Say No More

Jane Ryland #5

by Hank Phillippi Ryan

The thrilling fifth installment in Hank Phillippi Ryan's Award-Winning Jane Ryland Series!

"Downright superb! A rocket-paced thriller with one of the most compelling casts in recent literary history."--Jeffery Deaver on Say No More

When Boston reporter Jane Ryland reports a hit and run, she soon learns she saw more than a car crash--she witnessed the collapse of an alibi. Working on an expose of sexual assaults on college campuses for the station's new documentary unit, Jane's just convinced a date rape victim to reveal her heartbreaking experience on camera. However, a disturbing anonymous message--SAY NO MORE--has Jane really and truly scared.

Homicide detective Jake Brogan is on the hunt for the murderer of Avery Morgan, a hot-shot Hollywood screenwriter. Her year as a college guest lecturer just ended at the bottom of her swimming pool in the tight-knit and tight-lipped Boston community called The Reserve. As Jake chips his way through a code of silence as shatterproof as any street gang, he'll learn that one newcomer to the neighborhood may have a secret of her own.

A young woman faces a life-changing decision--should she go public about her assault? Jane and Jake--now semi-secretly engaged and beginning to reveal their relationship to the world--are both on a quest for answers as they try to balance the consequences of the truth.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Suspense, Thriller, Crime, Adult

464 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published November 1, 2016

About the author

Hank Phillippi Ryan is the USA Today bestselling author of sixteen award winning novels of suspense. National reviews have called her a "master at crafting suspenseful mysteries" and "a superb and gifted storyteller." SHe is also an investigative reporter for WHDH-TV, winning 37 Emmys for her true crime stories.

Her newest is ALL THIS COULD BE YOURS--an INSTANT USA TODAY bestseller.

Is a debut author’s blockbuster bestseller about to ruin her life? A glamorous book tour becomes a deadly cat-and-mouse chase in this new and captivating thriller!

(Freida McFadden says: "Engrossing! With a main character that I loved, and a twist the left me reeling!" And Jeneva Rose says: I absolutely loved it! This is Hank Phillippi Ryan at her best!”)

Don't miss ONE WRONG WORD, now in paperback. BA Paris says: "A gripping rollercoaster of a read!"

Her 2021 thriller THE HOUSE GUEST (Gaslight meets Thelma & Louise) now in a second printing!

Hank is also an award-winning investigative reporter at Boston's WHDH-TV. In addition to 37 EMMYs and 14 Edward R. Murrow awards, Hank's won dozens of other honors
for her ground-breaking journalism.

She is co-host and co-founder of The Back Room, co-host of First Chapter Fun, and host of CRIME TIME on A Mighty Blaze.

Her previous thriller, HER PERFECT LIFE, received starred reviews from Kirkus and Publishers Weekly, calling it "Stellar."

Her earlier psychological thrillers include,THE FIRST TO LIE (with several starred reviews) an Agatha Award and Mary HIggins CLark award nomination) and THE MURDER LIST, which won the Anthony Award for Best Novel of the year, and was ]an Agatha, Macavity and Mary Higgins Clark Award nominee, a number one legal thriller on Amazon, and a USA Today Bestseller.

Her first psychological standalone, TRUST ME (now in paperback) , is an Agatha Award nominee, and was named BEST of 2018 by the New York Post, Real Simple Magazine, BookBub, Crime Reads, and PopSugar. Mary Kubica says: "Dazzling!" and Lisa Gardner says "Mesmerizing!"

The Booklist *starred review says "...it's a knockout. First-rate psychological suspense."

Her thriller SAY NO MORE, is a Library Journal BEST OF 2016. And this just in: it's a nominee for the AGATHA AWARD and the MARY HIGGINS CLARK AWARD! And now, breaking news, it is also a DAPHNE AWARD nominee! Associated Press calls it "stellar" and Publishers Weekly calls it "thrilling" "unflinching" and "gratifying."

Her 2015 book, WHAT YOU SEE, is a Library Journal BEST of 2015, an ANTHONY and AGATHA Award nominee, and a Top Pick!, dubbed "exceptional suspense." It received a starred review from Library Journal which says: "Readers will find themselves racing to the finish!"

Her 2014 book, TRUTH BE TOLD, won the AGATHA Award for best mystery, and is a Library Journal Best of 2014. It received starred reviews from Booklist and Library Journal, which says, "Drop everything and binge read!"

THE WRONG GIRL won the Agatha Award and the Daphne Award, and is a seven-week Boston Globe bestseller and Anthony Award nominee.

THE OTHER WOMAN won the coveted Mary Higgins Clark Award, and was listed as a Best Book of 2012 by the Kansas City Star, the Sacramento Bee, Suspense Magazine, and The Boston Globe, won the prestigious Mary Higgins Clark Award, and was the only novel nominated for the Agatha, Anthony, Macavity, Shamus and Daphne awards for Best Novel of 2012.

Her first four mysteries, beginning with the Agatha Award-winning PRIME TIME, feature Charlotte McNally, a Boston television reporter. FACE TIME was a BookSense Notable Book, and AIR TIME and DRIVE TIME were both Anthony and Agatha Award nominees for best novel of 2009 and 2010. They are now available in all new editions.

Her journalism work work has resulted in new laws, people sent to prison, homes removed from foreclosure, and millions of dollars in refunds and restitution for victims and consumers. She's been a radio reporter, a legislati

Reviews

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The fifth entry in the Jane Ryland mystery/crime series checks so many boxes on the exceptional novel check-list that Hank Phillippi Ryan might want to make room in her already jam-packed award cabinet. Every novel in this series imparts unsurpassed plotting and a timely theme threaded with reliability and consistency. Say No More starts its theme with its very title and infuses into every pivotal action the paralyzing effects of keeping quiet about a crime, even when it is a crime committed against oneself. But, of course, it is all much more complex than that, and nobody delves into the complex and unravels it better than Hank.

The characters, both major and minor, are the embodiment of authenticity, and readers will appreciate the attention to detail the author exerts. I found the clothes descriptions quite telling about the characters’ personalities, with traits such as greed and timidity easily recognizable. Further insight can be gained from Ryan’s use of multiple points-of-view, too, with the major players each having their own turn speaking and moving the action along. Jane and Jake still take stage front and center, but the additional POVs provide a complete and most satisfying immersion.

One of the most distressing topics concerning college campuses today is that of sexual assault, rape, mostly involving young women attacked by fellow male students, and too many times with the excuse of alcohol or other drugs. Jane Ryland has left the breaking news department of Channel 2 News and is working on a special project, a documentary on that very issue, sexual assaults on college campuses. Hoping to get hits from a FB page set up asking for students wanting to tell their stories to contact her or her producer, Jane has heard from a rape victim who is willing to meet with Jane about her nightmarish experience as a college student at a party.

FOR MY COMPLETE REVIEW, PLEASE VISIT MY BLOG AT http://www.readingroom-readmore.com/2...

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another winner.

Hank Philippi Ryan keeps you on the edge of your seat to the very last page. Jane and Jake are a formidable team.

[Judy Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have enjoyed each and every one of Hank Phillippi Ryan's Jane Ryland books. A huge Jane/Jake fan! Not sure how I missed this one in 2016. Nice to catch up with the adventurous and talented duo.

Xe Sands delivered another outstanding performance!

Full review to follow.

[Jean Rabe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished reading this marvelous, complex book last night. I am a former news reporter, and so I appreciated Hank Phillippi Ryan getting it right ... how a reporter covers a story, works with police, interviews a subject.

Her characters were "real." People with enough depth and detail to make you think you might meet them on the street. I enjoyed the women victims coming forward, a topic that hits close to the headlines right now.

And her descriptions of people and places were both vibrant and earthy.

Love this author. I will read more of her books.

[Mark Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Jane witnesses a hit and run on her way to interview a source, she becomes embroiled in a case much bigger than she thinks she will be. Meanwhile, her story on campus rape is heating up. And her boyfriend, cop Jake Brogan, is working on the case of a suspicious death when an adjunct professor dies in a swimming pool.

And once again we are off on a fantastic ride. We get the story from a total of five points of view, and it is always fun to switch back to other characters and see how they are progressing. While Jane trying to get out of testifying really bothered me (especially trying to hide behind the fact that she’s a reporter), I did like the growth it brought to her character. The new cast is strong, and the arcs for the viewpoint characters are wonderful. The story moves quickly wish so much going on that it is almost impossible to put the book down.

Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.

[Maureen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was somewhat disappointed in this latest book. Jane Ryland and her fiance Jake are once again in the midst of murder investigations. Although it seemed to have potential in the beginning, I felt it dragged along somewhat with none of the engrossing edge of your seat suspense I found in her other books. I probably will not purchase another hardcover from this author.

[Jeanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another interesting story from Ms Ryan! There are quite a few characters introduced, along with a couple different plots, but in the end it is amazing how all the pieces come together. I love the chemistry between main characters, Jane Ryland and Jake Brogan, and look forward to their next adventure. 5 out of 10.

[John Machata · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.25 stars. Not bad. Way too many I should have told or done something, but made the inevitable decision to defer for questionable reasons, for my tastes. And the stage is simply too narrow- a couple in witness protection just happen to overlook a death scene of woman who was caught up in the same scandal prompting their flight from West Coast to East?! And the author felt the need to explain things to the reader rather than permit information to flow naturally from the text. Still pretty well done- worth the time spent turning the pages.

[Tamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review to come soon.

Quick thoughts:
Jane Ryland is one of my fav characters. Quick smart and always looking for truth and justice- she's someone you can cheer for.

In this book, especially, the characters need someone like Jane in their corner, because of the issue: rape on college campuses.

It is VERY good!!

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hank has an amazing gift for juggling several characters with complex storylines that all fit together.

Her fast-paced, immediate approach to the story has readers captured from page one.

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Hank Phillippi Ryan is one of my absolutely favorite authors and her books just keep getting better and better. I can't wait for the next one!

[Katherine Decker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great thriller involving Jane and Jake. Interesting characters and plot twists make for a real page- turner.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook narrated by Xe Sands, and purchased from Audible.

The last (so far) Jane Ryland television journalist story.

[Gloria Feit · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the publisher: When Boston television reporter Jane Ryland reports a hit-and-run, she soon learns she saw more than a cara crash - - she witnessed the collapse of an alibi. Working on an expose of sexual assaults on college campuses for the station’s new documentary unit, Jane has just convinced a date rape victim to reveal her heartbreaking experience on camera. However, a disturbing, anonymous message that arrives in her office mail - - SAY NO MORE - - has Jane really and truly scared. Homicide detective Jake Brogan is on the hunt for the murderer of Avery Morgan, a hot-shot Hollywood screenwriter. Morgan’s year as a college guest lecturer just ended at the bottom of her swimming pool in the tight-knit and tight-lipped Boston community called The Reserve. As Jake chips his way through a code of silence as shatterproof as any street gang, he’ll learn that one newcomer to the neighborhood may have a secret of her own. A young woman faces a life-changing decision - - should she go public about her assault? Jane and Jake - - now semi-secretly engaged and beginning to reveal their relationship to the world - - are both on a quest for answers as they try to balance the consequences of revealing the truth.

In the opening pages, Detective Jake Brogan, grandson of a former Police Commissioner, one of the city’s top homicide cops and his partner, Paul DeLuca, discover Avery’s dead body at the bottom of her pool. That same morning, Jane witnesses the hit-and-run which puts her in the middle of a tough balancing act between her obligations as a citizen and those of a journalist. The entire fast-moving and page-turning plot takes place over a four-day period. A second story line deals with the issue which is the crux of Jane’s documentary being prepared for airing on her TV station, taking her into the lives of women who have reported the sexual assaults visited upon them and duly reported to Edward Tarrant, the dean of students at the University and the Title Nine coordinator whose job it is to make sure all assault complaints are investigated, if the students want that done. Jane, now nearly 34 years old, is a former award-winning investigative reporter who has spent more than seven years in news, often on the crime beat, though no longer covering crime.

Unfortunately, Tarrant sees himself as the “fireman . . . When there’s a public relations fire, I put it out.” As to the “incidents” themselves, his job, to him, calls for them to be “glossed over, erased, redeemed, or Band-Aided.” The timing of this novel, in this pre-election period when sexual assaults are in each day’s headlines, is nearly prescient.

Interestingly, p.o.v. changes are identifiable by the chapter-like (although often mid-chapter) headings. Another excellent entry in the series, and one which is recommended.

[Martha Francescato · Rating 5 out of 5]

As soon as I finished reading Say No More, I had to go back to the beginning. True –- I had read it fast, wanting to know how it ended. Too much suspense for my poor heart! But as I read it for the second time, I realized that what had happened was that I could not be just a witness. I needed to get inside the story. Its power was too strong and would not leave me. So, I stopped and tried to analyze my feelings. What was it that made this particular story so powerful?

It is not only the suspense. It also has to do with the characters. Their names indicate the sections devoted to them as each is given a turn, but they are so well portrayed that you know who they are without needing to read their names. Their turns are not in the first person but in the narrator’s voice. Still, having a section devoted to each made me feel I got to know them better, and understand their role in the story. And I also got to love Jake Brogan even more!

The manner in which the plots become interwoven is gripping and makes the reader want to know more all the time. There's not a single moment to be distracted. That's especially the case with the plot about Jane Ryland’s documentary, meant to reveal the ugly truth about college by exposing a tragic campus-wide reality – sexual abuse. She is told twice in anonymous letters to SAY NO MORE – just that. But Jane doesn’t know if this refers to her documentary or to her other endeavors. Neither does the reader. Double the suspense, as we know that Jane cannot be told what to do or say!

Opera plays a big role in the story, and “Tosca” takes on a life of its own. Opera also conveys the potent feeling expressed in Puccini’s famous “Nessun Dorma” aria (“None shall sleep”) from "Turandot". The feeling is also evident in this book -- just the one word repeated forcefully at the end, “Vincerò!” (I will win!) is enough. This word is repeated throughout the novel by one of the female characters, and in the end, together with remembering Tosca’s role in Puccini's opera by that name, where Tosca is a victim of an evil man, it helps the character become free. (By listening to the aria, one can one feel its strength more intensely. You may want to hear it to feel it: Pavarotti - Nessun Dorma 1994 [With Lyrics] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTFUM...)

Say No More is a story to be savored – intoxicating as a good wine, satisfying as all chocolate ... stimulating, seducing, possessing a unique and magical quality, as all of Ryan’s other books. Every new book makes me like it better than the ones before, which only attests to the intensity and accomplishments of this author’s writing.

Please, Hank Phillippi Ryan, do say more. And soon!

[Liz Milliron]

It's kind of a trope - people say the latest book an author wrote is "the best ever."

In Hank Phillip Ryan's case it happens to be true.

Say No More starts with a seemingly innocent event. Reporter Jane Ryland witnesses a hit-and-run. Not all that dramatic...or is it?

At the same time, Detective Jake Brogan responds to a dead woman in a pool. Accident...or something more sinister?

You meet a scheming college administrator, a woman who is definitely keeping secrets, and a young college girl with a heart-breaking past. Each story thread comes in seamlessly. It's like watching a tapestry being woven. The threads, which don't look like they'll go together at all, start to create the picture of the book. You can mostly see it, but the full picture is incomplete. It might work - but how?

But Ryan is a master tapestry-weaver. And by the time you hit that final chapter, the tapestry is fuller and richer than you could have believed.

I'm not someone who's often "sold" a book because of blurbs, but I have to agree with one from Lee Child (I think it was him - I don't have the book in front of me): I knew Ryan was good, but I didn't know she was this good.

This clearly isn't "the end" for Jane and Jake - there's still a lot of questions to be answered by that final page. But man, I'll be eagerly anticipating the next installment, and wondering how Ryan is going to top Say No More.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hank Phillippi Ryan has brought us another award winning Jane Ryland thriller! Taken from headline stories, Jane and Jake once again are once again facing death and injustice in their lives. Carefully crafted storylines start as separate threads, and Hank’s ability to weave them into a tense, riveting and fast moving thriller keep you turning the pages wondering what will happen next. Jane reports a hit and run, but soon learns the police want more than she may be willing to give. She is also working with the stations new documentary unit to expose a series of sexual assaults at a prestigious Boston college. But an anonymous message…SAY NO MORE…shows up at her home and she isn’t sure what to be silent about. Is she in danger by doing her job? Or is it more? Detective Jake Brogan is investigating the murder of a Hollywood screenwriter turned acting teacher and is juggling the safety of an informant along with his search for a killer. Will Jane be safe? Will Jake find answers? Will everything come crashing down around them? Hank is a master of her craft, and will keep you wondering what will happen next as the stories crisscross and merge through the pages. Another pulse pounding thriller, not to be missed from Boston’s own treasure, Hank Phillippi Ryan!

[Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this new Jane Ryland thriller.

The disparate parts of the story were fast moving, thus keeping your interest in each storyline as it unfolded. And Ryan's deft touch in tying them together is always right.

One part of the story I found fascinating was how the victim of a sexual assault ended up being able to prove that her attacker was not guilty of another crime he was accused of. You could feel the tension surrounding the decision whether to provide the alibi or not.

All in all, Hank Phillippi Ryan has yet another winning entry in her Ryland series and continually renews the appetite for learning more about her characters.

[Georgiana Huizenga · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this latest addition to the Jane Ryland series quite a lot. There are several stories here. First, Jane is witness to a hit and run accident, then there is a possible murder, and finally the story of a rape at a college campus. It is interesting to see the way they all tie together. It is also interesting to see the growing relationship between Jane and Jake who are two very appealing protagonists.

[Mary Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

My only regret is that I read Hank's books too fast! Always a thrill sharing a story with Jane & Jake. Love these characters.

[M'Lou · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite of the series, so far -- stories interweave to the satisfying conclusion.

[David Freas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve liked this series from the get-go. Say No More is a solid addition to it.

A front cover blurb calls it ‘A rocket-paced thriller.’ I’d say it’s more like a long high-speed trip on the Interstate. I’m more partial to books like that anyway. I like stories that let me catch my breath every so often.

Like every book in the series, this one has Jane and Jake pursuing separate investigations – Jane a story about rapes on college campuses, Jake the murder of a professor – that eventually run into each other. But Jane’s life is complicated by witnessing a hit and run and Jake’s by a CI in danger. Meanwhile, their relationship continues to grow and evolve at a real-world pace.

But two things seemed off to me.

In the opening chapter, Jane and Fiola are in the TV station’s motor pool Ford and Jane mentions its leather seats. I’d think if the station was buying Fords, they wouldn’t opt up to leather seats, would stick with the basic cloth or vinyl ones.

And in the fourth chapter, when the cop greets Jake at the murder scene, it’s never made clear whether T’shombe Pereira is male or female until much later in the chapter. It’s a minor point, but it kept me wondering instead of focusing on the story.

The ending left Jake and Jane’s future a bit up in the air. Another author I enjoy did that with two of his series, and I keep waiting for him to continue their stories. I hope Ms. Ryan will continue with Jake and Jane’s story, because when she does, I’ll read them.

[Andrew Langert · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book that I have ready from this highly-acclaimed and award-winning offer. This book (from 2016) is the 5th of a series. So I had high hopes for this book, but I struggled to get through it.
My struggles with the book stem from its complicated structure. There are multiple story lines: a couple hit-and-run accidents, the drowning of a visiting college professor and a date rape case. The two main characters are a male police detective and a female TV reporter, who are trying to conceal a romance they share with each other. But there are other characters and the book jumps between the story lines and the points of view of these many characters. This causes the story lines to lose momentum.
Instead of being satisfies with how things come together at the end, I was merely relieved.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jane Ryland thinks she's finally got her personal life and professional ethics sorted out: she can keep dating homicide detective Jake Brogan and maintain her journalistic integrity by only working on hard-hitting documentaries, not breaking news. On her way to an interview for her exposé on campus rape, though, she witnesses a hit-and-run that puts Jane herself into the story. Meanwhile, Jake is investigating a college professor's drowning in a blue-blooded, tight-lipped neighborhood. Inevitably, everything is interconnected, the pair find their loyalties tested, and failures in communication blow up spectacularly. The frustration of the lovers' perpetual battle with their professions is starting to impinge on the fun of the mysteries.

[Karen J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Great Jane and Jake Mystery

This mystery solving couple combine forces, within moral and legal restraints of the jobs; and they are successful in the pursuit of justice. This author continues to weave webs of intrigue and suspense. The characters, both major and minor, are well developed . I especially appreciate Ms. Ryan's ability to describe action through realistic dialogue,. I continue to read this series with eager anticipation. Ms
Ryan is one of my favorite authors.
I always read the complete book including her closing remarks. Her acknowledgementshumble and thanks to the special people in her writing world are warm and humble. She always thanks her readers which is very endearing to me. Thank You, Ms Ryan for sharing your talent.

[Shelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jake and Jane continue to try to navigate their relationship and their careers. This time it's a question of who saw what, and whether they're obligated to say anything about it. Jane and Jake navigate multiple situations where the issue of what to say, and what a person is obligated to say, is key. Of course, all these situations prove to be tied together.
At times I find Jane very annoying. I clearly don't think like a reporter. To me, there's an easy answer to all of Jane's questions and that's to do the right thing as a human being. If you witness a hit and run, of course you step forward and tell what you saw. I have fewer problems with Jake holding things back from Jane - a cop has to keep things from on-going investigations quiet to do his job (and that goes double when you can't be sure your fiancee won't use what you tell her in a story). These two still have a LOT to navigate here, balancing their work and their relationship.

[A.B. Funkhauser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hank Phillippi Ryan is an investigative reporter out of Boston, and so it was with great excitement that I tucked into this, her latest, with great anticipation. Writers who live / observe their material craft fast reads, and this was true of SAY NO MORE. I flew through it, and then I had to go back and read it again. Multiple plot lines and characters drew me along because I love big stories that extract commitment. The subject matter is timely--the culture of silence surrounding rape--and Phillippi Ryan goes deep. Clearly, she knows her subject. I'll read more from this author. 5 stars

[Jacqulyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hank Phillippi Ryan is one of my favorite mystery writers. I discovered her Jane Ryland series at a book signing in Fort Myers, FL and I have been hooked ever since. "Say No More" is now my official fave, although I say that after reading each of her novels. In "Say No More", TV investigative reporter Jane Ryland's work on a documentary dealing with sexual assaults on campus, puts her in direct conflict with Boston police detective Jake Brogan, who inconveniently also happens to be her fiancé. There are many exciting, believable, twists and turns. Enjoy the ride. I sure did.

[Phair · Rating 2 out of 5]

Took until page 150 or more to get into this. If not for f2f group read I might have quit. Too many pov’s and what I called a “meanwhile” structure with a bunch of actions overlapping. It felt like trying to juggle too many balls at once. Jane is supposed to be the lead but I found her cop boyfriend, Jake, to be the more compelling character. Decent sense of the Boston setting. The ending kind of left you hanging about a potential major shift. Is this the end of this series (no new title in 3 years). Do I care??

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hank Phillippi Ryan's Jane Ryland has witnessed a car accident on her way to another story. Due to her investigative talents, she commits the scene and the driver to memory. But when she is asked to identify the driver, things go awry. Meanwhile, her boyfriend/fiance, Jake Brogan, is investigating the murder of a visiting professor who was found dead in her pool. Jane and Jake's cases intertwine, as usual, and their bosses don't seem to make it easy for them to do their job. This story involves fraud, sexual assaults/cover-ups and murder.
All in a day's work for Jane and Jake!