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McAllister Files #4
She Who Watches
A senator's family has been threatened--and now one of them is missing. Can Mac and Dana find Sara before it's too late?
The senator had raised this niece as his own daughter. So when she doesn't return home and her abandoned car is found in a parking garage, it alarms not only the family but law enforcement agencies throughout the Northwest. The only clue: a set of menacing letters sent to the senator's office. Now it's up to Oregon state police officers Mac McAllister and Dana Bennett and their team to find a lead . . . or to find Sara . . . before they find her dead.
The case will be made harder because not only must they share evidence with the FBI but navigate stand-offs between the government, Native American tribal customs, political pride, family intrigue . . . and even their own hearts. Meanwhile, two questions loom that, if answered, could provide the missing link in their investigation: First, is Sara a victim, or a dissatisfied wife who has run away? And second, is politics being used to mask a sordid truth, or has someone's passion for a cause possibly led them to violence?
The senator had raised this niece as his own daughter. So when she doesn't return home and her abandoned car is found in a parking garage, it alarms not only the family but law enforcement agencies throughout the Northwest. The only clue: a set of menacing letters sent to the senator's office. Now it's up to Oregon state police officers Mac McAllister and Dana Bennett and their team to find a lead . . . or to find Sara . . . before they find her dead.
The case will be made harder because not only must they share evidence with the FBI but navigate stand-offs between the government, Native American tribal customs, political pride, family intrigue . . . and even their own hearts. Meanwhile, two questions loom that, if answered, could provide the missing link in their investigation: First, is Sara a victim, or a dissatisfied wife who has run away? And second, is politics being used to mask a sordid truth, or has someone's passion for a cause possibly led them to violence?
352 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2006
About the author
Patricia H. Rushford
64 books144 followersPatricia H. Rushford, an award winning author and speaker, has extensive experience in writing and has authored over sixty books, both fiction and non-fiction. In addition to having a nursing degree and masters in counseling, she is also an artist and quilter.
The Jennie McGrady Mysteries for young adults have sold well over 500,000 copies. Silent Witness won the Silver Angel Award for Excellence in Media and was nominated for an Edgar Allen Poe Award by Mystery Writers of America. She also wrote the Max & Me Mysteries for middle grade.
The various mystery series for adults continue to receive great reviews. Her series include, The Helen Bradley Mysteries, The Angel Delaney Mysteries, The McAllister Files and her latest, the Artisan Mysteries.
Her newest releases are: Watercolor Dreams, Deadly Deception and The Quiltmaker's Daughter, both are romantic suspense novels featuring artists.
She has been awarded the Golden Quill Award by RWA- Desert Rose Chapter and earned honorable mention in the Silver Angel Awards.
Patricia is a member of ACFW and a number of other writing organizations. She has participated in such mystery events such as Bouchercon--the World Mystery Convention, Left Coast Crime, and other conventions for lovers of mystery and suspense. She manages a website and blog and has a presence on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Goodreads and Linked-in and also generates a newsletter. Called Mysterious Musings.
Additional info at www.patriciarushfordbooks.com
The Jennie McGrady Mysteries for young adults have sold well over 500,000 copies. Silent Witness won the Silver Angel Award for Excellence in Media and was nominated for an Edgar Allen Poe Award by Mystery Writers of America. She also wrote the Max & Me Mysteries for middle grade.
The various mystery series for adults continue to receive great reviews. Her series include, The Helen Bradley Mysteries, The Angel Delaney Mysteries, The McAllister Files and her latest, the Artisan Mysteries.
Her newest releases are: Watercolor Dreams, Deadly Deception and The Quiltmaker's Daughter, both are romantic suspense novels featuring artists.
She has been awarded the Golden Quill Award by RWA- Desert Rose Chapter and earned honorable mention in the Silver Angel Awards.
Patricia is a member of ACFW and a number of other writing organizations. She has participated in such mystery events such as Bouchercon--the World Mystery Convention, Left Coast Crime, and other conventions for lovers of mystery and suspense. She manages a website and blog and has a presence on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Goodreads and Linked-in and also generates a newsletter. Called Mysterious Musings.
Additional info at www.patriciarushfordbooks.com
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 22, 2019
Sara Watson is dismayed when she finds that her car was broken into while she was at work. Her husband is in a meeting, so she decides to drive home and take care of calling the insurance company before picking up her daughter at daycare. When Sara arrives home, an intruder attacks and kidnaps her. Her cousin Claire, scheduled for a visit, arrives, soon followed by Sara's husband. Where is Sara?
Since Sara is the niece of a state senator who raised her after her own parents died, the case quickly becomes high profile. The FBI is immediately involved, but no one seems to know whether Sara's disappearance is voluntary or due to foul play. Oregon state police officers Mac McAllister and Dana Bennett are peripherally involved at first, but soon begin to run interference with the Native American tribe when threatening letters to the senator are uncovered. Can they find Sara before it's too late?
Although this is the fourth in a mystery series featuring Mac McAllister, it easily stands alone. Readers with no prior knowledge of the characters or situations will quickly get into the flow. The authors have a wonderful understanding of police and criminal procedure and the realism makes the story very readable and believable. Mac's and Dana's private lives do play a role in the overall tale, but never take away from the mystery and intrigue.
The involvement of the Native American police, and discussions of current events - such as tribal casinos - that threaten to further divide Native American and American cultures make the novel relevant as well as interesting. I hope that Nate, the tribal police officer, becomes a recurring character in the series, because he adds a great deal of depth. As I'm from the Northwest, reading about Oregon locales and landmarks is fascinating and the author does a fantastic job making the setting a part of the story.
Although this is a Christian-based mystery, the Christian element is quite subtle and never intrudes on the overall plot. Anyone who enjoys a good police procedural will like She Who Watches. The suspense is quite intense in spots, and the reader is kept guessing as to the identity of the villain(s) until the very end.
Since Sara is the niece of a state senator who raised her after her own parents died, the case quickly becomes high profile. The FBI is immediately involved, but no one seems to know whether Sara's disappearance is voluntary or due to foul play. Oregon state police officers Mac McAllister and Dana Bennett are peripherally involved at first, but soon begin to run interference with the Native American tribe when threatening letters to the senator are uncovered. Can they find Sara before it's too late?
Although this is the fourth in a mystery series featuring Mac McAllister, it easily stands alone. Readers with no prior knowledge of the characters or situations will quickly get into the flow. The authors have a wonderful understanding of police and criminal procedure and the realism makes the story very readable and believable. Mac's and Dana's private lives do play a role in the overall tale, but never take away from the mystery and intrigue.
The involvement of the Native American police, and discussions of current events - such as tribal casinos - that threaten to further divide Native American and American cultures make the novel relevant as well as interesting. I hope that Nate, the tribal police officer, becomes a recurring character in the series, because he adds a great deal of depth. As I'm from the Northwest, reading about Oregon locales and landmarks is fascinating and the author does a fantastic job making the setting a part of the story.
Although this is a Christian-based mystery, the Christian element is quite subtle and never intrudes on the overall plot. Anyone who enjoys a good police procedural will like She Who Watches. The suspense is quite intense in spots, and the reader is kept guessing as to the identity of the villain(s) until the very end.
October 26, 2020
Like the most predictable of the series. I loved the long intro to the book. I enjoyed the more romantic side of Mac in this book. Great finish to the series. I will be moving onto Angel Lane by the same author.
October 30, 2020
This book was alright, but I felt like the storyline was very slow. It took me about half the book to get into it and then the ending felt very rushed. The plot could have been more evenly spaced out.
January 24, 2023
Best of the batch!'
This was by far my favorite of the McAllister Files series and left me not wanting the story to end. It was fast paced and I stayed up late reading it in just a few days.
This was by far my favorite of the McAllister Files series and left me not wanting the story to end. It was fast paced and I stayed up late reading it in just a few days.
July 14, 2021
Underwhelming, predictable at the end, but ok. Too many characters to keep up with.
January 6, 2022
Interesting and surprising read - however, if it is the last of the series, there were a couple of questions left unanswered…
January 28, 2022
This was a book that kept you guessing all the way until the end! I loved how there was a romantic component that didn’t detract from the main plot line.
January 23, 2016
SHE WHO WATCHES is the fourth and final installment in the McAllister Files from Patricia Rushford and Harrison James. When a senator is threatened, and one of his family members is kidnapped, Mac and his partner Dana Bennett try to unearth the truth before it’s too late. Making the case even harder for Mac is the fact that they must share evidence with the FBI, delve into Native American tribal customs, deal with political red tape, and he must try to sort out the feelings he has for Dana without ruining their partnership altogether.
The characters of the McAllister Files are genuine and believable, the protocol and procedures followed by the detectives factual and realistic. Patricia’s story telling ability and Harrison’s personal experience in law enforcement makes for a superb story with great characters and believable twist and turns.
The characters of the McAllister Files are genuine and believable, the protocol and procedures followed by the detectives factual and realistic. Patricia’s story telling ability and Harrison’s personal experience in law enforcement makes for a superb story with great characters and believable twist and turns.
August 24, 2016
This was an alright book but for some reason, I struggled to find it intriguing. I feel like the book lacked plot. Most of the book was McAllister thinking to himself and reflecting on day to day event. Sure, there were a few turns in the investigation, like all the others, but there were no real exciting moments except for the ending. Even then, I felt like it was dragged on and I had to force myself to keep coming back to finish this book. It took me a while to actually complete it because I didn’t really find it interesting; I enjoyed McAllister’s reflections but the book lacked excitement. It had very original and interesting circumstances but the author didn’t elaborate much on that.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews