Favorite Christian Books

Archive for the ‘Lis Wiehl’ Category

About this Book

When life is murder, who can you trust?

One minute Mia Quinn is in her basement, chatting on the phone with a colleague at the prosecutor’s office. The next minute there’s a gunshot over the line, and Mia listens in horror as her colleague and friend Colleen bleeds to death.

Mia’s a natural for heading up the murder investigation, but these days she has all she can do to hold her life together. As a new widow with a pile of debts, a troubled teenaged son, and a four-year-old who wakes up screaming at night, she needs more time with her family, not less—and working Colleen’s case will be especially demanding. But Colleen was her friend, and she needs to keep her job. So she reluctantly teams up with detective Charlie Carlson to investigate Colleen’s death. But the deeper they dig, the more complications unfold—even the unsettling possibility that someone may be coming after her.

• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (March 19, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 159554903X
• ISBN-13: 978-1595549037
• Author’s Website: http://www.liswiehlbooks.com/

My Review

The author grabbed my attention from the opening paragraphs. As Mia talked with her friend, Colleen, we get a glimpse of the thoughts of the killer as “the director” plans the perfect moment to make the kill.  I enjoyed the fact that the author let us try and figure out who the killer was along with her and Charlie Carlson, the homicide detective assigned to the case. The author tells this story from several points of view that added to the mystery of who the killer was.

The author did a great job with these characters. I liked the realness of Mia as a recent widow struggling to juggle work and her family. She is a by the book district attorney while her counterpart, homicide detective Charlie Carlson is known to run a little fast and loose with the rules. Yet they make a great team that was entertaining to follow.

This is going to be an excellent series if the first book is any indication. If you’ve not read this author, but like Terri Blackstock or Brandilyn Collins you will enjoy Lis Wiehl.

Disclaimer: I would like to thank Thomas Nelson for the opportunity to read and review this book. I was under no obligation other than to give my honest opinion.

From the Cover

Dani Harris thought there wasn’t much left that could surprise her after serving as a forensic psychiatrist in East Salem. And Tommy Gunderson has faced few challenges in his life that he couldn’t overcome by either physical strength or his celebrity status. But as they race to uncover what’s really happening behind the high walls of St. Adrian’s Academy, it becomes clear that supernatural forces have been at work here for generations. And now those forces are intent on making sure Dani and Tommy don’t interfere. When the unseen becomes seen, faith is the only weapon strong enough to fight in a battle involving not just murder and betrayal—but angels and demons.

My Review

First off, let me say I really enjoyed 95% of Book 1 of this series, Waking Hours. I found it an extremely entertaining suspenseful novel. I didn’t care for the turn at the end to more of a supernatural thriller.

So I was a little leery of this book, which early one I wanted to stop reading it because it was focused on the supernatural aspect. However, the more I read the more I enjoyed the story. The story is intense at times and delves into the realm of angels and demons and the power of evil in this world. It is a definite story of good versus evil.

Dani and Tommy are back as well as Carl and Ruth. We also get to meet both Dani and Tommy’s former love interests, creating tension in Dani and Tommy’s relationship. I especially loved the character, Ben, that is introduced in this story.

This story will capture you if you stick with it. I’m glad I did and even though this type of storyline is not my favorite, I hope to read the next book in the series. The authors do a great job drawing you into the story and you want to know how it ends.

Recommendation

Overall, this is a good story with characters that you will cheer for and a storyline that is engaging. If you enjoy stories that delve into the supernatural this is a good one.

More about the author

To learn more about Lis Wiehl and her books visit her website.

Disclaimer

I would like to thank Thomas Nelso Publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book. I was under no obligation other than to give my honest opinion.

Eyes of Justice, Triple Threat Series #4 By Lis Wiehl with April Henry / Thomas Nelson Cassidy, Allison, and Nicole fight for justice every day-Cassidy as a crime reporter, Nicole with the FBI, and Allison as a federal prosecutor. Together they’re a Triple Threat to be reckoned with. But never have they faced a case so full of blind alleys-or so painfully close to home. When a devastating turn of events upsets the balance of the Triple Threat team, they discover an ally in a quirky Private Investigator named Ophelia . The women vow not to stop until the case is solved and justice is served.

Review Summary: The fourth installment starts off with a major shock. I don’t want to give too much away, but I was very surprised and wondered what the authors planned for an ending. This was probably my least favorite of the series but I did end up enjoying it.  The normal calm, cool, and collected Nicole Hedges was everything but in most of this story.  Likewise, Allison was not her usual professional self through much of the story. Yet, I did feel for them and their pain at regrets and things left unsaid. Unlike book three, Heart of Ice,  the authors do not reveal the antagonist until near the end of the story, which I personally prefer.  The story was believable and could have been something you would see on Law and Order. 

Digging Deeper: Being the fourth book in the series I’ve gotten to know the characters and enjoy looking at their lives. Watching the development of Allison’s sister, Lindsay, and the growth in her as a person and her relationship with Allison. Similarly, the development of Nicole’s relationship with Lief and his bigger role in this story added to the overall story. 

As I’ve mentioned as tragedy hits, Allison and Nicole are very much out of character. It did bother me greatly how combative Nicole becomes at points in the story.  Even the straight laced Allison bends rules to suit her needs. A reminder that when we are hurting we don’t always use the best judgment.

This story also serves to remind us that we don’t know what tomorrow holds and we should treasure each day and each person in our lives.  This is a good story. As I said, not my favorite of the series, but with the way the story develops I look forward to the future of the Triple Threat Series.

As the other books in the series this book is not overtly “Christian.”  There are scenes in the book that refer to social drinking and in one scene Nicole drinks probably more than she should. However, I’m still interested in where the authors will eventually take the story line.  You will see changes in Nicole’s attitude toward God.

You could probably read this book without reading the others and enjoy the story. You’ll understand the characters and appreciate them more if you’ve read at least one of the previous stories.

Disclaimer: I would like to thank the publishers Thomas Nelson for the opportunity to read and review this book. I’m under no obligation other than to give my honest opinion.

Giveaway:  The publisher did send me a physical book for review, a hard back.  I’m giving that copy away.  So leave a comment along with the state you’re from and I’ll choose a winner on April 15th at 9:00PM PDT.  Open to US Residents.