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Mini-Book Review — The Crown Conspiracy

24 Nov

The Crown Conspiracy by Connie Mann was a finalist for the mystery/suspense/thriller category of the Christy Awards this year. As a fan of the genre, I knew I wanted to read it. What I got was an international suspense with ties to history and the art world, an action-packed political intrigue, and a unique plot that included an all female shadow organization that fought for endangered women. Oh, and there’s great chemistry between the two main characters that left me wanting more, as in, more adventures for the two. I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The race through the streets and palatial homes of European cities made me feel I was right in the midst of all the action. This one was a true page-turner! And highly recommended!

Highly recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(I purchased the ebook from Amazon. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

She’s a master at spotting a forgery . . . and knowing how to create one. But can she solve a decades-old mystery?

The media spotlight is the last thing art thief and forger Sophie Williams needs. But when one of three long-missing royal portraits turns up in Germany at her best friend’s art gallery, the spotlight is exactly what she gets. Since the tragic deaths of Princess Johanna of Neuhansberg and her two children forty years ago, the whereabouts of these portraits have been unknown . . . and the timing of their reappearance—just days before a new prince’s coronation—reignites questions surrounding the infamous accident.

Then Sophie’s best friend vanishes, and a rumor about hidden treasure connected to the paintings surfaces, seemingly confirmed by a cryptic message on the back of the first canvas. Convinced that finding the other two portraits will lead to her friend, Sophie begins a twisty investigation that pits her against other ruthless treasure hunters, a handsome investigator who seems to dog her trail at every turn, and a mysterious group that offers help, wearing an emblem identical to one on the painting.

From Germany’s grand castles and soaring cathedrals through the Alps to the canals of Venice, Sophie must choose her allies carefully if she hopes to find the portraits, rescue her best friend—and perhaps save a throne—before time runs out.

Connie Mann is a licensed boat captain and loves writing romantic suspense stories set in Florida’s small towns and unspoiled wilderness. She is the author of the Florida Wildlife Warriors series (Beyond Risk, Beyond Power, and Beyond Fear), the Safe Harbor series (Tangled Lies, Hidden Threat, Deadly Melody), as well as Angel Falls and Trapped! She has lived in seven different states but this self-proclaimed weather wimp has happily called Florida home for more than twenty years.

When she’s not dreaming up plotlines, you’ll find “Captain Connie” exploring the beaches along the Florida coast and captaining eco tours on the Indian River Lagoon in New Smyrna Beach.  She is also passionate about helping women and children in developing countries break the poverty cycle and build a better future for themselves and their families.

She and her husband love hanging out with family and friends and heading off to explore new places. If those days include boating, so much the better.

Visit Connie online at: http://www.conniemann.com.

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Book Review — The Heart of Bennet Hollow

20 Nov

When I learned that Joanne Bischof DeWitt had written a retelling of Pride And Prejudice, I was all in! There are some difference between the classic Jane Austen novel and The Heart of Bennet Hollow, but the essence of the story is there. DeWitt’s version is fresh and faith-filled, and I absolutely loved it!

New River, Virginia. 1904. Lizbeth Bennet longs to preserve her family’s farm, securing a future for her and her sisters, a difficult task in their Appalachian coal mining town. Money is scarce, and Lizbeth is determined to find a way without giving up treasured pieces of her family’s legacy. But when the mine is put up for sale, it’s clear change is approaching. A contingent of coal barons descends on the town to investigate whether the mine is worth their investment, among them a young man rumored to be a very rich, eligible bachelor.

William Drake arrives focused on business and keeping his distance from the townspeople, especially those living on land entangled with the mine, including a farmer by the name of Bennet. As William digs through legal issues, his struggle to weigh the potential financial gain against what is right for the community grows more complicated when he meets one of the Bennet daughters.

Despite an awkward first meeting, Lizbeth and William continue to cross paths, and soon Lizbeth questions her first impression of the man she believed to be proud and indifferent. But just as their friendship begins to evolve, a revelation shakes Lizbeth’s tenuous trust, and she learns all may not be as it seems. To determine what is true, and step toward a love she’s barely dared dream of, Lizbeth must confront her own prejudices . . . and decide whether the future she’s always imagined is the one her heart truly wants most after all.

A Christy and Carol Award winner, Joanne Bischof DeWitt writes deeply layered fiction that tugs at the reader’s heartstrings. She lives in California with her new husband and their six children making her a big fan of conversations, laughter, and large dinner tables.

My Impressions:

I am a sucker for a Jane Austen knock-off or, in proper literary terms, a variation. I fell in love with Austen’s books 30ish years ago, and wanted more. So I turned to the many, many adaptations that are available. The Heart of Bennet Hollow is a new acquisition. Joanne Bischof DeWitt’s fresh take on Pride and Prejudice is a great mix of the classic story and the very American setting of Appalachia. The author matches the characters and plot of P&P with her own style of storytelling. I loved that the characters were a bit more balanced in this novel. No extreme embarrassments or interference in others’ love lives. The two main characters are instantly likable, and this reader appreciated how their relationship grew from grudging admiration to respect to love over the course of the novel. The Appalachian coal country setting of the early 1900s was very interesting. My own grandfather was a coal miner in Virginia, so the glimpse into what my family’s life may have looked like was a real treat. DeWitt includes a strong faith-thread into the narrative. The characters’ actions were informed by their faith in God — concern for the lives of others was at the forefront of their decisions. And the romance! DeWitt does justice to the love story all Austen fans love.

I highly recommend The Heart of Bennet Hollow, even if you are not an Austenphile. It’s a great historical romance that stands on its own.

Highly recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(I purchased this book from Amazon. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

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Mini-Book Review — Shattered Sanctuary

17 Nov

In my opinion no one writes serial killer novels better than Nancy Mehl! Shattered Sanctuary, the first book featuring former policewoman-turned-author Erin Delaney has all the creep-factor you could want. Set in the atmospheric Smoky Mountains, this mystery/suspense is very twisty. I suspected everyone in the small tourist town! Erin has a lot to deal with — grief and guilt — when she heads to a vacation retreat with friend Kaely Quinn-Hunter (yes, that Kaely!) to help put the past to rest. But a murderer stalks them both. Mehl’s characters are often damaged and/or flawed making their faith journeys complex. I loved Erin and was intrigued how her PTSD impacted her life and work and struggle with God. I also loved how Kaely reached out to her on God’s prompting. There are very strong faith themes in this book and God’s sovereignty is front and center. You really get a lot in this book!

So if you are looking for a thought-provoking novel with lots of great mystery and suspense, then check out Shattered Sanctuary.

Highly recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(I bought this book from Amazon. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

Grappling with the aftermath of a tragic incident that altered her life, ex-police officer and bestselling mystery author Erin Delaney finds solace in the tranquility of a cabin nestled deep in the Smoky Mountains. But her restful stay is shattered when cries pierce the night, hinting at a lurking presence haunting the woods. When local police chief Adrian Nightengale seeks her help with a carefully arranged murder scene, she is thrust back into the world of crime solving. As they delve into the investigation, Erin’s intuition reveals chilling truths about the killer’s motives and strategically perfected methods.

Joined by the enigmatic Kaely Quinn-Hunter, a former FBI behavioral analyst, Erin not only embarks on a quest to stop the merciless serial killer, but also confronts the revived ghosts of her past. In a race against time, Erin must defeat her own demons while outmaneuvering a cunning killer or risk becoming the next victim in this deadly game of cat and mouse.

Nancy Mehl lives in Missouri, with her husband Norman, and her puggle, Watson. She’s authored over fifty books and is currently at work on a new FBI suspense series for Bethany House Publishing.

All of Nancy’s novels have an added touch – something for your spirit as well as your soul. “I welcome the opportunity to share my faith through my writing,” Nancy says. “It’s a part of me and of everything I think or do. God is number one in my life. I wouldn’t be writing at all if I didn’t believe that this is what He’s called me to do. I hope everyone who reads my books will walk away with the most important message I can give them: God is good, and He loves you more than you can imagine. He has a good plan especially for your life, and there is nothing you can’t overcome with His help.”

You can find out more about Nancy by visiting her Web site at: http://www.nancymehl.com. She also is active on the Suspense Sisters: http://www.suspensesisters.blogspot.com and on FaceBook!

