NEW RELEASE BOOK REVIEW - and a giveaway!

Marji Laine here. 

I was recently doubly gifted. First, I was able to meet a favorite author and a dear online friend, Nancy Mehl. (Had fabulous Mexican food as well, but that's beside the point!) I so enjoyed chatting and laughing with her! Then I was honored to receive a signed copy of her not-yet-released suspense, SHATTERED SANCTUARY. 

Well, lemme tell you: it is available now, and oh so good. Creepy Good! And the little shiver down my spine began with the opening poem. You need to read that poem! You can see it through Amazon's "Read Sample" option that shows under the book cover on the BUY PAGE HERE.

Her two main characters, Erin (ex-cop turned author) and Kaely (former FBI), have worked online together on Erin's blockbuster best-seller and decide to take a needed break and meet in person in a quiet, peaceful little town of Sanctuary in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. Seems placid enough, but the two of them together make a dynamite team when a murder is discovered. Especially when the police begin to suspect a serial killer. 

This story is a psychological suspense with one perspective an expert on crime scenes and gifted with amazing skills at observation. The other perspective is a profiler with unique instincts and processes. I just ate up the discussions these gals had! 

And there is quite a twisted mystery here. Even though the readers are given all of the information as it comes to the main characters, it's hard to wade through, especially with multiple suspects on the table. With the help of the unique skills of Kaely and Erin, the resolution reveals itself in baby-step increments. But this is a true suspense. I felt like I held my breath throughout the whole thing, anticipating another death any minute. It felt like it teetered on next page turn. 

This is definitely a five-star Christian suspense with a strong redemptive message and peril in every chapter. I could so see this as a movie, thinking along the lines of some of the Hallmark Movies and Mysteries mixed with episodes of Criminal Minds. 

Here's a little about the book and you can click the cover for a direct buy link at Amazon.

Was this the last thing she'd ever see? Would she be able to make things right before it was too late?
"God . . ." was all she got out before he lunged toward her.

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.

Shattered Sanctuary is a clean, Christian, thrilling suspense novel set in the Smoky Mountains, full of police investigations, haunted woods, eerie threats, and ominous evidence. For fans of high-stakes suspense, Lynette Eason, and Elizabeth Goddard.

In the past two weeks, I've also read 2 of the Security Hounds Investigations by Dana Mentink and 3 of the Lantern Beach Guardian books by Christy Barritt. I've reviewed them on my blog at MarjiLaine.com, but I mention them because I'm wondering about you. What is the most recent mystery or suspense that you've read? Share the title/author with me in the comments (ALONG WITH YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS) for a chance to win a paperback copy of Nancy's new book (no, not my autographed copy 😉). And this is only for US residents.