The Witness

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Jennifer Jeffries is single and the innocent victim of a violent assault. She is forced to deal with her trauma in the company of strangers, since she was in London and not her Houston home when the attack occurred. In addition, she must testify in one of London's Crown Courts against the man who nearly killed her. Her inauspicious circumstances and the intense style of writing create a strong connection with the reader. Strong supporting characters enrich the narrative. No one expected Jenny to survive the physical and emotional trauma she experienced--not the doctors, not the London serial killer who chose her for his seventh victim, not the Scotland Yard detective who desperately needed her to testify against her attacker. Jenny is kidnapped and is a victim of violence. The threat to her life is present both before and after her attacker is convicted and continues to the end of the book. Suspense also plays a role in whether she will have recovered sufficiently from her trauma to testify against her attacker and later to participate in a romantic relationship with the Scotland Yard detective who handled her case. And no one expected this young, petite Texan to overcome her fears--not her witness protection team nor the tough ex-special-forces sergeant in charge of them. And no one expected her character and courage to blossom-- not the defense barristers who sought to discredit her testimony and not even Jenny herself, who had to battle pain and panic to rediscover hope and love. This novel portrays the rebuilding of a traumatized life from victim to survivor to victor--each step an important shift in the struggle to regain personal power. Clues for real recovery are revealed from Jenny's journey through the 1998-99 British law enforcement and legal system and beyond. The first of a trilogy, this work of women's fiction contains the same psychological intensity as Anna Quindlen's Black and Blue. Ms. Quindlen's protagonist endures, but Ms. Kryske's triumphs. Healing and hope overcome fear and pain. The Witness breaks new ground by showing the enduring effects trauma can have on a life and the process victims must undergo to heal, while still being an entertaining and compelling read, and covers the steps toward healing from violence.