SILENT WITNESS: A Josie Bates Thriller (The Witness Series Book 2)

What a story!! I love the characters. Twists and turns on the plot. I can say that I didn't see the ending as it is. An awesome read. It's a MUST read.

Even better than the first one. Good characters, real to life reactions and quite a pleasure to read. Rebecca keeps me turning the pages.

Los Angeles author, Rebecca Forster, has created yet another well-crafted legal thriller in `Silent Witness - (The Witness Series).This title is the second of three in The Witness Series. Protagonist, Josie Baylor-Bates is still living at beachside Hermosa Beach and is now guardian to troubled teen, Hannah Sheraton, introduced to readers in the series' first title: Hostile Witness. Hannah's presence is creating tension in the relationship between Archer and Josie when the novel opens, but this issue fades in significance when Archer is charged with the murder of his step-son and Josie steps in to defend him.What's interesting about `Silent Witness' is how Forster balances the telling of a typical legal drama with an exploration of the emotional vulnerabilities of the story's main characters, Josie and Archer. The character of Hannah takes a necessary backseat in this title and at first, I wasn't comfortable with that - I wanted her to have a more significant role after getting to know her so well in Forster's `Hostile'. But, by the time I finished the novel I felt the author had portrayed the relationship between Josie and Hannah realistically, given the circumstances of the storyline.Like `Hostile Witness', there are some interesting minor characters in this novel. For example, the character of plaintiffs' attorney, Jude Getts, is believable and created with appropriate depth to act as a foil to that of the character of Archer, allowing Forster (and her readers) to explore the stress of Archer's imprisonment on his and Josie's relationship.Overall, the plot of this novel is well constructed. The orientation quickly draws readers in and events lead logically to an unexpected conclusion. However, I felt the ending came too quickly, even though the denouement is fully explained. There were also occasional formatting issues, but these did not detract from an otherwise highly enjoyable read.Well worth downloading if you enjoy character-driven dramas.

Josie is doing her best to take care of sixteen year-old Hannah — to understand, be there for and guide her. Then, Archer is arrested — accused of murdering his disabled stepson two years earlier — a stepson Josie knew nothing about. "For Josie Baylor-Bates there were two people who needed her and no one she could turn to for help. ... She didn't know how to be perfect for Hannah and still do what needed to be done for Archer." Josie will have to carefully balance Hannah's and Archer's needs, so she can be there for both of them...When Timothy Wren died at an amusement park, it was thought to be a tragic accident. Tim's biological father is back and he has an interesting story to tell. He also has a multimillion dollar lawsuit against the park — a lawsuit that will be worth nothing if Archer is convicted of murdering the boy...What a great book! The evidence would lead you in one direction, then something would happen and you would second-guess yourself. I did figure out the "who" pretty early on — the clues made it pretty obvious to me... However, I was completely blown away when the "why" was finally revealed!I really enjoy reading this kind of legal thriller series and I am now a fan of Josie Baylor-Bates. Rebecca Forster tells an intriguing story that immerses the reader in Josie's world. I am looking forward to the rest of the series...

Mentally challenged boy falls to death in a theme park ride. His mother dying of cancer; stepfather unhappy of attention mother pays to boy. Defense attorney and stepfather in a relationship. Who is responsible for death or was it truly a mercy killing? Great story.

Josie is certainly a determined lady. Once she has made up her mind, no one is getting in her way. A very enjoyable book.

I have found a new favorite series. As Jocie tries to stay out of dramatic legal cases, the most heart wrenching cases find her. Archer finds himself charged with the murder of his long dead step-son, Timothy. Joci steps up to do battle, trying desperately to keep faith in her lover as his emotions and desperation whirl out of control when he's charged with the murder of Timothy Wren. Joci must sift through the relationship that Archer had with his deceased wife and step-son to find the truth about Timothy's death. Years have past since the deaths and Lexi's ex husband, Colin Wren, seeks vengence on Archer, believing that he is the man responsible for his son's death.

I could not put this book down! It was fast paced with some surprises that you did not see coming.

This e-book is the second legal thriller in Rebecca Foster’s Witness series. Our heroine, Josie Baylor Bates was previously a hotshot lawyer, who moved to the Californian coastline and a small law-firm in an effort to escape the stresses of dealing with high profile cases. However, she is now left with the responsibility of looking after a teenager with multiple problems, and to make matters worse she is again embroiled in a high profile case when her lover, an ex-policeman, is charged with murdering his stepson Tim. Josie knew that Archer had been married, and his wife had died of cancer, but she had no idea he had had a stepson. However, Josie decides to defend him. As the book develops the relationship between Josie and Archer comes under strain as Josie finds out other things about Archer and starts to have doubts regarding his guilt or innocence.I really enjoyed this e-book, but it’s my view it is important to read the first book in the series (Hostile Witness) first as it sets up the relationships with the main characters, especially the relationship between her and Archer. It is difficult to say any more than that about the story without giving away any spoilers.I found this book highly entertaining, very well paced and well researched with some twists and turns. It was also very easy to read and as stated above, it picks up where the previous e-book left off.The question is will I be reading the third e-book in the series? The answer to that is yes. If like me, you enjoy legal thrillers, I’m pretty sure you’ll enjoy this one. However, as previously stated, start with the first one ‘Hostile Witness.’

I used to be an avid reader. Then come along all the games on your phone and ipad. Reading out the window. Now I have kindle and I am getting my mojo back. Came across the first book "HOSTILE WITNESS". That was a good page Turner. I decided to see what else by this author came across the box set at a reasonable price on kindle. Now on the third book. Thank you author for renewing my reading habits

This is a distressing plot. Did our heroine's partner of two years kill the disabled son of his dying wife two or so years ago? She wants to find out the truth - or does she? Can she keep Archer out of prison if she finds out that actually he did commit the crime? Whatever the outcome, will their relationship be over?You can tell this is written by a woman or sensitive person. Compared with more male books of this type there is a lot more weight given to the feelings of the characters and their relationships. This actually makes matters more exciting - and distressing at times - because we aren't just reading for the plot, we actually care about the characters, flaws and all. It is hard to compare this with anything else, but I think it is a bit like the grown-up sister of One For the Money, which is a comic story but equally good in terms of characterization.This is the second book in the series. It stands alone but it is best to read them in order.

I have not read any of this author's books before Silent Witness. It was a recommendation from Amazon via their daily Kindle deals and I liked the sound of the storyline so I downloaded it and I was not disappointed, in fact when I had finished it I immediately downloaded the next book in the series.I'm not going to spoil the pleasure for others by describing the storyline in great detail, suffice to say it draws you in slowly and surely like a spider with a fly.It's exactly what it says it is, a legal thriller, the storyline is excellent with underlying hints of who to believe and right till the end you are kept in suspense as to who did what to who and when and why - that should wet your appetite. Happy reading.

This is the second in the Witness series by Rebecca Forster and although the storyline was compelling it was not so much courtroom as investigation by lawyer Josie Baylor-Bates.This time she finds herself having to get to the bottom of the historic murder of a disabled youngster, the stepson of her partner, Archer, someone she didn't previously known about.Archer, a former cop, has all the hallmarks of being a decent upstanding individual but is he capable of such a callous crime?Josie doesn't believe so but with Archer being more cagey and withdrawn with every page it made me wonder if her trusty lover was responsible for the death.Josie B-B is supposed to be a courtroom lawyer and I would have liked more legal shenanigans to back up the blurb on the back cover.