Books

What Reviewers Are Saying About Whisper My Name

Smith's latest (after Weapon of Seduction) follows a serial killer who marks his victims with a spider tattoo before brutally murdering them. Det. Sebastien Durand of San Antonio is assigned to the initial murder case, and soon seeks the help of entomology professor Francesca Purnell to help him identify the type of spider tattooed on the victim. Francesca identifies the spider as a Mexican arachnid that is "supposed to be cursed." When an acquaintance of Francesca's falls victim to the killer, Sebastien and Francesca are drawn closer together, and soon the intensity of the murder investigation gives way to romance. Danger and unexpected familial complications follow, as do a barrel of red herrings and a host of likely suspects. With a deft touch and solid cast of characters, Smith gives equal credence to spicy romance and nail-biting suspense on her way to an explosive conclusion.
—Publishers Weekly

In the ultimate search for perfection, a serial killer stalks the streets of San Antonio in search of a woman with a flawless body, only to kill any victim with the slightest physical blemish, leaving her dead with his signature calling card of a "Mexican blood walker" spider tattooed on her body.

As residents of the city's affluent King William District become gripped with fear, police must race against the clock to capture the killer before the case starts making national headlines and visitors start avoiding San Antonio "like the plague," wreaking havoc on the city's tourism industry.

With nonstop intrigue from the first page to the last, author Maureen Smith weaves a captivating tale of mayhem and murder in "Whisper My Name," a romantic suspense thriller published in paperback that will stay with you long after you turn the final page.

Former New Orleans police Detective Sebastien Durand, who now makes San Antonio home after being displaced by Hurricane Katrina, is assigned the case after the slaying of recent college graduate Christine Snodgrass in a hotel in the midst of elegant, century-old Victorian homes along the south bank of the city's namesake river.

Durand is fascinated by the intricate tattoo left by the killer on his victims, which brings back memories of growing up in his uncle's tattoo shop in the Big Easy. He sets off on a crash course in entomology to understand the significance of the Mexican blood walker in the case.

Fortunately for Durand, he comes across Francesca "Frankie" Purnell, a university professor with a Ph.D. in entomology who can "discuss molecular biology and argue the ecological importance of arthropods with the best of them." It also doesn't hurt that Frankie is young, beautiful and single.
The two join forces to link the spider, last seen in a remote village outside the Yucatán and thought to be extinct, to the killer before he strikes again. The two fall in lust, then in love during the course of the investigation, which becomes further complicated when Frankie's sister, Tommie, also falls for Durand.

Smith does a masterful job in striking a perfect balance between romance and suspense in her work. Some people may commit the adage of solely judging the book based on its cover and leave it on the store's shelf — don't be one of them and shortchange yourself. Smith's writing is crisp, the plot enticing and the characters have believable back stories — all the ingredients a paperback novel needs to earn a place on your "must-read" list this summer.
—Vincent Bosquez, San Antonio Express-News

Maureen Smith has penned a riveting tale with WHISPER MY NAME. From the start, the story is engrossing and thrilling with the makings of a classic romance with the added ingredients of familial love, strife and mystery. WHISPER MY NAME is the unforeseen meeting between Francesca "Frankie" Purnell, a professor of entomology, and Sebastien Durand, a detective with the San Antonio, Texas police department.

Upon eyeing Frankie in a coffee house, Sebastien is smitten with her beauty despite her homely appearance. Dubbed the Spider Lady by her peers and her students, Frankie has no interest in changing her clothing or her hairstyle. Her only interests are her students and her research. As Sebastien ogles her, he receives a call about a murder in the city. Unable to make an introduction, he leaves the scene to begin his investigation. The investigation leads him to a murdered female with a spider freshly tattooed on her body. During his research he stumbles across an article, written by Frankie, on the Mexican Blood Walker spider, the same spider tattooed on the murder victim. Assuming the author is a man, he locates the professor's home to interview her on her findings and is surprised to find the object of his affection is Frankie. This meeting is the beginning of a casual relationship, which spirals into more.

The author has provided a very vivid and picturesque imagery of the area in and around San Antonio. The study of spiders is summarized in a logical manner and the mystery surrounding the numerous murders, held a suspenseful edge to the end. While several suspects were depicted in minute fashion, the identity of the culprit was not obvious; this made for a shocking revelation. Furthermore, the author has provided a backdrop of sibling rivalry and jealousy which was engaging and profound. This coupled with the relationship of Sebastien and his grandmother and their ascent from hurricane ravaged New Orleans, produced a multi-layered story filled with longing, passion and affection.
—Dawn R. Reeves, The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers, 4.5 stars

Smith writes a high-intensity story. The interesting plot spotlights her creativity and talent as a suspenseful romance storyteller and author.
Summary: Sebastien Durand is a detective looking for a serial killer in San Antonio. The murderer leaves a strange calling card on his victims -- a spider tattoo -- that sends Sebastien back to school. Francesca Purnell is a entomologist at the local university and the only person who can help solve these murders. Their collaboration extends past the case as they discover a fiery hot chemistry. It also leaves one of them at the mercy of a killer.
—Eleanor Shields, Romantic Times Bookreviews, 4 stars