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Mini-Book Review — Specters in The Glass House

13 Nov

As with all novels by Jaime Jo Wright, Specters in The Glass House had me seeing ghosts! Never fear, though, this novel is Christian fiction and all the spooky goings-on had very real life explanations. I can’t tell you what they are, because that would certainly spoil things, but just know that things aren’t always as they seem and narrators are not always reliable. 😉 The complexly-plotted novel explores blessings and curses which presented an unsettling and sinister narrative that is juxtaposed with the goodness of God. The characters are troubling and troubled and are some of the most intriguing characters written by Wright. I found the mystery spread between two timelines to be intriguing as well — it kept me guessing until the very end. The atmospheric setting of the grand, yet puzzling, house and its greenhouse filled with butterflies was perfect. If you are creeped out by butterflies (I know someone who is), you may want to skip this book. LOL. All in all, Specters in The Glass House checks all the boxes for a twisty mystery with spooky elements.

Highly Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(I received the ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

In 1921, Marian Arnold, the heiress to a brewing baron’s empire, seeks solace in the glass butterfly house on her family’s Wisconsin estate as Prohibition and the deaths of her parents cast a long shadow over her shrinking world. When Marian’s sanctuary is invaded by nightmarish visions, she grapples with the line between hallucinations of things to come and malevolent forces at play in the present. With dead butterflies as the killer’s ominous signature, murders unfold at a steady pace. Marian, fearful she might be next, enlists the help of her childhood friend Felix, a war veteran with his own haunted past.

In the present day, researcher Remy Shaw becomes entangled in an elderly biographer’s quest to uncover the truth behind Marian Arnold’s mysterious life and the unsolved murders linked to an infamous serial killer. Joined by Marian’s great-great-grandson, can Remy expose the evil that lurks beneath broken wings? Or will the dark legacy surrounding the manor and its glass house destroy yet another generation?

Jaime Jo Wright, multi award-winning author–including the Christy and Daphne du Maurier awards–is a coffee-fueled and cat-fancier extraordinaire. She has entwined her life with the legendary Captain Hook, residing serenely in Wisconsin’s rural woodlands. Her literary vocation involves penning chilling Gothic tales, a baffling change from that of Austenites, with a strong preference to the master of dark, Edgar Allan Poe. Two mischievous urchins adorn their family, who keep their mother on her toes – providing an exhilarating amount chaos.

Visit her at: http://www.jaimewrightbooks.com and listen to her podcast MadLit Musings on your favorite podcast player or at http://www.madlitmusings.com.

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Book Review — Between The Sound And Sea

12 Nov

Amanda Cox is a must-read author for me. I’ve had Between The Sound And Sea on my NetGalley shelf way too long and was glad that my book club chose it for our November selection. Amanda won the Christy Award for general fiction for this book last week — it is so well-deserved! I loved this book for many reasons. Find out why and all the details about the book below.

Every family has its secrets. Josephina Harris wouldn’t mind if her family still had a few of their own after a lawsuit tarnishes their name. When an opportunity opens to become a temporary keeper of a decommissioned lighthouse on a North Carolina island, she jumps at the chance to escape her small town to oversee its restoration.  
 
As the work begins, “Joey” discovers strange notes tucked deep in the crevices of the old stone walls–pages torn from a lighthouse keeper’s log signed by someone named Mae who recounts harrowing rescues at sea. Fascinated by a woman lighthouse keeper, Joey digs into the past only to discover there’s never been a record of a lighthouse keeper by that name.
 
When things start to go amiss on the island, locals are convinced that it is the ghost of the lighthouse keeper and his daughter who were lost at sea during World War II. As Joey sifts through decades of rumors and legends and puts together the pieces of the past, what emerges is a love story–one that’s not over yet.
 
Multiple Christy Award winner Amanda Cox is your guide upon the raging seas of young love, heartbreaking loss, and learning to risk it all for a chance at happiness in this timeless novel.

Before becoming a stay-at-home parent, Amanda Cox spent her time counseling children, families, and individuals through life’s challenging moments. Now she uses those same skills to develop layered characters and stories, bringing them on a journey of hope and healing. A journey she hopes her readers experience in their own lives as they read.

A few of her favorite things are the sanctuary of the great outdoors, the feeling of pen on paper, the sound of her children’s laughter, and exploring new places with her husband of 18 years. (Oh, let’s not forget good fiction and good coffee. She’s addicted to both.) You can stay connected with her latest writing updates at http://www.amandacoxwrites.com. You can find her on social media by searching Amanda Cox Writes.

My Impressions:

Between The Sound And Sea by Amanda Cox is a story of regrets and making things right. All of the characters are attempting to do this in a variety of ways, even secondary characters live with regret and the desire to work to fix the past and secure the future. As they all come together to restore a lighthouse and somehow make a broken time whole again, they learn a lot about forgiveness and grace. The setting is the Outer Banks, a place Cox brought to life in her depictions of the isolated islands, the waves of the Atlantic, and the smooth waters of the sound. I felt like I could breathe the salty air and feel the gentle breeze on my face and the sand between my toes. The story revolves around a decommissioned lighthouse that was the site of a tragedy during WWII. (By the way, I learned a lot about how close the war came to American shores.) A lightkeeper and his daughter are lost at sea and legends, rumors, and ghost stories were born. The 3 main characters pursue the mystery as they seek to bring the lighthouse back to its glory. The book takes the reader along a twisting journey that not only solves the mystery, but answers the life questions the characters struggle with. The novel is Christian fiction, yet the faith message is subtle. Yes, God is a big part of the restoration process, but Cox develops that thread naturally without any preachiness.

While my review may be rambling, Between The Sound And Sea is not! It is a well-crafted novel that you will love!

Highly Recommended.

Great for Book Clubs.

Audience: Adults.

(I received a copy of the ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

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Mini-Book Review — Canyon of Deceit

10 Nov

There was a lot going on in DiAnn Mills‘s newest romantic suspense, Canyon of Deceit, and I loved every minute of it! This fast-paced novel features a wilderness survival trainer/guide and a Texas Ranger as they track a kidnapped girl through the high desert of west Texas. They also dodge assassins bullets and uncover a plot by the Russian mafia. Whew! The twists and turns kept the characters and Mills’ readers on their toes. This was pure escape fiction for me. The romance is slow and careful, as the main characters are on different wavelengths spiritually. I appreciated that and the faith thread the author wove naturally through the narrative. Truth without preachiness. If you like to be kept on the edge of your seat while furiously turning the pages, then Canyon of Deceit is for you.

Recommended.

Audience: adults.

(I received a complimentary ebook from NetGalley. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

A rescue team searches for a missing young girl and suspects all is not as it seems in this high-stakes romantic suspense novel from the author of Lethal Standoff and Facing the Enemy.

When wilderness survival expert Therese Palmer receives a frantic phone call from former colleague Professor Rurik Ivanov, she is shocked by the news that his young daughter, Alina, is missing—and that Rurik wants Therese’s help finding her. She’s sure Rurik hasn’t given her the whole story . . . especially since he refuses to report the kidnapping to the police. Yet with a child’s life hanging in the balance, Therese can’t turn down this mission. She knows the clock is ticking and she can’t do this alone.

Therese reaches out to Texas Ranger Blane Gardner, whom she met seven months ago during one of her training courses in wilderness survival skills. Blane’s specialized training and background with the Crisis Negotiation Unit make him uniquely prepared for this search-and-rescue mission. He agrees to help Therese and to accept Rurik’s terms to keep Alina’s disappearance quiet, and as the two begin working together, Therese is determined the spark growing between them won’t distract from their mission to save Alina.

Traversing deep into the desert of Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Alina’s last known location, Therese and Blane struggle to separate truth from lies within the mix of intel they’re receiving. As they close in on answers that suggest the involvement of Russian organized crime and a high-profile international assassination attempt, they must fight to rescue Alina before she becomes an innocent casualty of a much bigger plot—no matter the risk to their own lives.

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who invites her readers to step into stories where suspense meets adventure and romance warms the heart. Known for crafting unforgettable characters tangled in unpredictable plots, DiAnn believes every breath we take unfolds a story waiting to be told—so why not make it thrilling?

Her novels have consistently landed on bestseller lists including CBA, ECPA, and Publishers Weekly, and have won prestigious awards such as the Christy, Selah, Golden Scroll, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol awards.

DiAnn is a founding board member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Conference Advisor for the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers. She actively participates in Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Mystery Writers of America, the Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild, International Thriller Writers, Outliers Writing University, and The Christian Pen. DiAnn passionately invests in helping fellow authors succeed through mentoring, book coaching, and editing. She travels nationwide speaking and teaching engaging writing workshops.

A proud coffee snob who roasts her own beans, DiAnn also enjoys diving into good books, experimenting in the kitchen, and unabashedly spoiling her grandchildren—whom she insists are the smartest kids in the universe. She and her husband make their home under the sunny skies of Houston, Texas.

