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Cold as Ice
After five patient years, Abigail Wyatt's sisterly care is finally paying her younger brother, Derek, is abandoning his self-destructive lifestyle and seeking his parents' forgiveness, thus ending the painful estrangement that wounded the whole family. But just as the pieces are falling into place for the prodigal's return, a woman named Karen Brodie is murdered in a local park, and police name Derek as the prime suspect. Rather than standing firm and cemeting the positive changes in his life, Derek succumbs to his cynical fears and runs from the law, leaving Abigail with her hands tied. Literally. Derek's raw panic convinces everyone that he's the killer, everyone except Abigail, who doggedly maintains her brother's innocence. With the help of Kyle, a charismatic new friend she might be falling for, Abigail digs deep into Karen Brodie's troubled past in hopes of clearing Derek's name. But as she uncovers a sinister plot of greed, envy, and vengeance, this loyal sister must face the painful truth that things, and people, are not always as they seem.
296 pages, Paperback
Published August 2, 2010
9 people are currently reading
237 people want to read
About the author
Stephanie Black
24 books276 followersStephanie Black has loved books since she was old enough to grab the pages, and has enjoyed creating make-believe adventures since she and her sisters were inventing long Barbie games filled with intrigue and danger or running around pretending to be detectives. She is a four-time Whitney Award winner for Best Mystery/Suspense novel.
Stephanie lives in California, in the Bay Area. She plays the violin in a community symphony (but never practices enough), enjoys homemade chocolate-chip cookies, and takes pictures of birds. Her favorite activity is spending time with her family, currently consisting of her husband, five kids, three kids-in-law, a cat, and three grandpets.
Stephanie lives in California, in the Bay Area. She plays the violin in a community symphony (but never practices enough), enjoys homemade chocolate-chip cookies, and takes pictures of birds. Her favorite activity is spending time with her family, currently consisting of her husband, five kids, three kids-in-law, a cat, and three grandpets.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
September 3, 2010
Good suspense read. Good, strong characters. Not so much romance, if you care about that. The moral of the story is don't ever meet people in the park after dark. It's dangerous!
November 29, 2010
Loved this book and had to stay up late to finish it!!! Stephanie is an LDS author and it was fun that she set her book someplace not in Utah!!!! And since I am from New York state and went to school in the Rochester area is was even better. And don't read the end first it's too good. Try her other books too they're great!!! I got to meet her at book club,her sister lives here in Glendale.
July 27, 2011
A wonderful mystery that feels fresh and interesting. The writer's style never got in the way of the story, which is my favorite kind of writing. I loved the twists of the story and felt drawn to all of the characters. All the characters were very well drawn and overall, I would recommend this one highly.
November 14, 2010
I was actually impressed by how much I liked this story. I didn't quite expect the ending, which is usually nice in a suspense/mystery novel (not that I'm usually that discerning).
July 22, 2011
This is a great, clean, murder mystery. It reminded me of Mary Higgins Clark's mysteries. Although I kind of guessed who the murderer was from the beginning, it was still a good novel.
August 17, 2024
Oooh this one was good. Some LDS references but not at all essential to the story. Creepy moments, plenty of suspense, unsolved murder and then a current murder. Abigail does not believe her brother Derek could murder anyone, but all the evidence is stacked against him. Is someone framing him or is he really a murderer? I enjoyed the story, the buildup, the different points of view. Overall a good clean suspense story.
April 6, 2018
We know that Abagail's brother Derek is innocent. But, wow--the evidence against him is piling up. Abagail has never given up on her wayward brother, and she just can't give up on him now either. She uses all of her strength, including her life, to find the real killer. Topsy-turvy read.
July 31, 2018
Good suspense novel. Nothing over the top amazing about it, but a good read.
April 14, 2019
3.5 stars. Good quick easy read. I liked it ok. It wasn't as good as Abramsons books, but it was less predictable! So that was good.
