From the Publisher:All towns have secrets. Some have demons.
Welcome to East Salem. A deceptively sleepy town where ancient supernatural forces are being awakened.
A local high-school girl is found murdered in a park amid horse farms and wealthy homes of northern Westchester County, New York. The shocking manner of her death confounds the town and intrigues forensic psychiatrist Dani Harris, who is determined to unravel the mystery. All the suspects are teenagers who were at a party with the girl—yet none remembers what happened. Could one of them be a vicious killer? Or is something more sinister afoot—something tied to an ancient evil?
But it’s not just her waking hours that challenge Dani. Each night, her eyes open at 2:13 due to troubling dreams. Dreams filled with blood, water, and destruction. Is it a clue—or a supernatural sign?
Across town, former NFL linebacker Tommy Gunderson finds his state-of-the-art security system has been breached by an elderly woman. Mumbling threats in Latin, she attacks him with an uncanny, preternatural strength. Before he has time to process the attack, someone close to him is implicated in the girl’s murder at the park. He agrees to help—and finds himself working with Dani, the only girl who could resist his charms years ago when they were in high school.
A heavy darkness is spreading. Yet a heavenly force is also at work.
It will take astute analysis and forensic skills to solve the crime. But Dani and Tommy suspect there’s more the the mystery than murder, more to their growing friendship than chance . . . and more to the evil they’re facing than a mere human killer.
My Thoughts:
I thought I was going to be reading a typical mystery novel with this one, but it turned out to be just a bit more. Lis Wiehl has blended a wonderful combination of mystery, thriller, religion, and just a bit of the paranormal. Parts of the book felt very familiar, while other parts were fresh and new. I love a book that can surprise me.
The book focuses on several teenagers, some of which are believed to be involved with a terrible, ritualistic murder. I like that the teen characters are not watered down, they seemed real to me. They strive to do their own thing, but have to deal with peer pressure and other influences. Like real people, these characters had their strengths and flaws.
The two main characters are Tommy Gunerson, an ex pro football player, and Danielle Harris, a forensic psychologist. They fit well together. Tommy has some of the flare and arrogance typical of a football star, but also has a soft and intelligent side. Danielle is a strong, intelligent woman that is a bit damaged from an event in her past. Feelings from their high school days are rekindled as they both work to solve this case.
I really liked this one and am eager to see where the series will go with the next book. It appears this is to be the first book in a trilogy. I could not find any information on dates for the second book.
The book focuses on several teenagers, some of which are believed to be involved with a terrible, ritualistic murder. I like that the teen characters are not watered down, they seemed real to me. They strive to do their own thing, but have to deal with peer pressure and other influences. Like real people, these characters had their strengths and flaws.
The two main characters are Tommy Gunerson, an ex pro football player, and Danielle Harris, a forensic psychologist. They fit well together. Tommy has some of the flare and arrogance typical of a football star, but also has a soft and intelligent side. Danielle is a strong, intelligent woman that is a bit damaged from an event in her past. Feelings from their high school days are rekindled as they both work to solve this case.
I really liked this one and am eager to see where the series will go with the next book. It appears this is to be the first book in a trilogy. I could not find any information on dates for the second book.
The Author:
Lis Wiehl earned her Master of Arts in Literature from the University of Queensland and her Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School. From 1990 - 1995 she served as a Federal Prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney's Office. She has worked as a legal analyst for NBC news and NPR's All Things Considered. Lis is currently a legal analyst and commentator for Fox News. She is the author of The 51% Minority and Winning Every Time.
Rating: 4/5
Book Details:
Disclaimer:
I received a review copy of this book from the publisher.
! I really enjoyed reading this book, even though it was somewhat creepy. It was a great reminder that evil does exist in this world, and is actively seeking to destroy what is good. I loved the main character, Dani, and genuinely felt scared for her when weird stuff would happen. All of the characters were very well developed and realistic because they didn’t always do what you’d expect. I also loved the little romance part of the book. By the way, the author has the first chapter available to read, for free, at her website: http://liswiehlbooks.com
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