Category Archives: Mystery and Suspense Titles

The Inn At Shadow Lake

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The Inn At Shadow Lake (Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense #36)

The Inn At Shadow Lake by the late Janet Edgar

If someone proposed to you years ago, and you refused, could you see yourself dating that person years later?

Zach and Julie dated in college and when he asked Julie to marry him, she refused, angering Zach. He stormed off on his Harley, not giving Julie a chance to explain why she’d said no.

Now, a number of years later, Julie is stunned when Jack miraculously appears at her inn. He’s the “mystery man” who’s made reservations to stay at her establishment for a lengthy time. Unbeknownst to Julie, Zack is a special agent, seeking a deadly terrorist ring and Julie is a prime suspect.

As part of the ruse, Jack needs to pump Julie for information about one of her “beaus”. He romances Julie, asking questions, however, while romancing her, he finds those dormant feelings of love resurfacing. But his gut is telling him that Julie is innocent, however, he wonders…why hasn’t she mentioned that her groundskeeper was murdered? Is she somehow responsible for his death?

Julie finds herself falling for Zach and her daughter Emmie is smitten with him, too. Since her husband has died, she’s been lonely, and Zach fills a special place, deep in her heart. She senses that Zach is hurting and she wonders what has happened to him since their huge breakup in college.

This book was a good shorter book that you can read in about a day or so. The suspenseful moments keep you guessing until the very end. I enjoyed reading about the classy, secluded inn. It’s a great setting for a good suspenseful story. Both Zach and Julie have been hurt in the past, and they need to learn to rely on God, first and foremost, to help them through their troubles. Overall, this was a nice, inspirational story that wasn’t too preachy.

So, if someone proposed to you years ago, and you refused, could you see yourself dating that person years later?

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~Cecelia Dowdy~

Double Blind By Brandilyn Collins – Review And Book Giveaway

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Double Blind

Double Blind by Brandilyn Collins

***I’m giving away one copy of Double Blind. To be entered into the giveaway, you must read my review and ANSWER THE following QUESTION:

If you were suffering from severe depression, and were offered a unique cure, a computer chip implanted into your brain to cure your depression, would you do it? Keep in mind that the chip implantation would include brain surgery. Also comment about why you would or would not do this.

Lisa Newberry is battling a deep, dark depression. Her husband was recently killed in a car accident, a short time later she was mugged, and before her husband died, she suffered from multiple miscarriages. Lisa feels she has no hope, so, when a company, Cognoscenti, offers help, she decides to be a part of their new trial study. The study requires Lisa to have a chip implanted into her brain. This new brain chip supposedly offers a “cure” for her depression.

Desperate, she agrees to the terms, which require her to have brain surgery. There’s no guarantee that the chip will help her depression – it’s possible that Lisa will be implanted with a placebo. After the surgery, Lisa feels much better, realizing the chip has “cured” her depression. However, while still in the hospital, recuperating from surgery, Lisa begins having strange dreams and visions – she sees images of a woman being murdered. Are these images just nightmares, or, is she really seeing visions of a real person being murdered?

Determined, Lisa storms into the Cognoscenti offices, wanting to know what they’ve done to her, demanding answers.

Lisa continues to be plagued with these visions and, her mother arrives, offering to help Lisa. Lisa’s relationship with her mother is strained, and she’s not sure if she wants her mother to help her right now. Her best friend, Sherri, also offers assistance to Lisa.

I could easily tell that this was a Brandilyn Collins book. The woman seeing the visions of the murder kind of reminded me of Collins’ book, Eyes Of Elisha. This book kept you guessing until the very end, and it was deeply suspenseful and chilling. It was a quick, page-turning, enjoyable read. There were so many unexpected things happening in this book – you’ll be surprised when you read it.

Amidst all this turmoil, Lisa realizes she needs to stop and think and evaluate her relationship with God, where does she stand with Him?

So, if you were suffering from severe depression, and were offered a unique cure, a computer chip implanted into your brain to cure your depression, would you do it? Leave a comment with your response in order to be entered into the drawing! Don’t forget to leave your email address so that I can contact you if you win!

26525EB

~Cecelia Dowdy~

The Deposit Slip by Todd M. Johnson

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The Deposit Slip by Todd M. Johnson

What would you do if a deceased relative left you with a 10-million-dollar deposit slip? Would you wonder what happened to all that cash?

I thought the premise for this novel was very exciting. After Erin Larson’s father dies, she goes through his safe deposit box at the bank. Erin is shocked when she finds a deposit slip for ten million dollars. However, the bank claims to have no record of the deposit, and they claim the bank account does not exist.

Erin is determined to find out what’s happened to this money. She attempts to hire a lawyer to take on her case – she hires several since most of the lawyers are scared off of the case due to some legal reasons. Meanwhile, her life is in danger – people in her small town want to stop her from bringing her case to trial.  Her car is vandalized, but, she refuses to give up.

Meanwhile, due to a tip, Erin is able to find a lawyer, Jared Neaton. Jared left his large law firm to form his own law practice, and, so far, his practice has not been successful. The bills are piling up and he can barely pay his legal secretary’s salary. In spite of Erin’s wild, shot-in-the-dark case, he feels compelled to represent her, even though he knows he may lose, and risk losing even more money than he has to spare.

When Jared returns to his small hometown as Erin’s lawyer, the ghosts from his past haunt him. He’s forced to face the problems he’s had with his ex-con father since he’s now living in his dad’s home. Jared’s faith has also diminished, and he has not been to church in years.

Like I said, I found the premise of this book to be intriguing because I usually enjoy reading novels involving money and financial matters. Although the plot was good, I found it hard to connect with the characters. I’m not sure why. I thought the story was well-written, so, it’s probably just one of those quirky things about my taste in novels. Although I “kinda” was interested in finding out what happened next in the book, I just didn’t get emotionally involved with the story. When I read a book, I want it to elicit some type of emotion from me, and I just couldn’t seem to get to that point with this novel.

However, I could imagine lots of people enjoying this book. So, if you like mystery and suspense titles, then, you should give this one a try. Many thanks to Bethany House for providing me with a free review copy.

So, what would you do if a deceased relative left you with a 10-million-dollar deposit slip? Would you search for the money?

~Cecelia Dowdy~

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Eyes Of Elisha – From The Blog Archives

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My husband recently asked me for book recommendations. Knowing his reading taste, I immediately recommended Brandilyn Collins. I told him to read Eyes Of Elisha. I read this book several years ago and I was hooked from the first page! I think one reason that I was drawn to this book so much was because it had such a strong suspenseful thread – there’s a murder involved. Also, the main character, Chelsea, has the gift of prophecy. Here’s what I originally said in my review for this novel: A chilling winner! This book was so suspenseful! The story just grabbed me from the beginning and I barely put the book down for two days. If you want to read a gripping, intriguing story then this book is for you! I highly recommend it!

My husband loved the book and I was able to recommend other works by Brandilyn Collins to him.

Do you know of any other Christian fiction titles that have prophets as the main characters? If so, tell me the titles and the authors. Also, have you read Eyes of Elisha? If so, leave a comment and let me know if you liked it.

Below is a summary of the book, from christianbook.com:

Chelsea Adams lives in the fast-paced Silicon Valley area of California. She’s wife to Paul, a successful entrepreneur, and mother to their two sons. Chelsea is a Christian with the unusual gift of visions. These insights from God have helped her pray for people and have led her to save others from harm. But never has she experienced a vision like the one she “sees” during a business dinner with her husband and their prospective new vice-president of marketing, Gavil Harrison. Invited to dinner to check out the new prospect, Chelsea goes into a spiritual state in which she sees the murder of a young women. After the vision, when she comes back to consciousness, she looks into Gavil’s eyes and experiences a terrifying moment of recognition: she’s certain that he’s the killer she saw. But who will believe her? Certainly not her non-Christian husband, who wants to hire this man to work by his side. Nor the police, who must rely on hard evidence. Only one person might believe her-the murderer himself. There are plenty of twists and turns of plot right up to the end of this edge-of your-seat thriller.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Submerged by Dani Pettrey

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Submerged by Dani Pettrey

Have you ever read a book and thought, “This would make a good movie?” Well, that’s how I felt about Submerged. While I was reading, I kept thinking that this novel should be placed upon the silver screen.

When Bailey Craig returns to her small Alaskan town of Yancey for her Aunt Agnes’s funeral, she stumbles upon a mystery. Her aunt was the passenger in a small plane that went down into the water. It appears that the plane’s fate was NOT an accident. As Bailey stays in her aunt’s store, The Post, she looks for clues as to why somebody may want her aunt dead.

She also comes into contact with Cole, her old high-school boyfriend. Bailey loved Cole all those years ago, however, she was not good enough for him. Known as being an easy lay, her reputation with the town made it impossible to accept Cole’s love. She breaks his heart, leaving Yancey, never to return until her Aunt Agnes dies.

When Bailey returns to Yancey, Cole is stunned to see her. Still beautiful, he longs to get to know her again, surprised to discover that his love for her has not died after all these years. He finds himself wanting to protect Bailey from the unjust comments from the town’s men – some have not forgotten about Bailey’s lewd high school reputation, and the taunting remarks deeply hurt Bailey’s feelings.

Cole and Bailey work together, along with the Yancey police force, to solve the mystery of the downed plane. People are murdered in the small, quiet town, making the townspeople leery. Tourism is a big draw to Yancey and hopefully the town’s livelihood won’t be affected once news of the murders has been leaked. Cole and Bailey recall their younger years as they dive together, trying to piece together the clues that will assist them in solving the mystery. Time is of the essence – they need to figure out the identity of the murderer before other victims are claimed.

Bailey struggles with her deep feelings for Cole. She loves him, and loves the deep camaraderie and affection he shows for his family. Craving a deep family relationship, Bailey wonders if she’ll ever fit into Cole’s loving family. An only child, she’s never had a healthy relationship with her immediate kin. She was abandoned by her mother when she was a teen and she’s always felt like an odd duck, left out of deep family relationships.

Two diaries, an orb, Russian royalty, and an undersea Alaskan town all play into this unique plot that will keep you turning the pages.

I really enjoyed this book! I also loved how Bailey and Cole were still in love after all those years. The attraction between the two of them was deep and soothing, making you crave to see them work through their issues. This book shows that we need to freely accept God’s grace for our sins and not hold onto past hurts and pains – accepting God’s love with no boundaries can prove to be a blessing.

Many thanks to Bethany House for providing me with a free review copy.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

 

Cooking The Books by Bonnie S. Calhoun

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Cooking The Books by Bonnie S. Calhoun

Sloane Templeton is grieving. Her mother recently died and she’s now the owner of her deceased mom’s bookstore. Sloane never considered herself “into” books, but all of that changes when she leaves her Cyber Crime job to work in the store. A strange cast of characters lurk in the store, including Barbara, a crazy woman who has terrible mood swings and Fifi, the elderly store manager who was also her mother’s friend. Barbara is currently homeless, and appears to find solace spending time in the store with her laptop.

Sloane’s life is full of drama – her ex-boyfriend, Trey, who’s also a gangster, is having a hard time accepting that she’s now involved with a White Greek man, Andreas. Trey’s threatening nature intensifies, making Sloane fear for her safety. Also, somebody wants Sloane dead. When scary, cryptic messages start showing up on the computers in the bookstore, she tries to find the source of the problem by relying on her computer skills as well as the skills from her old co-workers. Also, Sloane receives a special delivery of a smelly dead rat. The mystery intensifies when two men fight over purchasing an ancient, mystical book in Sloane’s possession. This mysterious book was acquired by her mother and having this book causes more turmoil in her complicated life.

When her fears worsen, she learns to shoot with a group of old people who often come to her store, but rarely read or buy books. The Granny Oakley Club escort Sloane to the shooting range, since she’s extremely dangerous handling a gun since she doesn’t know how to shoot.

In small snippets of comic relief, Sloane finds herself playing referee to her Aunt Verline. Aunt Verline can’t cook, and the few times she does, it turns into a disaster! The food is never edible and the fire department has made several trips to Verline’s house since she manages to burn down her kitchen when she tries to cook!

I really enjoyed this mystery. Sloane is a strong woman, but, I don’t think she initially realizes the depth of her strength. Like most Christians, she’s made some bad choices in her life, choices that come back to haunt her. The book leaves you wanting to read more mysteries starring Sloane Templeton.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Predator By Terri Blackstock

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Predator by Terri Blackstock
Krista Carmichael wants to capture her sister’s murderer. Krista’s fourteen-year-old sister, Ella, was murdered by one of her friends on Grapevyne (a fictional site that’s similar to Facebook). She sets up a fake identity, posing as a teen, so that she can hopefully befriend the man who killed her sister. Meanwhile, her father, David, seeks revenge in his own way. He starts targeting male members at his church, wondering if some of the men in his congregation could’ve been Ella’s killer.

Krista finally targets Ryan Atkins, the person who invented Grapevyne. Can’t he make changes to ensure his site is safe for teens? Ryan suffers from fallout when Krista makes these demands, meanwhile, the killer is still on the loose, targeting other girls to kill.

This was a simple read that you could probably finish in a day or so. As with Terri Blackstock’s usual suspenseful style, there are times when you may get scared while reading the story. It was kind of hard for me to read this book because of the subject matter. It bothered me (a little bit) that it dealt with the death of a young teen. I guess I felt that way because I have a child, and I’d hate to see what the grief would do to me if something happened to him. Krista’s and David’s grief was very raw and fresh. It was extremely difficult for them to deal with their loss.