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Mini-Book Review — Queen of Hearts

6 Nov

Heather Day Gilbert has long been one of my favorite mystery writers. Queen of Hearts is a mystery too, but not the cozy type that fans of Gilbert may be used to. This one introduces the reader to a psychological mystery/thriller that will have them checking the locks and leaving the lights on. 😉 I loved the mountainous West Virginia setting that added the right amount of spookiness to the novel. The first person POV is done really well. Alexandra Dubois is autistic and I found her a very intriguing character. And maybe a little unreliable in her narrative. You will just have to decide for yourself. This book has lots of BIG plot twists, so hold on for a fun reading ride. I flew through this book and am pretty sure I need to re-read it. It is that good!

Recommended.

Audience: adults

( I borrowed the ebook from Kindle Unlimited. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

Her readers love her … but one has gotten a little too attached.

Alexandra Dubois, a NYT bestselling author, has made a name for herself by crafting twisted serial killers in her romantic suspense series. When threatening notes from an “invested reader” escalate into violence, Alex has to admit she’s not safe in her own home. Although her autism makes any changes to her routine difficult, she reluctantly accepts her editor’s advice to fly to his sprawling vacation home in West Virginia so she can focus on her looming deadline.

Fighting paranoia that the stalker has discovered her mountain hideaway, Alex still forces herself to write several chapters in her novel. But when a thunderstorm leaves her stranded and she hears a knock at her door, she’s about to discover that life truly is stranger than fiction.

Fans of Alfred Hitchcock, Mary Higgins Clark, and Misery are sure to be hooked by this clean, fast-paced domestic thriller by RWA Daphne Award-winning author Heather Day Gilbert.

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Mini-Book Review — Lost Hours

5 Nov

Lost Hours, a romantic suspense novel by Susan Sleeman, was a fun read. The second-chance-at-love trope added a lot to the chemistry between the two main characters, Nolan and Mina. Brought together when a game night turns deadly, the two join forces to solve the murders in the small Pacific Northwest town. I really liked the twists and turns that Sleeman took her characters and readers through. I love solving the crimes along the way as I follow the investigation by the main characters. And the forensic science shared was very intriguing. The novel was fast-paced and kept me turning the pages — I read this one in record time. There is an ensemble cast of characters, so more great books to come! There are 5 books in the Lost Lake Locators series (2 due out in 2026)! I look forward to more great reading ahead.

Recommended.

Audience: adults.

(I borrowed this book from Kindle Unlimited. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

Protecting his friends has always come first…

When Nolan Orr, founding member of Lost Lake Locators, and his teammates receive a mysterious invitation to a secluded mansion on Lost Island for what seems to be an innocent game night with his closest college friends, he eagerly agrees to attend. Not only to enjoy the event with friends who were more like family to him than his actual family, but to figure out which friend set up the fun but unusual night.

Until he has to consider one of them a suspect for murder.

However, as the evening progresses, he soon realizes that they are pawns in a deadly game orchestrated by a twisted mastermind. Where betrayal and survival go hand in hand, ultimately leading to a missing friend, to murder and a murder investigation that Sheriff Mina Park arrives to take charge of. Problem is, Nolan and Mina had a brief summer fling one year on his visit to the island, and it ended badly. Will she let him into the investigation and work with him, or avoid him as she’s been doing for years?

Susan Sleeman writes the kind of romantic suspense that makes you double-check the locks—and maybe fall a little for the hero.

Her clean, high-octane stories are packed with danger, heart, and just enough faith to light the darkest corners.

With over sixty novels, multiple awards, and more than two million books sold, she knows a thing or two about keeping readers on the edge of their seats—and her FBI and police citizen academy training doesn’t hurt either.

These days, she calls Oregon home, where she juggles plotting crimes (fictional ones, promise), spoiling grandkids, and running The Suspense Zone.

Ready to lose sleep over your next favorite book? Head to Susan’s website.

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Mini-Book Review — The Words We Lost

30 Oct

This month my book club chose The Words We Lost by Nicole Deese. What an excellent choice! We all loved the story of three friends and the journeys their friendship led them through. The story within a story added depth and a real understanding of each characters’ perspective on life and love, grief and healing. We cannot recommend it enough! The novel is contemporary fiction with a subtle faith thread woven throughout.The characters are so relatable! And, it is a love story that is completely satisfying. It kept us turning the pages and thinking about it long after the covers were closed. If you want a story that touches your heart and makes you think, then this book is for you!

Highly recommended.

Great for book clubs.

Audience: adults.

(I purchased this ebook from Amazon. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

Three friends. Two broken promises. One missing manuscript. 

As a senior acquisitions editor for Fog Harbor Books in San Francisco, Ingrid Erikson has rejected many a manuscript for lack of defined conflict and dramatic irony–two elements her current life possesses in spades. In the months following the death of her childhood best friend and international bestselling author Cecelia Campbell, Ingrid has not only lost her ability to escape into fiction due to a rare trauma response, but she’s also desperate to find the closure she’s convinced will come with Cecelia’s missing final manuscript.

After Ingrid jeopardizes her career, she fears her future will remain irrevocably broken. But then Joel Campbell–the man who shattered her belief in happily-ever-afters–offers her a sealed envelope from his late cousin, Cecelia, asking Joel and to put their differences aside and retrieve a mysterious package in their coastal Washington hometown.

Honoring Cecelia’s last request will challenge their convictions and test their loyalties, but through it all, will Ingrid and Joel be brave enough to uncover a twice-in-a-lifetime love?

Nicole Deese is a Christy and Carol Award-winning, bestselling author of hope-filled, humorous, and heartfelt contemporary romance novels. When she’s not sorting out character arcs and story plots of her own, she can usually be found listening to an audiobook and multitasking at least four different chores at once. She’s a hoarder of sparkling water, a lover of long walks and even longer talks with friends, and a seeker of fun and adventure at all times. She lives in small-town, Idaho with her happily-ever-after hubby, two freakishly tall teenage sons, and one princess daughter with the heart of a warrior.

Find her online at http://www.nicoledeese.com.

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Book Review — The Burning of Rosemont Abbey

23 Oct

I am a big fan of Agatha Christie. Having read so many of her novels, I almost feel like I grew up in the small town in which Miss Marple lived. LOL! So I was hooked from the opening pages of The Burning of Rosemont Abbey by Naomi Stephens. Although set a few years later than the Miss Marple series, this 1950s-era novel set in a small town in England had all the makings for a great mystery. Louisa Everly is faced with quite a problem — either her twin brother had set fire to the church in which her father had served years before and then disappeared or he was framed and met with foul play. She chooses to believe in his innocence and begins an investigation in which she runs head long into a number of dangerous situations. Her childhood friend and now detective is on the case as well. You can probably guess where that relationship heads. 😉 I loved the small English village setting, the many twists and turns that the case takes, and the lovely romance that grows between Louisa and Malcolm. Plus, I never saw the ending coming! That’s huge for one who reads so many mysteries.

If you like a historical setting for you mystery reading, The Burning of Rosemont Abbey is a great choice.

Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(I purchased this book from Amazon. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

Everyone in Wilbeth Green has something to hide, but she’s about to uncover their secrets.

1956: In a quiet English village, the smoldering ruins of Rosemont Abbey have set the residents’ tongues wagging, and everyone is quick to accuse troublemaker Paul Everly of the crime of arson. Paul has vanished without a trace, leaving only his plucky twin sister, Louisa, certain of his innocence. Fueling her conviction is an inexplicable connection—she felt her twin’s death an hour before the abbey went up in flames.

Armed with nothing but her wit and her keen sense of intuition, Louisa embarks on her own investigation, challenging the dubious townspeople and the disdain of her aunt and uncle. Even Inspector Malcolm Sinclair, once Paul’s closest friend, warns Louisa to abandon her pursuit. But Louisa is determined to solve a murder no one else believes was committed, even if it means unraveling secrets that could shake Wilbeth Green to its core.

Naomi Stephens is a bookworm turned teacher turned writer. She received a B.A. in English from Concordia University in Ann Arbor and an M.A. in English from Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne. Her first novel, Shadow among Sheaves, was an Inspy Award shortlister and winner of the 2020 Carol Award in Debut Fiction. In bookstores, Naomi gravitates towards 19th-century British novels—the broodier the better (i.e., Jane Eyre)—but she can also be found perusing the young adult, mystery, and fantasy sections. Anything that keeps her turning pages past midnight. Though she has called many places home over the years, she currently lives in New York with her husband, her two children, and a rascal of a dog named Sherlock. When not writing or having adventures with her family, she can be found drinking tea, practicing photography, and pining for London.

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