Rating: 
Summary: Excellent Book
Review: I picked this book up because it is set in my home town -- Bay Village, OH. The real Bay Village is less rural and more friendly than the town depicted in this book, but the tone of the inhabitants seems about right. The story line made this book well worth reading -- the unexpected plot twists were great and the characters were very well-developed. I really enjoyed this book and I have loaned it to two or three of my friends. Even though they don't have the same point of reference as a native, they enjoyed the book, too.
Rating: 
Summary: Great read!
Review: This was my first RNP book and it was wonderful. I could not put it down. The characters were exciting and the turn of events just kept you going. A must read for all.
Rating:
Summary: A real page-turner: I couldn't put it down!
Review: The best Richard North Patterson yet! I absolutely couldn't put this book down and was almost late for work because of it! He didn't disappoint with a surprise ending -- you know, the kind with the character who comes out of nowhere and turns out to be "the real killer." I honestly didn't expect the twists and turns to reach such a satisfying conclusion. Can't wait til his next hardback is out!
Rating:
Summary: Great Book
Review: This book was the best book I have read in a long time. The way the chracters were developed was great. The way the details wern't censored gave the book a sence of realism.
Rating:
Summary: Goodbye Grisham-North Patterson is growing better and better
Review: I have read just about all of Richard North Patterson's novels (they are my best friend on the Boston commuter rail), but this one is, above and beyond, the best. Patterson intrigued me with his deeper probe into Private Screening's attorney Tony Lord; and the ending? Well, let's just say it invoked a psychological tailspin to revel the "mother" of all legal thrillers, Presumed Innocent. Good going, Patterson! You've officially replaced John Grisham on my shelves for good!
Rating:
Summary: Incredible!
Review: This book is one of Patterson's best. It really takes the time to build the character histories, and makes it interesting while doing so. The ending was a classic plot twist that was worthy of Alfred Hitchcock. I would have given this book a 10, but I feel there was too much gratuitous profanity and graphic sex scenes that would limit this book's appeal. Patterson has definately created a character (Tony Lord) that I'd like to read more about, though.
Rating:
Summary: Mixed Emotions about "Silent Witness"
Review: I enjoyed "Silent Witness", but somehow read between the lines in regards to the killer's identity. Patterson spent so much time in background material, it reminds me of Hugo's "Les Miserables" (the unabridged version, would you expect me to read the Readers Digest Condensation?) where Hugo spends so many pages describing the battle of Waterloo just to demonstrate the vulgar and despicable evil of one of the characters who steals from the dead and dying soldiers injured in that great battle. Patterson delves deeply into main character Tony Lord's background and then finally comes up so quickly that the reader feels as if he has caught a case of the bends. Still, the author pulls the reader's interest back into the story with enough red herrings to keep the reader wondering who the killer really is, at least for a bit. But far too early in the novel, the discerning reader will figure out the identity of the murderer and possibly even what Tony will do to resolve the novel's conflict. Not the greatest novel in the world, but a bit better than average, at least in my opinon. Patterson is an author that I will look for in the Used Book Stores, Yard Sales and swap meets, but won't buy new or hardcover.
Rating: 
Summary: Dragged on and on
Review: Same story could have been told in half the number of pages and would have been much more interesting.
Rating:
Summary: This was one of the best books I've read to date !!
Review: Mr. Patterson keeps you hooked from the very beginning. I was not ready to let go of this. It made me go out to find more of his wonderful novels. He makes you feel like you are there in the town & with the people. Great stuff !!
Rating:
Summary: Good book, strong words, only for the strong of stomach.
Review: Silent Witness by Richard North Patterson is a horrifying, gripping account of the murders of two young Midwestern women that will keep you on the edge of your seat trying to determine whodunit. I particularly enjoyed the way that Mr. Patterson tries not to give away the real murderer. The characters, however, I feel just were not three dimensional enough. There was definitely a lot of focus and thought put into the plot of the story, and that is enough in itself, but Mr. Patterson's portrayal of the young Alison and Sue along with the young Tony are at best unrealistic. The problem is that Tony is just so stony-- torn between his feelings for Sue, Alison, and his wife Stacey-- there is too much for one to take in, Alison's character is too contradictory, and Sue's character, young and old, lack any depth. Sam is just annoying. Tony is bearable, but only when he is doing his lawyerly duties-- which for me was the best part of the book. The background story, while interesting, seemed to have too brief an ending. It seemed almost as if Mr. Patterson was just tired of the story by the end and just up and decided to end it. Well, he did. I sat staring at the last page for ten minutes wondering what just happened. All in all, I give it an eight because the meat of the story was enough to cover for flaws in the characters. Beware of extremely graphic depictions of sexual acts with minors and fairly gory descriptions of the murders (but it's a murder mystery so that's expected). It is definately a good read and infinitely better than those formulaic Grisham novels!
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