Right to Remain Silent

Yeah, yeah, cheesy pun- but this is definitely my favourite book in Warner's outstanding Connor Westphal series. While all the books are well-plotted mysteries and informative glimpses into the Deaf community, the juxtaposition of the three Deaf/deaf characters in this book is revealing: Connor is well-educated, but an outsider in both Deaf and hearing company because of her oral orientation; Caleb is at the other extreme, completely uneducated and unable to communicate conventionally; and the proprietor of the local Deaf club, who makes a cameo appearance, is well-educated, witty, and non-oral.Add to the political mix a thrilling murder with countless twists, a few dramatic scrapes for Connor, and an accurate description of a few vulgar signs to try out on your friends (::grin::), and "Right to Remain Silent" is a winner!

Penny Warner's latest book, Right to Remain Silent, (as well as her other two Connor Westphal mysteries, Dead Body Language and Sign of Foul Play), besides being a fun, modern mystery, could be an excellent companion to any text teaching students of Sign Language or Deaf Studies. The comings and going of Connor and local characters from Flat Skunk with frequent references to ASL, lip reading, use of TTY and Relay calls, and daily communication between deaf people or deaf and hearing are accurate and insightful. I could picture Connor signing from Warner's descriptions. I look forward to the next book.

Investigative journalist Connor Westphal may be deaf, but she will not allow her physical impairment prevent her from obtaining her goal which is climbing upward in her chosen profession. The Eureka reporter soon learns that Sparkle Bodie, the most unpopular person in Gold County, California, just died. However, the elderly woman was apparently smothered by someone using a pillow while she was in the hospital for less than an hour. Because of her public exposure of family secrets, many individuals had motives to kill Sparkle. However, the police hone in on Sparkle's deaf son Caleb as the prime suspect. Connor, knowing she already has the possibility of the story of the year, believes the lad is an easy mark to pin the blame on for the murder. As Connor begins to make inquiries, more killings occur, making the intrepid reporter wonder if she may just find her byline in the obituary column.RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT, the third Connor Westphal amateur sleuth stories, is a great who-done-it due to the warm, witty star. The murder mystery is well designed and filled with growing suspense, while the ensemble adds intensity to the exciting story line. However, what makes this series worth reading is Penny Warner's insight into the life of a deaf person which she cleverly intertwines within the remarkable plot. This reviewer recommends the entire series (DEAD BODY LANGUAGE and SIGN OF FOUL PLAY) for a refreshingly unique reading experience.Harriet Klausner