SUSPENSE SISTERS: APRIL GIVEAWAY

Suspense Sisters: April Giveaway

Villains Who Don’t Think They’re Villains!

 There’s a moment in every suspense story when the truth shifts.

Not for the reader—but for the villain.

Because the most chilling antagonists aren’t the ones who revel in chaos. They’re the ones who look at their choices… and believe they’re justified.

Maybe even necessary.

And that’s where things get dangerous.

As writers, we spend a lot of time getting to know our heroes—their fears, their wounds, their hopes. But if we stop there, our stories fall flat.

Because villains have stories too.

The most compelling antagonists are driven by a belief. A core truth they’ve built their actions around. It might be rooted in pain. Or loss. Or a moment when something in them broke and never healed quite right.

The world is cruel, so I have to be crueler.
No one protected me, so I’ll take control.
This is the only way to make things right.

They don’t see themselves as evil. They see themselves as the solution.

It’s easy to label a character as “bad” and move on. But true suspense lives in the gray spaces.

When a villain has a clear motivation—even one we don’t agree with—it adds a layer of tension that goes beyond surface danger. Suddenly, the reader isn’t just wondering what will happen next…

They’re asking: Could this person have been different?

That question lingers. Because sometimes, the line between hero and villain isn’t as wide as we’d like to believe. The villains who believe they are right are often the hardest to stop.

They don’t hesitate. They don’t question what they’re doing. They don’t see another path forward.

A villain who knows they’re wrong might pause while a villain who believes they’re justified moves forward with conviction—no matter who gets hurt along the way.

When I was writing Unsolved Amish Abduction, this idea stayed with me constantly. The danger in that story doesn’t come from chaos. It comes from someone who believes their actions are warranted. Necessary, even. That belief shapes everything. It’s what allows them to wait. To plan their revenge and act on it without hesitation.

And perhaps the most unsettling thing of all is that it’s what allows them to look at the past not as something to regret, but something to finish.

I think part of what makes these villains so compelling—and so unsettling—is how human they feel. Because if we’re honest, we all justify our choices at times. We all tell ourselves stories about why we’re right.

Most of us never cross the lines these characters do. But that thread of self-justification is something we recognize. And recognition creates connection—even when we don’t want it to.

When I’m creating an antagonist, I don’t start with what they’ve done. I start with what they believe has been done to them. Because once I understand that, then everything else falls into place. Their actions, their choices, the way they interact with the world around them. And sometimes, that’s when a story takes an unexpected turn. Because the villain isn’t just a threat anymore. They’re a person who made one wrong choice followed by another until there was no way back.

The scariest villains aren’t the ones hiding in the shadows. They’re the ones who step into the light fully convinced they’re doing what’s right.

And in suspense, that kind of certainty can be more dangerous than any weapon.

For a chance to win an e-book copy of Unsolved Amish Abduction, tell me, do you find villains more unsettling when you understand why they do what they do… or when their motives remain a mystery?

Please remember to include your email address so that I can get the book to you!

Until next time….

Happy reading!

 

Mary Alford

Mothers and Daughters

Sharon Dunn here. One of the themes of my new Love Inspired book that comes out at the end of April, Tracking the Taken Child, is the bond between mother and daughter. Writing this book made me think about my own mother Mary Ellen, so I dedicated the book to her. My mother won't see the dedication. In fact, by the time my first book was published, she had already died from cancer in her early fifties. And yet, even after all these years, I feel the bond between us, that tug of emotion. 

Like all people my mother was a collection of contradictions. My mother loved nature and working in her garden. She also loved children. She had seven of them and wanted to adopt more when the doctor told her another birth would be too dangerous. Despite my father's alcoholism, I think my mother worked hard to give us a save, secure childhood. She read me stories, taught me how to sew and we built a dollhouse together. The dollhouse has long since been lost, but I still have the furniture for it. My mother could be my greatest cheerleader but also a critical remark from her could hurt. I feel deep sorrow that she didn't get to see that I became a published author. She would have been proud. I wish too that she could have lived to be a part of my children's lives. She would have been a wonderful grandmother. My mother gave me many gifts. I know that I learned money management and how to be frugal from her. I think my own connection to nature where I sense God's presence the most was through the example she set. I don't think even death can break the mother daughter bond. 

