A Plot for Murder - A Review

 

A Plot for Murder

by

James R. Callan A Review

James R. Callan has written a faith-based cozy mystery featuring Father Frank and his sister Maggie. Maggie is an author or she wants to be. Three years earlier she attended The Piney Woods Writer’s Conference and had shared her newly written novel with a conference speaker. Three years later she has discovered that the author had copied her book (changing only the names and places) and published it under his own name. Now, Maggie is attending the newest version of the conference where the same speaker was invited back as a speaker. Her plan was to confront him - except he ends up murdered and Maggie is accused of the crime.

Father Frank is not so much an amateur sleuth as he is a man with a lot of contacts both in Lakota Lake TX (the site of his parish) and beyond. He is able to use the contacts to assist Texas Ranger Dick Richards, providing leads to follow based on information gained from his contacts.

The book is lighter and gentler than many cozy mysteries. Father Frank brings a bit of grace to a world of broken people while also maintaining the confidences shared with him as a pastor. The author weaves in the need for both Justice and Compassion within the criminal justice system.

I enjoyed this easy to read book originating from rural Eastern Texas and expect others will as well. I give the book 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 are mine alone.

Nine - A Review

 

Nine

by

Rachelle Dekker

Nine is a difficult book to review. It contains far more graphic violence than I would want in a book I would normally read. In addition, coming from a Christian publisher, it has little direct connection to the Christian faith.

Yet it serves as a good parable of how one can change when they receive undeserved love. Three protagonists, coming from three different places, will need to experience that undeserved love before they can experience the freedom they each desperately need.

It would take all 350+ pages of the book to convince me that this book, this parable, would have something to teach us about that love. In that the book has value.

In some ways the story might fit better into a graphic novel or a Marvel movie spectacular - yet it still remains a valuable parable that can reach deep into the heart. I would give the book 3-½ stars if I could, instead it gets a 4-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.

Silent Shadows - A Review

Silent Shadows

By

Natalie Walters

Silent Shadows is a well-written faith-based romantic suspense that should be enjoyed by all who follow this genre of fiction.

A series of twists make it unclear who is the villain and who is the victim. Pecca Gallegos, her family, and friends from Walton GA, along with her new client, Colton Crawford, will spend weeks working toward understanding the danger facing the community. It may be just a bunch of misdirected kids, but that seems too simple a solution. And the most likely answer does not fit the evidence that has been found. Making the solution more complex is that a good number of the players are disabled veterans who have served their country and now needed healing themselves.

The book is the conclusion of a series of three books begun a little less than a year ago - but I had no idea of this until I read the “Acknowledgments” found at the end of the book. This, of course, means that Silent Shadows can be read as a standalone story without having read the two previous books in the series. There were times that the romance slowed down the suspense, but not by much and this reader stilled greatly enjoyed the book.

This book will easily find a home in the church or public library. _____________
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.

Breach of Trust - A Review

Breach Of Trust

by

Rachel Dylan

Rachel Dylan has created one of the best faith based, romantic thrillers that I have read. It has enough believable twists and turns to keep the most devoted suspense reader on the edge of his or her seat from the first page (“My friend was murdered”) to the very end (“Unscathed, Noah ran to her and guided her out from behind the desk as police officers swarmed into the room. “Your safe now,” he whispered ...).

The book easily falls into the same tradition as John Grisham and Robert Whitlow - and misses many of the flaws I found in Ms. Dylan’s earlier work, Lone Witness. Those who enjoy romantic suspense will find this book a thrilling read. In addition, the book is recommended for most church libraries with a section focused on fiction as well as most local public libraries. Believers may find this to be a good gift for their unbelieving friends, not to be given as a “trick” gift, but as a really good read that may get others to think about their 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.

Over The Line - A Review

Over The Line

by

Kelly Irvin

Kelly Irvin has written a solid faith-based thriller with a rougher edge than I generally enjoy. Gun smuggling is hurting the reputations of San Antonio, TX, and Laredo, TX. It was also effecting the lives of Gabriella Benoit (former San Antonio prosecutor and current restaurateur) and her family.

Beginning with the death of a confidential informant working with her brother, an ATF agent, the books moves along. Sadly, though the plot is good and attention holding, it felt to this reader as if he were sloshing through foot deep mud for most of the book. There times when the reader felt that it was moving at a good clip, but those places were few and far between. Of course, the book’s pace is a much a function of the reader’s taste as it is of the author’s writing - so other readers may find the book to be a faster read than I did.

Those who enjoy faith-based thrillers will find the story worth reading. Because of the added grittiness of the book, the local church library would do well to have one or two local members pre-read this book before definitely adding it to their collection. Local libraries serving a conservative community may want to consider adding this book to their collection.
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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.

Deep Extraction - A Review

Deep Extraction

by

DiAnn Mills

A Review

A romantic thriller starring a FBI agent, a dying FBI agent that will not admit his failings, and a U S Marshall that is nearly ready to give up, all contribute to a non-stop thrill ride that has all the makings for a great Hallmark-Mystery movie.

The central characters are broken people needing God’s grace in their lives. Some will find it, others will not - but it is offered to all. None of them are entirely who they seem at first glance and it will take the touch of God’s hand for each to move forward from the place in which they are stuck. The bombing of an oil drilling site and the death of its owner appear to be connected - yet the connection is not as obvious the as law enforcement officials working the case would like. And they would need to risk their lives to put together the puzzle that would answer all their questions.

This is Book Two of a series - but the books have little connection between them other than the formation of an FBI task force composed of broken people. It is this lack of connection that I least appreciate about Diann Mills’ books. She begins to develop the characters, but we do not see them in the series' sequels. I do like the stories; I do like the characters; but I want to learn more about them and see them continue to develop through two or three additional novels. I can always hope.

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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.

Imposters of Patriotism - A Review

Imposters of Patriotism

by

Ted Richardson

A Review

Historical fiction is really two different genres.  There are those books which are set in a former time period but which are purely fiction and have no connection to truly historical events.  Historical fiction also includes a group of books that are woven from one or more significant events in history - those events not only form the backdrop for the story, but become an integral part of the story.  "Imposters of Patriotism" is a part of this second sub-genre.

The year is 1778.  George Washington and much of the Continental Army is stranded at Valley Forge waiting out a devastating winter.  Watching his men suffer and die with inadequate provisions, deadly illnesses, and increasingly more difficult odds of defeating the British forces being led by General William Howe.  General Washington, seeking what is best for his men and for the country, writes a letter to General Howe offering to negotiate a surrender.  Due to circumstances beyond his control, General Washington's letter is never delivered.  As unlikely as it seemed at the time, the Americans proceed to win the war and gain the independence they desired.  The letter is all but forgotten.

Moving between the past and the present time, we follow the letter and its discovery, as well as collaborating documents, by an antiques dealer living in Savannah, GA.  In the weeks following the letter's discovery, the lives of Matt Hawkins, the antiques dealer, and his friends are threatened by a number of individuals who have put their own interests above those of their country.  "Imposters of    Patriotism" follows the letter, through flashbacks, to its discovery and disclosure to the American public.  In the process, it weaves a great deal of well-known history that adds considerable credibility to this exciting story.

The weaving of fiction and history works well - except for one small flaw.  One major character is described as "the most direct descendant of George Washington."  The problem is that George Washington had no known children of his own. He raised two of Martha's (a widow) children from her previous marriage and two of Martha's grandchildren, but with no children of his own, he had no "direct descendants".  The author may have been better off describing this man as Washington's "closest living relative" and the problem would be solved.

The book was an exciting read - whether the history from the 18th century, glimpses of known events from the early 19th century, or following the lives of Matt Hawkins and his friends as they follow the evidence and their hearts. The book forced me to examine history that I had not previously known, I was introduced to places and people that gave me a deeper appreciation for the men and women who sacrificed for the freedom we still enjoy today. Along with a good mystery, this book should hold many a reader's attention.  And get started soon, as the author has another volume arriving later this year.

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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.