What do you think?
Rate this book
Lure of the Serpent #1
Unholy Hunger
Evelyn Barrett wants to die. As long as her daughter's murderer dies with her, she is ready to go. Why did this man--this stranger--destroy her family? Why has he not been brought to justice? Why is she forced to live a life of anger and grief? Amid a million questions she cannot answer, Evelyn knows this murderer must be punished for his crime. Before it all, she was a successful attorney who won all the hard cases. Now that the case is personal, Evelyn will stop at nothing to seek her own version of justice. When another girl goes missing, Evelyn plows forward, ignoring the warnings from police detectives, the pleas of her grief-stricken husband, and the strange, almost supernatural tingles that tug at her. But as she follows the stench of evil, Evelyn learns that the hardest thing she will have to face may not be the death of her child after all. Perhaps the harder lesson is this: the ultimate truth--of crime and verdict, of life and death--cannot be swayed by a mother's revenge.
In this first book of a new, page-turning series, a woman will be brought to her limits before she finally recognizes and reconnects with the source of true peace.
In this first book of a new, page-turning series, a woman will be brought to her limits before she finally recognizes and reconnects with the source of true peace.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
5 people are currently reading
216 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
January 3, 2013
Heather James does a wonderful job of reeling you in to the main character's struggle to battle against her inner demons. Through this unique and candid look into the character's inmost thoughts and feelings, a sense of empathy and compassion for her causes you to cheer on Evelyn Barrett as she seeks to find some measure of justice and cope through the loss of her daughter's murder. Fascinating plot twists keep you turning page after page. I would not be surprised if this turned into a movie, it's THAT good! What I loved most about the book was the imagery Heather James paints so eloquently giving an intimate look into the heart of all the characters involved. Without giving away the ending, I will say it is the perfect ending for this story and rightfully prompts you to ponder life's most important question: Do you belong to God? Or are you just another pawn of the serpent???
January 27, 2015
For anyone who's lost a child ... this novel will help you realize you're not alone. At times hard to read due to the subject matter (main character loses her child to a pedophile) but very real. Evil is not glamorized, but it's definitely not glossed over either. I applaud Heather James for a solid first novel.
March 5, 2013
Unholy Hunger absolutely blew me away! I was completely shocked to read that this was Heather James’s first novel because it’s one of the best I’ve ever read. I was immensely disturbed yet completely absorbed in this novel. I was so glued to this book from page one that I read the book in two days because I could not put it down!
I think as a parent whenever you read about your worst nightmare happening to someone, you can’t help but put yourself in their shoes. I think that being a mother drew me into this story even more because I have a daughter around the same age. It’s horrifying to even think about my child being murdered but that’s what Evelyn Barrett must face.
She responds in much the same way I think I would with first denial, then anger and a need for medication just to get her through. When the fog of the medicine lifts and she is left with her immeasurable grief, her anger and hatred takes over. She becomes a vigelante of sorts, tracking down pedophiles with her newly obtained ability to “smell” them.
What Evelyn discovers the hard way is that no matter how many pedophiles she puts behind bars, her daughter is still dead and the life she once knew including her job and husband are now gone. Only when she faces her reality can she heal and move forward. Her journey will take her through all the stages of grief.
Heather James’s writing is almost poetic and it’s so deep that I hurt when Evelyn hurt and cried when she cried. I felt her rage and desperation and only an amazingly gifted author can pull you that deep into her story with her words. It drew me to a dark place where you think about the worst in human nature but then led me to a feeling of hope and perseverance that the human spirit experiences only after extreme circumstances.
I can not rave enough about this novel and my mere words simply do not do justice to Unholy Hunger. It’s something you have to read for yourself to comprehend.
I think as a parent whenever you read about your worst nightmare happening to someone, you can’t help but put yourself in their shoes. I think that being a mother drew me into this story even more because I have a daughter around the same age. It’s horrifying to even think about my child being murdered but that’s what Evelyn Barrett must face.
She responds in much the same way I think I would with first denial, then anger and a need for medication just to get her through. When the fog of the medicine lifts and she is left with her immeasurable grief, her anger and hatred takes over. She becomes a vigelante of sorts, tracking down pedophiles with her newly obtained ability to “smell” them.
What Evelyn discovers the hard way is that no matter how many pedophiles she puts behind bars, her daughter is still dead and the life she once knew including her job and husband are now gone. Only when she faces her reality can she heal and move forward. Her journey will take her through all the stages of grief.
