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Rating: 
Summary: Thank God, April Woo is back!!!!
Review: As a die-hard April Woo fan I was chomping at the bit to get my hands on 'The Silent Bride', and as usual I wasn't disappointed. Leslie Glass does a superb job of taking the reader inside the expensive world of society weddings, while simultaneously showing the dark, gritty, side of the work necessary to pull off these types of events.
When the story opens April quickly gets caught up in an investigation of a bride murdered at the altar of her wedding day, she also has to deal with being a member of her sister-cousin's wedding party. And of course her relationship with Mike Sanchez is rapidly heading toward matrimony. When a second wealthy bride is murdered outside her church, April has to put her personal problems aside and solve the case before her sister-cousin's wedding. All in all this is a very good book, I even thought the villian's motive for murder was beliveable.
Rating: 
Summary: Welcome back, April Woo...
Review: First I'd like to thank Leslie Glass for continuing the fine April Woo series without using "Time" in the titles--now my friends and I will be able to buy them immediately without having to check to make sure they're not ones we've already read! This one's an excellent addition to the series, with some real progress in the April/Mike relationship, and a wonderful twist to help make Skinny Dragon at least a little accepting of it. Very interesting to see how the characters' extensive varieties of cultural differences and ways of thought contribute to this plot. This should have a warning label that it is not to be read the night before your wedding! The book is very intense and suspenseful; if you enjoyed the other April Woo books, you won' t be disappointed with this one, and will be glad to know another is on its way.
Rating:
Summary: Welcome back, April Woo...
Review: First I'd like to thank Leslie Glass for continuing the fine April Woo series without using "Time" in the titles--now my friends and I will be able to buy them immediately without having to check to make sure they're not ones we've already read! This one's an excellent addition to the series, with some real progress in the April/Mike relationship, and a wonderful twist to help make Skinny Dragon at least a little accepting of it. Very interesting to see how the characters' extensive varieties of cultural differences and ways of thought contribute to this plot. This should have a warning label that it is not to be read the night before your wedding! The book is very intense and suspenseful; if you enjoyed the other April Woo books, you won' t be disappointed with this one, and will be glad to know another is on its way.
Rating:
Summary: enthralling and poignant police procedural
Review: Homicide Task Force Commander Lieutenant Mike Sanchez and detective sergeant April Woo are partners both in their professional and personal lives much to the dismay of their respective mothers who want them partnered to someone from their own race. Although April loves Mike, she has turned down his proposal of marriage numerous times, fearing the wrath of her mother Skinny Dragon. Frustrated by her refusals, Mike remains optimistic, as he is not one to give up. The latest case they are working on allows Mike to use some interesting methods to get his lover to accept the idea of marriage to him. April and Mike are determined to bring in the killer of orthodox Jew Tova Schoenfeld, who was shot moments before she was to take her wedding vows. At first, the brass thinks it is a hate crime but when a second bride is shot while entering St. Patrick's Cathedral, April and Mike realize they have a maniac on their hands that must be stopped. The events of September 11th are reflected in the thoughts of the heroine, making THE SILENT BRIDE an even more enthralling and poignant police procedural. Leslie Glass humanizes her protagonists so that readers understand what the heroes feel because though the narrative readers are given insight into hearts and minds of Mike and April. The who-done-it is an intricate puzzle with tantalizing clues sprinkled throughout the story line. This author's novels should be included on every crime thriller fans must read list. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: The Weddings That Weren't
Review: Leslie Glass improves with every April Woo novel. April has developed into a unique character, her stories show increasing depth and excellent research, and even her romance with the long-suffering Mike Sanchez is finally showing some sparks of maturity. With a myriad of colorful characters "The Silent Bride" is her best yet. April and Mike are called upon for a high profile murder of the bride at an Orthodox Jewish wedding. The well-to-do, deeply devout family are not obvious suspects, nor is the groom who 1) was standing at the other end of the aisle when the shot was fired and 2) barely knew his bride to be. (This was an arranged wedding.) A hate crime is suspected, but less than a week later another bride is shot and killed entering St. Patrick's cathedral. This high society wedding had almost nothing in common with the first murder except the wedding planner, gown designer and florist. The planner is light-fingered and a crack marksman, the florist has a flamboyant lifestyle and likes to "adopt" boys from Third World countries, and the gown designer is enough like the real-life Vera Wang to make me take her off the suspect list immediately. The problem is why would any of them do something that would probably destroy their businesses? I had a soft spot I didn't know about for brides. It was almost as shocking to think of a bride being killed as it would be a child. And the author does not let you off easily. Bride #1 was totally innocent, had never been on a date, a dreamy quiet girl. Bride #2 was spoiled, but likeable and had her whole life in front of her. April's sister/cousin who was to be married in a week was perhaps a designated third victim. This ratcheted up the sense of urgency nicely. The florist's "boys" came under observation, and the author gives a chilling picture of young men who have suffered horrible psychological damage, seen their whole family destroyed, made to serve in an army at 10 years of age, then being "rescued" and sent to the U.S. by well-meaning people, but with very little desperately needed guidance and help. I hope this is the big breakout for Leslie Glass. April Woo has grown up and is ready to take her place among the big boys.
-sweetmolly-Amazon Reviewer
Rating:
Summary: The Weddings That Weren't
Review: Leslie Glass improves with every April Woo novel. April has developed into a unique character, her stories show increasing depth and excellent research, and even her romance with the long-suffering Mike Sanchez is finally showing some sparks of maturity. With a myriad of colorful characters "The Silent Bride" is her best yet. April and Mike are called upon for a high profile murder of the bride at an Orthodox Jewish wedding. The well-to-do, deeply devout family are not obvious suspects, nor is the groom who 1) was standing at the other end of the aisle when the shot was fired and 2) barely knew his bride to be. (This was an arranged wedding.) A hate crime is suspected, but less than a week later another bride is shot and killed entering St. Patrick's cathedral. This high society wedding had almost nothing in common with the first murder except the wedding planner, gown designer and florist. The planner is light-fingered and a crack marksman, the florist has a flamboyant lifestyle and likes to "adopt" boys from Third World countries, and the gown designer is enough like the real-life Vera Wang to make me take her off the suspect list immediately. The problem is why would any of them do something that would probably destroy their businesses? I had a soft spot I didn't know about for brides. It was almost as shocking to think of a bride being killed as it would be a child. And the author does not let you off easily. Bride #1 was totally innocent, had never been on a date, a dreamy quiet girl. Bride #2 was spoiled, but likeable and had her whole life in front of her. April's sister/cousin who was to be married in a week was perhaps a designated third victim. This ratcheted up the sense of urgency nicely. The florist's "boys" came under observation, and the author gives a chilling picture of young men who have suffered horrible psychological damage, seen their whole family destroyed, made to serve in an army at 10 years of age, then being "rescued" and sent to the U.S. by well-meaning people, but with very little desperately needed guidance and help. I hope this is the big breakout for Leslie Glass. April Woo has grown up and is ready to take her place among the big boys.
-sweetmolly-Amazon Reviewer
Rating:
Summary: Can April solve the Bride murders in time for Chings wedding
Review: The Silent Bride is the latest (when I wrote this) in the April Woo Series. April Woo is an ABC (American Born Chinese) NYC PD Police Sergeant. As usual this story is fast paced and a great mystery thriller. You are given enough clues to figure out who did it but not until the very end does it all come together, as the writer cleverly steers you down a few other paths along the way. In this one you again have Lt. Mike Sanchez and April working together. You also get to see a bit more about "Skinny Dragon" Mother and sister cousin "Ching". Mike and April are trying to figure out who would kill a bride on her wedding day (in the church at that) is it a hate crime? A crime of passion? But, wait before we get to far into solving the crime there is another wedding murder across town. And while the way the bride is again shot there appear to be no similarities in the families. But, there are a few things that link them together and there is a possibility a few of these things might also put "Ching" in danger. Not to mention that "Skinny Dragon" says this is bad luck for Chings wedding. Along the way April and Mike also hit some rocky patches in working together. But this is not a romance book.. This is a Mystery Thriller with a little romance thrown in on the side. (I.e. My Dad even likes the series) While this books stands along I also recommend going back and starting with the first one so that you get to really know the characters!
Rating:
Summary: Can April solve the Bride murders in time for Chings wedding
Review: The Silent Bride is the latest (when I wrote this) in the April Woo Series. April Woo is an ABC (American Born Chinese) NYC PD Police Sergeant. As usual this story is fast paced and a great mystery thriller. You are given enough clues to figure out who did it but not until the very end does it all come together, as the writer cleverly steers you down a few other paths along the way. In this one you again have Lt. Mike Sanchez and April working together. You also get to see a bit more about "Skinny Dragon" Mother and sister cousin "Ching". Mike and April are trying to figure out who would kill a bride on her wedding day (in the church at that) is it a hate crime? A crime of passion? But, wait before we get to far into solving the crime there is another wedding murder across town. And while the way the bride is again shot there appear to be no similarities in the families. But, there are a few things that link them together and there is a possibility a few of these things might also put "Ching" in danger. Not to mention that "Skinny Dragon" says this is bad luck for Chings wedding. Along the way April and Mike also hit some rocky patches in working together. But this is not a romance book.. This is a Mystery Thriller with a little romance thrown in on the side. (I.e. My Dad even likes the series) While this books stands along I also recommend going back and starting with the first one so that you get to really know the characters!
Rating:
Summary: absorbing and fast-paced
Review: This is an absorbing and suspenseful read. A top notch police procedural, starring Detective Sergeant April Woo of the NYPD. I have read other books in this series, and I immediately picked up "The Silent Bride" when I saw that it was the next April Woo novel. I really like April, and she has grown so much though out the series. The action begins on page one, when the first bride is shot, and does not let up until the final page. This is one book that you will not be able to put down once you pick it up. The cast of suspects will keep you guessing "whodunit," and the action is pretty much non-stop. April is a sympathetic, believable character and the depth of her relationship with both her boyfriend Mike Sanchez and her family enriches the novel. April and Mike are considering the possibility of their marriage, and the complications relating to their conflicting family backgrounds provide personal tension which adds to the professional tension of the case. April's cousin is also going to be married, and so this case has some very personal implications and meanings for April. The book is the seventh in the April Woo series, but it stands on its own well. You don't have to head read the other books in the series to appreciate "The Silent Bride", but I recommend the books.
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