When you think of your mother, what comes to mind? I'd love to hear about who your mom was to you. Leave a comment with your email address, I'll be giving away five copies of Tracking the Taken Child (USA only).   

 

WHAT'S HOT in Inspirational Suspense and Mystery

 Marji Laine here. 

We have some EXTRA-special today, and it begins with a note from our Suspense Sister Author Mary Alford: 

What stayed with me most while writing Unsolved Amish Abduction was the idea that some wounds don’t fade with time…they simply wait in the shadows. This story is about a woman who survived the unthinkable, only to realize years later that the past she escaped may not be finished with her.

But what makes it even more personal—and more haunting—is the question Anna’s carried with her all these years: what really happened to her sister? Many believed Constance was dead, yet Anna never stopped hoping. That desperate need for answers becomes the driving force behind every risk she takes, even when it means stepping back into the very darkness she once fled.

Beneath the suspense, Unsolved Amish Abduction is a story of courage, second chances, and the kind of hope that refuses to let go—even in the darkest places.

For Him. Always. 

Mary

---

Unsolved Amish Abduction 

by Mary Alford (Author)

The mystery of her sister’s disappearance
could reveal some deadly answers…

An anonymous letter containing her missing sister’s bracelet lures Anna Hartzler back to her Amish hometown—and into a trap set by the kidnapper she escaped years ago. She’s rescued from another abduction by Jaxson Thomas, her former neighbor turned police officer. Now Anna must depend on Jaxson to protect her and her little girl, who he doesn’t know is his child. But as the threats grow, can he keep them safe long enough to identify and catch the culprit—before this enemy sets his sights on their daughter?

From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.

Get your copy HERE! 

THIS WEEK ON THE SUSPENSE SISTERS

We have exciting things planned for you this week on the Suspense Sisters!

On Tuesday, Suspense Sister Marji Laine will tell us what’s hot in inspirational suspense and mystery.

Wednesday, we’ll hear from author Sharon Dunn. She’ll being giving away some pre-release copies of her upcoming book, TRACKING THE TAKEN CHILD. She’ll also be talking about motherhood – and in particular – her own mother.

TRACKING THE TAKEN CHILD

A little girl has vanished… Can a K-9 team find her?

Preschool teacher Lydia Caldwell’s peaceful day in the Rockies becomes her most harrowing nightmare when she’s pushed over a mountain ledge and her three-year-old daughter is abducted. Lydia must now entrust her life and her child’s fate to K-9 Officer River Jameson and his yellow Lab partner, Frankie. As the danger escalates and the trail grows colder by the second, River and Frankie work tirelessly to track down the kidnapper. Is the culprit Lydia’s ex…or is someone from her past seeking revenge? Will River’s skill and Frankie’s instincts save an innocent child—and protect Lydia from the elusive criminal targeting her?

PREORDER IT HERE 

Friday, author Mary Alford will be talking about villains who don't think they are villains. She’s also giving away a copy of her book, UNSOLVED AMISH ABDUCTION.

The mystery of her sister’s disappearance
could reveal some deadly answers…

An anonymous letter containing her missing sister’s bracelet lures Anna Hartzler back to her Amish hometown—and into a trap set by the kidnapper she escaped years ago. She’s rescued from another abduction by Jaxson Thomas, her former neighbor turned police officer. Now Anna must depend on Jaxson to protect her and her little girl, who he doesn’t know is his child. But as the threats grow, can he keep them safe long enough to identify and catch the culprit—before this enemy sets his sights on their daughter?

ORDER IT HERE 

Don’t forget to enter our monthly contest!

THE SUSPENSE SISTERS

WE LOVE BOOKS

Sit Down with Author Jerusha Agen about Special Target

Kristen here. I'm thrilled to welcome my friend and author Jerusha Agen back to the Suspense Sisters to talk about her latest release, Special Target. She's giving away one copy of the book, so keep reading to the end to learn how to enter the giveaway.

Jerusha, thank you for joining me on the blog today! What sparked the first seed of this story—an image, a question, a character, or a “what if” moment?

The spark of inspiration for Special Target was actually more like a flame or a blazing fire! I’ve never in my life had such a powerful leading from the Lord to write a story and such clear inspiration for what to write.

This amazing moment happened when I watched a documentary film from Joni and Friends titled Christian Royal: In the Potter’s Hands. The documentary told the true story of Christian Royal, a boy with Down syndrome whose pottery became well-known and highly valued in the art world. 

The Lord used this film to convict and touch me deeply and to call me to write Special Target, a Christian suspense novel that would convey the intrinsic value of all humans as made in the image of God and the power of God to use hardships for good.

Wow, I love that! Did any real‑life location, person, or experience quietly inspire elements of the plot or setting? If so, how?

Yes! Actually, I believe I included more real-life locations in this book that I’ve personally been to than any of my other novels. Thanks to living not too far from Chicago, I’ve had the chance to explore the city and the surrounding suburbs a lot through the years, including when I visited friends who lived there.

Several of the locales I’ve explored appear in Special Target, though I’ve created my own names for the suburbs to allow for greater fictional license. 

The summer heat and humidity that provides a setting element in this novel was also inspired by one of my visits to Chicago when this cold-weather girl had to endure temps over 100 degrees Fahrenheit with humidity thick enough to suffocate me (at least that’s what it felt like at the time).

If you could step into one scene from the book—not the dangerous ones—where would you go and why?

Well, apparently, I would go to Navy Pier, because I did in real life! The Navy Pier scene in Special Target actually is a dangerous one, but I’m glad nothing scary happened the day I was there. 

I'm glad too! What’s one part of your daily routine that quietly fuels your creativity or keeps you grounded?

Watching movies in the evening with dinner! I’ve found there’s nothing better to fuel my creativity, help me to relax, and even give me story ideas.

What are you working on now?

I’m wrapping up edits for If You Die, a new Christian suspense thriller novel that is slated to appear in a summer anthology later this year. 

Then I’ll jump right into outlining and writing Watched, Book Three in the Windy City Westons romantic suspense series that’s available for preorder now! (Releasing September 24 this year!)

Those projects sound wonderful, too! Where can your readers learn more about you?

Readers can learn more about me and all my books at JerushaAgen.com or my store, JerushaShop.com.

Thank you, Jerusha, for sharing your time and story with us! Keep reading to learn more about Jerusha and how to enter to win a copy of Special Target. 

Jerusha Agen is a Christy Award finalist who imagines danger around every corner but knows God is there, too. So naturally, she writes suspense infused with the hope of salvation in Jesus Christ. 

With a B.A. in English and a background in screenwriting, Jerusha is a speaker, writing instructor, and coach with over twenty years of publishing industry experience.

Jerusha loves to hang out with her big furry dogs and little furry cats. You’ll often find her sharing irresistibly adorable photos of them in her newsletter and on social media.

Get a free suspense story from Jerusha and find more of her redemptive stories at www.JerushaAgen.com.

Now, here's more about Special Target.

She’s trying to save the boy’s life. What if he’s supposed to save hers?

For tough-as-nails Chicago social worker Ashley Sorenson, it’s nothing new to risk her life for hurting children. Seeing innocent kids suffer every day may have made her a little cynical, but she’ll stop at nothing to rescue children from miserable circumstances. 

But Ashley faces a special challenge when Matthew Borden, a sixteen-year-old with Down syndrome, is orphaned. Finding a suitable foster home for the boy becomes the least of her problems when someone starts threatening her and Matthew. 

The sudden appearance of a mysterious FBI agent confirms Ashley’s growing suspicions that Matthew is no ordinary teen. The boy she thought no one wanted is wanted by many…dead or alive.

Dodging danger at every turn, Ashley races to find the secrets that could save Matthew’s life. When the truth unearths her own dark past and threatens more than their lives, the God Matthew trusts may be her only hope for rescue.

The best link for Special Target to find all buying options is: https://jerushaagen.com/books/special-target/ 

For a chance to win one copy of Special Target (paperback for U.S. or ebook for an international winner), leave a comment for Jerusha, and be sure to include your email address. 

***

Congratulations to Debbie P. on winning this giveaway! Thank you to everyone who commented.