Amanda Curtis is a veterinarian, just recovering from the death of her artist mother. Then her mom's lawyer confides that Amanda was adopted, and it might be possible for someone, like her uncle, to contest the will leaving her the family home. Reeling from the shock, Amanda is instructed not to discuss the matter with anyone until the lawyers find out if there were proper adoption papers. What an emotional start to the latest suspense story from Marta Perry.

SOUND OF FEAR starts in Boston but swiftly moves to the town of Echo Falls, Pennsylvania for the second in the series. With a mix of Amish and so-called English folks, as well as tourists, a small legal practice has enough work. Amanda Curtis arrives looking for her roots. But she is also looking for a possible crime and cover-up, so a lawyer is a good choice. Trey Alter is close to her own age and doesn't have a long memory for local births and deaths, but he'll surely find someone who does. Meanwhile he advises Amanda that locals notice newcomers and might not like a stranger poking in their past. Sure enough, within moments of entering a café, Amanda is being politely interrogated by the Amish owner.

I have to hand it to Marta Perry for continually providing ingenious and plausible reasons for her plots. ECHO OF DANGER was a great start to the series, with a psychological suspense tale of a young widow and mother resisting her controlling father-in-law. This second tale contains some of the same characters but reads as a standalone. Once more we hike to and marvel at the roaring waterfall. A farm-stay business makes Amanda welcome and shows her something of the Amish way of life. The Boston vet is an admirable character; she has brought her Golden Labrador, but he is well trained not to chase livestock. I am delighted that Amanda assists a foaling mare. Danger follows her, not only from Boston but from Echo Falls too.

SOUND OF FEAR does contain a romance, but the professional relationship Trey has with the woman he comes to admire, keeps him from initiating a romantic relationship. This allows time for trust and friendship to grow, and for the two to reconsider their lives. The romance is suitable for teens or adults and the past love story -- which involved Amanda's long-lost mother -- is a sad but true reflection on past attitudes. All Marta Perry's fans will get great value from this book, and if you have not read any of the Amish romances by her, this may inspire you to start.