First off, having a reporter as the protagonist makes this crime thriller different from most others (at least those that have detectives or law enforcement as the investigators). Those are great, too, but it was as refreshing to have a different perspective on the investigation. Jessie’s personal history also provided fodder for her research. There were a few red herrings and dropped clues (I don’t like loose ends) but all in all, it was a good story and an excellent first entry in a new series. For more thoughts, please visit my blog at Fireflies and Free Kicks Fiction Reviews. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for a digital ARC of this book.

Ooh, a great start to a brilliant new series! Jessie Tucker, a crime reporter is stunned when a violent murder victim has the same injuries as a crime years ago -when Jessie was the victim. Can you imagine the chills and thrills in this story- you feel them all as the police had convicted someone for Jessie’s attack - who was dead as nails. . Off we go, in a really fast paced thriller with red herrings, ups and downs and above all, a gripping story you can’t wait to finish - in a good way. Excellent!

Jessie Tucker is a crime reporter for the New York Tribune, but she reports from the victims point of view. This isn’t the job that she always had. Twelve years earlier Jessie had been out and decided to cross Central Park on her own. She was brutally attacked and left for dead. After months in hospital recovering the only physical sign now is a slight limp, which she occasionally has to use a cane for, but she refuses to use it when she is working. Jessie’s attacker had been identified as Darryl Jackson, he was sent to prison and had been killed there.

Jessie is called by Danny Knowlton, her editor, asking her to get to Central Park where a 29 year old woman has been attacked in Central Park, she wasn’t as fortunate as Jessie, she was found dead. Margaret Kincaid was an aide to Senator Frank Lansdale, why was she crossing Central Park alone at night.? The police had found the person they believed responsible for Margaret’s death, a petty criminal, he had been killed when he had pulled a gun. Case closed.

For Jessie everything seems a little too neat and tidy, Margaret had been seeing the Senators son, Johnathon ,she had been out with him that night at a restaurant, seeming distressed but he hadn’t known what about, she had gone to the ladies room leaving him at the table. She was next seen fleeing the restaurant on the telephone, and in tears by the doorman, he had enquired if she wanted a cab, but she had continued running across the road waving her hand in dismissal, that was the last time Margaret was seen alive. What was she upset about? Who was she talking to on the phone?

Non of it made sense to Jessie, she feels there is more to this case than meets the eye. She thinks the police got it wrong, and the attack on Margaret is too much like her attack to be a coincidence. Some of her work colleagues think she has gone mad. But Jessie isn’t deterred, she is determined to get to the bottom of what happened. She begins to feel less and less secure herself, as she digs deeper. She is like a dog with a bone. When Margaret’s brother arrives from California the case becomes even more complex.

Jessie is a great character, she is strong and feisty, likeable and relatable, and she works to get the truth no matter what. The author has created some great characters in this novel, that I can’t wait to see more of and learn more about. This story is very complex with a lot of different directions involved in the crime. You think you know who the killer is but then at the end wrong. Trust no one.

My only small criticism is some of the description and dialogue was too long, and didn’t add to the story and by removing it it wouldn’t have been missed. But I look forward to seeing more of Jessie and the other characters as the series progresses. A great debut novel, well plotted, a good pace, keeps your attention, great characters. Everything you want in a novel.

I would like to thank #netgalley and #Bookouture for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest, fair and unbiased review.

Twelve years ago Jessie Tucker was attacked in Central Park and left for dead. She slowly battled her way back to health and saw her attacker put behind bars. In the present day, another woman is attacked in a strikingly similar incident but is not so lucky. A murder investigation is launched and quickly concluded with a shoot out with the suspect.
Jessie is now a journalist and the new crime makes her consider her own attack; she realises that there may be a connection and the conviction in her case unsound.
The first person narrative of Jessie in The Silent Victim is simply brilliant. Chatty at times and painful with the trauma of her past. Her emotional journey sweeps us up in her story, both past and present. She is feisty, tenacious and determined professionally but also vulnerable in her personal life.
The plot is fast paced and full of political intrigue and revelations. The ending in particular had major twists so just as I thought Jessie had found answers we find our thoughts upended.
Author Dana Perry has cleverly used her character to drive the plot in a personable way, making this so much more than just a crime thriller. The tension builds over the course of the book and I found myself reading faster and faster to reach the shocking conclusion.

If there's one thing that I like doing, it's discovering new authors. Dana Perry is definitely a new author for me but after having enjoyed reading 'The Silent Victim' as much as I did, I will most definitely be reading more of his work in the future. I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'The Silent Victim' but more about that in a bit.
I couldn't help but take to Jessie Tucker from the first time I met her. She now works as a crime reporter for a newspaper but she used to work for an advertising agency. Not so very long ago Jessie went through the worst kind of trauma you could possibly go through when she was attacked and left for dead in the local park. Jessie miraculously survived the attack although she hasn't been able to go back to how she used to be. The physical scars may have healed as well as they could but the mental scars are still there. When she hears of another lady being attacked, Jessie cannot help but take an interest in the case. She is a reporter after all and she investigates the case. She can often get information that the police could only dream about. Jessie is one tough cookie but then she has had to be. She is driven, tenacious, determined, stubborn, kind, compassionate and sensitive.
Oh my word, I was addicted to this book from the moment I read the synopsis alone. As soon as I started to read, I just knew that I wouldn't be able to put the book down. That's exactly what happened. The book wasn't exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. The book had developed a hold over me and it was a hold that I wasn't willing to break. I thought that if I put the book down for any reason, I might miss some vital clue or some vital information. The more of the book I read, the more of the book I wanted to read and the quicker the pages seemed to be turning. The pages turned increasingly quickly as my desperation to find out how the story concluded steadily grew and grew. All too quickly I reached the end of this book which I was disappointed about. I don't mean that to sound negative but I was enjoying the author's writing style, the storylines and the characters so much that I just didn't want the book to end.
'The Silent Victim' is superbly written. Dana has a writing style that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. Dana certainly knows how to grab your attention from the start and then takes you on one hell of a rollercoaster ride as you accompany Jessie on her journey and assist in her investigation. Yes I know it's fictional but I find that if I enjoy reading a book as much as I enjoyed reading 'The Silent Victim' then I tend to 'live' the story as if it were real and the characters seem just as real as me and you. Dana writes so realistically and uses such vivid descriptions that I really did feel as though I was part of the story myself.
Reading 'The Silent Victim' was like being on one hell of a scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with more twists and turns than you would find on a 'Snakes & Ladders' board. Just when you thought that you could take a breather, gather your thoughts, reclaim your stomach and settle your heart rate then off the action would go again. This was one of those books that sent my adrenaline levels soaring, sent my blood pressure through the roof and made me as nervous as hell.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'The Silent Victim' and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. I will definitely be reading more of Dana's work in the future. Here's hoping that we don't have too long to wait. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

Jessie Tucker is a 36 year old crime reporter in New York.
Twelve years ago she was savagely attacked in Central Park. Left for dead, she is lucky to be alive. After intensive therapy, she is back on her feet. But she is left with physical and emotional scarring that haunts her to this day.
Her attacker was captured and put in prison, where he later died.
She is assigned to the murder of Margaret Kincaid, a campaign aid to senator Frank Landsdale.
Margaret was killed in Central Park and the crime details are frighteningly similar to Jessie's assault.
As she investigates, she begins to find connections between the two cases and realizes her attacker may still be out there somewhere.
This had a great plot idea, but I felt the execution was cliched, dull and repetitive. There was nothing new or original.
I seem to be in the minority, I've seen many good reviews for this book, but it wasn't for me.
Thank you to Bookouture for the e-ARC via NetGalley.

The Silent Victim is the first book in the Jessie Tucker Mystery series and I have to say I was completely and thoroughly hooked right from the start.

Crime reporter Jessie Tucker was attacked twelve years ago as she made her way home from an outdoor concert. Having fought her way back to full recovery, a slight limp is the only reminder of the trauma of that night. The police told her she was unlucky and that she was safe after they charged a local man for the crime. But Jessie has never managed to shake the feeling that there was someone else in the park that night, that she knew.

When a woman is attacked and killed, the police believe the deceased was a random target, but Jessie Tucker isn’t convinced – she’s seen this crime scene before, when she was the victim.

When the dead woman, Margaret Kincaid’s murder file lands on her desk, Jessie knows she can’t keep silent any longer. Margaret’s wounds exactly match her own, but Jessie’s attacker is in prison, and Jessie has never met the victim. What links her to Margaret Kincaid, and why did the attacker let one woman live, and the other die?

Then the police gun down their main suspect and it seems that Margaret’s case will die with him. But Jessie is sure that the police got it wrong: the real killer is still out there, and it’s someone close to home. It’s up to Jessie to put together the pieces before he finds his next victim… but who can she trust with the horrendous truth?

Written from the point of view of Jessie, I fell right into this well-crafted and absorbing tale and I felt as though I was shadowing her as she worked at chasing her story and following her leads and instincts. I adored the story-lines which were easy to follow and Dana Perry's writing-style was impressive and note-worthy. I had considered several scenarios but I completely off the mark and never would have guessed the end result.

Also, I think that the author merely scratched the surface with Jessie's portrayal. I was extremely taken with this character's toughness, drive and tenacity and look forward to reading about her in future instalments of this series. With its polished pacing and plotting I found this to be a thoroughly enjoyable, original and difficult to put down début from Dana Perry. Evidently he is a gifted storyteller who can provide readers with thrills, sophistication and a story packed with substance. A very highly recommended five star read.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my request, from Bookouture via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion.

A jaw dropping finish with more twists then you can imagine.

"It's easy to read conspiracy into things that you have no answer for...."

Sometimes things just seem a little bit too easy...a little bit too convenient.
Jessie Tucker survived a brutal attack 12 years before in Central Park. This changed her life in so many ways. She is now a crime reporter for the Tribune concentration on the stories of the victims.

Margaret Kincaids body is found in Central Park. She was bludgeoned to death with a rock. She worked in the campaign office of Senator Frank Lansdale and was in a relationship with his son.
Her murderer is swiftly found and killed by the police when he resists arrest.

Things don't add up for Jessie. Who was Margaret really and why is there an eerie resemblance to her own case 12 years ago? Jessie is like a real pitbull who will not give up finding the truth even if it means going up against powerful people.

I can highly recommend this book! It's a quick read that will really keep you guessing till the end....and then some more!

Thank you to #bookouture and #netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

A very well written story of a victim turned journalist investigating the death of a woman in Central Park. Keeps the reader engrossed, a page turner. I would have preferred to have the climax to be deduced from the clues rather than a confession. Highly recommended.

Favorite Quotes:

The coffee looked terrible and tasted even worse, but drinking coffee was part of the cop– reporter mating ritual. I had spent hours and hours drinking bad coffee in precinct houses all over the city.

I’m hopeless… This is more than just going through a dating dry spell. Men now actually run away to avoid any kind of physical contact with me.


My Review:

Written from the first-person POV of Jessie a female journalist and survivor of a heinous assault. I fell right into this well-crafted and absorbing tale and slid inside Jessie’s pocket as she went about chasing her story and gathering her info. The storylines and writing style were easy to follow, cunningly paced, and shrewdly plotted with more twists than an anaconda’s lunch.

I am stunned and awed to note this cleverly contrived book was written by a man – what an observant and sly silver-tongued devil he must be! He certainly led me on a merry chase and held my rapt attention throughout as he steadily ratcheted up the tension and intrigue to a staggering climax. I had postulated several theories but I was off by a mile and never would have guessed the end result. Dana Perry may well be an evil genius; his neighbors best keep the noise down and ply him with treats.

The Silent Victim is the first instalment in the Jessie Tucker Mystery Series and I was pleased to have discovered a new series with a lot of promise and one that begins with a bang. Crime reporter Jessie Tucker puts her life on the line daily in order to bring the truth to those who seek it through her news articles. But it hasn't always been that way; 12 years ago she was heinously attacked and brutally left for dead with the apparent perpetrator collared, convicted and imprisoned by the local police force. However, another horrific assault has taken place with an almost identical modus operandi but the police reassure her that the assailant responsible for her injuries, both physical and mental/emotional, is still serving hard time. Jessica, though, is painfully not convinced. Yet it is even more crucial that the correct person is identified and reprimanded/punished as this time the victim wasn't so lucky and passed on as a result of the horrendous injuries she sustained.

Jessica has more than a vested interest in pinning these crimes on the criminal responsible whereas the crime-fighting forces' primary concern appears to be a solution, any solution in order to "solve" the terrifying incidents as rapidly as humanly possible. I found this to be a thoroughly enjoyable, original and impossible to put down debut from Mr Perry and it is clear we are in the presence of a gifted storyteller who can not only provide us with the thrills we crime connoisseurs ceaselessly demand but also the rarities of subtle sophistication and a story packed with substance as well as style; Perry is the real deal. I particularly loved that the main plot hits close to home for our protagonist Jessica as she tries to bring justice to her own case as well as that of the victim who is deceased. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Jessie was attacked in Central Park 12 years ago. After a long recovery, she switched careers and started covering crimes for the newspaper. When an aide for the US senator from New York is murdered in Central Park, the apparent murderer is quickly caught but Jessie doesn’t buy it and launches her own in investigation uncovering all kinds of deception.
I thought this book was excellent. I did not expect to enjoy it nearly as much as I did. This was a story filled with twists and turns and an interesting investigation. When I thought I knew who did it, I was wrong. When I thought I was at the end and I knew everything I needed to know, I was wrong, there was still more to the story. This was tied up tightly and I am glad that this is going to be a series because I will definitely be reading the next one.

This is a great start to a new series.
Jessie Tucker is a reporter and takes an interest in a murder in Central Park as she was attacked here twelve years ago.
Jessie barely survived but has built herself back up and gets the bit between her teeth trying to get to the bottom of the recent murder as it’s so similar to her attack.
I loved the way Jessie wouldn’t let anything stop her from getting to the truth and when more people start dying, it all becomes very real.
I hope there will be more books in this series as I’d love to know what’s next for Jessie.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

[Original title: GIRL WALKING ALONE]


THE SILENT VICTIM is an incredibly engrossing psychological/journalistic emotional thriller. Twelve years ago Jessie Tucker was accosted in Central Park, viciously beaten, left for dead. Eventually she achieved a miraculous recovery which she has never taken for granted. She left advertising to become a reporter, at which she is a bulldog and award winner. But this latest story proves to be so incredibly convoluted and quite possibly connected to her own assault. Finding the facts is akin to traveling the convolutions of the interior of a Nautilus shell; but oh how gratifying for the immensely engaged reader!

Brilliant! Brilliant! Super freaking brilliant!!

Why do I have to say anything more?

Jessie was the journalist, investigating the murder of Charlotte Kinkaid in Central Park. The case was close to her heart as years ago, Jessie too was found badly beaten, half dead. She became the face of a survivor, a success story who now wrote about other victims from their POV. This murder pulled not only on her instincts but also on the past, to her ordeal.

My first book by author Dana Perry, I have to say it aloud – he is a master storyteller who could write a book like a ball of yarn where nobody other than him knew how it would end. A shocker of a finish. Jessie was endearing, in fact, I was quite shocked to learn a male author had portrayed her so well. She was complexed and layered. I loved the fact that the author showed that a survivor would never trust anyone completely. A tiny nugget of distrust keeps us alive always.

Twists and secrets, turns and reveals, lies and truth made this book a fabulous read. For me, not a moment was spent where I felt the information given to me was not needed. I loved how the made this story rocking. Thrills were injected at the right places which made me long for more. Twists were hidden with the sleight of the hand till they were revealed with a bang.

I could go on and on about how much I loved this book. But end it here saying – I did love the book!! You got that, right?

Thank you to Bookouture for my copy of this book via netgalley and for letting me take part in this tour. I am a big lover of crime novels so I was excited for this one.

Most crime novels are told from the detective's perspective but this one is written from the journalist's point of view. It was very interesting to see this side of the story. The MC is Jessie Tucker. Jessie survived a horrific attack 12 years earlier. Jessie has worked hard to get her life back to normal as soon as possible. I really liked Jessie. She is dogged and determined. She leaves no stone unturned.

The story itself has lots of twists and turns. When you think you have it figured out the story did a 180 and turned everything on its head. I love it when I can't figure it out and this book had me well and truly stumped.

This was a good start to what will hopefully be a really promising series. I am very intrigued as to where it's going to go next.

Jessie Tucker was attacked in Central Park twelve years ago and left for dead. Now a crime reporter she is covering another attack in the same park. The victim is not who she says she is and the case has been closed why? A real pact crime thriller which I devoured in one sitting, plenty of tension and suspense that kept me tapping my kindle faster and faster. As for the ending WHAM definitely not what I was expecting. A new series and I can't wait to read more. Almost five stars and highly recommended.
I would like to thank the author, publisher and Netgalley for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.

Keeps you on the edge of your seat. Jessie changed careers after suffering from an attack 12 yrs prior.
She is an crime reporter and gets assignment close to her own attack.
Many suspects will keep you guessing.
Can't wait for an other assignment for Jessie

Jessie Tucker Mystery #1

Twelve years ago Jessie Tucker was brutally attacked and left for dead. Jessie is now a crime reporter who has een assigned the brutal murder of a young woman in Central Park, the very park that Jessie had been assaulted in. This case is eerily similar to what had happened to Jessie. But Jessie's perpetrator was caught and sent to prison. Thinking the police aren't doing enough, Jessie decides to do her own investigation into the death of Margaret Kincaid.

This is a promising start to a new series. I got into the story quite quickly. I liked Jessie, shes a strong feisty character whose got guts and determination. There are plenty of twists to keep you guessing. There are some sex scenes that are quite graphic. The pace is fast in this well written story that also covers politics, blackmail and murder. A very good de ut novel. I will be reading more from this series when they become available.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This book is exceptional! To be able to write a story in a story and make it believable is a feat into itself! I highly recommend this book and I expect to see many more great books come about by this author in the future. Enjoy! 📚