Review of:  The Lakehouse

Joe Clifford

Polis

Publication Date:  9/29/20

Review Date:  9/20/20

I was excited to read this book, thinking that it looked like the perfect murder mystery to get me in the mood for fall and Halloween season, and I wasn’t disappointed!!  Clifford writes with an expert hand, shifting easily between his main characters’ perspectives.  I loved the psychological studies of each, as through each character and scene we learn more about the backstories behind the murder mystery and how everyone’s lives are linked together both past and present. Red herrings abound, and I kept changing my guess of who the killer was and their motivation until the shocking conclusion which will knock your socks off!!  This being said, I would have liked a cleaner ending as there were some leftover questions Clifford failed to wrap up completely. I think this book would make for a great movie – it really reminded me of tv shows such as “Criminal Minds.”  It was a quick, well-paced read that I couldn’t put down until I finished.  I’ll definitely look for more titles by this author!

Review of:  Murder, Forgotten

Deb Richardson-Moore

This is a wonderfully crafted, evocative murder mystery that will have you questioning everything you think you know!  Julianna, a gifted author of murder mysteries, is losing touch with reality, drifting in and out of her own fictional tales and back and forth through time.  Her memory is such that she even forgets that her beloved husband, Connor, was recently stabbed to death in their own home with her letter-opener!  Could she have committed the crime herself?  If not, who did it and why?  Julianna’s adult daughter, Logan, helps her investigate as she shifts through clues in the home and tries to connect with the mother she never really knew.  Could her mother’s unfinished original manuscript hold the key?  There are a lot of potential suspects and red herrings, and I didn’t figure out the true culprit until the very end when all was finally revealed!  This is a psychological thriller at its best, brilliantly imagined and expertly written. I especially enjoyed the addition of Discussion Questions at the end for digging deeper into the book’s themes (family relationships, reality vs. fiction, writing, mental illness).

Review of:  That Last Weekend: A Novel of Suspense

Laura Di Silverio

Choose your friends wisely!! An evocative tale.

Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2017

The author writes beautifully, but I agree with the other reviewers that this is challenging to get into as there isn't a whole lot of action - it is definitely more of a study in psychology, and a dark, uncomfortable read - each character is haunted by the past, unable to live fully into their present lives. I loved the setting and the supporting characters added layers of depth and intrigue to the tale. I have no idea, however, why any of them kept being friends with Evangeline, getting together for vacations, etc., after she did such horrible things to each one of them! Obviously it means everyone had a motive which is basically the foundation for the whole story, but still, this made no sense at all. I really couldn't figure out why any of them kept going on vacations together, when they didn't seem to like each other or were ever friends at any point in their lives. All of this being said, the red herrings and twist at the end were great and the writing was haunting and evocative. I also liked that each of the remaining innocent characters at the end seemed to gain some closure and hope for a brighter future. This was a well-written book, but not one that I necessarily "liked." Choose your friends wisely!!

Review of:  A Game of Deceit

K.A. Davis

Good first try!

Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2017

This book is a fast and enjoyable read - a perfect pick to take with you to the beach this summer! The pace was good and kept me reading - I finished it in just two days!

However, I think this book had a few problems -- the characters were a little two-dimensional and none seemed to be fully developed. Several things about the characters/ plot definitely required a suspension of disbelief (too coincidental or didn't make sense). I never understood why Kathryn allowed herself to be abused and sexually harassed by all the men in her life (all of whom crossed major professional/ moral/ ethical boundaries). It seemed she was a passive victim, dependent and at the mercy of everyone else, right through to the end. I didn't feel that she really experienced much inner growth or realized her own strength and independence.

Also, the issue of her finances was never resolved. It appeared that she had only one client in her interior design business (John), and her husband was a free-lance writer. How could they actually have millions? Was Kathryn ever able to access the hidden account since her identity had been stolen? This issue was never resolved.

There were also a lot of extraneous topics that didn't fit very well with the overall storyline or belong in a suspense novel. For example, there was a lot of information about a child with Rett's Syndrome and a big focus on baked goods and recipes. Neither of these had anything to do with the plot and I'm not exactly sure why they were included.

I almost felt as if the author wasn't sure whether this should be an action-suspense novel or a cozy. I think it was a good effort, but I feel the author will really hit her stride if she focuses on writing cozies. For an action novel, it would need to be more gripping, gritty, with a lot more action and intrigue. For a cozy, she would have a chance to explore her characters more, give us helpful information through their eyes, and treat us to scrumptious recipes as well! Ms. Davis is clearly a talented author and I look forward to reading her next work!

Review of:  Burden of Proof

Davis Bunn.  Revell, $15.99 (320p) ISBN 978-0-8007-2788-8

Four-time Christy award-winning author Bunn (Outbreak, Unscripted) has penned another riveting best-seller with this action suspense novel. 55-year-old Ethan Barrett has a month to live after being diagnosed with terminal cancer [p. 10]. He is filled with regrets over prioritizing his pride and the resulting selfish choices that led him through a life filled with broken relationships, failure, and loneliness [p. 21]. He remembers the final conversation – an argument – he had with his brother Adrian before he was murdered thirty-five years ago [p. 43]. As he takes his last kayak paddle, Ethan is surprised to find Adrian’s widow, Sonya, standing with his grown niece at the pier. They announce that Sonya, a neurobiologist, has developed the technology to travel back in time, and they ask Ethan to help save Adrian’s life by doing so, even though going back in time will result in his own imminent death [p. 21]. Ethan, having nothing left to lose, welcomes the opportunity to exchange his life for his brother’s and is sent back to 1985 to try to prevent Adrian’s murder and re-chart the course of history [p. 27].  As he races against the clock to uncover the identity of the enemy and stop the pending attack, he also seizes the chance to make better decisions and treat others with compassion and generosity [p. 110]. Bunn’s imaginative tale is brilliantly plotted, with sharp writing and an accelerating pace. What makes this work exemplary however is the poignancy of the narration that manages never to detract from the action but rather weaves a subtle cautionary message to readers. A beautiful story of tragedy and redemption, smartly executed.

Review of:  Don’t Give Up on Me

Jodi Artzberger.  Self-published, $3.99 (228p) EAN/ASIN B07WZ2R8X7

Best marketed for Young Adults.

When business operations manager Amanda Cragge regains consciousness after a vicious attack at her workplace, she looks into the face of Ryker, the man she’d loved who left her eight years ago [p.10]. Why had he, now a police detective, returned to Otter Bay, Maine? [p. 12] She doesn’t want to see him, much less talk about their past. However, she has no choice but to cooperate as they work together to find her assailant and his identity [p. 17]. Ryker works to face his fear of rejection and rely on his faith as he seeks to forgive himself for having destroyed his relationship with Amanda [p. 19]. As more attempts are made on her life, his determination to protect her and catch the culprit lead him to realize that life is too precious to waste in selfish fears [p. 79]. As he opens up to her and shares his journey to accepting Christ as his Savior, Amanda’s heart is finally softened and she is able to forgive his past mistakes [p. 166, 204, 208-209]. Their love is rekindled in their recognition of God’s love. When the identity of Amanda’s attacker is revealed, healing begins to take place in the community [p. 205 ff]. Artzberger is adept at crafting the contemporary romance storyline, and the work is replete with biblical quotes and references [p. vii, 1, 170, 178, etc.]. However, the slow pacing results in a loss of any real sense of suspense, and suspension of disbelief will be required to buy into the contrived plot.

Review of:  Point of Danger

Irene Hannon.  Revell, $16.99 (384p) ISBN 978-0-8007-3617-0

Award-winning novelist Hannon (Hope Harbor, Guardians of Justice) introduces readers to sisters Eve, Cate, and Grace in the first installment of her brand-new trilogy, Triple Threat.  This tale of romantic suspense features Eve, a conservative radio talk-show host who becomes the target of a sinister plot [p. 21 ff].   First, a fake bomb containing a sinister note is left on the doorstep of her home [p. 39], then she receives a disturbing call on-air from an anonymous caller with information about her personal life [p. 69].  Commitment-phobic detective Brent Lange works to track down the suspect before he makes good on his threats to silence Eve, but he is unable to deny his growing attraction to the subject of the investigation [p. 87 ff]. His efforts to avoid a relationship only serves to intrigue Eve, however, who becomes determined to show him that happy endings are real [p. 132 ff]. As the threats escalate and suspects multiply, Brent realizes that life is too short not to grasp the opportunity for true love that stands before him [p. 350 ff].  Hannon’s tale is heavy on romance but light on action. Unfortunately, much of the work is spent brow-beating readers through her main character’s voice to push a conservative political agenda instead of focusing on the spiritual growth of her characters (Eve is completely unrelatable as Hannon paints her as a moral ideal). The book comes across as more a political tool rather than a vehicle to explore biblical themes, which may not sit well with readers in the current cultural climate.

Review of:  Minutes to Die

Susan Sleeman.  Bethany House, $15.99 (384p) ISBN 978-0-7642-3396-8

Best-selling author Sleeman (Fatal Mistake, Thread of Suspicion) continues her Homeland Heroes series with this action suspense that will have readers on the edge of their seats.  When FBI Agent Kiley Dawson asks to take the lead in the investigation of the ruthless murder of her confidential informant [p. 15], she is little prepared to face the imminent threat of a major terrorist attack that is somehow connected to the case.  Kiley must struggle to overcome her fear and insecurity stemming from the loss of her father at a young age and the resulting overprotectiveness of her mother [p. 32 ff].  As she races across the county with her team to track down leads and identify the players involved in the nefarious mission, she grudgingly joins forces with ICE Agent Evan Bowers after he uncovers the illegal entry into the U.S. of foreign operatives carrying bomb-making technology [p. 47].  As they work together to stop the pending attack, Evan challenges Kiley to deal with the blame she feels towards him for the death of her previous partner in a take-down gone wrong [p. 47 ff].  Through their current partnership, Kiley re-discovers her faith and the forgiveness that comes after laying down one’s fear, and as she does so, the pair can no longer deny their feelings for each other [p. 168 ff].  Sleeman’s writing is sharp and detailed, but the fast pace may leave readers longing for an index of acronyms and characters for reference.  Smartly crafted with a blockbuster of an ending.

Review of:  Blood Sisters

Jim O’Shea.  Pelican Book Group, $5.99 (274p) ISBN 978-1-5223-0269-8

Daughter of a pastor and Choctaw mother, red-haired Libby Meeker is grieving the tragic death of her twin sister as she approaches her 30^th birthday [p. 4].  Her mother’s struggle with mental illness is also worsening, reflected in her obsessive painting of the same disturbing image [p. 12 ff].  After both of Libby’s parents die within months of each other she begins to see visions of her sister as if she were still alive [p.  41 ff].  Puzzle pieces then begin appearing in seemingly random places, and as she puts it together Libby recognizes an image of her and her sister as babies in the hospital nursery ward.  She grows more concerned about the state of her own mental health as her visions of her twin become more frequent [p. 49 ff].  Meanwhile, detective Troy Hunter investigates a series of murders that point to a serial killer at work dubbed the Ginger Killer, whose targets are all red-haired young women [p. 70 ff].  When Hunter believes Libby could be the killer’s next target, they must unravel secrets from her past as she questions her ability to distinguish reality from a mind growing increasingly disturbed.  This is a psychological thriller at its best, as O’Shea’s writing is evocative and his storyline harrowing.  Readers may catch on to subtle underlying biblical themes that illustrate the consequences of unforgiveness and unbelief as they eagerly turn pages late into the night, getting up only to close the windows and lock the doors.

Review of:  Jane Doe

Lillian Duncan.  Harbourlight Books, $15.99 (296p) ISBN 978-1-5223-0276-6

When Raven Marks awakens in the hospital, she has no recollection of what happened to her [p. 25].  She finds herself in a rehabilitation center where she begins to heal from both her physical and mental injuries with the support of Gracie, the center’s wheelchair-bound chaplain [p. 44 ff].  After recovering sufficiently to move into a home close to her sister, the memories of being held captive start to return with the exception of the identity of the madman who kidnapped her [p. 89 ff].   Raven must face her fear in order to discover her abductor’s identity and the reasons behind her kidnapping.  She is befriended by Hunter, the deputy and self-defense instructor she meets while in recovery [p. 70].  As they work together to decipher the clues, Raven’s faith is tested as she wrestles with feelings of shame and guilt over what happened to her [p. 80 ff].  She discovers that in order to truly heal she has to learn to stop keeping secrets and trust God [p. 169 ff].  Only when she does is she able to move forward with her life and find justice for herself and others.   Duncan’s tale of suspense and salvation will keep readers invested in the storyline despite the harrowing scenes in the first few chapters.

 Review of:  One Little Lie

Colleen Coble.  Thomas Nelson, $16.99 (352p) ISBN 978-0-7852-2844-8

Best-selling author Coble (Sunset Cove, Hope Beach) treats readers to a new series set in Pelican Harbor, Alabama featuring troubled detective Jane Hardy.  When her father is arrested for a murder he didn’t commit (p. 75) and Jane is appointed interim Chief of Police, she must face public scrutiny as she tries to prove her worth as a female in a traditionally male role (p. 4 ff) while trying to clear her father’s name and the catch the real killer before the bodies multiply.  She begrudgingly enlists the aid of new-to-town documentary filmmaker Reid Dixon, but little does she suspect they have a shared past (p. 7 ff).  Delving into the world of cults, Coble’s tale of intrigue leads Jane and Reid to examine their own demons as they uncover the darkest secrets of those whom they thought they knew best.  Jane and Reid grow closer as they learn more about each other’s true character, but a lie from the past threatens to undo their emerging bond.  Coble deftly explores themes of the legacy of sin, salvation through faith, and the work of redemption in this well-crafted romantic suspense.  While readers will need to suspend a bit of disbelief to buy in into the unlikely ending, the satisfaction of having justice served will be worth the leap.  Coble leaves just enough dangling threads to leave fans hungrily awaiting the next installment of this 3-part series. 4 stars.

 Review of:  Collison of Lies

Tom Threadgill.  Revell, $15.99 (400p) ISBN 978-0-8007-3650-7

From the author of the Jeremy Winter Thriller series comes a new tale of suspense featuring protagonist Amara Alvarez, Property Crimes detective in San Antonio, TX.  Alvarez, eager to move up the career ladder to more exciting cases, learns to be careful of what she wishes for as she finds herself embroiled in a mystery so big it involves multiple governments and secret agents, where nothing and no one is what they seem.  The story begins to unfold when Alvarez meets a grieving mother who purportedly received a text message from her son who died in a school bus accident three years ago (p. 10).  When another parent of one of the children who died in the tragedy receives a mysterious note, Alvarez starts to discover the connections and the bodies start to pile up (pp. 23-62).  As she enlists the help of the medical examiner and homicide department, the case turns on its head when they realize the entire accident may have been a cover-up and the children could be still alive (p. 41 ff).  Suddenly it’s a race against time where Alvarez has to find out who she can trust as she searches for answers to what happened to the missing children.  This work will keep readers on the edge of their seats - a top-notch, nail-biting thriller expertly crafted by Threadgill, who will quickly establish himself as a master of intrigue with this riveting novel.  5 stars.