Tag Archives: mystery fiction

Happy Release Day — Every Moment Since

1 Oct

Happy release day to Marybeth Whalen! Her newest novel, Every Moment Since, is now available. Don’t you just love the cover?! This one immediately hit my TBR list when I found out about it. Check out all the details below.

A small Southern town. An ordinary Saturday night. A little boy disappears without a trace.

Everyone in Wynotte, North Carolina, knows the name Davy Malcor. Knows the video clip of him juggling four balls, “All at the very same time!” Knows the Marty McFly jacket his mother made for his birthday that he wore proudly, and often. But no one knows what happened to him the night he went missing more than twenty years ago.

When the jacket is unexpectedly uncovered, the cold case reopens, and Davy’s family is thrust into yet another media storm. But at the heart of the story are four people forever changed by one single night: Thaddeus Malcor, Davy’s older brother, created the life of his dreams by writing a bestselling memoir about his family’s experience and is enjoying success and notoriety as a result, even if the memoir doesn’t quite reveal the whole story. Tabitha Malcor, his mother, is divorced and living alone, advocating for victims’ rights and faithfully cataloging her regrets each week, never including her biggest regret of all. Anissa Weaver was just a kid herself when Davy went missing, and her connection to him is one she cannot reveal as she serves as the Malcor family’s Public Information Officer. And, long suspected in Davy’s disappearance, Gordon Swift has kept his head down and scraped together a decent life. But the new attention to the case makes it impossible to hide from the public, and the past.

With hauntingly vivid prose, Marybeth Mayhew Whalen peels back the curtain on the inner turmoil of those who were left behind in the small Southern community as they pick up the pieces that remain and press forward into the light to find hope and healing.

Marybeth Mayhew Whalen is the author of Every Moment Since and 9 previous novels. Marybeth received a BA in English with a concentration in Writing and Editing from NC State University a long time ago and has been writing ever since. She is the co-founder of The Book Tide, an online community of readers where “a rising tide raises all books.” Marybeth and her husband Curt are the parents of six kids who are now all in various stages of adulting. A native of Charlotte, NC, Marybeth now calls Sunset Beach, NC home.

Spotlight on Regency Mystery/Romance — A Thieving at Carlton House

18 Sep

Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for A Thieving at Carlton House by Erica Vetsch hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About The Book

Title: A Thieving at Carlton House
Series: Of Cloaks & Daggers #1
Author: Erica Vetsch
Publisher: Kregel Publications
Release Date: September 17, 2024
Genre: Regency Mystery Romance

Unlikely alliances form when a killer is on the loose… but who can be trusted?

The Home Office has asked Sir Bertrand Thorndike to head an investigation into stolen royal jewels. And as with everything concerning the Prince Regent, discretion is paramount.

It’s the perfect chance for Bertie to step out of his brother’s long shadow. Unfortunately, his superior, The Duke of Haverly, has a plan that makes him balk: in order to sell his cover, Bertie must play the part of a man looking for love, ready to reform his rakish ways. The duke is willing to let Bertie name his own investigative team, but his recommendation that the team include Philippa Cashel has Bertie on his guard. Does the duke–known for his behind-the-scenes machinations–have an ulterior motive?

Philippa Cashel escaped her life as one of society’s best-known courtesans, devoting her life to helping other women in dire straits. So when Sir Bertrand Thorndike approaches her about joining his team as an agent of the Crown, she is skeptical. Why her? She’s focused on getting her school for underprivileged women up and running, not in cloak-and-dagger skullduggery. Her hope is that if she labors hard enough at her charity work, she might begin to feel worthy of God’s forgiveness of her past.

When one of Philippa’s rescued girls is arrested for stealing the royal jewels and another is murdered, Philippa will risk partnering with Bertie to find the loot and stop the killer.

Two brilliant minds–with two wary hearts–and one cunning deceiver are on a collision course in Regency England.

Beloved Regency author Erica Vetsch begins this new series with all the elements that keep her readers coming back. From historical accuracy to rousing mystery to deep character faith journeys, A Thieving at Carlton House will please Regency lovers–and anyone else who loves a great story.

