Christy Awards Finalists – Mystery/Suspense/Thriller + Giveaway

What are the Christy Awards?

The Christy Award is destined to nurture creativity and quality in the writing and publishing of fiction written from a Christian worldview and showcase the diversity of genres. These 2025 finalists are books published in 2024. 

How does this Giveaway work?

You select ONE of the Mystery/Suspense/Thriller  finalists you would like to receive if your name is drawn. Mention the title in a comment. If you win that’s the book that will be sent to you. Easy Peasy. Here are the finalists. (I have provided links to my reviews of the books I have read.)

The Crown Conspiracy by Connie Mann – Tyndale House – Giveaway Options: US – paperback or ebook, Canada – paperback, ebook or audible, International – ebook if you have a US indie account.

She’s a master at spotting a forgery . . . and knowing how to create one. But can she solve a decades-old mystery?

The media spotlight is the last thing art thief and forger Sophie Williams needs. But when one of three long-missing royal portraits turns up in Germany at her best friend’s art gallery, the spotlight is exactly what she gets. Since the tragic deaths of Princess Johanna of Neuhansberg and her two children forty years ago, the whereabouts of these portraits have been unknown . . . and the timing of their reappearance―just days before a new prince’s coronation―reignites questions surrounding the infamous accident.

Then Sophie’s best friend vanishes, and a rumor about hidden treasure connected to the paintings surfaces, seemingly confirmed by a cryptic message on the back of the first canvas. Convinced that finding the other two portraits will lead to her friend, Sophie begins a twisty investigation that pits her against other ruthless treasure hunters, a handsome investigator who seems to dog her trail at every turn, and a mysterious group that offers help, wearing an emblem identical to one on the painting.

From Germany’s grand castles and soaring cathedrals through the Alps to the canals of Venice, Sophie must choose her allies carefully if she hopes to find the portraits, rescue her best friend―and perhaps save a throne―before time runs out.

Night Falls on Predicament Avenue by Jaime Jo Wright – Bethany House (Baker Publishing Group) – Giveaway Options: US – paperback or ebook, Canada – ebook or audible, International – ebook if you have a US Kindle account.

As the walls of the house at Predicament Avenue reveal their hidden truths, two women—generations apart—discover that fear and foreboding are no respecters of time.

In 1910, Effie James is committed to doing anything to save her younger sister, who witnessed a shocking murder, leaving her mute and in danger of the killer’s retribution. Effie must prove what her sister saw, but when a British gentleman arrives, he disrupts Effie’s quest with his attempts to locate his wife, Isabelle Addington, who was last seen at the supposed crime scene in the abandoned house at 322 Predicament Avenue. Just as Effie discovers what she seeks, she finds that the blood staining the walls will forever link her to a scandal she couldn’t imagine, and to a woman whose secrets promise to curse any who would expose them.

A century later, Norah Richman grapples with social anxiety and grief as she runs her late great-aunt’s bed-and-breakfast on Predicament Avenue. But Norah has little affection for the house and is committed only to carrying out her murdered sister’s dreams until crime historian and podcaster Sebastian Blaine arrives to investigate the ghostly legacy of the house’s claim to fame—the murder of Isabelle Addington. When a guest is found dead, the incident is linked to Isabelle’s murder, and Norah and Sebastian must work together to uncover the century-old curse that has wrapped 322 Predicament Avenue in its clutches and threatens far more than death. https://kavsbestreads.ca/2024/04/24/night-falls-on-predicament-avenue-giveaway/

Serial Burn by Lynette Eason – Revell (Baker Publishing House) – Giveaway Options: US – paperback or ebook, Canada – ebook or audible, International – ebook if you have US Kindle account.

She’s out for justice. But the arsonist she’s tracking is out for retribution.

Now the fire marshal of Lake City, Jesslyn McCormick is determined to find the person who started the fire that robbed her of her family when she was just seven years old. As the twentieth anniversary of the tragedy approaches, a string of fires–including at Jesslyn’s church–brings up all those old feelings and offers new evidence.

Because church fires are considered a hate crime, FBI Special Agent Nathan Carlisle is called in to work with local law enforcement. Nathan has his own past–one he’d prefer not to revisit. And focusing on helping Jesslyn track down the arsonist is a great distraction.

As both the case and the chemistry between Jesslyn and Nathan heat up, memories will come flooding in from the past to bump up against hopes for the future. And when Jesslyn comes face-to-face with her worst nightmare, she’ll have to confront her fears and rely on Nathan and her community of friends in order to survive. https://kavsbestreads.ca/2025/01/28/serial-burn-giveaway/

Shattered Sanctuary by Nancy Mehl – Bethany House (Baker Publishing Group) – Giveaway Options: US – paperback or ebook, Canada – paperback, ebook or audible, International – ebook if you have a US Kindle account.

Grappling with the aftermath of a tragic incident that altered her life, ex-police officer and bestselling mystery author Erin Delaney finds solace in the tranquility of a cabin nestled deep in the Smoky Mountains. But her newfound peace is shattered when cries pierce the night, hinting at a haunting presence lurking in the woods. When local police chief Adrian Nightengale seeks her help with a baffling murder case, she is thrust back into the world of crime solving. As they delve into the investigation, Erin’s intuition reveals chilling truths about the killer’s motives and methods.

Joined by the enigmatic Kaely Quinn-Hunter, a former FBI behavioral analyst, Erin not only embarks on a quest to stop a merciless serial killer but also confronts the ghosts of her past. In a race against time, Erin must defeat her own demons while outmaneuvering a cunning killer or risk becoming the next victim in a deadly game of cat and mouse.

In this propulsive series starter, bestselling author Nancy Mehl steals readers away to the perilous Tennessee town of Sanctuary, setting the stage for an action-packed mystery that will keep them on the edge of their seats.

Terminal Danger by Jerusah Agent – SDG Words – Giveaway Options: US – ebook, Canada – ebook, International – ebook if you have a US Kindle account.

This woman and her K-9 are being hunted. Exactly as she planned.

When a busload of schoolchildren disappears, Phoenix Gray knows the kidnapper is the unidentified serial killer she’s spent her life trying to catch. This time, she’ll find the killer and bring him to justice no matter what it takes. She and her Phoenix K-9 Security and Detection Agency join the search for the hostages, but they aren’t the only ones who want the criminal captured.

Callum Ross, an FBI agent who specializes in catching serial criminals, is about to resign. But not until he finds one last culprit, the killer behind a famous twenty-year-old crime Callum vowed to solve.

Despite the FBI agent’s uncanny understanding of her psyche, Phoenix refuses to be distracted from her goal. When the serial killer turns into the cat instead of the mouse, Phoenix thinks she’s ready. But will she need the God she rejected to achieve the justice she’s given her life to obtain?

  • There were ties in this category which is why there are five books instead of three.

26 thoughts on “Christy Awards Finalists – Mystery/Suspense/Thriller + Giveaway”

  1. Thanks to so many rave reviews on Jaime Jo Wright’s books, I decided to be brave and read Buried Wilderness Secrets, followed by Tempest at Annabel’s Lighthouse and The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall. I’m now on the fan wagon and want to read her backlist. So my pick is Night Falls on Predicament Avenue!

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  2. If I were the very fortunate one selected, I would love the opportunity to read SERIAL BURN by Lynette Eason. While some are on my TBR list, this one came out on top. I’ve already read THE CROWN OF CONSPIRACY by Connie Mann and loved it. And unfortunately the K-9 story isn’t a book.

    Thank you for the amazing chance to win a copy of the book of our choice!

    2clowns at arkansas dot net

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  3. The only one I’ve read, or will be reading, is The Crown Conspiracy. I do enjoy a treasure hunt mystery/suspense, but wimpy me can’t handle the serial killers or arsonists.

    On another note, I have been enjoying the Blackberry Valley mystery series by Guideposts we talked about before. I read the first one Where’s the Smoke by new-to me author Laura Bradford and found I liked her writing style. Then Roseanna White’s A Likely Story. The next book, Crooks and Christmas Cookies, by Stephanie Coleman, was another new-to me author and a good story. I just finished Smoke and Mirrors, another by Laura Bradford. So far 4 of the 8, once I read the first one all the characters made sense without reading them all in order. Cozies may be my speed for mysteries, lol.

    Happy reading Sunday to all.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Cozies are a great ‘gentle’ mystery alternative. Good to know that those Guidepost multi-authored series can be read as standalones too. I’ve wondered about that. Laura Bradford writes general market cozies too and some Amish, I love her Amish adjacent cozy mystery series ‘An Amish Mystery’. The first book is called Hearse and Buggy – ha, love pun-y cozy titles. The heroine isn’t Amish but she moves to a town with an Amish community. Happy Reading, Tracey!

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  4. Serial Burn by Lynette Eason. I’d love to read this one cause Lynette is a favorite author. But then I’d love to read some of the other ones too. Must make a list not to forget about them.

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  5. I’ve not read a Connie Mann novel yet, so I would choose The Crown Conspiracy which sounds very interesting.  I’ve read most of these and am an avid Jaime Jo Wright fan, so I definitely would recommend Night Falls  on Predicament  Avenue just in case anyone needs help deciding.

    perrianne ( DOT) askew (AT) me ( DOT) com

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    1. You’re right – you really can’t go wrong with Jaime Jo Wright, especially if you’re looking for an atmospheric read. I’ve read a couple of Connie Mann’s early suspense books and really enjoyed them. This one has been on my radar for a while. Good luck, Perrianne!

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