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Teagan Doyle Mysteries #1
Chasing Angels
Meet Teagan Doyle. Divorced, childless, a police academy washout. She’s failed at every endeavor, given up on every dream. But retired minister John “Berg” Bergland sees a fighter in her.
Plagued by strange noises, cold drafts, and moving objects in their new home—an old church in Wells, Colorado—Matt and Carissa Peterson are convinced the place is haunted. First they hire a psychic. Then a medium. Nothing helps.
But when they find a body buried in the wall of the church basement, they call Teagan and Berg, colleagues in a most unusual profession: demon stalking.
As Teagan and Berg work to free the church of its dark presence—and solve two murders connected to the church—they uncover a plot more sinister and far-reaching than they could have imagined. To survive, they must face their fears and muster every weapon of spiritual warfare they possess.
Plagued by strange noises, cold drafts, and moving objects in their new home—an old church in Wells, Colorado—Matt and Carissa Peterson are convinced the place is haunted. First they hire a psychic. Then a medium. Nothing helps.
But when they find a body buried in the wall of the church basement, they call Teagan and Berg, colleagues in a most unusual profession: demon stalking.
As Teagan and Berg work to free the church of its dark presence—and solve two murders connected to the church—they uncover a plot more sinister and far-reaching than they could have imagined. To survive, they must face their fears and muster every weapon of spiritual warfare they possess.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 5, 2020
9 people are currently reading
15 people want to read
About the author
Karin Kaufman
47 books184 followersKarin Kaufman grew up devouring murder mysteries, especially of the cozy kind. Give her a mystery, a comfy couch, her sweet dog at her side, and (preferably) a rainy day, and she’s in heaven. She’s the author of the Juniper Grove Cozy Mystery Series, the Smithwell Fairies Cozy Mystery Series, and the Anna Denning Mystery Series. The Witch Tree, the first book in her Anna Denning series, was a finalist for a Grace Award. Karin also writes children's books in the Geraldine Woolkins and Woolkins Bookshelf series.
For giveaways and news on all Karin's latest releases, sign up for her mailing list at http://www.KarinKaufman.com. And connect with her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/authorkarinka....
For giveaways and news on all Karin's latest releases, sign up for her mailing list at http://www.KarinKaufman.com. And connect with her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/authorkarinka....
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 23, 2020
I was reading this book at the same time I was reading a NYT bestselling book--and THIS was the book I COULD NOT put DOWN!!! Let's just say I raced through and finished this one first.
I loved the main characters--the uncertainty, yet the sheer pluck of Teagan, and the steady, godly presence of Berg. This book is so very Frank Peretti, and yet it's not exactly for the same audience. This one is more gritty--think fallen angels, not heavenly ones--and it features both the battles with them and their servants on earth. There is some language you wouldn't find in a Peretti novel, as well. The spiritual warfare is biblically sound (I'm not surprised as Kaufman is a pro at handling the supernatural with a Christian worldview--see her Anna Denning series). One scene in the basement was very realistic in a chilling way (yet Teagan and Berg bring hope to the storyline and highlight the power of God's forgiveness).
Kaufman's writing is always polished and her plots are always twisted, so I can't guess whodunit. This is the perfect read for those looking for spiritual warfare novels (really rare these days), who don't mind some language, and who love a great mystery. This is a gritty, hopeful, and memorable kickoff to a fascinating series. I'm anxiously awaiting book 2!!!
I loved the main characters--the uncertainty, yet the sheer pluck of Teagan, and the steady, godly presence of Berg. This book is so very Frank Peretti, and yet it's not exactly for the same audience. This one is more gritty--think fallen angels, not heavenly ones--and it features both the battles with them and their servants on earth. There is some language you wouldn't find in a Peretti novel, as well. The spiritual warfare is biblically sound (I'm not surprised as Kaufman is a pro at handling the supernatural with a Christian worldview--see her Anna Denning series). One scene in the basement was very realistic in a chilling way (yet Teagan and Berg bring hope to the storyline and highlight the power of God's forgiveness).
Kaufman's writing is always polished and her plots are always twisted, so I can't guess whodunit. This is the perfect read for those looking for spiritual warfare novels (really rare these days), who don't mind some language, and who love a great mystery. This is a gritty, hopeful, and memorable kickoff to a fascinating series. I'm anxiously awaiting book 2!!!
December 18, 2020
I have enjoyed Karin Kaufman's books for years and was happy to learn she had started a new three book series, one based on spiritual warfare.
The book has two main protagonists, Teagan Doyle, a woman in her late thirties who has dropped out of the police academy after failing a crucial test. Teagan is divorced, somewhat bitter and carries her own demons close.
Then there is Berg, a retired seventy-six year old pastor who is unashamedly a demon chaser. Berg believes totally in spiritual warfare and has no truck with mediums and psychics at all. These two unlikely folks have created a job history, and a very interesting one at that, of doing spiritual warfare on behalf of others.
This book captivated my interest early and I connected with the characters easily. Kaufman is a very good writer and this one was tautly written with a few quite surprising twists which left me gasping. It's spooky at times and intense at others, but it will not scare the daylights out of you.
Told in Teagan's POV, the reader will come to see this woman has faith, but not enough to have any in herself. And Berg's character was incredibly endearing to me. He is a man of great conviction and integrity. The book was very well done. The only disappointment for me was the language: more than a smattering of mild four letter words, which I felt added nothing to the book because it stood very well on its own. I look forward to the next two books in this series. These two characters were very well done. I was given a copy of this book by the publisher and received no compensation. The opinion expressed in this review is entirely my own.
The book has two main protagonists, Teagan Doyle, a woman in her late thirties who has dropped out of the police academy after failing a crucial test. Teagan is divorced, somewhat bitter and carries her own demons close.
Then there is Berg, a retired seventy-six year old pastor who is unashamedly a demon chaser. Berg believes totally in spiritual warfare and has no truck with mediums and psychics at all. These two unlikely folks have created a job history, and a very interesting one at that, of doing spiritual warfare on behalf of others.
This book captivated my interest early and I connected with the characters easily. Kaufman is a very good writer and this one was tautly written with a few quite surprising twists which left me gasping. It's spooky at times and intense at others, but it will not scare the daylights out of you.
Told in Teagan's POV, the reader will come to see this woman has faith, but not enough to have any in herself. And Berg's character was incredibly endearing to me. He is a man of great conviction and integrity. The book was very well done. The only disappointment for me was the language: more than a smattering of mild four letter words, which I felt added nothing to the book because it stood very well on its own. I look forward to the next two books in this series. These two characters were very well done. I was given a copy of this book by the publisher and received no compensation. The opinion expressed in this review is entirely my own.
April 13, 2021
Layered characters, vivid descriptions, twists and surprises, and solid Biblical truth in a spiritual warfare novel with some fully criminal humans as well. This book satisfied me as a reader and as a writer. Karin Kaufman started this new series off with a winner.
Teagan Doyle is chasing angels, desperate to find hope. Instead, she and her boss/mentor John Bergland (Berg) find demons. Sometimes. Often their paranormal investigations turn up wobbly pipes and other natural explanations for the things that freak out their clients.
But not this time. Their current case involves a former church whose new owners want to renovate into a bed and breakfast. Renovations have turned up a body walled up in the basement. The owners report flickering electricity, cold drafts, moving objects… and not one natural cause in sight.
Teagan and Berg don’t believe in ghosts and refuse to work with mediums or spiritists. They believe the God of the Bible. And in angels, both holy and fallen.
Part of what makes this book shine is their unlikely but perfect pairing. Teagan’s past is a string of unhappy endings, including washing out of police academy, infertility, and a cheating ex-husband. Berg is in his seventies, a retired minister, his movement restricted by severe arthritis.
The way Teagan describes Berg is how I feel about them both:
Other favourite lines:
Told from Teagan’s point of view, the writing is taut with a bit of a noir feel. I like the mix of human and supernatural villains, and I didn’t find it too scary (I did stick to reading during daylight!).
Despite being Christian fiction, the book has some minor profanity. If that’s an issue for you, be warned going in. I found it jarring but not enough to put me off the story. This is one series I hope to follow to the end.
Chasing Angels is book 1 in the Teagan Doyle Mystery Series. Book 2, Call of Chaos, will pick up right on its heels.
Karin Kaufman writes in a wide spectrum of fiction, from intense novels like this and the Anna Denning series to lighter-hearted cozy mysteries like the Juniper Grove series and Smithwell Fairies series to the Geraldine Woolkins children’s books. For more about the author and her work, visit karinkaufman.com.
[Review copy from my personal library.]
Teagan Doyle is chasing angels, desperate to find hope. Instead, she and her boss/mentor John Bergland (Berg) find demons. Sometimes. Often their paranormal investigations turn up wobbly pipes and other natural explanations for the things that freak out their clients.
But not this time. Their current case involves a former church whose new owners want to renovate into a bed and breakfast. Renovations have turned up a body walled up in the basement. The owners report flickering electricity, cold drafts, moving objects… and not one natural cause in sight.
Teagan and Berg don’t believe in ghosts and refuse to work with mediums or spiritists. They believe the God of the Bible. And in angels, both holy and fallen.
Part of what makes this book shine is their unlikely but perfect pairing. Teagan’s past is a string of unhappy endings, including washing out of police academy, infertility, and a cheating ex-husband. Berg is in his seventies, a retired minister, his movement restricted by severe arthritis.
The way Teagan describes Berg is how I feel about them both:
“I caught his past and his personality in snippets, quilting them together over time to form my idea of who he was.” [Kindle location 465]
Other favourite lines:
“If you cash in your chips because you think God can’t use a sinner, you don’t know your Bible.” [Kindle location 2870]
“You get to ask forgiveness for your serious lapse in judgement, believe God when he says he forgives, and then move on and do your job.” [Kindle location 2876]
Told from Teagan’s point of view, the writing is taut with a bit of a noir feel. I like the mix of human and supernatural villains, and I didn’t find it too scary (I did stick to reading during daylight!).
Despite being Christian fiction, the book has some minor profanity. If that’s an issue for you, be warned going in. I found it jarring but not enough to put me off the story. This is one series I hope to follow to the end.
Chasing Angels is book 1 in the Teagan Doyle Mystery Series. Book 2, Call of Chaos, will pick up right on its heels.
Karin Kaufman writes in a wide spectrum of fiction, from intense novels like this and the Anna Denning series to lighter-hearted cozy mysteries like the Juniper Grove series and Smithwell Fairies series to the Geraldine Woolkins children’s books. For more about the author and her work, visit karinkaufman.com.
[Review copy from my personal library.]
November 9, 2020
The premise of this book is very intriguing. Teagan Doyle and Berg have a business that investigates phenomenon that could be caused by demons. Berg is a retired minister who strongly believes that not only do God's angels work on earth but that the fallen angels or demons can play a role in events as well. They have been called to find out what is causing the strange occurrences at a church that is being converted to a B & B.
Filled with numerous twists and turns, I never suspected the surprise ending. This book will definitely keep you reading and quickly turning pages. Teagan and Berg also grew in their faith and self-forgiveness as they dealt with the events throughout the story as both had things in their past that still haunted them.
Overall, a good suspense read, and I look forward to the second book in this series to find out whether some questions that were left unanswered might find solutions.
Content: some profanities
** I received a copy of this book from the author. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.
Filled with numerous twists and turns, I never suspected the surprise ending. This book will definitely keep you reading and quickly turning pages. Teagan and Berg also grew in their faith and self-forgiveness as they dealt with the events throughout the story as both had things in their past that still haunted them.
Overall, a good suspense read, and I look forward to the second book in this series to find out whether some questions that were left unanswered might find solutions.
Content: some profanities
** I received a copy of this book from the author. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.
February 24, 2023
First and simply: I love Karin Kaufman’s writing. It’s simplistic—in a good way—and not overdone. And whether its Geraldine Woolkins or Anna Denning or Teagan Doyle mystery (still waiting to read a Smithfield Fairies book or a Juniper Grove mystery), it tells a story you’re eager to read, and continue reading, without resorting to common tropes and silly dialogue. Her characters are intriguing, unique, and well defined. And, she comes up with fantastic ideas for her novels.
Chasing Angels is somewhat reminiscent of Frank Peretti’s This Present Darkness but in this case, our sleuths are not just battling supernatural enemies but mortal ones as well.
When the thirty-something Petersons buy an old church to turn into a B&B, they get more than they bargained for—much more. They are convinced the place is haunted. It doesn’t help that in the midst of renovations in the basement, a corpse is found in the walls.
With the help of her aging associate, retired minister John “Berg” Bergland, Teagan Doyle, an almost-cop and divorcée, sets out to not only uncover the source of the supposed hauntings, but a murder as well. What they find is misdirection, lies, and a sinister plot far beyond the supernatural dealings—the vortex of an evil conspiracy. Buckle up and hold on because you never know which direction this story will turn until the bumpy end. This is not a story about spiritual babblings and holy water, head-spinning corpses or spooky apparitions so familiar in horror movies.
Although a fictional story in a day when spiritual warfare is often depicted as priests fighting ghosts and malevolent spirits, Chasing Angels is about the real war against evil: demonic activity. It is a battle against unseen forces and their very human allies. This novel isn’t about calling up angelic forces in high places to do battle against the unseen word, but about the faithful of God, his earthly children born of dust, invoking the power of the Savior’s name to cast out evil here on earth. It is about faith and trust, and believing the battle has already been won against an enemy that refuses to admit it has long ago been defeated. It is about the power of evil seeking to gain power in a world increasingly too eager to relinquish it.
** Mind you, this is not a cozy mystery. It does contain some swear words (though nothing blasphemous cursing), death, and disturbing images of evil (but without doing so gratuitously), but neither does it shy away from the harsh reality of evil, which is its most eye-opening element.
Chasing Angels is somewhat reminiscent of Frank Peretti’s This Present Darkness but in this case, our sleuths are not just battling supernatural enemies but mortal ones as well.
When the thirty-something Petersons buy an old church to turn into a B&B, they get more than they bargained for—much more. They are convinced the place is haunted. It doesn’t help that in the midst of renovations in the basement, a corpse is found in the walls.
With the help of her aging associate, retired minister John “Berg” Bergland, Teagan Doyle, an almost-cop and divorcée, sets out to not only uncover the source of the supposed hauntings, but a murder as well. What they find is misdirection, lies, and a sinister plot far beyond the supernatural dealings—the vortex of an evil conspiracy. Buckle up and hold on because you never know which direction this story will turn until the bumpy end. This is not a story about spiritual babblings and holy water, head-spinning corpses or spooky apparitions so familiar in horror movies.
Although a fictional story in a day when spiritual warfare is often depicted as priests fighting ghosts and malevolent spirits, Chasing Angels is about the real war against evil: demonic activity. It is a battle against unseen forces and their very human allies. This novel isn’t about calling up angelic forces in high places to do battle against the unseen word, but about the faithful of God, his earthly children born of dust, invoking the power of the Savior’s name to cast out evil here on earth. It is about faith and trust, and believing the battle has already been won against an enemy that refuses to admit it has long ago been defeated. It is about the power of evil seeking to gain power in a world increasingly too eager to relinquish it.
** Mind you, this is not a cozy mystery. It does contain some swear words (though nothing blasphemous cursing), death, and disturbing images of evil (but without doing so gratuitously), but neither does it shy away from the harsh reality of evil, which is its most eye-opening element.
November 22, 2022
Another great book
A well written book full of twists and turns. Characters are believable. I would recommend this book. Looking forward to the next book in this series.
A well written book full of twists and turns. Characters are believable. I would recommend this book. Looking forward to the next book in this series.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews