What do you think?
Rate this book
Salvation Station: A Novel
When committed female police captain Linda Turner, haunted by the murders of two small children and their pastor father, becomes obsessed with solving the harrowing case, she finds herself wrapped up in a mission to expose a fraudulent religious organization and an unrepentant killer.
Despite her years of experience investigating homicides for the force, Captain Linda Turner is haunted by the murders of the Hansen family. The two small children, clothed in tattered Disney pajamas, were buried with their father, a pastor, in the flower garden behind a church parsonage in Lincoln, Nebraska. But Mrs. Hansen is nowhere to be found—and neither is the killer.
In St. Louis, the televangelist Ray Williams is about to lose his show—until one of his regular attendees approaches him with an idea that will help him save it. Despite his initial misgivings, Ray agrees to give it a try. He can’t deny his attraction to this woman, and besides, she’d assured him the plan is just—God gave her the instructions in a dream.
Multiple story lines entwine throughout this compelling mystery, delving into the topics of murder, religious faith, and the inherent dangers in blindly accepting faith as truth. While Reverend Williams is swept up in his newfound success and plans for his wedding, Captain Turner can only hope that she and her team will catch the Hansens’ cunning killer—before more bodies surface.
Despite her years of experience investigating homicides for the force, Captain Linda Turner is haunted by the murders of the Hansen family. The two small children, clothed in tattered Disney pajamas, were buried with their father, a pastor, in the flower garden behind a church parsonage in Lincoln, Nebraska. But Mrs. Hansen is nowhere to be found—and neither is the killer.
In St. Louis, the televangelist Ray Williams is about to lose his show—until one of his regular attendees approaches him with an idea that will help him save it. Despite his initial misgivings, Ray agrees to give it a try. He can’t deny his attraction to this woman, and besides, she’d assured him the plan is just—God gave her the instructions in a dream.
Multiple story lines entwine throughout this compelling mystery, delving into the topics of murder, religious faith, and the inherent dangers in blindly accepting faith as truth. While Reverend Williams is swept up in his newfound success and plans for his wedding, Captain Turner can only hope that she and her team will catch the Hansens’ cunning killer—before more bodies surface.
313 pages, Paperback
Published April 14, 2020
25 people are currently reading
166 people want to read
About the author
Kathryn Schleich
6 books17 followersKathryn Schleich has been a writer for thirty years. Her most recent publications include the short story “Reckless Acts,” featured in After Effects: A Zimbell House Anthology, and her story “Grand Slam,” published in The Acentos Review in May 2017. She is the author of two editions of the book Hollywood and Catholic Women: Virgins, Whores, Mothers, and Other Images, which evolved from her master’s thesis. Her guest posts have been featured on the Women On Writing blog, The Muffin, and she writes for the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation’s volunteer newsletter. When she’s not writing, Schleich is likely volunteering in the education and arts communities in the Twin Cities, where she lives. Friends, family, good food, wine, and traveling are important aspects of her life. Salvation Station is her first novel and will be available in April 2020.
ABOUT SALVATION STATION
Despite her years of experience investigating homicides for the force, Captain Linda Turner is haunted by the murders of the Hansen family. The two small children, clothed in tattered Disney pajamas, were buried with their father, a pastor, in the flower garden behind a church parsonage in Lincoln, Nebraska. But Mrs. Hansen is nowhere to be found—and neither is the killer.
In St. Louis, the televangelist Ray Williams is about to lose his show—until one of his regular attendees approaches him with an idea that will help him save it. Despite his initial misgivings, Ray agrees to give it a try. He can’t deny his attraction to this woman, and besides, she’d assured him the plan is just—God gave her the instructions in a dream.
Multiple story lines entwine throughout this compelling mystery, delving into the topics of murder, religious faith, and the inherent dangers in blindly accepting faith as truth. While Reverend Williams is swept up in his newfound success and plans for his wedding, Captain Turner can only hope that she and her team will catch the Hansens’ cunning killer—before more bodies surface.
ABOUT SALVATION STATION
Despite her years of experience investigating homicides for the force, Captain Linda Turner is haunted by the murders of the Hansen family. The two small children, clothed in tattered Disney pajamas, were buried with their father, a pastor, in the flower garden behind a church parsonage in Lincoln, Nebraska. But Mrs. Hansen is nowhere to be found—and neither is the killer.
In St. Louis, the televangelist Ray Williams is about to lose his show—until one of his regular attendees approaches him with an idea that will help him save it. Despite his initial misgivings, Ray agrees to give it a try. He can’t deny his attraction to this woman, and besides, she’d assured him the plan is just—God gave her the instructions in a dream.
Multiple story lines entwine throughout this compelling mystery, delving into the topics of murder, religious faith, and the inherent dangers in blindly accepting faith as truth. While Reverend Williams is swept up in his newfound success and plans for his wedding, Captain Turner can only hope that she and her team will catch the Hansens’ cunning killer—before more bodies surface.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 137 reviews
February 23, 2020
4.5 Stars
Kathryn Schleich’s debut novel Salvation Station introduces Captain Linda Turner, 10 years on the force her job is her life. Her latest case involves the murder of a pastor and his two children. Their bodies buried in the parsonage garden.
We are given an intriguing police procedural as Captain Turner pieces together the family’s last movements and investigates the whereabouts of the Pastor’s wife and mother of the children, Nicole Hansen.
Through a second plot line we follow Susannah Baker as she manipulates Rev Ray Williams, the founder of Road to Calvary and TV evangelist, and ensconces herself into his life. Susannah has many ideas to build the ministry and ask followers for more and more donations. With themes of religious hysteria and an almost cult like following, Susannah preys on the sick and lonely getting Rev Ray to perform fake miracles.
Schleich depicts how police work away at a case sometimes taking years investigating small snippets of information waiting for the perpetrator to slip up.
There is a tiny bit of romance for Linda towards the end and I thought the story was perfect without it but maybe the author has more in store for Linda and Malachi in the next installment.
Salvation Station is a riveting page turner featuring a charismatic psychopath who has greed as a motivator.
*I received an ARC from the author
Kathryn Schleich’s debut novel Salvation Station introduces Captain Linda Turner, 10 years on the force her job is her life. Her latest case involves the murder of a pastor and his two children. Their bodies buried in the parsonage garden.
We are given an intriguing police procedural as Captain Turner pieces together the family’s last movements and investigates the whereabouts of the Pastor’s wife and mother of the children, Nicole Hansen.
Through a second plot line we follow Susannah Baker as she manipulates Rev Ray Williams, the founder of Road to Calvary and TV evangelist, and ensconces herself into his life. Susannah has many ideas to build the ministry and ask followers for more and more donations. With themes of religious hysteria and an almost cult like following, Susannah preys on the sick and lonely getting Rev Ray to perform fake miracles.
Schleich depicts how police work away at a case sometimes taking years investigating small snippets of information waiting for the perpetrator to slip up.
There is a tiny bit of romance for Linda towards the end and I thought the story was perfect without it but maybe the author has more in store for Linda and Malachi in the next installment.
Salvation Station is a riveting page turner featuring a charismatic psychopath who has greed as a motivator.
*I received an ARC from the author
April 19, 2020
Check out all of my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com
SALVATION STATION by Kathryn Schleich is a debut police procedural suspense/thriller by a new to me author. It is an intense story revolving around a dogged police captain searching for a heinous female serial killer who preys on widowed preachers and their flocks.
I was surprised when I found out this is the author’s first novel. The intertwining plots of the police investigation lead by Captain Turner and the crimes and manipulations of Susannah Baker as she works her way into a new preacher’s life and televangelist show are well paced, compelling and realistic. The author was able to both move the plot along at a good pace and yet depict that this case took many months to solve.
Linda Turner is a police Captain that the author brought to life with her dogged pursuit of justice for Rev. Hanson and his two children. Susannah Baker is a serial killer who is a master manipulator with no conscious, but the author does give her a background that shows that she could have chosen a different path. Her only love is money and self-preservation. All the secondary characters were realistic and fully fleshed.
Religion plays a big part in this suspense/thriller, but not like you would find in a Christian themed book. Both Linda and Malachi state their suspicion of organized religion after years of being investigators and seeing the worst in people. The killer uses religion and peoples’ blind faith to manipulate and steal from them. Then you have the preachers who all truly believe and they only see the good and a second chance for happiness with the supposedly god fearing Susannah. I thought the author did a well-balanced depiction of good vs. evil with religion being used as both.
I can highly recommend this suspense/thriller!
SALVATION STATION by Kathryn Schleich is a debut police procedural suspense/thriller by a new to me author. It is an intense story revolving around a dogged police captain searching for a heinous female serial killer who preys on widowed preachers and their flocks.
I was surprised when I found out this is the author’s first novel. The intertwining plots of the police investigation lead by Captain Turner and the crimes and manipulations of Susannah Baker as she works her way into a new preacher’s life and televangelist show are well paced, compelling and realistic. The author was able to both move the plot along at a good pace and yet depict that this case took many months to solve.
Linda Turner is a police Captain that the author brought to life with her dogged pursuit of justice for Rev. Hanson and his two children. Susannah Baker is a serial killer who is a master manipulator with no conscious, but the author does give her a background that shows that she could have chosen a different path. Her only love is money and self-preservation. All the secondary characters were realistic and fully fleshed.
Religion plays a big part in this suspense/thriller, but not like you would find in a Christian themed book. Both Linda and Malachi state their suspicion of organized religion after years of being investigators and seeing the worst in people. The killer uses religion and peoples’ blind faith to manipulate and steal from them. Then you have the preachers who all truly believe and they only see the good and a second chance for happiness with the supposedly god fearing Susannah. I thought the author did a well-balanced depiction of good vs. evil with religion being used as both.
