Forensic entomologist Nick Polchak (a.k.a. the Bug Man) is hired by thirty-year-old Kathryn Guilford, who is terrified of bugs, to solve her friend’s death. When Polchak stumbles into the mystery of how Kathryn’s husband was killed years earlier, the action kicks into high gear — and Polchak finds himself on the run with his client from someone who will do anything to keep a secret.

This fast-paced murder mystery is more than the typical “Christian fiction;”it is good clean fun — on a thrill ride. Biblical values are implicit rather than explicit, and its fascinating elements provoke thought on a conscience, consequences, and world-views. But mostly, this book is a sizzler of a story that will not let you go.

Sally’s Review: I found this book a delightful and engaging read. After hearing the author, Tim Downs, on “Family Life Today’s” program speak about Christian fiction and his books, I immediately ordered Shoofly Pie from Amazon.com. What I appreciate so much about this book was that it was a great story, not preachy at all, yet clean.

It appears that the publisher, Howard Fiction publishes several books like this by a variety of authors. I will be checking that out!

Anyway, the story is different to me in that the main character is a forensic entomologist and solves murders by studying the insects found on the dead bodies. Yuck (for the most part), but fascinating on another level. I learned more about insects than I really ever probably thought I wanted to know. The main character, Nick Polchak is loveable – he reminds me of the absent-minded professor. He is not out to impress anyone and is totally involved in solving mysteries. It seems that is one of his first loves.

The book is fast-moving and a page-turner. The mystery is layered and complicated with a few surprises thrown in. If you like murder mysteries and are looking for a good, clean story this is the book for you! I plan to read all of the books in this series. There are three and a fourth due to come out soon.

About the Book: Jack McClure has had a troubled life. His dyslexia always made him feel like an outsider. He escaped from an abusive home as a teenager and lived by his wits on the streets of Washington D.C. It wasn’t until he realized that dyslexia gave him the ability to see the world in unique ways that he found success, using this newfound strength to become a top ATF agent.

When a terrible accident takes the life of his only daughter, Emma, and his marriage falls apart, Jack blames himself, numbing the pain by submerging himself in work. Then he receives a call from his old friend Edward Carson. Carson is just weeks from taking the reins as President of the United States when his daughter, Alli, is kidnapped. Because Emma McClure was once Alli’s best friend, Carson turns to Jack, the one man he can trust to go to any lengths to find his daughter and bring her home safely.

The search for Alli leads Jack on a road toward reconciliation . . . and into the path of a dangerous and calculating man. Someone whose actions are as cold as they are brilliant. Whose power and reach are seemingly infinite.

Faith, redemption, and political intrigue play off one another as McClure uses his unique abilities to journey into the twisted mind of a stone cold genius who is constantly one step ahead of him. Jack will soon discover that this man has affected his life and his country in more ways than he could ever imagine.

My Review:The prologue of this book draws you into the action pretty quickly. It doesn’t really let up much after that. This is a political thriller with a mix of interesting characters. It takes a hard look at faith in the political arena, which, being a person of faith was at times hard to swallow. I don’t think over all that Lustbader was taking a negative approach to faith, but rather to the people who use it to manipulate others. With our current global issues, it is understandable that people are asking these important questions.

The character of Jack McClure is immensely likeable and he is battling many struggles in his personal life. I found his life history to be fascinating. A good portion of the book travels back and forth between the past and present.

I was a little disappointed in the ending, but overall I recommend this as a fun page-turning political thriller–the perfect escape from our current mud-slinging political season.

From the back cover: The first kill was easy. The second much easier. No guilt, no remorse, just a rush of adrenaline surging through him as each life drains away, and the pleasure of knowing that their deaths help his beloved Lindsay. And there are so many more who deserve to die.

The first twisted gift to Lindsay O’Neil arrives hidden in a bouquet of flowers. When her estranged husband, Detective Zack Kier, is assigned to the case, Linsay’s past comes back with a vengeance. Because only Zack knows the dark secret she lives with–or so she thinks. Now nothing can prepare her for the nightmare to come.

Everything Lindsay’s stalker does, every life he takes, is for her. But when Lindsay spurns his gifts, she and those she loves most become targets of a depraved madman whose rage is growing, and who is waiting, watching, and closer than she ever feared.

My review: I read this book in three days. The main character , Lindsay is involved in counseling battered women because of a tragedy in her past. Although this book is basically a thriller, a little romance is thrown in. Lindsay’s estranged husband is one of the policemen on the case. Everything is tied together in an interesting way. I had figured out most of the mystery by the end of the book, but it took a while. I love mysteries because they keep you thinking throughout. This is actually a pretty good beach read – not fluffy at all, but engaging. There is some language and graphic sex in this book, but it is not overpowering and is easy to fast forward through if you find it offensive.

Although this author goes beyond my comfort level with language and explicit sexual content, I was riveted to the story. There is a serial killer on the lose in the wilds of Montana. One by one he or she is shooting out tires of women driving on deserted roads causing serious accidents. After the accident, he/she finds the women in their cars and becomes their healer. When they become well, he ties them outside to a tree naked and leaves them to die from the elements. We become very familiar with one of the victims. We also come to know the two women detectives working on the case. There are clues left behind, but they are very sketchy and the women and all working on the case are at a loss to find the killer. There is a main story and a side story.

The story part of the book is fascinating. This is the third book by Lisa Jackson I have read this summer and I do see a similar pattern in the plots. The books very much keep you hooked, however, as you try to figure out who the killer is and what his/her angle is. The characters are realistic, although I don’t know many people who live as they do. I like the fact that the women are strong and smart. The characters are flawed – not perfect people although very good at their job. This book didn’t resolve the main mystery after 496 pages which was a disappointment to me. The side story was resolved with a unexpected twist. That was exciting. More is promised to come in August of 2009, so I will look forward to the continuing saga.

From the back of the book: After years of running, Hannah Schwartz has finally built a life for herself–far from the insecure husband who bullied and abused her. Far from the close-knit Amish community who raised her, then shunned her. Still haunted by nightmare memories of her parents’ murder and the guilty secret that made her anathema–a true outcast–from her friends and family.

Only love can bring her home again. Love for a child she had feared was lost forever. And love for the peaceful people who shaped her life. But can love heal old wounds . . . or keep the community safe from a deadly danger?

My Review: I LOVED this book. I was in a rotten mood this weekend and felt I needed a good escape and I definitely found it within the pages of this book. I have been reading ALL the Amish books because I find the Amish lifestyle fascinating. This book brings things up a step. The book shows the Amish as real people and highlights their values of family, faith and honest hard work. All of the elements I love about fiction are included in this book – suspense, love, Christian worldview, murder mystery, and believeable characters.

I have read most of Colleen Coble’s books and love all of them. She usually includes a great dog and this book is no exception, so dog lovers will not be disappointed! Her books keep getting better and better. This is definitely my favorite so far! I couldn’t put this book down and read it in a day and a half. I highly recommend “Anathema.”

Anathema was published by Thomas Nelson and is available now.

I enjoy the Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense line when I’m looking for a quick read with a bit of thrills and a healthy dose of romance! Just Cause caught my eye, because I thought it might be more in the legal thriller line. It’s not really a legal thriller though it does involve a court case!

From the back of the book:
“I didn’t kill my husband!”

But no one believed Laurel Hatcher. On trial for murder, Laurel prayed for a miracle. And she got one, sort of: a deadlocked jury. A mistrial meant going through the ordeal all over again, but at least she’d have more time to prove her innocence. And now handsome police officer Dan Ryan was on her side, determined to find evidence that would clear her name. But Laurel didn’t even know what to look for— or who would want her husband dead. Until Dan took her back to the scene of the crime…where a killer was waiting.

My Review: I enjoyed this as the quick escapist read I expected it to be. Davis’s prose is solid which is really important to me in any book and the romance was sweet while there was just enough suspense to keep you guessing! The characters are all quite likeable as well. My only gripe was that Laurel didn’t really seem to grieve her husband much. Just a tad bit more exploration of the loss of her husband while being wrongly convicted would have been fascinating to me, but in 246 pages what can you expect?

A solid 8 out of 10.

About the book: It’s psychology professor Dylan Foster’s favorite day of the academic year–graduation day. A day of pomp, circumstance, and celebration. And after all the mortar boards are thrown, Dylan and some of her best friends will gather around a strawberry cake to celebrate Christine Zocci’s sixth birthday. But the joyful summer afternoon goes south when a little boy is snatched from a neighborhood park, setting off a chain of events that seem to lead exactly nowhere.

Police are baffled, but Christine’s eerie connection with the kidnapped child sends Dylan on a chilling investigation of her own. Is the pasty, elusive stranger Peter Terry to blame? Exploding light bulbs, the deadly buzz of a Texas rattlesnake, and the vivid, disturbing dreams of a little girl are just pieces in a long trail of tantalizing clues leading Dylan in her dogged search for the truth.

My Review: My Soul to Keep is the third book in a series. While it’s not necessary to have read the previous books in the series to enjoy this one, I think it might have filled in some background information.

This is more than just your typical suspense novel, because there are supernatural elements involved. This ramps up the level of suspense, I think, while also making things a bit creepy. More than just trying to find the bad guy, Dylan is also battling unseen forces and relying on clues from a child with sharp spiritual acuity.

The pacing is fantastic. It took me a few pages to get into the story due to the first person narrative with more academic vocabulary, but once I got into it, I flew through it. I find this book ultimately to be about Dylan. Her character is so well developed. While there is an obvious mystery going on, this is really the story of Dylan. The writing is strong and the plot is interesting, so overall I give this book a nine out of ten.

I want to mention that though there are supernatural elements, this is not your typical Christian fiction fare. You may not agree with all of the ideas the author presents about the unseen realm. Additionally, the content is quite edgy and there is not really any of the usual Christian-speak in the book. This did not detract in any way of my personal enjoyment of the book, and in fact, could make this book appeal to a wider audience.

I love Mary Higgins Clark’s books. I think I have read every single one and they never disappoint me. The most recent one I read was “I Heard that Song Before.” Again, this was a Sam’s Club find.

Imagine marrying a little later in life to a very wealthy, handsome business man. This is what happened to our main character. Only problem…he has been a person of interest in two murder cases. As soon as they marry he becomes even more than just a person of interest and lands in prison. There are a few twists and turns in this story (as in all murder mysteries). How do you feel about sleepwalking? Have you ever done it? Do you know somebody who has? What do you think a person is capable of? Read this book and you may find some answers.

I love Mary Higgins Clark’s books because they never fail to satisfy and definitely keep my limited attention, but not only that…they are clean. I don’t have to worry about filling my mind with garbage or filtering what I read. It’s nice to know there are some books out there like that!