Book Review: Quiet Time

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Quiet Time     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Stephanie Kane
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Woman Main Character
Bantam, Oct 2001, $5.99, 384 pp.

In the small suburban town of Gillman, Sari Siegal and Tim Scott are going to be married and both are delighted at the prospect. Sari knows that the Scotts don't like her even as she senses there is something off kilter about them. However, she adheres to the belief that she is marrying the man, not the family. That myth explodes when Peggy Scott is murdered and her husband Warren is charged with the crime. Even though Tim and his sister insist that their father is innocent, Sari has some doubt based on discrepancies in Warren's story.

She doesn't express those doubts to the police and eventually the charges against Warren are dropped. Sari and Tim marry but a few years later he walks out on her, unable to cope with anything connected to that time in his life. Sari teams up with the former detective in charge of the Scott case in the hope that with a little teamwork, they will bring a murderer to justice.

This is an atmospheric gothic like work of suspense that imbues the reader with the feeling that something is going to happen very soon. Sari is an easy character to like; vulnerable and hurting yet determined to see that justice is served. The supporting characters are very well developed and play a pivotal role in moving the story line forward. Stephanie Kane is a terrific storyteller who knows how to grab the attention of the audience and keeps it.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner