What do you think?
Rate this book
Against the Tide
EXPOSING THE TRUTH
Returning home for her father's funeral, big-city reporter Megan McCallister is brutally attacked—confirming her suspicions that her father's mysterious death was no accident. But only her childhood friend, Garret Larsson, believes her theory. The teenager she once knew has grown into a brave, honorable man…but can he keep her alive long enough to find the truth? Garret needs Megan to leave town, but he wants her to stay. He knows about the secrets her newspaperman father uncovered and the dangerous exposé he was writing. And now Megan has vowed to finish her father's final article. Someone's determined to kill the story—and Megan along with it—but he'll have to go through Garret first.
Returning home for her father's funeral, big-city reporter Megan McCallister is brutally attacked—confirming her suspicions that her father's mysterious death was no accident. But only her childhood friend, Garret Larsson, believes her theory. The teenager she once knew has grown into a brave, honorable man…but can he keep her alive long enough to find the truth? Garret needs Megan to leave town, but he wants her to stay. He knows about the secrets her newspaperman father uncovered and the dangerous exposé he was writing. And now Megan has vowed to finish her father's final article. Someone's determined to kill the story—and Megan along with it—but he'll have to go through Garret first.
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published September 6, 2016
78 people are currently reading
149 people want to read
About the author
Melody Carlson
418 books3,265 followersMelody Carlson is the award-winning author of over two hundred books, several of them Christmas novellas from Revell, including her much-loved and bestselling book, The Christmas Bus.
She also writes many teen books, including the Diary of a Teenage Girl series, the TrueColors series, and the Carter House Girls series.
Melody was nominated for a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her books, including the Notes from a Spinning Planet series and Finding Alice, which is in production as a Lifetime Television movie. She and her husband serve on the Young Life adult committee in central Oregon.
She also writes many teen books, including the Diary of a Teenage Girl series, the TrueColors series, and the Carter House Girls series.
Melody was nominated for a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her books, including the Notes from a Spinning Planet series and Finding Alice, which is in production as a Lifetime Television movie. She and her husband serve on the Young Life adult committee in central Oregon.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
March 11, 2017
Meh for me. I prefer my suspense stories with a healthy dose of clues to figure out, and this one was more just a story of people in danger. I liked the two MCs okay, but the side characters were mostly bland and didn't have clear motivations, except for the bad guys...the police force was alternately clumsy or on top of things, and not very predictably.
September 24, 2016
3.5 stars Megan McAllister has returned home to her small Pacific Northwestern town for her father's funeral. Her father ran the local weekly paper, and died while out at sea fishing. It all looks like an accident but events in town quickly lead Megan, herself a reporter, to believe that her father's death may not have been accidental after all.
After break ins at the paper and at her father's home, Megan is convinced that her father must have stumbled into something that put him in danger. Reconnecting with Garrett Larsson, an old acquaintance of hers who now runs the local marina, confirms this. Garrett and Megan's father fished together on occasion and Garrett is aware that Mr. McAllister had been on the trail of possible organized crime operating out of casinos in the area.
The action in this book starts near the very beginning and never lets up, so in that sense, the book held my attention. I found myself very curious about what Mr. McAllister had discovered. Megan and Garrett have many near misses - most of them not the result of TSTL behavior, so props to them for that. There's a bit too much piled on at the end, but I still enjoyed the suspense plotting in this book.
However, I found myself thinking that this book would have worked better as straight action/suspense rather than romantic suspense. While Garrett and Megan did know each other previously, there's not a lot of romantic history between them, so they are essentially starting their relationship from scratch. And in this case, shoehorning a deep relationship into a high action plot over a relatively short time period just didn't work. It was the type of situation where one could easily believe in an initial attraction between the two but not a complete HEA.
After break ins at the paper and at her father's home, Megan is convinced that her father must have stumbled into something that put him in danger. Reconnecting with Garrett Larsson, an old acquaintance of hers who now runs the local marina, confirms this. Garrett and Megan's father fished together on occasion and Garrett is aware that Mr. McAllister had been on the trail of possible organized crime operating out of casinos in the area.
The action in this book starts near the very beginning and never lets up, so in that sense, the book held my attention. I found myself very curious about what Mr. McAllister had discovered. Megan and Garrett have many near misses - most of them not the result of TSTL behavior, so props to them for that. There's a bit too much piled on at the end, but I still enjoyed the suspense plotting in this book.
However, I found myself thinking that this book would have worked better as straight action/suspense rather than romantic suspense. While Garrett and Megan did know each other previously, there's not a lot of romantic history between them, so they are essentially starting their relationship from scratch. And in this case, shoehorning a deep relationship into a high action plot over a relatively short time period just didn't work. It was the type of situation where one could easily believe in an initial attraction between the two but not a complete HEA.
April 19, 2020
I loved this book. A Christian mystery with a tiny bit of romance thrown in. I enjoyed it immensely, loved the characters, was intrigued by the plot and read it in less than a week. The main character, Megan, a journalist in the big city, is coming back to her hometown because her father has mysteriously died while on his boat. Garret Larsson meets her trying to get into the family newspaper. The mystery deepens in chapter one when Megan finds someone has broken into the newspaper office and he "slapped her across the side of the head-so hard that her head smacked into the floor and she could almost see stars." (page 15) They pair up and endeavor to solve the mystery because the local police have accepted the coroner's conclusion that her dad died of natural causes... but too many suspicious things have happened by the time she finds this out... page 133. Something more MUST be going on or why would there have been burglaries and people shooting at them on more than one occasion.
I won't reveal the ending, but they do solve the mystery of course, and I really enjoyed this book. I plan to read more of her books in the future.
Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge prompt(s) –
#13 A book with the same title as a movie or TV show but is unrelated to it (Against the Tide is the name of a documentary film... a football chronicle of the seminal 1970 match-up between USC and the Crimson Tide.)
#38 A book by or about a journalist
I won't reveal the ending, but they do solve the mystery of course, and I really enjoyed this book. I plan to read more of her books in the future.
Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge prompt(s) –
#13 A book with the same title as a movie or TV show but is unrelated to it (Against the Tide is the name of a documentary film... a football chronicle of the seminal 1970 match-up between USC and the Crimson Tide.)
#38 A book by or about a journalist
September 2, 2025
I lost brain cells reading FOUR pages of this.
Not. Kidding.
The story: Girl arrives in port town where her dad owned/operated a family printing press. She has a key on a wooden fishing lure - she *thinks* it might open the door, as it was her dad's press shop key. (?!?!?!) She's surprised at the amount of people in town. Duh, it's Memorial day weekend on the waterfront, but nevermind.
She wants inside the press shop to get a little memory of her father, because she's having a hard time processing that he's gone... but the key won't work.
Some rando comes up behind her, asks her what she's doing, and sympathizes when he finds out she's the daughter of the deceased... WHO PASSED AWAY AT SEA YESTERDAY. I kid you not - HOW does this guy know, already?! Who would've known, that fast? The old man was out fishing a.l.o.n.e., hello...!!! Nobody misses people THAT fast, out on open water, like that.
More, if it was YESTERDAY (!!!!!!) wouldn't she be knee-deep in funeral arrangements, talks with the hospital and family members/friends, mourning her dadgum *EYES* out??? Not 'having trouble processing'!??! Heck, if she's out of town, they would probably just be reaching her, NOW, as next of kin, hello...!!!
The whole premise is ridiculous, contrived, and nonsensical.
I... can't even. What a load of garbage, the first FOUR pages.
It's just bad. Bad, bad, bad, bad.
I'm gonna PASS on this.
Kthxbye.
Not. Kidding.
The story: Girl arrives in port town where her dad owned/operated a family printing press. She has a key on a wooden fishing lure - she *thinks* it might open the door, as it was her dad's press shop key. (?!?!?!) She's surprised at the amount of people in town. Duh, it's Memorial day weekend on the waterfront, but nevermind.
She wants inside the press shop to get a little memory of her father, because she's having a hard time processing that he's gone... but the key won't work.
Some rando comes up behind her, asks her what she's doing, and sympathizes when he finds out she's the daughter of the deceased... WHO PASSED AWAY AT SEA YESTERDAY. I kid you not - HOW does this guy know, already?! Who would've known, that fast? The old man was out fishing a.l.o.n.e., hello...!!! Nobody misses people THAT fast, out on open water, like that.
More, if it was YESTERDAY (!!!!!!) wouldn't she be knee-deep in funeral arrangements, talks with the hospital and family members/friends, mourning her dadgum *EYES* out??? Not 'having trouble processing'!??! Heck, if she's out of town, they would probably just be reaching her, NOW, as next of kin, hello...!!!
The whole premise is ridiculous, contrived, and nonsensical.
I... can't even. What a load of garbage, the first FOUR pages.
It's just bad. Bad, bad, bad, bad.
I'm gonna PASS on this.
Kthxbye.
March 27, 2021
Coming home due to a loss of a loved one is not easy for anyone, especially for a child that lost a parent. Against The Tide is a sweet Christian book. It has a little bit of mystery, a little bit of thrill, and a tiny bit of romance mixed in.
I like the characters just fine, but there weren't many personalities, and at some points, the story slowed, and staying interested plummeted. It was the significant parts of the story that kept me going till the end.
May this isn't my favorite book, but I believe I'll try another from this author. It could very well be just me.
I like the characters just fine, but there weren't many personalities, and at some points, the story slowed, and staying interested plummeted. It was the significant parts of the story that kept me going till the end.
May this isn't my favorite book, but I believe I'll try another from this author. It could very well be just me.
February 20, 2023
The storyline was good. There was an instalove element that I wasn't crazy about, but otherwise it was a good story. The pace felt slow, which is weird since the danger and attacks were near constant, but it picked up when it reached the book's climax and left you with a satisfying ending.
April 28, 2025
Actually a 3.5, this is a story of Megan, a young woman whose newspaper publisher/father dies unexpectedly. She goes back home yo bury her dad and close down his newspaper but rubs into multiple attempts on her life.
Marina owner, Garrett, rescues her multiple times.
Marina owner, Garrett, rescues her multiple times.
November 2, 2017
Against the Tide was fast paced and full of suspense. Great characters. I loved the book.
May 26, 2018
The action doesn't stop in this one. Just when you think there's space to breathe something else happens - right to the end!
September 21, 2022
Good read
March 28, 2023
Posted on goodreads
I have to come up with twenty words or Amazon will not record my rating. Is it twenty yet? Okay.
I have to come up with twenty words or Amazon will not record my rating. Is it twenty yet? Okay.
November 21, 2023
I much prefer her Christmas books.
December 17, 2023
More predictable than interesting…and rather unrealistic.
April 26, 2025
Suspenseful and Satisfying
I am a fan and follower of Melody’s wonderful Christmas books, but had never read one of her suspense books. I kept turning pages with enjoyment.
I am a fan and follower of Melody’s wonderful Christmas books, but had never read one of her suspense books. I kept turning pages with enjoyment.
May 3, 2025
amazing story
From coming home after a tragedy to finding true love. Full of suspense from start to finish. Really enjoyed the situations they encountered.
From coming home after a tragedy to finding true love. Full of suspense from start to finish. Really enjoyed the situations they encountered.
May 22, 2025
Keeps you on the edge of your seat!! Must read
November 17, 2025
The story quickly moves you along
It is fast paced with the main characters showing their faith and trust in the Lord. I would recommend this book for a quick easy read.
