Silent Witness

Jennie McGrady Mysteries #2

by Patricia H. Rushford

Jennie McGrady thinks her vacation is doomed when a bomb threat delays her flight to the dolphin research lab in Florida. But then she meets Sarah, a girl who desperately needs her help to solve a two-year-old murder, and Jennie’s detective instincts tell something is very wrong.

Sarah Stanford has lived in silence since her father’s death. Now she’s beginning to remember what happened the night of his murder—but what if the wrong person finds out she’s a witness?

Scott Chambers is a young, hot-headed environmentalist who teams up with Jennie in the Florida Keys. Unfortunately, Jennie soon finds out he has more than just a passing interest in the case.

Danger lurks just below the surface…

Genres: Young Adult, Mystery, Christian Fiction, Fiction, Audiobook, Christian, Childrens

176 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published August 1, 1993

About the author

Patricia H. Rushford, an award winning author and speaker, has extensive experience in writing and has authored over sixty books, both fiction and non-fiction. In addition to having a nursing degree and masters in counseling, she is also an artist and quilter.

The Jennie McGrady Mysteries for young adults have sold well over 500,000 copies. Silent Witness won the Silver Angel Award for Excellence in Media and was nominated for an Edgar Allen Poe Award by Mystery Writers of America. She also wrote the Max & Me Mysteries for middle grade.

The various mystery series for adults continue to receive great reviews. Her series include, The Helen Bradley Mysteries, The Angel Delaney Mysteries, The McAllister Files and her latest, the Artisan Mysteries.

Her newest releases are: Watercolor Dreams, Deadly Deception and The Quiltmaker's Daughter, both are romantic suspense novels featuring artists.
She has been awarded the Golden Quill Award by RWA- Desert Rose Chapter and earned honorable mention in the Silver Angel Awards.

Patricia is a member of ACFW and a number of other writing organizations. She has participated in such mystery events such as Bouchercon--the World Mystery Convention, Left Coast Crime, and other conventions for lovers of mystery and suspense. She manages a website and blog and has a presence on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Goodreads and Linked-in and also generates a newsletter. Called Mysterious Musings.

Additional info at www.patriciarushfordbooks.com

Reviews

[Katie]

A nice, nostalgic, unrealistic story to get my mind off coronavirus--even though it prompted my husband to frequently ask me how dolphin therapy was going 🤷🏻‍♀️

[Nattie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The annoyance factor really hurt the book.

The story is told in third person, but Jennie often talks to herself in first person through her inner voice. When I say often, I mean like several times on every single page of the book. The way this is done is very nauseating. Jennie's inner voice is obsessed with her last name. I kid you not, here is an example:

"Stop it, McGrady." "Relax, McGrady." "Wise up, McGrady." "Put a lid on it, McGrady." "Get real, McGrady." "Forget it, McGrady." "Give it up, McGrady." "For Pete's sake, McGrady." "Nice going, McGrady." "Good grief, McGrady." "Ease up, McGrady." "Better make this good, McGrady."

WHO does that? People have inner conversations, but who constantly uses their own name ad nauseam? There were about four of those types of comment on every page of the entire book! WHY! Totally distracted from the story.

[Katie Spatz · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Kara Fairchild · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book on my shelf recently and hadn't read it since I was a preteen. I read it again for something light and quick and actually enjoyed it. The main character has an annoying inner monologue and often refers to herself by her last name which is just weird. Nobody does that and I found it annoying. However, the actual plot and storyline are good. Girl faking a catatonic state trying to stay safe while trying to dig up the memory of who killed her father that is buried in her memory because of trauma and PTSD. I wish this was an adult book that was written more in depth because the plot is intriguing!

[Féline · Rating 5 out of 5]

12 year old me loved these books, and honestly, so does 26 year old me. Maybe not in the same way as YA and books meant for adults, but as mysteries goes, this was engulfing, even to a 26 year old, without some of the horrors I "see" in my regular books. And I love knowing it will all turn out okay in the end; plugs the suspension of daddy still missing (The only mystery I remember how ended, unfortunately, wish I didn't remember, would love to read these books for the first time again!)

I'd gift these books to and preteen who loves or likes to read!!

Review in English out of respect for my English followers.

[Mia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book! I love the plot and events. Basically Jennie goes to Florida with her grandmother to research dolphins and stuff for her birthday and her gram's writing career. Jennie meets a girl named Sarah that hasn't talked for 2 years since her fathers death. Jennie is determined to help her solve it. They go through many dangerous events and Jennie finds the truth about Sarah and what she saw that night of her fathers murder. This book was amazing and you should definitely read this series.

[Leanne Haynes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a definite step up from the first book in the series. Without the need for long introductions of characters, the plot included more details and twists. The danger element was also increased from the first book, which made me quickly turn pages to see how it would end!

[Cherish Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

(5☆ Would recommend & would read again)
I read 2 books out of this series when I was 13 and I remember really liking them. I decided to buy the entire series as an adult and read through the series. As an adult, I still really enjoy this series. Would definitely recommend.

[Amber Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good kid’s fiction novel. However, there was animal cruelty. Nothing gruesome and there weren’t details, but an animal did die so if that bothers you, skip this one, it won’t ruin the series for you.

[Lani Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely adored this book when I was a kid.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very inventive story. A little far fetched, but still a fun read for a teen.

[Johanne · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't like it at all tbh

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book didn't seem as well written as the first. It was still interesting enough to keep my attention but there were a few times I just had to put it down. At one point Gram gives $20 to someone for no reason. She is going into a place that is being protested and she gives one of the protesters $20. I am guessing to leave them alone. The author doesn't really say. Then Jennie meets this boy and he is really rude to her but as she walks away she thinks she has a crush on him? There are a few places that just don't make sense. By the end of the book it isn't as bad. I guess the author just needed to rush some things since the story is so short. I will probably pick up some of the others just because they are short easy reads.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder mastery with a teen aged detective.

Jennie got a trip to Orlando, Florida from her Gram for her 16th birthday present, but the flight is held up because of a bomb threat. Nick, her 5 year old brother, wants to go with them. She had been so upset that her mom had started dating Michael that she hadn't thought about Nick. They were going to have another plane ready in an hour to make sure they hadn't missed the bomb, but she could barely stand Nick's clinging! He wouldn't even let go long enough for her to go to the bathroom. Lisa, Jennie's cousin, teased her about Ryan. Ryan had gone fishing in Alaska & wasn't there to see her off. As they walked she overheard a man say, "Maggie, what if the bomb was meant for Sarah?"

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is the second book of a mystery series. This book is about how Jennie McGrady goes out to Florida with her Gram to visit the dolphin research lab. While in the airport Jennie overhears a conversation and meets a girl named Sarah then becomes her friend at the research lab. Sarah has witness the murder of her father, and after 2 years is still silent. The murder against father has been solved, or has it?
I like this book. There was no bad context in it. Throughout the book I would keep telling Jesse that he's the murderer, he did it. I'm glad to say that I my guess was right, and that he was the murderer.

[Shanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was the second book of a series, and I think I already know whats its about! Jennie went to Florida as a 16th birthday present with her grandma (a FBI undercover cop). She wants to look for her missing father. But she gets mixed up in a another mystery with another girl named Sarah. She helps Sarah find the murder who killed her father (sarah's father). But it's very hard since sarah only talk to jennie.

[The Third Place A Teen Library]

F RUS bk.2

[Amanda J]

Read this book as a teenager. It's part of a christian mystery series.

[Mariana · Rating 4 out of 5]

ok book. It got kind of boring at parts, but at other parts I loved it... over all... pretty good.

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

January 2023 reread, revised audiobook.

Sept 2014 reread.

Loved this series when I read it 10 years ago. Holds up well.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun series so far, at least her love triangle ended quickly & she didn't behave foolishly in it. A young pretty tee makes more functional sense as an object of one.

[B Boss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great

This book was great. Interesting but also mild so young adults could read it. Definitely worth it, tons of fun.