Excerpt

They stood before a rather seedy-looking manor, vacant for the last decade but
owned by the Asbury family. The property had been for lease for some time, probably
because of its proximity to the Horse-monger Lane Gaol. She had been certain they
could secure the tenancy but had not considered the owner’s reservations about their
occupancy.
It was as if, from her birth, God had decided her path would be obstructed and
she would have to fight for every inch in this life. She would spend the rest of her natural
existence striving to atone for her past, overcoming hurdle after barrier—yet it was a
past He had a part in subjecting her to.
She had long ago given up expecting life to be fair.
Philippa considered Mr. Asbury, what she knew about him, his fussy mannerisms,
his foppish dress, the way he looked at her as if not quite able to forget what she had
been.
Time to lay on some charm.
(p. 12)

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Kregel | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook | Bookshop | BookBub

About The Author

Erica Vetsch is a New York Times best-selling author and ACFW Carol Award winner, and has been a Romantic Times top pick for her previous books. She loves Jesus, history, romance, and watching sports. This transplanted Kansan now makes her home in Rochester, Minnesota.Connect with Erica by visiting ericavetsch.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a signed copy of A Thieving at Carlton House and a $25 Amazon gift card!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight September 16, 2024 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on September 23, 2024. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. International prize ebook and egift card. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

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Spotlight on Mystery/Suspense — The Alcuin Letter

29 Aug

The Alcuin Letter JustRead Blog Tour

Welcome to the Blog Tour for The Alcuin Letter by Jeff Raymond, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About The Book

The Alcuin LetterTitle: The Alcuin Letter
Series: International Intrigue Series #2
Author: Jeff Raymond
Publisher: Winged Publications
Release Date: July 11, 2024
Genre: Christian Mystery/Suspense

What price success?

When a tragedy sparked by a medieval letter brings Matt and Camilla together in London, they never could have imagined the death and peril that would accompany their search for answers. The letter, rumored to lead to a relic of Biblical importance, holds ancient clues that others are also desperate to uncover.

Amidst the pressure and danger of the hunt, Matt and Camilla must confront their past heartbreaks and battle their inner doubts and beliefs. But even if they are successful, what will it mean for their faith? And what will it mean for their budding relationship?

From a quaint antique shop in Frankfort to a grand cathedral in Geneva to a secluded Swiss abbey, the pursuit of answers takes the pair on a harrowing ride. With success in their grasp, the journey culminates with a decision that will test their convictions.

Enhanced with historical figures, locations, and facts, The Alcuin Letter is a gripping tale that will entertain while prompting readers to examine their own faith. Come and join Matt and Camilla on their exciting journey.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub

Excerpt

Camilla noticed the gunman at the same time I did and screamed, “Matt, watch out!” just as we found cover behind a statue of Charlemagne standing outside the cathedral’s gate. Another bullet bounced off the bronze figure as we huddled together behind its concrete base.

By this point, others in the area were yelling, screaming, and searching for places of cover. I peeked around the statue and could see the gunman walking directly toward us, gun hand extended straight out, simply waiting for his opportunity. He was wearing black jeans and a dark button-down shirt, with wrap-around sunglasses hiding his eyes. He had jet black hair, cut very short. I could see a large tattoo extending above his collar and up his neck.

He fired again, the bullet chipping the concrete only inches from my head. Another shot hit the sidewalk just to our left and then another on the right. I think he was enjoying this, effectively preventing us from fleeing until he managed to finish the job. My overloaded mind failed to come up with a plan of action that had any chance of success. This was the end. I pulled Camilla into me and held her tight, bringing a quick reflection of our similar experience in the burning house. We were miraculously saved once, but….

Camilla suddenly pushed herself away from me and bolted to our right. Startled, I looked that way and noticed a small girl curled up, crying loudly only fifteen feet away. Camilla’s instinct was to protect the child. She would need only four or five steps to reach the girl, but it took the gunman just two of those steps to zero in and squeeze the trigger. After one shot missed behind her, the next hit Camilla in the side, jolting her into the wall a few feet short of her goal. She fell to the ground awkwardly, managing to reach out her hand as she came to rest with an audible groan. The young girl stretched to put her small fingers into the offered hand just as Camilla’s eyes flickered shut.

Overflowing with emotion and rage, I yelled something unintelligible as I stood and tried to move toward Camilla. The man advanced with a silenced gun pointed at my head, blocking my path. A curl of a smile appeared on his thin lips as he looked me over, appraising his conquered prey. It was a smile projecting confidence, success, and superiority.

I hoped he sensed something other than fear in my eyes as I glared back at him. The Bible says I am supposed to love my enemy. Reality, though, is a challenging teacher and, in this instance, I am probably flunking the test.



More Books in This Series

The Medici Quest


About The Author

Jeff Raymond

Jeff Raymond comes from a publication-oriented family, as both his father and older brother had accomplished careers in the newspaper business. He has had numerous articles published and has won awards for both writing and publication design. His debut novel, The Medici Quest, was honored with a Pencraft Award for Best Christian Fiction Book in the summer of 2024. Raymond graduated from Taylor University in Indiana, where he was a member of the track team. He also spent a year writing for the university newspaper and worked as a color commentator for basketball broadcasts. He went on to earn a Master’s degree from the University of Georgia. In addition to writing, Raymond has an interest in history, including Biblical history and the origins of the Bible. He has a growing collection of Olympic Games memorabilia, is a member of his church’s Worship Team. His interest in travel has allowed him to visit several international locations, both as a tourist and as part of short-term mission trips.

Connect with Jeff by visiting jeffraymondfiction.com to follow him on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.


Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will win a print copy of each book in this series – The Medici Quest & The Alcuin Letter!

The Alcuin Letter JustRead blog tour giveaway

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight August 26, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on September 2, 2024. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway


Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

JustRead Publicity Tours

Top 10 Tuesday — Cool Rides!

13 Aug

Happy Tuesday! Today’s TTT topic is — Planes, Trains & Automobiles/Books Featuring Travel (books whose plots involve travel or feature modes of transportation on the cover/title). My list consists of books with Cool Rides. The mode of transportation that the MCs choose advances the plot and helps define the character. Not all are really cool (one character takes the bus), but I promise that all the books are fun reads.

F0r more transportation lists, check out That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top 10 Cool Rides!

Catching Christmas by Terri Blackstock (taxi)

Dearest Dorothy, Are We There Yet by Charlene Baumbich (1976 Lincoln Continental)

Elvis Takes A Back Seat by Leanna Ellis (vintage Cadillac)

Harriet Beamer Takes The Bus by Joyce Magnin (bus)

A Lady’s Guide to Marvels and Misadventure by Angela Bell (flying machine)

Miles from Where We Started by Cynthia Ruchti (travel trailer)

The Mother Road by Jennifer AlLee (convertible)

The Preacher Wore Black Leather by Loree Lough (motorcycle)

Romance Rustlers and Thunderbird Thieves by Sharon Dunn (T-Bird)

Your Chariot Awaits by Lorena McCourtney (limousine)

Top Ten Tuesday — Favorite Series

6 Aug

Happy Tuesday! Today’s TTT topic is hard! And since my brain has not recovered from a month of helping to care for grandkids and a 9 day vacation 😉 , I am not going to give you my favorite book from a series, but instead the first book in favorite series. Some of these you are probably familiar with, but they are older, so there may be one to discover. You’ll also notice they are all mystery/suspense — I have read a lot of those over the years! It all began with Nancy Drew. 😉 I promise that all the books are fabulous! And if you haven’t read them yet, you have a lot of great binge-reading ahead of you.

For more on-topic bloggers’ lists, check out That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Favorite Series

Beyond Justice (Hidden Justice series) by Cara Putman

Hayden McCarthy is on track to become the youngest partner in her prestigious D.C. law firm . . . if the case she’s just been handed doesn’t destroy her first.

Hayden McCarthy knows firsthand the pain when justice is not served. It’s why she became an attorney and why she’s so driven in her career. When she’s assigned a wrongful death case against the government, she isn’t sure if it’s the lucky break she needs to secure a partnership—or an attempt to make sure she never gets there.

Further complicating matters is Andrew, her roommate’s distractingly attractive cousin. But Andrew’s father is a Congressman, and Hayden’s currently taking on the government. Could the timing be any worse?

The longer she keeps the case active, the higher the stakes become. Unknown enemies seem determined to kill the case—or her. Logic and self-preservation would indicate she should close the case. But how can she, when justice is still just beyond her reach?

End Game (Capital Intrigue series) by Rachel Dylan

When elite members of the military are murdered on the streets of Washington, DC, FBI Special Agent Bailey Ryan and NCIS Special Agent Marco Agostini must work together to bring the perpetrator to justice. Unfortunately, all evidence points to a Navy SEAL sniper whom Bailey refuses to believe is guilty. 

When Bailey and Marco start to connect the dots between the victims, including a link to a powerful defense contractor, they wonder if there’s a deeper cover-up at play. Then Bailey is targeted, and it becomes clear that someone is willing to kill to keep their dark secrets. 

With the stakes getting higher by the moment in a twisted conspiracy, there’s a rush against the clock to determine whom they can really trust. As allies turn to enemies, the biggest secret yet to be uncovered could be the end of all of them.

Nothing But Trouble (PJ Sugar series) by Susan May Warren

It’s not fair to say that trouble happens every time PJ Sugar is around, but it feels that way when she returns to her home town, looking for a fresh start. Within a week, her former teacher is murdered and her best friend’s husband is arrested as the number-one suspect. Although the police detective investigating the murder—who also happens to be PJ’s former flame—is convinced it’s an open-and-shut case, PJ’s not so sure. She begins digging for clues in an effort to clear her friend’s husband and ends up reigniting old passions, uncovering an international conspiracy, and solving a murder along the way. She also discovers that maybe God can use a woman who never seems to get it right.

A Penny for Your Thoughts (The Million Dollar Mystery series) by Mindy Starns Clark

Mindy Starns Clark delivers a unique spin on inspirational fiction with her Million Dollar Mystery series featuring private investigator Callie Webber. When philanthropist Wendell Smythe is murdered shortly after Callie meets him, she is forced to investigate. Soon she discovers that his family is hiding a few unsightly secrets, and motives for murder are abundant. Only by turning to God can Callie hope to solve this mystery.

Romance Rustlers And Thunderbird Thieves (Ruby Taylor series) by Sharon Dunn

Ruby Taylor is a fiery redhead with an attitude to match. Somehow her mom, a quirky ex-con-turned-Christian, coerces her into helping two women “wronged in love”—Maryanne (who is packing a loaded gun in search of her husband who walked out on her and stole her classic T-Bird) and Laura (whose “good-boy” fiance mysteriously disappeared two weeks before their wedding day). As she helps these two very different women, she must confront the anger over her own past and her deep-seated bitterness toward God. She uncovers a kidnapping and is thrown into a harrowing adventure with helicopters, flying buffalo, and a horse chase thrown in for good measure.

The Stones Cry Out (The Raleigh Harmon FBI Mysteries) by Sibella Giorello

When nobody talks, the stones cry out.

In the searing heat of a Virginia summer, two men fall from a roof, plummeting to their deaths on the sidewalk below. One man was a white cop. The other, a young black boxer with a murky past.

Hundreds of people stood nearby, yet nobody will say what happened.

The FBI wants a quick verdict—with or without the truth—and sends in rookie agent Raleigh Harmon. But between tight-lipped witnesses and secrets hidden among the city’s most powerful families, Raleigh’s forced to use her forensic geology skills to uncover the truth. 

Can she solve this case before the city’s simmering rage burns out of control?
And will her choices bring down everyone involved—including Raleigh herself?

The Trouble with Tulip (Smart Chick Mysteries) by Mind Starns Clark

Josephine Tulip is definitely a smart chick, a twenty-first century female MacGyver who writes a helpful hints column and solves mysteries in her spare time. Her best friend, Danny, is a talented photographer who longs to succeed in his career…perhaps a cover photo on National Geographic?

When Jo’s next-door neighbor is accused of murder, Jo realizes the police have the wrong suspect. As she and Danny analyze clues, follow up on leads, and fall in and out of trouble, she recovers from a broken heart and he discovers that he has feelings for her. Will Danny have the courage to reveal them, or will he continue to hide them behind a façade of friendship?

Happy Release Day — Queen of Hearts

23 Jul

Happy release day to Heather Day Gilbert, one of my favorite mystery authors! Her lates whodunit, Queen of Hearts, is now available. I can’t wait to read this psychological thriller with a twist!! Find out all about it below.

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.

Heather Day Gilbert, an RWA Daphne du Maurier Award winner and 2-time ECPA Christy Award finalist, enjoys writing contemporary mysteries with unpredictable twists, much like the Agatha Christie books she read growing up. She also writes Viking historicals. Her novels feature small towns, family relationships, and women who aren’t afraid to protect those they love. Find out more at heatherdaygilbert.com.

Top 10 Tuesday — What’s Your Favorite Color?

2 Jul

I am pretty partial to pink. I even had a house once that was painted pink (kind of a salmon color) and had pink carpet. It was the 80s, what can I say? While I don’t do pink decorating anymore, I am drawn to pink clothing. And I am getting pink streaks in my hair next week (the previous pink streaks washed out too quickly). So it is only fitting that I spotlight books with pink covers, girls in pink dresses, or pink in the titles! Let me know what you think of my choices. Books, not hair color. 😉

For more colorful blogger lists, check out That Arty Reader Girl.

Top 10 Pink-ish Books!

