Robin CarollBesprekingen

A truly magnificent read. I was swept away by the setting and the characters. I really liked the plot of the story and the surprise ending! I literally couldn't put this book down!

My review's here on Amazon, https://www.amazon.com/review/R1LLM19ULBZHLX/ref=cm_cr_srp_d_rdp_perm?ie=UTF8&am....

In this suspense/love novel unsolved murders and mysterious fires abound. Layla Taylor, a female contractor, finds herself in the middle of a mysterious chain of events - and she is one of the suspects of the crimes. As she tries to uncover the truth behind the terrible mysteries she finds herself the target of the criminal. She and her sister Alana must learn to face their greatest fears and Layla's faith is put to a test that she did not think she could pass. Thrown into her path is a rugged, rough edged detective with a tender heart, Maddox Bishop. Hiding his own secrets and held in the bondage of ineffectiveness and hurt his is driven to be the best detective. That is until his world is forever changed by the strong, independent yet soft Layla Taylor. Quickly she turns from a key suspect to the woman he loves and desires so much to protect. Both are forced to face the unforgiveness that keeps them shackled and to face and reconcile their face past. To win the heart and love of Layla Maddox is brought into the presence of God by her continual forgiveness and genuine concern for others. He must make a decision to surrender to God and accept His blessings or turn his back on what might be.

Truly a great novel.

Thank you B&H for the review copy.

Title: Dead Silence
Author: Robin Carroll
Pages: 2020
Year: 320
Publisher: Shiloh Run Press
My rating: 5 out of 5 stars.
What an amazing and gripping tale! I sat down with the book and couldn’t put it down; it is that good. Elise Carmichael is a single mom, raising her son who is deaf and mute. Sawyer is like all little boys full of fun, energy and love waffles. As Elise is leaving work one day, she reads the lips of an officer on his phone. She knows she should report this incident to the authorities but never does as she gets an emergency call that Sawyer has gotten hurt on the playground.
The next day she learns from watching the news that her mother-in-law has been murdered. Liliana York was a senator. When Elise begins to report what she lip-read and answer the questions posed to her by the FBI, she and her son become targets. Life has been hard enough since her husband, who served in the Marines, was killed overseas. She will do whatever she needs to keep Sawyer safe and close.
There are many twists and turns in the plot as the author leads readers to try and figure out who ordered the hit on the senator. It was interesting to see how she adapted her life so Sawyer could experience the best life has to offer. I found myself gripped by the storyline and kept trying to figure out who would have benefited from the actions taken to remove Liliana York from office. The senator is a character who fights for what is right. Just before she dies, she sends two files to Sawyer’s iPad. When Elise opens the files, thinking they contain clues, she finds another mystery!
The novel is truly unique in that it has a deaf/mute character, a mother that works in the courts as an ASL interpreter, and more. The multiple mysteries all come together into one climactic ending that suspense lovers will find exciting! I plan to see what other books are available by this author as the book was entertaining, a quick read and one I hope others will take time to read.
Note: The opinions shared in this review are solely my responsibility.

I liked the story line on this book. a prima ballerina, plus Olympic hopeful gymnist, and your tough guy police detective. It all blended together good in this murder mystery.

Someone is looking for something that Sophia's mother had and now her mother is dead and Sophia was left for dead. Now police detective Julian must find out what they were after and protect Sophia in the process as she lays fighting for her life in a hospital. The clues are hard to come by, but between Sophia and her protector Julian, they will finally discover what they were after. In the meantime both will discover a growing attraction to each other in the process. This was a very interesting mystery romance story line and I appreciated how the quilt had all the answers in it.

Dead Silence was a novel that I really fought to love, but sadly it fell flat for me. Elise is the narrator and protagonist throughout the entire book, and I think this hurt the narrative and limited the viewpoint of the situation. Though I could empathize with all that Elise has lost, and the nightmare ordeal that she finds herself in, I never could establish that connection with her.

I understood the faith struggle, and loved how God using "all things" did come full circle. I never felt like the parts that pertained to faith were preachy, but instead were a good reminders to hold onto faith in the tough situations we find ourselves in.

Though it was a satisfying ending, I do feel like it was a bit rushes, whereas the rest of the book did the opposite, and completely dragged. I would've liked to have heard more from the other supporting characters, and had really hoped for an unexpected twist to shake things up a bit, and allow the reader to get lost in the suspense, but sadly no surprise ever came.

Although Dead Silence, and Elise herself, did not click with me, I did enjoy the supporting cast and how truly wonderful they were in this tough situation. Honestly, I could see several of them having stories of their own, and would definitely give their stories a chance.

Dead Silence is a light, Christian suspense that focuses on faith and family that shows much-needed support when times get tough, which is a really sweet premise, but it's just not what I had been hoping for.

*I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Shiloh Run Press through NetGalley. All views and opinions expressed are completely honest, and my own.

Dead Silence by Robin Caroll is a fast paced, unique, edge of your seat mystery that I couldn't put down. It is well written and captures you right from the beginning taking you on a roller coaster ride along with Elise as she tries to keep her son safe from the people who had her mother in law the Senator killed.

Elise is a court room sign language interpreter who can read lips also since she has a deaf son. She reads the lips of a guard saying they are going to take care of Senator Lilliana York. When the Senator, who happens to be Elise's Mother in law is killed Elise has to tell the FBI what she knows. When she tells them all she knows then she begins to get threats and warnings. Can she help the FBI figure out what happened before her and her son's life is in more danger? It gets really intense when Sawyer her son is taken.

This book is an interesting, unique, suspenseful mystery that takes you on ride and keeps you guessing and wanting more. I like a good mystery that keeps you guessing and this one does. I also like that it includes faith though it is subtle. The book is a suspenseful mix of faith, love, family and a good puzzle with a surprise ending. Very well written and well worth the read. I give it 4 1/2 stars. I would give it 5 but at times it was a little wordy but not enough to take away from the story.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review."

When interpreter Elise Carmichael reads a threat on someone’s lips—and the next day, her mother-in-law is killed—she has no choice but to get involved in uncovering the truth. The drama proves dangerous and political and takes her around turns she never could have anticipated.

Robin Caroll’s Dead Silence has all the potential of being an entertainingly suspenseful story. However, I found myself bored and disconnected as I followed Elise through the drama. While high-stakes are certainly involved, I never felt on the edge of my seat, eager to see how it would all conclude.

Still, plenty of readers have enjoyed Dead Silence. If you are in need of a suspenseful read, this could be the book for you.

I received a complimentary copy of this book and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.

Dead Silence is a fast-paced book full of nail-biting suspense. Elise Carmichael is a court sign language interpreter who can also read lips. This gets her into a heap of trouble when she reads a mans lips talking about something bad going to happen to a senator who also happens to be her mother-in-law. Soon after witnessing that conversation, her mother-in-law is found murdered. It quickly becomes very apparent that whoever is responsible wants Elise to keep quiet. They will stop at nothing to make sure she never figures out who is behind the senator's death. But who would want the senator dead and why? This is a definite page-turner. It totally held my interest as I kept trying to put all the clues together to figure out what was really going on.

I have heard about this author's books for several years, but had not gotten a chance to read one. So glad I read this one and plan to read more of her books in the future.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Net Galley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

When a child injures himself or herself, a mother’s focus moves squarely and firmly to that child. Add in the child being deaf or having other special needs, and the mom may have tunnel vision on simply caring for that child. So even though Elise Carmichael is a court interpreter, and she reads someone’s lips saying that her mother-in-law is going to be killed that night, when she gets the call about her deaf son being injured on a playground she immediately goes into protective mom mode.

To me, this book seems to be a realistic portrayal of what could happen if a court official hears of a crime being planned but not acting fast enough in the mind of the FBI or other law enforcement officials.

The bonds between Elise, her sister-in-law, and her step-father-in-law as well as Elise’s son bring the pages of this book to life. I love seeing how Elise deals with the FBI, and especially one particular agent who seems to be set on causing trouble. It also illustrates how politics and power can bring out the worst in people.

Truly, this is a book worth reading, although the danger, suspense, and politics can be extremely intense. I definitely recommend this book. So check it out for yourself.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from CelebrateLit, this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own.

3.5 Stars

The premise of Dead Silence is unique and interesting. A court sign language interpreter lip-reads a threat to someone, and the chase is on. Add in the element of Elise’s deaf son, and the character is given some depth.

This story is told exclusively from Elise’s point of view as the suspense unfolds. She’s a strong character who makes some questionable choices at times. The supporting characters who come around Elise gave this novel a boost as well.

However, the way the author portrayed the FBI in this book left a lot to be desired. One agent was rude and unprofessional, and the other seemed to simply follow the clues Elise and her friends uncovered. I personally would have liked a little more actual investigation on their part.
Add to that the fact I figured out early on who the culprit was, and the suspense fell a little bit flat for me.

That said, Elise’s relationship with her son made this read worth my time. And even though I’m a fan of romance in my suspense, the lack of it in this book did not deter from the story. Overall this was an entertaining escape with some downsides but plenty of positives, too.

Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

I always love a suspense witten by Robin Caroll. She consistently produces unique page turning plots with twists and turns that keep a reader up way past their bedtime. 😉 Dead Silence is no exception. The fast-paced action starts right at the beginning and never lets off the gas. I liked main character Elise Carmichael, a single mom with a special needs child who is a mama bear when it comes to the safety of her son. Elise is involved in solving the case early on, even though she has constant run-ins with the FBI. She and her family and new-found friend follow the leads wherever they go. This kept the main character in the thick of things even when there is a lapse in cooperation between her and the authorities. Elise’s role probably does not meet standard operating procedures. Elise is tough, but her heart has become hard towards God as well. I liked her struggle — it felt very realistic. As the book goes on she learns a lot about herself and the nature of God. I thought the spiritual thread was handled very well. Dead Silence is pure suspense, no romantic threads at all. So if you want all suspense, all the time, this book is for you. Dead Silence is definitely a recommended read!

Recommended.

Audience: adults.

(Thanks to Celebrate Lit and Shiloh Run Press for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

We take so much for granted, and when the author gives us a woman whose son is deaf, and she now works as a sign language interpreter, and she reads lips. A gift? Well, yes, but her seven year old does and thus watch TV cartoons, wonderful! Then, she accidentally reads the lips of a man that becomes very personal, but life intervenes before she is able to act on it.
This story quickly became a page turner for me, looking for answers, the family is dealing with grief, then being tormented, and why?
I had my suspect from the very beginning, and yes, I was right, but there are many side stories, and life happenings that just kept this a great read.
You will end up with your heart in your throat, and not know whom to trust, and in the end one person has so little regard for human life, and is full of greed.
I received this book through the Celebrate Lit, and was not required to give a positive review.

Over the past couple of years, I have not read as much in the suspense and thriller genre as I normally do, mostly because I read almost exclusively for the purpose of reviewing rather than free reading, but also for the sake of enjoying more peaceful stories. Nevertheless, when the opportunity arises to review a Christian suspense book, I tend to go for it. It makes for a nice change of pace once in a while, especially when the author is one I know spins a good yarn. Last year I read “Stratagem” and was very impressed, so I was eager to read another novel by Robin Caroll.

As soon as I heard that “Dead Silence” featured a court sign language interpreter, Elise Carmichael, as the main character, I was in! This despite the political aspect, because as much as I hate politics, I have always been fascinated with sign language. I watched the 1962 film version of “The Miracle Worker” in high school so many times that I had all of the dialogue memorized. So this book beckoned to me, and even more so when I learned that Elise’s seven-year-old son, Sawyer, is deaf and mute. Elise’s job and skills are what entangle the two of them in a harrowing investigation related to the assassination of Senator Lilliana York, Elise’s mother-in-law. So far, so good; I appreciated that while this story takes place in the political realm, the mystery and suspense are the focus, and I honestly had a difficult time putting it down due to the quick pace.

Caroll skillfully writes a strong faith element into “Dead Silence.” Elise has drifted away from God in bitterness and anger over her son’s perceived disability and her husband’s death, which makes her a sympathetic character whose coming-home journey is fraught with distrust and fear. Most of us can relate to some degree: “Maybe that’s why she had been so resistant to turn back to God. Putting Sawyer, the one thing, the one person she loved more than anything else in this world, into anyone else’s hands besides her own terrified her.” We know from Scripture that God causes all things to work together for good for those who love Him (Romans 8:28) and that He is higher and greater than all else, and Elise comes to truly understand this throughout the novel.

