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Prime Suspect #3
Silent Victims
The drag queen named Vera Reynolds swayed on-stage singing "Falling in Love Again." And a sixteen-year-old boy lay in Vera's fire-engulfed apartment . . . very, very dead. He was a "rent boy," a sex-for-hire street kid who catered to the tastes of special customers. It was the kind of murder Soho's Vice Squad saw often. But the influential do-gooder who was a prime suspect in this one made the young boy's death different--a ticking bomb able to blast open the nasty, secret lives of politicians, judges . . . and cops. Detective Jane Tennison had moved up the career ladder through sheer guts and an unstoppable passion for justice. Now, on her first day as the head of the Vice Squad, she caught a case threatening to wreck her career. She had been told whom to arrest--and whom to back off from-in the murder of the "rent boy." And she couldn't go with the program. She knew a destroyer of children was out there. She knew she had a to save her future or go after him like an avenging angel, and damn the consequences to hell . . . .
313 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1993
461 people are currently reading
832 people want to read
About the author
Lynda La Plante
123 books1,825 followersLynda La Plante, CBE (born Lynda Titchmarsh) is a British author, screenwriter, and erstwhile actress (her performances in Rentaghost and other programmes were under her stage name of Lynda Marchal), best known for writing the Prime Suspect television crime series.
Her first TV series as a scriptwriter was the six part robbery series Widows, in 1983, in which the widows of four armed robbers carry out a heist planned by their deceased husbands.
In 1991 ITV released Prime Suspect which has now run to seven series and stars Helen Mirren as DCI Jane Tennison. (In the United States Prime Suspect airs on PBS as part of the anthology program Mystery!) In 1993 La Plante won an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for her work on the series. In 1992 she wrote at TV movie called Seekers, starring Brenda Fricker and Josette Simon, produced by Sarah Lawson.
She formed her own television production company, La Plante Productions, in 1994 and as La Plante Productions she wrote and produced the sequel to Widows, the equally gutsy She's Out (ITV, 1995). The name "La Plante" comes from her marriage to writer Richard La Plante, author of the book Mantis and Hog Fever. La Plante divorced Lynda in the early 1990s.
Her output continued with The Governor (ITV 1995-96), a series focusing on the female governor of a high security prison, and was followed by a string of ratings pulling miniseries: the psycho killer nightmare events of Trial & Retribution (ITV 1997-), the widows' revenge of the murders of their husbands & children Bella Mafia (1997) (starring Vanessa Redgrave), the undercover police unit operations of Supply and Demand (ITV 1998), videogame/internet murder mystery Killer Net (Channel 4 1998) and the female criminal profiler cases of Mind Games (ITV 2001).
Two additions to the Trial and Retribution miniseries were broadcast during 2006.
Her first TV series as a scriptwriter was the six part robbery series Widows, in 1983, in which the widows of four armed robbers carry out a heist planned by their deceased husbands.
In 1991 ITV released Prime Suspect which has now run to seven series and stars Helen Mirren as DCI Jane Tennison. (In the United States Prime Suspect airs on PBS as part of the anthology program Mystery!) In 1993 La Plante won an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for her work on the series. In 1992 she wrote at TV movie called Seekers, starring Brenda Fricker and Josette Simon, produced by Sarah Lawson.
She formed her own television production company, La Plante Productions, in 1994 and as La Plante Productions she wrote and produced the sequel to Widows, the equally gutsy She's Out (ITV, 1995). The name "La Plante" comes from her marriage to writer Richard La Plante, author of the book Mantis and Hog Fever. La Plante divorced Lynda in the early 1990s.
Her output continued with The Governor (ITV 1995-96), a series focusing on the female governor of a high security prison, and was followed by a string of ratings pulling miniseries: the psycho killer nightmare events of Trial & Retribution (ITV 1997-), the widows' revenge of the murders of their husbands & children Bella Mafia (1997) (starring Vanessa Redgrave), the undercover police unit operations of Supply and Demand (ITV 1998), videogame/internet murder mystery Killer Net (Channel 4 1998) and the female criminal profiler cases of Mind Games (ITV 2001).
Two additions to the Trial and Retribution miniseries were broadcast during 2006.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
October 29, 2017
This is the 3rd book in the Prime Suspect series by author Lynda La Plante. Another solid novel that was easily a 3 star rating and very close to a a 4.
I love the characters in Lynda La Plante books, they are so big and well described. The characters don't get any better than DI Chief Inspector Jane Tennison, a strong woman who is driven to extreme and won't let anyone or anything get in her way.
When a rent boy is found dead in a burning apartment it is left to Detective Chief Inspector Jane Tennison to lead this high profile case that becomes a threat to her own career. She discovers that an high level public figure is her prime suspect, a man with connections to politicians, judges, and Scotland Yard and she is given a very clear message about the direction some very important people would like her investigation to take. If Jane Tennison is going to expose the truth she will also run the risk of finishing her own career.
I love the characters in Lynda La Plante books, they are so big and well described. The characters don't get any better than DI Chief Inspector Jane Tennison, a strong woman who is driven to extreme and won't let anyone or anything get in her way.
When a rent boy is found dead in a burning apartment it is left to Detective Chief Inspector Jane Tennison to lead this high profile case that becomes a threat to her own career. She discovers that an high level public figure is her prime suspect, a man with connections to politicians, judges, and Scotland Yard and she is given a very clear message about the direction some very important people would like her investigation to take. If Jane Tennison is going to expose the truth she will also run the risk of finishing her own career.
November 29, 2019
Five stars for the strong, determined, inspirational female protagonist, Jane Tennison. Four stars overall which may be a bit biased as at the time this was written the themes were groundbreaking, however, they are less controversial and more common in literature nowadays.
Tennison doggedly investigates the murder of a ‘rent boy’ found burnt to death in a flat. The leads take her into the Soho transvestite scene and she starts exposing those in high places. The power of those clandestine politicians, judges, high-ranking officials and so-called do gooders block her every move.
La Plante writes with such power and purpose it is difficult to put the book down as the injustices fuelled me to keep reading, the chauvinism and overt homosexual slurs burn through with such intensity all I wanted was Jane to prove her case.
An oldie but a goodie!
Tennison doggedly investigates the murder of a ‘rent boy’ found burnt to death in a flat. The leads take her into the Soho transvestite scene and she starts exposing those in high places. The power of those clandestine politicians, judges, high-ranking officials and so-called do gooders block her every move.
La Plante writes with such power and purpose it is difficult to put the book down as the injustices fuelled me to keep reading, the chauvinism and overt homosexual slurs burn through with such intensity all I wanted was Jane to prove her case.
An oldie but a goodie!
June 22, 2022
"Not always the best man wins"
I think I'm seeing La Plante's style. At first you will not like Jane, but by the end you don't exactly know why you didn't like her or if maybe you still don't really like her?
I enjoyed these books, but I'm not sure if I'm a fan of La Plante.
I think I'm seeing La Plante's style. At first you will not like Jane, but by the end you don't exactly know why you didn't like her or if maybe you still don't really like her?
I enjoyed these books, but I'm not sure if I'm a fan of La Plante.
September 22, 2025
This was a tough read due to the subject of sexual exploitation of children by the rich and powerful. Compelling writing kept me moving forward. This is the last in the Prime Suspect series, and the one that affected me the most.
November 10, 2016
I've read more than a few books by this author and they have been either 2 or 3 stars. I think this book is my last one. I didn't care for it. I can't say it was awful, because it wasn't....it just comes down to this: it just isn't my thing. The characters are stereotypes and that just makes everything about them predictable even down to the story line. They all act accordingly. It feels too choreographed for me. But I LOVED Davina Porter's narration. She kept me listening to the very end.
January 29, 2018
The Prime Suspect series has intrigued me for quite some time, and having now finished all three books I can honestly say I was a bit disappointed. This final book, Silent Victims, was easily my favourite, but even then it wasn’t anything mind blowing.
In truth, Silent Victims has left me rethinking my ratings of the prior two books. I gave all three books a three-star rating, but this final book is a much stronger read. Despite how much stronger this book was, I couldn’t bring myself to give it a four-star rating. When comparing this book to my usual four-star ratings, I found it to be lacking. Therefore, I consider this more of a three-point-five-star rating that didn’t quite make it to being rounded up – and the two prior books were more so two-point-five-star ratings that did make it to being rounded up. Complicated, I know, but this book made me rethink just how much the two prior books failed to hit the right marks.
As stated, Silent Victims was my favourite of the three Prime Suspect books. It was so much stronger than the two prior reads, keeping me entertained throughout. I still had a number of issues – it is much the same as my issues with the prior books, a reflection of how this series has not aged well – but as a whole I was a lot more invested in the story.
The reason I enjoyed this one so much more is because of the story. There was a bigger mystery to this story, with a number of different elements being involved throughout. The two prior books were much simpler reads, whereas Silent Victims has you guessing how things come together. There is still a lot of predictability to be found, but with so many interwoven elements there is guaranteed to be something that piques your interest and slips by your attention before you can figure everything out.
Although this third book was the most enjoyable, it has not convinced me Lynda La Plante is for me. I’m glad to say I have finally read the Prime Suspect books, but I doubt I will be coming back for more of the author.
In truth, Silent Victims has left me rethinking my ratings of the prior two books. I gave all three books a three-star rating, but this final book is a much stronger read. Despite how much stronger this book was, I couldn’t bring myself to give it a four-star rating. When comparing this book to my usual four-star ratings, I found it to be lacking. Therefore, I consider this more of a three-point-five-star rating that didn’t quite make it to being rounded up – and the two prior books were more so two-point-five-star ratings that did make it to being rounded up. Complicated, I know, but this book made me rethink just how much the two prior books failed to hit the right marks.
As stated, Silent Victims was my favourite of the three Prime Suspect books. It was so much stronger than the two prior reads, keeping me entertained throughout. I still had a number of issues – it is much the same as my issues with the prior books, a reflection of how this series has not aged well – but as a whole I was a lot more invested in the story.
The reason I enjoyed this one so much more is because of the story. There was a bigger mystery to this story, with a number of different elements being involved throughout. The two prior books were much simpler reads, whereas Silent Victims has you guessing how things come together. There is still a lot of predictability to be found, but with so many interwoven elements there is guaranteed to be something that piques your interest and slips by your attention before you can figure everything out.
Although this third book was the most enjoyable, it has not convinced me Lynda La Plante is for me. I’m glad to say I have finally read the Prime Suspect books, but I doubt I will be coming back for more of the author.
July 29, 2023
We love a bit of Tennison. This one does everything you expect from this series and this author. It hasn't aged pitch perfectly at every moment, but it has places where it is way before its time. Not my favourite in the series so far, but a solid commute audio for the week.
April 9, 2013
Fabulous read. DI Tennyson on the trail. There are so many people in this book I had to write them down to keep track but that said, riveting read. Quick also, this was easily a one sitting read. Gritty, compelling.
May 15, 2022
Bei Tennison weiß man nie wirklich, ob man sie lieben oder hassen soll. Sie ist ein zwiespältiger Charakter, der einem nicht direkt sympathisch ist und der so einige unangenehme Eigenschaften hat, der einem aber auch Respekt abfordert und den man in gewisser Weise bewundert. Das alleine macht ihre Fälle schon interessant, weil sie eben sehr menschlich herüberkommt.
Die Story selbst war gut, obwohl das Ende irgendwie sehr plötzlich kam undmich auch nicht ganz befriedigt hat.
Die Story selbst war gut, obwohl das Ende irgendwie sehr plötzlich kam undmich auch nicht ganz befriedigt hat.
April 10, 2024
Complex & satisfying!
June 30, 2025
A reminder of the harsh era for women, gay and trans people. Love the main character who tries to right the wrongs of this time.
May 23, 2022
Jane growing in confidence still taking on the criminal’s and facing her colleagues prejudiced against her for being a woman great book again
May 22, 2021
The main character was so unlikable but the stories were so good I kept with the series hoping she'd turn it around. She never does.
January 30, 2020
3.5 stars
August 29, 2021
Sexist, homophobic and outdated.
June 26, 2022
( Format : Audiobook )
"Ruthless compunction, a chilling determination."
Book three in the Prime Suspect series featuring Jane Tennison, now about to head up Vice and, once again, is resented because she is female. She is late on her first day, feeling unwell, and walks in on the news of the dead body of a local rent boy found in a burned apartment.. Numerous colourful characters, both in and out of the police force, conspiracy and threats from both, sides with an unpleasantly sordid base line.
Once again, narration is by Rachel Atkins, with clear English pronunciation and good intonation though just a tad slow in delivery: best to speed up playback to 1.2 or 1.3. She is good but for this reader the voice does not fit, being to down beat in tone and, although the main protagonist is female, almost all of the many other players are male requiring too much ingenuity on the part of Ms.Atkins to successfully give voice to them all.
A solid police procedural which would work well as a stand alone, downloaded from the Audible + programme. Thank you, Audible.
"Ruthless compunction, a chilling determination."
Book three in the Prime Suspect series featuring Jane Tennison, now about to head up Vice and, once again, is resented because she is female. She is late on her first day, feeling unwell, and walks in on the news of the dead body of a local rent boy found in a burned apartment.. Numerous colourful characters, both in and out of the police force, conspiracy and threats from both, sides with an unpleasantly sordid base line.
Once again, narration is by Rachel Atkins, with clear English pronunciation and good intonation though just a tad slow in delivery: best to speed up playback to 1.2 or 1.3. She is good but for this reader the voice does not fit, being to down beat in tone and, although the main protagonist is female, almost all of the many other players are male requiring too much ingenuity on the part of Ms.Atkins to successfully give voice to them all.
A solid police procedural which would work well as a stand alone, downloaded from the Audible + programme. Thank you, Audible.
Read
April 29, 2020Tennison is transferred to SoHo to lead the vice squad. Otley is working there and not pleased to see her. She is asked to investigate a 'rent boys' ring, which leads to a murder. As it is related, and really Tennison's strong suit, she insists on investigating. There is something strange going on that smacks of a coverup. Portions of the case are solved, but not all of the elements and a nasty character goes free. Tennison 'solves' the unfinished portions in her own way.
I had to read this as it was about to expire from my library queue. I wanted to find out what happened to the Tennison character, but the blatant and pervasive mysogeny make this series hard to read. The endings usually make the pain and suffering worth it, but I always feel reluctant. This book definitely leaves the reader hanging on a number of character development points.
I had to read this as it was about to expire from my library queue. I wanted to find out what happened to the Tennison character, but the blatant and pervasive mysogeny make this series hard to read. The endings usually make the pain and suffering worth it, but I always feel reluctant. This book definitely leaves the reader hanging on a number of character development points.
April 15, 2021
DCI Jane Tennison heads up the Vice Squad investigating the death of an underage male prostitute. She inadvertently uncovers a wider network that prey on the underaged and those that seek to protect the predators. This is, by far, the most gripping and yet hardest to read Tennison story I’ve encountered. The messy conclusion reminded me of Donna Leon’s books, deeply unsatisfying and therefore probably all the more realistic. La Plante has always pulled no punches - she paints Tennison and all her colleagues as morally-ambiguous, driven, petty, ambitious schemers who sacrifice their personal lives for the job, living for the next case result. It’s harsh but fascinating. Rachel Atkins is undoubtedly one of the best audio narrators I’ve encountered, breathing fire and brimstone into Tennison’s character while, in this book, even singing the songs accompanying the drag acts - stunning!
April 10, 2022
Consistent with the rest of the series.
This episode seems to be a bit more involved. I listen to the audiobooks, and I had to rewind and relisten quite a bit to get all the details.
It is interesting reading this series written in the early 1990s and seeing how it holds up now. I personally thinks it holds up well. It is shocking now for a different reason than it would have been back in the early 90's. A good depiction of exactly how far the world has come and how far we still have to go.
Only downside is that it doesn't really feel like an end. So I can see why the TV series went to 6 episodes.
This episode seems to be a bit more involved. I listen to the audiobooks, and I had to rewind and relisten quite a bit to get all the details.
It is interesting reading this series written in the early 1990s and seeing how it holds up now. I personally thinks it holds up well. It is shocking now for a different reason than it would have been back in the early 90's. A good depiction of exactly how far the world has come and how far we still have to go.
Only downside is that it doesn't really feel like an end. So I can see why the TV series went to 6 episodes.
January 2, 2022
This is DCI Tennison series, book 3, and a very intense one at that. It involves the investigation into homeless kids, rent boys, a murder actually. It really makes you think twice about how people in power abuse the system and get away with so many wrongdoings especially when it comes to children.
While reading this it was like watching the movie roll out. Written in such a fashion that is just so easy to visualize and get immersed in it. Complicated investigation that you feel as exhausted as the inspectors.
It grabs you and reels you right in to the very end.
While reading this it was like watching the movie roll out. Written in such a fashion that is just so easy to visualize and get immersed in it. Complicated investigation that you feel as exhausted as the inspectors.
It grabs you and reels you right in to the very end.
January 8, 2018
I read the first three Prime Suspect novels one after the other, and I think the author gets lazy. The first was brilliant. By this one the writing was awful, clunky and jumped all over the place. And I decided I don't really like Tennison. I think the TV series is so much better! And I don't often concede that. Mirren made the character more complex than the writing in the book offers. Not sure how many more Prime Suspects there are, but I won't waste my precious reading time on them.
March 18, 2017
'Detective' novels have never really appealed to me, although I have many friends and family who are great fans. Anyway, this was the only book available when I had to hang around waiting, so I opened it and started reading.
I think I was always worried that there would be too many 'names' to keep up with and I would have to keep looking back to remind myself who was who. I am, also, never very good at working out clues when I watch detective programmes on tv, so thought would be the same in books. Well, it was a bit like that - too many people to keep up with but by about 1/2 way through I was up to speed. And, this story wasn't really a mystery, so there were no clues to follow.
Based in the '90s, it was a bit dated (I think I should probably call it vintage :)) so some subject matters were a bit clumsy. However, it was readable and the story flowed.
Would I read another crime/detective novel? Yes, but not immediately.
I think I was always worried that there would be too many 'names' to keep up with and I would have to keep looking back to remind myself who was who. I am, also, never very good at working out clues when I watch detective programmes on tv, so thought would be the same in books. Well, it was a bit like that - too many people to keep up with but by about 1/2 way through I was up to speed. And, this story wasn't really a mystery, so there were no clues to follow.
Based in the '90s, it was a bit dated (I think I should probably call it vintage :)) so some subject matters were a bit clumsy. However, it was readable and the story flowed.
Would I read another crime/detective novel? Yes, but not immediately.
December 30, 2018
A police procedural that moves along without the dullness often hitched to such novels. Jane Tennison is an interesting personality and well-drawn. While the culprits are easily identified early on –this entry in the series focuses on rent boys—the focus is on Tennison’s pursuit of sufficient information to make her case.
June 14, 2020
We get to see so many nuances in the character of Tennison in this book. The possibilities of the life she could have had, what could still have, and the choices that she makes.
The final scenes with her interviewing the perpetrator are riveting, even more so for the fact that she doesn't have full victory before her.
A great way to finish the series.
The final scenes with her interviewing the perpetrator are riveting, even more so for the fact that she doesn't have full victory before her.
A great way to finish the series.
February 28, 2023
Although there were further Prime Suspect stories on TV after this, this book is La Plante’s third and final story in the series. Although the she has written a great prequel series about the Jane Tennison character. This story follows the murder of a young boy subjected to a paedophile ring who was intending to sell his story to the press.
December 12, 2025
This is such an excellent series!!! So glad I stumbled into it!! I love the tenacity of the characters and the plot is really delicious in this one. Can't gush about it enough! Hard hitting and undoubtedly well researched, it isn't to be missed as the plot is cleverly twisted to the point that you're not sure if things will happen or not.
Loved it!
Loved it!
July 16, 2020
Riveting
As with all the Jane Tennison stories, this one didn’t let you down. I could just keep reading them ‘till the cow’s come home. Linda La Plante has the nack to keep you intrigued until the last page.
As with all the Jane Tennison stories, this one didn’t let you down. I could just keep reading them ‘till the cow’s come home. Linda La Plante has the nack to keep you intrigued until the last page.
March 6, 2021
Was familiar with character from the series. Amazing to see the endemic prejudice in the Police Force at that time. Technology has moved on from then too. The plot line is still very relevant in 2021.
August 15, 2023
3.5 rounded down. The Prime Suspect novels are usually full of terrible / horrific crimes, but this one had such crimes I was shocked. I audibly swore upon reading some of the developments. It was good, but the brutality and the nature of the crimes themselves really hit me.
August 19, 2023
Ironically it's a real slow burn. Slightly dated but still enjoyable.
It's a shame the author never wrote another installment. I didn't really enjoy how the TV show continued Jane story (I'm lookin at you series 5💀)
It's a shame the author never wrote another installment. I didn't really enjoy how the TV show continued Jane story (I'm lookin at you series 5💀)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews