Aftermath - A Review

 

Aftermath

by

Terri Blackstock

A Review

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High

will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress,

my God, in whom I trust...”

{Psalm 91:1-2 ESV}

Taylor Reid and her friends had come for the concert, not the politician. When the concert was over, they still stayed to see what the politician might say. They never heard him. Before he could speak, the platform exploded and the venue erupted into chaos. Taylor managed to escape, but then she had to juggle the “Aftermath”.

Terri Blackstock, as expected, has written a compelling legal thriller that held this reader’s attention from Chapter 1 to the very end. Jamie Powell would need to use her skills as a lawyer to protect her client (and, at times, herself) from the police who were certain he was guilty and Taylor who believed what the police said and what she heard on the news.

Though the book was a normal 300+ page book, it is the first time I completed reading a book in a little over 24+ hour - I literally could not put it down. I easily give it 5-stars.

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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review.  The opinions expressed are mine alone.  

Closer Than She Knows - A Review

 

Closer Than She Knows

by

Kelly Irwin

Her prayer life was more
a series of discussions
between an Abba Father and
His recalcitrant daughter. 

It is not often I read a book for a second time - I did this one. Not because it was great (though, it was good), but because I read it the first time last February. I was ready to review it, but then the 2020-pandemic hit. My schedules changed, my wife was home, meals were a bit different. And for 6-8 weeks my habit of reading and reviewing got sidelined. I have mostly caught up on my reviews, but this book got pushed to the bottom of the pile. Now, six months later, I discovered the missing review; but to prepare a current and fair review, I needed to reread the book. I am glad I did.

Kelly Irwin has written a faith-based novel that focuses on the court recorder daughter of a law enforcement heavy family. Her father and two of Teagan O’Rourke siblings were in law enforcement. One stepsister chose law school - a close second. A serial killer was slowly murdering the important people around her, co-workers, friends, and now, it seemed, family members. The clock was ticking before another would die. The family, working with the San Antonio Police Department, and the youth pastor, who was sweet on Teagan, would need to follow the clues - would they lead to a murderer or to a trap.

Teagan would need to learn (or was it relearn) to trust God - both for her and her family’s safety and for her future. They would be hard lessons to learn. 

The book held this reader’s attention from chapter one to chapter forty-two. Though not planned, it was a book worth reading a second time.

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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review.  The opinions expressed are my own.

Synapse - A Review

Synapse 

by

Steven James

It was in 1999 that I first was faced with the issue of robotics and humanity as I watched Robin Williams’ humanity develop over 200 years. In the final scene, Robin’s robot character is worn out - he lays down and “dies”. His current owner, the great-granddaughter of the original owner, has had so many body parts replaced with computer upgrades that the only way she can die is to ask the nurse (another robot) to turn her off.

Synapse addresses many of the same issues - only it does not occur 200 years into the future but 30 years into the future.

Kestrel has just lost a baby during childbirth; her brother, Trevor, buys her “an artificial”, Jordan. Jordan is special in that he has a history and he begins to question his own relationship to God. It takes three explosions, a corrupt technology company, and groups of normals, plussers (those augmented with technology - be it arms, eyes, hearts, etc.), and artificials, to find a resolution to the crisis facing that future world.

The book read like a light cozy mystery, but it is science fiction that addresses difficult issues - grief, evil, love, forgiveness, etc. Written with a strong Christian message as it addresses these issues, the book is a well-written novel offering hope. I do not know if the author is considering additional books based on these characters, this reviewer hopes so.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are my own.

Deadly Deceit - A Review

Deadly Deceit 

by

Natalie Walters

The Watcher is there - watching. Though discovered in small-town Walton, GA, he had a reach across the country as he tried to destroy people’s lives. It would take the coordinated work of Vivian DeMarco, writer for Walton’s local newspaper, and Deputy Ryan Frost, recently returned from a training course offered by the FBI, to gather the clues and piece together the evidence that would point to the man or woman responsible for the blackmail and murder which was becoming all too regular for this Georgian village.

Vivian had to learn forgiveness, a lesson she missed during her youth after discovering her father deserted his family and was a fraud as well. Her friend Lane would remind her

The right kind of love isn’t earned, Vivian. I can’t tell you how many years I’ve spent being someone else’s idea of perfect, trying to earn their love and affection only to be reminded—painfully—how imperfect I am. That’s the beauty of godly love. The kind that is forgiving, unwarranted, undeserving, and unconditional. (3314/5101)

It would not be a lesson easily learned, but one she would need to grapple with if she were to discover real peace.

Written for those who enjoy Christian or romantic suspense, there are lessons that most believers need to hear repeatedly. The book will find a welcome spot in the public or church library. It might also find a welcoming spot under someone’s Christmas tree. The plot might make a great story for a Lifetime movie, though it would be a bit dark for a Hallmark feature.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are my own.

Stratagem - A Review

Stratagem

by

Robin Caroll

It was a game. It ended up being a deadly game.

This corporate game was requested by Tim DuBois, CEO of Deets PR, in order to help his board work through an upcoming managerial promotion, from Game’s On You. The original request was made to Colton York, though he and Grayson Thibodeaux, the co-owner of Game’s On You, would both need to approve the contract before it was finalized. Grayson would design the game, Colton would administer it. And Grayson’s ex-wife, Anna Belle Thibodeaux would be dead before the game was over.

There were a number of suspects, but the evidence seemed to point to one person. It would take the work of Detective Brandon Gibbons and his partner, Detective Danielle Witz, and Grayson and his assistant, Pam, to independently stumble upon the guilty party. And the discovery came almost too late.

Robin Caroll has managed to weave together a bit of mystery and faith into a captivating story. Though at least one location is shared with previous books from this author, it is unclear whether this story is a sequel to those - and reads well as a standalone book.

Though Robin Caroll is an experienced writer, this was the first book of hers that crossed my path. I was satisfied - and will look forward to reading others. It easily is a five-star book.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are my own.

Code of Valor - A Review

Code of Valor

by

Lynette Eason

A stolen boat and a missing friend lead to a case human trafficking involving law enforcement at many levels — local, state, and national. Emily Chastain would put her life on the line to find both the perpetrators and the victims. But in the process her own faith and the faith of those around her would be tested and proved. Lynette Eason has written a dramatic and intense thriller that will hold the reader’s attention from beginning to end. I would easily give the book a 5-star rating, except for one problem.

There is a “but” however. The book dealt with a major theme in law enforcement in the 21st century, human trafficking. The book does not provide resources for the average reader to find additional help. No web sites allowing the reader to learn more. No way to determine the size of the problem in local communities or within individual states. No signs or symptoms to suggest where help may found by somebody in trouble. No phone numbers to call for help if seen. The resources are there (see https://www.state.gov/j/tip/id/help/ for one site.)

Yes, this is a work of fiction, but the problems are real. It would make sense to add a list of resources as an appendix or addendum or even a single website where this information could found if needed, especially from a book coming with a Christian imprint. But there was nothing. I was disappointed.

I have no problem recommending the book for reading, having written a good story. I, however, would expect the author or publisher to take the initiative to assist the reader in understanding the larger issues involved.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are my own.

Chosen People - A Review

Chosen People

by

Robert Whitlow

There are few authors that I look forward to reading whenever a new book comes to the market. Robert Whitlow is one of those authors for this reader. Chosen People does not disappoint.

Weaving the stories of believers and unbelievers from three different cultures, Robert Whitlow introduces the reader to the difficulties faced as cultures collide in Jerusalem. Beginning with a terrorist attack in Hurva Square in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem, it becomes the job of two lawyers from different firms in Atlanta, GA, to tie the attack to specific actors that can be sued for the death of a mother in that attack. The evidence is weak and it would take a trip to the Holy Land to understand the crime and the people involved.

In the process, the reader is given a tour of Jerusalem and some of the surrounding area. We also are given a picture of life for the 21st century inhabitant of the middle east. The author takes us to the Western Wall, the Garden Tomb, as well as the site of the terrorist attack, Hurva Square. Though not the focus of the book, Whitlow manages to also weave in a bit of history and culture.

As expected, Whitlow delivers another legal thriller that holds the reader’s attention from beginning to end. Unlike his other books, the plot is now focused on international law — an added bonus. The book could easily find a place in a home, church, or public library. And it will make a good Winter read for most readers. It is easy to give this book a five-star review.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are my own.

Blind Betrayal - A Review

Blind Betrayal

by

Nancy Mehl

A Review

A crime thriller involving the protection of a witness who has more to risk than her own life. Valerie Bennett and E. J. Queen, both part of the US Marshals Service, were frenemies tasked with transporting journalist Casey Sloan from St. Louis to Washington DC to testify before a grand jury. The catch: after completing her own research, her original source has disappeared and is presumed dead.  Mehl moves the story from St. Louis to upstate Ohio to Seattle to Pittsburgh in order to save the life of both the protagonists and the life of the one who they are charged to protect.

The result is a believable story that will hold the reader’s attention from the initial attack in chapter one to the last few pages of the Epilogue. A bit of faith draws the reader allows the reader to get a glimpse of how God works in the life a believer while on the job.

The book certainly belongs on the shelf of the local public library. For some it will be a welcome addition to the church library. For the individual looking for the perfect summer getaway read, this would fill the bill nicely. This reader enjoyed the book greatly — hopefully other readers will as well.

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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions are mine alone.

Blind Spot - A Review

Blind Spot

by

Dani Pettrey

A Review

Blind Spot is a romantic thriller - with a touch too much romance for this reader.

This book picks up where Cold Shot and Still Life began. The team of FBI and private investigators are onto the trail of human traffickers and a terrorist - it would take time to see the connection between the two cases and only one could be solved.

The newest book again weaves in both the professional and personal lives of the characters. Though I enjoyed the book, it felt like there was a bit more romance - though nothing provocative or uncomfortable - in the telling of this story than needed. The author also, as in the earlier books, again focuses on faith issues - notably for this reader, “trust.” Trust of God, of others, and trust of ourselves.  

The author also prepares the reader for the next book in the series as she concludes this story with:

“You did a great job.” Everyone’s attention swung to Luke standing in the doorway, a grim expression on his hardened face. “But we’ve got a far more lethal threat on our doorstep.”

But for that, we will need to wait till next year.

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This review is based on a free copy provided by the author for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions are mine alone.

Beyond Justice - A Review

Beyond Justice

by

Cara Putman

A Review

Cara Putman has created a captivating legal thriller based on the many issues present in the immigration discussion - particularly the immigration of children - legal and illegal.

A trained lawyer, I found Ms. Putman’s description of the law understandable and believable. Her use of legal references allows the reader to delve deeper into the legal issues discussed in the book. The law is not merely described but is used to build an engaging story in which Hayden McCarthy, is handed an unwinnable case. The client has recently legally immigrated to the US with her younger child. When she discovers that her older son has been caught crossing into the US illegally and has been murdered while in custody, she approaches Elliot and Johnson, the law firm for whom Hayden works, to discover the truth and ensure justice follows. The ensuing hornets’ nest endangers the life of the client, her child, Hayden McCarthy, and her friends. Set Washington DC and its environs, as well cross country to Waco, TX, the story takes us on a bumpy ride that will easily hold the reader’s attention.

My only disappointment is that it appears the author is attempting to build a series of book..s around the “justice” theme, but not around the characters introduced in this book. This implies that each book in the series will stand alone, rather than continue to build upon characters with whom we have already become familiar.

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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review.  The opinions expressed are my own.

The Illusionist’s Apprentice - A Review

The Illusionist’s Apprentice

by

Kristy Cambron

A Review

Fairytales can take many forms. This one takes the form of an historical cozy mystery set in the years following the First World War. But also woven between its pages are flashbacks to Wren Lockhart’s troubled childhood and her adventurous teen years. Along the way we meet Harry Houdini and we get to make brief visits to the Palace of Versailles in France. We also get a glimpse of the classical collection of tales found in W. Jenkyn Thomas’ “The Welsh Fairy Book”.

Wren Lockhart watched her mother die and always blamed herself for not preventing her sister’s causing the death. It would take 30 years for her to discover the truth and to find the freedom to forgive herself and learn to love and trust another person, while a variety of vile characters would try to destroy her life and heart along the way.

The book was part cozy mystery, part history (I enjoyed the author’s note at the end of the book), and part adventure.  The hint of faith and romance add value to the book for many readers.

For the reader looking for a fairytale wrapped in modern colors, this book might just fill the bill.

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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review.  The opinions expressed are my own.

Touched - A Review

Touched

Book 1: Encounter Series

by

Paula Wiseman

A Review

Paula Wiseman has the habit of writing books that focus on people's lives - not mystery, murder, robbery, etc. - but lives that people have lived and the “stuff” that people bring with them as they live their lives. She has done a great job of doing that again in “Touched”.

Donna Sue Grant, the first person author, begins by writing,

Secrets come in all sorts and sizes. Sometimes, they are as sweet as an engagement ring in a nervous boy’s pocket. Other times ... they threaten to shatter your very self. With those kinds of secrets, it’s difficult to judge if keeping it or telling it is more damaging.

And as Donna Sue Grant hid her secret, she knew it was true. Her secret, like most abuse, was burden that was difficult to let go. “Touched” is the story of how she did that.  It is a story than many travel as they move out of abusive relationships, regardless of the abusers relationship to the abused. It is not an easy journey, but one that can lead to wholeness. Paula Wiseman has done a good job of describing the journey of fictionalized character.

If I were to stop this review at this point, it would be a five star review. But the author has endorsed a glaring error in the course of writing this book. Her husband, a counselor in training, serve as Donna Sue Grant’s primary therapist. If this had been a pastor, he might not know of the ethical issues involved in treating his own family. But Phil was being trained in a state university with an exemplary reputation and was being supervised in his current practice by a licensed therapist. He should have learned, as I and every trained therapist learns, that there are ethical issues surrounding the treatment of members of one’s own family. It is the same ethical issues that require that a doctor relinquish treatment of their family to other physicians - who are able to be professionally objective as they treat patients, or in this case clients. For this reader, this flaw raises large red flags that are not addressed in any way within the confines of the book.

The story has a lot to teach the lay person about the history and effect of abuse on its victim. We get a picture of the burden it puts on the abused, his or her need to protect themself and their abuser. But it also illustrates the freedom that can come once the abuse is revealed. Justice is not always possible, but as scripture says, “The truth shall set you free.” (John 8:32).  The book also presents a clear picture how faith can influence the lives of individuals and families. The author has not stepped back from addressing how faith will change the lives of those who will listen to God’s voice.

This family has more to teach us - the next book has been written, though not yet published. I will be looking forward to reading it in the near future.

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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for purpose of creating this review.  The opinions expressed are my own.

Catching Heat - A Review

Catching Heat

by

Janice Cantore

A Review

A well-written mystery that depends too heavily on the previous book in the series, Catching Heat is a mystery in it's own right that also continues the story of the deaths of Detective Abby Hart's parents. A story that began in earlier books in a series starting in May 2015.

That is the biggest problem with these books - the secondary story with each book depends on facts and events disclosed in earlier books. As I suggested in earlier reviews for the books from this series, get all three and read them in sequence.

The primary story is involved and quickly draws the reader into its world. I would not want to be the criminal in Detective Hart's and her cold case team's sight. I could not run fast enough or far enough to escape their grasp. They are great cops when working independently; but when working as a team, they will get their target.

With it's hint of faith, the book will appeal to the Christian reader. Written by a former cop with experience in the field, the story has the realism needed to attract an even broader audience. Though no suggestion is made, it would be fun to find more books in the Cold Case Justice series.

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This review is based on a free copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review.  The opinions expressed are my own.

The Witnesses - A Review

The Witnesses

by

Robert Whitlow

A Review

Some authors catch a readers attention. Robert Whitlow has caught mine. I try to read as many of his books as I can, though I have missed a few. Here is an author that is trained as a lawyer, has the faith of a committed Christian, and has been compared, favorably. as an author to John Grisham. And he continues to succeed at his craft.

The Witnesses is proof of that fact.

Franz Haus, as he was called by his parents. or Frank House, as his family and friends know him now, has a long history.  He joined the German army near the start of World War II. He had a good intuition that often provided solid advice to General Berg, intuition that would allow him to meet and sit with some of the highest leaders in the German army, intuition that force him to see more atrocities committed in the name of Germany than he wanted to admit - to himself or to those who knew him best.

Frank House (nee Franz Haus) deserted the German Army  through  Switzerland (where he lived out the remaining months of the war) and eventually settled in New Bern, North Carolina; but when he did, he left with a secret that others were willing to kill for. A secret that would put both his own life and the life of his grandson in danger.

As always, Robert Whitlow has managed to draw together the brokeness of life, the drama of the legal system, and the role of faith into a readable novel that will appeal to both the believer and non-believer. It gives a glimpse of how faith can and does work in the life of men and women of faith.

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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review.  The opinions expressed are my own.

The Featherbone - A Review

The Featherbone

by

Julie Cantrell

A Review

This was one of the hardest books I have ever chosen to read. I almost put the book down and not finish it. But a news headline caught my eye - a Japanese girl had escaped her kidnapper after being locked up in his home for two years. The news story was too close to the fictional tale told in Julie Cantrell’s book. I had to finish it.

Having said this, the book was upsetting. If it was a movie, it would most certainly be rated “R” - a movie I would choose to not see. The abuse that occurred at so many levels was hard to watch, the impact that the kidnapping of one young girl has on multiple families and on a community is hard to understand. The unexpected pain and anguish suffered by the believers who have been touched by this awful crime unimaginable. And the thought of a Christian publishing company choosing to tell this story seem hard to comprehend.

Yet, it was a story that had to be told. It is a story that is played out in the headlines all too often - whether it be in the commission of a crime or in its resolution, the story is too real to ignore. The author does a good job of wrapping the horrific and the faithful response of this broken community to the five-year history of Sarah’s kidnapping by a stranger and his live-in girlfriend just prior to hurricane Katrina hitting New Orleans and its surroundings. The various responses to these dual tragedies are hard to watch - even as most of the characters appear to have some level of faith. That faith, and sometimes the lack of it, plays an important part in the story.

I have a difficult time knowing who this book is written for. The story is too dark for some audiences, yet its heavy dependence on scripture and the character’s response to scripture makes it clearly a Christian book. It is those same scriptures that may make some non-believers shy away from the book. Well-written, with a depth of emotion rarely seen in Christian writing, be prepared to be shaken as you read. At the same time, the reader may find his or her faith strengthened as you see the role scripture has in the lives of others going through h-e-double-q.

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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review.  The opinions expressed are my own.

First Hostage - A Review

First Hostage

by

Joel C Rosenberg

A Review

Well written, but not my type of book. As I picked this book for review, I expected it to focus on the dangers faced by the President (and/or his family) after being kidnapped. Rather, it focused on the US armed forces and their allies process of locating and rescuing the kidnapped President.  

The story held my interest, but I felt myself being drawn to the book because I had to review it, instead of its ability to hold my interest. The main character is a trusted (well, almost, anyhow) reporter with the New York Times and his attempt to cover the story of the century. J. B. Collins comes from a believing family, but he cannot find his way to his own faith. Though the story seems to draw him closer to his family’s God, it is not clear to what extent he yet believes for himself.

Both the military focus and the lack of faith from any central character left me wanting more from the book. I realize that this is a personal opinion - I have friends who would thoroughly enjoy the military background of the plot. Without a strong, faithful, character to bring a lively spiritual dimension to the story, I felt ill at ease. Certainly, the author did try to bring a bit of history (past, present, and future) into the story as we explore the various Middle Eastern  locations used to bring life to the book. I do need to give the author credit for writing a book that occasionally drove to the Internet for more details, if not to my Bible. There are some who will thrive with this book’s characters, plot, and themes. I did not.

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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review.  The opinions expressed are my own.