Synopses & Reviews
The new mayor of a small town in Illinois unearths a series of devastating secrets when he re-opens a 30-year-old murder investigation
17-year-old Betty Jo Dean was abducted and murdered thirty years ago. It took two days to find her body. She was found, fully dressed apart from her slacks, beneath a gnarled, stunted tree, shot in the back of the head. No one was ever charged with her murder.
Now, following an appeal from one of his constituents, Mayor Mac Bassett has called for the case to be re-opened. But when the body is exhumed, it is revealed that the skull, found loose in the coffin, does not belong to Betty Jo.
If Mac could discover why Betty Jo's head was taken, he would be one step closer to finding out who killed her. But no one in the small town of Grand Point is talking. Sheriffs, doctors, medical examiners: everyone seems to be warning Mac off. And then people start dying ...
Review
"Solid whodunit" Publishers Weekly
Review
"Powerful novel" Booklist
Review
"I enjoyed SILENCE THE DEAD immensely. Very highly recommended." Euro Crime
Synopsis
17-year-old Betty Jo Dean was abducted and murdered thirty years ago. It took two days to find her body, shot in the back of the head. No one was ever charged with her murder. Now, new mayor Mac Bassett has re-opened the case. But when the body is exhumed, it is revealed that the skull, found loose in the coffin, does not belong to Betty Jo.
About the Author
Jack Fredrickson lives with his wife, Susan, west of Chicago. He is the author of four Dek Elstrom PI mysteries, two of which, A Safe Place for the Dying and Hunting Sweetie Rose, have been nominated for Shamus Awards. His third Shamus nomination is for his short story, The Ace I, which has been nominated for the Best PI Short Story of 2013.