Weeks after Hurricane Katrina, Kate Mitchell’s husband, Daniel, is still missing. He had not arrived back in Missouri on his scheduled flight after attending an industry conference in New Orleans the week before the hurricane. Hundreds of miles away, one of the thousands of Katrina refugees settles in a small town in Tennessee. Quiet and unassuming, he slowly gains the trust and acceptance of Maggie, a recent widow who accepts his reserve as reasonable because of the loss of his family. Why then is he furtively accessing Kate’s blog? When New Orleans police and the FBI make little progress, Kate begins her own search. But the devastated city is dangerous and does not give up its secrets easily. Her perplexing discoveries make little sense until she finds herself asking the unthinkable . . . did my husband walk away from his life?
Chris Link lives in the Ozarks with his wife of 33 years and their horses and dogs. They have one grown son. Chris has been a voracious reader for most of his life, enjoying books of many genres, both fiction and nonfiction. His favorite books influence people to live differently, to be aware, perceptive and appreciative, to risk love in all circumstances.
Chris’ debut novel, Exit Katrina, draws from his love of reading, life experiences, his faith in God, and a story that once considered, would not leave him alone.
When not reading and writing, Chris enjoys teaching and consulting with people in their careers, hiking and photography, playing and listening to music, and riding his motorcycle. He is always looking forward to the next adventure and the next idea that refuses to be dismissed.
My Impressions:
Exit Katrina is the debut novel of R. Chris Link inspired by the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. A mystery unfolds around the disappearance of a man who was attending a conference in the days leading up to the storm. With little to go on, his wife embarks on an investigation to discover what happened. Meanwhile, a mysterious refugee from the hurricane has landed in a small town in Tennessee. A man with little interest in God, Jonas becomes a part of the community while maintaining secrecy about his past life.
Link maintains the mystery throughout the novel, making the the reader speculate as to what the truth really is. Twists and turns abound, and you can never be sure whom to trust. The book had a bit more tell than show than I would have liked and lagged a bit, but the premise of the book is good. There is a strong faith message throughout. I liked many of the characters, especially Maggie and Jimmy Dean. Main character Jonas definitely is a mystery man, but one who shows true heroism.
While I found this just an okay read, Exit Katrina has a number of 4 and 5-star reviews on Amazon. Make sure to check those out.
Audience: adults.
To purchase this book, click HERE.
(Thanks to the author for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
This sounds so good! Suspense, mystery and Missouri! I live in Missouri and love stories set there! Thanks for the review!
If you read it I’d love to get your thoughts.