helen is the trophy wife of a very rich, very egocentric old man. He treats her as if he owns her and in a very real way, he does. Helen is the perfect woman, beautiful, build and silent. A traumatic accident years before left her without the ability to speak. After he dies, Helen reinvents herself yet again. She disappears and remerges as the beautiful, reclusive Merida Falcon in the small coastal town of Virtue Falls, WA. Her plan is to exact revenge on the ones responsible for her life altering accident. Only one problem, too many people know her from her previous life and someone wants her dead.
Kateri Kwinault is the recently elected Sheriff of Virtue Falls and she too knows a lot about life altering accidents. She also knows Merida from a time before . . . Kateri has her own problems with a hunky boyfriend she doesn't quit trust, a revenge seeking crazy, a town that elected her by 2 votes and a slashing serial killer on the loose. A whole lot to handle when your best friend is lying in a coma and you are recovering from a gunshot wound.
The Virtue Falls series books all have captured my attention and have delivered gripping suspense and wonderful romance. In "The Woman Who Couldn't Scream" we got a twofer story that delivers twice the suspense and twice the romance. It takes awhile for everything to develop, but it is well worth the wait.
Beautiful Helen is the trophy wife of a very rich, very egocentric old man. He treats her as if he owns her and in a very real way, he does. Helen is the perfect woman, beautiful, build and silent. A traumatic accident years before left her without the ability to speak. After he dies, Helen reinvents herself yet again. She disappears and remerges as the beautiful, reclusive Merida Falcon in the small coastal town of Virtue Falls, WA. Her plan is to exact revenge on the ones responsible for her life altering accident. Only one problem, too many people know her from her previous life and someone wants her dead.
Kateri Kwinault is the recently elected Sheriff of Virtue Falls and she too knows a lot about life altering accidents. She also knows Merida from a time before . . . Kateri has her own problems with a hunky boyfriend she doesn't quit trust, a revenge seeking crazy, a town that elected her by 2 votes and a slashing serial killer on the loose. A whole lot to handle when your best friend is lying in a coma and you are recovering from a gunshot wound.
June 7, 2018
I love Christina dodd's virtue falls series,and The Woman Who Couldn't scream was a great read!! So many awesome characters,it's always like coming home when I pick up one of her books. In this book sheriff kateri is back on duty after being shot and not only is she hunting the shooter,but she meets up with her childhood friend merry who goes by merida. And merida is in virtue with revenge on her mind for the man who tried to kill her years ago.Because of him she was in a loveless marrige with a very powerful man who made her life a living hell. But theirs also another killer in virtue ,and he's getting closer to merida. Twist's and turns that keep you going til the end. And my fave Indian hot stuff stag is back!! Love this mysterious bad boy!!
March 15, 2018
This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Book.
I liked this book but I didn't love it. It has been years since I have read anything by Christina Dodd but I have really enjoyed her writing in the past so I was excited to get the chance to read this book. This is the fourth book in the Virtue Falls series and I think that I might have gotten a bit more out of it if I had read the previous books before jumping into this one. I didn't have any kind of difficulty following the story but there were times that I just felt like I was missing something. I did like the book and was eager how things would work out.
This book really seemed to be telling more than one story. There is Merida, a mute woman, who has been recently widowed. The other main focus was on Kateri, the newly elected sheriff. Both of these woman had there own issues to deal and relationships to figure out. I honestly think that I might have like the book a bit more if the focus didn't shift back and forth as much as it did. There were quite a few times that I was pulled out of the story a bit as the point of view changed.
There is a whole lot going on in this book. So much. There is a convict on the loose, a string of murders occurring in Virtue Falls, a relative in town causing trouble, romantic issues, a long lost lover, a comatose friend, plus a frog god. It was probably too much in a lot of ways and started to seem unrealistic. I am okay with the frog god not being realistic but I would have liked for a little more believability for the rest of the story.
I really did like Kateri. She seemed to be able to handle just about anything but was willing to take advice from others. I liked Stag as well but he wasn't in the book as much as I would have liked but he seemed to really be what Kateri needed. I also really liked some of the members of the police force and the older bar owner. Merida and Benedict never felt completely real to me. I didn't dislike them but I wasn't sure if I should trust them either.
I think that my biggest issue with the book was that things just seemed too convenient at times. As the excitement of the book peaked, the characters would catch a break that was too good to be true. Problems were solved a little too easily and solutions showed up just when they were needed. I am glad that all of the loose ends were wrapped up but I would have it to feel a bit more real.
I do think that a lot of readers will enjoy this one. I enjoyed this book even though I had some issues with the story. I do hope to read more of Christina Dodd's work very soon.
I received an advance reader edition of this book from St. Martins Press via NetGalley.
I liked this book but I didn't love it. It has been years since I have read anything by Christina Dodd but I have really enjoyed her writing in the past so I was excited to get the chance to read this book. This is the fourth book in the Virtue Falls series and I think that I might have gotten a bit more out of it if I had read the previous books before jumping into this one. I didn't have any kind of difficulty following the story but there were times that I just felt like I was missing something. I did like the book and was eager how things would work out.
This book really seemed to be telling more than one story. There is Merida, a mute woman, who has been recently widowed. The other main focus was on Kateri, the newly elected sheriff. Both of these woman had there own issues to deal and relationships to figure out. I honestly think that I might have like the book a bit more if the focus didn't shift back and forth as much as it did. There were quite a few times that I was pulled out of the story a bit as the point of view changed.
There is a whole lot going on in this book. So much. There is a convict on the loose, a string of murders occurring in Virtue Falls, a relative in town causing trouble, romantic issues, a long lost lover, a comatose friend, plus a frog god. It was probably too much in a lot of ways and started to seem unrealistic. I am okay with the frog god not being realistic but I would have liked for a little more believability for the rest of the story.
I really did like Kateri. She seemed to be able to handle just about anything but was willing to take advice from others. I liked Stag as well but he wasn't in the book as much as I would have liked but he seemed to really be what Kateri needed. I also really liked some of the members of the police force and the older bar owner. Merida and Benedict never felt completely real to me. I didn't dislike them but I wasn't sure if I should trust them either.
I think that my biggest issue with the book was that things just seemed too convenient at times. As the excitement of the book peaked, the characters would catch a break that was too good to be true. Problems were solved a little too easily and solutions showed up just when they were needed. I am glad that all of the loose ends were wrapped up but I would have it to feel a bit more real.
I do think that a lot of readers will enjoy this one. I enjoyed this book even though I had some issues with the story. I do hope to read more of Christina Dodd's work very soon.
I received an advance reader edition of this book from St. Martins Press via NetGalley.
November 17, 2017
Kateri Kwinault, newly elected sheriff of Virtue Falls, Washington, is having a bad week. Two bad guys wounded her in a drive by shooting and put her best friend Rainbow in a coma. In a car chase, her deputy hits a tree and her stitches reopen. The city council is not happy and they don't even realize yet that a killer is slashing women's faces. That'll put a damper on tourism. And a beautiful but mysterious woman comes to town. Merida cannot speak. She has many secrets including a plot to get even with the man who made her into the woman she is today.
I thought this book was a cut above for the romantic suspense genre. Kateri has blossomed into her role as sheriff. The mystery surrounding Merida was more complex than I suspected at first. I liked this #4 in the series even better than I liked #3.
I thought this book was a cut above for the romantic suspense genre. Kateri has blossomed into her role as sheriff. The mystery surrounding Merida was more complex than I suspected at first. I liked this #4 in the series even better than I liked #3.
August 26, 2017
Good afternoon readers. Last night I finished my ARC of The Woman Who Couldn't Scream which is set to be released on Sept 5th. This book is part of a series, something I found out after researching the author, Christina Dodd. Although part of a series, I was able to follow along without any issues. I say that it can be read as a stand alone.
We are introduced to Merida Falcon aka Helen Nauplius aka Merry Byrd, a woman who is mute because of a near death accident. She is married to a wealthy, yet evil man who eventually dies. Once he passes away, Helen takes the money she has saved over the years and vanishes only to show up in Virtue Falls as Merida Falcon(I like the similarity of this name to her real one, Merry Byrd). Here in Virtue Falls we meet Kateri Kwinault, the Native American female sheriff who has also had a near death accident(being shot after she was voted mayor by a felon). Kateri is Merida's(actually Merry's) childhood friend from Baltimore. Kateri is in the middle of trying to find the escaped convicts who shot at her in the local diner, injuring her and putting her friend Rainbow in a coma.
While in Virtue Falls, Merida begins her task of taking revenge on a lover from long ago who she believes tried to kill her, Benedict Howard. Although her appearance has changed and she can not speak, Benedict believes he knows who she is but can not prove it. Both of them are in danger from people who were supposed to love them.
Not only does Kateri have to hunt down felons, she is also having to find a sudden serial slasher who is slashing women's faces(wait until you find out who it is and why!!!).
Now, I know this is quite a bit to take in, but trust me when I say it all comes together and it will keep you on the edge of your seat. Killers where you least expect it and of course some loving is thrown in the mix. Boy, do I wish I could get my hands on a real life Stag Denali(Kateri's love interest).
This is my first book my Christina Dodd and I am looking forward to reading more by her. This was definitely a thriller I was glad to get in the mail and have a chance to read and review. I know I've rambled on, but definitely check this book out if you're looking for a new thriller mixed with some loving!!!!
We are introduced to Merida Falcon aka Helen Nauplius aka Merry Byrd, a woman who is mute because of a near death accident. She is married to a wealthy, yet evil man who eventually dies. Once he passes away, Helen takes the money she has saved over the years and vanishes only to show up in Virtue Falls as Merida Falcon(I like the similarity of this name to her real one, Merry Byrd). Here in Virtue Falls we meet Kateri Kwinault, the Native American female sheriff who has also had a near death accident(being shot after she was voted mayor by a felon). Kateri is Merida's(actually Merry's) childhood friend from Baltimore. Kateri is in the middle of trying to find the escaped convicts who shot at her in the local diner, injuring her and putting her friend Rainbow in a coma.
While in Virtue Falls, Merida begins her task of taking revenge on a lover from long ago who she believes tried to kill her, Benedict Howard. Although her appearance has changed and she can not speak, Benedict believes he knows who she is but can not prove it. Both of them are in danger from people who were supposed to love them.
Not only does Kateri have to hunt down felons, she is also having to find a sudden serial slasher who is slashing women's faces(wait until you find out who it is and why!!!).
Now, I know this is quite a bit to take in, but trust me when I say it all comes together and it will keep you on the edge of your seat. Killers where you least expect it and of course some loving is thrown in the mix. Boy, do I wish I could get my hands on a real life Stag Denali(Kateri's love interest).
This is my first book my Christina Dodd and I am looking forward to reading more by her. This was definitely a thriller I was glad to get in the mail and have a chance to read and review. I know I've rambled on, but definitely check this book out if you're looking for a new thriller mixed with some loving!!!!
June 25, 2017
A big shout out to NetGalley for the ARC for my honest review.
I will be honest and admit that I have not read all the Virture Falls books and this is #4.
That being said-I was a little lost a few times-it doesn't totally read as a stand alone. The title makes you believe that this story will be solely about Merida but I think it is more about Kateri. This was a bit confusing as it changes viewpoints quite often.
The story itself is a thrill ride, twists, turns, unexpected occurrences with bad guys that JUST WON"T DIE!!! Overall a great read and well worth the confusion of skipping a couple of books in the middle. I think that most people will enjoy the book!! I certainly did.
I will be honest and admit that I have not read all the Virture Falls books and this is #4.
That being said-I was a little lost a few times-it doesn't totally read as a stand alone. The title makes you believe that this story will be solely about Merida but I think it is more about Kateri. This was a bit confusing as it changes viewpoints quite often.
The story itself is a thrill ride, twists, turns, unexpected occurrences with bad guys that JUST WON"T DIE!!! Overall a great read and well worth the confusion of skipping a couple of books in the middle. I think that most people will enjoy the book!! I certainly did.
September 11, 2017
An amazing series that I can't get enough of. Kateri Kwinault is once again at the center of it all. The peaceful town of Virtue Falls is no longer safe. A killer is on the loose. Kateri's friend Merida shows up and nothing is what it seems. I love strong female characters, and they are definitely on display here. Kateri has been my favorite from the start. She's tough and ready to catch an elusive killer. Just when I thought I had things figured out, I'm thrown for a loop with all the twists. You can certainly enjoy this as a standalone, but starting with book one will make it that much more entertaining. Suspense fans will love this.
June 16, 2017
This is the 4th book set in Virtue Falls by this Author ............and she continues to enthrall with her combination of Romance , Psychological thriller and the 'Frog God' .
Merida Falcon is in hiding ... seen by some as the 'Most Beautiful Woman in the World' she tries to alter her looks and style and adopts a new name , she hopes that no one will recognise her , she needs a place to start planning her revenge ... now her husband is dead - and so returns to Virtue Falls .
Newly elected Sheriff Kateri Kwinault is still recovering from being shot in Rainbow's cafe ......now Rainbow is in a coma - not expected to recover .
Kateri recognises her old schoolmate , but agrees for the short term to keep her real identity secret .
Within days it seems that most of the people from Merida's recent past have turned up in Virtue Falls , even her lover from before her 'accident' which left her damaged and mute .
Who can she trust ??
Who can she turn to ??
Why are they there ??
Who is trying to kill her ??
Why is someone trying to kill her ??
Incidents occur and bodies start to mount up !
Kateri is under pressure to find the 'killer' or is it killers ? and is it just Merida in danger ?..... all the while trying to keep her feelings for Stag in check , with little success .
Rainbow's condition is is worsening and Kateri must decide if she wants to risk another encounter
with the 'Frog God' !
This is an excellent romantic thriller set in Virtue Falls in which the Author manages to keep the reader engaged with the twist and turns of the multiple plotlines .
I was given an arc of this book by the Publisher and NetGalley in return for an honest review .
Merida Falcon is in hiding ... seen by some as the 'Most Beautiful Woman in the World' she tries to alter her looks and style and adopts a new name , she hopes that no one will recognise her , she needs a place to start planning her revenge ... now her husband is dead - and so returns to Virtue Falls .
Newly elected Sheriff Kateri Kwinault is still recovering from being shot in Rainbow's cafe ......now Rainbow is in a coma - not expected to recover .
Kateri recognises her old schoolmate , but agrees for the short term to keep her real identity secret .
Within days it seems that most of the people from Merida's recent past have turned up in Virtue Falls , even her lover from before her 'accident' which left her damaged and mute .
Who can she trust ??
Who can she turn to ??
Why are they there ??
Who is trying to kill her ??
Why is someone trying to kill her ??
Incidents occur and bodies start to mount up !
Kateri is under pressure to find the 'killer' or is it killers ? and is it just Merida in danger ?..... all the while trying to keep her feelings for Stag in check , with little success .
Rainbow's condition is is worsening and Kateri must decide if she wants to risk another encounter
with the 'Frog God' !
This is an excellent romantic thriller set in Virtue Falls in which the Author manages to keep the reader engaged with the twist and turns of the multiple plotlines .
I was given an arc of this book by the Publisher and NetGalley in return for an honest review .
August 27, 2021
Romantic Suspense / Contemporary / Thriller
Series: The Virtue Falls, book 4
Published: September 5, 2017
“I am mute, unable to speak. I am not deaf. Please do not shout!”
In this story we have a mute heroine. Its so rare to have protagonist with some kind of disability. We get glimpse into the world of people who are unable to speak, see how they communicate with sign language or use their computer tablet. Author wrote this story so that the dialogue never suffered despite having a mute character. Just because someone can not speak/see/hear/walk, their disability does not make them stupid; people should not treat them badly or even insolently!
I really enjoy Christina Dodd's determined female characters. Too often female characters are portrayed as weak, submissive, manipulative, doormats, in need of a rescue. Not Dodd's lead female characters! They may be in trouble. down on their luck, running away from something [or someone] but they are resilient, strong, sassy; someone reader can identify with, root for and see themselves in.
Really enjoyable story with many twists and turns, the suspense and the mind games. I couldn't figure out where this story goes. I should warn you that Merida is not the only main character in this story. We get lots of chapters from Kateri's POV as well.
This story was good but still my favorite story from the Virtue Falls series is Obsession Falls.
Series: The Virtue Falls, book 4
Published: September 5, 2017
“I am mute, unable to speak. I am not deaf. Please do not shout!”
In this story we have a mute heroine. Its so rare to have protagonist with some kind of disability. We get glimpse into the world of people who are unable to speak, see how they communicate with sign language or use their computer tablet. Author wrote this story so that the dialogue never suffered despite having a mute character. Just because someone can not speak/see/hear/walk, their disability does not make them stupid; people should not treat them badly or even insolently!
I really enjoy Christina Dodd's determined female characters. Too often female characters are portrayed as weak, submissive, manipulative, doormats, in need of a rescue. Not Dodd's lead female characters! They may be in trouble. down on their luck, running away from something [or someone] but they are resilient, strong, sassy; someone reader can identify with, root for and see themselves in.
Really enjoyable story with many twists and turns, the suspense and the mind games. I couldn't figure out where this story goes. I should warn you that Merida is not the only main character in this story. We get lots of chapters from Kateri's POV as well.
This story was good but still my favorite story from the Virtue Falls series is Obsession Falls.
December 15, 2017
This was a totally unexpected winning read for me. I had never read Christina Dodd books before. This book evidently is part of a series (Virtue Falls)but it read very well as a stand-alone.
I now want to read more Christina Dodd - I believe I’ve found a new author to follow!
This particular book encompasses thriller, mystery, murders, psychological, emotional situations, a little bit of romance and an interesting mix of characters and personalities in the small town of Virtue Falls, WA.The twisted and turning plot was well written and kept me engaged from the beginning all the way to the very end.
I now want to read more Christina Dodd - I believe I’ve found a new author to follow!
This particular book encompasses thriller, mystery, murders, psychological, emotional situations, a little bit of romance and an interesting mix of characters and personalities in the small town of Virtue Falls, WA.The twisted and turning plot was well written and kept me engaged from the beginning all the way to the very end.
June 20, 2020
The Woman Who Couldn't Scream
4 Stars
Sad to see this series come to an end as, despite its rocky start, I have enjoyed the last to books immensely. It feels like it was just hitting its stride.
Set in the quirky town of Virtua Falls, Washington, this installment of the series has two foci. The first is the mystery surrounding mysterious Merida Falcon and her plans for revenge, and the second is Sheriff Kateri Kwinault whose past and future are finally revealed.
While some of the plot twists are predictable, Dodd's storytelling is immersive and engaging. Her characters come to life on the pages and each is compelling in his or her own way.
Although the romance elements in the book take a back seat to the mystery and suspense, the relationships between the couples are very appealing, and it is especially satisfying that Kateri final got her HEA.
In sum, Virtue Falls is a delightful and highly recommended for fans of RS and Dodd. Looking forward to the spin-off series.
4 Stars
Sad to see this series come to an end as, despite its rocky start, I have enjoyed the last to books immensely. It feels like it was just hitting its stride.
Set in the quirky town of Virtua Falls, Washington, this installment of the series has two foci. The first is the mystery surrounding mysterious Merida Falcon and her plans for revenge, and the second is Sheriff Kateri Kwinault whose past and future are finally revealed.
