Review: Too Close To Home

My Synopsis:

Too Close To Home (Women of Justice series - Book 1) by Lynette Eason

(For review from Revell)

Homicide detective Connor Wolfe's latest case has everyone baffled. There are several missing teen girls and now they are starting to turn up dead. Connor and his team are looking for leads that will help them find this serial killer in their small southern town.

FBI agent, Samantha Cash is a computer expert that is called in to help Connor figure out a link that may exist between all the girls. But, she doesn't expect the attraction she begins to feel for her fellow officer. Connor has to worry not only about this case but his troubled relationship with his own teen daughter, Jenna and Samantha has demons of her own involving her sister, Jamie.

Can the two of them put aside their circumstances and find love in the midst of tragedy? Will Connor blame God for all the loses in his life or will he find the peace he has been looking for? Who is "the agent" and what is his motive for kidnapping these girls? Is Jenna safe?

My Thoughts:

This is the first romantic suspense novel I have read from a Christian perspective. I found it very interesting. Not only do the main characters have a mystery to solve, but they have issues in their own lives that need to be sorted out. From Connor's troubled relationship with is daughter, to Samantha's guilt over Jamie's suffering. It's interesting to see how these circumstances bring each of the characters to an understanding that perhaps the peace they need comes from God.

This novel put me in mind a little bit of an episode of SVU or Criminal Intent. It was fun to try to think ahead and solve the mystery and see if you were right or if you were on the right track. It was definitely a page turner. I liked how the author used "police knowledge". The actions of the officers and the FBI characters all seemed natural and I'm sure was researched to make it seem all the more accurate.

The characters were well developed. Connor was the strong dad, who had no idea how to repair his relationship with his daughter. Jenna, was head strong and hurt by Connor's previous actions. Samantha was the determined agent who had a soft heart. I liked Jamie's character a lot and could really identify with her. I loved how she was able to find the courage to move on with her life and look forward to the next book see what happens to her and the other characters from this novel.

I give this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag.

Here is some more information about the author, Lynette Eason.

Lynette Eason is the author of Too Close to Home and three other romantic suspense novels. She is a member of American Fiction Christian Writers and Romance Writers of America. A homeschooling mother of two, she has a master's degree in education from Converse College. She lives in South Carolina.

Available April 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.