Sometimes the truth is crazier than a lie.
Cathy Cramer is a former lawyer and investigative blogger who writes commentary on local homicides.
When she finds a threatening note warning her that she’s about to experience the same kind of judgment and speculation that she dishes out in her blog, Cathy writes it off as mischief … until her brother is caught in the middle of a murder investigation—the victim is his ex-wife. As her brother is tried and convicted in the media, and bloggers and commentators like her have a field day, Cathy wonders if she should have taken the threat more seriously.
Cathy and her two sisters, Holly and Juliet, moonlight as part-time private investigators, working to solve their brother’s ex-wife’s murder. Juliet, a stay-at-home mom of two boys, and Holly, a scattered ne’er-do-well who drives a taxi, put aside their fear and lack of confidence to learn the art of investigation. But will it be too late to save their brother from a murder conviction, or his five-year-old son who’s the killer’s next target?
Terri Blackstock is a New York Times best-seller, with over six million copies sold worldwide. She has had over twenty-five years of success as a novelist. Terri spent the first twelve years of her life traveling in an Air Force family. She lived in nine states and attended the first four years of school in The Netherlands. Because she was a perpetual “new kid,” her imagination became her closest friend. That, she believes, was the biggest factor in her becoming a novelist. She sold her first novel at the age of twenty-five, and has had a successful career ever since.
Her latest series is the acclaimed, award-winning Intervention Series (Intervention, Vicious Cycle, Downfall).Other reader favorites include her books Predator and Double Minds, as well as the Restoration Series, theNewpointe 911 Series, the Cape Refuge Series, and the SunCoast Chronicles series.
In 1994 Terri was writing romance novels under two pseudonyms for publishers such as HarperCollins, Harlequin, Dell and Silhouette, when a spiritual awakening prompted her to switch gears. At the time, she was reading more suspense than romance, and felt drawn to write thrillers about ordinary people in grave danger. Her newly awakened faith wove its way into the tapestry of her suspense novels, offering hope instead of despair. Her goal is to entertain with page-turning plots, while challenging her readers to think and grow. She hopes to remind them that they’re not alone, and that their trials have a purpose.
Terri has appeared on national television programs such as “The 700 Club” and “Home Life,” and has been a guest on numerous radio programs across the country. The story of her personal journey appears in books such as Touched By the Savior by Mike Yorkey, True Stories of Answered Prayer by Mike Nappa, Faces of Faith by John Hanna, and I Saw Him In Your Eyes by Ace Collins.
My Impressions:
Truth Stained Lies is my book club’s discussion selection for this month. Terri Blackstock has long been a favorite of ours and has been a staple on our discussion lists year in and year out. And for good reason. Blackstock always presents a taut, suspense-filled read that keeps the pages turning. Truth Stained Lies is no exception.
The first book in a new series, Truth Stained Lies introduces us to three sisters — Cathy, Hollie, and Juliet — and their quest to find the real killer of their sister-in-law and to prove their brother Jay innocent. They have help from Michael, the brother of Cathy’s murdered fiance who lost his job as a police officer following the acquittal of his brother’s murderer. Now a PI, Michael joins forces with the sisters to make sure truth is brought to life.
The three sisters have faced the betrayal by their father in differing ways — increased faith, self-loathing and denial. The experiences of abandonment by their father and the church have shaped the way they deal with life and the accusations leveled at their brother. I look forward to future development in these characters as well as more of the same quick-paced suspense Blackstock is known for.
A great start for a new series. If you like suspense, you will love Truth Stained Lies.
Recommended.
(I purchased this book for my Kindle. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
To purchase a copy of Truth Stained Lies, click on the image below.
When I saw that this was your bookclub book for the month, I remembered that I used to read EVERYTHING by T.B., but hadn’t read any of her more recent books. Got a copy of this title from the library and plan to read this weekend while relaxing in Northern Wisconsin.
Well enjoy reading and relaxing! It is a very quick read.