Tuesday, July 28, 2026
Wednesday, July 22, 2026
My Top 3 Read of the Summer
I've been reading a lot this summer, and here are my top three reads so far.
3.) Ribbons of Guilt by Laura Thomas
This book had so many unique qualities, but my favorite was the addition of ballet. I don't think I've seen ballet play such a big role in a suspense novel, and Laura Thomas wrote it in beautifully. It felt fresh and different, and I'm excited to read more by this author. Here is a link to Ribbons of Guilt if you want to check it out!
2.) Dark Design by Nancy Mehl
Since I finished reading Shattered Sanctuary, I've been looking forward to the second book in the series. It did not disappoint. The intensity and the twist at the end kept me turning pages. When I came to the end, I wanted more. Thankfully, book three will be releasing soon. Follow the link for more info!
1.) Twilight Tactics by Lynette Eason
I finished this book last week, and I couldn't put it down. The setting and characters were well-written. The suspense made me hold my breath. And the message of the story will stick with me for a while. You won't want to miss this book! It releases on August 4th. Follow the link to learn more.
What books have you read this summer that made the top of your list?
Saturday, July 4, 2026
Wednesday, July 1, 2026
ANNOUNCING THE SUSPENSE SISTERS SUMMER OF SUSPENSE CONTEST!
Later today we'll begin our annual Summer of Suspense Contest! You won't see our usual posts since this contest runs throughout July. Be sure to enter. You could win some great prizes!
The winner of our June contest is Jon Heil! Congratulations, Jon!
Monday, June 29, 2026
WHAT'S HOT in Christian Mystery and Suspense
Marji Laine here.
Newly Republished, this looks like a fun series!
Explosive
Alliance
by Susan Sleeman
puts a killer on her trail.
Finding a time bomb in a packed stadium makes Krista Curry an accidental hero—and marked her for death. Now, the attention could expose her real name and the infamous past she fought to escape. But explosives expert Cash Dixon promises Krista protection from the bomber’s retaliation. Yet she hesitates to trust him as she sees his suspicion about her grow with every question she dodges. As danger escalates, Cash must decide if she’s an innocent woman or guilty accomplice. But the clock is ticking down—and the real bomber is still on the loose…
Don’t miss the other titles in the First Responders series.
- Silent Night Standoff
- High-Caliber Holiday
- Emergency Response
- Silent Sabotage
- Christmas Conspiracy
Friday, June 26, 2026
Moving Day Mysteries: Romantic Suspense Heroes and Heroines Starting Over
Book characters move for a variety of reasons. The same is true in Christian Romantic Suspense. I recently moved from Wyoming to South Dakota, so I thought it would be fun to share a list of "Moving Day Mysteries", Christian romantic suspense novels where the hero or heroine has recently moved to a new location whether that be to buy or inherit a new house, start a new job, or hide from the bad guys ...
One of the quickest ways to make a romantic suspense protagonist vulnerable is to put them somewhere unfamiliar. Whether they're inheriting a long-forgotten house, buying a fixer-upper, relocating for work, or seeking refuge from the past, they begin the story without the safety net of trusted neighbors and established routines. That's exactly when danger likes to strike.
#1- The House on Foster Hill by Jaime Jo Wright
#2- Gazing into Darkness by Heidi Glick
#3 - The Girl Upstairs by Jessica R. Patch
#4- Beneath the Surface by Lynn H. Blackburn
#5- Beneath Copper Falls by Colleen Coble
#6- Secrets at Cedar Cabin by Colleen Coble
#7- Targeted in the Swamp by Kerry Johnson
#8- A Caffeine Conundrum by Angela Ruth Strong (Not romantic suspense, but I loved this series.)
#9- The Curious Inheritance of Blakely House by Joanna Davidson Politano
#10- Cold Light of Day by Elizabeth Goddard
What others would you add?
Giveaway: An eBook copy of my newest release, The Escape Game.
To Enter: Answer this question: Have you ever started over in a new place?
Gina Holder is a Christian award-winning author of romantic
suspense and cozy mysteries filled with faith, intrigue, danger, romance, and
epic twists you'll never see coming.
She’s had an infatuation with books for as long as she can remember. She loves
sharing uplifting messages from God’s Word and introducing readers to new and
new-to-them authors on her blog. When she’s not writing, Gina enjoys playing
the piano, cooking, reading, watching Hallmark mysteries, and solving “escape
room” puzzles. She loves growing in her craft as an author. She published her
debut novel in 2017. Gina lives in Wyoming with her husband and daughter.
Tuesday, June 23, 2026
Secrets Behind the White Picket Fences – Writing Small Town Suspense Stories
When readers think of suspense, they often imagine dark city streets, crowded airports, or remote locations far from civilization.
But some of the most suspenseful
stories happen in the last place anyone expects: a small town.
As a suspense author, I’ve always
been drawn to small-town settings. There’s something uniquely unsettling about
danger arriving in a place that feels safe.
Small towns are built on
familiarity.
People know one another. They attend
the same churches, shop at the same stores, and share generations of history.
Neighbors wave from their front porches. Children grow up together. Families
become woven into the fabric of the community.
On the surface, that sense of
connection creates comfort.
For a suspense writer, however, it
creates opportunity.
Because when everyone knows
everyone, secrets become much harder to hide—and much more dangerous when they
come to light.
In a small town, a crime doesn't
affect strangers. It affects friends. Family members. Neighbors.
The local sheriff may be
investigating someone he grew up with. The witness might be a lifelong friend.
The victim may be someone the entire town loved.
Suddenly, every clue carries
emotional weight.
That's what makes small-town
suspense so compelling.
The setting raises the stakes beyond
solving a crime. The investigation threatens relationships, reputations, and
sometimes the very identity of the community itself.
Another advantage of a small-town
setting is history.
Every town has stories.
Some are passed down through
generations. Some are whispered about behind closed doors. Some are buried so
deeply that people hope they never resurface.
As writers, we can use that history
to create layers of mystery.
Perhaps a decades-old disappearance
still haunts the community. Maybe an unsolved murder continues to cast a shadow
over the town square. Or perhaps a family has spent years protecting a secret
that could destroy everything if revealed.
The past becomes a character of its
own.
And in suspense, the past rarely
stays buried.
Small towns also provide natural
settings that heighten tension.
A lonely mountain road during a
snowstorm.
A forgotten church at the edge of
town.
An abandoned farmhouse hidden among
rolling fields.
A forest trail where no one will
hear a cry for help.
These locations create atmosphere
while reminding readers that danger can exist even in the most beautiful
places.
Perhaps most importantly, small
towns allow readers to become emotionally invested in the community itself.
Readers don't just care about the
hero and heroine. They care about the people around them. The diner owner. The
pastor. The elderly neighbor who knows more than she's saying. The deputy
trying to protect his hometown.
When danger threatens the town,
readers feel that threat personally because they've come to know the community.
That's one reason I continue
returning to small-town settings in my own books.
Whether the story takes place in
Amish country, a mountain community, a coastal village, or a remote town tucked
away from the rest of the world, the setting offers more than scenery.
It creates relationships. History.
Secrets.
And for a suspense writer, secrets
are where the story begins.
One example is my novel Tangled
Past, set on Hope Island, a small coastal community where a decades-old
murder still casts a shadow over the town. Twenty-five years after Police Chief
Raymond Dutton was murdered, his son, Asa, returns home searching for answers.
His only lead is Maya Callahan, the young witness found at the scene as a child,
who has no memory of what happened that night. As long-buried secrets begin to
surface, Asa and Maya discover that someone is willing to kill to keep the
truth hidden. Hope Island may be picturesque, but like many small communities,
its greatest danger lies not in what everyone knows, but in what someone has
spent decades trying to conceal.
For a chance to win an e-book copy
of Tangled Past, tell me, what makes a small-town setting memorable to
you as a reader? Please be sure to include your email in your comment.
Mary Alford is a New York Times and USA TODAY
bestselling author who loves giving her readers the unexpected, combining
unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots that result in stories the
reader can’t put down. Her books have garnered several awards and nominations.
Mary lives deep in the heart of Texas with her husband, two cats, and a dog.
Mary is very active online and would love to connect with readers on Facebook,
Instagram, and X.
Monday, June 22, 2026
WHAT'S HOT in Christian Mystery and Suspense
Marji Laine here.
Ohhh! This sounds like it has a great mystery attached! I'm so in!
Wild
Storm
by Kendra Cross
Eliza
Brennan has spent years leading search and rescue missions in the Colorado
backcountry—saving strangers in impossible conditions.
But she
couldn’t save her mother.
When a
brutal winter storm traps hikers in the mountains, Eliza and her team race
against time to bring them home alive. But the rescue turns deadly when it
becomes clear someone is hunting victims in the storm—and the mountain isn’t
the only threat closing in.
Photojournalist
Nate Carson has seen the worst the world has to offer. War taught him to rely
on facts, not faith—and to keep his distance from anything that might matter.
But when he’s caught in the same storm Eliza is battling, their paths collide
in ways neither of them expected.
As the
danger escalates, Eliza uncovers something even more chilling—a clue hidden in
her mother’s old journal that suggests her death wasn’t an accident.
Now the
storm is closing in. The killer is getting closer. And the truth Eliza has been
searching for might cost her everything.
Because
in Brennan Ridge, the past isn’t buried…
And some
secrets refuse to stay lost.
A
gripping Christian romantic suspense novel about courage, redemption, and
learning to trust when everything is on the line.
THIS WEEK ON THE SUSPENSE SISTERS
On Tuesday, Suspense Sister Marji Laine will tell us what’s hot in inspirational suspense and mystery.
Wednesday, Suspense Sister Mary Alford will be talking about “Secrets Behind The White Picket Fences - Writing Small Town Suspense Stories.” She’ll also be giving away an eBook copy of TANGLED PAST, a book in the Hope Island Securities series.
A murdered police chief. A missing truth. A witness who can’t remember.
Twenty-five years after his father’s unsolved murder, Asa Dutton returns to Hope Island determined to uncover the truth. His only lead is Maya Callahan—the little girl found hiding in the barn the night his father died.
Maya has no memory of that stormy night. But as fragments of her past resurface, so does danger. Someone is watching. Someone who will kill to keep the truth buried.
As Asa and Maya grow closer, the stakes turn deadly. Because remembering the past may be the only way to survive it.
BUY IT HERE
On Friday, author Gina Holder presents a list of romantic suspense novels where the main character is new to town. Here’s a look at her recent release, THE ESCAPE GAME:
Twenty years ago, the world’s leading enigmatologist disappeared, leaving behind a cipher no one could solve… not without his journal.
Puzzle shop owner Demi Kayne has spent twenty years hoping her father would return home. When she discovers his hidden journal, she finally uncovers the clue she’s been waiting for—but it leads somewhere far more dangerous than she imagined.
Liam Shepherd, a missionary and escape-room enthusiast, is searching for answers of his own. His sister has vanished without a trace, and the trail of clues leads him straight to Demi—and the secrets hidden in her father’s journal.
Their search brings them to the eerie Ives Mansion, where its brilliant and reclusive owner has designed a deadly challenge. Once inside, Demi and Liam realize they’re no longer guests.
They’re players.
Trapped inside a twisted real-life mystery game, they must solve a series of lethal riddles before time runs out. Each puzzle brings them closer to the truth about Demi’s missing father and Liam’s sister —but also deeper into a carefully crafted game where the stakes are far higher than they're ready to face.
With the clock ticking and lives hanging in the balance, Demi and Liam must confront their fears, their pasts, and the faith that may be their only hope of escape.
In this gripping Christian suspense novel, every clue matters—and every mistake could be fatal.
Can Demi and Liam solve the final puzzle before the game ends…or will the escape room become their tomb?
BUY IT HERE
Twenty years ago, the world’s leading enigmatologist disappeared, leaving behind a cipher no one could solve… not without his journal.
Liam Shepherd, a missionary and escape-room enthusiast, is searching for answers of his own. His sister has vanished without a trace, and the trail of clues leads him straight to Demi—and the secrets hidden in her father’s journal.
Their search brings them to the eerie Ives Mansion, where its brilliant and reclusive owner has designed a deadly challenge. Once inside, Demi and Liam realize they’re no longer guests.
They’re players.
Trapped inside a twisted real-life mystery game, they must solve a series of lethal riddles before time runs out. Each puzzle brings them closer to the truth about Demi’s missing father and Liam’s sister —but also deeper into a carefully crafted game where the stakes are far higher than they're ready to face.
With the clock ticking and lives hanging in the balance, Demi and Liam must confront their fears, their pasts, and the faith that may be their only hope of escape.
In this gripping Christian suspense novel, every clue matters—and every mistake could be fatal.
Can Demi and Liam solve the final puzzle before the game ends…or will the escape room become their tomb?
BUY IT HERE
Don’t forget to enter our monthly contest!
Stay tuned for the announcement of our annual SUMMER OF SUSPENSE CONTEST!
THE SUSPENSE SISTERS
WE LOVE BOOKS
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Living in Big Sky Country
I'm seeing a lot of books coming out that take place in Montana. I know in the town I live in, there has been an influx of people moving here from out of state. Some of this is driven by a TV show that shall remain nameless. Every time I turn around another celebrity has bought up a ranch. I think a lot of people visit and want to live in Montana because there is a lot of myth and fantasy connected to what it means to live in Montana.
Except for a brief time that I lived in Arizona, I have lived in big sky country all my life. Born and raised as they say. While it is true that Montana is a beautiful state with plenty of outdoor opportunities, there are some harsh realities that never seem to make it into many of the books and movies about Montana. First, it's really hard to make a living. Montana ranks close to the bottom for wages keeping up with the cost of living. Most people end up working a couple of jobs. My late husband drove truck, did bobcat work, fixed motorcycles and guns and owned cows. Second, the winters here can be brutal. Even for people who love to ski or do other winter sports, the below zero temps end up keeping them inside. Because Montana is a rural state, there are a lot of people who have to drive long distances for healthcare and often don't have a lot of shopping options for food and clothing. Montana ranks high for suicides. I think the long winters, isolation, addictions and poverty contribute to that.
I'm not trying to be a Debbie Downer here. I have stayed here for a reason. I just wanted to inject a little reality into all the fantasy and myth that float around living in Montana. Not everyone who moves here can buy a ranch or live in a cabin by a lake. When I wrote my Ruby Taylor mystery series, I wanted to show the real Montana using humor so the books were far from depressing. The main character has a master's degree but works in a feed store. I'm giving away a copy of the second book in the series (USA only) Sassy Cinderella and the Valiant Vigilante which won a Carol Award. You can read the second book without reading the first Romance Rustlers and Thunderbird Thieves. Each of the three books in the series has a humorous mystery that wraps up at the end of each book. The third book in the series is called Cow Crimes and the Mustang Menace.
Have you visited Montana? What did you think? If you haven't visited, what attracts you to the state? Maybe you live in a place that has a lot of myth and fantasy connected to it. Share about that. Leave a comment along with your email address. I will do the drawing Monday night (USA only) and notify the winner by Tuesday.
Sharon Dunn
Wednesday, June 17, 2026
Sit Down with Author Darlene L. Turner about Scent of Peril
Kristen here. Today, I'm welcoming back my friend Darlene L. Turner to the blog. She's talking about her latest release, Scent of Peril, and giving away one e-book copy. Keep reading to the end to learn how to enter the giveaway.
Darlene, 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?
When I first thought of writing this National Park Protectors series, I wanted each Hoyt sibling to have a vocation connected to a park, so I brainstormed ideas. I thought of the game warden vocation, so I researched it and discovered they’re called Conservation Officers in Canada. Once I looked into their role, the story blossomed from there.
If you could step into one scene from the book—not the dangerous ones—where would you go and why?
I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but there’s a scene at the end of the book that happens on Thanksgiving Day. The family interaction is special, and I loved writing it into the story!
That sounds like a sweet scene to join. What’s one part of your daily routine that quietly fuels your creativity or keeps you grounded?
Devotions and prayer. Every morning, I start my day in God’s word; then before I start writing, I pray for direction and God’s words, not mine. Oh…and I love writing with a coffee! 😉
I love that routine! What’s one theme in this book that reflects something you’ve personally wrestled with or learned in your own life?
As I wrote the never-ending danger in the relentless wilderness, one truth kept rising to the surface—God is with us in our storms. Wyatt’s struggle to trust, Taylor’s fight to protect, and the K-9’s unwavering loyalty remind us all that faith isn’t about having everything figured out. It’s about holding on when nothing makes sense. This is something we’ve probably all struggled with at one point or another. I know I have!
Same here! That's a powerful message most of us can relate to. What are you working on now?
I’m working on book five in the series. It’s Tanner Hoyt’s story, and he’s a search and rescue pilot.
That sounds like it's going to be another fascinating story. Where can your readers learn more about you?
Readers can find me at https://darlenelturner.com/.
Thank you, Darlene, for sharing your time and story with us! Keep reading to learn more about Darlene and how to enter to win a copy of Scent of Peril.
Now, here's more about Scent of Peril.
An innocent witness taken…
A K-9 in hot pursuit.
Dispatched with her K-9 partner, Shadow, to locate an abducted boy, Constable Taylor Grant finds herself ambushed in the wilderness along with Wyatt Hoyt, the child’s father. As Taylor and Wyatt relentlessly pursue the kidnappers and follow the little boy’s cryptic clues through treacherous terrain, they face persistent attacks and lethal traps. Each step closer to rescuing young Levi uncovers a deadly conspiracy tied to Wyatt’s past and a weapons-smuggling ring. With time running out, can they outwit a ruthless mastermind to save Levi before it’s too late?
Scent of Peril is available in all these places:
- Amazon com: https://bit.ly/4ap9FKU
- Amazon ca: https://bit.ly/4amQPEe
- Chapters - https://bit.ly/3Z8KK8c
- Barnes & Noble - https://bit.ly/4qPy3Lv
- Christianbook - https://bit.ly/3ZFvO1g
- Harlequin - https://bit.ly/4k9RAnv
For a chance to win an e-book copy of Scent of Peril, leave a comment for Darlene, and be sure to include your email address.
***
Update: Congratulations to Jane S. on winning an e-book copy! Thank you to everyone who commented and participated.
Monday, June 15, 2026
WHAT'S HOT in Christian Romantic Mystery and Suspense
Marji Laine here.
This book is intriguing! And it has some of my favorite things: faith, romance, dogs, and suspense!
Sheltered
from the Storm
by Abigail
Stone
Naomi
Hart has built her life around protecting the vulnerable, but one past failure
still follows her into every crisis. When Lily Conway disappears during a Mercy
Harbor storm evacuation, Naomi cannot shake the fear that history is repeating
itself.
Jonah
Reed knows what it costs to lose someone in a storm. Controlled, guarded, and
quietly distant from the faith he once knew, he has survived by never letting
anyone close enough to become another person he could fail.
Then
Scout, Lily’s golden retriever, finds a clue no one else noticed — a trail
leading from the shelter toward a burned packing plant and a dangerous network
with connections far beyond Mercy Harbor.
As Naomi
and Jonah follow Scout through ash, rain, hidden records, and rising danger,
they uncover a truth powerful men are desperate to bury. But the closer they
get to Lily, the more the storm closes in — and the more Naomi and Jonah must
learn that courage does not mean carrying fear alone.
Sheltered
from the Storm is a clean Christian romantic suspense novel with a
missing-person investigation, storm danger, a loyal rescue dog, a protective
hero, a determined heroine, faith under pressure, and a complete
happily-ever-after.
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, Suspense Sister Kristen Hogrefe Panrnell interviews author Darlene Turner They’ll be talking about her new release, SCENT OF PERIL
An innocent witness taken… A K-9 in hot pursuit.
From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.
BUY IT HERE
On Friday, author Sharon Dunn will talk about being born and raised in Montana and how that relates to her Ruby Taylor mysteries. She’s giving away a copy of book two in the series, SASSY CINDERELLA AND THE VALIANT VIGILATNER.
The harrowing adventures of red-headed heroine Ruby Taylor continue in this murder mystery complete with a frozen corpse, midnight intruders, and an unexpected rescue by lab mice. This sassy Cinderella's in for a crash course on university politics, new love, and what exactly it means to be a genuine Christian.
For fans of CBA author Terri Blackstock and general market authors Sue Grafton, Sharyn McCrumb, and Sara Parentsky
BUY IT HERE
For fans of CBA author Terri Blackstock and general market authors Sue Grafton, Sharyn McCrumb, and Sara Parentsky
BUY IT HERE
Don’t forget to enter our monthly contest!
THE SUSPENSE SISTERS
WE LOVE BOOKS
Thursday, June 11, 2026
REVIEW: The World's Worst Detective Ever series by Christy Barritt
Marji Laine here.
What a delight. With a title like THE WORST DETECTIVE EVER, I knew the main character couldn't take herself too seriously. And Joey Darling (yes, that's the characters name) delivers! Straight out of Hollywood as the star of the hit detective series, "Relentless," Joey struggles with people constantly believing that she's that main character, Raven Remington, the perfect (always right, always catching the bad guys) detective.
Here's a little more about book 1, READY TO FUMBLE:
I'm not really a private detective. I just play one on TV.
Joey Darling, better known to the world as Raven Remington, detective extraordinaire, is trying to separate herself from her invincible alter ego. She played the spunky character for five years on the hit TV show Relentless, which catapulted her to fame and into the role of Hollywood’s sweetheart.
When her marriage falls apart, her finances dwindle to nothing, and her father disappears, Joey finds herself on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, trying to piece her life back together away from the limelight. A woman finds Raven—er, Joey—and insists on hiring her fictional counterpart to find a missing boyfriend. When someone begins staging crime scenes to match an episode of Relentless, Joey has no choice but to get involved.
Joey’s bumbling sleuthing abilities have her butting heads with Detective Jackson Sullivan and kindling sparks with thrill-seeking neighbor Zane Oakley. Can Joey channel her inner Raven and unearth whodunit before she ends up totally done in? And where is her father anyway? Can she handle fame or is disappearing into obscurity the wiser option?
--
You know, when I told Nancy Mehl what I was reviewing this week, her reaction was that she loved the series title. I have to confess, the series title was the reason I picked up the first book of this series.
But between the last filming of "Relentless" and chapter one of the first book, Joey has been almost killed, divorced by her husband, and left penniless after paying off all the man's debts. She moves across the country to where her dad was last seen, getting a job as a hair stylist from an old family friend, and attempting to put the meager pieces of her life back together. And, in hopes that somehow, she'll be able to find her now-missing father.
She immediately gets off on the wrong foot with the police detective in town, Jackson Sullivan, and finds a friend in her next-door neighbor, surfer/realtor/masseuse Zane Oakley.
I LOVE the names of these characters! Where did Christy Barritt come up with them???
I also love the way she weaves the stories together. Each book contains a stand-alone mystery, but there are over-arching stories that go for three and four books at a time. And of course, there is the romance and a plethora of characters from her past who come in and out of the stories.
Then there is the fan group that keeps setting her up to "solve" mysteries as the actress who had played Raven Remington should be doing. The person or people behind her "biggest fans" are twisted and downright dangerous. And they also come in and out of the different books.
Something else that I love about these is the character's sense of humor. She is often comparing something she witnesses to the plot of an old movie or television show. Or she compares the people she sees to high profile actors or characters. Hubby and I love listening to the books on road trips and often have to pause the playback to belly-laugh over a one-liner or the crazy situations in which she finds herself.
But don't think these aren't serious mysteries with plenty of danger involved. I haven't been able to figure out all of them, but the clues are there. The mysteries are tight. The murders are real, and the villains are desperate. And despite Joey's excellent acting skills, she's not the detective that Raven Remington is. Let's just leave it at that!
If you like a little serving of light-heartedness with your mystery, you're going to love these books! And there are thirteen of them to love! The first was released almost 10 years ago, but book thirteen was just released last year. Apparently, I'm not the only one who loves these books!
Here's the list of the books (along with some side books) in order:
READY TO FUMBLE, REIGN OF ERROR, SAFETY IN BLUNDERS (Book bundle 1)
JOIN THE FLUB, BLOOPER FREAK, FLAW ABIDING CITIZEN (Book bundle 2)
GAFFE OUT LOUD, JOKE AND DAGGER, WRECK THE HALLS, GLITCH AND FAMOUS (Book Bundle 3)
NOT ON MY BOTCH, ONE HIT BLUNDER, and THE FAUX MUST GO ON.
In addition, there is RELENTLESS: A RAVEN REMINGTON NOVEL that is set up after BLOOPER FREAK. There is also a crossover books involving Joey, the police chief Cassidy Chambers from Barritt's Lantern Beach series, and Gabby St. Claire Thomas from the Squeaky Clean Series. This one, THE CRIME OF OUR LIVES, isn't really connected to any of the timelines from the actual series they cross, but it is suggested to come after NOT ON MY BOTCH before the last two and most recent Joey Darling books were released.