July 30, 2020
Easy vacation read. Plot twists as per her style of writing. One of the characters made infuriatingly dumb choices... but still fun to read.
December 16, 2020
A great read full of suspense! Black is a great author, it’s rare for me to not finish one of her books within a day or two! Page turner for sure!
March 4, 2021
4.5/5
Dude. This book. Honestly the perfect thriller for my tastes. Longer review coming, but, just... wow. Loved it.
Dude. This book. Honestly the perfect thriller for my tastes. Longer review coming, but, just... wow. Loved it.
May 15, 2021
This was a page turner. Kept me guessing until the end.
February 8, 2025
This one moved a little slower than her others, and some of the characters were so frustrating, but overall I really liked it!
August 23, 2010
Having the song, "Cold as Ice", by Foreigner, in my head as I read Stephanie Black's thriller of the same name was not a bad thing at all. In fact, it was perfect. The song lyrics couldn't be more appropriate, and the villain(s) in this thriller mystery made me shiver in the summer heat.
As Black introduced each distinct character and laid the foundation of the plot, then gradually built on entanglement after entanglement, and even though I had an idea of "who dunnit" early on, I found myself cringing as if I were watching an old Hitchcock movie and shouting to the hero(es), "Don't open that door! Get out of there! Don't say that! DON'T TRUST ANYONE! AAAAaaak!"
It was a lot of fun.
From the back of the book:
After five patient years, Abigail Wyatt’s sisterly care is finally paying off: her younger brother, Derek, is abandoning his self-destructive lifestyle and seeking his parents’ forgiveness, thus ending the painful estrangement that wounded the whole family. But just as the pieces are falling into place for the prodigal’s return, a woman is murdered in a local park—and police name Derek as the prime suspect. Rather than standing firm and cementing the positive changes in his life, Derek succumbs to his cynical fears and runs from the law, leaving Abigail with her hands tied. Literally.
Derek’s raw panic convinces everyone that he’s the killer—everyone except Abigail, who doggedly maintains her brother’s innocence. With the help of Kyle, a friend she might be falling for, Abigail digs deep into the murdered woman's troubled past in hopes of clearing Derek’s name. But as she uncovers a sinister plot of greed, envy, and vengeance, this loyal sister must face the painful truth that things—and people—are not always as they seem.
What I liked best:
Karen Brodie and Derek Wyatt were my favorite characters; a really great balance between caricature and realism for both. As much as I hated Karen, I wanted to warn her. As much as I wanted Derek to act differently, I completely understood how he saw things. Wonderful play, piling on the tension.
Thanks, Stephanie. Great job.
As Black introduced each distinct character and laid the foundation of the plot, then gradually built on entanglement after entanglement, and even though I had an idea of "who dunnit" early on, I found myself cringing as if I were watching an old Hitchcock movie and shouting to the hero(es), "Don't open that door! Get out of there! Don't say that! DON'T TRUST ANYONE! AAAAaaak!"
It was a lot of fun.
From the back of the book:
After five patient years, Abigail Wyatt’s sisterly care is finally paying off: her younger brother, Derek, is abandoning his self-destructive lifestyle and seeking his parents’ forgiveness, thus ending the painful estrangement that wounded the whole family. But just as the pieces are falling into place for the prodigal’s return, a woman is murdered in a local park—and police name Derek as the prime suspect. Rather than standing firm and cementing the positive changes in his life, Derek succumbs to his cynical fears and runs from the law, leaving Abigail with her hands tied. Literally.
Derek’s raw panic convinces everyone that he’s the killer—everyone except Abigail, who doggedly maintains her brother’s innocence. With the help of Kyle, a friend she might be falling for, Abigail digs deep into the murdered woman's troubled past in hopes of clearing Derek’s name. But as she uncovers a sinister plot of greed, envy, and vengeance, this loyal sister must face the painful truth that things—and people—are not always as they seem.
What I liked best:
Karen Brodie and Derek Wyatt were my favorite characters; a really great balance between caricature and realism for both. As much as I hated Karen, I wanted to warn her. As much as I wanted Derek to act differently, I completely understood how he saw things. Wonderful play, piling on the tension.
Thanks, Stephanie. Great job.
August 23, 2010
Stephanie Black has once again crafted a fine mystery to keep you guessing until the very end. In Cold as Ice, you can expect to warm up to a host of characters, engage in some true to life dialogue and experience the panic of finding yourself in dire circumstances.
Abigail Wyatt is a good girl, a dutiful daughter, a loving sister. And then there’s her brother, Derek. He’s trying to get his life back on track after years of walking on the dark side. He sees a chance at reunification with his parents by having them over for dinner. Things do not go as planned, and in a matter of days, he finds that he has become the most likely suspect in a murder. Abigail is convinced of her brother’s innocence and does everything she can to clear his name. Unfortunately, this gets the attention of the real killer, who is quite miffed that she might tear down the framework he has built around Derek. She sees suspects everywhere – which one is out to get her brother?
We are introduced to the killer in the opening pages of the book, and yet, I was still surprised at the unmasking at the end. No one really sympathizes with the victim, which sort of makes everyone look like a suspect. I found myself engaged even with the minor characters, given enough development for me to feel like they were real. I wouldn’t mind sampling Ellie’s chocolates, or sharing a banana split with the eccentric Bob Chapman. I’ll go ahead and warn you – this is Ms. Black’s creepiest book yet. There are a couple of really intense (though not visceral) scenes of violence. The danger feels very real.
Overall, this is her best work yet. I can easily recommend this to any fan of the mystery genre. If you’re looking for a good clean read, this will take care of your sensibilities, too; though there are some gritty subjects discussed, they are handled with care.
Abigail Wyatt is a good girl, a dutiful daughter, a loving sister. And then there’s her brother, Derek. He’s trying to get his life back on track after years of walking on the dark side. He sees a chance at reunification with his parents by having them over for dinner. Things do not go as planned, and in a matter of days, he finds that he has become the most likely suspect in a murder. Abigail is convinced of her brother’s innocence and does everything she can to clear his name. Unfortunately, this gets the attention of the real killer, who is quite miffed that she might tear down the framework he has built around Derek. She sees suspects everywhere – which one is out to get her brother?
We are introduced to the killer in the opening pages of the book, and yet, I was still surprised at the unmasking at the end. No one really sympathizes with the victim, which sort of makes everyone look like a suspect. I found myself engaged even with the minor characters, given enough development for me to feel like they were real. I wouldn’t mind sampling Ellie’s chocolates, or sharing a banana split with the eccentric Bob Chapman. I’ll go ahead and warn you – this is Ms. Black’s creepiest book yet. There are a couple of really intense (though not visceral) scenes of violence. The danger feels very real.
Overall, this is her best work yet. I can easily recommend this to any fan of the mystery genre. If you’re looking for a good clean read, this will take care of your sensibilities, too; though there are some gritty subjects discussed, they are handled with care.
November 16, 2010
Cold As Ice by Stephanie Black
With each novel Stephanie writes, she keeps getting better. I absolutely love her cliffhangers, she is so good at what she does, as she grabs you from the start and pulls you in. Way to go, cousin!!!
Abigail Wyatt is beginning to believe her younger brother Derek has left his demons behind him by starting over. He's getting his career off to a good start by making jewelry with stones. When a dinner party with his parents fizzles after not talking with them in five years, he literally runs, leaving Abigail tied up. His pushy landlord is after the back rent Derek owes and when she is found murdered in a nearby park, he knows he will be the number one suspect.
When the police question Abigail about her brother, she gives up more information that puts her brother in a darker light. When it looks more and more like Derek is being setup, with the help of friends, she digs into the troubled murdered woman's past, finding a long ago murder that could tie-in to this murder.
When Abigail and her brother are injured, things begin to get suspicious and that she is getting too close to the truth and that someone will stop at nothing to silence her. Abigail even seeks for the murdered woman's mother to find out what was troubling her daughter and finds more than she bargains for.
I highly recommend this nail-biter of an ending. If you enjoy top-notch suspense, you'll love this newest from the queen of LDS suspense. As the title says, it reminds us of the hit song "Cold As Ice" throughout the novel.
I received my copy from Stephanie Black.
Published by: Covenant Communications, Inc.
Date Published: August 2010
ISBN: 978-1-60861-013-6
296pp
With each novel Stephanie writes, she keeps getting better. I absolutely love her cliffhangers, she is so good at what she does, as she grabs you from the start and pulls you in. Way to go, cousin!!!
Abigail Wyatt is beginning to believe her younger brother Derek has left his demons behind him by starting over. He's getting his career off to a good start by making jewelry with stones. When a dinner party with his parents fizzles after not talking with them in five years, he literally runs, leaving Abigail tied up. His pushy landlord is after the back rent Derek owes and when she is found murdered in a nearby park, he knows he will be the number one suspect.
When the police question Abigail about her brother, she gives up more information that puts her brother in a darker light. When it looks more and more like Derek is being setup, with the help of friends, she digs into the troubled murdered woman's past, finding a long ago murder that could tie-in to this murder.
When Abigail and her brother are injured, things begin to get suspicious and that she is getting too close to the truth and that someone will stop at nothing to silence her. Abigail even seeks for the murdered woman's mother to find out what was troubling her daughter and finds more than she bargains for.
I highly recommend this nail-biter of an ending. If you enjoy top-notch suspense, you'll love this newest from the queen of LDS suspense. As the title says, it reminds us of the hit song "Cold As Ice" throughout the novel.
I received my copy from Stephanie Black.
Published by: Covenant Communications, Inc.
Date Published: August 2010
ISBN: 978-1-60861-013-6
296pp
September 15, 2010
I really liked this book. I was guessing until the end to see who the real killer was when in other books it was an obvious person. Abigail has worked really hard to get a reconciliation meeting with her parents and brothers after their 5 years of drought. The dinner didn't go as planned. Derek's landlady ruined the atmosphere when she brought up his spuratic rent history causing his parents to think the worst and believe his motives were in the money department.
When the landlady is found murdered and Derek happens upon her and doesn't report it, he is one of the main suspects. He is getting framed by someone, when he realizes that the note inviting him to the place of the murder disappears along with his bookend that was used in the murder and his coat.
His sister tries to prove his innocence and ends up being targeted by the killer because she wouldn't believe that her brother was guilty. Phillip Kyle stratton is the killer and was Karen, the landlady's old college boyfriend and accomplice in the murder of his previous girlfriend. He comes across as a caring, handsome guy when really he is the biggest creep. The ex-husband of Karen, Ethan, was cleared as a suspect but Abigail has her doubts and he becomes her knight in shining armor when Kyle tries to finish her off for being too nosy. Derek still has to face charges for running and the tying up of his sister, but the murder charge is dropped. They both recover at their parents house from their near death experiences.
When the landlady is found murdered and Derek happens upon her and doesn't report it, he is one of the main suspects. He is getting framed by someone, when he realizes that the note inviting him to the place of the murder disappears along with his bookend that was used in the murder and his coat.
His sister tries to prove his innocence and ends up being targeted by the killer because she wouldn't believe that her brother was guilty. Phillip Kyle stratton is the killer and was Karen, the landlady's old college boyfriend and accomplice in the murder of his previous girlfriend. He comes across as a caring, handsome guy when really he is the biggest creep. The ex-husband of Karen, Ethan, was cleared as a suspect but Abigail has her doubts and he becomes her knight in shining armor when Kyle tries to finish her off for being too nosy. Derek still has to face charges for running and the tying up of his sister, but the murder charge is dropped. They both recover at their parents house from their near death experiences.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 4, 2017
I read the book Cold As Ice by Stephanie Black. It takes place in Ohneka, New York. Abbigal and her brother, Derek invited their parents to Derek's house for dinner. Derek was a rough teenager and did bad things so Derek and their parents haven't talked for five years. Derek cleaned up his life and when they were eating, Derek's landlady burst in and told his parents all the bad things he has been doing like not paying his rent. They were disappointed. Then Derek went to the park and found his landlady, Karen dead. he was to afraid to call the police so he ran home and called Abbigal. All clues were leading up to him for Karen's murder. Abbigal wanted to help get Derek out of this blame. Derek runs away too afraid he will go to jail. In the end, and after a terrible almost murder, Abbigal finds out who it was.
My theme for the book is: As humans we sometimes runaway from being blamed for something we didn't do. One: Derek ranaway from the police because he knew he was being blamed for the murder. Two: He was so afraid that he would hurt his sister so she would tell the truth that he was being set up. Three: He ranaway because all facts and clues were leading up to him.
I loved this book because it was always so interesting and a big mystery. I liked how some people were not who you thought they were the whole time! The end especially had a ot of scary action. I recommend Cold As Ice to anyone who wants to read it!
My theme for the book is: As humans we sometimes runaway from being blamed for something we didn't do. One: Derek ranaway from the police because he knew he was being blamed for the murder. Two: He was so afraid that he would hurt his sister so she would tell the truth that he was being set up. Three: He ranaway because all facts and clues were leading up to him.
I loved this book because it was always so interesting and a big mystery. I liked how some people were not who you thought they were the whole time! The end especially had a ot of scary action. I recommend Cold As Ice to anyone who wants to read it!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 7, 2010
This is a murder mystery suspense novel that had my emotions rolling inside. A couple of times, I put the book down because I was too nervous about the plot development. Stephanie Black did a good job keeping me guessing. The basic story is that Abigail Wyatt's brother Derek is accused of murdering his landlord but we (the readers) are pretty sure it was her previous husband, but maybe not? Cold As Ice is an LDS novel and squeaky clean. In fact, the heroine of the story gets flack for being so goody-goody. I was impressed by the author's complex characters; for instance, Derek is a credible suspect but still a sympathetic guy making all kinds of stupid decisions since he was a teen--and maybe he did murder the girl? I wanted to shake him at the same time I wanted things to turn out well for him. The author also did a good job with Abigail. I don't like "the suffereing heroine" type characters, sp I was pleased that Abby is a good mix of strength and vulnerability. I was annoyed at the beginning of the book with the stupid rift between Derek and his parents, but I suppose that is actually quite realistic. The fact that I wanted to go lecture all of the characters is maybe a sign the book was well-written. I was surprised by how emotionally invested I got in the story.
February 6, 2011
I always think I am going to figure out "who-dunit" sooner when I read one of Stephanie's books.
I always get so involved in the story I forget to be studying out the finer clues. Of course this is another
fantastic book from author Stephanie Black. You are led into so many different directions that you are
kept guessing until the very end.
There was a lot of head banging (I am not talking about the rock and roll kind) when it came to
the main character, Abigail's, brother. Derek made me want to hit him, feel sorry for him, shake
him and help him all at the same time. The situation that Derek gets into is very scary. You can see
how someone could be framed for a crime so easily.
Again, Stephanie creates strong characters, plenty of maddening bad people and a story that
takes off at the beginning and doesn't let up much until the very end. I read this book fast and enjoyed it a lot.
If you have not had the chance to read Cold as Ice you should. This mystery is one that will leave
you shaking your head and shouting out- loud at the characters.
I borrowed this book from the library, but I will soon be adding it to my Stephanie Black collection.
I always get so involved in the story I forget to be studying out the finer clues. Of course this is another
fantastic book from author Stephanie Black. You are led into so many different directions that you are
kept guessing until the very end.
There was a lot of head banging (I am not talking about the rock and roll kind) when it came to
the main character, Abigail's, brother. Derek made me want to hit him, feel sorry for him, shake
him and help him all at the same time. The situation that Derek gets into is very scary. You can see
how someone could be framed for a crime so easily.
Again, Stephanie creates strong characters, plenty of maddening bad people and a story that
takes off at the beginning and doesn't let up much until the very end. I read this book fast and enjoyed it a lot.
If you have not had the chance to read Cold as Ice you should. This mystery is one that will leave
you shaking your head and shouting out- loud at the characters.
I borrowed this book from the library, but I will soon be adding it to my Stephanie Black collection.
August 23, 2010
Review of Stephanie Black's Cold As Ice
By G. G. Vandagriff
I'm in a bit of a quandary here because absolutely anything I say about my reaction to this thriller would be a spoiler. So, I will reiterate what you already know when you open it. It's a thriller. It is by Stephanie Black, so you know it will be a real thriller. You know it will be beautifully written, without tired metaphors or overused similes. You know the characters will not be cardboard, but real people who succeed and fail. You know you will need to pay close attention (I actually e-mailed Steph and told her I thought there was a mistake, and she graciously e-mailed me back, reminding me of a fact that had escaped the sieve I call my brain.)
When you finish the book, you will wonder if she is going to win her third Whitney in a row!
Have fun with this one!
By G. G. Vandagriff
I'm in a bit of a quandary here because absolutely anything I say about my reaction to this thriller would be a spoiler. So, I will reiterate what you already know when you open it. It's a thriller. It is by Stephanie Black, so you know it will be a real thriller. You know it will be beautifully written, without tired metaphors or overused similes. You know the characters will not be cardboard, but real people who succeed and fail. You know you will need to pay close attention (I actually e-mailed Steph and told her I thought there was a mistake, and she graciously e-mailed me back, reminding me of a fact that had escaped the sieve I call my brain.)
When you finish the book, you will wonder if she is going to win her third Whitney in a row!
Have fun with this one!
January 25, 2011
September 14, 2010
I didn't know a lot about the book, but the little I knew, sounded good. I received the book in August and I couldn't wait to dive into it. It's 296 pages and each page kept my attention and left me wanting more!
It's got a good mix of elements- family, friends, murder, trust, romance, twists and turns. I don't want to give away too much and I probably wouldn't be good at writing a synopsis, so if you want to know more about the book, click on the last link.
The author, Stephanie Black is a two-time Whitney Award Winner. You can find her over at http://sixldswriters.blogspot.com/.
She is one of my new favorite authors and I'd love to read more of her books.
Her website: http://www.stephanieblack.net/
You can order your own copy here: http://deseretbook.com/Cold-Ice-Steph... (you can also read more about the book)
I didn't know a lot about the book, but the little I knew, sounded good. I received the book in August and I couldn't wait to dive into it. It's 296 pages and each page kept my attention and left me wanting more!
It's got a good mix of elements- family, friends, murder, trust, romance, twists and turns. I don't want to give away too much and I probably wouldn't be good at writing a synopsis, so if you want to know more about the book, click on the last link.
The author, Stephanie Black is a two-time Whitney Award Winner. You can find her over at http://sixldswriters.blogspot.com/.
She is one of my new favorite authors and I'd love to read more of her books.
Her website: http://www.stephanieblack.net/
You can order your own copy here: http://deseretbook.com/Cold-Ice-Steph... (you can also read more about the book)
May 13, 2012
Nice twist at the end of this book that I wasn't expecting at all. Abigail and Derek are siblings but their relationship is a bit strained. Their issues are nothing compared to those of the ones between Derek and his parents. Derek left the LDS church as a young man while getting involved in drugs and drinking. Their strained relationship is being worked through when Karen, Derek's landlady, suddenly shows up murdered. Abigail is there for Derek, but understanding who did it and why Derek is in the center of it all will take more than just trust. The book was well paced, and there was no swearing or anything inappropriate (which is quite uncommon for a mystery novel). Religion plays a very minor roll in this book, but thought it went well with the book.
March 23, 2013
What an entertaining book! It was a good murder-mystery, but on the light side. It was full of characters to admire and grow close to. I particularly loved the relationship between the brother and sister. her loyalty in the face of trials was endearing and admirable. The plot had enough twists to keep me guessing. The ending was very satisfying. Everything was not "tied up in a bow," but let us use our imagination as to how things would develop and come to a wonderful conclusion.
I like this author. I want to read more of her books. We listened to this book on audio CD, and we really enjoyed the narrator. She gave life to each character, men and women.
I like this author. I want to read more of her books. We listened to this book on audio CD, and we really enjoyed the narrator. She gave life to each character, men and women.
August 21, 2010
I'm a huge fan of Stephanie's, and this is my favorite book of hers yet! She layers complex characters and motivations. Even the descriptions of settings, characters and outfits--this book is just such a rich experience in so many ways!
For me, the biggest compliment and the biggest indicator of an amazing book is the urge to read it again immediately after finishing it. That's exactly how I felt with this book. I even suspected the murderer all along (which is better than usual for me with Stephanie, since usually I just suspect EVERYONE), but it wasn't obvious. (I like feeling smart!)
For me, the biggest compliment and the biggest indicator of an amazing book is the urge to read it again immediately after finishing it. That's exactly how I felt with this book. I even suspected the murderer all along (which is better than usual for me with Stephanie, since usually I just suspect EVERYONE), but it wasn't obvious. (I like feeling smart!)
September 18, 2010
Cold as Ice is a mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat and had me guessing who did it until the very end. Full of suspense, the characters were intriguing and the storyline was good.
Abigail's black sheep of a brother, Derek, is turning his life around when his landlady is murdered. All of the clues to finding the murderer point to Derek. He insists he's innocent and Abigail does what she can to help prove it.
My favorite types of mysteries are those that keep me guessing and this one definitely did.
Abigail's black sheep of a brother, Derek, is turning his life around when his landlady is murdered. All of the clues to finding the murderer point to Derek. He insists he's innocent and Abigail does what she can to help prove it.
My favorite types of mysteries are those that keep me guessing and this one definitely did.
October 6, 2010
LDS fiction publisehd by Covenant Communications -- Outstanding in the LDS thriller genre, this story is clean as a whistle but exciting nonetheless. The main character is a female bookstore owner in upstate New York whose "bad sheep" younger brother seems to attract trouble. This time he's outdone himself as he's accused of murder and only his sister knows he's innocent. Very well-written and plotted mystery. Author Stephanie Black has won the Whitney Award for best suspense twice in a row, and stands a good chance of making it a three-peat with this one.
November 21, 2010
Stephanie Black is a master of the psychological thriller. This book is less dark than her other books, but also as intense. Abigail is a trusting woman who is trying to repair a rift between her brother Derek and her parents. Karen is a harsh, bitter, lonely woman who has nothing good to say about anyone, including her tenant, Derek. Both Karen and Derek have issues and a past, and when they collide, the truth is anything but clear.
I found this book very enjoyable, and it keeps you guessing pretty well.
I found this book very enjoyable, and it keeps you guessing pretty well.
May 22, 2011
Borrowed this mystery from a friend at work. LDS fiction is not usually my favorite genre a lot of times they can come across cheesy and very scripted. This one had plenty of the LDS cheese and also serious suspense, I'm not sure they meshed real well. Jumping from a Stake Center where a choir performance is going on to an abandoned shack where the heroine is getting hit over the head with a piece of plywood and a little girl is being shoved out into a rapid rolling river in a canoe by the villain. If you like LDS fiction and suspense this is for you. It was an easy read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews