Suspense/Mystery/Thrillers

Review of Peril by Jordyn Redwood

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Genre: Medical Drama/Suspense

Series: Bloodline Trilogy 3

Recommended.

Peril is a medical suspense novel dealing with the strange phenomena of memory transference in organ donor recipients. Morgan Adams is a suicidal pediatric nurse struggling with the challenges of dealing with kidney failure, the toil her health takes on her work and family, and the raw memories of the anniversary of her infant daughter’s death. At the same time, Morgan’s husband, Dr. Tyler Adams, is involved in some cutting edge research experimentation that does not quite go as expected. The plot twists as patients, a police investigation, fascinating medical conditions, and a high risk hostage situation bring new meaning and thought to some of life’s difficult questions, including the lines between morality and science.

This is a thrilling and intriguing story. I especially appreciate that the medical side of the narrative is accurate. The author, Jordyn Redwood not only has twenty years of experience working and teaching in a hospital setting, but she also dedicates her free time to researching medical texts and advising writers to medical accuracy on her blog.

Some of the medical details within the story set my mind reeling and pondering the biblical and moral applications of certain medical procedures. The revelation that organs carry a “memory” also gives me new meaning to the battle between the flesh and the spirit. It has been awhile since fiction has caused me to think so thoroughly, and to ponder such a variety of subjects and applications. I have not yet read the first two books in this series, but am interested in adding them to my collection.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Kregel Publications.

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Review of The Church Builder by A.L. Shields

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Genre: Suspense/Mystery

Series: Book One

Recommended.

When small-town lawyer Bethany Barclay is framed for murder, she finds herself on the run and caught between two mysterious organizations plus the government’s own investigation. She quickly realizes her best friend Annabelle Seaver had been involved in something big–and upon Annabelle’s recent death, Bethany is the only one who can connect the pieces of the puzzle to discover what her friend was up to, and decide for herself if she wants any part in it. The narrative twists from dangerous men, through a religious cult, rumors of an ancient religious artifact, and a political and spiritual battle bigger than anyone could anticipate.

The Church Builder reads like a fast-paced blockbuster hit–in line with The Da Vinci Code or maybe a John Grisham novel. (I actually think it could be more successful as a movie than as a novel.) It is Christian fiction, and yet I do not know I would have recognized that if I were unfamiliar with the publishing company. The Christian themes are subtle even though faith in general is a large part of the book. Also, the writing has an abruptness to it that is more characteristic of secular popular fiction, and I mean that as a compliment: the story moved quickly, and reeled me in. I have enjoyed the characters and am interested to read the rest of the series as it becomes available.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Zondervan.

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Review of Born of Persuasion by Jessica Dotta

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Genre: Historical Romance/Victorian Gothic

Series: Book One of the Price of Privilege Trilogy

Recommended.

As an unmarried woman in 1838 England, recently orphaned Julia Elliston is left under the care of an anonymous guardian, who plans to carry out his ownership of her by sending her to Scotland as a servant. Desperate to control her own destiny, Julia travels to the estate of her best friend, hoping to reconnect with her childhood beau, Edward Auburn. Finding that Edward has chosen to enter the ministry, Julia (an atheist) is heartbroken and desperate for any match that will improve her social status. But as she entangles herself with the social elite, Julia begins to discover secrets about her family’s past that have serious implications for her future.

This is one of the most mysterious and suspenseful novels I have read in awhile. The strong Gothic writing, combined with the elements of Victorian England make for a chillingly grotesque, yet beautifully charming story. I felt myself caught up in the characters, the scenery, the mystery, and the wit. The romance was on the steamier side considering this is Christian fiction, but completely in line with the mood of Romantic and Gothic literature.

While it is obvious Dotta is well versed in the classics (e.g. Austen, Brontë, Poe, Dickens, Radcliffe, Shelley), she has her own unique style–and I like it! This is an excellent debut, and I cannot wait to read the rest of the trilogy! This one ended with just enough of the story wrapped up, and much more mystery to look forward to in the coming sequels.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through the Tyndale Blog Network.

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Review of Unforeseeable by Nancy Mehl

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Genre: Romantic Suspense/Mennonite Fiction

Series: Road to Kingdom: Book Three

Recommended.

When a dead women is found within the Mennonite community of Kingdom, Kansas, matching the MO of an unidentified serial killer, the residents of the small town are startled. Worse, it seems the killer may be connected to the soon-to-be pastor, Levi Housler, which sets his fiancée, Callie Hoffman, on edge. As the mystery unravels, Callie struggles between her past and the present to define her true identity, and to solidify her trust in God and in her future spouse.

Unforeseeable is a romantic crime mystery that is just suspenseful enough to keep a reader’s attention without inducing nightmares, or including gory or unsettling images. This is the first Mennonite story I have read (and I have yet to read any Amish fiction), so at first it was an adjustment for me to consider the differences in the characters’ lifestyles as opposed to my own urban Californian culture. I found myself caught up in the beautiful simplicity of the Mennonite culture, and in the lives and emotions of the characters.

I have not read the first two books in this series, but found it was easy enough to follow the narrative and understand the characters. I also appreciated the pace of the story, which is a perfect balance of suspense, reflection, and light romance.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House.

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Review of Misery Loves Company by Rene Gutteridge

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Genre: Suspense/Mystery/Thriller

Recommended.

Grieving widow, Juliet “Jules” Belleno, follows a staunch routine with very little outside contact. Instead, she focuses her attention online: blogging, facebooking, and dreaming of publishing her own book someday. But shortly after writing a negative book review of her favorite author’s most recent work, he kidnaps her and takes her to a secluded cabin. Upon her disappearance, it is up to her alcoholic father and her husband’s best friend and former police partner to locate her and bring her home; but there are many obstacles and some interesting twists along the way.

Rene Gutteridge writes with an edge, humor, and quirkiness that is really fun to read. I’m a big fan of her unique style. The character’s are well-developed and come to life on the page, and the story reflects Gutteridge’s creativity and distinctiveness.

Misery is particularly special as it is both a suspense novel and a meta-narrative about the writing process. Although I enjoyed the suspense element, it was a bit predictable for me (I read constantly, so maybe I’m just familiar with patterns). The dialog about writing, however, really moved me–I would even say it challenged me to think differently about my own writing process. I did not expect this experience from suspense fiction, which made it all the more enjoyable. I will continue to look forward to Gutteridge’s new releases.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through the Tyndale Blog Network.

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Review of So Shines the Night by Tracy L. Higley

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Genre: Historical Fiction

Recommended.

So Shines the Night is a fictitious rendition of Acts 18-19, and Tracy Higley does an excellent job of making these Scriptures come to life. The central character is female teacher, Daria, who escapes Rhodes by agreeing to become a tutor to Ephesian merchant, Lucas Christopoulos. But living in Ephesus is not what she imagined. She soon discovers that Lucas is involved with some dark and mysterious people. As Daria begins to uncover the mystery of her attractive employer’s strange activities, her path merges with both the local sorcerers and the followers of the Way, including the Apostle Paul, Timothy, Priscilla, Aquila, and other familiar biblical characters.

This story rightly portrays the strong spiritual battle that was particularly visible during this period as expressed in the book of Acts, including many depictions of sorcery. While the descriptions of sorcery are carefully written so that they are “just enough” to set the scene, readers who have trouble with this subject matter should probably not read the book. Having had a background in the occult pre-salvation, I did have to take a couple breaks while reading–not because the book was overly dark, but simply because certain scenes reminded me of difficult parts of my past.

That said, I really enjoyed the historical element of book, the romance, the mystery, and the beautiful way in which Higley renders her characters. The biblical characters were not as I personally imagine them, but I found it beneficial to consider them from a contrary perspective. Also, the story was actually inspired by the Temple of Artemis (Higley has written multiple novels now that set the scene around one of the seven wonders of the ancient world), and her thorough study of history shows in her writing. I have read two of her novels now, and have enjoyed them both.

I received a complimentary copy of this book as a part of the Thomas Nelson Book Review Blogging Program through booksneeze.com.

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Review of Damascus Countdown by Joel C. Rosenberg

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Genre: Apocalyptic Fiction/Action & Adventure/Suspense

Series: Book Three of the Twelfth Imam Series

Recommended.

Damascus Countdown is the third and final book of the excellent Twelfth Imam Series, which focuses on the eschatological elements of the current situation in the Middle East with many believable creative liberties. This is a series to read in order as the storyline and spiritual message is heightened in each new book, creating suspense and action from a Christian perspective. The Twelfth Imam introduces the coming of the Islamic Mahdi, the major characters (including the story’s hero: undercover CIA operative David Shirazi), and the spiritual and physical conflicts. The character development and political situations deepen throughout The Tehran Initiative. Finally, the Damascus Countdown brings the trilogy to an end with catastrophic military developments, the search for two missing Iranian nuclear warheads, and the finale of each of the smaller character dramas.

Rosenberg’s writing is realistic, suspenseful, action-packed, and brings the current new’s headlines to life. There is also a bit of romance, which adds scope to the characters and balances the action-oriented plot. Also, the narrative is both apocalyptic and contemporary, making it especially riveting.

The ending was not what I would have expected, but–without giving away any details–I do think it worked well within the circumstances of the text. Christian eschatological fiction is difficult to write well since there are so many variables, differing opinions, and unknowns. Considering this, Rosenberg did an excellent job of weaving together believable yet intense situations without bringing in too much controversy. The prophetic scriptures mentioned within the narrative are also appropriately and insightfully utilized.

Those who do not believe that Israel is the focal point of God’s eschatological plan and covenant relationship, and those who do not believe that the Middle Eastern conflict has a spiritual root, will not care for this fictitious series. The Christian worldview and gospel message are direct, but well contextualized within the story. As a Messianic believer myself, I appreciate and relate to the major characters’ expressions of faith. The trilogy as a whole gave me a lot to consider in regard to Muslim/Christian/Jewish relations; and this final book especially was quite encouraging and invigorating to read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through the Tyndale Blog Network.

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Review of Love in Disguise by Carol Cox

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Genre: Historical Fiction

Recommended.

Love in Disguise is an excellent book for a lazy day of reading. It’s lighthearted with elements of mystery and romance, and is set in the charming time period of the late 1800s in a small Arizona mining community.

Unlikely heroine, Ellie Moore, becomes desperate after unexpectedly losing her job and pretends to be an older wealthier woman in order to be hired as a private detective. Although she has no undercover experience and little confidence, she creatively uses her skills in order to impress her new employer and solve the mystery of the silver thieves. But while working to undercover the mystery at hand, she also uncovers many facets of her own identity and learns to embrace her God-given identity.

This is a sweet book, with fun characters, a good amount of mystery, creative plot twists, and just enough depth. Readers who enjoy Christian fiction will find it delightful and refreshing.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House.

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Review of Indelible by Kristen Heitzmann

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Genre: Fiction/Suspense

Not Recommended.

When former Olympian Trevor MacDaniel rescues a toddler from a mountain lion attack, his life entwines with the child’s aunt Natalie. Natalie has a gift for seeing deep into people’s souls–it’s so powerful for her, she can hardly look at people and can only remove the images and feelings she sees through her gift of sculpting. Together, Natalie and Trevor’s friendship helps each of them work through their wounds to find courage and peace. Meanwhile, strange and evil things begin happening, and Trevor and Natalie find themselves right in the middle of it.

I’m surprised so many people like this book. I just couldn’t get into it. I did enjoy the major characters and the way they interacted, and Heitzmann did an excellent job portraying the personalities of the characters through their unique artistic and athletic abilities. But I otherwise did not enjoy the storytelling. The grammar and syntax were sloppy (and distracting) in many places (especially in multiple character scenes). I did not find the story suspenseful (the ending, in fact, was a bit anti-climactic). And I especially disliked her attempt to parallel the antagonist’s journey with Milton’s Paradise Lost.

After each chapter were mini chapters from the antagonist’s perspective, each beginning with a stanza from Paradise Lost, then describing the villain’s activity in a terribly written poetic prose. I think these short chapters intended to build the suspense and mystery that evil was on the move. Personally, I thought they were so poorly written that it killed any bit of suspense. I was distracted by the grammar and found many of the Paradise Lost quotes to be contextually misplaced. I’ve noticed that a handful of other reviewers greatly enjoyed the addition of Paradise Lost, which makes me wonder how many of them have actually read it!

I actually think Indelible could have been more successful as a romance novel. There were many romantic elements between Trevor and Natalie and also several of the minor characters; and the health (or dysfunction) of relationships in general was very central to the story line. Heitzmann did such a good job with the internal story and character development that it’s unfortunate the suspense plot line, poor attempts to be poetic, and weird Paradise Lost references had to get in the way.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from WaterBrook Multnomah.

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Review of Heart of Ice by Lis Wiehl with April Henry

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Genre: Fiction/Suspense/Crime Mystery

Series: Book Three of the Triple Threat Series

Recommended.

This is the first book I’ve read of the Triple Threat Series, and I enjoyed it. It was light reading, suspenseful, with interesting characters–and it takes place in Portland Oregon, which happens to be one of my favorite cities.

The “triple threat” is made up of Federal Prosecutor Allison Pierce, FBI Special Agent Nicole Hedges, and crime reporter Cassidy Shaw. These good friends are able to investigate and solve crimes, and also support each other through every-day-life.

Heart of Ice is unique from other crime mysteries in that the perpetrator, Elizabeth, is introduced from the beginning–as someone the other characters know well. There is plenty of suspense, however, since the reader has inside information into the killer’s background and sociopathic mindset which the characters do not have. A few scenes were almost too intense/graphic for me, and since the book does realistically present situations of theft, murder, manipulation, arson, fraud and a bit of sexuality, I wouldn’t recommend it to teen readers.

It’s not obvious that this book is Christian fiction, though one character does have spiritual convictions (which are subtly displayed). Had I picked this up in an airport (for instance), I wouldn’t have guessed it was Christian at all, though the language was clean, and I suppose the darker elements (murder, etc.) could have been even more graphic. I’m interested to see if there may be Christian themes in the series overall.

I received a complimentary copy of this book as a part of the Thomas Nelson Book Review Blogging Program through booksneeze.com.

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