What do you think?
Rate this book
Sun Coast Chronicles #1-4
Sun Coast Chronicles
Set on Florida's glittering Gold Coast, this quartet of superbly crafted thrillers takes readers on a suspense-filled trek to the depths of human evil and the liberating power of God's mercy. This one volume edition includes Evidence of Mercy, Justifiable Means, Ulterior Motives, and Presumption of Guilt.
695 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 1999
189 people are currently reading
407 people want to read
About the author
Terri Blackstock
90 books5,555 followersTerri Blackstock is a New York Times best-seller, with over seven million books sold worldwide.. She has had over thirty years of success as a novelist.
Terri spent the first twelve years of her life traveling in a U.S. Air Force family. She lived in nine states and attended the first four years of school in The Netherlands. Because she was a perpetual “new kid,” her imagination became her closest friend. That, she believes, was the biggest factor in her becoming a novelist. She sold her first novel at the age of twenty-five, and has had a successful career ever since.
In 1994 Terri was writing romance novels under two pseudonyms for publishers such as HarperCollins, Harlequin, Dell and Silhouette, when a spiritual awakening prompted her to switch gears. At the time, she was reading more suspense than romance, and felt drawn to write thrillers about ordinary people in grave danger. Her newly awakened faith wove its way into the tapestry of her suspense novels, offering hope instead of despair. Her goal is to entertain with page-turning plots, while challenging her readers to think and grow. She hopes to remind them that they’re valued by God and that their trials have a purpose.
Terri spent the first twelve years of her life traveling in a U.S. Air Force family. She lived in nine states and attended the first four years of school in The Netherlands. Because she was a perpetual “new kid,” her imagination became her closest friend. That, she believes, was the biggest factor in her becoming a novelist. She sold her first novel at the age of twenty-five, and has had a successful career ever since.
In 1994 Terri was writing romance novels under two pseudonyms for publishers such as HarperCollins, Harlequin, Dell and Silhouette, when a spiritual awakening prompted her to switch gears. At the time, she was reading more suspense than romance, and felt drawn to write thrillers about ordinary people in grave danger. Her newly awakened faith wove its way into the tapestry of her suspense novels, offering hope instead of despair. Her goal is to entertain with page-turning plots, while challenging her readers to think and grow. She hopes to remind them that they’re valued by God and that their trials have a purpose.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
March 30, 2016
My second book
I found each story in this book was hard to put down. Like the fact we have multiple books in one.
I found each story in this book was hard to put down. Like the fact we have multiple books in one.
October 20, 2018
Another set of stories that will touch your heart and soul!!!
Each story really keeps you turning the pages as the characters face dangers which helps brings them to examine their relationship to one another and their relationship to their Saviour. I love how the characters will openly share their faith with an unbeliever or bring themselves in a closer walk with God. Don't forget to read the Afterwords at the end, it is so meaningful to read what Terri shares about her faith from her heart!
Each story really keeps you turning the pages as the characters face dangers which helps brings them to examine their relationship to one another and their relationship to their Saviour. I love how the characters will openly share their faith with an unbeliever or bring themselves in a closer walk with God. Don't forget to read the Afterwords at the end, it is so meaningful to read what Terri shares about her faith from her heart!
October 20, 2020
Terri Blackstock is an amazing author and an amazing Christian. She impressed on my heart to not neglect the reading of God’s Word and prayer to read her books or others. My heart and my allegiance belong to Him and Him alone. God has taught me other things through her books, but this was the most important. Thank you Terri Blackstock for your love and witness to me!
December 28, 2018
Great book could not put it down. Had me on the edge of my seat
I would recommend this book to anyone.Terri Blackstock is a great writer and I will look for my next book to read by her
I would recommend this book to anyone.Terri Blackstock is a great writer and I will look for my next book to read by her
December 8, 2022
These were great books! I enjoyed reading them and would definitely recommend them! The constant people in them were 2 Police Detectives, Larry Milsaps and his partner Tony. They were really suspenseful, thrillers, with romance and Christianity throughout, very worth it!
June 26, 2018
Great series
Terri Black rock is one of my favorite Christian authors. This was a nice life like series with realistic characters
Terri Black rock is one of my favorite Christian authors. This was a nice life like series with realistic characters
November 19, 2018
Awesome Book series!
You wont want to put the book down. Great twists and turns to make you keep reading. Terri has become one of my very favorite authors!
You wont want to put the book down. Great twists and turns to make you keep reading. Terri has become one of my very favorite authors!
April 27, 2019
Read all four--and everyone kept me on the edge of my seat--extremely difficult to put down.
June 4, 2019
Loved this Series - Terri Blackstock writes the best books!!
October 20, 2019
Lots of Twists and Turns
I couldn’t put this series down. The writer makes you feel like part of the story. You keep turning pages just to see what happens next!
I couldn’t put this series down. The writer makes you feel like part of the story. You keep turning pages just to see what happens next!
August 1, 2021
heart warming
Terri is one of my favorite authors. Lots of inspiration, tears, redemption. This series was like a faith booster shot!
Terri is one of my favorite authors. Lots of inspiration, tears, redemption. This series was like a faith booster shot!
February 5, 2023
The story is good and the author makes less than perfect, wounded souls so real and endearing.
August 9, 2025
Terri Blackwell always does a good job with storytelling & character development.
April 29, 2015
NOTES: If you don't like books with small children exploited, kidnapped or in danger, none of these books would be for you. However, I usually avoid those types of books but these did not bother me very much. I would also recommend reading other unrelated books between these books. There is a real feeling of similarity between the stories. Of course, some of the characters are the same book-to-book, but even a little more than that is similar. I think if I'd followed this advice, these would have rated higher. The similarities just really began to stand out since this is the second series by this author I've read this month. Just sayin'....
EVIDENCE OF MERCY: I finished reading this at about 1 last night and now that it is nearly night again, I can only recall that I did like it. My recollection is that I liked it about 3.5 or 4 stars.
JUSTIFIABLE MEANS: I was initially disappointed that this was not a continuation of the story of Lynda and Jake but it turned out they figured into this story after all. I liked this story--generally speaking--but I scan-read a lot of it. Based on how much scan-reading I did do and based on little things that bugged me, I think this is 2 stars. I felt like Larry should have taken himself off the case and that he really crossed the line into non-professionalism. He was a great character and things turned out OK but it was hard to read. I thought there were other little procedural problems. One example: I don't believe Tony could have looked in the trunk of a car--the interior that was in clear view but not paw through the car either--without tainting the case.
ULTERIOR MOTIVES: Rating 3 stars. Once again, I was disappointed that Tony (whom I had come to regard as a by-the-book, good policeman, fell into the Larry-esque trap and veered toward nonprofessional, albeit on a lesser scale. I felt that a knowledgeable thief of a 20-million dollar painting would not have stored it (a) in the roof rafters near both cold, damp, heat, etc. and (b) rolled up. Those were just a couple of little niggling things in this story that caught my attention. I did do some scan-reading (which means there was extraneous verbiage, usually in the religious parts). However, generally speaking, I liked this story, I liked the whole dynamic of the two "families" having to work together and work through their issues. I look forward to the next installment in this series.
PRESUMPTION OF GUILT: Rating 3.5. I like the characters of Nick and Beth and I liked this plot.
EVIDENCE OF MERCY: I finished reading this at about 1 last night and now that it is nearly night again, I can only recall that I did like it. My recollection is that I liked it about 3.5 or 4 stars.
JUSTIFIABLE MEANS: I was initially disappointed that this was not a continuation of the story of Lynda and Jake but it turned out they figured into this story after all. I liked this story--generally speaking--but I scan-read a lot of it. Based on how much scan-reading I did do and based on little things that bugged me, I think this is 2 stars. I felt like Larry should have taken himself off the case and that he really crossed the line into non-professionalism. He was a great character and things turned out OK but it was hard to read. I thought there were other little procedural problems. One example: I don't believe Tony could have looked in the trunk of a car--the interior that was in clear view but not paw through the car either--without tainting the case.
ULTERIOR MOTIVES: Rating 3 stars. Once again, I was disappointed that Tony (whom I had come to regard as a by-the-book, good policeman, fell into the Larry-esque trap and veered toward nonprofessional, albeit on a lesser scale. I felt that a knowledgeable thief of a 20-million dollar painting would not have stored it (a) in the roof rafters near both cold, damp, heat, etc. and (b) rolled up. Those were just a couple of little niggling things in this story that caught my attention. I did do some scan-reading (which means there was extraneous verbiage, usually in the religious parts). However, generally speaking, I liked this story, I liked the whole dynamic of the two "families" having to work together and work through their issues. I look forward to the next installment in this series.
PRESUMPTION OF GUILT: Rating 3.5. I like the characters of Nick and Beth and I liked this plot.
July 30, 2021
Beginning to end suspense
What does an abusive husband, a serial rapist, an art thief and a sadistic owner of a home for children have to do with each other? They are all part of a great collection of stories based in a small Florida town, St Clair. Two detectives, Larry and Tony, a smart, Christian lawyer, Lynda, and Jake, a former pilot, are woven in to each book and provide continuity. I've read through the weekend, enjoying each book, and am sad to leave the people and stories behind. I am consoled knowing that there are more Terri Blackstock stories and towns to explore! I heartily recommend The Sun Coast Chronicles to anyone wanting to be drawn into the adventures and relationships in this small town.
What does an abusive husband, a serial rapist, an art thief and a sadistic owner of a home for children have to do with each other? They are all part of a great collection of stories based in a small Florida town, St Clair. Two detectives, Larry and Tony, a smart, Christian lawyer, Lynda, and Jake, a former pilot, are woven in to each book and provide continuity. I've read through the weekend, enjoying each book, and am sad to leave the people and stories behind. I am consoled knowing that there are more Terri Blackstock stories and towns to explore! I heartily recommend The Sun Coast Chronicles to anyone wanting to be drawn into the adventures and relationships in this small town.
March 1, 2008
First book I read by Terri Blackstock, but not the last. A former secular novelist, Terri turned her considerable skills at writing, especially characterization, to building the kingdom and glorifying the Father, but not in an "in your face" way. She's one of my favorites.
December 18, 2020
Good read
This was the first Terri Blackstock book series I have read. I really enjoyed it - especially the weaving of characters from former books into the next one. Writing interesting Christian fiction is not easy and Terri Blackstock does it well.
This was the first Terri Blackstock book series I have read. I really enjoyed it - especially the weaving of characters from former books into the next one. Writing interesting Christian fiction is not easy and Terri Blackstock does it well.
November 8, 2013
Once I started reading I couldn't put it down.
May 13, 2015
Absolutely a wonderful series. Very suspenseful.
April 20, 2016
A difficult series for me
These books each touched things i have actually dealt with or people i knew went through. A great read. Each book different but standing alone.
These books each touched things i have actually dealt with or people i knew went through. A great read. Each book different but standing alone.
November 30, 2019
I really like these books. Always something happening.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews