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East Salem Trilogy #1
Waking Hours
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 the wealthy homes of northern Westchester County, New York. The shocking manner of her death intrigues forensic psychiatrist Dani Harris. 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? 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 charm years ago when they were in high school. A heavy darkness is spreading. Yet a heavenly force is also at work. Dani and Tommy suspect there's more to the mystery than murder, more to their growing friendship than chance . . . and more to the evil they're facing than a mere human killer.
327 pages, Hardcover
First published October 4, 2011
88 people are currently reading
1625 people want to read
About the author
Lis Wiehl
26 books631 followersLis Wiehl is a New York Times bestselling author of both fiction and nonfiction books, a journalist, an attorney, and a legal expert. She is the former legal analyst for Fox News, former co-host of WOR radio's “WOR Tonight with Joe Concha and Lis Wiehl,” and was an anchor for the Law & Crime network (a multi-media live trial network). Lis Wiehl hosted the podcast Pursuit of Justice with Lis Wiehl and until recently was an adjunct professor of Law at New York Law School. Lis is the author of eighteen books, including the first in The Hunting Series, Hunting Charles Manson: The Quest for Justice in the Days of Helter Skelter, out in paperback from Thomas Nelson/HarperCollins on June 25, 2019.
Lis Wiehl is one of the nation’s most highly regarded commentators and legal experts. After graduating from Harvard Law School, Wiehl practiced law in a private law firm in Seattle where she also wrote by-lined articles on legal issues for The New York Times. From there she went on to become a third generation federal prosecutor (her grandfather and her father — an FBI agent — were also federal prosecutors) in the US Attorney's Office in Seattle. She served as the Deputy Chief Investigative Counsel for Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee during President Clinton’s impeachment. From 1995 to 2001, she was a tenured law professor at the University of Washington School of Law in Seattle, where she ran the Trial Advocacy Program, which won several national awards during her tenure.
During her time at the University of Washington, Wiehl also stepped deeper into journalism by working as a reporter and legal analyst for NPR's All Things Considered, MSNBC/NBC News, and locally at KIRO, the CBS network affiliate in Seattle. After MSNBC and National Public Radio, Wiehl moved to the Fox News Channel where she served as a legal analyst and reporter for over fifteen years. During her time at the Fox News Channel, she appeared on numerous shows including The O'Reilly Factor, Your World with Neil Cavuto, The Kelly File with Megyn Kelly, Lou Dobbs Tonight, and the Imus morning show. Wiehl also hosted the Legal Lis radio show and the Wiehl of Justice podcast.
In 2005, Wiehl released her first book, Winning Every Time: How to Use the Skills of a Lawyer in the Trials of Your Life. Two years later she released The 51% Minority: How Women Still Are Not Equal and What You Can Do About It which was awarded the 2008 award for Books for a Better Life in the motivational category. Since then, Wiehl has continued to write bestselling books of fiction and non-fiction.
Lis Wiehl continues to appear in the media as a legal expert and commentator for organizations including CNN, CBS, NBC, and NPR among others. She regularly lectures at colleges and universities, appears as a keynote speaker, and speaks at bookstores, conferences, and literary festivals.
Wiehl earned her Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School, her Master of Arts in Literature from the University of Queensland, and a bachelor’s degree from Barnard College, Columbia University.
Lis Wiehl currently lives near New York City.
For more information please visit www.liswiehlbooks.com.
Lis Wiehl is one of the nation’s most highly regarded commentators and legal experts. After graduating from Harvard Law School, Wiehl practiced law in a private law firm in Seattle where she also wrote by-lined articles on legal issues for The New York Times. From there she went on to become a third generation federal prosecutor (her grandfather and her father — an FBI agent — were also federal prosecutors) in the US Attorney's Office in Seattle. She served as the Deputy Chief Investigative Counsel for Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee during President Clinton’s impeachment. From 1995 to 2001, she was a tenured law professor at the University of Washington School of Law in Seattle, where she ran the Trial Advocacy Program, which won several national awards during her tenure.
During her time at the University of Washington, Wiehl also stepped deeper into journalism by working as a reporter and legal analyst for NPR's All Things Considered, MSNBC/NBC News, and locally at KIRO, the CBS network affiliate in Seattle. After MSNBC and National Public Radio, Wiehl moved to the Fox News Channel where she served as a legal analyst and reporter for over fifteen years. During her time at the Fox News Channel, she appeared on numerous shows including The O'Reilly Factor, Your World with Neil Cavuto, The Kelly File with Megyn Kelly, Lou Dobbs Tonight, and the Imus morning show. Wiehl also hosted the Legal Lis radio show and the Wiehl of Justice podcast.
In 2005, Wiehl released her first book, Winning Every Time: How to Use the Skills of a Lawyer in the Trials of Your Life. Two years later she released The 51% Minority: How Women Still Are Not Equal and What You Can Do About It which was awarded the 2008 award for Books for a Better Life in the motivational category. Since then, Wiehl has continued to write bestselling books of fiction and non-fiction.
Lis Wiehl continues to appear in the media as a legal expert and commentator for organizations including CNN, CBS, NBC, and NPR among others. She regularly lectures at colleges and universities, appears as a keynote speaker, and speaks at bookstores, conferences, and literary festivals.
Wiehl earned her Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School, her Master of Arts in Literature from the University of Queensland, and a bachelor’s degree from Barnard College, Columbia University.
Lis Wiehl currently lives near New York City.
For more information please visit www.liswiehlbooks.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 256 reviews
October 13, 2012
Huh...I liked this book. I mean I saw some good reviews, it sounded interesting but I'm so used to picking up mystery/urban fantasy books that sound good but turn out to be, "geared to an audience other than me" that it was almost surprising. So, good book.
I placed this on my "urban fantasy" shelf, I suppose it might be better if I had a "sort-of urban fantasy" shelf as the book does come over much as a straight mystery, but there's a touch of UF and I think the next book is going to move even further in that direction.
I like the story here, I liked the characters, the novel drew me in rather quickly and happily stayed interesting. If you've read other of my reviews you probably know I'm not a fan of any type romance novel. Here there is a budding love story present (I even skipped ahead once as it became a bit dominate for a while) but it doesn't overwhelm the plot or the rest of the novel.
I think some of the authors predispositions come through at times but that tends to be true of many writers. The points in the story that aren't new are handled well and there's an original bent to it all. Again, enjoyable novel.
One point...come here for the story, not the theology. The author uses a Biblical paradigm but she's not trying to teach theology. I plan to pick up the next novel ( Darkness Rising ) and I read one review where the person was very upset that the book was doctrinally unsound. I haven't read it yet, but as noted I'm not coming to these novels for instruction but for entertainment... I'll let you know what I think of that book when I've read it.
So...murder with a strange mystery surrounding it. Interesting to downright weird clues. We get fire....weird symbols traced in blood...mysterious stranger(s)...hints of ancient evil (you know really, really bad stuff) smart protagonists...cool. I like it, I recommend it, enjoy.
I placed this on my "urban fantasy" shelf, I suppose it might be better if I had a "sort-of urban fantasy" shelf as the book does come over much as a straight mystery, but there's a touch of UF and I think the next book is going to move even further in that direction.
I like the story here, I liked the characters, the novel drew me in rather quickly and happily stayed interesting. If you've read other of my reviews you probably know I'm not a fan of any type romance novel. Here there is a budding love story present (I even skipped ahead once as it became a bit dominate for a while) but it doesn't overwhelm the plot or the rest of the novel.
I think some of the authors predispositions come through at times but that tends to be true of many writers. The points in the story that aren't new are handled well and there's an original bent to it all. Again, enjoyable novel.
One point...come here for the story, not the theology. The author uses a Biblical paradigm but she's not trying to teach theology. I plan to pick up the next novel ( Darkness Rising ) and I read one review where the person was very upset that the book was doctrinally unsound. I haven't read it yet, but as noted I'm not coming to these novels for instruction but for entertainment... I'll let you know what I think of that book when I've read it.
So...murder with a strange mystery surrounding it. Interesting to downright weird clues. We get fire....weird symbols traced in blood...mysterious stranger(s)...hints of ancient evil (you know really, really bad stuff) smart protagonists...cool. I like it, I recommend it, enjoy.
July 20, 2020
3...Solid...What us looking to be a telling of an End of Day...Characters are great, if a little bit 90's romantic comedy...Sometimes a bit dramatic, yet it has left me wondering enough to check out the ones in the trilogy, even other novels from these authors...
June 30, 2013
Others have brilliantly summarized the plot, so my review will focus more on my overall impressions of the book.
In all honesty, when I was 100 or even 125 pages into it, reading it felt more like a chore than an enjoyable endeavor. Though the action begins early on with a murder that is gruesome and disturbing, I felt as though the action took quite awhile to build up to levels that really captured my interest. Making matters somewhat worse - and this may just be a personal preference of mine - the writing style was not exactly smooth; by that, I mean that there were many instances in which it felt stilted and self-conscious. Additionally, other reviewers have mentioned the alarm clock that was discussed more than once, and it really was unnecessary to the point of being a little irritating. For another example, the better part of a whole paragraph dealt with the protagonist's preparation and subsequent consumption of an omelet. Then, too, while the authors included several witty lines throughout the piece, there were also numerous one-liners that fell utterly flat (and I'm not referring to those that were deliberately created to have that effect).
However - and this a big "however" - once the book kicked into gear, it held my interest and then some. That is largely due to the fact that, while there were definitely stock, two-dimensional characters, Dani and Tommy happily did not fall into that category. Though their life experiences were not necessarily those to which many people can relate, their mindsets, thought processes, and feelings were. They were actually pretty well-drawn characters, and their high school connection of years past turned into a budding romance in a fashion that felt realistic and contained just the right amount of slow-build.
At the end of the day, the initial crime, the forensic and psychological details, the other occurrences that ranged from peculiar to downright frightening, and what all of it meant for the future of the protagonists, their town, and the whole world, wound up being incredibly interesting. To the authors' credit, everything came together quite well, in that some questions were answered, while a certain amount of foreboding and intrigue were nurtured and increasingly imbued in the text as it neared its end, which provided a great set-up for book two.
On a final note, Christian fiction can sometimes by viewed by some readers with a certain stigma - sort of along the lines of how books in the romance genre face can be met with a sort of quasi-disdain in the minds of some. As someone who - with a few exceptions - does not generally gravitate toward this particular genre, I really hope that those who may not necessarily seek out novels from this publisher see fit to give this book a chance, because I truly feel that they will be pleasantly surprised.
In short, though my initial thoughts of this novels were not exactly kind, the authors' collective talent definitely changed my mind and made me eagerly anticipate the next installment in this series.
In all honesty, when I was 100 or even 125 pages into it, reading it felt more like a chore than an enjoyable endeavor. Though the action begins early on with a murder that is gruesome and disturbing, I felt as though the action took quite awhile to build up to levels that really captured my interest. Making matters somewhat worse - and this may just be a personal preference of mine - the writing style was not exactly smooth; by that, I mean that there were many instances in which it felt stilted and self-conscious. Additionally, other reviewers have mentioned the alarm clock that was discussed more than once, and it really was unnecessary to the point of being a little irritating. For another example, the better part of a whole paragraph dealt with the protagonist's preparation and subsequent consumption of an omelet. Then, too, while the authors included several witty lines throughout the piece, there were also numerous one-liners that fell utterly flat (and I'm not referring to those that were deliberately created to have that effect).
However - and this a big "however" - once the book kicked into gear, it held my interest and then some. That is largely due to the fact that, while there were definitely stock, two-dimensional characters, Dani and Tommy happily did not fall into that category. Though their life experiences were not necessarily those to which many people can relate, their mindsets, thought processes, and feelings were. They were actually pretty well-drawn characters, and their high school connection of years past turned into a budding romance in a fashion that felt realistic and contained just the right amount of slow-build.
At the end of the day, the initial crime, the forensic and psychological details, the other occurrences that ranged from peculiar to downright frightening, and what all of it meant for the future of the protagonists, their town, and the whole world, wound up being incredibly interesting. To the authors' credit, everything came together quite well, in that some questions were answered, while a certain amount of foreboding and intrigue were nurtured and increasingly imbued in the text as it neared its end, which provided a great set-up for book two.
On a final note, Christian fiction can sometimes by viewed by some readers with a certain stigma - sort of along the lines of how books in the romance genre face can be met with a sort of quasi-disdain in the minds of some. As someone who - with a few exceptions - does not generally gravitate toward this particular genre, I really hope that those who may not necessarily seek out novels from this publisher see fit to give this book a chance, because I truly feel that they will be pleasantly surprised.
In short, though my initial thoughts of this novels were not exactly kind, the authors' collective talent definitely changed my mind and made me eagerly anticipate the next installment in this series.
April 16, 2018
4.5 stars - would have been five if I didn't have to read the rest of the series in order to find out what happens with the main bulk of the story. I really enjoyed this book, with the creepyness being built up over time, well written characters and the self contained plot in this book easily solvable. This is not a book with a twist, although the ending can be a bit frustrating if you are not expecting to have to engage with a series. I would recommend this book but be aware the ending is a bit of cliff hanger.
September 5, 2011
Historic East Salem may not be the sleepy little town it seems. Things are a bit off, especially when it comes to the supernatural. Forensic psychiatrist Dani Harris and former football star Tommy Gunderson form an uneasy alliance in order to solve the tragic murder of a local teenage girl. All of the evidence points to a group of teenagers, a group that doesn’t remember a thing about the night of the girl’s murder. Dani and Tommy begin to realize that there may be more to the murder than they realize and that perhaps, the evil involved may be more than human.
Waking Hours is part mystery and part thriller with a dash of supernatural thrown in. This book successfully pulls the elements of a murder mystery and a supernatural thriller together and weaves a story so compelling and entertaining that I could not put it down. The plot moves at a quick pace, weaving mystery after mystery. It never gives too much away, only hinting at what is to come. The characters are smart and engaging, you really care what happens to them. Perhaps the best part of the characters in Waking Hours is how real they seem. They make mistakes, they doubt themselves, they suffer and they love. The hint of supernatural in the story was perfect, not overwhelming or silly. It was so believable that, at times, I found myself looking around to see if I was alone. There is nothing better than a story that seems so real you think you see shadows around every corner. And Waking Hours is that story.
I highly recommend Waking Hours to everyone. It was a perfect read—perfectly scary, perfectly paced and perfectly entertaining. I was excited to discover that this is just the first of a trilogy. I anxiously await the next book!
Waking Hours is part mystery and part thriller with a dash of supernatural thrown in. This book successfully pulls the elements of a murder mystery and a supernatural thriller together and weaves a story so compelling and entertaining that I could not put it down. The plot moves at a quick pace, weaving mystery after mystery. It never gives too much away, only hinting at what is to come. The characters are smart and engaging, you really care what happens to them. Perhaps the best part of the characters in Waking Hours is how real they seem. They make mistakes, they doubt themselves, they suffer and they love. The hint of supernatural in the story was perfect, not overwhelming or silly. It was so believable that, at times, I found myself looking around to see if I was alone. There is nothing better than a story that seems so real you think you see shadows around every corner. And Waking Hours is that story.
I highly recommend Waking Hours to everyone. It was a perfect read—perfectly scary, perfectly paced and perfectly entertaining. I was excited to discover that this is just the first of a trilogy. I anxiously await the next book!
March 8, 2015
I guess I can say it was an OK story if you like your supernatural stories oversimplified. I think the premise is actually quite interesting. It reminds me of the older horror films I watched as kid.
A teenage girl is killed and it looks like a ritualistic murder. The case brings together a forensic psychiatrist Dani Harris and her high school crush Tommy Gunderson, who is studying for his PI license. There are some supernatural things going on around them, but not a lot. They spend more time talking about who did what and why, which doesn't exactly makes this story better.
The murder itself is solved in this book, but the last couple of scenes leave an opening for more. It was well done. You got a cliffhanger that isn't really annoying.
For people who can't stand religious overtones, I'd suggest to skip this book. There are quite a few quotes from the Bible here. That's why it reminds me of tons of horror films I watched. I don't mind. I don't think I ever read anything shelved as Christian fiction till now.
My rating hasn't got anything to do with religion. It has more to do with the the guilty. Since I don't mind the religious angle, I'll probably check the next book too.
For those interested - there is only one kiss in the whole book.
A teenage girl is killed and it looks like a ritualistic murder. The case brings together a forensic psychiatrist Dani Harris and her high school crush Tommy Gunderson, who is studying for his PI license. There are some supernatural things going on around them, but not a lot. They spend more time talking about who did what and why, which doesn't exactly makes this story better.
The murder itself is solved in this book, but the last couple of scenes leave an opening for more. It was well done. You got a cliffhanger that isn't really annoying.
For people who can't stand religious overtones, I'd suggest to skip this book. There are quite a few quotes from the Bible here. That's why it reminds me of tons of horror films I watched. I don't mind. I don't think I ever read anything shelved as Christian fiction till now.
My rating hasn't got anything to do with religion. It has more to do with the the guilty. Since I don't mind the religious angle, I'll probably check the next book too.
For those interested - there is only one kiss in the whole book.
September 4, 2011
This is the first book I have read by author Lis Wiehl. She has written such books as “Face of Betrayal” a New York Times Bestseller and part of her Triple Threat mysteries. After reading Waking Hours, I will be picking up copies of her earlier works.I really enjoyed this suspenseful, paranormal mystery thriller. This is the first book in the East Salem Trilogy.
The story takes place in quaint East Salem; a lake side, close knit community where everyone knows everybody. I loved the way the author portrayed this town, its buildings, people and places. It’s the type of New England town you dream of visiting or living in. A brutal ritualistic murder of a young woman occurs and sets this sleepy little town on edge. All of the suspects in this crime are teenagers who attended a party the night of the murder. Crime scene evidence suggests they were all involved, but all of the kids are suffering from memory loss.
Forensic psychiatrist Dani Harris a member of the local DA’s office, finds herself taking the lead in this case when her boss in unavoidably detained. Dani has always been a hard working overachiever in her professional life but in her personal life not so much. She seems confident, like a woman with a plan, but she is often filled with self doubt and questions her every move.
PI in training, Tommy Gunderson is a formal pro-football linebacker and local celebrity. He left football after a tragic accident and opened his own gym. As a teen he had a crush on Dani but felt he was way out of her league, and still does. If only he knew that cool confident Dani felt the same way.
The two end up teaming together to solve the murder. I enjoyed the chemistry between the two and found myself laughing at the hilarious things they would say, like two awkward teens on a first date. I sometimes thought they pulled pieces of the puzzle together a little too quickly, but overall the storyline was genuinely believable and kept me engrossed.
Strange dreams, biblical references, supernatural occurrences and this overwhelming sense of evil made the story spooky and an ideal fall read. The ending set the stage perfectly for book two of this trilogy and I found myself searching for clues to its release.
A special thank you to netGalley and Thomas Nelson publishing in exhange for my unbiased review.
you can see this review and others on my blog: http://www.kimbathecaffeinatedbookrev...
The story takes place in quaint East Salem; a lake side, close knit community where everyone knows everybody. I loved the way the author portrayed this town, its buildings, people and places. It’s the type of New England town you dream of visiting or living in. A brutal ritualistic murder of a young woman occurs and sets this sleepy little town on edge. All of the suspects in this crime are teenagers who attended a party the night of the murder. Crime scene evidence suggests they were all involved, but all of the kids are suffering from memory loss.
Forensic psychiatrist Dani Harris a member of the local DA’s office, finds herself taking the lead in this case when her boss in unavoidably detained. Dani has always been a hard working overachiever in her professional life but in her personal life not so much. She seems confident, like a woman with a plan, but she is often filled with self doubt and questions her every move.
PI in training, Tommy Gunderson is a formal pro-football linebacker and local celebrity. He left football after a tragic accident and opened his own gym. As a teen he had a crush on Dani but felt he was way out of her league, and still does. If only he knew that cool confident Dani felt the same way.
The two end up teaming together to solve the murder. I enjoyed the chemistry between the two and found myself laughing at the hilarious things they would say, like two awkward teens on a first date. I sometimes thought they pulled pieces of the puzzle together a little too quickly, but overall the storyline was genuinely believable and kept me engrossed.
Strange dreams, biblical references, supernatural occurrences and this overwhelming sense of evil made the story spooky and an ideal fall read. The ending set the stage perfectly for book two of this trilogy and I found myself searching for clues to its release.
A special thank you to netGalley and Thomas Nelson publishing in exhange for my unbiased review.
you can see this review and others on my blog: http://www.kimbathecaffeinatedbookrev...
October 3, 2011
I had to think about this review for a couple days. There isn't much you can say without giving away too much, so I'll tread with care here.
Waking Hours has a little of everything - strange phenomena, a chilling murder, a touch of the supernatural, and a pair who met in high school and are reconnecting. Dani Harris shared a dance with Tommy Gunderson in high school. She was bookish and quiet and he was a football star. The relationship went nowhere in high school. They meet again later in life under circumstances that bring them to the heart of a grisly murder. Dani, turned psychiatrist and is working on consult for the police department and Tommy, retired from pro football, harbors an interest in becoming a PI. Dani and Tommy end up investigating a crime that defies logic. Wiehl doesn't go through gratuitous violence here, which was a relief. Thus begins our journey with Dani and Tommy into a life-changing investigation.
Told in third person, the story is limited to the thoughts and feelings of just Dani and Tommy, which enhanced the mystery. You are kept guessing who committed the murder at the start of the story. The whole story is veiled in the supernatural. I couldn't wait to finish this story, just couldn't wait to see what was going to come next. The story was complete on its own, but did leave a couple strands of the story untied, likely for a book two in this series. I look forward to book two, not just to tie up loose ends, but to continue an adventure with characters who are so well created and well rounded that I can't wait to read more.
Waking Hours has a little of everything - strange phenomena, a chilling murder, a touch of the supernatural, and a pair who met in high school and are reconnecting. Dani Harris shared a dance with Tommy Gunderson in high school. She was bookish and quiet and he was a football star. The relationship went nowhere in high school. They meet again later in life under circumstances that bring them to the heart of a grisly murder. Dani, turned psychiatrist and is working on consult for the police department and Tommy, retired from pro football, harbors an interest in becoming a PI. Dani and Tommy end up investigating a crime that defies logic. Wiehl doesn't go through gratuitous violence here, which was a relief. Thus begins our journey with Dani and Tommy into a life-changing investigation.
Told in third person, the story is limited to the thoughts and feelings of just Dani and Tommy, which enhanced the mystery. You are kept guessing who committed the murder at the start of the story. The whole story is veiled in the supernatural. I couldn't wait to finish this story, just couldn't wait to see what was going to come next. The story was complete on its own, but did leave a couple strands of the story untied, likely for a book two in this series. I look forward to book two, not just to tie up loose ends, but to continue an adventure with characters who are so well created and well rounded that I can't wait to read more.
February 20, 2012
Review by Jill Williamson
When a local high school girl is found murdered, forensic psychiatrist Dani Harris is put on the case. It’s a strange case for Dani in more ways than one. First, these students went to the same high school she did. Second, the murder was terribly gruesome and possibly ritualistic. Third, bizarre dreams are waking Dani each night at the exact same time. And fourth, Tommy Gunderson, her high school crush, has decided to help Dani with the case. Is this a straightforward homicide or something much more sinister?
I love a good murder mystery, and Lis Wiehl is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. She writes incredible characters. In this book, the case built bit by bit in a manner that kept the book glued to my hands until I finished it. I had my theories as to who had committed the crime, but I wasn’t positive. The supernatural element was intriguing, and I can’t wait to see how the rest of this series develops. A great read.
*I received this book free for review from the Amazon Vine program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
When a local high school girl is found murdered, forensic psychiatrist Dani Harris is put on the case. It’s a strange case for Dani in more ways than one. First, these students went to the same high school she did. Second, the murder was terribly gruesome and possibly ritualistic. Third, bizarre dreams are waking Dani each night at the exact same time. And fourth, Tommy Gunderson, her high school crush, has decided to help Dani with the case. Is this a straightforward homicide or something much more sinister?
I love a good murder mystery, and Lis Wiehl is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. She writes incredible characters. In this book, the case built bit by bit in a manner that kept the book glued to my hands until I finished it. I had my theories as to who had committed the crime, but I wasn’t positive. The supernatural element was intriguing, and I can’t wait to see how the rest of this series develops. A great read.
*I received this book free for review from the Amazon Vine program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
August 15, 2015
Lis Wiehl writes a good mystery and this one was super good ... it was hard to put down. Maybe because it was located in Salem that added to the story. I would recommend this to all mystery readers.
August 6, 2022
Well maybe if you are reading this you are saving yourself the trouble. *Face Palm* I did not know this was a Christian paranormal murder mystery thriller. Honestly words that should not be paired together if you are a true thriller fan. Of course while subtlety pushing the Christian agenda there was no thrill ride here. I will say it was decently written up until the last few chapters.
The writing style was cold at times and straight forward. I liked that. But since I didn't know it was a Christian thriller Tommy's praying thru me off everytime. Especially since he didn't seem religious until he needed something. Honestly it was like beliefs were sprinkled in here and there and towards the end the dumpster unloaded it in one fell swoop.
While the book didn’t come off as a comedy I still chuckled quite a bit. Yet this is a thriller. I mean it takes place in Salem. Where is the sense of dread? There was also no big reveal or twist. To tell you the truth I wouldn't even call this a thriller I would call it a Christian paranormal murder mystery. For me the story went from a 3 star to a 2 in juat the last couple of chapters.
Still there was so pretty good theories in here. The author clearly did some homework.
"That's why little girls are so much sneakier than little boys. They're playing sophisticated headgames while little boys are still firing imaginary laser beams from their fingers."
The writing style was cold at times and straight forward. I liked that. But since I didn't know it was a Christian thriller Tommy's praying thru me off everytime. Especially since he didn't seem religious until he needed something. Honestly it was like beliefs were sprinkled in here and there and towards the end the dumpster unloaded it in one fell swoop.
While the book didn’t come off as a comedy I still chuckled quite a bit. Yet this is a thriller. I mean it takes place in Salem. Where is the sense of dread? There was also no big reveal or twist. To tell you the truth I wouldn't even call this a thriller I would call it a Christian paranormal murder mystery. For me the story went from a 3 star to a 2 in juat the last couple of chapters.
Still there was so pretty good theories in here. The author clearly did some homework.
"That's why little girls are so much sneakier than little boys. They're playing sophisticated headgames while little boys are still firing imaginary laser beams from their fingers."
April 30, 2020
Creepy, creepy, creepy. But in a good way? I really enjoyed this suspense with a supernatural bent. I like the MCs and the mystery was solid. I thought this was a good balance of supernatural evil being dealt with in a Christian way. This is a bit like if Frank Peretti wrote a romance. 4.5 out of 5 stars.
October 6, 2021
This was a good mystery. I enjoyed the characters, especially Tommy. Such a geek and he learned so much. He made me lol several times. The story was sad, b/c we humans can be so broken. Not preachy at all. On to books 2 and 3 and hopefully stop the world from ending! Since book 3 was published in 2013, I think they are going to be successful!
March 6, 2021
All I can say is creepy! The religious focus made it extra creepy for me.
I knew nothing about the Jonestown Massacre - it was briefly mentioned and I obviously went Googling. What a tragedy.
I’m glad this is over.
I knew nothing about the Jonestown Massacre - it was briefly mentioned and I obviously went Googling. What a tragedy.
I’m glad this is over.
April 23, 2020
I liked this book and that is saying a lot because I don’t normally care for what people call fantasy books. However I don’t consider this fantasy, instead I deem it to be more spiritual warfare with demons and angels included. If you don’t believe in those then you might consider it fantasy. Dani and Tommy are doing real life battles between good and evil and you will be wondering what is going to happen next. This is my first time reading a Lis Wiehl book and I liked it a great deal. This being a Trilogy now I have to find the next two in the series. Thanks to my friend for sharing this book with me.
December 6, 2012
I have had Lis Wiehl's first book, Face of Betrayal on my radar since it was originally published. Unfortunately, I was never able to get it read, but recently was offered the opportunity to read the second book in the author's East Salem Trilogy, Darkness Rising as an ARC. Of course, that lead me to read Waking Hours first, and I am so glad that I did. In this first book of the trilogy, a girl is murdered in upscale West Chester County, New York after attending a party at one of the student's house. From there, the story becomes a mystery/thriller of the best kind. Along with the two main protagonists, who eventually band together to try to solve the murder, there is a whole host of interesting characters to capture the mind of the reader. Even better, as the story progresses, we find that many of them are not as they appear on the surface. I loved this aspect of the book and it definitely enhanced the mystery/thriller aspect of the book.
In the first book of the trilogy, a girl is murdered in upscale West Chester County, New York after attending a party at one of the student's house. From there, the story becomes a mystery/thriller of the best kind. Along with the two main protagonists, who eventually band together to try to solve the murder, there is a whole host of interesting characters to capture the mind of the reader. Even better, as the story progresses, we find that many of them are not as they appear on the surface. I loved this aspect of the book and it definitely enhanced the mystery/thriller aspect of the book.
My favorite part about this book, aside from the fact that it was a first rate thriller with lots of turns and twists, was the interplay between the two main protagonists. I don't mean the underlying romantic attachment that they seem to have, although that is a well done aspect in itself. Dani Harris is a forensic psychiatrist that looks at everything with a cool, clinical eye. Ex NFL Linebacker Tommy Gunderson, however, sees life in a less "rational" way, where the logical and real are mixed with things that science cannot quite explain. It is in the contrasting of these two styles of looking at the crime that I feel is the author's best contribution to this story.
As for the plot of the book, here again, Lis Wiehl scores. The plot is deftly woven and well paced. In addition there are twists and turns, some of which I saw coming, some of which hit me out of the blue. There were even a few "red herrings" to lead the reader temporarily down a path leading away from the truth. Another plus is the way the author was able to end the book, solving the murder, but making it apparent that the story was not over and leaving the reading definitely wanting more. I could not wait for the next installment and was glad that it was sitting on my Nook, ready to read.
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed my first book by this author and am looking forward to adding her other work to the top of my reading list for 2013. I gave this book 5 stars based on my feelings that the characters and story were first rate, and on the level of enjoyment I had in both reading it, and trying to guess what the end result would be. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is an fan of mystery/thrillers and feel that Lis Wiehl can hold her own with the top writers in this genre.
In the first book of the trilogy, a girl is murdered in upscale West Chester County, New York after attending a party at one of the student's house. From there, the story becomes a mystery/thriller of the best kind. Along with the two main protagonists, who eventually band together to try to solve the murder, there is a whole host of interesting characters to capture the mind of the reader. Even better, as the story progresses, we find that many of them are not as they appear on the surface. I loved this aspect of the book and it definitely enhanced the mystery/thriller aspect of the book.
My favorite part about this book, aside from the fact that it was a first rate thriller with lots of turns and twists, was the interplay between the two main protagonists. I don't mean the underlying romantic attachment that they seem to have, although that is a well done aspect in itself. Dani Harris is a forensic psychiatrist that looks at everything with a cool, clinical eye. Ex NFL Linebacker Tommy Gunderson, however, sees life in a less "rational" way, where the logical and real are mixed with things that science cannot quite explain. It is in the contrasting of these two styles of looking at the crime that I feel is the author's best contribution to this story.
As for the plot of the book, here again, Lis Wiehl scores. The plot is deftly woven and well paced. In addition there are twists and turns, some of which I saw coming, some of which hit me out of the blue. There were even a few "red herrings" to lead the reader temporarily down a path leading away from the truth. Another plus is the way the author was able to end the book, solving the murder, but making it apparent that the story was not over and leaving the reading definitely wanting more. I could not wait for the next installment and was glad that it was sitting on my Nook, ready to read.
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed my first book by this author and am looking forward to adding her other work to the top of my reading list for 2013. I gave this book 5 stars based on my feelings that the characters and story were first rate, and on the level of enjoyment I had in both reading it, and trying to guess what the end result would be. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is an fan of mystery/thrillers and feel that Lis Wiehl can hold her own with the top writers in this genre.
May 22, 2012
Welcome to East Salem. In this deceptively quiet town, old supernatural forces are awakening.
And they cannot be controlled.....
An East Salem high school girl is found murdered in a park amid horse farms and wealthy homes of northern Westchester County, New York. The manner of her death shocks the town and intrigues Dani Harris, forensic psychiatrist, who becomes determined to solve the mystery. All of the suspects were teenagers at the same party, yet none remember what happened. Is one of them the killer, or is the death linked to a darker, more ancient and sinister evil?
However, Dani is being plagued by her own nightmares. Each night at 2:13 Dani is awakened by troubling noises and dreams. Dreams of blood, water, and destruction. Is it a clue, or a supernatural sign?
Meanwhile former NFL linebacker Tommy Gunderson finds an elderly woman who has somehow breached his state of the art security system. Cursing at him in Latin, the woman attacks him with uncanny and unnatural strength. Before Tommy even has time to process the attack, someone close to him is implicated in the girl's murder at the park. Tommy agrees to help solve the murder, then finds himself working with Dani, the only girl who did not respond to his charms in high school.
Will Tommy and Dani be able to put past differences aside and solve this murder? And will they realize in time that they are a facing a deeper and darker evil than a mere human killer?
Waking Hours was a thrilling and scary roller coaster ride of a novel, filled with demonic murmurs and cold blooded killers. The tone of the novel was expertly done to leave the reader on the edge of their seat just waiting for the next unexpected turn or twist. The plot line of the novel was written very well and kept the reader guessing until the very end on the identity of the killer and whether Dani and Tommy would realize it in time. The undertone of the demonic forces at work in East Salem was very disturbing and brought to mind books on spiritual warfare. In the end, though the killer was found, the supernatural forces were still right under the surface, biding their time. These forces created a perfect cliff hanger for the next East Salem novel. Waking Hours by Lis Wiehl was an excellent, though dark read, and I cannot wait for her next novel.
I received this novel for free from Booksneeze.com and Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for an honest review.
And they cannot be controlled.....
An East Salem high school girl is found murdered in a park amid horse farms and wealthy homes of northern Westchester County, New York. The manner of her death shocks the town and intrigues Dani Harris, forensic psychiatrist, who becomes determined to solve the mystery. All of the suspects were teenagers at the same party, yet none remember what happened. Is one of them the killer, or is the death linked to a darker, more ancient and sinister evil?
However, Dani is being plagued by her own nightmares. Each night at 2:13 Dani is awakened by troubling noises and dreams. Dreams of blood, water, and destruction. Is it a clue, or a supernatural sign?
Meanwhile former NFL linebacker Tommy Gunderson finds an elderly woman who has somehow breached his state of the art security system. Cursing at him in Latin, the woman attacks him with uncanny and unnatural strength. Before Tommy even has time to process the attack, someone close to him is implicated in the girl's murder at the park. Tommy agrees to help solve the murder, then finds himself working with Dani, the only girl who did not respond to his charms in high school.
Will Tommy and Dani be able to put past differences aside and solve this murder? And will they realize in time that they are a facing a deeper and darker evil than a mere human killer?
Waking Hours was a thrilling and scary roller coaster ride of a novel, filled with demonic murmurs and cold blooded killers. The tone of the novel was expertly done to leave the reader on the edge of their seat just waiting for the next unexpected turn or twist. The plot line of the novel was written very well and kept the reader guessing until the very end on the identity of the killer and whether Dani and Tommy would realize it in time. The undertone of the demonic forces at work in East Salem was very disturbing and brought to mind books on spiritual warfare. In the end, though the killer was found, the supernatural forces were still right under the surface, biding their time. These forces created a perfect cliff hanger for the next East Salem novel. Waking Hours by Lis Wiehl was an excellent, though dark read, and I cannot wait for her next novel.
I received this novel for free from Booksneeze.com and Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for an honest review.
September 9, 2013
I read this in March, 2012. See my review here also.
My Thoughts: This is Book 1 in the East Salem trilogy, and is considered to be a Christian thriller. While I’m not normally a fan of Christian thrillers, I found this one mostly readable – it is not preachy, and it’s characters’ Christianity is not overwhelming, but rather simply a part of their lives. However, there were parts that really made me angry – for instance, one character was talking about how “Saint” Adrian destroyed paganism in England by showing the pagans how much better Christianity was – because their gods only caused misfortune and disease while Yahweh was about love. Love? OK, “I love you, so do exactly what I say or I’ll burn you forever in fire”? That sort of love? As opposed to the eternal bounty of the Earth? Yeah, whatever. But I digress... (I tend to do that)
There are distinct aspects of the paranormal in this story – Dani has several highly meaningful dreams, there is an appearing/disappearing angel, and a mysterious force that walks through walls in the middle of the night. There are plenty of red herrings in the search for the murderer, but eventually it becomes pretty obvious whom the culprit is. I liked the forensic psychiatric aspects of the story and found that very interesting. I also rather liked most of the characters; Tommy, especially, is hilarious. He made me laugh all the time. Fans of Christian fiction will enjoy this book, fans of paranormal thrillers will probably find it readable. While I enjoyed it well enough, I don’t think I’ll be continuing the series, as it seems like it is going to go into end-time theories and that’s not something I am really interested in reading.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary galley of this book from the Amazon.com Vine program in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: A high school girl is found dead in the town park. And forensic psychiatrist Dani Harris wants answers. All the suspects are teenagers who were at the party with her the night before--but who woke up the next morning with no memory of what transpired. Even though evidence confirms they were all at the scene of the crime.
My Thoughts: This is Book 1 in the East Salem trilogy, and is considered to be a Christian thriller. While I’m not normally a fan of Christian thrillers, I found this one mostly readable – it is not preachy, and it’s characters’ Christianity is not overwhelming, but rather simply a part of their lives. However, there were parts that really made me angry – for instance, one character was talking about how “Saint” Adrian destroyed paganism in England by showing the pagans how much better Christianity was – because their gods only caused misfortune and disease while Yahweh was about love. Love? OK, “I love you, so do exactly what I say or I’ll burn you forever in fire”? That sort of love? As opposed to the eternal bounty of the Earth? Yeah, whatever. But I digress... (I tend to do that)
There are distinct aspects of the paranormal in this story – Dani has several highly meaningful dreams, there is an appearing/disappearing angel, and a mysterious force that walks through walls in the middle of the night. There are plenty of red herrings in the search for the murderer, but eventually it becomes pretty obvious whom the culprit is. I liked the forensic psychiatric aspects of the story and found that very interesting. I also rather liked most of the characters; Tommy, especially, is hilarious. He made me laugh all the time. Fans of Christian fiction will enjoy this book, fans of paranormal thrillers will probably find it readable. While I enjoyed it well enough, I don’t think I’ll be continuing the series, as it seems like it is going to go into end-time theories and that’s not something I am really interested in reading.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary galley of this book from the Amazon.com Vine program in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: A high school girl is found dead in the town park. And forensic psychiatrist Dani Harris wants answers. All the suspects are teenagers who were at the party with her the night before--but who woke up the next morning with no memory of what transpired. Even though evidence confirms they were all at the scene of the crime.
October 3, 2011
In small town East Salem something frightening is coming to life. When a teenage girl is found brutally murdered, forensic psychologist Dani Harris is called in to unravel the mystery. With the help of her old high school crush, Tommy Gunderson, they set out to find out just who – or quite possibly, what – could have commited such a nasty crime.
I loved everything about this novel. From the author’s voice, to her interesting characters and suspenseful plot, you are not left wanting for anything but for them to solve the murder. I also found it fascinating that, despite being very devout, Tommy never thought twice about considering a more paranormal culprit behind the murders. In a similar vein, even though Dani is a psychologist and lives her life based in the reality of the facts at hand, she is only a tiny bit reluctant to take things on faith and ‘go with her gut’, so to speak. It was a nice and realistic view of how people of both faith and science can make room for things they normally wouldn’t for a common cause.
This was my first novel by this author, but I can guarantee that this won’t be my last. I’m hoping to read more about Dani and Tommy in the very near future.
Disclaimer: As per FTC regulations, I was offered a complimentary copy of the above novel from BookSneeze® in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I loved everything about this novel. From the author’s voice, to her interesting characters and suspenseful plot, you are not left wanting for anything but for them to solve the murder. I also found it fascinating that, despite being very devout, Tommy never thought twice about considering a more paranormal culprit behind the murders. In a similar vein, even though Dani is a psychologist and lives her life based in the reality of the facts at hand, she is only a tiny bit reluctant to take things on faith and ‘go with her gut’, so to speak. It was a nice and realistic view of how people of both faith and science can make room for things they normally wouldn’t for a common cause.
This was my first novel by this author, but I can guarantee that this won’t be my last. I’m hoping to read more about Dani and Tommy in the very near future.
Disclaimer: As per FTC regulations, I was offered a complimentary copy of the above novel from BookSneeze® in exchange for a fair and honest review.
September 28, 2011
Highly recommended
If you're intrigued by the supernatural, you'll love this book.
A gruesome murder has rocked the affluent, quiet little New York town of East Salem. A teenage girl is killed, apparently in a violent and bizarre ritual during a party. The only suspect is another teen—but the more prosecutors dig into the case, the more confusing it becomes. Forensic psychologist Danielle Harris is assisting the DA’s office in solving the crime—when she gets an offer of assistance from the last person she’d expect.
The author, Lis Wiehl, is a legal analyst for Fox News. She teamed up for this book, the first in her East Salem series, with Pete Nelson, author of Left to Die. It’s a winning combination. The writing, plot and characters all deliver in this story of a small town and a big murder.
The plot is full of twists and turns, with a few red herrings thrown in just to confuse you. The large cast of characters in this story keep you on your toes. The simmering romance between Dani and former football star Tommy Gunderson makes things interesting. As in her previous novel, heart of ice, Wiehl depicts psychopathic characters with stunning accuracy.
Satisfyingly creepy without being over the top, the book explores the struggle between good and evil—not just in the physical realm, but in the supernatural as well. Highly recommended.
If you're intrigued by the supernatural, you'll love this book.
A gruesome murder has rocked the affluent, quiet little New York town of East Salem. A teenage girl is killed, apparently in a violent and bizarre ritual during a party. The only suspect is another teen—but the more prosecutors dig into the case, the more confusing it becomes. Forensic psychologist Danielle Harris is assisting the DA’s office in solving the crime—when she gets an offer of assistance from the last person she’d expect.
The author, Lis Wiehl, is a legal analyst for Fox News. She teamed up for this book, the first in her East Salem series, with Pete Nelson, author of Left to Die. It’s a winning combination. The writing, plot and characters all deliver in this story of a small town and a big murder.
The plot is full of twists and turns, with a few red herrings thrown in just to confuse you. The large cast of characters in this story keep you on your toes. The simmering romance between Dani and former football star Tommy Gunderson makes things interesting. As in her previous novel, heart of ice, Wiehl depicts psychopathic characters with stunning accuracy.
Satisfyingly creepy without being over the top, the book explores the struggle between good and evil—not just in the physical realm, but in the supernatural as well. Highly recommended.
March 27, 2012
"Waking Hours" by Lis Wiehl with Pete Nelson is the first in the East Salem trilogy. It has a different feel from Lis Wiehl's "Triple Threat" series mainly because it has a more prominent supernatural element. It is also the first in a trilogy so the ending leaves a lot hanging, whereas the Triple threat series books are all self-standing.
The story follows a former football hero and a forensic psychologist who were homecoming king and queen together in High school, and since them have completely lost touch. As the book goes on, they realise how much they actually mean to each other. And as their romance deepens, we watch the supernatural and evil events unfold in this seemingly sleepy town. A teenage girl is killed, and many the town's teenagers are implicated in her ritualistic murder. Scary dreams, an old lady spouting Latin and spooky visits caught on security cameras mean that this books is not for the faint-hearted.
I was disappointed when I go to the end and realised that there was no closure in this book, and I would HAVE to read the next two books, but at the same time I can hardly wait to read them as I want to find out what happens!
I enjoyed this book, but would recommended it only to those who don't have nightmares themselves.(Disclosure: I received this book to review through the booksneeze program, but this opinion is my own)
The story follows a former football hero and a forensic psychologist who were homecoming king and queen together in High school, and since them have completely lost touch. As the book goes on, they realise how much they actually mean to each other. And as their romance deepens, we watch the supernatural and evil events unfold in this seemingly sleepy town. A teenage girl is killed, and many the town's teenagers are implicated in her ritualistic murder. Scary dreams, an old lady spouting Latin and spooky visits caught on security cameras mean that this books is not for the faint-hearted.
I was disappointed when I go to the end and realised that there was no closure in this book, and I would HAVE to read the next two books, but at the same time I can hardly wait to read them as I want to find out what happens!
I enjoyed this book, but would recommended it only to those who don't have nightmares themselves.(Disclosure: I received this book to review through the booksneeze program, but this opinion is my own)
September 22, 2011
What happened at the party? Why can't anyone remember? These are just two questions forensic psychiatrist Dani Harris has when she begins to investigate the murder of a high school student. This was no ordinary murder, but rather a ritualistic killing. How could something like this happen in East Salem, NY? It is normally a quiet place. Tommy Gunderson (former pro-football player) also wants to know because not only does he want to be a PI, but one of the suspected students has asked for his help. Things get really spooky and eerie as Dani and Tommy work to unravel the mystery. As they work to find the killer, will they rekindle their high school romance? Come along and help them solve the murder and find out what happens between them!
Lis Wiehl has done it again! This is the first book in a promised "East Salem" trilogy. The characters and events are realistic and the writing is superb. I was drawn in from the start and didn't want the story to end. I can't wait for book number two! I recommend this and Ms. Wiehl's "Triple Threat Series" to anyone who loves a good mystery. Many thanks to NetGalley for the copy I read on my Nook.
Lis Wiehl has done it again! This is the first book in a promised "East Salem" trilogy. The characters and events are realistic and the writing is superb. I was drawn in from the start and didn't want the story to end. I can't wait for book number two! I recommend this and Ms. Wiehl's "Triple Threat Series" to anyone who loves a good mystery. Many thanks to NetGalley for the copy I read on my Nook.
August 26, 2011
4.5 STARS - Waking Hours is definitely one of Lis Wiehl’s best endeavors yet! I loved the story, and while I wouldn’t call it a fast-paced thriller, it’s definitely a thriller with a pace that keeps you reading. The plot line was enthralling with the way the spiritual and physical were interwoven. At times, I felt the author(s) intruded a bit in the story by having the characters randomly jump to conclusions that did not feel natural course of thoughts, and yet they were the right conclusions. However, this never detracted from the story for me. Maybe in a way, I’m glad they skipped some of the mundane things that drive me nuts in other thrillers (and invariably slow down the story). Altogether, very well done story. Definitely going on my shelf (after I buy the book when it releases) as I anxiously await the next book in the East Salem series!
A disclaimer: This story actually gets between a 4 and a 5-star rating, basically halfway between the "I really liked it" and "it was amazing!" cues.
**I received a digital galley in exchange for an honest review of this story.
A disclaimer: This story actually gets between a 4 and a 5-star rating, basically halfway between the "I really liked it" and "it was amazing!" cues.
**I received a digital galley in exchange for an honest review of this story.
October 3, 2011
This book has all the makings of a great murder, mystery/thriller. It starts with a gruesome apparently ritualistic murder and then weaves in the supernatural elements so that they don’t overpower but rather complement the story.
I loved the plot and the main characters although I do feel that there was a little something lacking in the development of those characters…or perhaps it was simply the matter of fact style of the storytelling itself. If you are looking for rich language and a lot of emotional depth…this book does not deliver.
That said, I did find the story line very compelling and found the novel itself hard to put down. I even found myself having crazy dreams at night right along with the main character: Dani. The murder mystery was nicely wrapped up by the end…however the supernatural elements were still left unsolved…leading in to the second in the series….
If you’re looking for a simple Murder mystery read with supernatural elements thrown in and don’t mind waiting for the next in the series to have those answered…then this book won’t disappoint.
I loved the plot and the main characters although I do feel that there was a little something lacking in the development of those characters…or perhaps it was simply the matter of fact style of the storytelling itself. If you are looking for rich language and a lot of emotional depth…this book does not deliver.
That said, I did find the story line very compelling and found the novel itself hard to put down. I even found myself having crazy dreams at night right along with the main character: Dani. The murder mystery was nicely wrapped up by the end…however the supernatural elements were still left unsolved…leading in to the second in the series….
If you’re looking for a simple Murder mystery read with supernatural elements thrown in and don’t mind waiting for the next in the series to have those answered…then this book won’t disappoint.
October 30, 2011
This is book 1 of the East Salem Trilogy. It was fast pace at the beginning, but slightly slow down towards the middle. The suspense intrigued me right from the beginning. I kept on wondering actually who's the killer. I like the interaction between Dani and Tommy. Their relationship was slowly developed and naturally. The plot of the story is very good. The authors have done a very good job on weaving in the story of mystery and suspense with the supernatural element. And on top of it, adding the romance element into it. Just when I thought the mystery is solved, the ending made me feels a little confused, which means that I can't wait for the next book!
November 12, 2017
I lucked out on this book when a friend casually mentioned the series to me. I wasn't sure at first if I would like it, as it turned out it sucked me right in! I'm an aspiring writer, and would love to write a book like this one - someday;)
Forensic Psychiatrist - Dani is working a case where a young HS girl was brutally murdered during a HS party where a "passing over" ceremony was supposedly performed. This is supposedly when each teen drinks a "zombie" concoction that will bring them to the brink of death and they will see the great beyond. But only if they believe. Well, I'm 45 with a 15 year old daughter and this was terrifying enough for me!
However, something goes horribly wrong, a young girl ends up murdered, the rest of the teens black out, but all of their blood type and shoe prints are found in and around her body? By the way, her time of death is estimated st about 2:13 am.
Meanwhile, former NFL star Tommy has also returned home, donated much needed funds to his old hometown, opened up a fitness center and community center and is practicing to become a Licensed Private Investigator. He's also taking classes at John Jay, where Dani just happens to be a Professor at part time. You see they were once Prom King & Queen, but Dani ran far far away. Don't worry, this story is NOT overloaded with romance. If it were I wouldn't read it. But there's just enough to keep it fun.
At about the same time the young girl is being murdered (2:13 am) ; Dani is having nightmares, Tommy is woken up by his alarm system and finds his 102 year old neighbor Allie by his pond speaking in Italian & Latin, ( who used to live in the grand estate behind him), but had recently been transferred to a resident care home in town by her 80 year old son George ( because he was having a hard time taking care of himself ). She then proceeds to escalate in behavior showing Tommy a mutilated frog, before attacking him and choking him. But not too worry, an 80's looking biker/doctor shows up to tell him to clean up and bandage his neck. Good advice, because he's an Angel...and not the only one ;).
Strange things are happening in East Salem. Pretty soon Tommy is under a 1$ retainer, working as Dani's assistant on the case of young Julie's murder. And not everything - ok pretty much NOTHING is as it seems. You'll enjoy this series. Highly recommend.
Forensic Psychiatrist - Dani is working a case where a young HS girl was brutally murdered during a HS party where a "passing over" ceremony was supposedly performed. This is supposedly when each teen drinks a "zombie" concoction that will bring them to the brink of death and they will see the great beyond. But only if they believe. Well, I'm 45 with a 15 year old daughter and this was terrifying enough for me!
However, something goes horribly wrong, a young girl ends up murdered, the rest of the teens black out, but all of their blood type and shoe prints are found in and around her body? By the way, her time of death is estimated st about 2:13 am.
Meanwhile, former NFL star Tommy has also returned home, donated much needed funds to his old hometown, opened up a fitness center and community center and is practicing to become a Licensed Private Investigator. He's also taking classes at John Jay, where Dani just happens to be a Professor at part time. You see they were once Prom King & Queen, but Dani ran far far away. Don't worry, this story is NOT overloaded with romance. If it were I wouldn't read it. But there's just enough to keep it fun.
At about the same time the young girl is being murdered (2:13 am) ; Dani is having nightmares, Tommy is woken up by his alarm system and finds his 102 year old neighbor Allie by his pond speaking in Italian & Latin, ( who used to live in the grand estate behind him), but had recently been transferred to a resident care home in town by her 80 year old son George ( because he was having a hard time taking care of himself ). She then proceeds to escalate in behavior showing Tommy a mutilated frog, before attacking him and choking him. But not too worry, an 80's looking biker/doctor shows up to tell him to clean up and bandage his neck. Good advice, because he's an Angel...and not the only one ;).
Strange things are happening in East Salem. Pretty soon Tommy is under a 1$ retainer, working as Dani's assistant on the case of young Julie's murder. And not everything - ok pretty much NOTHING is as it seems. You'll enjoy this series. Highly recommend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 11, 2025
I'm always on the lookout for a solid story that "baptizes by the imagination" so when I came across this title on my Hoopla library app, the synopsis hinting of a blend of murder mystery and the supernatural hooked me. I'm familiar with Lis Wiehl from her time at Fox News so gave the East Salem Trilogy a try hoping that it wouldn't be a letdown as previous mysteries I've tried from traditional Christian publishers have disappointing me as they didn't seem to tackle difficult subjects such as murder in a realistic manner. That being said, Lis Wiehl delivered a good mystery set in town of East Salem where the synopsis claims "ancient supernatural forces are being awakened" as she didn't shy away from discussing a brutal murder that may have ritualistic motives.
Our leads are Dani Harris, a forensic psychiatrist, and Tommy Gunderson, an ex-pro football linebacker working to become a private investigator. Dani and Tommy were high school students together and the events of Waking Hours bring them back into each other's lives. I felt that Tommy was more likeable than Dani, but she did eventually grow on me. Also there are likeable and intriguing supporting characters--Tommy's friend Carl, town historian Abbie Gardener, the lead detective on the case Phil Casey to name a few. There are times the writing style feels like too much telling over showing but the mystery aspect and the characters kept me reading.
I am currently reading the second book of the trilogy "Waking Hours" to see what happens to the residents of East Salem.
Content warnings: murder; animal(s) death; detailed discussion of autopsy and cremation processes
Our leads are Dani Harris, a forensic psychiatrist, and Tommy Gunderson, an ex-pro football linebacker working to become a private investigator. Dani and Tommy were high school students together and the events of Waking Hours bring them back into each other's lives. I felt that Tommy was more likeable than Dani, but she did eventually grow on me. Also there are likeable and intriguing supporting characters--Tommy's friend Carl, town historian Abbie Gardener, the lead detective on the case Phil Casey to name a few. There are times the writing style feels like too much telling over showing but the mystery aspect and the characters kept me reading.
I am currently reading the second book of the trilogy "Waking Hours" to see what happens to the residents of East Salem.
Content warnings: murder; animal(s) death; detailed discussion of autopsy and cremation processes
September 1, 2018
The initial premise was good but the pacing, plotting, characters and prose were just so-so. I'll probably read the second book of the series to see if some of the supernatural play out, but otherwise I just wasn't that impressed. All towns have secrets. Some have demons. Welcome to East Salem. A sleepy town with a history older than America where things are just a bit off. Where the supernatural bleeds into the everyday. And where a tragic murder mystery is underway. A high school girl is found dead in the town park, and forensic psychiatrist Dani Harris wants answers. All the suspects are teenagers who were at the party with her the night before-but who woke up the next morning with no memory of what transpired. Even though evidence confirms they were all at the scene of the crime. Former pro-football linebacker-and local celebrity-Tommy Gunderson finds himself drawn to the case. And to Dani-who he last spoke with on their one high school date forever ago. Yet his celebrity status opens doors barred to Dani-so they form an awkward alliance. They soon realize that there's more to the mystery than murder. And more to the evil they are facing than a mere human killer. To be continued.
April 24, 2021
This book was very good, up to the last page where we discover the beyond-belief-even-for-literary-license plot foundation. If you like supernatural thrillers, you should be aware that this goes way beyond just supernatural. Satan makes his throne in East Salem, New York. It's the End of Days, centered in East Salem, New York. I accepted all the spiritual stuff up to that point. Not buying that, nor do I feel the need to read the rest of the series. Why can't a small town battle demons without it being the End of Days, without them living where Satan makes his throne? Very disappointing end for a good novel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 21, 2021
Whew! This book was intense. The writing is decent (despite some inconsistencies and mistakes), and it is definitely what I would call a page-turner, seeing as I couldn't put it down. The characters are well-crafted and intriguing, if a bit trite, and I warmed to them quickly. However, the idea of demons hard at work in the real world was a little too close to home for me. And the writing makes it terrifyingly real. Not my cup of tea since I read fiction to escape the horrors of the real world. But if that's your thing, you will love this book.
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