First in the Bo Bradley mystery series, CHILD OF SILENCE introduces a sleuth whose big heart and quirky wit help her deal with both an impossible job and a psychiatric disorder.

Abigail Padgett introduces the reader to schizophrenia and how it can be treated and managed. She spins her tale so skillfully that you realize that there are many more dangerous things in the world than a managed psychiatric condition. ( )

Found the story line somewhat unbelieveable - too much good luck running around making things turn out OK. Loved the characters however. This was a reread after many years' break and I will continue to reread the rest of the series and perhaps move on to Padgett's other mysteries. As you will see by the 4.5 star score, intellectual scepticism notwithstanding, I loved reading this story. ( )

Bo Bradley, a social worker with the San Diego’s Children’s Protective Services, finds more than expected as she investigates the case of a boy found tied to a mattress in an abandoned building on a Paiute Reservation. Because he doesn’t communicate or seem to understand what is said to him, he is labeled “retarded” and the system proceeds to institutionalize him. Because of her family history, Bo realizes the boy, who calls himself “Weppo” is not retarded: He is deaf. Apparently, no one has attempted to teach him to speak or use sign language.
As she tries to locate his family, she encounters the powerful Rowe family who seem to be willing to do anything to keep her from resolving the case.
She also has to deal with her own bipolar health condition, trying to balance the benefits of using lithium with the side effects it causes.
The book explains how “the system” works, the effect of bureaucracy, the roles of the supervisors, and what a dedicated social worker has to do to best serve her client’s interests. It also tells about the Paiute culture.
The first of a series of Bo Bradley books, CHILD OF SILENCE was well written and kept my interest. I found the main characters believable and cared about them. ( )

Child Protective Services worker, Bo Bradley has Bipolar Disorder (manic-depressive). She struggles to manage her mood while being on the edge of a manic episode. In the meantime she is assigned the case of a four year old non-talking boy found tied to a mattress and abandoned. It soon becomes obvious that someone is out to kill this child. This series was recommended by another LT'er.

I was interested as I have a loved one who is bipolar. It's an interesting look at BP from the inside out as well as being a decent short quick mystery/thriller. I'll continue on with the series, although I find the Child Protective Services details a bit harrowing. The department is overworked, understaffed and kids die from workers' miscalls. 3.8 stars ( )

4.0 von 5 Sternen Bo Bradley rettet taubstummes Kind, 26. Oktober 2001
Von Ein Kunde
Rezension bezieht sich auf: Der schweigsame Zeuge (Taschenbuch)
"Der schweigsame Zeuge" (Knaur 61369 - "Child of Silence", 1993) Abigail Padgett ist ein Kriminalroman mit Bo Bradley, einer manisch-depressiven Detektivin des Jugendamts von San Diego. Diesmal kümmert sie sich um einen kleinen Buben, der in der Nähe eines Indianerreservats von Annie Garcia, einer 79 Jahren alten Paiute-Indianerin, gefunden wurde. Dabei findet sie heraus, daß dieser Junge nicht - wie viele meinen - an einer Geisteskrankheit oder einer Gehirnschädigung leidet, sondern taubstumm und sehr intelligent ist. Als es bei ihren Ermittlungen zur Herkunft des Kindes zu mehreren Mordanschlägen auf das Kind kommt, gelingt es ihr die Hintergründe dieser Attentate - die im weit entfernten Texas liegen - herauszufinden und es unter Inkaufnahme der persönlichen Gefährdung in einem spannenden Finale zu retten. Insagemt ist "Der schweigsame Zeuge" nicht nur ein spannender Kriminalroman, sondern er bringt dem Leser auch die Bräuche der Paiute-Indianer und die Probleme von manisch-depressiven Menschen näher.