Suspense – Kav's Best Reads

Dead Silence + Giveaway

Political games can be deadly…

Elise Carmichael is a court sign language interpreter who reads lips all the time. As a widow with a young son who is deaf, lip reading is simply second nature, until the day she reads the lips of someone on the phone discussing an attempt to be made on a senator’s life—a senator who just happens to be her mother-in-law.

Before she can decide what she needs to do, she receives the information that her son is rushed to the ER and she must leave. Then she later sees the news report that her mother-in-law has been shot and killed.

But when she comes forward, her life, as well as her son’s life, may now be in the crosshairs of the assassin.

My Review:

published in 2024

This was an impulse buy made when I was craving a good suspense and this absolutely fit the bill. Intriguing and intense with a realistic look at the investigative side of crime, as seen through the eyes of a witness/victim.

Loved the unique perspective of a lip reading heroine and the details of raising a Deaf child in a hearing world. That paired with all the suspense elements made for an unputdownable read.

Tension mounts as Elise grows more desperate to uncover the truth. The FBI is very much leading the investigation but Elise is feisty and stubborn and conducts her own clandestine sleuthing. Lots of conflict and heart-in-throat moments ensue as the lethal combination of corruption and politics threaten her little family.

I listened to the audio book narrated by Pamela Klein who did a great job of drawing out the tension and creating emotionally charged scenes. A riveting listening experience.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – paperback or ebook – winner’s choice

Canada – paperback, ebook or audio — winner’s choice

International – ebook if you have a US Kindle account

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Dead Silence, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday August 29 2026.

Injustice for All

random retro read

“I should have tried harder.”Those final words are scrawled across a note that’s been pinned to a man’s remains.

Pulled to a crime scene in the middle of the night, Detective Marx struggles to unravel the mystery behind a message written by the victim. A suicide note . . . or an admission of guilt? Before he can discover the truth, what seems to be a random act of violence becomes something much darker and far more dangerous.

Another note. Another body.

With very little evidence and even less time, Detective Marx searches for the common thread between the victims before another innocent dies, but his efforts might put him directly in the killer’s path.

Injustice for All is a spin-off from the Holly Novels, but it can be read as a standalone book. If you’re wondering where this book falls in relation to the Holly Novels, here’s the Criss Cross, Winter Memorial, Cross Fire, Crossed Off, Injustice for All.

My Review:

published in 2018

First thing to know is that this book fits in the middle of the Holly series, right after the third book. It’s important because it carries over main plot points from that series, though as a secondary plot in Marx’s first solo story. You could read this as a standalone, but you’d be missing out on a lot of Holly’s background, including spoilers, as well as some complex character backstory elements.

The suspense is gripping, a bit gritty but utterly compelling. I loved getting so much of the story from Marx’s POV and the way he juggles his work as a detective with his care and support for Holly has she processes recent traumatic events is inspiring.

The strong sense of found family is what really draws me to this series; the impeccable plotting and relatable characters keep me anchored in the story. And committed to the series. I still have some catching up to do before the latest Holly instalment releases this month but I’m happily up to the challenge. 🙂

The Vigilante’s Bride + Giveaway

random retro reread

Robbing a stagecoach on Christmas Eve and kidnapping a woman passenger is the last thing Luke Sullivan expects to do. He just wanted to reclaim the money stolen from him, but ends up with a feisty copper-haired orphan thrown over his shoulder who was on her way to marry Sullivan’s bitter enemy.

Emily McCarthy is an orphan out of options. Forced to marry because she was too old for her orphanage, she doesn’t take kindly to her “rescue.” Still she trusts God can turn any situation to good especially when it seems Sullivan may just be the man of her dreams. But Sullivan’s crossed a dangerous man unused to losing and Emily may just be the prize he’s unwilling to sacrifice.

My Review:

published in 2010

‘The Vigilante’s Bride’ has it all – hunky hero, spunky heroine, downright evil villain and a riveting plot.

Loved the dynamics between Luke and Emily. Sparks fly at their very unorthodox meet-cute. This is an enemies to more trope and the author does a great job transforming intense dislike into love. There are some achingly tender scenes, toe-curling ones too with a healthy dose of humour mixed in.

In fact, Harris does a wonderful job of blending drama and comedy while drawing out the suspense. Plus she adds some surprise that I didn’t see coming at all. Impeccable pacing kept me turning pages, eager for more, only to be disappointed when I finally came to the end because it was all over! Love when a story leaves me wanting more!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read copy, available to any reader anywhere so, YAY, open to International Readers.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Vigilante’s Bride, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday May 9 2026

Crossed Off

random retro read

Collin Wells is relentless and ruthless, and he’ll stop at nothing to get what he his foster sister, the girl who always manages to slip through his fingers.

Holly’s foster brother has haunted her footsteps for years—taunting her, toying with her—and until recently, she never dared to stop running and build a life for herself. Now, everyone she loves is in danger. How can she protect the people she loves when her foster brother comes to collect?

My Review:

This series has been intense but this third book is, well, brutal! I’ve been putting it off for months now because I knew from reviews that this story is very hard to read in places and I was honestly dreading it. But, I love Holly and all these characters (well, except for…) and I knew I just had to brave my way through this one so I could continue on with the series. Sound ominous? It really is!

So, first thing to know: the Holly series needs to be read in order, both for the developing suspense plot (all kinds of freaky stalker vibes) and the relationships. Honestly, for me, Crossed Off’s saving grace comes from the deep friendships and strong sense of found family that forms a buffer between Holly and untold brutality.

I basked in those bonding scenes. Holly’s fierce loyalty, the teasing among her friends, the pranks she plays on Marx, the wary friendship she has with Jordan. All these characters have become real people to me and I savoured every second with them.

The flip side is that the suspense goes way beyond gut-wrenching. Almost unbearable. Definitely pushed me way past my comfort zone in places. Tough situations, serious crimes, Holly’s backstory is heart breaking and she’s facing the worst of it all over again. I honestly had to read this book in stages, giving myself a reprieve with a lighthearted read before picking it up again and I’ve never had to do that before in my eons of reading!

So, not for the faint of heart, but a rich, satisfying, if emotionally draining, read that left me loving Holly and company all the more!

Deadly Commitment + Giveaway

Random Retro Read

When Danielle Kemp walks out of her downtown Nashville condominium, she gets the eerie feeling someone is watching her. As days go by, she becomes convinced the homeless man outside her building is stalking her. But after learning the real identity of the intimidating stranger, she faces something even more threatening–the truth about her fiancé.

Deadly Secrets is a new fiction series with southern charm and big-city twists. Set in the author’s hometown of Nashville, Tennessee, it is filled not only with intrigue and suspense but subtle glimpses into how God is at work in the lives of ordinary people doing ordinary jobs . . . or maybe they aren’t so ordinary after all.

My Review:

published in 2019

What an outstanding introduction to a new-to-me author! Edge of your seat suspense with a touch of romance kept me frantically listening to the audio book. Amy Lilly’s narration matched the tone and pacing of the story perfectly and made fora very compelling listen.

And, oh my, does this author know how to build suspense! We are dropped into the middle of Danielle’s seemingly perfect life but right from the start there’s tension. Doubt. Even fear. Something’s not right and the author slowly reveals exactly what one tiny step at a time.

Significant faith threads knit this story together in a meaningful way. You can see God working in Danielle’s life through the faithfulness of those He places in her path.

I try to ensure that I don’t reveal any plot points that aren’t represented in the synopsis so I’m struggling with what to say about the suspense without revealing anything. It’s compelling. Emotional. Part police procedural thanks to the POV of a law enforcement officer. There are even brief snippets from the villain’s POV. And we watch how it all plays out through Danielle’s perspective. The kind of suspense that engages your emotions and keeps your attention until the very end.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – paperback or ebook – winner’s choice

Canada – ebook or audible — winner’s choice

International – ebook if you have a US Kindle account

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Deadly Commitment, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday February 28 2026

Dying Cry

A killer lurks in Colorado’s snowy high country in Dying Cry, the tenth thrilling installment of award-winning author Margaret Mizushima’s Timber Creek K-9 mystery series.

Newlyweds Mattie and Cole Walker are teaching Cole’s daughters how to snowshoe in a remote canyon when a shattering scream pierces the air. They know that somewhere ahead, someone has been injured or worse. Cole takes the girls while Mattie and Robo go deeper into the canyon to search for the source of the scream.

From a distance, Mattie and Robo see a shadowy figure at the base of a cliff, but a rockslide buries the person under layers of stone and shale before they can provide help. Desperate to uncover the individual in case they’re still alive under the rock, their efforts are in vain. The victim is already dead. When they investigate the canyon rim from which the person fell, they discover evidence that indicates the fall was no accident. To make matters worse, the victim was one of Cole’s friends.

The Timber Creek County investigative team springs into action, uncovering a trail of greed that leads to a killer who threatens Mattie’s cherished new family and tests her with the most difficult task she’s faced in her duty as a K-9 handler.

My Review:

This is my favourite K-9 mystery series. It’s grittier than a cozy but not quite a thriller and probably about as edgy as I’m willing to go ’cause I’m a scaredy cat. It’s definitely best to read the books in order because of the phenomenal character growth – and not just with Mattie and Cole but a host of secondary characters as well. It is worth taking the time to watch them all evolve over the course of the series, including the romance (eeeeppp!)

Robo, the wonder dog, is a huge draw for me too and I love the extra bits of K-9 training and logistics that the author includes. I haven’t read another book with such a comprehensive approach to the K-9 aspect. Informative without taking away from the action of the story. In fact, it actually adds to the tension and suspense. I get as revved up as Robo trailing a scent!

‘Dying Cry’ is part police procedural, part wilderness adventure and chockfull of emotion since this murder hits close to home for Mattie. Newly married and trying to find her footing as stepmother to Cole’s precocious daughters, she struggles to find a balance between family life and working a gruesome investigation.

Love the role reversal of Mattie being the deputy facing danger every day while Cole is ‘safely’ ensconced at his veterinary practice. And the way the suspense plays out kept me on edge all the way to the end. Mercy, that climax – completely riveting with plenty of gasp out loud moments!

I listened to the audio book and Nancy Wu’s narration is a perfect match for Margaret Mizushima’s storytelling style. She’s been the Timber Creek K-9 voice from the very beginning and I really appreciate that continuity. Highly recommend the audio books to discerning listeners everywhere!

My thanks to Dreamscape Media and Net Galley for providing me with an audio coy of this book.

Jacob’s Well + Giveaway

Random Retro Read

As newly appointed small-town Sheriff Angus Reid settles into Weyport, it doesn’t take him long to discover just how corrupt his new town is. With a desk full of suspicious open cases and too much to prove, he is determined to rid his town of crime and win the hearts of his people.

But when two teenagers suddenly go missing, it lays bare sinister secrets and emotional ties that threaten to derail his investigation.

And as the case untangles, the secrets buried deep within the coastal borders of the tight-knit community slowly bubble to the surface.

Determined to find justice for the missing boys and their families, he races against the clock to find them. Unbeknownst of the dark forces that rage against him.

Then he gets a call that a body has been found…

If you enjoy suspenseful, twisty secrets and lies mystery novels that are rooted in faith and leave your heart in your throat, you will have a hard time putting down this page-turning Christian mystery and suspense novel.

Get ready to be taken on an emotional journey through a town where it seems everyone has a secret.

My Review:

published in 2023

I have bookish friend Diane to thank for my introduction to new-to-me author Urcelia Teixeira. Friend recommendations are the best, aren’t they? Now here I am at the start of some epic reading because ‘Jacob’s Well’ is the first book in a gripping suspense series and now that I’ve started, I’ve gotta read them all!

The series centres around Angus Reid, who has just accepted a Sheriff position in a town known for its corruption. In fact, the previous Sheriff was crooked. So Angus has a lot of suspicious open cases to work his way through and it seems like half the town is harbouring secrets.

Like young Jake. We meet the teen in the opening chapter and follow him through an overwhelming web of treacherous secrets. Oh, the folly of youth! And then there’s his mother, desperate to do whatever she must to save her boy which involves even more secrets. And that leaves Angus trying to blindly put the pieces together all while under the pressure of searching for two missing teens.

Phew! This was a page turner! I read it in one sitting because there just wasn’t any other choice if I wanted to keep my sanity! I appreciate the way the multiple points of view offered different perspectives and amped up the suspense. As a reader, it was intriguing to know things Angus didn’t. But there were other times that I was just as much in the dark as the Sheriff which added to the drama and intrigue.

The author has a canny way of incorporating faith into the lives of these characters. It’s seamlessly done, never preachy, but sometimes pointed and very thought provoking.

I really enjoyed my first visit to Weyport and am anxious to get back there soon and see what’s in store for Angus next. Plus, there are some secondary characters that I think will be playing an important part in the good Sheriff’s life as he acclimatizes to his new position and the town in general. I can’t wait of find out more!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy available to anyone, anywhere in the world so…woohoo…International Giveaway!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of the Jacob’s Well, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday September 13 2025.

Mind Games + Giveaway

Random Retro Read

Kaely Quinn’s talents as an FBI behavior analyst are impossible to ignore, no matter how unorthodox her methods. But when a reporter outs her as the daughter of an infamous serial killer, she’s demoted to field agent and transferred to St. Louis.

When the same reporter who ruined her career claims to have received an anonymous poem predicting a string of murders, ending with Kaely’s, the reporter’s ulterior motives bring his claim into question. But when a body is found that fits the poem’s predictions, the threat is undeniable, and the FBI sends Special Agent Noah Hunter to St. Louis.

Initially resentful of the assignment, Noah is surprised at how quickly his respect for Kaely grows, despite her oddities. But with a brazen serial killer who breaks all the normal patterns on the loose, Noah and Kaely are tested to their limits to catch the murderer before anyone else–including Kaely herself–is killed.

My Review:

published in 2018

Whoa! I’m stunned and my head is still spinning over that twisty-turny nosedive at the end. This might just be Nancy Mehl’s best book to date which is saying something because I adore her stories! But this one is…definitely on a whole other level.

A psychological thriller of a mystery with some of the elements of a Criminal Minds episode but without the TV series’ over-the-top ghoul factor. 🙂 For cautious suspense readers I can honestly say I can’t watch Criminal Minds without getting nightmares but I gobbled up Mind Games for all it’s deliciously shivery suspensey goodness. Fascinating police procedural with one of the most complex heroines I’ve ever met within the pages of a book!

Kaely’s backstory is so complex and intriguing. Her coping mechanisms — her profiling techniques — the brilliance that masks a touching vulnerability. And most surprising of all — her deep and abiding faith. Something that fellow agent Noah can’t understand but Kaely doesn’t shy away from sharing.

“I have a lot of issues leftover from my past. God has never condemned me for them. He just keeps leading me slowly but surely out of the dark, at the pace I need.” (p 165)

Engaging in mind games with a serial killer is the first case Noah and Kaely share but it won’t be their last. Love the way their relationship develops over the course of this book. He’s wary, she’s reserved and learning to trust each other is central to their moving forward both professionally and personally. This isn’t a romance, but I have the feeling that one is going to develop over the course of the series.

Intense, clever, exceptionally paced — Mind Games is the epitome of a page-turner! I guarantee you won’t be able to put this one down until you’ve reached the mind-blowing conclusion.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy available to anyone, anywhere in the world so…woohoo…International Giveaway!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of the Mind Games, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday August 30 2025.

The Lies We Believe

Riley Bishop is a single mother, working at home as a security analyst to provide for her two children, Sadie and Oliver. But something is very wrong. Riley starts forgetting things—like appointments, where she put her keys, and where she parked her car. And then she thinks she sees her deceased ex-husband while out shopping. But as Riley begins to question her own sanity, her twelve-year-old Sadie goes missing. Soon Riley finds it harder and harder to know what is truth and what are lies as she is forced to question her own reality while she searches for her daughter.

Apprehending fugitives as a part of the SOG team gives Tucker Shaw the purpose and drive he needs to fight the demons from his past. When he’s called out on a mission, Operation Jackal, to track down a group of endangered children, he has no idea how drastically his life is about to change. It’s a frantic hunt as Tucker and his team race to save thirteen children, including Sadie. But when Sadie’s mother comes to him with credible evidence on who is behind the girls’ disappearances, the situation quickly spirals out of control with a final twist that has Tucker questioning everything he knows to be true.

My Review:

published in 2023

Whoa! Intense and riveting! I was totally sucked in from the very first sentence: “There are seventy-two unbroken white tiles on the floor of the intake lobby of the psychiatric hospital.” Major thriller vibes all the way through as Riley is faced with a tsunami of impossible situations. Has she lost touch with reality or is someone trying to make it look that way? Super suspenseful. I non-stopped listened to the entire book. Just couldn’t tear myself away. And while some things are sorted in this first ‘Shadow Stalkers’ novel it does end on a bit of a cliffhanger which makes me think this is going to be a continuous sort of series featuring Riley every step of the way. Eeeep. Can’t wait for more.

Guilty Until Innocent

When an old case is reopened, two lawyers work to prove a man’s innocence despite the odds stacked against them.

After being fired from his last two jobs, Ryan Clark lands an associate position with a law firm run by his distant cousin, Tom, in a small North Carolina town. Over twenty-five years earlier, Tom represented local man Joe Moore when he was convicted of murder in the deaths of a prominent young couple. Even though the evidence was circumstantial, Joe was high on drugs and doesn’t remember the details of the crime. He never seriously questioned his own guilt, even when he was originally accused. Not only has he adapted to life in prison but he’s become a different person there and has a significant ministry to fellow inmates.

But Joe’s family remains unconvinced of his guilt, and they hire Ryan and Tom to file a motion to obtain Joe’s release. The resulting investigation uncovers layers of dark secrets in the local community. It will result either in Joe’s vindication–or expand the number of people who should join him behind bars.

My Review:

A character driven story that slowly builds in suspense and, mercy, but the faith elements in this novel are phenomenal.

The book’s strength is in the character growth. It is told from multiple points of view with varied perspectives that blend into a cohesive whole by the end. There’s Joe, twenty + years into a lifetime prison sentence for double homicide; Ryan, an up and coming young lawyer and his wife, Paige. I enjoyed the time I spent with each character and loved the way their faith journeys intersected, shining a spotlight on how God can work good out of any situation.

I went into this book expecting a legal thriller/suspense but I found the plot takes more of a meandering pace towards the action packed conclusion. Definitely more of a redemptive type of story with a side of suspense. I figured out the whodunnit aspect very early on, but it was still fun (and frustrating) to watch Ryan take his sweet time reaching the same conclusion…when it’s almost too late!

I listened to the audio edition of ‘Guilty Until Innocent’ and found it to be an easy listen. I don’t usually enjoy male narrators because their female voices often feel like caricatures, but Jason Keller’s performance worked well for this story. I liked the way he brought distinctive voices to the characters…along with some Southern twang!

My thanks to Thomas Nelson, Zondervan Fiction Audio and Net Galley for providing me with an audio edition of this book.