RYLAND AND ST. CLAIR SERIES #1
REBECCA'S REVIEW
"He wouldn't rest until River Ryland's nightmare came true. . . "
Former F. B. I. Behavioral Analyst River Ryland continued to experience nightmares, terrible nightmares as a matter of fact. Nearly being killed in an horrific incident, the flashbacks were understandable, but the continuing post traumatic stress convinced River and her former F.B.I. partner Tony St. Clair to resign from the Bureau and to open their own private investigation firm. The only obstacle so far? They didn't have any cases yet . . . until . . . a woman whose son had been missing for four years walked through the doors. The details of her story had all the earmarks of an unhappy ending, but River and Tony could never have anticipated what they would uncover . . . or experience . . . in the process of solving the disappearance of Chris Stover.
"And I will bring you through this storm. You are my beloved child, and I never left you."
Initially, there were re-occurring disconnects, including difficulty bonding with the characters; often a sign that the author is spending time laying groundwork. Getting inside the criminal mind also took up a lot of space in this book, which while being both fascinating and disturbing adds a unique dimension that could not be ignored. River's spiritual journey adds a much appreciated positive element, strengthening her already deep friendship with Tony and turning a corner in her family's tenuous dynamics. Overall? Quite an interesting book, certainly leaving an intriguing backdrop to what may come next!
Trigger Warning: I have first-hand experience with mental illness in my family and would like to note that most mentally ill individuals are not violent, and if they are, they turn that violence towards themselves and not others. Granted, there are exceptions, and professional treatment is absolutely necessary.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I also purchased a copy. The opinions stated above are entirely my own. 3.5 stars
PAULA'S REVIEW:
River Ryland and Tony St. Clair are former FBI and Behavior Analysts and now partner in a detective agency in a suburb of St. Louis. With trouble in their rear view mirror and the criminal that tried to kill them behind bars, they focus on their first case as private investigators.
Very exciting story delving into a little known condition called synesthesia where people see colors and words. However, the antagonist in this story also has schizophrenia and becomes a killer.
River is a lapsed Christian who has lost trust in God stemming from her father abandoning the family and difficulties coping with her mother’s Alzheimers diagnosis. Tony is a solid Christian who prays for River, her reconciliation with God and wants to protect River as they launch their new venture.
The characters feel genuine, the bad guys are creepy and the faith thread is presented in a natural way. The story crescendos to a dramatic conclusion with plenty of fodder for more stories to come.
A favorite author, Ms. Mehl knocks it out of the park yet again!
* I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Reviewers on behalf of the author. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*5 stars and a solid faith thread
No comments:
Post a Comment