Make Haste Slowly

Short Creek Mysteries #1

by Amy K. Rognlie

Life in Short Creek, Texas is just what Callie Erickson expected it to be: calm and predictable…until the morning a gift bag—along with a dead body—appear on the doorstep of her shop. A terrible tragedy? Or something more sinister?

After moving halfway across the country for a new crack at life, Callie isn’t eager to become entangled in any more trouble than necessary. But a cryptic message, a needy neighbor, and her own heart won’t allow her give up so quickly. With the help of her indomitable Aunt Dot, and friends both old and new, Callie sets out to discover the truth. What she finds might change her life forever.

Genres: Mystery, Christian Fiction, Amazon, Cozy Mystery, Christian, Mystery Thriller

Paperback

Reviews

[James]

Amy K. Rognlie and her 'Short Creek Mystery' series are new to me. I saw an opportunity to enter a giveaway for the second book in the series and ended up winning the book. What a surprise when the author sent me not only the second book but the first one, too. Such a wonderful thing to do! I began reading Make Haste Slowly yesterday and finished it today. It's an easy read with a medium-sized cast and a few side stories going on besides the main plot.

One thing I didn't realize when I entered the contest was that these are Christian cozy mysteries. For the most part, I'm fine with incorporating religious beliefs and background into a book; it's ultimately no different than having a Sherlock Holmes, baking, or home-repair theme for the series. For me, there were too many references to fully immerse myself in the mystery. At least once per chapter, a few pages were focused on prayers, bible verses, and religious discussions about being good and relying on Jesus to save you. So... for the right readers, this will be a fantastic / amazing read with a wonderful theme. For me, it was a little too much of a theme on some occasions; however, I will still read the second book to see if it balances out a bit more to help me decide whether to keep reading the whole series.

In this caper, a dead body shows up on Callie's, the main character's, doorsteps. When she calls the police, they cart the victim away (likely homeless or thief, the cops believe). A few days later, he had a miraculous recovery and was just someone who fell there accidentally. That doesn't make sense! Callie works with the local pastor, her neighbor, and an EMT to sort it all out. Unfortunately, her old aunt seems to be part of the mystery, as well as her own brother, and a possible connection to her deceased husband and an accident she witnessed when living in a different state. Let's not forget about the sex-trafficking in this small Texas town, it's connected somehow, right?

So much going on! For all those reasons, it was a good story. I'm curious to see how the second book turns out, and I will be reading it next week. I ended up with a 3 to 3.5 rating for me personally on this one, but for the right audience, it will connect more easily. Thank you for this opportunity. I appreciate it and wish the author well on this series.

[Vannetta Chapman]

I very much enjoyed this story, my first by Amy Rognlie (full disclosure--Amy is a friend of mine, though this post is my honest review).

Well drawn-out characters, a fun mystery, and a good clean read.
I hope you'll check it out!

[Karen R]

A Christian cozy mystery touching on some deep issues.
Callie the florist is fairly new to town, but thinks her past has followed her when she discovers a body outside her shop. An interesting cast of characters set in a small Texas town where everyone knows each other. Plenty of clues, but none seem to connect. Finally the puzzle begins to come together, with the help of her friends, and the power of prayer.

The mystery was intricately plotted in this story, and had me guessing all the way until the end.
I liked the setting of the small Texas town, with the many different personalities, all neat on the surface, but harboring an undercurrent of dark secrets. The interjection of faith, using Scripture, hymns and poetry, gave the story a lot of depth and hope in contrast to the crimes committed; the spiritual warfare is clearly evident. Callie's battle with anxiety and her past is something I could relate to. I like how she prays out loud in moments of crisis, "Jesus, I trust you." A great way to combat fear!
I liked Callie, Mona, Todd, and especially Aunt Dot. Hope to read more stories with them.
Recommend this book to readers who enjoy clean cozy mysteries with faith.

(An e-book was provided by the author. All opinions are my own.)

[Leslie McKee]

I reviewed this for RT Bookreviews Magazine: https://www.rtbookreviews.com/book-re...

MAKE HASTE SLOWLY
Author(s): Amy K. Rognlie
The first Short Creek Mystery combines delightful characters (especially Aunt Dot), small-town charm and clues that will have readers wondering how all the pieces fit together. There is some over-detailing and a bit too much focus on secondary storylines at times, which occasionally slows the pace. However, there is a nice blend of mystery and faith throughout, and even some situations that show no one is immune to doubts and insecurity.

Callie Erickson finds the surprise of her life in her front yard: a dead body. Equally perplexing is a gift bag she discovers on her doorstep. The cryptic items have her playing amateur detective to discover how they are connected and why they ended up on her property, as well as wondering who the body is and whether or not he was murdered. While sleuthing out the mystery, Callie discovers that her aunt Dot has a few secrets of her own, and they could be linked to the events. After Callie learns of a possible human trafficking ring in the area, and attacks on her increase, volunteer fireman Todd Whitney becomes concerned about her safety. Is this all a case of mistaken identity, or do secrets and corruption in town run much higher than Callie and Todd realize? Can they unravel the clues in time to prevent her from becoming the next victim?

[Krystyna]

Messages from above

A decent plot but although I believe in God I don't think it should be force fed to others, if they ask help but it is more or less a personal journey. Also I found the main character slightly OTT and unbelievable.
She has moved to the small town after two major traumas and has been rebuilding her life. Today is her birthday but she didn't expect to find a dead body clutching a birthday gift bag outside her door. Especially once the sheriff tries to tell everyone that the guy was fine and discharged from hospital. Add in a prostitution ring, more death, a brand new baby and lies that mean she cannot trust the local police force. Until a friend calls his contacts in a neighbouring force. Can they find out what is happening? Who has the local preacher? Is there more death to come?

[Becky Dempsey]

"Make Haste Slowly" is the first book in the Short Creek Mysteries series. The book starts out right away with the mystery so you hit the ground running, so to speak. I liked the way the book was written and found it to flow well. I like Callie and her struggles make her very relatable. The secondary characters were fun and Mona made me laugh on more than one occasion. There were a lot of parts to the mystery and I never did figure out exactly how all of them fit together. The book touches on hard issues like sex trafficking. Callie hears God talking to her in her spirit and is visited by someone that smelled like Heaven. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

[Becky Lewis]

 I just finished Amy Rognlie's Christian cozy, Make Haste Slowly. What an unusual, full of "real-life issues" cozy. You don't want to miss it!

At end of the book, there is a list of verses and reasons from them why we can have hope, even in difficulties. Entertainment with answers!

[Kathy]

Great read

Thank you I'm glad I found this book as a cozy mystery reader I loved it but I also learned a wonderful lesson that touched my heart

[Cindy B.]

Clean mystery

Interesting plot and twists, likable cast, & Christian. Loved its forthrightness and it’s clever twists. Will read author again. Highly recommended.

[Christine]

I know it was mentioned that there were too many references to Bible verses, but I didn't find that to be the case nor the problem. What I disliked about this book was the main character, whom I found to be annoying and self-centered. For the first half of the book, it was as if every guy Callie encountered was interested in her, and every odd thing happening was linked to her. I just couldn't get into this story.

[Cindy]

Nice mystery, good characters, our main girl really lives her Christian life. Love how she prays through her day and tries to live her life the best she can. Need to read this again in a few years to see how I like it then.

