Veena’s review of Unspoken by Dee Henderson
Christian Fiction published by Bethany House Publishing 01 Oct 13
Dee Henderson is one of my favorite authors, and I thoroughly enjoy the relationship building both between partners and with God that is such an essential part of her writing. This book, however, left me wanting on both counts.
Bryce Bishop is a businessman who is looking for a challenge to take him out of the routine of his everyday life. A mysterious appointment via a letter leads to an interesting offer destined to pull him out of his rut and keep him entertained for the foreseeable future while at the same time improving his bank balance. The fact that Charlotte Graham, his new business partner, is a lady of mystery only adds extra spice.
Charlotte was kidnapped as a teenager and ultimately rescued after a period of time but lives with the scars from that experience still today. Amongst those scars is a loss of her faith in God. Amongst the items she has recently inherited is a priceless coin collection that she recruits Bryce into selling for her.
Running under the surface of this story is an unsolved mystery that FBI director Paul and his wife, whom we’ve met before, take on as a project. I find it fascinating how this intersects into Charlotte’s story. This is probably the one really silver lining in this otherwise pretty dull book.
As Bryce and Charlotte become friends and he learns more about her, he’s determined to help her find a safe harbor and regain her faith. To complicate things, a top-notch reporter is researching Charlotte’s kidnapping and could possibly expose all that Charlotte has kept hidden for so many years. I think the concept of the story is excellent and it has some redeeming moments, but overall it is long winded and just does not generate the type of chemistry and dialog that I have grown to expect from this author.
It deeply saddens me to give this book a less-than-stellar, only average rating. I have enjoyed other books by Ms. Henderson and hope that her future books will be just as strong.
Grade: C
Summary:
Charlotte Graham is at the center of the most famous kidnapping in Chicago history.
The task force of FBI and local cops found her two abductors, killed them, rescued her, but it took four very long years. The fact she was found less than three miles from her home, had been there the entire time, haunts them. She’s changed her identity, found a profession she loves, and rebuilt her life.
She’s never said a word—to the cops, to her doctors, to family—about those four years.
A family legacy has brought her back to Chicago where a reporter is writing a book about the kidnapping. The cops who worked the case are cooperating with him. Her options are limited: Hope the reporter doesn’t find the full truth, or break her silence about what happened. And her silence is what has protected her family for years.
Bryce Bishop doesn’t know her past, he only knows she has coins to sell from her grandfather’s estate—and that the FBI director for the Chicago office made the introduction. The more he gets to know Charlotte, the more interested he becomes, an interest encouraged by those closest to her.. But nothing else is working in his favor—she’s decided she is single for life, she struggles with her faith, and she’s willing to forego a huge inheritance to keep her privacy. She’s not giving him much of an opening to work with.
Charlotte wants to trust him. She needs to tell him what happened. Because a crime cops thought was solved, has only opened another chapter. . .
Read an excerpt.