A Beauty So Rare by Tamera Alexander

Betsy: Miss Grumps Don’t Fall for Mr. Sunshines by Sarah Monzon

The Heart Between Us by Lindsay Harrel

A Heart Most Worthy by Siri Mitchell

The Key to Love by Betsy St. Amant

My Phony Valentine by Courtney Walsh

The Pink Bonnet by Liz Tolsma

Sweet on You by Becky Wade

Tickled Pink by Debby Mayne

The Trouble with Love by Toni Shiloh

Top 10 Tuesday — More Randomness

30 Apr

Happy Tuesday! Today’s TTT topic is petty reasons to DNF a book (did not finish). I am more apt to have petty excuses to DNS a book (did not start 🙂 ), so I am going off topic yet again and pulling random books from my shelves that still need to be read. If you have suggestions on which for me to read, please, please speak up! LOL!

For more on topic bloggers’ lists, check out That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Random Books from My Shelves

Catching The Wind by Melanie Dobson

Change of Heart by Courtney Walsh

Conspiracy of Silence by Ronie Kendig

Love in A Broken Vessel by Mesu Andrews

The Metropolitan Affair by Jocelyn Green

Outbreak by Davis Bunn

The Rose And The Thistle by Laura Frantz

A Sacred Duty by Rhona Weaver

Snow Day by Billy Coffey

Waiting on Love by Tracie Peterson

Spotlight On Mystery/Supense — The Vanished

17 Apr

The Vanished JustRead Takeover + Review Blitz

Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for The Vanished by Cara Putman hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About The Book

The Vanished

Title: The Vanished
Series: Secrets to Keep #1
Author: Cara Putman
Publisher: Kregel Publications
Release Date: April 16, 2024
Genre: Christian Mystery & Suspense

Janae Simmons left the small town of Kedgewick, Virginia, ten years ago to pursue her legal career and never looked back–until a professional mistake leads her to her grandmother’s historic carriage house and to the town where her past threatens to find her. The quiet streets echo with her grandfather’s sterling reputation, one that conflicts with fresh questions that claw at Janae, launching her on a reluctant journey to unearth his secrets. When her new job at a local law firm doesn’t live up to expectations, she wonders if coming home was the right decision.

Carter Montgomery starts his art preservation career with the only job he can get–director at the Elliott Museum of Art. At least Kedgewick is a nice enough town to provide him and his nephew with a safe place to grieve the loss of Carter’s sister. But Carter’s calm days disappear when an elderly woman claims two paintings in the museum’s collection were stolen from her family during World War II.

Carter enlists Janae’s help to unravel the legal labyrinth of art ownership, and the peaceful facade of Kedgewick morphs into a hot bed of secrets. When an attorney turns up dead and Janae uncovers another painting, what began as a simple legal issue spirals into a race against time. As the web of intrigue tightens, the duo must confront a looming question: What dark truths lie beneath the surface, waiting to be exposed?

“Putman’s legal expertise shines in this compelling and intricately plotted romantic suspense. Highly recommended!”

Colleen Coble, USA Today best-selling author

“Cara Putman has once again created an exciting cast of characters. I was immediately drawn in by Janae and Carter’s unique chemistry. This is one story you don’t want to miss.”

Rebecca Hemlock, award-winning author of Fury in the Shadows

Excerpt

She spent the short drive into downtown Kedgewick clearing her mind and steeling herself for the night. If she pretended she were about to enter the courtroom rather than an art gallery, maybe it wouldn’t feel so excruciating to wonder what the people who knew her as a teen thought of her now. It shouldn’t matter, but she’d left Kedgewick all those years ago to get a fresh start, and many might delight that she’d returned. And now she found that the in-your-face antagonism of the courtroom was preferable to the hidden barbs of “friends.” Still, part of her wished she were parking near the courthouse rather than on the edge of Monroe College. The courtroom had become her second home in the five years since law school. She hadn’t darkened the doors of Monroe College’s museum since finishing an art appreciation paper during Thanksgiving break of her junior year at Purdue. It felt like a lifetime ago, but the Virginia-limestone facade of the three-story museum sat unchanged, with couples walking up the steps and across the covered portico to the double doors. Now she was headed to some fancy event here—something she’d never done before. Light spilled from the museum each time one of the large front doors opened.

(pg 14)



PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook | Bookshop | BookBub

More Books in Series

We Three Kings


About The Author

Cara Putman

Cara Putman is the award-winning, best-selling author of more than thirty-five novels, including the Cornhusker Dreams series and the Hidden Justice series.

Connect with Cara by visiting caraputman.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.


Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a signed copy of the book, art-themed notebooks, and stickers that inspired the art stolen in the book!

The Vanished JustRead Giveaway

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight April 17, 2024 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on April 24, 2024. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

Enter Giveaway


Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

JustRead Publicity Tours

Book Review: Night Falls On Predicament Avenue

11 Apr

About The Book

Book: Night Falls on Predicament Avenue

Author: Jaime Jo Wright

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Release Date: April 9, 2024

In 1910, Effie James is living a dream for two. Her younger sister is harboring a secret that has left timid Effie determined to fulfill her daring sister’s grand plan of seeking out adventure in their small Iowa town. When a British gentleman arrives, disrupting their peace with efforts to find the wife many claim lived her final days at the now abandoned house at 322 Predicament Avenue, Effie is thrust into intrigue she couldn’t have prepared for. But what she finds inside will forever link her to the scandal staining the house’s walls and to a woman whose secrets promise a curse.

A century later, Norah Richman is living out her late-twin’s dream of running their great aunt’s bed-and-breakfast on Predicament Avenue–a place Norah believes nothing good can come out of after her sister’s abduction and murder thirteen years ago. Her first guest is a crime historian and podcaster, and Norah resolves to stay far away from the charming and enigmatic man–until another guest is found dead. As they dig deeper, something sinister unfurls that will reveal an ominous unknown far greater than the possibility of death itself.

Click here to get your copy!

My Impressions:

Jaime Jo Wright is a go-to author for suspense with a serious creep factor. Night Falls on Predicament Avenue is her latest dual timeline novel. It kept me guessing from the beginning, and I could’t figure out how Wright was going to bring this delicious ghost story to a real world conclusion. In this instance it would be good to remember that innocence should never be overestimated. The 4 main characters — the historical mains and the modern-day mains — are flawed, complex, and thoroughly relatable. Hope and fear are two key themes in the twisting plot. All four MCs found much to fear and much to hope for. I like that Wright can take a scary story and shine a light to reveal God’s hand. I usually have a favorite story thread when it comes to dual timeline novels, but both were equally compelling, and I found myself turning the pages at an ever increasing rate to find out just what in the world was going on! Fans of mystery and suspense will not be disappointed with Night Falls on Predicament Avenue. It is another great book by the queen of gothic inspirational fiction.

Highly recommended.

Audience: Adults.

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

About The Author

Jaime Jo, the coffee-fueled and cat-fancier extraordinaire, has entwined her life with the legendary Captain Hook, residing serenely in Wisconsin’s rural woodlands.

Her literary vocation involves penning Gothic tales, a baffling change from that of Austenites, with a preference to the master of dark, Edgar Allan Poe.

More from Jaime Jo

True crime did NOT just become popular in this century! Scour the old newspapers for a full and detailed telling of the latest crime. That’s how I got the idea for Night Falls on Predicament Avenue! Yes! I read an old newspaper article from the late 1800’s in which they described in quite delectable detail, the crime scene of a murder in a house with questionable history. That being said, it’s also important to note, that forensics DID just recently become popular in the last 50-100 years. In the 1800’s, if you were murdered, it was common for your neighbor to tour and trample over your crime scene out of curiosity and/or the hope they might be of service in solving the crime. More likely than not, they were merely wanna-be podcast listeners of true crime shows simply born too early for that technological advancement.

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 10

Devoted To Hope, April 10

By The Book, April 11

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, April 11

Inspired by Fiction, April 12

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 12

Texas Book-aholic, April 13

Blossoms and Blessings, April 13

Locks, Hooks and Books, April 14

Blogging With Carol, April 14

Betti Mace, April 15

JESUS in the EVERYDAY, April 15

Live. Love. Read., April 16

For Him and My Family, April 16

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, April 17 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, April 17

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, April 18

Holly’s Book Corner, April 18

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 19

Tell Tale Book Reviews, April 20

Sylvan Musings, April 20

Bigreadersite , April 21

Back Porch Reads, April 21

Lily’s Corner, April 22

Simple Harvest Reads, April 22 (Guest Review from Mindy)

Becca Hope: Book Obsessed, April 23

Denise L. Barela, April 23

The Lofty Pages, April 23

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Jaime Jo is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 gift card to Baker Book House in Grand Rapids, MI and an autographed copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/2af9e/night-falls-on-predicament-avenue-celebration-tour-giveaway