Title: Don’t Say a Word

Author: Jennifer Jaynes

Genre: Mystery, Suspense

Expected Publication Date: May 16, 2016

About the Book

Death has always stalked single mother Allie Callahan. For the first time in her life, she has found a fragile sort of happiness living a quiet, peaceful existence in East Texas with her young son, Sammy, and her adoptive mother.

Still, Allie fears she may be susceptible to the same mental illness that destroyed her serial-killer mother and brother. She’s haunted by the idea that she could become incapable of caring for Sammy.

When twelve-year-old twins Zoe and Carrie arrive on her doorstep late one night, their parents slain in a vicious double homicide, Allie’s strength and sanity are put to the test. What did the twins see on the night of their parents’ horrific murder? They are too frightened to say.

Soon faced with a series of menacing phone calls, a rising body count, and the pressure of keeping the girls and her own son safe, Allie fears she’ll lose her mind—and her one shot at happiness—once and for all.

Pre-order on Amazon.

 

My Review

I received a free ecopy of this book from Booklover Catlady for an honest review.

The author doesn’t waste any time getting the reader hooked on Don’t Say a Word. It starts with twins hiding in their bedroom, knowing something is wrong with their parents, not wanting to face the horror of their murders. They’re finally found and put into a foster home with Bitty, who has an adopted daughter, Allie, and Allie’s son also living with her. The twins are traumatized, understandably, and Bitty and Allie do their best to make the girls feel comfortable and cared for. 

The characters are well developed and I connected with Allie pretty quickly. I haven’t gone through anything like she has, of course, but I was able to empathize with her and hope that she’d be able to hang on to her sanity. Sammy was easy to fall in love with and his dad Johnny was definitely a jerk. Bitty was a caring woman whose main goal in life was to help others. I think she was my favorite character.

When I read this book, I tried not to guess exactly what had happened the night the girls’ parents were murdered. There were too many possibilities. There were some twists and a couple surprises. 

Jennifer Jaynes’ writing flows well and this was a quick read that I enjoyed. I hope to read more of the Stranger Series when time allows. If you like suspense, you’ll definitely like Don’t Say a Word. 

 

About the Author

I’m a novelist, wife and mommy to the most wonderful twin four-year-olds on the planet.

While earning my Bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences at Old Dominion University and a certificate from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, I did a little bit of everything to pay the bills. I’ve been a gas station attendant, waitress, a dancing waitress, beer girl, shot girl, bartender, closing coordinator, executive assistant, medical assistant, EMT, content manager, webmaster, news publisher, editor, copywriter, weight loss coach and publishing consultant.

However, through it all, what I really wanted to be was a novelist.

It’s been a very long, and sometimes difficult road, but in 2011, I finally began living my dream with the release of my debut thriller, Never Smile at Strangers. To date, Never Smile at Strangers has earned a place on the USA Today Bestseller’s list, the #1 spot (across all categories) in the Barnes & Noble’s Nook Store, has graced the Top 5 in the mystery/suspense category in the Kindle Store multiple times, and has appeared in the Top 25 in the Kindle Store (across all categories).

In 2014, Thomas & Mercer acquired the rights to Never Smile at Strangers and re-released it January 2015. They also bought the rights to my second novel, Ugly Young Thing, and will release it March 2015.

I LOVE to connect with my readers. You can find me at ProjectJennifer.com,Facebook.com/NeverSmileatStrangers and Twitter.com/jenniferjaynes7.