Silence the Whispers

After 10-year-old Hayden Olson found his father dead, an apparent suicide, the authorities wasted no time pinning the kidnapping of six-year-old child heiress Cameron Somerton on him—he was, after all, their gardener. But 28 years later, H.J. can't quell suspicion that his father was murdered and framed. Returning to the Oklahoma estate where the kidnapping and suicide occurred, he finds Cameron, a beloved playmate before the tragic incidents, sure that she can fill in some answers to his long-simmering questions. Instead, he finds more mysteries to investigate, including the circumstances of Cameron's mother's death and the intentions of Cameron's cruel stepfather, Robert DuChamp. Bestselling novelist London (Flashback ) has created a deliberate, atmospheric tale of dangerous passion and slippery memory, giving characters room to play out their suspicion and mutual paranoia. Although frequent sex scenes should please London's fans, some will be frustrated by repetitive exposition and the way hero and heroine withhold information from each other. The final twist will surprise few, and those seeking a coherent thriller will be left scratching their heads over several plot points, especially the impossibly shoddy police work upon which the story hinges. (July)