Heather James’s writing is almost poetic and it’s so deep that I hurt when Evelyn hurt and cried when she cried. I felt her rage and desperation and only an amazingly gifted author can pull you that deep into her story with her words. It drew me to a dark place where you think about the worst in human nature but then led me to a feeling of hope and perseverance that the human spirit experiences only after extreme circumstances.
I can not rave enough about this novel and my mere words simply do not do justice to Unholy Hunger. It’s something you have to read for yourself to comprehend.
February 21, 2013
My only regret after reading this book was that I read it too quickly... but I guess that is good because I can enjoy it a second time! I get bored and distracted easily when I read with my limited time and active kids. I did NOT get bored at all with Unholy Hunger, I actually had to hide it away a few times so I didn't curl up on the couch to read more instead of getting my work done!
From page one Heather had me spell bound with her vivid descriptions, well developed characters and fascinating story line. Every parent has had a nightmare situation of losing their child run through their minds at one point or another so the topic made me nervous, but thankfully Heather spared us the gory details. She also lightened up the topic by including humor and personalities to shine through!
I look forward to discussing this book with friends as our next book club selection. I'm sure we will all have different opinions of how Evelyn dealt with her grief, and as to where Heather will head next with her next book. I can't wait!
From page one Heather had me spell bound with her vivid descriptions, well developed characters and fascinating story line. Every parent has had a nightmare situation of losing their child run through their minds at one point or another so the topic made me nervous, but thankfully Heather spared us the gory details. She also lightened up the topic by including humor and personalities to shine through!
I look forward to discussing this book with friends as our next book club selection. I'm sure we will all have different opinions of how Evelyn dealt with her grief, and as to where Heather will head next with her next book. I can't wait!
March 1, 2013
Be warned, the subject matter of this book is powerful and geared to provoke a strong emotional response!
"Yes, I wanted to die. As long as my daughter's murderer died with me, I was ready to go. I was already three quarters of the way there after the blow he had given to my head.
Everything turned black for a moment as the sudden, slicing pain radiated into numbness. Black then gave way to a white, heavenly blur, and I strained to see past the world closing in on me. I saw a brown shirt, faded jeans, blackened eyes...oh, there he was; there slouched the monster against a kitchen counter. He was clutching one side of his chest, futilely trying to seal the singed bullet hole and cupping his warmed blood before it all bubbled out to the cheap linoleum below.
I fought to see more, to take it all in deeper and beyond the fuzziness of my depleting consciousness, but something oozed over my left eye. More blood. My blood. I blinked, but that made it worse, further welcoming the dark, sticky stuff to seep in from my open wound.
His mouth moved; his lips puckered in and out trying to say something. He looked like a fish plucked from the ocean and left to die on a pier caked with bait and spilled guts. I wondered what he was trying to say, or maybe even ask. Perhaps the question of the day for him would have been a big fat, "Why?"
If he had managed to ask that, I knew how I'd respond: "You want the Why? Join the club, you dying carp."
So opens the Prologue for the novel Unholy Hunger, the first book in the Lure of the Serpent Series by Heather James. It hooks you right from the beginning and never lets go until you turn the final page. It is powerful, and makes you question your own response to what would you do if someone kidnapped your daughter, abused and murdered her. My own response felt much along the lines of just what the author captured in this compelling novel. Along the way, we see things through the eyes of Evelyn Barrett, as she goes from a powerful successful attorney, married to Eddie, a telephone line repair man, and raising their first and only child, Corinne. The emotions she goes through are so real that you often wonder how real this book is. I know that even in my own mind, I was walking through the chapters of her life right along side with her, even though I was watching from a distance. This is every parents nightmare and thus the warning at the beginning of this review.
There are those who wouldn't be able to read this type of book, not for the writing style but simply based on the subject matter. However, Evelyn soon finds herself gifted with a heavenly gift of being able to detect child predators based on their smell. She calls it unholy hunger. They seem to wear their sinful filth like a bad stench and soon finds herself working with the local police to uncover her daughter's murderer based on this gift. The police don't believe she has this ability but soon find her solving more cases than they ever could and bringing the criminals to justice before they have a chance to hurt children like her Corinne.
I received Unholy Hunger by Heather James compliments of Kregel Publications for my honest review and literally could not put this down because I had to see how it turned out. Perhaps it gave me a way to see what the consequences of my actions might be if I too, pursued this type of justice in a safe way. In the end, I think I would have followed things through much the same way as Evelyn even justifying my actions with the fact that nothing remains of you when your child is brutally murdered. I can't wait to see where her next book will be headed, but I know I will be prepared to face the unknown horrors that you often find staring you in the face when the lights go out and the darkness remains. I rate this one a 4 out of 5 stars and loved how it ended.
"Yes, I wanted to die. As long as my daughter's murderer died with me, I was ready to go. I was already three quarters of the way there after the blow he had given to my head.
Everything turned black for a moment as the sudden, slicing pain radiated into numbness. Black then gave way to a white, heavenly blur, and I strained to see past the world closing in on me. I saw a brown shirt, faded jeans, blackened eyes...oh, there he was; there slouched the monster against a kitchen counter. He was clutching one side of his chest, futilely trying to seal the singed bullet hole and cupping his warmed blood before it all bubbled out to the cheap linoleum below.
I fought to see more, to take it all in deeper and beyond the fuzziness of my depleting consciousness, but something oozed over my left eye. More blood. My blood. I blinked, but that made it worse, further welcoming the dark, sticky stuff to seep in from my open wound.
His mouth moved; his lips puckered in and out trying to say something. He looked like a fish plucked from the ocean and left to die on a pier caked with bait and spilled guts. I wondered what he was trying to say, or maybe even ask. Perhaps the question of the day for him would have been a big fat, "Why?"
If he had managed to ask that, I knew how I'd respond: "You want the Why? Join the club, you dying carp."
So opens the Prologue for the novel Unholy Hunger, the first book in the Lure of the Serpent Series by Heather James. It hooks you right from the beginning and never lets go until you turn the final page. It is powerful, and makes you question your own response to what would you do if someone kidnapped your daughter, abused and murdered her. My own response felt much along the lines of just what the author captured in this compelling novel. Along the way, we see things through the eyes of Evelyn Barrett, as she goes from a powerful successful attorney, married to Eddie, a telephone line repair man, and raising their first and only child, Corinne. The emotions she goes through are so real that you often wonder how real this book is. I know that even in my own mind, I was walking through the chapters of her life right along side with her, even though I was watching from a distance. This is every parents nightmare and thus the warning at the beginning of this review.
There are those who wouldn't be able to read this type of book, not for the writing style but simply based on the subject matter. However, Evelyn soon finds herself gifted with a heavenly gift of being able to detect child predators based on their smell. She calls it unholy hunger. They seem to wear their sinful filth like a bad stench and soon finds herself working with the local police to uncover her daughter's murderer based on this gift. The police don't believe she has this ability but soon find her solving more cases than they ever could and bringing the criminals to justice before they have a chance to hurt children like her Corinne.
I received Unholy Hunger by Heather James compliments of Kregel Publications for my honest review and literally could not put this down because I had to see how it turned out. Perhaps it gave me a way to see what the consequences of my actions might be if I too, pursued this type of justice in a safe way. In the end, I think I would have followed things through much the same way as Evelyn even justifying my actions with the fact that nothing remains of you when your child is brutally murdered. I can't wait to see where her next book will be headed, but I know I will be prepared to face the unknown horrors that you often find staring you in the face when the lights go out and the darkness remains. I rate this one a 4 out of 5 stars and loved how it ended.
January 15, 2013
I like gritty fiction and the inner workings of minds fascinates me. When I was offered a chance to read Heather James's Unholy Hunger I hesitated, the subject matter is tough and not something I'd ever seek out to fill my brain. I avoid immersing myself in the darker portions of our culture because seeing and reading about the ways people harm themselves and others depresses me. But the intrigue of the book cover copy caused me, knowing up front that the subject matter would be closer to hellish than the heavenlies, to ask for a review copy.
Let me tell you why I strongly liked this short novel. I have to say liked because I don't know that the subject matter could ever put this into the love category for me.
Heather James is an excellent writer. Her prose is tense, tight, snappy and full of sense triggers. Her characters are multidimensional and even though the entire story plays out through the eyes and angst, soul and senses of Evelyn, the reader gets a clear understanding of the motivations and drives of the other characters in the book. Tension pulled at me so the pages turned faster and faster as I both dreaded and couldn't wait to find out what happened next. James handles the subject matter with sensitivity and with grace, giving just enough detail to get the point across without assaulting my heart.
The basic plot-line or skeleton of the story is this... a small child is abducted and murdered and the mother, Evelyn, completely unravels. As Evelyn comes undone she finds the depth of darkness in her own soul and her marriage unhinges, too. But there is more to the story....the flesh and heart of the story, beyond the all too real darkness, is the light that is altogether more powerful. The horror in the storyline is secondary to the redemption that comes when God bleeds, literally and figuratively, into the lives of humanity.
The subject matter includes child abuse, abduction, molestation, murder and there are moments of horror as things are revealed. I would not recommend it to anyone who is raw with emotion. And those who look for inspirational fiction full of light and innocence aren't going to want to go there. However, if you've read The Shack and loved it or if you love gritty, well-written fiction, read it. Kudos to the editors/publishers/marketing folks who brought this book to print as well as Ms. James's hard work in pouring her heart and soul into the computer and tightening the prose until it zings.
The Wordsmith Journal strives to guide readers to books of personal interest, with the understanding and respect that what appeals to some may not appeal to others. Therefore we attempt to keep our reviews focused on content, genre and style. The rating is necessary to make use of Goodreads and Amazon. It reflects the reviewer’s own level of enjoyment, but the review is intended to be informative for the benefit of all readers.
March 3, 2013
Successful lawyer Evelyn Barrett is comfortable in her roles as mother and wife and attorney, until she receives news that shatters her world. Her daughter has been brutally murdered. Evelyn is immediately consumed by anger and hatred, forgetting everything else in her life as she burns with one desire. Nothing will stop her from hunting down the murderer and punishing him for taking her precious daughter from her, even if she herself must die in the process. And then, she begins smelling evil....
Debut novelist Heather James offers up a fantastic start to a new series, The Lure of the Serpent, a story of murder and revenge with supernatural overtones. The writing crackles with tension, and I was immediately swept up into the heart-break and the suspense that is woven throughout the pages. Before I picked up the book, I was worried the book might drag if the reader was forced to constantly wallow in Evelyn's grief over the loss of her daughter. But if you have a similar fear, there is no need! The book moves at an unstoppable pace, and I found it incredibly difficult to put the book down for any reason. Evelyn is a unique character and I simply couldn't get enough of seeing the world through her eyes. As a parent myself, I could immediately relate to Evelyn as a parent, though I thank God I've never had to deal with anything like she has. The story of what happens to her daughter is absolutely disturbing, and I can't imagine having to live with such a thing! The added twist of being able to smell evil (I won't say more for fear of giving away too much) is a simply awesome trait to give a character!
I honestly find it hard to believe that this is the first novel Heather James has written. It's a keeper for sure! I'm anxiously awaiting the next book to emerge from Heather's imagination! Bonus points are awarded for being a debut novel, and I give this my highest recommendation of 5 out of 5 stars.
Book has been provided courtesy of the publisher, Kregel, for the purposes of this unbiased review.
Debut novelist Heather James offers up a fantastic start to a new series, The Lure of the Serpent, a story of murder and revenge with supernatural overtones. The writing crackles with tension, and I was immediately swept up into the heart-break and the suspense that is woven throughout the pages. Before I picked up the book, I was worried the book might drag if the reader was forced to constantly wallow in Evelyn's grief over the loss of her daughter. But if you have a similar fear, there is no need! The book moves at an unstoppable pace, and I found it incredibly difficult to put the book down for any reason. Evelyn is a unique character and I simply couldn't get enough of seeing the world through her eyes. As a parent myself, I could immediately relate to Evelyn as a parent, though I thank God I've never had to deal with anything like she has. The story of what happens to her daughter is absolutely disturbing, and I can't imagine having to live with such a thing! The added twist of being able to smell evil (I won't say more for fear of giving away too much) is a simply awesome trait to give a character!
I honestly find it hard to believe that this is the first novel Heather James has written. It's a keeper for sure! I'm anxiously awaiting the next book to emerge from Heather's imagination! Bonus points are awarded for being a debut novel, and I give this my highest recommendation of 5 out of 5 stars.
Book has been provided courtesy of the publisher, Kregel, for the purposes of this unbiased review.
March 7, 2013
What can I say. Heather James is my new favorite author. This book made me mad. At the end I cried. This book delves into marital issues like I have never read before. What made it even better for me is that I felt Evelyn was justified in her actions. If someone hurt my child, then I think I would react the way she did in the beginning. I would be broken. She lost her family, her spouse and her child. However Evelyn goes on a downward spiral that leads to death. We are all tempted by the serpent, but Evelyn was more than tempted. She listened.
This was a roller coaster of feelings for me. I could not put the book down. I read it every chance I got. It was well written and easy to follow. I can not wait to read the next book in the series.
I could not believe who the killer was, and I have to mention what a great ending it was. Poor Eddie had a tough time trying to stay married to Evelyn. I liked the secondary characters in this book as well and hope that they all show up in the sequel. ***There is also some sort of a paranormal gift in the book***! I wish people really had it. Would make the world a safer place! I wish I could rate this book higher than a 5. I am giving this book a 5/5 via Amazon review guidelines, but for my own guidelines I am giving this book a 7/5 :)
I was given a chance to review this book from Kregel Publications, however all opinions are my own !
This was a roller coaster of feelings for me. I could not put the book down. I read it every chance I got. It was well written and easy to follow. I can not wait to read the next book in the series.
I could not believe who the killer was, and I have to mention what a great ending it was. Poor Eddie had a tough time trying to stay married to Evelyn. I liked the secondary characters in this book as well and hope that they all show up in the sequel. ***There is also some sort of a paranormal gift in the book***! I wish people really had it. Would make the world a safer place! I wish I could rate this book higher than a 5. I am giving this book a 5/5 via Amazon review guidelines, but for my own guidelines I am giving this book a 7/5 :)
I was given a chance to review this book from Kregel Publications, however all opinions are my own !
March 2, 2013
270 pages
Lure of the Serpent Book I
Kregel Publications
Evelyn Barrett is a successful lawyer, a wife and mother. Then her young daughter disappears, and her world is turned upside down, when they find her body. All she wants to do is find the man who killed her daughter, and after he dies, die too. And she goes after who she thinks is her daughter's killer, and when she wakes beside his body, he has a stench, the smell of a pedophile. But, the police tell her she got the wrong man, and arrest her.
You've had books you couldn't put down? This is one that I didn't even want to turn loose, until I read the last pages. It does have a bit of a surprise ending, and when I found who the murderer really was, I was shocked. It is a real page turner, and it is also Heather James first novel.
I'd give this book 5+ stars.
Lure of the Serpent Book I
Kregel Publications
Evelyn Barrett is a successful lawyer, a wife and mother. Then her young daughter disappears, and her world is turned upside down, when they find her body. All she wants to do is find the man who killed her daughter, and after he dies, die too. And she goes after who she thinks is her daughter's killer, and when she wakes beside his body, he has a stench, the smell of a pedophile. But, the police tell her she got the wrong man, and arrest her.
You've had books you couldn't put down? This is one that I didn't even want to turn loose, until I read the last pages. It does have a bit of a surprise ending, and when I found who the murderer really was, I was shocked. It is a real page turner, and it is also Heather James first novel.
I'd give this book 5+ stars.
March 9, 2013
This is a fascinating story about a mother's demand for vengeance after her child is murdered. Evelyn Barrett had a great life, with a wonderful husband, beautiful daughter, and a job she loved as an attorney. That's all shattered when her daughter dies and she becomes obsessed with finding and punishing the man who did this. When she develops an ability to sniff out evil, will she listen to her conscience or take it too far?
There are a lot of facets to this story, from grief to the extremes Evelyn goes to find justice, to the odd ability that helps her discover the truth. This is a tough subject matter, but not graphic. The emotions were believable and I could see... see the rest here: http://shopgirl152ny.blogspot.com/201...
There are a lot of facets to this story, from grief to the extremes Evelyn goes to find justice, to the odd ability that helps her discover the truth. This is a tough subject matter, but not graphic. The emotions were believable and I could see... see the rest here: http://shopgirl152ny.blogspot.com/201...
January 4, 2013
This novel is an amazing page turner from Heather James. 10 pages into the text, I was emotionally invested into Evelyn's life and the struggles she was going through. The anguish of the new circumstances of her existence was apparent, but before long, so was her sarcastic humor and likability. The real struggle anyone goes through when turmoil hits their life is how they handle it, emotionally, physically and spiritually. Unholy Hunger shows us this struggle in a way that is shocking and yet comforting. I was cringing at Evelyn one second and cheering for her the next! My oh my...I can't wait to read the next book in the series!