While some of the plot twists are predictable, Dodd's storytelling is immersive and engaging. Her characters come to life on the pages and each is compelling in his or her own way.
Although the romance elements in the book take a back seat to the mystery and suspense, the relationships between the couples are very appealing, and it is especially satisfying that Kateri final got her HEA.
In sum, Virtue Falls is a delightful and highly recommended for fans of RS and Dodd. Looking forward to the spin-off series.
July 10, 2018
Hmmm. So regardless of what the blurb says, this book is not about Merida but rather it is about Kateri. I would say that perhaps a fourth of the book, if even that much, is told in the POV of Merida and concerns her story. The rest is all from the POV of Kateri and is about her solving crimes and being the chosen of a god and saving lives etc. Poor Merida, she’s a secondary character in her own book. And of course, she gets her voice back in the end because rainbows and roses I guess. They ALWAYS get their voices back.
September 16, 2017
Helen couldn't scream, due to an injury. To get away from things, she moved to an eclectic home, actually a B&B. She felt that someone was watching her every move. She received threats over the phone. Someone grabed at her from the bushes near the home.
She was getting too close to the truth.
The guilty one made himself known. It was total greed that drove him to try to commit murder.
I won this Free book from Goodreads First-Reads.
She was getting too close to the truth.
The guilty one made himself known. It was total greed that drove him to try to commit murder.
I won this Free book from Goodreads First-Reads.
June 15, 2018
Okay, now I'm really hating Luis and loving Stag. Kateri and Lacey are awesome. The frog god is priceless. Sienna...Bitch! I did give Luis a slight reprieve at the end...very slight. Another fabulous book in this series. Idk if this is the last book or if she has more to come. I do know I will read them all if she does!
September 12, 2017
Christina Dodd does layered suspense better with every book. I have loved Kateri is one of my favorite characters. This book has so many levels of anxiety-provoking suspense that it took me a while to come back from it. Great story.
May 18, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. It actually had two heroines to follow. One was the sheriff, and the other a beautiful mute woman . These two women had been friends in the past. Both have had difficult lives, with heartache, and physical injuries. Their past experiences, with family, and loneliness, pain, and fighting to just keep going, really tugged at my heart. I wasn't sure that the half sister was really needed, and certainly not liked, but her characters worth came in at the end. The story of the frog God was interesting, and mystical, and I could stretch my imagination enough considering the Native American Heritage. I liked the men in their lives, but both had solid walls around their hearts, that had to come down. The town is chasing two brothers that deal meth, and pretty much just live to find trouble, and are looking for revenge. There is also murders, and mutilation going on. The idea that assassins were roaming the town to kill the same woman, and were hired by different people, sounds ridiculous, but in the story it works. I like the people of the town, most are colorful, and caring. Her police department seemed very real, and true to a small town. The ending was fast paced, scary, and brought all the loose ties together. Some of the criminals were a shock. I liked that. It also ended on a good feeling, since the book had so much negative things going on. The sex is steamy, but tender, and you can easily skip, to avoid. There is no cliffhanger, or an opened ended ending. She finishes the book, to the readers enjoyment. This book has a lot of heart, as well as suspense, and mystery, and murder. It also shows that most families have some form of dysfunction to them..I totally agree. The book also touched on children in need, and abuse of women, and wives. Men can still walk away, and leave a wave of disaster in their wake, and a woman broken in body , and spirit. I find it sad that I live in a state that ranks high for family, and spouse abuse. The tough survive, and both ladies certainly were tough from what life had thrown their way. I read this out of sequence, so I need to go back ,and start at the beginning , of this series. It was not hard to follow though, the author gave the back story, so the reader can jump right in. 5 Stars for me.
September 19, 2017
Review to follow.
March 11, 2019
Excellent book! All Dodd's characters are always so interesting. I liked the advertised romance for Merida in this book but it was really about Kateri. The series itself seems to be mostly about her with snapshots of other lives.
