By: Richard S. Cohen
“Sometimes the journey is more meaningful than the actual destination. Surround yourself with those who raise your spirit. Help others along the way.”
Renowned psychologist, Willem Gerhardt, has a patient that claims that she was sexually assaulted. The accused perpetrator is arrested and tried. He is found not guilty and walks free. Within days, he is found dead. Now, Dr. Gerhardt is arrested and charged with the murder, but did he commit the murder?
Forever Silenced is an easy-to-read novel. There is a mystery kept through out the book that will keep the readers attention. However, there was a lot of me that needed to be edited. For instance, a lot of the court scenes are inaccurate, unbelievable, and just downright baffling. In a criminal trial in the United States (this takes place in Texas), the prosecution has the burden of proof. They present their case, then the defense presents their case, and then there can be a rebuttal if necessary. The author here had the defense calling witnesses, stating that the prosecution team wasn’t doing much cross-examining, and then had the prosecution calling witnesses. There was a lack of discussion at trial of the actual murder itself. The trial focused on Willem’s background and the victim’s statement. However, if you’re going to discuss a murder trial in a book, talk about the actual murder! The time, the place, the how etc.. I don’t want to give anything away, but the end trial scene is just unbelievable, and not how anything would occur in real life. I know as a reader, I’m supposed to suspend some belief. However, as an attorney, when these things are glaringly wrong, it’s hard to suspend belief. That being said, for someone who doesn’t know these things, they would absolutely enjoy the book!
If you’d like to read this book, you can do so here.
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