I can highly recommend this suspense/thriller!
March 8, 2020
Thank you to the author and She Writes Press for the opportunity to read this book!
Salvation Station by Kathryn Schleich has a very intense beginning. Captain Linda Turner is brought to a home where 3 bodies are discovered. This crime is one of the worst crimes she has come across, especially since it involves two children. She will stop at nothing to find the murderer. The children and their father are discovered but their mother is nowhere to be found. Her investigation leads her to a corrupt religious organization. Ray Williams is a televangelist. However, his show only has a few supporters and cannot carry on financially. One of his members brings him ideas that she claims are from God. He agrees with these ideas. However, no one can predict how these events collide.
One thing is for sure, this book will tear at your heartstrings. Crime thrillers can be difficult to read, especially when they involve children. Although, this really has the reader rooting for Linda to solve the murder. I love Linda. She is strong, fierce, and completely devoted to her job for all the right reasons.
The beginning of the story is pretty intense with the revelation of the murder. However, after the pace does decline a bit. There are multiple points-of-view, some that I don’t feel are completely necessary. Then there are the very strong religious themes. I honestly didn’t care about this aspect at all. However, this is a really compelling and eerie mystery. I would definitely read more books by this author. I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars.
This book is available for preorder and will be available on April 14th!
Salvation Station by Kathryn Schleich has a very intense beginning. Captain Linda Turner is brought to a home where 3 bodies are discovered. This crime is one of the worst crimes she has come across, especially since it involves two children. She will stop at nothing to find the murderer. The children and their father are discovered but their mother is nowhere to be found. Her investigation leads her to a corrupt religious organization. Ray Williams is a televangelist. However, his show only has a few supporters and cannot carry on financially. One of his members brings him ideas that she claims are from God. He agrees with these ideas. However, no one can predict how these events collide.
One thing is for sure, this book will tear at your heartstrings. Crime thrillers can be difficult to read, especially when they involve children. Although, this really has the reader rooting for Linda to solve the murder. I love Linda. She is strong, fierce, and completely devoted to her job for all the right reasons.
The beginning of the story is pretty intense with the revelation of the murder. However, after the pace does decline a bit. There are multiple points-of-view, some that I don’t feel are completely necessary. Then there are the very strong religious themes. I honestly didn’t care about this aspect at all. However, this is a really compelling and eerie mystery. I would definitely read more books by this author. I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars.
This book is available for preorder and will be available on April 14th!
May 7, 2020
I received this book from Book Publicity Services in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Salvation Station took me on an intense, riveting and suspenseful journey. It explored the concept of cons, corruption, greed and the lengths the perpetrator(s) would go to dupe their victims. What was of most interest was the medium used to defraud innocent victims. It wasn’t a unique method by far, but it was a scary reminder of how devious persons use the church in the furtherance of their greed and corrupt behaviour under the guise of saving souls.
The story throws the reader into the middle of a murder investigation involving a pastor and his two small children from the beginning. The Pastor’s wife and children’s mother was nowhere to be found. What happened to her? Was she a victim or a suspect? Captain Linda Turner heads the investigation, and the reader watches as she pieces together the evidence to locate the missing woman and find the person responsible for the murders.
The author introduced a second storyline which featured Rev. Ray Williams who was contemplating ending the broadcast of his religious cable program, when one of his followers, Susannah Barker, approached him offering him ideas that would help save it. Her ideas sounded too good to be true, but somehow, he found himself agreeing with her and implementing her plans. Shortly afterwards the church started to prosper, but not everyone believed Susannah could be trusted.
At first it appears as if the plotlines were separate, however as the story progressed the connection between the storylines became clear. The investigation opened a can of worms that will chill readers to the core.
The story moved quickly, and it proved difficult to set aside as seeing how the events unfolded became a priority. Figuring out the identity of the person responsible for the murders was as easy as ABC, but this did not take away from the enjoyment nor the suspense. This was not a case of figuring out the villain’s identity, but rather a situation of wondering who will be the next victim and if the police would be able to end it all.
The story featured two strong leads, Captain Turner and the main suspect. I enjoyed getting to know Captain Turner, and I was fascinated by the workings of the villain’s mind. A charmer. a master at manipulating others and definitely a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Some parts of the story took place in a church setting, so there were few quotes of scripture and several references to prayer. I had no issues with it, but I thought I would mention as there may be readers who don’t care for it.
Conclusion/Recommendation
This is the author’s debut novel, and she did an excellent job. I had a marvellous time with this book and would read more of her work. Highly recommended for fans of suspense and police procedurals.
This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading
Salvation Station took me on an intense, riveting and suspenseful journey. It explored the concept of cons, corruption, greed and the lengths the perpetrator(s) would go to dupe their victims. What was of most interest was the medium used to defraud innocent victims. It wasn’t a unique method by far, but it was a scary reminder of how devious persons use the church in the furtherance of their greed and corrupt behaviour under the guise of saving souls.
The story throws the reader into the middle of a murder investigation involving a pastor and his two small children from the beginning. The Pastor’s wife and children’s mother was nowhere to be found. What happened to her? Was she a victim or a suspect? Captain Linda Turner heads the investigation, and the reader watches as she pieces together the evidence to locate the missing woman and find the person responsible for the murders.
The author introduced a second storyline which featured Rev. Ray Williams who was contemplating ending the broadcast of his religious cable program, when one of his followers, Susannah Barker, approached him offering him ideas that would help save it. Her ideas sounded too good to be true, but somehow, he found himself agreeing with her and implementing her plans. Shortly afterwards the church started to prosper, but not everyone believed Susannah could be trusted.
At first it appears as if the plotlines were separate, however as the story progressed the connection between the storylines became clear. The investigation opened a can of worms that will chill readers to the core.
The story moved quickly, and it proved difficult to set aside as seeing how the events unfolded became a priority. Figuring out the identity of the person responsible for the murders was as easy as ABC, but this did not take away from the enjoyment nor the suspense. This was not a case of figuring out the villain’s identity, but rather a situation of wondering who will be the next victim and if the police would be able to end it all.
The story featured two strong leads, Captain Turner and the main suspect. I enjoyed getting to know Captain Turner, and I was fascinated by the workings of the villain’s mind. A charmer. a master at manipulating others and definitely a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Some parts of the story took place in a church setting, so there were few quotes of scripture and several references to prayer. I had no issues with it, but I thought I would mention as there may be readers who don’t care for it.
Conclusion/Recommendation
This is the author’s debut novel, and she did an excellent job. I had a marvellous time with this book and would read more of her work. Highly recommended for fans of suspense and police procedurals.
This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading
March 14, 2020
The story wraps mystery, murder, faith, and uncertain redemption into one whirlwind story. I didn’t know whether to feel sorry for Rev. Ray Williams or just shake some sense into him. Those that have seen some television ministers that take advantage of people and prey on the weak will hate him and his new “friend” right off the bat…but don’t give up on Rev. Ray…he has much bigger problems coming down the line. I really liked the police investigator, Linda Turner. She was relentless in her efforts to solve the gruesome murder of another minister and his two young children. I knew about a third of the way into the book what was really going to happen but the story had so many twists and turns that you have to read just one more page to be certain. It says that this is Kathryn Schleich’s first novel but if she produces more like [Salvation Station] she will make it big in the literary world. A really excellent read.
I received an advance copy of this book from She Writes Press in exchange for an honest review. The opinions are entirely all my own.
I received an advance copy of this book from She Writes Press in exchange for an honest review. The opinions are entirely all my own.
August 25, 2020
Greed does funny things to people.
Our story starts out in Lincoln Nebraska with the discovery of several bodies. What then follows is one police captain's determination to find the killer no matter what it takes. The story then jumps to St Louis Missouri where another storyline begins and we eventually learn how these two different locations and events will intersect, much to one woman's dismay.
The story spans approximately eighteen months while Captain Linda Turner hunts down clues about the suspected killer in other towns. Because this is set in the early 2000s, there are computers and the internet, but not used to the extent that they are used today. I liked this because it reflects the depths an investigation was conducted without relying on technology.
It isn't hard to figure out how the two stories are connected and I appreciated the work by the characters to get to the truth on both ends. I enjoyed watching the characters develop and learn what they should or shouldn't do in certain situations with certain people. Love is blind could never be more true in this book when it came to Reverend Ray and when the truth is revealed in the end, you feel sorry for him and what he endured.
There have been news stories in the past that have depicted the corruption that could be found in a church. This story shows you how it could be done and what better reason for oversight and audits in any organization? I was amazed at the lengths the perpetrator went to in order to steal funds donated by others in good faith.
I appreciated the author putting a date and location at the beginning of each chapter and even sharing the location when a different storyline emerged. It allowed me to better picture the location in my mind and I could watch the progression of events which I believe mirrors most true investigations. They are rarely solved quickly and determination is needed to see a case through to completion.
There is a hint of a love story between Linda Turner and a detective, Malachi, from St Louis. Should this become a series, I would be interested to see how a long distance relationship is explored between these two.
There are several twists and turns near the end of the book but the ending is what one would expect considering the magnitude of the crimes.
Because of the church setting, there are many bible verses quoted and prayers said for various characters. I think this enhances the story because of the location and involvement of several characters.
For a debut novel, this author does an excellent job of telling a story and creating fascinating characters. We give this book 4 paws up.
Our story starts out in Lincoln Nebraska with the discovery of several bodies. What then follows is one police captain's determination to find the killer no matter what it takes. The story then jumps to St Louis Missouri where another storyline begins and we eventually learn how these two different locations and events will intersect, much to one woman's dismay.
The story spans approximately eighteen months while Captain Linda Turner hunts down clues about the suspected killer in other towns. Because this is set in the early 2000s, there are computers and the internet, but not used to the extent that they are used today. I liked this because it reflects the depths an investigation was conducted without relying on technology.
It isn't hard to figure out how the two stories are connected and I appreciated the work by the characters to get to the truth on both ends. I enjoyed watching the characters develop and learn what they should or shouldn't do in certain situations with certain people. Love is blind could never be more true in this book when it came to Reverend Ray and when the truth is revealed in the end, you feel sorry for him and what he endured.
There have been news stories in the past that have depicted the corruption that could be found in a church. This story shows you how it could be done and what better reason for oversight and audits in any organization? I was amazed at the lengths the perpetrator went to in order to steal funds donated by others in good faith.
I appreciated the author putting a date and location at the beginning of each chapter and even sharing the location when a different storyline emerged. It allowed me to better picture the location in my mind and I could watch the progression of events which I believe mirrors most true investigations. They are rarely solved quickly and determination is needed to see a case through to completion.
There is a hint of a love story between Linda Turner and a detective, Malachi, from St Louis. Should this become a series, I would be interested to see how a long distance relationship is explored between these two.
There are several twists and turns near the end of the book but the ending is what one would expect considering the magnitude of the crimes.
Because of the church setting, there are many bible verses quoted and prayers said for various characters. I think this enhances the story because of the location and involvement of several characters.
For a debut novel, this author does an excellent job of telling a story and creating fascinating characters. We give this book 4 paws up.
January 4, 2020
Ooooh, this was so good!
My favorite types of stories are definitely page-turning, easy to read, and dark; which will explain why I liked Salvation Station so much. If you're planning to pick this up, do yourself a favor & don't look at the synopsis. Just know that this is about:
● A murder mystery involving dead children
● A discussion about Christianity & blind faith
By all accounts, I credit my enjoyment of this book wholly to Kathryn Schleich's writing style. The plot (as a person who has read way too many thrillers of this type) didn't surprise me so much. And there are definitely instances where I felt the characters weren't too nuanced, to its detriment. But I don't know... I couldn't stop turning the pages. Kathryn Schleich just has it- that writing style that pulls you in regardless. I prefer to think of it as natural talent? I really can't explain it. But despite those small issues, the reading experience was smooth as butter.
I really really enjoyed this. A really fun, dark story, and I'd especially recommend it to anyone who is interested in thrillers centering around religion. And it doesn't hurt that it's a crazy easy read!
I received an ARC from Book Publicity Services in exchange for a review.
My favorite types of stories are definitely page-turning, easy to read, and dark; which will explain why I liked Salvation Station so much. If you're planning to pick this up, do yourself a favor & don't look at the synopsis. Just know that this is about:
● A murder mystery involving dead children
● A discussion about Christianity & blind faith
By all accounts, I credit my enjoyment of this book wholly to Kathryn Schleich's writing style. The plot (as a person who has read way too many thrillers of this type) didn't surprise me so much. And there are definitely instances where I felt the characters weren't too nuanced, to its detriment. But I don't know... I couldn't stop turning the pages. Kathryn Schleich just has it- that writing style that pulls you in regardless. I prefer to think of it as natural talent? I really can't explain it. But despite those small issues, the reading experience was smooth as butter.
I really really enjoyed this. A really fun, dark story, and I'd especially recommend it to anyone who is interested in thrillers centering around religion. And it doesn't hurt that it's a crazy easy read!
I received an ARC from Book Publicity Services in exchange for a review.
August 28, 2020
Well-written debut police procedural novel. Although we know from the beginning who the villain is, the cat-and-mouse games she plays and the police investigation keeps things interesting throughout. The author has a very readable writing style and shows potential for writing in this genre.
There are some clunky parts and the plot didn't always flow well. There were some parts of the drama that weren't on the page and should have been (the shooting deaths later in the book, I had to wrack my brain to remember who those characters were) and there were some details that were too drawn out and could have been cut down (some of the initial investigation that was meticulously laid out).
Overall though, the author shows promise and I would read another book by her in the future.
Thank you to Book Publicity Services for the complimentary review copy. All opinions are my own.
There are some clunky parts and the plot didn't always flow well. There were some parts of the drama that weren't on the page and should have been (the shooting deaths later in the book, I had to wrack my brain to remember who those characters were) and there were some details that were too drawn out and could have been cut down (some of the initial investigation that was meticulously laid out).
Overall though, the author shows promise and I would read another book by her in the future.
Thank you to Book Publicity Services for the complimentary review copy. All opinions are my own.
July 16, 2020
First off, a HUGE thank you to Kathryn Schleich, She Writes Press and Kelsey at Book Publicity Services for my copy.
When the bodies of a pastor and his two young children are found in the shallow graves, police captain Linda Turner becomes obsessed with solving the case. But the mom - Mrs. Hansen can't be found anywhere.
Following the same timeline is televangelist Ray's story. He wants to spread the good word, but he isn't bringing in enough money to cover expenses and he's afraid he'll have to close down. Until one of his regular attendees approaches him with some new ideas.
This book was set in the late 90s and early 2000s and it actually was a good setting. It took me a little while to wrap my mind around how different of a world it really was. This was also a character driven book and most of the characters were likable, which made it easier to care about them. I didn't love any of the characters, but I liked them enough.
The plot was interesting and one of the biggest reasons I kept reading. It's addressing religion, televangelists, and blindly following/donating. It's a subject that I find incredibly fascinating because it's so outside of who I am. The chapters alternate between Linda Taylor, Rev. Ray, and a member of his congregation who wholeheartedly believes Rev. Ray. If you've seen it, I kept thinking of John Oliver's segment on televangelists and how they're constantly asking for seed money.
Anyway, I went into this thinking it was a thriller and would have a big twist at the end. What I thought the big twist was going to be seemed to be revealed early on in the book, which made me even more curious how the book was going to end. But there was no big twist. Initially I was letdown, but given a few days I can see that it was more of a suspense drama instead of thriller/mystery.
I really liked the characters, I liked the setting and how the chapters jumped around to different characters. I liked the length of the chapters, made it easier to pause when needed (I don't like long chapters).
The few things I didn't like were some of the conversations between characters. They way it was said or the words used just seemed too stiff and formal, and these were conversations between friends. My only other complaint, that honestly doesn't even matter, is how the dead children could never be brought up without saying that they were in Disney pajamas. Like that somehow made it more sad? I'm not sure.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I liked that it was different (the suspense drama) instead of all the thrillers I'm used to reading. I enjoyed the content and the characters. I would suggest people read it if they're looking for a different suspense/thriller, or are wanting to read about blindly following religion.
4/5 stars.
When the bodies of a pastor and his two young children are found in the shallow graves, police captain Linda Turner becomes obsessed with solving the case. But the mom - Mrs. Hansen can't be found anywhere.
Following the same timeline is televangelist Ray's story. He wants to spread the good word, but he isn't bringing in enough money to cover expenses and he's afraid he'll have to close down. Until one of his regular attendees approaches him with some new ideas.
This book was set in the late 90s and early 2000s and it actually was a good setting. It took me a little while to wrap my mind around how different of a world it really was. This was also a character driven book and most of the characters were likable, which made it easier to care about them. I didn't love any of the characters, but I liked them enough.
The plot was interesting and one of the biggest reasons I kept reading. It's addressing religion, televangelists, and blindly following/donating. It's a subject that I find incredibly fascinating because it's so outside of who I am. The chapters alternate between Linda Taylor, Rev. Ray, and a member of his congregation who wholeheartedly believes Rev. Ray. If you've seen it, I kept thinking of John Oliver's segment on televangelists and how they're constantly asking for seed money.
Anyway, I went into this thinking it was a thriller and would have a big twist at the end. What I thought the big twist was going to be seemed to be revealed early on in the book, which made me even more curious how the book was going to end. But there was no big twist. Initially I was letdown, but given a few days I can see that it was more of a suspense drama instead of thriller/mystery.
I really liked the characters, I liked the setting and how the chapters jumped around to different characters. I liked the length of the chapters, made it easier to pause when needed (I don't like long chapters).
The few things I didn't like were some of the conversations between characters. They way it was said or the words used just seemed too stiff and formal, and these were conversations between friends. My only other complaint, that honestly doesn't even matter, is how the dead children could never be brought up without saying that they were in Disney pajamas. Like that somehow made it more sad? I'm not sure.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I liked that it was different (the suspense drama) instead of all the thrillers I'm used to reading. I enjoyed the content and the characters. I would suggest people read it if they're looking for a different suspense/thriller, or are wanting to read about blindly following religion.
4/5 stars.
April 20, 2020
Salvation Station by Kathryn Schleich is a police procedural.
First, let me thank the publisher She Writes Press, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. In particular, I’d like to thank Kelsey Butts at Book Publicity Services for reaching out to me with this book. All opinions are my own.
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Nebraska Police Captain Linda Turner can't get over the sight of a father and his two children, still in their pajamas, found in a shallow grave. The father was a minister. His wife, a mysterious figure, is missing. Even when the case goes cold, Linda can't let it go.
Another minister, Ray Williams, meets a woman who changes his whole world. Ray can no longer meet the payments to keep his church going. But Susannah sweeps in and her ideas elevate a small-town preacher to a major televangelist. Yes, some of her ideas seem a little "off" to Ray and his two long-time helpers, but Ray is quickly overcome by love.
Ray's long-time friends are wary. Susannah seems to have a temper, and they soon learn to stay on her good-side.
My Opinions:
First, I am assuming this will be a series.
The premise for the book was really good. It dealt with scruples, and lies, and fraud, and embezzlement. It dealt with people who prey on the weak and vulnerable. It also dealt with those who just get swept up in emotions and "the moment". It dealt with the seedier side of religion, and faith.
Most of the characters were interesting, if not too deep. The beginning seemed rather stilted and it took me a bit to get into the story. I found the whole book rather long and a bit tedious. It was very predictable, and perhaps lacked a bit of excitement.
On the other hand, I did enjoy the way things developed. I liked the alternating story-lines, and how things all came together.
As her first full-length fiction novel, this was good.
For a more complete review of this book and others (including author information), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
June 16, 2020
Linda Turner is horrified by her current murder investigation. The bodies of two children and their father, the local pastor, were found buried in their old garden. The wife is missing without a trace. Linda will stop at nothing to find the killer. Reverend Ray is ready to shut down his evangelical television program. It’s just not taking hold. Until a mysterious and beautiful woman arrives with a plan to salvage the show. However, she’s got much more sinister plans.
Thank you to Book Publicity Services for sending me this one.
This books picks up right from the beginning and has a great start. The ending is super fast paced. I felt like I was watching something on the i.d. Network. While a touch unbelievable, I thought the basic premise of this book was fun and interesting. I enjoyed Linda’s character.
My problems came during the middle of the book. It just didn’t hold my interest, and I didn’t connect with any of the characters. I feel people who have an interest in religious topics might enjoy this more. I did find myself wanting to shake Ray for being so trusting, but that’s all I felt for the majority of this book. I wanted more murder investigation and less setting up a televangelist.
While this one fell a bit flat for me, I do think individuals looking for a quick read with religious themes will enjoy Salvation Station.
Thank you to Book Publicity Services for sending me this one.
This books picks up right from the beginning and has a great start. The ending is super fast paced. I felt like I was watching something on the i.d. Network. While a touch unbelievable, I thought the basic premise of this book was fun and interesting. I enjoyed Linda’s character.
My problems came during the middle of the book. It just didn’t hold my interest, and I didn’t connect with any of the characters. I feel people who have an interest in religious topics might enjoy this more. I did find myself wanting to shake Ray for being so trusting, but that’s all I felt for the majority of this book. I wanted more murder investigation and less setting up a televangelist.
While this one fell a bit flat for me, I do think individuals looking for a quick read with religious themes will enjoy Salvation Station.
June 17, 2020
Salvation Station drew me in with that creepy cover (which my fiance kept commenting on throughout the week) and interesting premise. I thought the characters were all rather unique and the “villain” was fascinating. This was a suspenseful police procedural/thriller that provided an intense journey with good pacing and various alternating perspectives. The writing style was solid overall, although I did have some little issues. It felt overly-descriptive at times, where a character would explain something to a point or in a way that it didn’t feel like that’s how someone would actually talk. Not sure if that makes sense, but basically there were many points where descriptions were added that didn’t seem necessary. However, I think this is something that the author could perfect and polish to make her next novel a 5-star read for sure.
I loved the way this book felt like a movie, constantly moving to different characters as the story progressed and showing how one event was perceived in multiple situations. Salvation Station is a solid debut novel that I thoroughly enjoyed and I look forward to this author’s next release! Thank you so much to Book Publicity Services and She Writes Press for my gifted copy!
I loved the way this book felt like a movie, constantly moving to different characters as the story progressed and showing how one event was perceived in multiple situations. Salvation Station is a solid debut novel that I thoroughly enjoyed and I look forward to this author’s next release! Thank you so much to Book Publicity Services and She Writes Press for my gifted copy!
December 16, 2020
The premise was intriguing; a pet dog on its daily digging expedition uncovers the bones of a man and two children. Upon further investigation, the remains are those of Rev. Gregory Hansen and his two young children whom everyone thought had left for Africa for missionary work. Who killed them?
The book started off quite well and got me engaged and turning the pages. I liked Captain Linda Turner who was heading the investigation. She is a respected investigator, very methodical and a determined person who is not one to give up easily. The other characters were also very nicely fleshed out with the main players’ backstories adequately delved into. The premise which touches on the life and activities of a Tele-evangelist were very interesting and quite believable too.
The unraveling of the mystery and the investigation was however very slow moving. Halfway through the book, things started to get a little tedious. There were unnecessary scenes and dialogue that were too detailed and did not add much value to the book. And although I appreciated some backstory to the main characters, the same should not apply to the minor characters. Too much info on too many characters can be distracting. By then, I had already guessed the murderer and even the modus operandi so the only reason I kept on reading was just to know the “why”. I felt quite tempted to skip some chapters just to reach the end.
That said, this was a reasonably good and easy read. The pace did pick up slightly in the later chapters until it came to a satisfactory conclusion. I wouldn’t mind giving Captain Linda Turner a second chance.
Thank you Book Publicity Services for the e-book in return for an honest review.
April 3, 2020
Reverend Ray Williams struggles to maintain his financially strapped church, The Road to Calvary in St. Louis. One of his followers, Susannah Baker offers a solution to his problem and the church begins to prosper. Ray’s friends, Buck and Jake distrust Susannah’s motives, but Ray is happy his church is expanding with her assistance. Ruth Perkins likes the services and wishes her highly temperamental daughter, Emma, could see how the Reverend helps people. Emma believes he’s misleading his flock and forbids her mother not to support the preacher.
Meanwhile, in Nebraska, Pastor Hanson and his children are found buried in the manse’s garden. Captain Linda Turner is appalled and hell bent to find the killer of this heinous crime. Information from grieving church members reveals startling information that takes the cops in unexpected directions. Linda and her team work hard to catch the killer before the trail becomes cold or the killer strikes again.
“A church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints.” – Abigail Van Buren. Well, The Road to Calvary has its fair share of sinners; most are repentant, while others continue their sinful acts. Kathryn Schleich takes you through the church’s back door where corruption and greed hide. Salvation Station is a fast moving, arousing mystery that will draw your emotions out. Apart from the catchy synopsis, the first sentence in chapter one made an impact, setting the tone for this novel.
Most of the characters are determined and headstrong in their main beliefs and moral values. Captain Linda is tough, acts quickly and is level headed in situations she faces. She is a cop you want to keep as a friend, not an enemy. I thought the book’s cover represented the theme very nicely. It was a pleasure reading Salvation Station by Kathryn Schleich.
Meanwhile, in Nebraska, Pastor Hanson and his children are found buried in the manse’s garden. Captain Linda Turner is appalled and hell bent to find the killer of this heinous crime. Information from grieving church members reveals startling information that takes the cops in unexpected directions. Linda and her team work hard to catch the killer before the trail becomes cold or the killer strikes again.
“A church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints.” – Abigail Van Buren. Well, The Road to Calvary has its fair share of sinners; most are repentant, while others continue their sinful acts. Kathryn Schleich takes you through the church’s back door where corruption and greed hide. Salvation Station is a fast moving, arousing mystery that will draw your emotions out. Apart from the catchy synopsis, the first sentence in chapter one made an impact, setting the tone for this novel.
Most of the characters are determined and headstrong in their main beliefs and moral values. Captain Linda is tough, acts quickly and is level headed in situations she faces. She is a cop you want to keep as a friend, not an enemy. I thought the book’s cover represented the theme very nicely. It was a pleasure reading Salvation Station by Kathryn Schleich.
April 8, 2020
Thanks so much to the author and She Writes Press for the complimentary advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are entirely my own. { partner } All of my full reviews can also be found on Instagram @Tackling_TBR and on my blog tacklingtbr.home.blog
TW : murder, murder of children, religion, mention of addiction, mention of thoughts of suicide, deceit
I want to start off by saying that I was reading this at a time that I'm not sure my heart was wanting a thriller - with all of the stress and uncertainty in the world right now with people being in isolation, I had a little bit of a hard time first getting into this book, and it did take me a little while to read it. But all of that being said, I really enjoyed it! And I do see myself returning to this book and rereading it at a later time, when thrillers are more fun again.
Let's start with the story itself. In this book, the intense story starts right away from the very first page. You don't have to get through chapters and chapters of exposition and set up before you get to the main mystery. I will say that the main crime that is being solved in this story does involve the murder of very young children - this does happen before the beginning of the book, so you don't have to read the act itself, but you do get the aftermath from it. Any of these types of stories involving children can be really difficult for a lot of people to read, so I do think it is important to know before you start reading.
The story over all is really interesting, and once I got drawn in I really didn't want to put it down. It was fast paced, and you get a ton of different perspectives while following the two different story lines. The book follows detective Linda Turner while she works to solve the case, as well as following the story of the prime suspect while she is on to her next victim. I will say that at times there were a few points of view that only had one or two chapters from their perspectives, and I could have done with a few less points of view. It is written more like a movie in that sense, where the scenes go wherever they need to, even if it's a character that you haven't really met yet, in order to see what the author/director wants you to see. I didn't mind that at all, but as I said I could have done with getting a few less people's points of view, and maybe getting the important parts of those chapters from someone that we were already familiar with.
Quickly touching on the characters, I loved our two female leads - Detective Linda Turner and our prime suspect Susannah Baker/Pamela Jane Watts. They are both such strong female characters, and very fun to read about in their ways. Linda is the type of character that you want to root for and see succeed from the very first time that you meet her. She was so smart and determined, you knew she was going to solve it and get her guy in the end, so it was really fun getting to watch her get to that point. As for Susannah, she is the type of villain that you love to hate. She is the person who is used to always being the smartest person in the room and using her charm to really get her way. She is a master manipulator, and I really enjoyed getting to read about her, while still knowing that she would be caught in the end.
Over all, I really did enjoy this book. I will say again that I don't think this was the perfect time for me to be reading this particular story, but I definitely see myself rereading it at some time in the future when I am more in the mood for a thrilling adventure. I will definitely be recommending this one to my friends and family!
TW : murder, murder of children, religion, mention of addiction, mention of thoughts of suicide, deceit
I want to start off by saying that I was reading this at a time that I'm not sure my heart was wanting a thriller - with all of the stress and uncertainty in the world right now with people being in isolation, I had a little bit of a hard time first getting into this book, and it did take me a little while to read it. But all of that being said, I really enjoyed it! And I do see myself returning to this book and rereading it at a later time, when thrillers are more fun again.
Let's start with the story itself. In this book, the intense story starts right away from the very first page. You don't have to get through chapters and chapters of exposition and set up before you get to the main mystery. I will say that the main crime that is being solved in this story does involve the murder of very young children - this does happen before the beginning of the book, so you don't have to read the act itself, but you do get the aftermath from it. Any of these types of stories involving children can be really difficult for a lot of people to read, so I do think it is important to know before you start reading.
The story over all is really interesting, and once I got drawn in I really didn't want to put it down. It was fast paced, and you get a ton of different perspectives while following the two different story lines. The book follows detective Linda Turner while she works to solve the case, as well as following the story of the prime suspect while she is on to her next victim. I will say that at times there were a few points of view that only had one or two chapters from their perspectives, and I could have done with a few less points of view. It is written more like a movie in that sense, where the scenes go wherever they need to, even if it's a character that you haven't really met yet, in order to see what the author/director wants you to see. I didn't mind that at all, but as I said I could have done with getting a few less people's points of view, and maybe getting the important parts of those chapters from someone that we were already familiar with.
Quickly touching on the characters, I loved our two female leads - Detective Linda Turner and our prime suspect Susannah Baker/Pamela Jane Watts. They are both such strong female characters, and very fun to read about in their ways. Linda is the type of character that you want to root for and see succeed from the very first time that you meet her. She was so smart and determined, you knew she was going to solve it and get her guy in the end, so it was really fun getting to watch her get to that point. As for Susannah, she is the type of villain that you love to hate. She is the person who is used to always being the smartest person in the room and using her charm to really get her way. She is a master manipulator, and I really enjoyed getting to read about her, while still knowing that she would be caught in the end.
Over all, I really did enjoy this book. I will say again that I don't think this was the perfect time for me to be reading this particular story, but I definitely see myself rereading it at some time in the future when I am more in the mood for a thrilling adventure. I will definitely be recommending this one to my friends and family!
December 6, 2020
I don't know why it took me days to finish this book. But I must say it was worth it. I loved this book. It was a complete page turner. It was thoroughly well written and had great characters . Normally when you read a book and if you figure something or the plot early, you start losing interest. But it was not the case. This had me hooked from the start . You are going to love the book. Must read.
July 18, 2020
Liked this crime thriller. Review to come.
April 14, 2020
I read this in one sitting. Literally never moved. Great story, amazingly awful character! This suspenseful, psychological terror will keep you on the edge of your chair! It is hard to believe that this is her first novel! Bravo Schleich!
January 27, 2021
My first read of 2021 was Salvation Station by Kathryn Schleich. It was a quick read to kick off the year and an interesting one.
The book takes off immediately with the discovery of 3 bodies in the backyard of a new pastor’s home. We soon learn the identity of the victims as that of former pastor Hansen and his two children. Captain Linda Turner begins the investigation into locating Mrs. Hansen and uncovers a disturbing pattern and trail of bodies that follow the missing wife.
In the beginning, this book had 100% of my attention and I was flying through the pages. However, as the story progressed it felt drawn out and predictable. I wish there was more character development to draw me in and leave me rooting for someone. I wasn’t really attached to any of the characters and that made the book just okay for me. I would have liked a few twists to make the story less predictable. Also, there was a small romance storyline that just felt out of place.
I really liked the premise of the story and I think for those wanting a lighter crime fiction read this would be a great one!
Thanks to Kelsey at Book Publicity Services for my advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
The book takes off immediately with the discovery of 3 bodies in the backyard of a new pastor’s home. We soon learn the identity of the victims as that of former pastor Hansen and his two children. Captain Linda Turner begins the investigation into locating Mrs. Hansen and uncovers a disturbing pattern and trail of bodies that follow the missing wife.
In the beginning, this book had 100% of my attention and I was flying through the pages. However, as the story progressed it felt drawn out and predictable. I wish there was more character development to draw me in and leave me rooting for someone. I wasn’t really attached to any of the characters and that made the book just okay for me. I would have liked a few twists to make the story less predictable. Also, there was a small romance storyline that just felt out of place.
I really liked the premise of the story and I think for those wanting a lighter crime fiction read this would be a great one!
Thanks to Kelsey at Book Publicity Services for my advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
December 23, 2019
There was a lot to take in when reading the blurb for this book. Multiple stories lines all intertwining to tell a grand story. I suppose there were a few things that drew me into giving this author work ago. There are of course the usual elements of crime and mystery that will always pique my interest. But I suppose one thing that drew me in was the additional elements of religion. While my country is by default a Christian one it's really not something that takes up a lot if any thought to most people. And one thing to the best of my knowledge we definitely don't have is Televangelists. It's not a medium that seems to have passed over the pond. My knowledge of them to be fair is usually in some article about a crooked one from America. I was hoping this could bring a new element to a genre that I'm more than familiar with.
Kathryn certainly set herself a high bar when setting out to write this story, there were a great many characters for me to sink my teeth into. It allows for a great river to run through this book which kept on pushing me further into this dark world. Firstly Turner is a perfectly crafted police Captain, she brought to the table everything I usually look for in such a person. There is a dogged determination that means she would never forgive herself for giving up on a victim. Letting their voice sink back down into the mire is simply not in her wheelhouse. For me, she came off the page as a person who genuinely cares and that I think is an admirable quality Kathryn gave me a look into a world as for mentioned I knew little about. This needs to reach as many people as possible with his words. And while it still remains a world very alien to me it did give the story for me a new layer and went into a place that you can imagine as going very wrong.
Overall I could tell this author put a great deal of thought and effort into the story she wanted to tell. the two interchanging timelines allowed her story to breath out and never feel like it was running into dead ends. I was kept guessing the whole time as I not only tried to piece together the puzzles of the individual stories but to also rack my brains as to how they would come to fit together and give to me the complete picture. I really do commend her as she kept me guessing for a lot longer than I thought it would. She also does something that great crime novels do and asked question of me as a reader that goes beyond its predefined genre. For me at least I want books to go beyond and to make me question what I may have expected of any given subject. I suppose one of the big things in here for me is this notion of faith and if blind faith can ever be a truly good thing. Much like me as a reader should we not always question what we are being presented with. Maybe if it all seems too good to be true then we already have our answer.
Salvation Station is Schleich's first full-length fiction book and as a first inning, I would say she did a great job. It was a book that gave me what I was looking for on these rainy evenings. Two worlds both very dark in their own ways. With people looking to take what does not belong to them be it the life of another, fame or just good old-fashioned greed of money. Faith can be a dangerous thing in the wrong hands, but maybe it might also just bring justice to a family who is slowly being forgotten.
Kathryn certainly set herself a high bar when setting out to write this story, there were a great many characters for me to sink my teeth into. It allows for a great river to run through this book which kept on pushing me further into this dark world. Firstly Turner is a perfectly crafted police Captain, she brought to the table everything I usually look for in such a person. There is a dogged determination that means she would never forgive herself for giving up on a victim. Letting their voice sink back down into the mire is simply not in her wheelhouse. For me, she came off the page as a person who genuinely cares and that I think is an admirable quality Kathryn gave me a look into a world as for mentioned I knew little about. This needs to reach as many people as possible with his words. And while it still remains a world very alien to me it did give the story for me a new layer and went into a place that you can imagine as going very wrong.
Overall I could tell this author put a great deal of thought and effort into the story she wanted to tell. the two interchanging timelines allowed her story to breath out and never feel like it was running into dead ends. I was kept guessing the whole time as I not only tried to piece together the puzzles of the individual stories but to also rack my brains as to how they would come to fit together and give to me the complete picture. I really do commend her as she kept me guessing for a lot longer than I thought it would. She also does something that great crime novels do and asked question of me as a reader that goes beyond its predefined genre. For me at least I want books to go beyond and to make me question what I may have expected of any given subject. I suppose one of the big things in here for me is this notion of faith and if blind faith can ever be a truly good thing. Much like me as a reader should we not always question what we are being presented with. Maybe if it all seems too good to be true then we already have our answer.
Salvation Station is Schleich's first full-length fiction book and as a first inning, I would say she did a great job. It was a book that gave me what I was looking for on these rainy evenings. Two worlds both very dark in their own ways. With people looking to take what does not belong to them be it the life of another, fame or just good old-fashioned greed of money. Faith can be a dangerous thing in the wrong hands, but maybe it might also just bring justice to a family who is slowly being forgotten.
May 9, 2020
Thanks to the author for the free copy in exchange for my honest review
This is a solid debut! Not going to lie, this cover immediately drew me to this book and I couldn’t wait to see what was waiting for me inside. SALVATION STATION is the debut novel from Kathryn Schleich and I already can’t wait to see what she comes out with next. While thrillers all tend to have similar plots or at least a similar layout (especially if you’re a reader that frequents the genre), Schleich’s writing style is what kept me glued.
in Nebraska, Captain Linda Turner is on her newest case – investigating the death of Pastor Hansen and his children. They were found in the flower garden behind a church parsonage, and she is determined to find their killer. The Pastor’s wife is nowhere to be found and there’s no trace of the killer, but Turner finds information in the most surprising places that lead her down an unexpected trail.
Meanwhile, in St. Louis we meet Reverend Ray Williams and his church The Road to Calvary. To say his church is struggling is an understatement, but with the help of one of his followers, Susannah, the church begins to prosper and expand once again. Those around him aren’t so trusting in her motives for helping or her methods, but how could they stop it?
You’ll love some of these characters and really dislike some others. It will bring into question if there is redemption and where their morals are throughout the book, but they all brought something to the table. I think this is a great blend of mystery, suspense, police procedural, and it even brings into question the strength of faith and morality. I liked the mix of everything the author brought to the table and they each added their own layer to the story. Like I mentioned, I loved her writing style. Everything flowed wonderfully and I went through this a lot faster than I thought I was going to! I’ll be very curious to see what she releases next.
This is a solid debut! Not going to lie, this cover immediately drew me to this book and I couldn’t wait to see what was waiting for me inside. SALVATION STATION is the debut novel from Kathryn Schleich and I already can’t wait to see what she comes out with next. While thrillers all tend to have similar plots or at least a similar layout (especially if you’re a reader that frequents the genre), Schleich’s writing style is what kept me glued.
in Nebraska, Captain Linda Turner is on her newest case – investigating the death of Pastor Hansen and his children. They were found in the flower garden behind a church parsonage, and she is determined to find their killer. The Pastor’s wife is nowhere to be found and there’s no trace of the killer, but Turner finds information in the most surprising places that lead her down an unexpected trail.
Meanwhile, in St. Louis we meet Reverend Ray Williams and his church The Road to Calvary. To say his church is struggling is an understatement, but with the help of one of his followers, Susannah, the church begins to prosper and expand once again. Those around him aren’t so trusting in her motives for helping or her methods, but how could they stop it?
You’ll love some of these characters and really dislike some others. It will bring into question if there is redemption and where their morals are throughout the book, but they all brought something to the table. I think this is a great blend of mystery, suspense, police procedural, and it even brings into question the strength of faith and morality. I liked the mix of everything the author brought to the table and they each added their own layer to the story. Like I mentioned, I loved her writing style. Everything flowed wonderfully and I went through this a lot faster than I thought I was going to! I’ll be very curious to see what she releases next.
November 4, 2020
Police captain Linda Turner becomes obsessed with solving the haunting murders of two young children and their pastor father, as well as the disappearance of their mother and why they never made it to their missionary work in Africa. Salvation Station is a murder-mystery that combines elements of suspense, police procedural, and a fraudulent religious organization in a way that reads like an episode of CSI or Criminal Minds. Schleich takes you along more than one plot line but is skilled enough to never lose the reader or cause the story to become muddled. I don't want to give anything away, but the story of the killer was such an interesting one because the author gives them a backstory and makes them a more realistic character while at the same time showcasing to the reader that they are a master manipulator with no conscious.
I was most impressed by the actual crime-solving/investigation writing and how well it was written, and I was shocked when I found out this was Kathryn Schleich's debut novel. It's well balanced, concise and not drawn out or boring, and has an interesting plot. Definitely the kind of novel to put an author on my radar for the future.
Salvation Station wasn't a long novel, but it was an absolute page-turner and the perfect novel for all of the crime readers and watchers.
Thank you to Kathryn Schleich and book publicist Kelsey Butts for this review copy, this was a great read!
I was most impressed by the actual crime-solving/investigation writing and how well it was written, and I was shocked when I found out this was Kathryn Schleich's debut novel. It's well balanced, concise and not drawn out or boring, and has an interesting plot. Definitely the kind of novel to put an author on my radar for the future.
Salvation Station wasn't a long novel, but it was an absolute page-turner and the perfect novel for all of the crime readers and watchers.
Thank you to Kathryn Schleich and book publicist Kelsey Butts for this review copy, this was a great read!
Read
June 9, 2020Certainly unique as far as thrillers go, Salvation Station is captivating from the beginning. Starting with a triple homicide involving a father and two children, buried in the garden of a parsonage, in their Disney pajamas.
Schleich crafts a ruthless killer who preys on the generous, good-hearted, and insanely gullible. She creates a killer who knows no bounds, shows zero remorse, and thrives off of the work they do.
I found the dialogue to be a bit elementary and too "correct" and became a bit annoyed at the fact that the characters seemed to explain every little thing they were doing or saying as if it wasn't already apparent by their actions. There just wasn't an ease of dialogue that I was able to latch onto- the flow was pretty stilted for me.
I also found the novel to be a bit longer than it needed to be and felt that the case (although unique) was rather an easy one to solve. I wasn't super impressed with the lead detectives and their skills.
Otherwise, this read was an enjoyable thriller (although incredibly predictable) and was a nice palate cleanser for me. Schleich also mentioned my city and my favorite TV show in one novel so I count that as a plus! ;)
Thank you to SheWritesPress for a free copy in exchange for an honest review!
TW: Child murders, multiple homicides, alcoholism, embezzlement, death of parents
Schleich crafts a ruthless killer who preys on the generous, good-hearted, and insanely gullible. She creates a killer who knows no bounds, shows zero remorse, and thrives off of the work they do.
I found the dialogue to be a bit elementary and too "correct" and became a bit annoyed at the fact that the characters seemed to explain every little thing they were doing or saying as if it wasn't already apparent by their actions. There just wasn't an ease of dialogue that I was able to latch onto- the flow was pretty stilted for me.
I also found the novel to be a bit longer than it needed to be and felt that the case (although unique) was rather an easy one to solve. I wasn't super impressed with the lead detectives and their skills.
Otherwise, this read was an enjoyable thriller (although incredibly predictable) and was a nice palate cleanser for me. Schleich also mentioned my city and my favorite TV show in one novel so I count that as a plus! ;)
Thank you to SheWritesPress for a free copy in exchange for an honest review!
TW: Child murders, multiple homicides, alcoholism, embezzlement, death of parents
April 30, 2020
(originally reviewed at
thelibraryladies.com
)
Thank you to Book Publicity Services for sending me an ARC of this novel!
There is one particular scene in “The Silence of the Lambs” where I find myself closest to relating to Hannibal Lecter (Go with me, I promise this isn’t creepy). When Clarice Starling visits him after finding a human head in a storage space, he is being punished for goading on a fellow inmate into committing suicide. His punishment is having to sit in the dark of his cell with a televangelist station on at full blast. I’m with you, Lecter, that sounds awful. When Book Publicity Services contacted me about “Salvation Station” by Kathryn Schleich, the aspect that really stood out to me was the televangelist preacher who may be putting his faith into the wrong person. So that angle was what compelled me to read and review the book, even if I didn’t know what to expect. I don’t know if it was my lack of other expectations or what, but I dove into “Salvation Station” and found myself completely taken in its web.
The first aspect of this book I liked is that from the get go, we know who the bad guy is. We know that this Susannah Baker character is assuredly the same woman who was married to the murdered Reverend that our protagonist is trying to catch. So instead of writing a thriller that’s mostly whodunnit, it is instead a cat and mouse tale in which you are desperate to know if Susannah is going to exposed as the conniving murderer that we know her to be. Schleich is pitch perfect in making the villain a character you love to hate. She is so venomous and so calculating that I found myself just ACHING for her to get what was coming to her. The pious woman of God act is both extra maddening, but it also rang super true in that unfortunately there have been plenty of con artists who have abused people’s faith in order to make them victims. We don’t get as much of an insight into Ray, the televangelist who is taken in by Susannah’s flattery and supposed born-again life, but that perhaps that was the point. At the end of the day he’s a guy who is devoted to the idea of devoted and pious wives, and so Susannah knew exactly how to play him like a harp. Perhaps it’s a greater commentary on the evangelical culture, but that’s not my business. Ultimately, Susannah is the center of this part of the story, and she is pitch perfect in her psychopathy. She is THE WORST.
On the flip side of this cat and mouse game is Linda, a tenacious Nebraska police captain who is on Susannah’s trail. Linda was horrified to find a local reverend and his two children buried in a garden, and has made it her mission to track down his wife, who they have deemed responsible. Linda was also a great character to follow, as she is the perfect foil to Susannah who is driven by the need for justice. You get the feeling that this case is a little personal to her, and as we get to see her own background and the things she’s been through she makes all the more sense in her choices and motivations. I also really enjoyed the steps that we take to see her investigate while we see Susannah laying out her new traps. It served as a satisfying juxtaposition, and made me want to read quicker and quicker to see how it was all going to play out. Plus, she has a fun relationship with another investigator that doesn’t overtake her story, but adds some fun spice to it.
There was one issue that I had with this book, though it’s a nit pick to be sure as it’s just a single moment. Still, it left enough of a bad taste in my mouth that I wanted to address it here. At one point Linda is musing about the kind of woman who could kill her own children, and she draws comparisons to both Susan Smith and Andrea Yates. Smith is apt to be sure, but I really wasn’t happy that Yates was mentioned, as she was in a post-partum psychotic break when she drowned her five children in the bathtub. She wasn’t a psychopath, she was severely, SEVERELY mentally ill. As horrific as her actions were, and they were HORRIFIC, it wasn’t a fair comparison.
Overall, I really liked “Salvation Station”! Fans of the hunt in a thriller novel really need to give it a go, I think you will find lots to like!
Thank you to Book Publicity Services for sending me an ARC of this novel!
There is one particular scene in “The Silence of the Lambs” where I find myself closest to relating to Hannibal Lecter (Go with me, I promise this isn’t creepy). When Clarice Starling visits him after finding a human head in a storage space, he is being punished for goading on a fellow inmate into committing suicide. His punishment is having to sit in the dark of his cell with a televangelist station on at full blast. I’m with you, Lecter, that sounds awful. When Book Publicity Services contacted me about “Salvation Station” by Kathryn Schleich, the aspect that really stood out to me was the televangelist preacher who may be putting his faith into the wrong person. So that angle was what compelled me to read and review the book, even if I didn’t know what to expect. I don’t know if it was my lack of other expectations or what, but I dove into “Salvation Station” and found myself completely taken in its web.
The first aspect of this book I liked is that from the get go, we know who the bad guy is. We know that this Susannah Baker character is assuredly the same woman who was married to the murdered Reverend that our protagonist is trying to catch. So instead of writing a thriller that’s mostly whodunnit, it is instead a cat and mouse tale in which you are desperate to know if Susannah is going to exposed as the conniving murderer that we know her to be. Schleich is pitch perfect in making the villain a character you love to hate. She is so venomous and so calculating that I found myself just ACHING for her to get what was coming to her. The pious woman of God act is both extra maddening, but it also rang super true in that unfortunately there have been plenty of con artists who have abused people’s faith in order to make them victims. We don’t get as much of an insight into Ray, the televangelist who is taken in by Susannah’s flattery and supposed born-again life, but that perhaps that was the point. At the end of the day he’s a guy who is devoted to the idea of devoted and pious wives, and so Susannah knew exactly how to play him like a harp. Perhaps it’s a greater commentary on the evangelical culture, but that’s not my business. Ultimately, Susannah is the center of this part of the story, and she is pitch perfect in her psychopathy. She is THE WORST.
On the flip side of this cat and mouse game is Linda, a tenacious Nebraska police captain who is on Susannah’s trail. Linda was horrified to find a local reverend and his two children buried in a garden, and has made it her mission to track down his wife, who they have deemed responsible. Linda was also a great character to follow, as she is the perfect foil to Susannah who is driven by the need for justice. You get the feeling that this case is a little personal to her, and as we get to see her own background and the things she’s been through she makes all the more sense in her choices and motivations. I also really enjoyed the steps that we take to see her investigate while we see Susannah laying out her new traps. It served as a satisfying juxtaposition, and made me want to read quicker and quicker to see how it was all going to play out. Plus, she has a fun relationship with another investigator that doesn’t overtake her story, but adds some fun spice to it.
There was one issue that I had with this book, though it’s a nit pick to be sure as it’s just a single moment. Still, it left enough of a bad taste in my mouth that I wanted to address it here. At one point Linda is musing about the kind of woman who could kill her own children, and she draws comparisons to both Susan Smith and Andrea Yates. Smith is apt to be sure, but I really wasn’t happy that Yates was mentioned, as she was in a post-partum psychotic break when she drowned her five children in the bathtub. She wasn’t a psychopath, she was severely, SEVERELY mentally ill. As horrific as her actions were, and they were HORRIFIC, it wasn’t a fair comparison.
Overall, I really liked “Salvation Station”! Fans of the hunt in a thriller novel really need to give it a go, I think you will find lots to like!
April 18, 2020
Salvation Station by Kathryn Schleich is a captivating story. This story will grab the readers attention immediately and keep a firm grip on the readers full attention until the unbelieveable ending !!!
Schleich tells the story of a very clever mastermind who seems to fool everyone but one Captain of a police force is onto it and will do whatever it takes to stop them !!
Captain Linda Turner is called to a crime scene where a man and his two young children are found buried in the yard of a parsonage. This leads the Captain on a path that no one could ever imagine. It is learned that the bodies are of the old minister and his children believed to be in Africa doing missionary work. It is also learned that the wife isn’t among the bodies and is missing.
Captain Turner does what she does best and digs deep into the story. As she is digging up information on the missing wife in Nebraska, the story takes the reader to Missouri where we meet Reverend Ray, his two helpers, Buck and Jeff, who are working on The Road to Calvary, a religious television show that is barely holding on. That is until Susannah Baker comes to their rescue…..or so Reverend Ray thought. Susannah sweeps Reverend Ray off his feet and they fall in love and get married. While falling in love, Susannah convinces Reverend Ray that he and the program have so much more potential that they need to utilize. She starts working with them expanding the program and works on fundraising for the expansion. But then people become suspicious of Susannah’s motives and go to the police. And when some members of the congregation dies, all eyes turn to Susannah……
I love the way that Schleich devotes one chapter for what is going on with the investigation in Nebraska and then the next chapter follows Susannah and what she is doing in Missouri. Schleich keeps the reader focused and on the edge of their seat while reading. You cannot stop reading ….. especially when Captain Turner goes under cover in Missouri. However there is NO way the reader could foresee how the story was going to end…..you will read the ending and then probably go back and re-read it because you will be in complete SHOCK !!
I encourage readers to grab your copy of Salvation Station and get lost in the story. And I do have to emphasize that it will GRAB your attention !!!!
Schleich tells the story of a very clever mastermind who seems to fool everyone but one Captain of a police force is onto it and will do whatever it takes to stop them !!
Captain Linda Turner is called to a crime scene where a man and his two young children are found buried in the yard of a parsonage. This leads the Captain on a path that no one could ever imagine. It is learned that the bodies are of the old minister and his children believed to be in Africa doing missionary work. It is also learned that the wife isn’t among the bodies and is missing.
Captain Turner does what she does best and digs deep into the story. As she is digging up information on the missing wife in Nebraska, the story takes the reader to Missouri where we meet Reverend Ray, his two helpers, Buck and Jeff, who are working on The Road to Calvary, a religious television show that is barely holding on. That is until Susannah Baker comes to their rescue…..or so Reverend Ray thought. Susannah sweeps Reverend Ray off his feet and they fall in love and get married. While falling in love, Susannah convinces Reverend Ray that he and the program have so much more potential that they need to utilize. She starts working with them expanding the program and works on fundraising for the expansion. But then people become suspicious of Susannah’s motives and go to the police. And when some members of the congregation dies, all eyes turn to Susannah……
I love the way that Schleich devotes one chapter for what is going on with the investigation in Nebraska and then the next chapter follows Susannah and what she is doing in Missouri. Schleich keeps the reader focused and on the edge of their seat while reading. You cannot stop reading ….. especially when Captain Turner goes under cover in Missouri. However there is NO way the reader could foresee how the story was going to end…..you will read the ending and then probably go back and re-read it because you will be in complete SHOCK !!
I encourage readers to grab your copy of Salvation Station and get lost in the story. And I do have to emphasize that it will GRAB your attention !!!!
October 3, 2020
Salvation Station is an easy-to-read pageturner centred around a mysterious and compelling case, as we follow a determined police captain trying to find a killer who has really unnerved her, and a reverend whose faith is being taken advantage of.
The multiple storylines are both very interesting to see unfold, and each keeps your intrigue high as you anticipate how they will ultimately come together. Although it becomes quite obvious how they are linked, this is not a negative of the book. Sometimes authors need to deceive their readers to convince them that they have enjoyed the story, but I much prefer Salvation Station's more straightforward approach, which lures you in with great characters and curiosity, instead.
Kathryn Schleich's writing is naturally engaging, and Linda is a strong lead character who keeps you emotionally engaged in the case in the same way that she is. She's determined to find out the facts, as you root for her to find justice for whoever killed this young family and for someone to help Reverend Williams see sense before it's too late. In the end, the stories come together with a satisfying conclusion. I thought there might have been one final twist in the closing chapters, but Schleich still takes the time to effectively tie up all of her loose ends.
What I like most about this police procedural story is that it emphasises how long it can take to solve a murder case, as there aren't always the resources available to put a large team on a case fulltime. Set over a year, it is paced really well while also highlighting Linda's struggle to find enough ongoing evidence to keep the case open, without readers feeling the span of its dragged out timescale.
As a debut novel, Salvation Station is really impressive. The religious elements give the book an original feel, while Schleich's writing ensures that you remain hooked throughout.
The multiple storylines are both very interesting to see unfold, and each keeps your intrigue high as you anticipate how they will ultimately come together. Although it becomes quite obvious how they are linked, this is not a negative of the book. Sometimes authors need to deceive their readers to convince them that they have enjoyed the story, but I much prefer Salvation Station's more straightforward approach, which lures you in with great characters and curiosity, instead.
Kathryn Schleich's writing is naturally engaging, and Linda is a strong lead character who keeps you emotionally engaged in the case in the same way that she is. She's determined to find out the facts, as you root for her to find justice for whoever killed this young family and for someone to help Reverend Williams see sense before it's too late. In the end, the stories come together with a satisfying conclusion. I thought there might have been one final twist in the closing chapters, but Schleich still takes the time to effectively tie up all of her loose ends.
What I like most about this police procedural story is that it emphasises how long it can take to solve a murder case, as there aren't always the resources available to put a large team on a case fulltime. Set over a year, it is paced really well while also highlighting Linda's struggle to find enough ongoing evidence to keep the case open, without readers feeling the span of its dragged out timescale.
As a debut novel, Salvation Station is really impressive. The religious elements give the book an original feel, while Schleich's writing ensures that you remain hooked throughout.
May 1, 2020
*Book given by the publisher via BookPublicityService in exchange for an honest review*
What I Liked
I will openly admit that thrillers that involve police detectives are normally not my thing, but Kathryn Schleich has managed to write a book I enjoy that deals with a police captain. The I was drawn in within a few pages, you don’t need to wait for the story to start up. This story has a very ghastly murder of two children and their paster father and a mother that has gone missing. One of the threads through this book follow the investigation. The second main thread throughout this book a church in desperate need and starts to follow the direction of one of its members.
The main things that stood out to me was the authors ability to portray the work put in by the police to help solve this crime. It felt like the characters care and really wanted to having this murder solved, not just a plot device and the story continuing. The second thing that stood out to me about the plot was the authors ability to deal with the difficult topic of religion. In this story there is discussion of a church that is cult like and the things those in charge will do for power and esteem.
Now, I don’t want to say much about the plot because this is a thriller and it is best to know the least as possible about it to get the full affect. But, I will say the authors writing was surprising. The effort and talent is apparent in the quality of the writing. There was not a point where I was very aware of a plot-hole or where I felt the characters were, well out of character. This is something many talented authors who have many books under their belt sometimes still struggle with. This thriller flowed nicely and I was not jarred by anything or shaken out of the story.
What I Didn’t Like
Honestly, this point is a very personal thing and I kind of mentioned it above. I am not a huge fan of reading thrillers that deal with police. But, like I said earlier Schleich has still written a book so well that I still liked it quite a bit.
Overall Thoughts
Overall, I found this novel to be very interesting and pulled me in very early on. I really enjoyed the different points of view/perspectives and I felt they were balanced very well. It is common when I read a novel that has various points of view and I feel like I want to skip a section, in this novel I did not want to skip at all. I needed to know everything that was happening. The writing was so wonderful that I want to read more of her works. If you enjoy thrillers I would suggest that you look into this one and see if it is write for you. It was enthralling, page turning, and an all around wonderful thriller.
What I Liked
I will openly admit that thrillers that involve police detectives are normally not my thing, but Kathryn Schleich has managed to write a book I enjoy that deals with a police captain. The I was drawn in within a few pages, you don’t need to wait for the story to start up. This story has a very ghastly murder of two children and their paster father and a mother that has gone missing. One of the threads through this book follow the investigation. The second main thread throughout this book a church in desperate need and starts to follow the direction of one of its members.
The main things that stood out to me was the authors ability to portray the work put in by the police to help solve this crime. It felt like the characters care and really wanted to having this murder solved, not just a plot device and the story continuing. The second thing that stood out to me about the plot was the authors ability to deal with the difficult topic of religion. In this story there is discussion of a church that is cult like and the things those in charge will do for power and esteem.
Now, I don’t want to say much about the plot because this is a thriller and it is best to know the least as possible about it to get the full affect. But, I will say the authors writing was surprising. The effort and talent is apparent in the quality of the writing. There was not a point where I was very aware of a plot-hole or where I felt the characters were, well out of character. This is something many talented authors who have many books under their belt sometimes still struggle with. This thriller flowed nicely and I was not jarred by anything or shaken out of the story.
What I Didn’t Like
Honestly, this point is a very personal thing and I kind of mentioned it above. I am not a huge fan of reading thrillers that deal with police. But, like I said earlier Schleich has still written a book so well that I still liked it quite a bit.
Overall Thoughts
Overall, I found this novel to be very interesting and pulled me in very early on. I really enjoyed the different points of view/perspectives and I felt they were balanced very well. It is common when I read a novel that has various points of view and I feel like I want to skip a section, in this novel I did not want to skip at all. I needed to know everything that was happening. The writing was so wonderful that I want to read more of her works. If you enjoy thrillers I would suggest that you look into this one and see if it is write for you. It was enthralling, page turning, and an all around wonderful thriller.
September 13, 2020
alvation Station by Kathyrn Schleich, a crime/suspense novel. This novel was gifted to me by @bookpublicityservices for an honest review.
💒
This fictional crime novel begins with Capitan Linda Turner showing up at a crime scene behind a church parsonage in Lincoln, Nebraska. Three dead bodies buried in a garden, a father (and paster) and two small children. The mother's whereabouts is unknown. As a matter of fact the mother's true identity becomes a mystery as well. Linda is haunted by the deaths of the Hansen family and cannot rest until their murders are solved.
💒
In St. Louis, reverend Ray Williams is about to give up on his televised church services due to lack of enough audience and financial funds. That is until a mysterious ambitious female fan of his show comes along with big ambitious ideas and dreams to save his show. His two supportive long time friends and employees however are not so sure she has the reverend Ray's best interests at heart.
💒
First off...love this creepy cover!!
I really enjoyed this book!! I loved reading with so many different perspectives. The story was very believable and creepy! I love a good murderer/sociopath story that keeps you on the edge of your seat and this book did not disappoint! I felt the main theme and pattern of victims was unique to my usual thriller novels. I found it both disturbing and entertaining.
💒
What is wrong with me???? 🤦♀️ Haha...I know I am not the only one who loves these kind of books!!! Check this one out if you are a thriller fan.
💒
Thanks again to Book Publicity Services for sharing this novel with me!
💒
This fictional crime novel begins with Capitan Linda Turner showing up at a crime scene behind a church parsonage in Lincoln, Nebraska. Three dead bodies buried in a garden, a father (and paster) and two small children. The mother's whereabouts is unknown. As a matter of fact the mother's true identity becomes a mystery as well. Linda is haunted by the deaths of the Hansen family and cannot rest until their murders are solved.
💒
In St. Louis, reverend Ray Williams is about to give up on his televised church services due to lack of enough audience and financial funds. That is until a mysterious ambitious female fan of his show comes along with big ambitious ideas and dreams to save his show. His two supportive long time friends and employees however are not so sure she has the reverend Ray's best interests at heart.
💒
First off...love this creepy cover!!
I really enjoyed this book!! I loved reading with so many different perspectives. The story was very believable and creepy! I love a good murderer/sociopath story that keeps you on the edge of your seat and this book did not disappoint! I felt the main theme and pattern of victims was unique to my usual thriller novels. I found it both disturbing and entertaining.
💒
What is wrong with me???? 🤦♀️ Haha...I know I am not the only one who loves these kind of books!!! Check this one out if you are a thriller fan.
💒
Thanks again to Book Publicity Services for sharing this novel with me!
October 7, 2020
Thank you to Kelsey at Book Publicity Services and the author for an ecopy in exchange for my honest review!
I have a lot of thoughts about this book and I would say that most of them are GREAT! This was such an exciting read. I was constantly on the edge of my chair and was questioning everything! I love a good mystery and this was just that!
This is very much a police procedural/ detective story so if you like that then this is for you! It follows a detective who is trying to solve a horrible crime. She is not having much luck and after a while the case gets put on the back burner. Months later, there are other crimes happening in other cities that might be linked and the detective works around the clock to prove its the same person!
One piece I didn't really care for was the religious stuff. One of the main characters is a religious leader SO its not surprising that there was religion and church aspects but I found it to be too focused on that at some points. It did come together well in the end but I felt there could have been a bit more focus on the detective work and a little less on the church stuff.
Overall though, this was a great story with a lot of good mystery and detective work. I enjoy how no secrets are given away and you get to kind of solve the mystery with the detective. Also, the mystery was AMAZING! The author came up with a totally twisted and intricate story that worked so well.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes police procedural mysteries or who enjoy a good crime scandal. ALSO, the ending was really satisfying. I feel like sometimes mysteries are not totally tied up in the end or you don't know what happened to the "bad guy" but NOT HERE! This was wraps up perfectly.
I have a lot of thoughts about this book and I would say that most of them are GREAT! This was such an exciting read. I was constantly on the edge of my chair and was questioning everything! I love a good mystery and this was just that!
This is very much a police procedural/ detective story so if you like that then this is for you! It follows a detective who is trying to solve a horrible crime. She is not having much luck and after a while the case gets put on the back burner. Months later, there are other crimes happening in other cities that might be linked and the detective works around the clock to prove its the same person!
One piece I didn't really care for was the religious stuff. One of the main characters is a religious leader SO its not surprising that there was religion and church aspects but I found it to be too focused on that at some points. It did come together well in the end but I felt there could have been a bit more focus on the detective work and a little less on the church stuff.
Overall though, this was a great story with a lot of good mystery and detective work. I enjoy how no secrets are given away and you get to kind of solve the mystery with the detective. Also, the mystery was AMAZING! The author came up with a totally twisted and intricate story that worked so well.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes police procedural mysteries or who enjoy a good crime scandal. ALSO, the ending was really satisfying. I feel like sometimes mysteries are not totally tied up in the end or you don't know what happened to the "bad guy" but NOT HERE! This was wraps up perfectly.
September 22, 2020
Thank you to @shewritespress and @bookpublicityservices for sending me a gifted copy of the book.
Salvation Station this is a well-done debut thriller with a great female lead and villain. I can’t wait to read more from Schleich.
Captain Linda Turner is a pro on the force but hadn’t experienced anything like her latest case- the murder of a pastor and his two children. Meanwhile, in St. Louis, Reverend Ray Williams meets a mysteries woman named Susannah Baker who integrates herself into his ministry and life.
The St. Louis plot line is what sold this one for me. Susannah is such an interesting character. Her ability to transform and manipulate was fascinating. Though she has some similarities to other female villains, I found the way she worked to be different from what I usually read and I liked how the author shaped her character development. I also really enjoyed the behind the scenes view of a televangelist program and what was shaped and manipulated as that’s something I personally find fascinating.
I wanted to know more about Linda and her past and I hope that the ending is setting us up for book two!
I recommend this easy-reading page turner to my #thrillerlovers who like to read about the thrill of the hunt and a compelling female villain.
TW: death of children, religion, mentions of addiction and suicide
Salvation Station this is a well-done debut thriller with a great female lead and villain. I can’t wait to read more from Schleich.
Captain Linda Turner is a pro on the force but hadn’t experienced anything like her latest case- the murder of a pastor and his two children. Meanwhile, in St. Louis, Reverend Ray Williams meets a mysteries woman named Susannah Baker who integrates herself into his ministry and life.
The St. Louis plot line is what sold this one for me. Susannah is such an interesting character. Her ability to transform and manipulate was fascinating. Though she has some similarities to other female villains, I found the way she worked to be different from what I usually read and I liked how the author shaped her character development. I also really enjoyed the behind the scenes view of a televangelist program and what was shaped and manipulated as that’s something I personally find fascinating.
I wanted to know more about Linda and her past and I hope that the ending is setting us up for book two!
I recommend this easy-reading page turner to my #thrillerlovers who like to read about the thrill of the hunt and a compelling female villain.
TW: death of children, religion, mentions of addiction and suicide
Displaying 1 - 30 of 137 reviews