Waking Hours

Oct 13, 2012 Mike (the Paladin) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy

Huh...I liked this book. I mean I saw some good reviews, it sounded interesting but I'm so used to picking up mystery/urban fantasy books that sound good but turn out to be, "geared to an audience other than me" that it was almost surprising. So, good book.

I placed this on my "urban fantasy" shelf, I suppose it might be better if I had a "sort-of urban fantasy" shelf as the book does come over much as a straight mystery, but there's a touch of UF and I think the next book is going to move even f...more

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Dec 06, 2012 Lyn M (readinghearts) rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Wendy C, Marilyn K, Scoozer, Laurie, Jan,

Recommended to Lyn M (readinghearts) by: has been on my list for a while.

Shelves: 2012, borrowed, ccclib, lucky-letter, mystery, new-to-me-authors, paranormal, series, suspense, thriller, best-books-of-gr-101

I have had Lis Wiehl's first book, Face of Betrayal on my radar since it was originally published. Unfortunately, I was never able to get it read, but recently was offered the opportunity to read the second book in the author's East Salem Trilogy, Darkness Rising as an ARC. Of course, that lead me to read Waking Hours first, and I am so glad that I did. In this first book of the trilogy, a girl is murdered in upscale West Chester County, New York after attending a party at one of the student's h...more I have had Lis Wiehl's first book, Face of Betrayal on my radar since it was originally published. Unfortunately, I was never able to get it read, but recently was offered the opportunity to read the second book in the author's East Salem Trilogy, Darkness Rising as an ARC. Of course, that lead me to read Waking Hours first, and I am so glad that I did. In this first book of the trilogy, a girl is murdered in upscale West Chester County, New York after attending a party at one of the student's house. From there, the story becomes a mystery/thriller of the best kind. Along with the two main protagonists, who eventually band together to try to solve the murder, there is a whole host of interesting characters to capture the mind of the reader. Even better, as the story progresses, we find that many of them are not as they appear on the surface. I loved this aspect of the book and it definitely enhanced the mystery/thriller aspect of the book.

In the first book of the trilogy, a girl is murdered in upscale West Chester County, New York after attending a party at one of the student's house. From there, the story becomes a mystery/thriller of the best kind. Along with the two main protagonists, who eventually band together to try to solve the murder, there is a whole host of interesting characters to capture the mind of the reader. Even better, as the story progresses, we find that many of them are not as they appear on the surface. I loved this aspect of the book and it definitely enhanced the mystery/thriller aspect of the book.

My favorite part about this book, aside from the fact that it was a first rate thriller with lots of turns and twists, was the interplay between the two main protagonists. I don't mean the underlying romantic attachment that they seem to have, although that is a well done aspect in itself. Dani Harris is a forensic psychiatrist that looks at everything with a cool, clinical eye. Ex NFL Linebacker Tommy Gunderson, however, sees life in a less "rational" way, where the logical and real are mixed with things that science cannot quite explain. It is in the contrasting of these two styles of looking at the crime that I feel is the author's best contribution to this story.

As for the plot of the book, here again, Lis Wiehl scores. The plot is deftly woven and well paced. In addition there are twists and turns, some of which I saw coming, some of which hit me out of the blue. There were even a few "red herrings" to lead the reader temporarily down a path leading away from the truth. Another plus is the way the author was able to end the book, solving the murder, but making it apparent that the story was not over and leaving the reading definitely wanting more. I could not wait for the next installment and was glad that it was sitting on my Nook, ready to read.

All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed my first book by this author and am looking forward to adding her other work to the top of my reading list for 2013. I gave this book 5 stars based on my feelings that the characters and story were first rate, and on the level of enjoyment I had in both reading it, and trying to guess what the end result would be. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is an fan of mystery/thrillers and feel that Lis Wiehl can hold her own with the top writers in this genre. (less)

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Feb 22, 2013 Lisa Johnson rated it 5 of 5 stars

Title: Waking Hours (East Salem #1)
Author: Lis Wiehl with Pete Nelson
Pages: 329
Year: 2011
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Lis Wiehl along with Pete Nelson have written a thriller that I couldn’t put down! This contemporary fictional story is set in East Salem, New York, which is about 50 miles from New York City. East Salem is a small town where the wealthy retreat to escape from the city for the most part. There are some not so wealthy residents as well.
Danielle Harris or Dani is a 29-year-old forensi...more Title: Waking Hours (East Salem #1)
Author: Lis Wiehl with Pete Nelson
Pages: 329
Year: 2011
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Lis Wiehl along with Pete Nelson have written a thriller that I couldn’t put down! This contemporary fictional story is set in East Salem, New York, which is about 50 miles from New York City. East Salem is a small town where the wealthy retreat to escape from the city for the most part. There are some not so wealthy residents as well.
Danielle Harris or Dani is a 29-year-old forensic psychiatrist. She is single and lives alone in her parent’s house. Her parents were killed in an airplane trip while on a missionary trip in Africa. Dani was also serving on an internship there to help reintegrate African kids, who had been forced to become soldiers, back into society. Now she is back in the states serving with a practice that works with the district attorney’s office. She is called to serve on a case and for the first time she is without her boss along to guide her. She must investigate some members from the local high school who may or may not have participated in the killing of one of their classmates. She also teaches at a college and while there runs into a former classmate from high school, Tommy Gunderson. She felt like the two of them had experienced a connection while dancing together as king and queen. Does Tommy remember her? Did he feel the same connection? Why has she been having these strange dreams involving her parents and waking up every night at 2:13 a.m.? Who killed Julie Leonard?
Tommy Gunderson is a former professional football star, who has more money than he can spend. He does indeed remember Dani, and he has had a secret crush on her since their dance together. He is training and studying to become a profession investigator and then volunteers his help to Dani to help her investigate her case. Tommy is a Christian and puts his faith in the Lord. He also is taking care of his ailing father, who lives with him. Tommy takes no chance with safety and has state-of-the-art security and “toys” for protection. He has friends on the local police force, who give him the inside scoop. He also has a good Christian friend, who mentors him. Tommy also has the same strange dream Dani has. What are the chances of that happening? The town is on edge with the murder and other strange happenings going on. Tommy senses the evil present and prays for protection. Can he and Dani solve the case and stop the evil before someone else gets hurt?
A great start to what looks to be a captivating series. I’ve already got the second book and can’t wait to get started on it! I definitely recommend this book if you like suspense/mystery. Look for my review of the second book right here.
My rating is 5 stars.
Note: I received a complimentary copy for an honest review of this book. The opinions shared in this review are solely my responsibility. Other reviews can be read at http://seekingwithallyurheart.blogspo... . Also follow me on Twitter @lcjohnson1988, FaceBook at https://www.facebook.com/lisa.johnson...
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Jul 24, 2012 Louann Carroll rated it 4 of 5 stars

Twelve years after their high school graduation, Tommy and Dani are re-united to solve the murder of a local high school girl.(If you are not into gory details, you might want to leave this book alone.)

*shivers*

Soon after, supernatural connections are made and suddenly, the murder becomes something very different from what they expected.

*covers eyes* if that were possible.

Grisley details are used to make the connection that only someone desperately evil could enact a murder of this kind forcing...more

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May 21, 2012 Renn Shearin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Welcome to East Salem. In this deceptively quiet town, old supernatural forces are awakening.

And they cannot be controlled.....

An East Salem high school girl is found murdered in a park amid horse farms and wealthy homes of northern Westchester County, New York. The manner of her death shocks the town and intrigues Dani Harris, forensic psychiatrist, who becomes determined to solve the mystery. All of the suspects were teenagers at the same party, yet none remember what happened. Is one of them...more Welcome to East Salem. In this deceptively quiet town, old supernatural forces are awakening.

And they cannot be controlled.....

An East Salem high school girl is found murdered in a park amid horse farms and wealthy homes of northern Westchester County, New York. The manner of her death shocks the town and intrigues Dani Harris, forensic psychiatrist, who becomes determined to solve the mystery. All of the suspects were teenagers at the same party, yet none remember what happened. Is one of them the killer, or is the death linked to a darker, more ancient and sinister evil?

However, Dani is being plagued by her own nightmares. Each night at 2:13 Dani is awakened by troubling noises and dreams. Dreams of blood, water, and destruction. Is it a clue, or a supernatural sign?

Meanwhile former NFL linebacker Tommy Gunderson finds an elderly woman who has somehow breached his state of the art security system. Cursing at him in Latin, the woman attacks him with uncanny and unnatural strength. Before Tommy even has time to process the attack, someone close to him is implicated in the girl's murder at the park. Tommy agrees to help solve the murder, then finds himself working with Dani, the only girl who did not respond to his charms in high school.

Will Tommy and Dani be able to put past differences aside and solve this murder? And will they realize in time that they are a facing a deeper and darker evil than a mere human killer?

Waking Hours was a thrilling and scary roller coaster ride of a novel, filled with demonic murmurs and cold blooded killers. The tone of the novel was expertly done to leave the reader on the edge of their seat just waiting for the next unexpected turn or twist. The plot line of the novel was written very well and kept the reader guessing until the very end on the identity of the killer and whether Dani and Tommy would realize it in time. The undertone of the demonic forces at work in East Salem was very disturbing and brought to mind books on spiritual warfare. In the end, though the killer was found, the supernatural forces were still right under the surface, biding their time. These forces created a perfect cliff hanger for the next East Salem novel. Waking Hours by Lis Wiehl was an excellent, though dark read, and I cannot wait for her next novel.

I received this novel for free from Booksneeze.com and Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for an honest review. (less)

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Mar 27, 2012 Belindachaplin rated it 4 of 5 stars

"Waking Hours" by Lis Wiehl with Pete Nelson is the first in the East Salem trilogy. It has a different feel from Lis Wiehl's "Triple Threat" series mainly because it has a more prominent supernatural element. It is also the first in a trilogy so the ending leaves a lot hanging, whereas the Triple threat series books are all self-standing.

The story follows a former football hero and a forensic psychologist who were homecoming king and queen together in High school, and since them have completely...more

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Feb 20, 2012 Jill Williamson rated it 5 of 5 stars

Review by Jill Williamson
When a local high school girl is found murdered, forensic psychiatrist Dani Harris is put on the case. It’s a strange case for Dani in more ways than one. First, these students went to the same high school she did. Second, the murder was terribly gruesome and possibly ritualistic. Third, bizarre dreams are waking Dani each night at the exact same time. And fourth, Tommy Gunderson, her high school crush, has decided to help Dani with the case. Is this a straightforward ho...more

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Jan 07, 2012 Laura rated it 4 of 5 stars

When a teen is brutally murdered in a small town, forensic psychologist Dani Harris is called in on the case. Working with an old friend and old love interest Tommy Gunderson, former NFL star, Dani finds herself working on more than just a murder mystery. Each morning, she is awakened at 2:13 a.m. by weird dreams and strange events. Is more going on than just a murder...something supernatural?

The murder investigation is a good storyline, but when you add a supernatural occurrences and a budding...more

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Dec 22, 2011 Cleffairy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Reviewed at: Over A Cuppa Tea
Review link: http://cleffairy.com/?p=6487

Are you a fan of highly exhilarating, high paced fiction? If you are, then this book, Waking Hours by Lis Wiehl is definitely one for your library. I'm one of those people who loves to judge a book by it's cover. And the first time I saw this book, I thought I wouldn't like it. You see, the cover wasn't really inviting in my opinion, but I'm glad that I picked up this book.

I like the fast paced story and highly engaging charac...more

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Dec 21, 2011 Victor Gentile rated it 5 of 5 stars

Lis Wiehl with Pete Nelson in their new book, “Waking Hours” Book One in the East Salem series published by Thomas Nelson introduces us to the town of East Salem.

From the back cover: All towns have secrets. Some have demons.

Welcome to East Salem. A deceptively sleepy town where ancient supernatural forces are being awakened.

A local high-school girl is found murdered in a park amid horse farms and wealthy homes of northern Westchester County, New York. The shocking manner of her death confounds t...more

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Dec 12, 2011 Kathleen (Kat) Smith rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: christian-action-adventure, christian-fiction, christian-suspense-fiction, dark-fantasy-horror-fiction, supense-thriller-fiction

If you are looking for a great book that will grab you from the first page and keep you glued until you finally finish inhaling it in one sitting, then Waking Hours by Lis Wiehl is the novel for you, especially if your a huge fan of mystery suspense thrillers.

In this book, the reader is engaged in the first book in the East Salem Trilogy where an ancient evil has been awakened and a ritual murder appears to have happened amid horse farms and wealthy homes of northern Westchester County, New York...more

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Dec 06, 2011 Bookmom rated it 4 of 5 stars

The town of East Salem is shocked over a ritualistic-appearing murder of a teenage girl, and become paranoid with the strange things that they've noticed since then. Former NFL linebacker Tommy Gunderson becomes involved when a kid he mentors at his fitness center is being brought in for questioning since his cell phone was found near the body. Dani Harris is the forensic psychiatrist working with the DA's office; the first time she's acting as lead in this role. Both Tommy and Dani knew each ot...more

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Nov 07, 2011 Michelle rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

After reading the description about Waking Hours I knew I had to give it a try. When I finally made a start on reading Waking Hours I found it really interesting and the whole mystery surrounding the murder made me want to continue to find out who did it and why.

Throughout Waking Hours strange things happen, plagues of animals, strange dreams and unexplained figures. I enjoyed following Dani and Tommy on their journey together after forming an unexpected crime fighting duo, trying to solve the m...more

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Oct 30, 2011 ☆∞Bella's Shelf∞☆ rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: book-sneeze-review, mystery

The story began with Tommy Gunderson, a former pro ball player that is now a wanna-be PI, discovering an elderly lady in his backyard holding a mutilated frog and yelling at him in Latin.

I thought it was a great start to a book focusing on the brutal & bizarre murder of a teenage girl at a party. The only suspects are people who were at the party with her. They do not remember a thing about the party or the murder.

Dani Harris is a forensic psychiatrist called in to help solve the murder. She...more The story began with Tommy Gunderson, a former pro ball player that is now a wanna-be PI, discovering an elderly lady in his backyard holding a mutilated frog and yelling at him in Latin.

I thought it was a great start to a book focusing on the brutal & bizarre murder of a teenage girl at a party. The only suspects are people who were at the party with her. They do not remember a thing about the party or the murder.

Dani Harris is a forensic psychiatrist called in to help solve the murder. She teams up with Tommy Gunderson. Together they begin to realize this murder has more to it than meets the eye. To their astonishment it seems this murder is "other worldly".

I am not the type to read a normal mystery /who done it story but this appealed to me because of the supernatural element. It was not overwhelming enough to turn off the normal mystery fan nor was it underwhelming to the fan of supernatural reads. It blended the best of both worlds into a good, solid, fast paced, tale.

The feeling I got from Dani & Tommy is one of former teenaged crush's grown up and rediscovering each other again and liking the new things they are finding. They seem a little hesitant but not uncomfortable with one another. Their past makes their relationship flow a bit more than if they were total strangers tossed together in this scary & difficult situation.

I love the town of East Salem and the author brings you there with her descriptions of it. It seems to be the place one would want to live and raise a family or settle down as an adult without children.

It would seem "odd" that such a "perfect" place would be the scene of such a terrible murder. Or would it? Using plain old good detective work, common sense, insight, and the Bible, they began to piece together what happened to Julie Leonard, the murdered teen, that night of the party & how it revealed more sinister things to come.

The books ending definitely made you turn the page looking for a continuance. It left the story off at a perfect place to be continued in the series next book.
An overall good read perfect for this time of the year.(less)

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Oct 23, 2011 Michelle rated it 5 of 5 stars

As you crack open the cover, Waking Hours immediately plunges you straight into the mystery and suspense. Former NFL linebacker, Tommy Gunderson, finds an elderly woman standing by his fountain has triggered his security system. Upon reaching her, he discovers her digging in the entrails of a frog, ranting in an unknown language, and then spouting off warnings. Before he knows it, she attacks him, knocking him to the ground with a supernatural force.

An old woman with the strength of a bear is n...more As you crack open the cover, Waking Hours immediately plunges you straight into the mystery and suspense. Former NFL linebacker, Tommy Gunderson, finds an elderly woman standing by his fountain has triggered his security system. Upon reaching her, he discovers her digging in the entrails of a frog, ranting in an unknown language, and then spouting off warnings. Before he knows it, she attacks him, knocking him to the ground with a supernatural force.

An old woman with the strength of a bear is not all that is sinister in East Salem. A high-school girl is found murdered in a sadistic and ritualistic manner, and forensic psychiatrist, Dani Harris, is called in to assist in unraveling the mystery. A teenager who regularly attends Tommy’s gym, and who Dani used to babysit is implicated in the crime. He attended a high school party with the victim the night she was killed. However, he, nor any of the guests, can remember what happened that night.

If working this bizarre and unsettling case – her first solo case – is not challenging enough, Dani finds she cannot sleep. She wakes each night at 2:13, and her dreams are filled with visions of blood, water, and destruction.

Tommy and Dani team up, and quickly realize there is more to what is going on than just murder, there is something supernatural and evil at work in East Salem.

Waking Hours is the first book in the East Salem Trilogy, and it will leave you begging for book two by time you turn the last page. The characters are engaging and well developed, and they easily pull you through the story. There is a hint of romance between Tommy and Dani, adding a little sweetness, and sometimes humor to a dark story,. The mystery is well laid out, with just enough clues to leave you dangling, guessing, and squirming to find out what happens next.

Some might find it a bit heavy on religious/scientific fact; however, I thought it was brilliantly woven into the story. You never felt like you were being bombarded with forensic information, and it never had a “textbook” feel to it. And the spiritual message is there, but not overzealous. It is a great example of Christian fiction that can easily cross the barrier into the secular world of fiction, as it balances both science and faith, leaving the reader to question, explore and expand as they are ready.

This is definitely a page one page turner, and will have your reading into the waking hours. I give it five stars. For more information about Lis Wiehl and her other books, visit her website.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255
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Oct 08, 2011 Amanda rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: christian, horror-thriller, humor, mystery, paranormal-fantasy-sci-fi

This book drove me crazy. I was so creeped out that I kept wanting to stop reading, but I couldn't stop because I had to know what happened. Waking Hours was published by a Christian publisher, but don't make the mistake of thinking that means it's not a book that will keep you up at night. It just means there is no cussing or sex in the book. Trust me, you won't miss it.

Tommy Gunderson is the town hero: former high school football star, former NFL player. He's also a Christian, which makes for...more

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Oct 04, 2011 Michelle Brown rated it 5 of 5 stars

As you crack open the cover, Waking Hours immediately plunges you straight into the mystery and suspense. Former NFL linebacker, Tommy Gunderson, finds an elderly woman standing by his fountain has triggered his security system. Upon reaching her, he discovers her digging in the entrails of a frog, ranting in an unknown language, and then spouting off warnings. Before he knows it, she attacks him, knocking him to the ground with a supernatural force.

An old woman with the strength of a bear is n...more As you crack open the cover, Waking Hours immediately plunges you straight into the mystery and suspense. Former NFL linebacker, Tommy Gunderson, finds an elderly woman standing by his fountain has triggered his security system. Upon reaching her, he discovers her digging in the entrails of a frog, ranting in an unknown language, and then spouting off warnings. Before he knows it, she attacks him, knocking him to the ground with a supernatural force.

An old woman with the strength of a bear is not all that is sinister in East Salem. A high-school girl is found murdered in a sadistic and ritualistic manner, and forensic psychiatrist, Dani Harris, is called in to assist in unraveling the mystery. A teenager who regularly attends Tommy’s gym, and who Dani used to babysit is implicated in the crime. He attended a high school party with the victim the night she was killed. However, he, nor any of the guests, can remember what happened that night.

If working this bizarre and unsettling case – her first solo case – is not challenging enough, Dani finds she cannot sleep. She wakes each night at 2:13, and her dreams are filled with visions of blood, water, and destruction.

Tommy and Dani team up, and quickly realize there is more to what is going on than just murder, there is something supernatural and evil at work in East Salem.

Waking Hours is the first book in the East Salem Trilogy, and it will leave you begging for book two by time you turn the last page. The characters are engaging and well developed, and they easily pull you through the story. There is a hint of romance between Tommy and Dani, adding a little sweetness, and sometimes humor to a dark story,. The mystery is well laid out, with just enough clues to leave you dangling, guessing, and squirming to find out what happens next.

Some might find it a bit heavy on religious/scientific fact; however, I thought it was brilliantly woven into the story. You never felt like you were being bombarded with forensic information, and it never had a “textbook” feel to it. And the spiritual message is there, but not overzealous. It is a great example of Christian fiction that can easily cross the barrier into the secular world of fiction, as it balances both science and faith, leaving the reader to question, explore and expand as they are ready.

This is definitely a page one page turner, and will have your reading into the waking hours. I give it five stars.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255
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Oct 03, 2011 Nate LaClaire rated it 5 of 5 stars

Former NFL linebacker Tommy Gunderson is awakened in the middle of the night by his alarm system. Upon investigation, he discovers an elderly woman on his property who exhibits superhuman strength and keeps repeating a Latin phrase to him. Just hours later, he receives a call from a young friend who has been implicated in a murder that happened near the time when he met the old woman. At the police station, he runs into forensic psychiatrist Dani Harris, who he went to school with and hasn’t see...more Former NFL linebacker Tommy Gunderson is awakened in the middle of the night by his alarm system. Upon investigation, he discovers an elderly woman on his property who exhibits superhuman strength and keeps repeating a Latin phrase to him. Just hours later, he receives a call from a young friend who has been implicated in a murder that happened near the time when he met the old woman. At the police station, he runs into forensic psychiatrist Dani Harris, who he went to school with and hasn’t seen since graduation. Dani is investigating the murder, a vicious killing of a high school girl that appears to be ritualistic. Strange things are happening in East Salem. Is it all a coincidence combined with the fear of a vicious killer or is something supernatural behind the murder and other events? Meanwhile, will the spark that Dani and Tommy felt in high school be reignited or will they continue to be left with the question, “What if?”

Wow! That, in a word, was my reaction while reading Waking Hours (book #1 in The East Salem Trilogy) by Lis Wiehl with Pete Nelson. From the very first page right up until the last, I was on the edge of my seat. This is a fast-paced story with plenty of mystery, suspense, and supernatural elements, plus a touch of romance. While this is classified as a young adult book, and the story contains many elements for young adults, as a not-so-young adult I still found the story thoroughly enjoyable. I can’t wait for the trilogy to be continued!

The manner in which the murder was committed is quite shocking, but the descriptions are not overly gory. There is a very strong Christian message and the book is very clean. The main characters are positive role models and there are positive supporting characters as well.

I highly recommend this book for every teen or adult who likes mystery and suspense. Just be ready to check the door locks repeatedly and be scared out of your skin once or twice while reading.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”(less)

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Sep 28, 2011 K. L. rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: anyone who likes suspense, supernatural, a bit of romance

Recommended to K. by: friend

Shelves: suspense, christian

Highly recommended

If you're intrigued by the supernatural, you'll love this book.
A gruesome murder has rocked the affluent, quiet little New York town of East Salem. A teenage girl is killed, apparently in a violent and bizarre ritual during a party. The only suspect is another teen—but the more prosecutors dig into the case, the more confusing it becomes. Forensic psychologist Danielle Harris is assisting the DA’s office in solving the crime—when she gets an offer of assistance from the last pe...more

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Sep 05, 2011 Amie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle, netgalley

Historic East Salem may not be the sleepy little town it seems. Things are a bit off, especially when it comes to the supernatural. Forensic psychiatrist Dani Harris and former football star Tommy Gunderson form an uneasy alliance in order to solve the tragic murder of a local teenage girl. All of the evidence points to a group of teenagers, a group that doesn’t remember a thing about the night of the girl’s murder. Dani and Tommy begin to realize that there may be more to the murder than they r...more

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Oct 03, 2011 Amber Willingham rated it 5 of 5 stars

My review and oppions of this book are all my own , and I received the book to read and voice my oppion on ,

Waking Hours by Liehl and Pete Nelson is a thriller book about a murder and odd occurances happening in East Salem, NY. Dani is a foresenis phychiatrist working for the DA office when the murder of teenage girl occurs During her investigation is runs into her teenage crush Tommy. Together they try and solve the crime and all of the other odd occurances around town before anyone esle gets h...more

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Oct 03, 2011 Melissa ( Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: owned-ebook, reviewed-booksneeze

This book has all the makings of a great murder, mystery/thriller. It starts with a gruesome apparently ritualistic murder and then weaves in the supernatural elements so that they don’t overpower but rather complement the story.

I loved the plot and the main characters although I do feel that there was a little something lacking in the development of those characters…or perhaps it was simply the matter of fact style of the storytelling itself. If you are looking for rich language and a lot of em...more

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Sep 15, 2011 C rated it 3 of 5 stars

Title: Waking Hours

Author: Lis Wiehl w/ Pete Nelson

Genre: Religious Paranormal/Murder Mystery/Suspense

Release Date: 10/04/2011

Content Rated: R

Amazon.com: Hardback Kindle

Synopsis: A gruesome murder occurs in the wealthy, and rather creepy, town of East Salem, NY. Former local homecoming king and queen, Danielle “Dani” Harris and Tommy Gunderson, turned forensic psychologist and retired NFL star, team up to solve the case and explain why the unexplained keeps happening in their town.

Blender Review...more Title: Waking Hours

Author: Lis Wiehl w/ Pete Nelson

Genre: Religious Paranormal/Murder Mystery/Suspense

Release Date: 10/04/2011

Content Rated: R

Amazon.com: Hardback Kindle

Synopsis: A gruesome murder occurs in the wealthy, and rather creepy, town of East Salem, NY. Former local homecoming king and queen, Danielle “Dani” Harris and Tommy Gunderson, turned forensic psychologist and retired NFL star, team up to solve the case and explain why the unexplained keeps happening in their town.

Blender Review: Waking Hours is the first in a new East Salem Trilogy series by best-selling author Lis Wiehl. The characters of the story are written and developed in a thorough and well-rounded context. Lis also does a great job of changing the narration point of view from Dani to Tommy and back again. This novel is interwoven with several plots that include a gruesome murder, paranormal activity with heavy religious references and even a little romance.

The author’s portrayal of how a murder case is solves between a group of individuals including lawyers, doctors and police gives the reader a lot of opportunity to let their mind wander on open-ended questions that sometimes get answered and are sometimes left for interpretation. Though there is a lot of religious content throughout the book it is also written equally as scientific, giving the reader things to ponder in the age-old debate: science, religion or both? This novel also has its share of good humor and I laughed out loud on more than one occasion.

I felt this was a great start to a trilogy but was not without its share of needed polishing. The plots are loosely interwoven and cause confusion throughout its reading. The book is set in Salem, NY but the paranormal plot lines give reference to the Salem witch trials. I understand that witches were persecuted in both Salem, NY and Salem, MA but if the setting is meant to enhance the paranormal aspect of the book then why not choose Salem, MA as it is more famous for paranormal activity than Salem, NY. I would have also like to see the paranormal events better explained all the way through the book and not just completely unraveled between a few chapters.

I also felt the author’s references to the Pagan religion and magic were not accurate.The book suggests that the Pagan religious God’s were turned away from by their followers’ because among their pantheon’s there were specific God’s who only brought evil upon the world. The book also suggests the practice of black magic. In my studies neither of these is accurate. In truth, Pagan’s believed that their God’s were both good and evil and that the devil, as a single evil entity, did not exist. The same is true concerning black magic. Those who are practitioners of magic will tell you that magic is neither black nor white and is both all in one. These religions believe more in the nature of duality rather than good vs. evil.

Waking Hours is a good start to the new series that will reveal more and get better with each edition.(less)

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Aug 26, 2011 Ronie rated it 4 of 5 stars

4.5 STARS - Waking Hours is definitely one of Lis Wiehl’s best endeavors yet! I loved the story, and while I wouldn’t call it a fast-paced thriller, it’s definitely a thriller with a pace that keeps you reading. The plot line was enthralling with the way the spiritual and physical were interwoven. At times, I felt the author(s) intruded a bit in the story by having the characters randomly jump to conclusions that did not feel natural course of thoughts, and yet they were the right conclusions. H...more

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Oct 03, 2011 Wendi rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Waking Hours (The East Salem Trilogy, Book One)
By Lis Wiehl with Pete Nelson
Published by Thomas Nelson

Waking Hours, book one in The East Salem Trilogy Wiehl’s newest supernatural crime thriller series, takes place in the town of East Salem in Northern Westchester County. Forensic Pathologist Danielle “Dani” Harris is brought in as the DA’s lead when a grisly, ritualistic murder of a teenage girl rocks the otherwise quiet hamlet. Her first case as a solo lead, Dani has to be at the top of her gam...more Waking Hours (The East Salem Trilogy, Book One)
By Lis Wiehl with Pete Nelson
Published by Thomas Nelson

Waking Hours, book one in The East Salem Trilogy Wiehl’s newest supernatural crime thriller series, takes place in the town of East Salem in Northern Westchester County. Forensic Pathologist Danielle “Dani” Harris is brought in as the DA’s lead when a grisly, ritualistic murder of a teenage girl rocks the otherwise quiet hamlet. Her first case as a solo lead, Dani has to be at the top of her game. But nerves are heightened when an old highschool acquaintance ingratiates himself into the investigation.

Tommy Gunderson––former high school prom king and professional footballer, now owner of the local fitness club and aspiring private investigator––is brought into the case when a teenage boy he trains at his gym is called in as a suspect and requests his presence. Tommy is certain the boy is innocent and suspects something more sinister afoot; especially after the strange and violent encounter he had with a demented old local woman. Having escaped a nearby convalescent home, she was found by his pond sifting through the innards of a frog and speaking in mixed old world Latin.

As Dani and Tommy combine their efforts to track down the killer or killers, they have no idea the magnitude of the evil they are about to uncover. Disturbing in its manipulative power over the towns youth and the sense of fear invoked in not only the towns’ people but also in themselves; the real author of this unfolding malevolence is not what they believe, and the case is far from being closed.

A first rate thriller, Waking Hours is perfectly paced, establishes a strong trilogy foundation, masterful character development and psychological twists, and conveys the herald of evil to come. Having never read a novel by Wiehl before, I found the ending of this book quite abrupt; however, I look forward to reading book two and three of the trilogy to satisfy my curiosity.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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Jan 16, 2012 Teresa in Ohio rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-read, wiehl-lis

East Salem is rocked by a gruesome murder and all the suspects/witnesses are teenagers who attended a party and remember nothing. Dani is the forensic dr who is running this case as her first solo case. Tommy is the all american high school football player turned pro who comes back home to start a new life. Dani and Tommy have a connection from high school that they never acted on. As they investigate the case together, more disturbing actions happen in this small sleepy town. Unexplained incide...more

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Sep 03, 2011 Kimba (Caffeinated Book Reviewer) rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is the first book I have read by author Lis Wiehl. She has written such books as “Face of Betrayal” a New York Times Bestseller and part of her Triple Threat mysteries. After reading Waking Hours, I will be picking up copies of her earlier works.I really enjoyed this suspenseful, paranormal mystery thriller. This is the first book in the East Salem Trilogy.
The story takes place in quaint East Salem; a lake side, close knit community where everyone knows everybody. I loved the way the autho...more This is the first book I have read by author Lis Wiehl. She has written such books as “Face of Betrayal” a New York Times Bestseller and part of her Triple Threat mysteries. After reading Waking Hours, I will be picking up copies of her earlier works.I really enjoyed this suspenseful, paranormal mystery thriller. This is the first book in the East Salem Trilogy.
The story takes place in quaint East Salem; a lake side, close knit community where everyone knows everybody. I loved the way the author portrayed this town, its buildings, people and places. It’s the type of New England town you dream of visiting or living in. A brutal ritualistic murder of a young woman occurs and sets this sleepy little town on edge. All of the suspects in this crime are teenagers who attended a party the night of the murder. Crime scene evidence suggests they were all involved, but all of the kids are suffering from memory loss.
Forensic psychiatrist Dani Harris a member of the local DA’s office, finds herself taking the lead in this case when her boss in unavoidably detained. Dani has always been a hard working overachiever in her professional life but in her personal life not so much. She seems confident, like a woman with a plan, but she is often filled with self doubt and questions her every move.
PI in training, Tommy Gunderson is a formal pro-football linebacker and local celebrity. He left football after a tragic accident and opened his own gym. As a teen he had a crush on Dani but felt he was way out of her league, and still does. If only he knew that cool confident Dani felt the same way.
The two end up teaming together to solve the murder. I enjoyed the chemistry between the two and found myself laughing at the hilarious things they would say, like two awkward teens on a first date. I sometimes thought they pulled pieces of the puzzle together a little too quickly, but overall the storyline was genuinely believable and kept me engrossed.
Strange dreams, biblical references, supernatural occurrences and this overwhelming sense of evil made the story spooky and an ideal fall read. The ending set the stage perfectly for book two of this trilogy and I found myself searching for clues to its release.
A special thank you to netGalley and Thomas Nelson publishing in exhange for my unbiased review.
you can see this review and others on my blog: http://www.kimbathecaffeinatedbookrev...(less)

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Oct 03, 2011 Amy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, mystery-thriller, christian-fiction

In small town East Salem something frightening is coming to life. When a teenage girl is found brutally murdered, forensic psychologist Dani Harris is called in to unravel the mystery. With the help of her old high school crush, Tommy Gunderson, they set out to find out just who – or quite possibly, what – could have commited such a nasty crime.

I loved everything about this novel. From the author’s voice, to her interesting characters and suspenseful plot, you are not left wanting for anything b...more

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Oct 03, 2011 Kristy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2011, mystery, paranormal

East Salem is a cozy little town where something unspeakable has happened. A high school girl is found dead, murdered in a remote part of the local park. Everything about her death is strange and doesn't seem to make any sense. Dani is a forensic psychiatrist working on the case and it's getting to her, keeping her up at all hours of the night.

Dani and her new assistant Tommy need to sort through the clues and get into the mind of the killer in order to solve this case. The problem is, there see...more

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Oct 09, 2011 Aparajitabasu rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, review-copy, netgalley, christian, crime, fiction, mystery, paranormal, suspense, thriller

I most definitely don't like to read novels with Christian references but here since its a lot more of a mystery and suspense and very very less content of it so i'm willing to forgo and read the whole thing. That is readers I present before you all my review of East Salem Trilogy #1 Waking Hours by Lis Wiehl and Peter Nelson .

Here is the summary of the book:

All towns have secrets. Some have demons. Welcome to East Salem. A sleepy town with a history older than America where things are just a bi...more I most definitely don't like to read novels with Christian references but here since its a lot more of a mystery and suspense and very very less content of it so i'm willing to forgo and read the whole thing. That is readers I present before you all my review of East Salem Trilogy #1 Waking Hours by Lis Wiehl and Peter Nelson .

Here is the summary of the book:

All towns have secrets. Some have demons. Welcome to East Salem. A sleepy town with a history older than America where things are just a bit off. Where the supernatural bleeds into the everyday. And where a tragic murder mystery is underway. A high school girl is found dead in the town park. And where forensic psychiatrist Dani Harris wants answers. All the suspects are teenagers who were at the party with her the night before-but who woke up the next morning with no memory of what transpired. Even though evidence confirms they were all at the scene of the crime. Former pro-football linebacker-and local celebrity-Tommy Gunderson finds himself drawn to the case. And to Dani-who he last spoke with on their one high school date forever ago. Yet his celebrity status opens doors barred to Dani-so they form an awkward alliance. They soon realize that there's more to the mystery than murder. And more to the evil they are facing than a mere human killer. The supernatural series awakens this fall- with an official street date of October 4, 2011.

The whole book is basically divided into two POVs of Tommy and of Dani's. And is the best debut novel here of Lis Wiehl...well this is the first book I have read of her's anyway.

So as already mentioned in the summary all the action is based in and around East Salem and any of you don't know Salem's history reeks of the supernatural. Exactly the daily mundane lives of the people here and mixing supernatural is definitely not a big deal. So when this tragic and suspicious murder case springs up, a high school girl found brutally murdered and the body lying in the town park. All the suspects are teenagers and they don't remember anything that had happened there and so the forensic psychiatrist Danielle "Dani" Harris wants answers also her high school crush Tommy Gunderson, ex-football player and line backers also finds himself drawn to the case and to the stunning Dani Harris, who is well ironically his high school crush too. Co-incidence? Well Tommy definitely doesn't think so.

So when Tommy approaches to let him help with the case Dani reluctantly agrees....well he is a local celebrity and his status might help her in places where her working for the D.A.s office might not. But when they realize that the murder might not be just an act of a heinous sin but turn into something more on a higher degree?.......well that still needs to be seen since this is just the first book........................

So anyway an amazing book with an amazing cast Dani Harris is the overachiever (kinda like a muggle-born Hermione Granger...sorry couldn't resist the harry potter reference), she is a righteous lady and has a very heavy past full of grief and sadness for the loss of her parents. Then there is Tommy Gunderson her high school for whom she still has got feelings but a lot of tension is there as well. Tommy's life hasn't also been the greatest, being a celebrity is a very difficult job.....he has to keep an indifferent mask in public, keep his head down and definitely don't forget the paparazzi.....never forget those crazy people. So between retiring and leaving his fiance at the alter he life is pretty messed up too but on the plus side he is rich and a tech junkie.

Character analysis done the plot should not be left behind. While I can't say much as this is just the first one but i'd say this all the twists and turns and the little bits of supernaturality makes you flip the pages at a pace you never knew. An easy and a fast read and an amazing job done by the authors.(less)

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Waking Hours (East Salem Trilogy #1)

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