Extract:
Maggie had known what was wrong with David the minute she opened the door and seen his pale, puffy face. He looked exhausted and fragile. When they had first discovered what was wrong with him all those years ago, it had been a difficult time for them both. It was such a terrible position for anyone to find themselves in and not an easy decision to make. Although Maggie had done her best to advise him, and the doctors had been kind, David had refused almost all treatment, only agreeing to non-invasive therapy to control his hormones and have a near-normal life. Judging from the state of him it was time to seek treatment.She knew the thought of it terrified him, and the timing was terrible, what with the new job and all. It was also the wrong time for him to leave her. He would need all the help he could get in the coming months, and she was all he had. She didn’t want to nag him, so she said it once and left it at that.Although she cared for him deeply, it would be far too painful to pretend that nothing was wrong between them.
Maggie had always looked forward to going to work every day, but today she wished she was going somewhere else. Despite what most people imagine, the Hospice was a peaceful, caring place, the inhabitants optimistic and cheerful. This was what had drawn her to the job in the first place, that and how the people approaching the end of their lives could be so calm and accepting.
People died in the Hospice almost every day, but it was never a sad occasion. More like seeing someone off on holiday. Maggie always wanted to ask a patient what it felt like and to explain how they came to accept what was happening to them, but it was against the rules. You never used the word ‘dying’ either, keeping the conversation casual. Even when asked outright, Maggie always remained quietly optimistic and never voiced an opinion of her own. Her job was to help them find their quiet spot and keep them there.
Some of the patients had already lost hope by the time they arrived at the hospice, refusing to wait, insisting the doctors help them to shuffle off this world. They dreaded spending whatever time they had left stuck in what they wrongly imagined was a painful holding pen with nothing else to do but sit in a corner and wait.
The Review:
In Silent Payback, Jaye Marie writes a taut and engaging thriller in which she balances and interweaves the internal personal struggle of detective David Mallory with his intense search for a serial killer who is targeting victims in Brighton.
The reader is taken on a roller-coaster ride, as Jaye Marie creates both suspense about the detective’s investigation of the terrible killer and involvement and fear for the detective who is facing a difficult personal struggle.
The novel is atmospheric, suspenseful, and a wonderful ride! I read the book in one sitting, and I am proud to be part of this blog tour! I will not reveal anything that could be a spoiler and would dampen your enjoyment of this fine novel.
If you like books that incorporate both internal and external struggles and which engage the reader in the difficulties of the characters, if you enjoy books that hold your attention from the beginning to the end, and if you search for novels that are compelling and deeply readable, then Silent Payback should be on your to-be-read list!
I recommend this novel highly, and I give it 5 stars out of 5!
Again, you should read Silent Payback!
About Jaye Marie:
Jaye Marie is affectionately known as the giant redwood, probably because she is very tall, but also because of her love for trees. Most afternoons she can be found repotting or taking care of her bonsai collection, but her love of detective mysteries soon brings her back indoors. She has written three fiction novels in this genre, Nine Lives, Out of Time and Crossfire and is looking forward to publishing Silent Payback, her fourth book.
She spends any free time learning everything she can about self-publishing, and despite all the obstacles, she never gives up on anything and is as stubborn as a mule. You can email her at jayemarie01@btinternet.com She also shares a website http://jenanita01.com with Anita Dawes…
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