It is fast paced with the main characters showing their faith and trust in the Lord. I would recommend this book for a quick easy read.
October 29, 2016
Well written with great characters and suspenseful plot twists.
September 28, 2016
Melody is a fairly new author at LIS but I really enjoy her work. This book is well written, action packed, and full of faith. I loved it and I know you will enjoy it too.
Reporter Meghan McCallister comes home for her father's funeral. They say his boat sank and he drown but she couldn't believe that. Her father owned the newspaper so her first place to look was his office. She no sooner enters the office when she is attacked. A childhood friend rescues her. Can they prove that her father was murdered and can they find the evidence her father had for his last expose`?
Garret Larsson rescues his close friend's daughter. He believes her theory about her father's death. He remembers an envelope with evidence that Rory McCallister said was for his next story. As Meghan is attacked in her father's office, his home, and in the garage where his jeep is stored he believes someone killed him and is searching for that evidence. Can they find the evidence before they are killed too? How can he protect Meghan and not lose his heart to the big city reporter?
A journey of two souls caught up in a tide of violence. God has a plan for these two and it's far greater than they have ever dreamed. God has a plan for you too. Give Him your heart and let Him take control of your circumstances. It will be better than you ever imagined.
Reporter Meghan McCallister comes home for her father's funeral. They say his boat sank and he drown but she couldn't believe that. Her father owned the newspaper so her first place to look was his office. She no sooner enters the office when she is attacked. A childhood friend rescues her. Can they prove that her father was murdered and can they find the evidence her father had for his last expose`?
Garret Larsson rescues his close friend's daughter. He believes her theory about her father's death. He remembers an envelope with evidence that Rory McCallister said was for his next story. As Meghan is attacked in her father's office, his home, and in the garage where his jeep is stored he believes someone killed him and is searching for that evidence. Can they find the evidence before they are killed too? How can he protect Meghan and not lose his heart to the big city reporter?
A journey of two souls caught up in a tide of violence. God has a plan for these two and it's far greater than they have ever dreamed. God has a plan for you too. Give Him your heart and let Him take control of your circumstances. It will be better than you ever imagined.
October 4, 2016
Actually more like 3 1/2. The action was exciting. However:
It took far too long after the action stopped for the people to "declare their love."
How the book would end was obvious from the beginning.
There was an obvious major clue it took the protagonists far too long to realize.
And, most of all I (though I may be biased, as a retired military officer): On page 85 of my edition starts the following: "The coast guard boys were out there chasing them down." Fist of all, Coast Guard should be capitalized. Secondly, as I worked closely with the CG, they employ WOMEN and MEN, not boys. The character who says this is an investigative reporter for a major Seattle newspaper, and should know better.
It took far too long after the action stopped for the people to "declare their love."
How the book would end was obvious from the beginning.
There was an obvious major clue it took the protagonists far too long to realize.
And, most of all I (though I may be biased, as a retired military officer): On page 85 of my edition starts the following: "The coast guard boys were out there chasing them down." Fist of all, Coast Guard should be capitalized. Secondly, as I worked closely with the CG, they employ WOMEN and MEN, not boys. The character who says this is an investigative reporter for a major Seattle newspaper, and should know better.
February 2, 2017
Megan McAllister's dad is dead and when she's attacked, she suspects his death wasn't from natural causes. Marina owner Garrett Larsson offers his help in getting to the bottom of what's turned their small Oregon beach town into a haven for men with guns.
As they work through the clues, it becomes clear that Megan must take up the reins of her father's newspaper. But how can she do it if she doesn't know what he was working on, and how it might be related to his death and the continuing attempts on Megan's life?
As they work through the clues, it becomes clear that Megan must take up the reins of her father's newspaper. But how can she do it if she doesn't know what he was working on, and how it might be related to his death and the continuing attempts on Megan's life?
May 17, 2020
hoopla e book 08/21/19 this author should stick to her usual stories and forget mysteries.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews