A mystery thriller!

The latest book by Nancy Mehl, Cold Vengeance, was a fun and fast read. The author did a great job of “building a case” for a story that entertains those interested in different Christian subgenres: Action/adventure, mystery, thriller, and romance.

The story starts when a renowned crime podcaster vanishes without a trace. The podcaster’s boyfriend hires former FBI behavioral analysts turned private investigators River Ryland and Tony St. Clair to track her down. As the private eyes wade through the evidence, she left behind, they unearth a startling connection: the podcaster seems to have discovered the identity of a previously unknown killer who will stop at nothing to carry out a deadly plan.

As the pair delve deeper, they become targets of a relentless enemy determined to silence them. With their lives--and hearts--on the line, they confront an extraordinary evil.
This is a “mystery-thriller” because it starts as a mystery and then deep inside the story it evolves into a thriller. The author later resurrects the mystery component by changing directions.

The story has a Christian orientation as the two main characters rely on God as their strength when under stressful conditions. Scripture is weaved throughout the book, displaying the characters’ motivation. One scene uses a flashback to tell of the repentance of a person who had betrayed his family.

The two main characters’ romantic relationship is initially under the radar but reveals itself as the story continues, satisfying romance readers.

The author addresses a topic that most others shy away from—Alzheimer’s disease. A subplot threads its way through the story as one of the main characters deals with their emotional journey of a parent suffering from this disease. The reader feels the trauma of that realization. This helps educate the world about the painful struggle many feel when their loved ones suffer from this disease.

This book is an entertaining reading for Nancy Mehl’s fans and fans-to-be.

I received a review copy courtesy of Baker Publishing Group through Interviews & Reviews for an unbiased and objective review.