The Woman Who Couldn't Scream

In my review of “Obsession Falls” (Virtue Falls #2) I described the novel as “an action-packed, suspenseful, page-turning thriller with more twists and turns than the most wicked and dangerous roller coaster in the world. The excitement builds on every page to various electrifying moments and is an edge-of-your-seat experience to read.”

In my review of “Because I’m Watching” (Virtue Falls #3) I shared “I couldn’t imagine how Christina Dodd could possibly make any subsequent novel go beyond “more” of any adjective the reader would like to substitute in their descriptive review. But, the author could virtually be whispering in the reader’s ear: “Read on! Just keep reading my next novel in the Virtue Falls show more Series!!” WoW!”

And now in my review of “The Woman Who Couldn’t Scream” (Virtue Falls #4), this reader would advise that Christina Dodd has once again delivered and further intensified that “edge-of-your-seat” reading experience with this riveting suspense novel. Initial appearance of the storylines in the Virtue Falls series may seem to present the ordinary “damsel in distress” but there is nothing ordinary about the women portrayed in Christina Dodd’s novels. “The Woman Who Couldn’t Scream” is no exception and even heightens the trepidation and alarm for the welfare of women in Virtue Falls, Washington and particularly for Kateri Kwinault (newly elected, first female Sheriff), Rainbow (Waitress at the Oceanview Café), and new arrival Merida Falcon (a woman some know as Helen Brassard and still others remember her as Merry Byrd).

Portrayal of Merida provides a rare window into the world of individuals who are mute and communicate with American Sign Language (ASL). As Merida introduces herself via sign language or use of a computer tablet, she signs or types “I am mute, unable to speak. I am not deaf. Please do not shout!” This unique addition to the storyline never interrupts the flow nor detracts from the plot but adds a layer of complexity to the storyline particularly as Merida is a leading character. This character portrayal may also inspire readers to learn ASL to widen opportunities of communication.

I love the diversity of the supporting characters as through the various character descriptions and portrayal of their personalities each one brings a unique quality to the story whether it’s Phoebe Glass (Proprietor of the Good Knight Manor Bed and Breakfast), Mr. Caldwell, Mr. Harcourt, Mr. Setzer and Mr. Edkvist (who hold court at the old geezer table of the Oceanview Café); Bertha Waldschmidt (original and current bar owner of The Gem Lounge), Virtue Falls Deputy Sheriff Gunder Bergen and Officer Rupert Moen, or Garik Jacobsen (former sheriff and now with the FBI), and not to be forgotten Lacey (Kateri’s Cocker Spaniel), and Mrs. Golobovitch (best-known as Lacey’s dog-sitter).

Christina Dodd blends themes of murder, spousal abuse, and relationships (husband/wife, mother/son, sisters, friends, coworkers) incorporating a Native American legend of the frog god into one thrilling, page-turning, intriguing and suspenseful read all with a romantic twist. I couldn’t wait to find out what would happen next and I wanted to hurry along but at the same time I didn’t want to miss any of the intrigue and details of each chapter that were building to the culmination of the truth and the reveal of how Merida would move beyond the locked haven she created at the Good Knight Manor Bed and Breakfast, how Kateri would fare professionally as sheriff and in her personal relationships and if Rainbow would survive. It is difficult to find the perfect words to share how deeply ensconced the reader becomes in this story, how gripping the characters, how perfectly the setting of Virtue Falls provides intrigue and suspense. I was totally captivated from cover-to-cover!

I was lucky to be invited to read and review this novel and received an autographed, hardcover edition of "The Woman Who Couldn’t Scream" and the enclosure of a sachet stuffed with lavender grown on the author's property. show less

I am a longtime fan of author Christina Dodd, but I am new to her "Virtue Falls" series. After having read Book 4, "The Woman Who Couldn't Scream", I plan on returning to this mayhem-filled Washington State community for more mischief and misadventures. I especially want to follow the trials and tribulations of Sheriff Kateri Kwinault and her romantic interest, good-bad guy, Stag Denali. The title character, "The Woman Who Couldn't Scream", has multiple names and identities, but all of them are bent on revenge. Having lost her ability to speak due to an accident, Helen Brassard, married to a controlling, manipulative older man, longs for the freedom to live out her dreams of retaliation against those she blames for her misery. After her show more husband's death, Helen leaves his world behind and resurfaces as Merida Falcon/Merry Byrd. A new life in Virtue Falls reunites her with the man on whom she has sworn vengeance. Further complicating matters, Sheriff Kwinault is a former classmate of Merida's, and the sheriff has her hands full searching for a serial killer who slashes his female victims to death. Filled with quirky, compelling characters, and propelled by a fascinating and fast-moving story line, "The Woman Who Couldn't Scream" speaks loudly to lovers of sharply-written romantic suspense.

Book Copy Gratis Author show less

The Woman Who Couldn’t Scream by Christina Dodd is a 2017 St. Martin’s Press publication.

This one was worth the wait!

Anyone following my reviews may remember my extreme disappointment when I won a copy of this book on Goodreads, but it never came. But, good things come to those wait!! I finally got my winner’s copy! YAY!

But, since the third installment was so awesome, I a little nervous going into this one, but I needn’t have worried. The momentum carried over to this latest installment… and then some!

Merida, is beautiful, but can not speak. After the death of her obsessive husband, she is also rich- so she
returns to Virtue Falls with one thing in mind- revenge.

But, her plans go off the rails when several women are show more slashed to death, and her old lover recognizes her and as fate would have it, her old friend, Kateri is the sheriff.

Meanwhile, Kateri’s half sister arrives in Virtue Falls looking for the strange package Kateri’s deceased father sent her, believing it holds something very valuable. But, Kateri is busy hunting down the man who shot Rainbow and the person who is killing women in Virtue Falls, and attempting to understand her complicated relationship with Stag.

I do believe this series gets better as it goes along. Merida is a real mystery and her past is riddled with extreme pain, physically and emotionally. What is the history between her and the wealthy Benedict? Why is she seeking revenge against him? This is a very interesting and intense part of the story, and I loved how it all came together. Whew! Good stuff!

I have also enjoyed getting to know Kateri, and I don’t know if I mentioned this before, but I also love, love, love her dog, Lacey!!

In this installment, Kateri really gets to show off her law enforcement skills, more so than usual, and proves once and for all she is the right person for the job, while she also deals with a host of personal issues, as well as the Frog God, which is always very interesting.

While each book in the series has been suspenseful, this one has a slightly darker edge to it, and fit more into a traditional format than the previous installments, and I thought it worked out wonderfully.

This is yet another outstanding installment in this series! Romantic suspense fans will love this one!!

Thank you, Goodreads, Christina Dodd, and St. Martin’s Press for providing me a copy of this terrific novel!!
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Hmmm. So regardless of what the blurb says, this book is not about Merida but rather it is about Kateri. I would say that perhaps a fourth of the book, if even that much, is told in the POV of Merida and concerns her story. The rest is all from the POV of Kateri and is about her solving crimes and being the chosen of a god and saving lives etc. Poor Merida, she’s a secondary character in her own book. And of course, she gets her voice back in the end because rainbows and roses I guess. They ALWAYS get their voices back.

Dodd reminds me a lot of Nora Roberts in that Roberts is very well known for her Romance genre but she also writes in the Mystery genre so when you’re looking up her books you have to check both areas because the mystery books often get labeled under Romance or vice versa. Dodd’s Virtue Falls series is a prime example of this dichotomy because there is no doubt where this falls. This is NOT a Romance series, it is firmly entrenched in the Mystery genre with a side storyline of Romance that is not the focus so beware of that if you are a hardcore romance fan.

This is the FOURTH book in the series and it is IMPERATIVE you read the first 3 or you will be lost, you won’t have that same sense of WOW when you discover certain plot points show more and if you ever go back to read the early ones after this some of the shock won’t be there because you’ll already know where things are headed.

This novel switches viewpoints between 2 characters so it can take a bit to adjust to but since that’s a common plot tactic in the mystery genre it didn’t bother me.

Dodd has created a great revenge story full of complex characters that does justice to this series. I loved the twists, the suspense and the mind games she played with her characters. It reminded me a bit of that show Revenge in that you have this character return to town while hiding her identity in order to play havoc on those who hurt her years prior.

My only complaint with the book was how Dodd handled the use of sign language in the book because it just seemed way too prevalent to be believable given the context of who the character was interacting with and within these settings. show less

Christina Dodd is a master of the mystery/romance/thriller genre. This is the 4th book in the Virtue Falls series but each can easily be read as a standalone. The references to the other books are all explained without it becoming repetitive.

Sheriff Kateri Kwinault has no idea what is on it's way to Virtue Falls. She's trying to track down a father son duo that have been in a crime spree. The Terrances are drug dealers, prison escapees, & are armed & extremely dangerous. They'd already attempted to kill her in a drive by shooting. Instead the waitress was in the hospital in a coma. While she is hunting these two, they start to find bodies with their hands, face &/or necks cut up. Is there a serial killer around? Is it the work of the show more Terrances or someone else? During all of this drama, two visitors surprise her - her step sister & her childhood friend. What do they want? Are they involved in everything going on?

Merida Falcon has come to Virtue Falls to exact revenge on the man that she thinks stole her life away. She wanted to reconnect with her childhood friend Kateri too. Merida was known as Merry Byrd when Kateri knew her. However, she was involved in a plane explosion & had to get massive plastic surgery. She had to make an unholy alliance in order to afford it & married a man years older who had to control her. She's changed her appearance dramatically from what she looked like when she was married. How are so many people in Virtue Falls that knew her from her former life? And how are they all recognizing her? Why does she feel like someone is stalking her?

This book has a fast paced high intensity plot with a variety of twists & turns. There is a lot going on but it isn't disjointed at all. Everything happens in its time & for a reason. As a reader, every time I felt something had reached its climax, something else happened & you were off & running again. The relationship between Kateri & Stag is going strong & is emotionally intense. This book has everything needed to grip the reader's attention & not let it go until the book is finished. show less

The Woman Who Couldn't Scream
4 Stars

Sad to see this series come to an end as, despite its rocky start, I have enjoyed the last to books immensely. It feels like it was just hitting its stride.

Set in the quirky town of Virtua Falls, Washington, this installment of the series has two foci. The first is the mystery surrounding mysterious Merida Falcon and her plans for revenge, and the second is Sheriff Kateri Kwinault whose past and future are finally revealed.

While some of the plot twists are predictable, Dodd's storytelling is immersive and engaging. Her characters come to life on the pages and each is compelling in his or her own way.

Although the romance elements in the book take a back seat to the mystery and suspense, the show more relationships between the couples are very appealing, and it is especially satisfying that Kateri final got her HEA.

In sum, Virtue Falls is a delightful and highly recommended for fans of RS and Dodd. Looking forward to the spin-off series. show less