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Critic's Corner
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Reviewed by: Patricia Ann Jones "If Amanda Winslow had been an only child, she'd be dead. "She traced a fingernail along a vein in her wrist. Suicide often tempted her, but Amanda knew her death would destroy her sister. Pushing those thoughts aside, she sat on the edge of the metal cot and covered her face with her hands. Images and voices of lawyers swirled in her mind, blending to become one." Cyndia Depre's debut novel offers readers an intriguing look into the life of an abused wife whose mental scars follow her into a second marriage of convenience and a nightmare that seems to have no end. Depre's protagonist, Amanda Winslow, is caught in a "catch twenty-two" situation that could end with a sentence of life in prison. Then, Graham Burke, a famous defense attorney offers to take her case saying, "You want modest, look somewhere else. You want freedom, I'm your man." When Amanda asks Burke why she was arrested for the murder of her second husband, Burke replies, "Process of elimination, It had to be you. That and public pressure. Upscale wives don't kill their husbands. If they do, they have to be punished. I'm here to make sure that doesn't happen to you." Burke, a man of his word, not only gets Amanda out on bail, but presents her case to a jury that refuses to convict on the evidence presented by the prosecutors. Once freed, Amanda flees her home in Minneapolis and takes up residence in the small town of Carlisle, Illinois. There she makes new friends and tries to put her past behind her. Unfortunately, Jack Lindsey, the law partner of Amanda's new friend Wade Harris, finds out about the murder trial and begins a barrage of embarrassing questions. Questions that create animosity between Jack and Amanda. Wade has no idea of Amanda's background. Jack knows that a finding of "not guilty" doesn't mean innocent and he is determined to protect his partner from this red-haired siren. Is this newcomer a murderess or is she really innocent of her husband's murder? If innocent, why is she so evasive and defensive? One way or the other Jack will discover the truth and sooner rather than later. At this point the story could have fallen into a formulaic rut, but Depre's skill takes it to a new level. The characterizations of the principal players, the sharp, repartee filled dialogue, deft foreshadowing, and details expertly slipped into the tale began to show readers that this is not your usual romantic plot. No, it is a plot so convoluted suspense grows on every page. What really haunts Amanda Winslow? What is she hiding she doesn't want others to know? The trial is understandable, but something else emits a silent scream from this seemingly frail woman, what? This "edge of your seat" story held me close to the page in anticipation for what was to come. Depre does not disappoint. She delivers a fully evolved story of the deep emotional scars an abused wife suffers, the psychological wounds of someone carrying a burden too heavy to bear, and the hopes and dreams of a woman held too long within the captivity of her own fears and regrets. After receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting, with a second major in Finance, from Northern Illinois University, Depre ran her own business for ten years, then closed the doors on her business and began writing full-time. This decision gave to the fiction world a new star. A writer who knows her craft and has the imagination and dedication to spin a story that will enthrall both women and men readers as she answers the question, "Is murder ever justified?" Today, Depre is busy working on her second novel. An event her readers await with anticipation. Copyright March 2005 Patricia Ann Jones Save Up to 30% on this book at Amazon.com Jones is a published writer and book reviewer for Tulsa World newspaper. To comment on this review you may email pattij777@aol.com |
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