May 14, 2018
Este livro é cheio de adrenalina e com vários pontos de interesse.
June 17, 2017
I haven't read any of Christina Dodd's book in forever, the last one I read was years ago. I have always loved her so I decided to read this one.
It was good, really good, when I wasn't reading I found myself thinking about it and then sneaking to turn the page when I had to do something else.
While this book was interesting it also irritated the hell out of me. If it wasn't as good as it was I would have stopped reading it after the fourth chapter. I hated, hated the alternating POV from the characters. It harshly yanks me out of the story and messes up the pacing.
Katrina story was goof and I was curious about her but the same can be said about Merida. I don't know if this is the regular theme with the "Virtue Fall " series but I feel this would have been better served if the story had focused on one of the characters as opposed to having both Katrina and Merida have their story running concurrently. Once, we were about to discover something happening to Merida and the next pages it's talking about Katrina, it was beyond frustrating.
Also, it seemed like everyone knew sign language, almost everyone could understand Merida when she signed, I mean everyone she came across with. Those that did not understand her at the first meeting seemed to understand her at the second meeting, it seemed implausible for everyone to know/grasp sign language that quickly to communicate coherently with her.
Katrina and her whole superstitious angle didn't bother me as much as I thought it would, it was written tastefully in my opinion. I do wonder if the story would have been better without it.
This book had more to do with mystery than romance, there was almost none to be honest. The mystery was mysterious, I thought I had figured who was behind everything and then my guess turned out to be wrong, so yea, I liked that it kept me guessing. The name of the book threw me off a little bit too, from the name I had expected something else along the lines of the motive behind it all but I was wrong in that regard.
That being said, I really enjoyed this and I can't wait to read more of Dodd's books, I have definitely missed her brand of story telling.
It was good, really good, when I wasn't reading I found myself thinking about it and then sneaking to turn the page when I had to do something else.
While this book was interesting it also irritated the hell out of me. If it wasn't as good as it was I would have stopped reading it after the fourth chapter. I hated, hated the alternating POV from the characters. It harshly yanks me out of the story and messes up the pacing.
Katrina story was goof and I was curious about her but the same can be said about Merida. I don't know if this is the regular theme with the "Virtue Fall " series but I feel this would have been better served if the story had focused on one of the characters as opposed to having both Katrina and Merida have their story running concurrently. Once, we were about to discover something happening to Merida and the next pages it's talking about Katrina, it was beyond frustrating.
Also, it seemed like everyone knew sign language, almost everyone could understand Merida when she signed, I mean everyone she came across with. Those that did not understand her at the first meeting seemed to understand her at the second meeting, it seemed implausible for everyone to know/grasp sign language that quickly to communicate coherently with her.
Katrina and her whole superstitious angle didn't bother me as much as I thought it would, it was written tastefully in my opinion. I do wonder if the story would have been better without it.
This book had more to do with mystery than romance, there was almost none to be honest. The mystery was mysterious, I thought I had figured who was behind everything and then my guess turned out to be wrong, so yea, I liked that it kept me guessing. The name of the book threw me off a little bit too, from the name I had expected something else along the lines of the motive behind it all but I was wrong in that regard.
That being said, I really enjoyed this and I can't wait to read more of Dodd's books, I have definitely missed her brand of story telling.
September 19, 2017
The book is suspenseful and mysterious, along with drama and a love story. The characters are amazing and unforgettable. I love the stories behind the stories.There are twists and turns every time you turn the page. I am so glad that I was able to read this book. It is a favorite.
November 1, 2017
3.5 An enjoyable thriller that kept me guessing until the end.
In her early 20s, Merry Byrd was in an accident that disfigured her and left her voiceless, leading her to strike a deal with a man who would make her beautiful again if she married and served him. She did, and on his death disappeared, reinventing herself as Merida Falcon in tiny (fictional) Virtue Falls, WA, where the book finds her determined to exact some revenge on the guy who caused her accident. Merida finds an old friend in Virtue Falls, Kateri Kwinault, a character from previous series books who has just been elected sheriff and is dealing with a deranged meth cooker/dealer as well as a slasher new to town.
