In the Still of the Night

by Charlotte Lamb

Annie Lang, star of the TV police drama "The Force", is a character known to millions. Men want to protect her; women warm to her too. But, in the real world, the actress with the innocent face harbours her own terrible secret. Why do those who get close to Annie have a habit of dying - suddenly and violently - in the still of the night? Two very different men dominated Annie's past. Both vanished eight years ago. Since that fateful night, ambition has driven Annie to the top. Now at the peak of her success, she has everything she has ever wanted except love - the one thing she would trade it all for. And then one day love begins to stalk her ...

Genres: Fiction, Crime, Thriller, Mystery

375 pages, Paperback

Published September 1, 1997

About the author

Sheila Ann Mary Coates Holland
aka Sheila Holland, Sheila Coates, Charlotte Lamb, Sheila Lancaster, Victoria Woolf, Laura Hardy

Sheila Ann Mary Coates was born on 1937 in Essex, England, just before the Second World War in the East End of London. As a child, she was moved from relative to relative to escape the bombings of World War II. Sheila attended the Ursuline Convent for Girls. On leaving school at 16, the convent-educated author worked for the Bank of England as a clerk. Sheila continued her education by taking advantage of the B of E's enormous library during her lunch breaks and after work. She later worked as a secretary for the BBC. While there, she met and married Richard Holland, a political reporter. A voracious reader of romance novels, she began writing at her husband's suggestion. She wrote her first book in three days with three children underfoot! In between raising her five children (including a set of twins), Charlotte wrote several more novels. She used both her married and maiden names, Sheila Holland and Sheila Coates, before her first novel as Charlotte Lamb, Follow a Stranger, was published by Mills & Boon in 1973. She also used the pennames: Sheila Lancaster, Victoria Wolf and Laura Hardy. Sheila was a true revolutionary in the field of romance writing. One of the first writers to explore the boundaries of sexual desire, her novels often reflected the forefront of the "sexual revolution" of the 1970s. Her books touched on then-taboo subjects such as child abuse and rape, and she created sexually confident - even dominant - heroines. She was also one of the first to create a modern romantic heroine: independent, imperfect, and perfectly capable of initiating a sexual or romantic relationship. A prolific author, Sheila penned more than 160 novels, most of them for Mills & Boon. Known for her swiftness as well as for her skill in writing, Sheila typically wrote a minimum of two thousand words per day, working from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. While she once finished a full-length novel in four days, she herself pegged her average speed at two weeks to complete a full novel. Since 1977, Sheila had been living on the Isle of Man as a tax exile with her husband and four of their five children: Michael Holland, Sarah Holland, Jane Holland, Charlotte Holland and David Holland. Sheila passed away on October 8, 2000 in her baronial-style home 'Crogga' on the Island. She is greatly missed by her many fans, and by the romance writing community.

Reviews

[Shelley · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was written in 1995. I think I've had it since about that time. It's moved from one state to another, one home to another over the last 14 years. Not sure why it's taken me this long to finally pick it up. I guess I have too many books to read. The pages are even yellowed, ha!

Before writing my review, I always like to read other goodreaders reviews. There were only a few to my surprise. Then I dug a little deeper and I discovered Charlotte Lamb also wrote Harlequin books, ahhhhhh!!! Probably what I consider the least talented writers out there. Come to think of it, this book could had very well been one without the stupid and ridiculous love scene (though there were a few): Clueless main female character, men always rescuing her or belittling her, no self confidence, love story with a mystery thrown in.

I was less than half way through the novel when I figured out "who done it". It really was a no brainer, quite obvious when I started putting all the pieces together. By then, I just wanted to hurry up and finish the novel from that point on.

There are some things that really bothered me. Telling us how pale Annie was told over and over. Another was how Annie, who was an actress and had to wear lots of makeup on set, normally didn't wear makeup, because she preferred the natural look.

I really disliked how the police officer brushed off Annie's concern that someone had broken into her home. I would hope that the police, regardless of it being Valentine's Day, would send a car out to confirm they was no one still in her home. The officer talked to Annie like she was a 5 year old who was scared that there was a boggy man under her bed, "Now, I suggest you have a little think, Miss Lang, and see if you can't remember anyone who has a key, knows the combination of your alarm - and might want to bring you red roses and a Valentine." That made my blood boil. How demeaning to say that to a grown woman!

Another thing that really bothered me was how and why Annie didn't bring her mother home. She could had very well had a full time nurse look after her since she had the money being an actress. If my mother was in the hospital, was scared that someone was trying to kill her, you be sure, I would want her close to me.

It wasn't a bad story, I just feel it could been a stronger story.

[Louise TM · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book started out great but then slowly dwindled. I liked the frail character of Annie Lang, her struggles at the academy and her head over heels romance with Johnny the tenant. It had potential.

But then nothing happened... Annie - though now a TV series star - remained unchanged and was the same person she was, when she was 16 years old. And all of the other characters acted more or less at random.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a pretty good crime thriller that has a big dollop of drama thrown in for good measure. It follows Annie Lang, an actress with some dark secrets and ghosts in her past that are bubbling to the surface, threatening her work, her family, and her life. But all is not lost as she rediscovers an old flame and things begin to brighten, or do they. For me, it was the supporting characters that carried this book through as I found the lead character a bit irritating at times and her big personality swings a little offputting, but the others were fascinating, particularly as the past comes to light and motives are understood.

[Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book however I do feel it dragged towards the end, once it was apparent who the killer was my interest in the book began to fade, I feel the ending was rushed and rubbish, there should have been maybe another chapter after the event which told us what she did after, if she brought her mum back home, was there potential for her and Sean, I feel there was many aspects the book left unanswered.

[Bec · Rating 3 out of 5]

Intriguing concept, but dragged out in some parts, rushed in others, and the ending was abrupt and unfulfilling, as least from the "what next?" perspective. I was fascinated till about three quarters through.

[peace ☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*
started off quite good and slowly dwindled as it went on and then the ending was quite obvious. it wasn’t disappointing, just easy to guess the plot twist

[Lynne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great story, really keeps you hooked until the end.

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel horrible about this. I really do. But I cheated. And this is something I never do. Yes, I cheated. About halfway through I read the last couple of sentences of this book. So I knew whodunit. I knew who the woman was who lured away Derek. I knew exactly who the fingers pointed to. And yet I kept on reading. Still felt the need to tidy up all the little details. Was it worth it? Do I feel justified in my cheating? Maybe a little. Maybe I never would have finished this book without cheating. Part of me wanted Annie to bite the dust. Or be harmed irreparably. She was just THAT annoying. I didn't fall in love with any of the characters and as the book progressed I could tell the author is an ex-Harlequin romance writer. I only hope the other book I have in my collection is a tad better than this one.

[Sorcha]

Annie Lang is a famous TV actress and star of the police drama, "The Force". She has everything except love, which she has had to sacrifice for her career. A card from a secret admirer seems to answer her prayers, but the truth is far more sinister.[return]Reasonable, british based thriller, of Annie becoming a famous TV actress (On a show very similar to The Bill), but who is haunted by her past. Soon she realises she is the target of a sinister attack from person/persons unknown.[return][return]The identity of the secret admirer is not really that secret, and the story is a little formulaic, but is a decent enough way to pass an evening with a good bottle of wine

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this novel though there were a couple of things that annoyed me. For example there was quite a lot of repetition, the amount of times that it is said that Annie Lang doesn't wear much makeup and prefers the natural look is mentioned multiple times. I feel that the characters are developed well enough at the beginning and that there was too much repetition of the characters attributes later in the novel.

The book was enjoyable though, the characters were likable enough and the plot was interesting.

[Lisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

I got over half way through the book but just couldn't go any further. The heroine was nearly always traumatised by something or other. She lived under her mother's thumb, and didn't get out of the habit of being passive up until the point I put the book down.

I need strong characters, especially if they're main ones.

[Cerys · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well it was better written than the synopsis and had a twist which I really should have seen but didn't. Enough suspense for me to read the last quarter of the book in one sitting but not one of the greats. It was a good holiday read.

[Chris]

Ned. Titel: in de schaduw van de nacht

[Karen Thomson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fast read - a thriller that was a bit....much. The characters were not terribly believable, and the suspense was slow, but not bad.

[Willow · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book regardless of the reviews it got. This book may have had its flaws but nonetheless I liked it a lot...

[Sue Wallace · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the still of the night by Charlotte Lamb.
This was a slow but good read with likeable characters. Some characters I didn't like. 3*.