Overall, a good book. If you enjoy Blackstock’s writing, then you’ll enjoy this story.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

When Rain Falls by Tyora Moody

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When Rain Falls by Tyora Moody

I wanted to mention a book that I thought sounded interesting. I just downloaded this novel on my Kindle. The story sounds deeply emotional and suspenseful. Have you read this novel, if so, did you enjoy it? Even if you haven’t read the book, I invite you to share your thoughts about the story line. Also, be sure to check out those amazing reviews on Amazon!

Why does God keep taking away the people I love?”

This is the lamentation of widow CANDACE JOHNSON when her best friend is brutally murdered. Ensnared by a deep-rooted bitterness, seeping her faith day by day, Candace is determined to seek justice.

Detective Darnell Jackson is in need of clues fast. The police captain is coming down hard on him and his partner to find out who murdered Pamela Coleman, the daughter of a high profile judge. Darnell confers with Candace to get the inside track on events leading up to the murder. As the investigation heats up, his growing attraction for Candace plays havoc on Darnell’s judgment.

Little does she know, Candace’s quest to find the truth has led her straight to the killer. She’s already lost loved ones. Now Candace must choose to completely trust God with her own life.

Doesn’t this sound like a deeply intriguing story?
~Cecelia Dowdy~

The Baker’s Wife By Erin Healy

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The Baker’s Wife by Erin Healy

How would you feel if you were unfairly kicked out of your church, due to false information given by one of your congregation members?

That’s what happens in The Baker’s Wife.

This was an intriguing, unusual and enjoyable read. Audrey and her husband, Geoff, are now running a bakery in their town. Due to a scandalous event, Geoff has been unfairly removed from his role as pastor of his church. Audrey and Geoff open a bakery to make a living. Due to the chain of events, their son, Ed, has lost his college scholarship and is now forced to live at home with his parents, assisting them in the bakery.

Jack, a bitter, demented police officer still holds Geoff’s family in contempt – he mistakenly blames Geoff for “supporting” Jack’s daughter, Miralee’s, abortion. When Jack’s wife, Julie, mysteriously vanishes, and Audrey is at the scene of the accident, Jack mistakenly accuses Geoff’s family for “kidnapping” his wife. Jack’s vengenace consumes him and he takes matters into his own hands – he’s desperate to find his wife and he makes some drastic decisions that result in a traumatic experience for Audrey’s family.

Audrey has a strange holy gift – she can feel the emotions and physical illnesses of certain people. She discovers that she has a connection to Jack’s wife, Julie. She finds that she has to call upon this gift to help locate Jack’s wife when Jack resorts to even more insane measures to make her family suffer.

This novel also has another interesting secondary character, Diane, who’s in her early forties and has just been released from prison. When she returns to her hometown, she finds herself suddenly enmeshed with Geoff’s and Audrey’s bakery while she tries to solve her own problems. She’s determined to find a diamond necklace that was instrumental in landing her into prison for 20+ years.

Overall, I enjoyed this story. The suspense factor was high and it was the first book I’ve ever read by Erin Healy. I also enjoyed reading about the daily life in a bakery…kinda made me want to don an apron and bake a few loaves of fresh, tasty bread!

Have you read this book? If so, what did you think about it?

~Cecelia Dowdy~

A Texas Christmas Mystery!

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A Texas Christmas Mystery – currently only 99 cents on Kindle!

A lady Coastguardsman searches for a killer. An oil rig troubleshooter accused of murder races to clear his name. The murderer strives to silence them both.
Sparks fly as Amber Meredith seeks to arrest Derrick Darbonne. She needs to solve her first case, but the handsome Cajun suspect makes her heart race and her toes tingle.
Derrick has worked all his life for his high-paying, adventurous job. When the past threatens his future, will he endanger the woman he loves in order to save himself?


This was an enjoyable, intriguing and mysterious read. Amber is determined to solve her first case. She’s in the Coast Guard, and she’s very focused on making it in her career – she even has a five-year career plan and nothing, including romance, can cloud her dreams for success.

Derrick is struggling with hurt feelings from his childhood. Abandoned by his mother, he has not had a lot of female interaction over the years. He’s leery of love, but can’t resist his attraction to beautiful Amber.

Meanwhile a killer is on the loose, and it appears that Derrick is being framed for the murder. He’s forced to defend himself by trying to find the real culprit. However, his actions could place Amber in danger. Amber is stubborn, and she refuses to leave Derrick’s side as she attempts to solve the mystery.

Strong romantic tension as well as suspense make this a wonderful Christmas read!

~Cecelia Dowdy~