Silent Weapon.

Silent Weapon

Debra Webb 

Silhouette Bombshell

ISBN: 037351347X $4.50

Two years ago Merri Walters was an elementary school teacher, but suffered total loss of hearing from an illness. The Nashville Police Department hired her as an archivist filing cold and closed cases. She comes across a misfiled folder and after looking at details obviously missed by the cops on the case and her predecessor decides to solve the case, but once she has the proof she does not turn to her family of police and fire officers; she asks Homicide Detective Steve Barlow to complete the bust, which he does. The brass is impressed with how well the deaf civilian performer and decide she is perfect for an undercover assignment to catch a much bigger fish than Sawyer who she just nabbed with Barlow's assistance. Steve is heatedly opposed to her doing this because he insists she is untrained and has a handicap. He hides that he is attracted to her and worries for her safety. However, Merri has to prove her worth especially to herself and accepts the opportunity though that places her in danger. More a police procedural than a romance, SILENT WEAPON is a fine tale starring a heroine who overcomes her recent physical handicap by being all she can be. Merri is a terrific lead protagonist and Steve is her ideal counterpoint. The undercover work is handled quite nicely although the romance between the pair is rightfully kept on the backburner (lovemaking and atheism are not common in foxholes). Debra Webb weaves a solid thriller that hopefully will star the Homicide Detective and the detailed oriented archivist in a future story perhaps with a wee bit more romance.