Book Review: Vanishing Point

During Garrett Addison’s first week on the job as a criminal investigator for the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, his team is called out to a murder scene of a young girl. She’s the third victim in a string of disappearances with one thing in common–a Polaroid photo of each victim left behind at the crime scene.

The FBI is pulled into the case to help, and Garrett finds himself working with Special Agent Jordan Lambert, the woman he once loved. When yet another girl dies–number six–Garrett blames himself and believes he doesn’t have what it takes to be an agent. What he’ll discover is that, while he may be done with the killer, the killer is not done with him–or Jordan.

Bestselling and award-winning author Lisa Harris unveils an unforgettable story of a case that has haunted the public and law enforcement for more than a decade. Fans of the Nikki Boyd Files will thrill to finally discover what actually happened to Nikki’s sister, Sarah. New readers will become instant fans after devouring this chilling tale.

Bestselling author Lisa Harris is a Christy Award finalist for Blood Ransom and Vendetta, Christy Award winner for Dangerous Passage, and the winner of the Best Inspirational Suspense Novel for 2011 (Blood Covenant) and 2015 (Vendetta) from Romantic Times. She has over thirty novels and novella collections in print. She and her family have spent almost fourteen years working as missionaries in Africa where she runs a small non-profit organization that works alongside their church-planting ministry. The ECHO Project promotes Education, Compassion, Health, and Opportunity and is a way to “speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves . . . the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.” (Proverbs 31:8)

When she’s not working she loves hanging out with her family, cooking different ethnic dishes, photography, and heading into the African bush on safari. For more information about her books and life in Africa visit her website at http://www.lisaharriswrites.com.

My Impressions:

I have long been a fan of Lisa Harris’ novels. She always delivers action-packed suspense with just the right dose of romance thrown in. Her Nikki Boyd Files series has been a great-reading ride, and I have been anxiously awaiting the finale, Vanishing Point. This novel is somewhat of a departure from the series, but in a good way. I really enjoyed this book and give it a highly recommended rating.

Vanishing Point follows the Angel Abductor serial murder cases over a thirteen year period. Teenage girls in the Nashville area, including Nikki Boyd’s sister, are kidnapped and murdered by an illusive perpetrator. Garrett Addison, an investigator with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and FBI agent Jordan Lambert are assigned to the case midway through the investigation. Throughout the years the case takes its toll on them as they work feverishly to thwart an unseen and unknown assailant.

Vanishing Point is set up unlike the other books in the series. First of all, Nikki Boyd is a supporting character, but that’s okay because the story focuses on the Angel Abductor case that is a subplot in the earlier books in the series. This novel has two main story lines — the Angel Abductor investigation and the relationship between main characters Garrett and Jordan. Harris does an excellent job of illustrating how personal lives are influenced by the demands of family and career, and in this instance, the overwhelming emotional toll of the serial killer case. The pace is also slower than the previous novels as it covers a 13 year span. But as with her previous novels, excellent plotting, complex character development, and a thoughtful spiritual message I have come to love from Harris are present. Although unlike the first 3 books, I think Vanishing Point is my favorite. Both characters wrestle with past regrets and the question of where God is in the midst of heartbreak. Towards the end of the book, Garrett reflects on his struggle —

Over the past decade, Garrett had come to realize more and more that his faith couldn’t rely on what was happening around him, or whether or not he understood how God worked. His faith had to rely on God himself — who never changed — even when he didn’t understand what God was doing. (p. 276)

There is a message of hope in the midst of the bleakest of days.

Vanishing Point can be read as a standalone novel, but I recommend you begin with Vendetta. All four books in the series are available for your binge-reading enjoyment during the holidays — just saying! 😉

Highly Recommended.

Audience: adults.

To purchase this book, click HERE.

(Thanks to the author for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

Tags: Lisa Harris, romantic suspense fiction