Joey Darling, better known to the world as Raven Remington, detective extraordinaire, is trying to separate herself from her invincible alter ego. She played the spunky character for five years on the hit TV show Relentless, which catapulted her to fame and into the role of Hollywood’s sweetheart.
When her marriage falls apart, her finances dwindle to nothing, and her father disappears, Joey finds herself on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, trying to piece her life back together away from the limelight. A woman finds Raven—er, Joey—and insists on hiring her fictional counterpart to find a missing boyfriend. When someone begins staging crime scenes to match an episode of Relentless, Joey has no choice but to get involved.
Joey’s bumbling sleuthing abilities have her butting heads with Detective Jackson Sullivan and kindling sparks with thrill-seeking neighbor Zane Oakley. Can Joey channel her inner Raven and unearth whodunit before she ends up totally done in? And where is her father anyway? Can she handle fame or is disappearing into obscurity the wiser option?
--
Oftentimes, I am wary of reading mystery and suspense mysteries late into the night because they'll keep me up. That warning HOLDS TRUE for this series... but not for the reason you might think. This is no thriller, but not only will the unexpected humor keep you laughing, it might very well keep your household awake as well.
Am I gushing? I'm probably gushing. But this series is stellar! Excellent mysteries. Excellent characters. Excellent engagement, dialogue, action, personalities.
This series is pure excellence!
When was the last time you read a series that was truly excellent? One book? Maybe, But to keep up that high standard book after book is nothing short of amazing. I'd like to hear about your experiences! Comment below with an excellent book or series and don't forget to leave your email address. One of you just might win an e-copy of READY TO FUMBLE!
I hope you LOVE it!
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
How My Real Life Seeps Into My Books
Melissa here! I was thinking about all the crazy things I have in my books from secret societies, to organized crime, to lost libraries filled with ancient missing tomes. Of course, most of this has nothing to do with my actual life. Not sure if that’s good or bad. Lol.
But I also realized there is a lot in my books that does
come from my real life. I love how writers are able to take things that we are
familiar with and bring them into our stories. It helps make the stories more
believable, I think, since we have a strong knowledge base.
1.
Fighting. I’m a 4th degree black belt
with experience in traditional Taekwondo, Krav Maga (Israeli martial art), various
weapons (mostly simple non-bladed like stick and staff), joint manipulation,
pressure points, some ground defense, and a little Kali and KFM. This is SUPER
helpful as a suspense writer!
2.
Motorcycle riding. I have my motorcycle license.
I’m no hotshot for sure, but it’s helpful to understand how this type of
vehicle works. For example, I once read a snip of someone else’s story in a writer’s
group in which someone wrecks a motorcycle, and they mentioned how the engine
was still running. Well, motorcycles are manual transmission, so unless they
put it in neutral before crashing, the motorcycle stalled once the foot was
taken off the gas.
3.
Hacking. Okay, I don’t have experience hacking, but
my husband is a network security engineer and does a lot of white hat hacking
training. White hat hacking is about breaking into a system in order to find
the vulnerabilities so that they can be fixed (and stop someone else from
exploiting). He talks at me a lot about things I do not understand at all, but
sometimes I pick up a bit.
4.
Knives. This one is also thanks to my husband. He
loves knives. Knives can be confusing. Switchblade, traditional folder, slip
joint, out-the-front (OTF)… I almost used the term switchblade once when I
really meant OTF. He saved my butt.
5.
Commercial Real Estate. This one is boring but
helpful. I’m a commercial property manager by day (I manage shopping centers). I
have a new book coming out 9/15/26 in which the main male character does mostly
real estate investing. As I write the series, it’s helpful to have a bit of
knowledge to throw tidbits in to make the character believable.
6.
Geographical locations. I live in Florida and
grew up in Ohio. You’ll see those places come up a lot in my books. Except my
new book coming out. It was the first book I ever wrote (I completely rewrote
it recently), and I placed it in Washington state simply because I had written
a scene where they watch the sunset from the beach, and well, that dictated
which ocean they were on! I could change it, of course, but it’s so stuck in my
head that way that it would be hard to shift my thinking.
7.
Biblical themes and/or apologetics. I read A LOT
about Biblical subjects. I’m not so much a devotional kind of girl. I’m more of
a scientific, archeological, linguistic nerd. I love how those things clarify, support,
and prove so much about the Bible—and the more scientists discover and
archeologists dig up, the more they prove the Bible. I’m built to be more concerned
with hard facts than feelings, and I love how Jesus tells us to love God with
all our heart, soul, and mind. God does not want us to disengage our
minds. He gave them to us to use. For me, engaging my mind has allowed me to
better connect with God. And I really enjoy bringing some of the things I learn
into my books.
Leave a
comment to be entered for a chance to win a small but fun bookish surprise!
Adriane must uncover the truth of her kidnapper’s past, how
it entwines with her own, if she wants to survive.
Melissa Koslin is a fourth-degree black belt in and certified instructor of traditional Taekwondo. During the day, she masquerades as a commercial property manager. She, her husband, their young daughter, and two feisty cats live in Florida, where they do their best not to melt in the sun.
Monday, June 8, 2026
WHAT'S HOT in Christian Mystery and Suspense - New release from a Suspense Sister!
Marji Laine here.
I have so enjoyed the books from my fellow Suspense Sisters, and you can be this one is going up to the top of my TBR list!
DANGEROUS SPRING
by Roxanne Rustand
From USA Today best-selling author Roxanne Rustand comes another heartwarming, character-driven, small-town romance in her popular Northern Pines series. This is a clean, faith-friendly romance with a light touch of suspense.
Ex-rodeo
cowboy Connor Rafferty is a desperate father, stranded with a dead truck and
his last fifty dollars. He must reach Detroit before his ex-wife and her
abusive boyfriend vanish again with his son. Five years in prison for her lies
cost him everything. Now, time is running out.
Keeley is
barely holding her antique shop together after her employee quits on the eve of
tourist season. She needs safe help—not a scarred stranger with secrets…and
eyes she can’t ignore.
Connor
asks for a few days’ work. No charity. Just a chance.
Keeley
knows better than to trust him—but with customers lined up outside her door,
she tentatively says yes.
If he’s
telling the truth, his child is in danger.
If he’s lying…she’s invited trouble—and heartbreak—inside.
But 911 is already on her phone's Speed Dial. And this time, she won't hesitate
to use it.
THIS WEEK ON THE SUSPENSE SISTERS
We have exciting things planned for you this week on the Suspense Sisters!
Wednesday, we’ll hear from Suspense Sister Melissa Koslin. She’ll be talking about how her real life seeps into her books. You’ll really enjoy this column. Leave a comment for your chance to win a bookish prize!
Here’s a little something about one of her recent releases, DESCENDED.
As Isa fights to survive, she grows close to Xander. She learns of her abilities passed down through blood and struggles to uncover the truths of her past. She decides she has to put a stop to the killing of the bloodlines and protect Xander from any further harm…even if it kills her. But will the truth of the killer's motivations and identity be too much to handle?
BUY IT HERE
Friday, author Marji Laine will review THE WORST DETECTIVE EVER series by Christy Barritt. She’ll be giving away an eBook copy of the book, READY TO FUMBLE.
Publishers Weekly bestselling author and Kindle Unlimited All Star, Christy Barritt, brings readers a fun new series that will have them trying to solve a mystery and laughing out loud.
I'm not really a private detective. I just play one on TV.
When her marriage falls apart, her finances dwindle to nothing, and her father disappears, Joey finds herself on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, trying to piece her life back together away from the limelight. A woman finds Raven—er, Joey—and insists on hiring her fictional counterpart to find a missing boyfriend. When someone begins staging crime scenes to match an episode of Relentless, Joey has no choice but to get involved.
Joey’s bumbling sleuthing abilities have her butting heads with Detective Jackson Sullivan and kindling sparks with thrill-seeking neighbor Zane Oakley. Can Joey channel her inner Raven and unearth whodunit before she ends up totally done in? And where is her father anyway? Can she handle fame, or is disappearing into obscurity the wiser option?
Get Ready to Fumble your way through this enchanting new series.
BUY IT HERE
Don’t forget to enter our monthly contest!
THE SUSPENSE SISTERS
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