[Jeanette-Marie Mirich]

Review of Make Haste, Slowly
By Jeanette-Marie Mirich

When young widow, Callie Erickson leaves Ohio for a new home in central Texas, her past moves with her. Amy Rognlie writes poignantly about the mixture of guilt and grief widows bear after losing someone you love. Callie’s new life consists of a pair of pugs, a shop filled with the scent of flowers, books to browse, and specialty yarn for creative fingers.
Haunted by a child’s death and memories of her fragile marriage, Callie closes her heart. Life is simple and peaceful in the small Texas town she calls home, until Callie discovers a dead man propped under a tree near her shop’s porch. The EMT’s cover his face and cart him off…but is he really dead?
According to the sheriff, the stranger revived and is recovering in the hospital. But the sheriff himself is acting peculiar. Has he discovered Callie’s past? Fearing she didn’t leave her former life in the mid-west, Callie wraps herself in emotional solitude.
Todd, a charming, EMT with a past of his own, gives her confidence to face her fears. Houston, the handsome minister in the church next to her shop, wanders into her life, and stays, while the computer expert helping her beloved aunt seems interested in her as well.
With a friend called Mona, whose heart is as Texas-sized as her wardrobe, an elderly neighbor in need, and new awareness of the devastation of trafficking, Callie focuses on others instead of her own circumstances. In this new book of the, “Where There’s a Will” series, Callie’s memories are given a chance to heal, as the small Texas town she now calls home embraces her.
An intriguing tale, “Make Haste, Slowly” unwinds a mystery as tangled as a yarn ball unraveled by a cat. From managing her life on her own to the complication of three interesting men, a dead or not so dead man, and a neighboring girl disappearing with a stranger, Callie is thrust into living life instead of hiding.
The healing power of God’s love and faithfulness wait to be revealed in Rognlie’s though-provoking book.

[Edward Arrington]

Amy Rognlie is new to me but I am impressed with her storytelling. I enjoyed meeting the characters as the story unfolded. If the heroine, Callie, was a cat, she would probably be dead – you know: “curiosity killed the cat”. She was so curious and equally spunky but the spunkiness at times is overshadowed by events in her past that seemed to hold her back. She was in serious need of seeing the past for what it was and being released from the guilt that had her in its grip. Mona was one-of-a-kind with all her quirkiness and mangling of the English language. She was constantly getting phrases and words twisted in such a way that it was entertaining to read what she said. Room does not permit elaborating on each character but the story has its fair share of interesting ones, some good and some evil. As the reader progresses into the book, you realize that not much is what it seems to be. The story opens with Callie finding a gift bag on the back steps of her business establishment. She quickly realizes a man is lying under a crepe myrtle tree beside the porch and he is clutching the bag. He appears dead but she is later informed that he survived. The tricky part is that the person who was alive did not match the description of the man under her tree. This begins a whole set of twists and turns as Callie and her friend Todd try to sort out who the man was, why he was there, what really happened to him, and an entire series of other mysterious events. Callie loves books and quotes the Bible, various poems, and famous lines from Shakespeare. She and her closest friends are believers with a strong faith. Prayer is a vital part of her life. I found it refreshing that she prayed, not just when she was in a jam, but about normal daily occurrences as well. Faith, romance, mystery, suspense, and action kept my attention throughout. I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher. This is my honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.

[Sarah]

Going into “Make Haste Slowly”, I figured that I was in for a light, cozy mystery that would pass a few hours. I was not expecting a story that would be so hard-hitting and engaging; I didn’t want to put it down! Amy Rognlie manages to write a compelling Christian mystery that incorporates tough subjects with finesse. Because I don’t want to give any spoilers, I won’t comment specifically on what topics come into play, but suffice it to say that they are certainly germane to what is going on here in America. Rognlie combines all of the elements very articulately, and I was not able to guess the various twists and turns that the narrative takes, nor could I figure out the ending ahead of time. The characters were a diverse mixture, and I appreciated the compassion that was extended even toward the so-called villains. Although there was a romantic thread, it was not overbearing and lent itself to the mystery. The Christian message was very strong without being superfluous, and one quotation really stood out to me and encapsulated the novel: “God will always relate to you out of the context of His love for a lost world.” With everything that was occurring throughout the story, the theme of redemption and of reaching out to the lost shone through evocatively. A few instances of divine intervention were so beautifully written that I got goosebumps. I highly recommend this novel and am hoping that the series will continue!

I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher and was not required to post a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Sally]

I was quickly drawn in to this mystery and enjoyed the twists and turns while the main character, Callie Erickson, and her friends were praying for God's wisdom to find out why strange things were happening in a small town in Texas.
There really were two mysteries going on. The obvious mystery was that Callie found a gift bag on the back porch of her florist / knitting shop but then also discovered a dead body beside it. The other mystery was why she had left her life in Ohio and suddenly moved to Texas. What was the "dark night of the soul" she had experienced?
I thought the characters were believable and well developed. My favorite was spunky Aunt Dot, who was a great source of spiritual help and wisdom.
I loved the author's description of a lesson Callie had learned during hard times in her life, because it is something I have found to be a great comfort as well. "I had finally learned what to do with fear - fear that had the power to suck me under and hold me down until I was gasping for air. I took a deep breath, 'Jesus, I trust you,' I whispered. 'Jesus I trust you.' Louder this time and with more conviction. 'Jesus, I trust you. I believe I will see the good of the Lord in the land of the living.' That verse from Psalm 27 had become a lifeline and saying it out loud now somehow caused faith to rise up in my heart."
One thing I did find hard to accept was that one of the "bad guys", the dishonest Sheriff Earl, never got his just rewards. Maybe in the next book?

[Janine Villanueva]

I really loved this novel. The title is what drew me in. I'm so used to hearing "haste makes waste," that seeing "make haste slowly," peaked my interest. This is a cozy mystery that takes place in Texas. The main character, Callie, has a past she has moved away from. I found Callie to be someone that I'd want to be friends with. Mona, her best friend, is a hoot with her comical versions of popular sayings. The story had me guessing who done it all the way to the end. I kept choosing different characters only to be wrong and I was happy that I couldn't predict the ending.

I also really loved how Callie's faith played a major role in the story. Callie prayed for others and about decisions, she regularly had quiet time with God, and church was a big part of her life as well as the other characters around her. I really found that to be encouraging and for that simple fact alone I would actually reread this book. It's nice to see a character who relies on God throughout the story.

There are also relationship issues and the author touches on the topic of forgiveness. I really loved those elements as well. Not only was there a mystery to solve, but characters who need healing. I highly recommend this book and I am excited to read more books in this series!

I was given this ebook in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

[Teresa]

Make Haste Slowly by Amy K. Rognlie is a fantastic Christian cozy mystery. I've read her Miss Opal books and loved them so I was expecting to enjoy this one just as much. I was not disappointed at all. Make Haste Slowly has everything you'd want in a mystery. It's action-packed with a mystery that'll have you guessing until the end. I couldn't read it fast enough. Amy K. Rognlie has a way of bringing the characters to life. There are serious moments but also laugh out loud moments.

When Callie bought her Aunt Dot's home and moved from Ohio to Texas to open a flower, book and knitting shop, she never expected to find a body when she arrived to open her shop one morning. One mystery right after another brings excitement, frustration, friendship and possibly even a romance her way. Will the small Texas town come together to solve this or are there some important "town folks" that know more than they are letting on?

I can't recommend this book enough. I enjoyed it so much and can't wait for book 2 in the Short Creek Mystery Series, To Err is Human!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.

[Solomon]

Amy Rognlie crafts a simple but compelling mystery. She creates a world full of flaws but lovable characters that ground you in reality.

This novel skillfully avoids the traps of being unnecessarily gritty or being set on a perfect, plastic world. The former is all too common in mystery fiction today while the latter is a weakness present in much Christian fiction. In contrast, Make Haste Slowly, presents most characters as flawed people in various stages of faith. Additionally, the story addresses real issues ranging from drug abuse to sex trafficking.

Mystery fans will find this a cozy, comfortable story with just the right amount of twists and turns while readers who typically avoid mysteries will find a story with more layers than the typical mystery.

[Vicky Sluiter]

I enjoyed this Christian cozy mystery, and author Amy Rognlie didn’t shy away from issues that we deal with in real life. A lot of scripture and encouragement to trust God made this book even more enjoyable.

Full of so many emotions, I went from laughing out loud to wondering who’s next. The characters in Short Creek, Texas are so well developed and genuine that they seem real as they struggle with fear, heart break, and love. I highly recommend reading Make Haste Slowly.

I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.

[Yvonne Meyer]

Book of hope.

New beginnings are always challenging. This story is a story about our Lord meeting our needs throughout our troubled lives and always giving us hope.

[Richard Spillman]

Amy Rognlie has created a true mystery populated with realistic characters that draw you into the story. It begins with the discovery of a dead body. That discovery leads us through a twisted path that reveals long held secrets in the small town of Short Creek, Tex. Amy Rognlie has skillfully crafted this mystery in a non-preaching atmosphere of faith. It is refreshing to watch her characters both struggle with and rely on faith in difficult circumstances.

[Bonnie Ainsworth]

My Review

This was a new author/book/series to me. I absolutely loved it and would recommend it to anyone who loves mystery, a little romance, and a main character who is so encouraging. She shows us the importance of prayer, and reminds herself that, “oh yeah, I need to trust the Lord.” It’s something we all as believers struggle with from time to time. It had it’s lighter moments that also put a smile on my face. I”m looking forward to the next book in the series.

[Pamela]

Great read from a talented author

Fun, good, sweet, fascinating read. I love the main character - she experiences the real and complex emotions that we all face, especially when life throws crazy at us. The mystery was as intriguing as the side stories. I appreciated how faith was naturally and gently woven throughout the plot. I can't wait for the next book to come out!

[Arlene]

Wonderful book

Strong salvation message throughout, but not pushy. Great mystery, lots of twists and turns. Serious subject of human trafficking. Well done.

[Antigone Walsh]

A widow with baggage sets up shop in a small Texas town. She is expecting peace and a quiet lifestyle but then a corpse clutching a birthday gift shows up on her doorway. It doesn't take long before Callie finds romance, mystery and danger.

This book started out well. As it progressed it got bogged down with prayers, poems and scripture. Everything came to a standstill. I believe in the power of prayer and have no problem with faith but it got overwhelming. The romance was sweet, the dogs are all adorable but the cast of quirky characters was a bit too large. In fairness, I am not a big fan of cozy mysteries. Callie is likable though the plot is far fetched. Not bad.2.5 stars

[Annette Sullivan]

More than 3, less than 4

This was a good enough cozy with romance, not just a hint of it. Some characters were more in-depth than others but mostly not much at all. It’s a very religious book, lots of praying and scriptures, although it didn’t start out like that it was thick with it the further along into the book. I think it is a well meaning book, it certainly shows a lot of foibles of humanity and also it evils. Not my kind of religion though.

[Althea Hillier]

Mystery is around every corner.

I highly recommend this amazing book. It is a story of chaos, bewilderment, danger and mystery. To offset all the negative activity, the writer built her story around Aunt Dot's strong faith in God, and Callie's willingness to obey when prompted by the Lord to do something. Love is also in the air. Thank you for a clean story void of bad language.

[Jo-Anne Uphill]

I’ve really really enjoyed reading this Christian novel, especially the Bible references and Elizabeth Gouge's quote from her book the white witch. I really hear her name nowadays even though she was an amazing writer.
Amy’s background depicting Mexico and the characters. They were very amusing, colourful and even the tension with murder scenes were well written
Thank you for this enjoyable book 📖🙏🦋💛💙

[Lorilynn]

Excellent story

I found it difficult to stop reading this story. It is more suspenseful than most of the fiction I read but I thoroughly enjoyed it and especially enjoyed seeing into Callie's past and her thoughts about her relationships with her husband, parents and brother. I highly recommend this well-written book.

[Michaela (Reading in the Heartland)]

This was a wonderful mystery mixed with romance. There was murder and drugs and sex trafficking and a huge bunch of confusion and secrecy. It was a wonderful adventure that had me on edge the whole time. Honestly, I’m still on edge and heading over to read the next book in the series!