Book which begins with a scream...

[Patricia]

All I can remember is that this book begins with a girl being able to scream very loudly. You, the reader, then forget this until the very end of the book when this ability is of great relevance.
I cannot remember name or writer but I do remember if was a slimish book published by Faber - maybe 20 . years ago

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Is it children's, YA, or adult?
How old is the girl, about?
Author's gender?
Genre?
Where and when is it set?

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

How does the scream become relevant at the end of the book? Spoilers are fine.

[Patricia]

It was an adult book, a good story but I have forgotten almost everything about it including exactly why the scream is relevant at the end. I only remember that it was such a neat device to begin with something the reader will almost certainly forget for the rest of the book and then 'solve' the mystery, problem or whatever it was by this one characteristic - that she, the protagonist, can really scream absurdly loud...
I know it is not much to go on...and its odd how I remember it was one of Faber's.