One odd choice is that Kateri, and her boyfriend Stag, have their identities as Native Americans frequently referred to - but only in that very general way. Fictional Virtue Falls is on the very real Olympic Peninsula, home several native tribes, and as someone from near that region it felt weird that their Native American identity was never tied to a specific tribal nation. It made those identities feel generic. There are sly hints in the character names - Kwinault as a phonetic spelling of the Quinault Indian Nation; Stag Denali is perhaps supposed to connect to Alaska, and the native nations from that region? But in any case, it felt coy.
In her early 20s, Merry Byrd was in an accident that disfigured her and left her voiceless, leading her to strike a deal with a man who would make her beautiful again if she married and served him. She did, and on his death disappeared, reinventing herself as Merida Falcon in tiny (fictional) Virtue Falls, WA, where the book finds her determined to exact some revenge on the guy who caused her accident. Merida finds an old friend in Virtue Falls, Kateri Kwinault, a character from previous series books who has just been elected sheriff and is dealing with a deranged meth cooker/dealer as well as a slasher new to town.
One odd choice is that Kateri, and her boyfriend Stag, have their identities as Native Americans frequently referred to - but only in that very general way. Fictional Virtue Falls is on the very real Olympic Peninsula, home several native tribes, and as someone from near that region it felt weird that their Native American identity was never tied to a specific tribal nation. It made those identities feel generic. There are sly hints in the character names - Kwinault as a phonetic spelling of the Quinault Indian Nation; Stag Denali is perhaps supposed to connect to Alaska, and the native nations from that region? But in any case, it felt coy.
October 9, 2025
Love. Love. Love. I love everything about this book. One of my favorite authors, she never disappoints!! A fascinating story filled with characters so real, filled with such depth. I hope Kateri comes back for other stories!!
June 24, 2017
This is an interesting and suspenseful read. Its well written and the story moves at a good pace.
dnf
March 24, 201918% and I can't go on. This is boring. I don't care about the people or whatever tragic life they may have had.
March 8, 2018
Welcome back to Virtue Falls!! The Woman Who Couldn't Scream brings us the story of Merida/Helen/Merry. She has had a tragic life and is now seeking revenge against the man who ruined her dreams. Of course, its never quite that simple, is it?
The book also gives us more Kateri, now the sheriff of Virtue Falls. Kateri is having some issues of her own. Some of the townspeople are NOT pleased with her as sheriff. She is a female and a Native American and they are sexist and racist. Also, she can't seem to catch killer John Terrence. And then a serial killer arrives and starts carving up peoples faces!
The plot weaves between Kateri and Merida, who were childhood friends in Baltimore. Their stories don't overlap much except for Kateri being the sheriff and Merida being in trouble. So, the story reads almost like 2 parallel tales that happen to cross paths a few times. It isn't a bad thing, but it was a bit of a let down because I felt both stories could have been better. Neither outcome was surprising and that isn't usually the case for a Christina Dodd book.
My issue aside, The Woman Who Couldn't Scream is still a fantastic read. You have so many zany and interesting secondary characters in the people of Virtue Falls and Dodd layers the plot intricately well. If you like mystery with a dash of romance, The Woman Who Couldn't Scream is a great pick. The narrator, Andi Arndt does a wonderful job with lots of different voices and accents. She adds to the story without distracting you.
POV: 3rd
Tears: no
Trope: revenge, secret identity
Triggers: none
Series/Standalone: stand alone (you really don't have to have read any of the other virtue falls books to understand and enjoy The Woman Who Couldn't Scream)
Cliffhanger:
HEA:
Pretend You're Safe by Alexandra Ivy, Monster in the Closet by Karen Rose, Touch of Red by Laura Griffin...then you will probably like The Woman Who Couldn't Scream!
The Woman Who Couldn't Scream
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