There are some points of this story that kept this from being a 5-star read for me. While I can attest that many people do not know how to do their jobs, I found the degree of ineptness demonstrated by the FBI in this book rather farfetched. Elise and her entourage are more capable and have more connections than I thought likely, as well; although I loved their proficiency, I did not think it very credible overall. Some details are left out, such as how the assassin enters the Senator’s home undetected, and one of the main characters in the beginning of the story suddenly drops out for the rest of the narrative. I did think that the ending was too tidy and abrupt after all of the detail and the rather slow passage of time prior, but I was nonetheless rather pleased with the resolution. All of this is to say that while I did have some issues with certain elements, I still enjoyed “Dead Silence” very much, and if you are able to suspend disbelief a bit, this is a gripping story of murder, conspiracy, healing, and the power of both a mother’s love for her son and God’s love for us.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Celebrate Lit and was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.

Hold on to your seat and get ready for a thrill seeking adventure. What would you do if you read someone’s lips that spoke of a murder? What if it was about someone powerful and happens to be about your mother-in-law? I think I would run to the police as fast as I could. Elise is ready to do just that when she gets a message that her son has been injured. I bet her adrenaline is pumping as she races to the hospital. At the back of her mind is the thought that she needs to get in touch with the police but right now her son is upmost of importance. Is it a coincidence that her son is injured right as she finds out her mother in-law is in danger?

The story is exciting and I rooted for Elise as much as I could. She does have a problem with her faith and I couldn’t wait to see the road Elise will take to gain her faith again. It is no surprise that there is a murder and Elise is right in the middle of the investigation. The police don’t seem overly friendly towards her when they realize she may have been able to prevent a tragedy.

The author does an excellent job of educating readers about lip reading and sign language which Elise uses to communicate with her son. I took classes in sign language because I had a child in Sunday School who was deaf. I was determined that the child would not be left out. The first Sunday I started signing as I taught, I saw a big smile come from that child. I will never forget the moment she signed thank you to me.

Now back to the story. Oh yes we have Elise in danger after someone finds out what she knows. I was a bit disappointed when Elise’s son was kidnapped because it was very predictable. What I did like was the sheer determination Elise has to rescue her son and end the threats against her. The story does not lack twists and surprises and the author writes a story that had me on the edge of my seat.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

Dead Silence is a Christian suspense novel that has a strong faith element but Elise Carmichael doesn't display it at first. She is the widowed mother of a seven-year-old deaf son and she has experienced great heartache, leaving her with a faith that has been diminished by troubles and loss. It is her sister-in-law Mary Ellen who becomes Elise's strong support system and creates the change in Elise's thinking, leaving me with a strong admiration for Mary Ellen's unwavering belief and her Christian witness. As Elise frantically searches to find who has kidnapped her son her prayer life is revived and she finally begins to believe and trust in God once again. But will she find her son and will he be safe?

"Elise nodded, but she knew if anything happened to her son, she wouldn't make it. She'd have no reason to live, and just thinking that scared her."

Intrigue, deceit, and murder are all a part of Dead Silence and I was touched by Elise's strong determination to find her son alive. She is even able to teach the FBI agents a thing or two as they race to find Sawyer! If you are looking for strong female characters and heart-racing adventure, you will want to read this book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

Title: Dead Silence
Author: Robin Caroll
Publisher: Shiloh Run Press
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Four
Review:

"Dead Silence" by Robin Caroll

My Speculation:

'Dead Silence' was a heart-rending mystery, thriller, suspense, with some Christian elements that gave the reader one exciting story. Elise Carmichael was a widowed mother with a dead son where the story starts with her being able to read lips of a man discussing a murder plot.. of her mother-in-law, who happened to be a state senator. However, as the story moves, Elise will learn of her son's [seven-year-old Sawyer's] accident that sends her to the hospital. As the story continues, we will see what happens next. Before Elise can address anything to anyone about what she had heard, her mother-in-law, who was a United States senator from Arkansas Lillian York, is murdered.

The story will take a lot of twists and turns as the FBI become involved. Several people who will come after Elise and her son once they realize she was a witness. What I didn't care for was the way the FBI did their investigation, which showed that somebody in their organization was sharing information. One could see why Elise was so upset with the FBI, and that was why she resolved herself [with the help of ours] to uncover the truth of what was going on.

I enjoyed the characters of Elise's family and friend relationship that this story had especially with Elise, son, Sawyer, babysitter Hallie, sister-in-law Mary Ellen, and father-in-law, Noland. And I don't want to leave out the journalist, Wesson Kelly. I enjoyed how all of these characters were well developed and defined, giving the story much substance of the story.

After all is said and done this mystery, thriller, the suspense wouldn't have been that hard to solve if the FBI had handled things somewhat better than the did. With all that was going on from the murder, threatening gifts received mysterious e-mail files, stalking to even the kidnapping it seemed like the right people who were heading up this investigation did not know what they were doing. OK, I will stop here and say you will have to pick up this good read to get it all. It was quite an exciting read.

Thank you for the read that I received through NetGalley for my honest opinion of the read.

This was a wonderful book full of suspense and lots of twists and turns. I really loved the characters and love how they all worked together to solve all the problems that came their way. I did not want to put this book down. I received a copy of this book from Barbour Publishing for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

Fabulous suspense - don’t miss this!

The Lord will not forsake his people....

As an ASL interpreter, Elsie also possesses the fascinating skill of lip reading, both of which she learned since Sawyer, her son, is deaf and dumb. This happy duo has already experienced heartache when husband/father was killed in the line of service. Now the mother-in-law/grandmother has been murdered. Having read the lips of what possibly was the killer, Elsie is now in danger, but who is leaking information given only to the FBI?

This fabulous book had me on the edge of my seat the whole time, just waiting for the next threat. Between various threats, press releases, kidnapping and murder you don’t want to miss this story! The author leaves us guessing right up till the end and what an incredible end it is. It certainly goes to show that no one is above the law.

This digital copy was received through Barbour Publishing, Shiloh Run Press and NetGalley. The impressions and comments are my own and were in no way solicited.

What a thrilling novel. Stratagem by Robin Caroll kept me on my figurative toes from start to finish, and I enjoyed it immensely. As Grayson Thibodeaux undergoes investigation for the death of his ex-wife during a game he created, mystery and suspense fill the storyline with well-plotted twists and turns that left me unsure of which characters I could trust. So, if you’re looking for an intriguing read, check out Stratagem—but be prepared: this page-turner is hard to put down, so make sure you have plenty of time for reading.

Thanks to Celebrate Lit, I received a complimentary copy of Stratagem and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.

3.5 stars (rating may differ if site limits ratings to whole stars): I would deem this a psychological mystery/thriller.

Psychologist Grayson Thibodeaux and Sociologist Colton York have cashed in on the escape room craze by setting up custom games (all of which include at least one escape room) and marketing their business not only to those just looking for a fun activity, but also to businesses looking for team building activities etc. Deets PR hires them to set up an elaborate game to test 4 employees who are up for an open ad executive slot--one of the employees just happens to be the ex-wife of Grayson.

For most of the book, I thought Grayson was a psychiatrist--mostly because the book states that Grayson and Colton met via a fraternity and via med school. I didn't realize psychologists and sociologists attended med schools to be able to practice.

Though Grayson did most of the game development (based on information provided by the applicants themselves via their employer), Grayson is out of town with college friends during the actual game and Colton is the on-site coordinator. Annabelle dies and Grayson, as the ex, is the prime suspect.

The author did a good job of having a number of suspects with possible motives:
*Grayson
*Tim (the man Annabelle cheated with and whom Annabelle broke up with)
*Emmi (Tim's wife)
*The other 3 employees up for the same promotion
*Pam (Grayson's assistant who is fiercely loyal to him and who witnessed how she treated him)
*Other Game's on You people who also witnessed Annabelle's treatment of Grayson
*Colton (Grayson's business partner)

I kind of guessed which branch the perpetrator came from but I didn't guess the actual person until at or just before the reveal. (I'm not very good at guessing whodunit correctly most of the time, so if you are, you may have a different experience.)

Parts were very good and other parts I felt that there wasn't enough depth. It was also a bit weird to go back in the narrative and see certain scenes through Annabelle's eyes to tell us what happened during her time in the game.½

Deep in the gritty underbelly of New Orleans, psychologist Grayson Thibodeaux loses everything when his wife leaves him to climb her company’s corporate ladder. He buries himself in his job of creating mind-bending adventure games for businesses as team-building explorations. When his ex-wife’s company hires Grayson’s to create an elaborate game, he doesn’t see how things can get worse. Until she dies during the course of the game he created…makmaking him the prime suspect for murder.


My Thoughts: Everyone loves a good mystery and this is no exception. Fast paced and keeps the reader guessing until the end. With so many twists and turns that keeps the readers' interest.



This is a well-written novel with interesting characters that the reader will easily identify with. This is my first novel from Robin Caroll, and it won't be my last. I truly enjoyed her writing and the plot for this novel was interesting.



Not only a mystery but a story about forgiving as well. A wonderful read for those who love a good mystery and suspense book.

Title: Darkwater Secrets (Darkwater Inn #1)
Author: Robin Caroll
Pages: 272
Year: 2018
Publisher: Gilead Publishing
My rating is 3 out of 5 stars.
Adelaide Fountaine is the general manager of an old, but beautiful and classy hotel. A pharmaceutical company is having a several-day meeting with their sales force at the hotel. A guest misses check-out time, won’t answer the room telephone or knocking on the door, so the door is forced open and a grisly discovery is made. The guest in room 219 has been murdered. Adelaide’s childhood friend, Beau Savoie is called to the scene as he is a homicide detective. As Beau investigates, Adelaide hopes he won’t discover information she has about the victim.
Beau Savoie has been in love with Adelaide for years but has kept his feelings to himself. He now will be in close proximity to Adelaide as he investigates the murder. Ever since she came back to New Orleans after college, she has seemed more distant. Would she even think of him in a romantic way? He wonders if there is anything going on between her and Dmitri, the hotel owner’s son, who is being groomed to take over as CEO of the hotel. As Beau questions those in the hotel at the time of the murder and looks into the victim’s life, he learns his victim is far from innocent.
This was an average mystery for me. The faith element in the story is there, but not in-your-face. Rape is part of the story, so that may preclude some from reading the story. Voodoo is also a dark part of the story, not the main element, but it is present. The romantic angle was so-so but seemed to drag a bit. The story could have used a little more action in my opinion. I thought the way the murderer was treated seemed almost like he was a hero, minimizing the fact that he killed someone in vigilante style justice. I am unsure if I will continue with the series or not.

I was quickly page turning to find the answers here, and find out who committed the murder and why. The author was great a keeping me guessing and it wasn’t until about three fourths of the book was finished that I thought I had the answer, but did I?
I recommend this book for a clean, interesting murder mystery that will keep you guessing, shaking your head and changing your mind.

I received this book through Celebrate Lit, and was not required to give a positive review.

I'm starting my review with a warning about the book. When you start this book, make sure you allow yourself time to read the entire book in one sitting. Why? To put it simply, because there is no way to read this book without stopping. The story line is rich in intrigue and takes us to the dark places of a person's emotions. I was shocked at first to read that a company thought the only way to pick who would get the promotion out of four people was to play a game. It's not just any old game, folks. It's a game specifically designed to use past hurts, fear, manipulation, anger and secrets against you. How will each person act in different situations is where the real nitty gritty goes.

To understand the master mind behind the game, we get to meet Grayson. I enjoyed him so much and found his intelligence to be quite impressive. I thought it was cool that the four people didn't know they were playing a game, but trying to outshine their peers in front of the boss. They were watched at all times like a lab rat which is kinda creepy. The author delves into their past in a way that brings out the darkness in some and in others an almost give up attitude. I can tell you right now I would never want to play this type of game. I did forget to mention that one of the players in the game is Grayson's ex-wife. Anna Belle is the epitome of girl gone bad. There is nothing nice I can say about her. She was mean, vindictive and down right evil. Anna Belle is the woman that other women hate and men fall all over for her attention. Someone definitely has it in for her, when she is found dead . The first person the police point a finger at is Grayson. I wasn't surprised because it is a given the ex-husband is automatically the top pick as the killer.

Anna Belle is certainly not a popular person and I'm not sure anyone shed a tear over her death except maybe her mother. There is however another character I found to be extremely annoying. Danielle and Grayson's friend Brandon are investigating the death. Danielle is so determined to prove Grayson guilty that she made me want to stomp on her feet several times. She is so relentless in proving Grayson guilty, that she has tunnel vision. Her character is so well developed I loved to hate her. She was one of my top picks of stand out characters in the story.Her nastiness towards Grayson is evident when she says to him, " Although , you know sometimes murderers will do bad things to themselves to garner sympathy and try to throw off suspicion."

It is a cat and mouse chase as Grayson tries to figure out what went wrong in the game, as the police start closing in on him. I was literally turning pages fast because I had to know who the killer was. I had my list but I was very wrong. The author has included faith in the book but not in a preachy way. Grayson really stands on his beliefs and will face the question of is he able to forgive. That is one of the great lessons in the book and one of the hardest things people have to deal with. The author knows how to shock readers with intense drama and an ending that will have you looking for more books by this very gifted author.

I received a copy of this book by Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.