January 11, 2013
This book was written by a local woman who belongs to the same church that I do. That explains why I chose to read this one even though it is out of my usual genre. Evelyn Barrett's four year old daughter was raped and murdered, abducted from the park while the nanny Evelyn hired slept on a bench. This book did an excellent job of conveying all the emotions a mother would have: the anger, fear, grief. Evelyn set out with vengeance in her heart and her anger intensified when she started to "smell" pedophiles whenever they were near. Her journey back to God's will for her life is quite a ride. Read this one.
May 29, 2017
Good vs. Evil, Anger vs. Tears. "We are not all bad parents; we're just living in a bad world." As people in a world full of good and evil we are faced every day with choices. Which team do we choose to be on? After the brutal end to her sweet and innocent daughter's life, Evelyn Barret is faced with this very choice. Which jersey will she choose? Just because she has the right colored jersey hanging in her closet, does she actually put it on and wear it for the world to see? This book is full of twists and turns and will keep you reading and hungry for more......
February 20, 2013
I finished the book in about 12 hours! Although it's a difficult subject to think and read about, you can't help but be drawn in and kept in suspense by the excellent writing.
Having lost a child myself (albeit in an entirely different manner), I can say the raw, undiluted emotions of Evelyn are as real as real gets... It felt like Heather James had opened a window to my soul and was writing my story for all to read.
Thrilling, raw and very well written.
I highly recommend you read this book.
Looking forward to the next in the series!
Having lost a child myself (albeit in an entirely different manner), I can say the raw, undiluted emotions of Evelyn are as real as real gets... It felt like Heather James had opened a window to my soul and was writing my story for all to read.
Thrilling, raw and very well written.
I highly recommend you read this book.
Looking forward to the next in the series!
February 2, 2013
4.5 stars. I really really liked this book. First, I'll say that there's nothing easy about facing crimes against children. I cried through parts of this. I can't imagine any mother not crying. I had to face my wariness on the topic head-on. But I'm glad I did. The plot is deftly written. The characters are strong and vivid. The book from start to finish is satisfying. You feel this book. It's hard to put down. I'm Looking forward to reading more from the author, as this is her literary debut.
February 25, 2013
Amazing novel. James takes you in to the heart, mind and soul of Evelyn Barrett as she deals with the emotions and agony of losing a child. I cried with her, I was angry for her, and I hurt for her. I could not stop reading about Barrett's quest for revenge, justice and redemption. Truly, an action packed page turner that I could not put down. Highly recommend, and I can't wait to see what James has in store for the next book!
February 3, 2013
Wow! Such a great book. I loved the sauciness of the main character and her unrelenting passion to find her daughter's killer. Love the inner struggles that come along with it and how she finally deals with things. Such a great novel, especially from a first time writer!! Can't wait for the rest of the series.
February 19, 2013
This book is a page turner,and I did not want to put it down!! This book draws you in from the first page and causes you to identify with the main character in positive and negative ways. The book caused me to think about how I would respond in the same situation. Such a great book and I cannot wait for the next one!!!
February 19, 2013
I started and finished this book in a single day, grabbed hold of me from the start and couldn't put it down. The novel was written so well that I even had nightmares for about a week and became a crazy parent for a bit. I have twin 3 year old girls with "yellow" hair, so it did have a strong effect me.
February 21, 2013
Heather has written a book that exposes the good and bad aspects of human nature. Unholy Hunger examines the emotions and sometimes irrational behavior of a grieving mother. Mix in a dose of laugh-out-loud humor and a bit of science fiction, and you have an excellent novel. I can't wait for the next book!
February 26, 2013
Heather James's debut novel is an unexpected amalgam; a throwback to gritty detective novel noir on the one hand and modern psychological thriller on the other. The end result grabs you by the collar and gives you a good shake. I'm definitely looking forward to whatever Ms. James has in store for us next.
January 24, 2013
This book made me relate to the main character, Evelyn from the very first page. It pulled at my heart strings and kept me wanting to know what happens next. I could not put it down. I can't wait for the next book in the trilogy to be released!!
April 28, 2013
This book was so gripping. It had depth,substance, surprises and turns that and had me reading it well into the night. I loved the characters. It was very well written. The next book in this series just can't be released fast enough for me.
April 9, 2014
This book was quite well written. Despite an upsetting plot, this kept my interest in the story and my empathy for the protagonist. I wanted to know how it all ended, and I wanted our heroine to end up being OK. Though, whether she did or not, you'll have to read it to find out.
January 13, 2013
I felt like I was fighting the fight right along with Evelyn, the main character. Heather James first novel was well worth the read! I can't wait for the second book of the series.
January 15, 2013
Great debut novel! I was so impressed with the writing and sensitive story. I can not say enough good things and plan on recommending it to everyone I know.
February 10, 2013
This was a great book, caught my attention in the first page and kept it through the whole book.
April 23, 2013
This chick is crazy! Like the little twists.
June 5, 2017
Great book!
March 4, 2013
This was an interesting and intriguing book for me. I thought the suspense was quite good; it held my attention from the very beginning.
'Yes, I wanted to die. As long as my daughter's murderer died with me, I was ready to go. I was already three quarters of the way there after the blow he had given to my head.'
It builds from there and I was hooked on that part. The part that was a bit more troubling was the spiritual warfare element for which this series derives its name: 'Lure of the Serpent.' After Evelyn gets hit in the head by the man she thinks has killed her daughter, she comes out of a coma with the 'ability' to smell evil. Not just any old kind of evil, but the rank, malodorous stench of those who molest and abuse children. It almost makes her violently ill each time. I won't give away any of the plot by telling how she puts this to use, but I will say this: 'If only it were that easy.'
I'm sure the author realizes this. True, '…we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.' (Ephesians 6.12, ESV). Yet we're not given the ability to detect those rulers, authorities and cosmic powers simply by smell (or by sight or basically any other physical means). This is why the battle is spiritual and why it is done by faith in the Son of God.
James' characters are fun, enjoyable and realistic. The two detectives…I'm wondering if, as a practicing lawyer, James has run across these two characters. Some of the 'villains'––maybe in the same line of art-meets-work? The one character I wish had been just a bit different was Evelyn' husband. I'm not certain how I wish he were different though. Early on, he's saturated in grieving over the murder of his daughter. Later, he's trying to 'save' his wife from herself, but seems to do this by letting come close to 'killing' herself and hoping she'll learn to grieve in another fashion. Only later, does he act the role I was looking for. A huge mark in his favor, however––when he and Evelyn separate and she's certain a divorce is immanent, he fights for their marriage. He clings to it and won't let go. There is a great model for far too many men to emulate. Thank you, Heather James for that.
It will be interesting to see where James takes the rest of this series. I was caught off guard by the ending, the culprit and the leaving off until the next book. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
'Yes, I wanted to die. As long as my daughter's murderer died with me, I was ready to go. I was already three quarters of the way there after the blow he had given to my head.'
It builds from there and I was hooked on that part. The part that was a bit more troubling was the spiritual warfare element for which this series derives its name: 'Lure of the Serpent.' After Evelyn gets hit in the head by the man she thinks has killed her daughter, she comes out of a coma with the 'ability' to smell evil. Not just any old kind of evil, but the rank, malodorous stench of those who molest and abuse children. It almost makes her violently ill each time. I won't give away any of the plot by telling how she puts this to use, but I will say this: 'If only it were that easy.'
I'm sure the author realizes this. True, '…we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.' (Ephesians 6.12, ESV). Yet we're not given the ability to detect those rulers, authorities and cosmic powers simply by smell (or by sight or basically any other physical means). This is why the battle is spiritual and why it is done by faith in the Son of God.
James' characters are fun, enjoyable and realistic. The two detectives…I'm wondering if, as a practicing lawyer, James has run across these two characters. Some of the 'villains'––maybe in the same line of art-meets-work? The one character I wish had been just a bit different was Evelyn' husband. I'm not certain how I wish he were different though. Early on, he's saturated in grieving over the murder of his daughter. Later, he's trying to 'save' his wife from herself, but seems to do this by letting come close to 'killing' herself and hoping she'll learn to grieve in another fashion. Only later, does he act the role I was looking for. A huge mark in his favor, however––when he and Evelyn separate and she's certain a divorce is immanent, he fights for their marriage. He clings to it and won't let go. There is a great model for far too many men to emulate. Thank you, Heather James for that.
It will be interesting to see where James takes the rest of this series. I was caught off guard by the ending, the culprit and the leaving off until the next book. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews