A Desperate Silence: A Dr. Sylvia Strange Novel    by Sarah Lovett Order:  USA  Can Pocket, 2003 (1998) Hardcover, Paperback Read an Excerpt      Reviewed by Mary Ann Smyth If you get a chance to pick up a Sarah Lovett book, do so. At once. You're in for the read of your life. Forensic psychologist Dr. Sylvia Strange tries to help a terrified little girl who is mute. In so doing Strange falls into a terrible world. There are drug traffickers, a man on death row who contends he is innocent, his sister who has dedicated her life to freeing him, the open country of New Mexico, the underworld of Mexico, and a demon in man's clothing who is pursuing the child. Incidentally, Sylvia's love life seems in peril. A Desperate Silence is a fast-paced, high action, and very, very well-written book. Just as my heart calmed down after one thrilling scene, the next page would bring on another in which I had to remind myself to breathe. The chase sequence is extremely well-done and exciting, and Strange's rescue by her dog is the stuff of movies. The child, Serena, is a tortured waif and Strange must use all her knowledge of child psychology to help. The bond that develops between the Doctor and Serena is tenuous but necessary to help the child regain trust in the world. If you haven't read any of Lovett's books, get the first one and work your way forward. If, like me, you've read them piece-meal, just continue to enjoy. I truly hope that Lovett is hard at work on another adventure of Dr. Sylvia Strange. I will be first in line for it. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Mystery books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews