Behind the scenes: A novel

by Jeni Grossman

A Safe Place To Raise A Family ... That's what the sign into the town reads, and few people have any reason to think differently. From the stately church on the hill - its magnificent stained-glass windows visible anywhere in the town - to man-made Lake Shiloh dotted by beautiful homes along the shore, an air of peaceful tranquility seems to envelop all of Griggsberg. But things aren't always what they seem. Years earlier, Lake Shiloh had been a rock quarry - a gaping scar near the outskirts of town. Under suspicious circumstances, the quarry flooded, and Liam Bennigan lost his life. Fifteen years later, his family is still convinced that the flooding and death weren't an accident. And Liam's two militant sons are bent on revenge, prepared to go to any lengths to bring the truth to the light of day - no matter the cost, no matter who gets hurt. Jeni Grossman has crafted a tension-filled masterpiece about the secrets that a small town keeps, and the swift and terrible justice that follows. Filled with suspense, mystery, and intrigue, Beneath The Surface will send both your heart and your mind racing.

Genres: Lds Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Lds, Adult, Romance

248 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Jennifer Maxfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

First book I have ever read from this author. I really liked the suspense and how she created the character arcs. I only wish she could have dived deeper into the characters so we can understand more of where they were coming from.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is by an LDS author, but the church doesn't play a huge part in the plot. It is about a reporter in NYC and her discovery of a huge story about a drug ring. The plot is unique and a good read. I liked how the author took the time at the end to wrap up the main characters life. It left me feeling happy for her.

[Megan Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was written by my creative writing teacher in High school (she mentions me in the acknowledgements, I got to read an early copy for feedback) I thought it was a very good read, kept me guessing till the end. Its been a while since I last read it though.

[Rose Sohn · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was easy to get into. The writing was alright. At points it dragged, the relationship between Hannah and her family was hard and did seem overly twisted at times. It was pretty dark especially considering it was written by a member and published by Covenant Communications. The reviews and summary are inaccurate as Dulcey is at best a secondary character. The killer is pretty easy to figure out. However, there are plot holes, quite a few plot holes.

The killer was supposed to be out of town during the murder and it's never discussed how he tricked everyone into thinking he was. Like no one saw him? He's the mayor for goodness sake. The main character wants to learn more about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints yet even with her in college she doesn't ask questions, demand answers, or more ridiculously (with her history of studying things) never thinks to research it on her own? Really? It should have come with a suicide warning, honestly, the death of Hannah's brother was one of the most unnecessary deaths I've ever read in a book, the fact it was suicide was even worse.

There were parts I liked. My expectations just weren't met and the ending wasn't great. Wouldn't recommend if you're going in for mystery, romance, or teenage fiction.

[Katelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing style is somewhat juvenile, but the storyline is intriguing. It’s more of a Christian coming of age novel rather than a mystery. I liked seeing how Christian families from different faiths worked, especially since I belong to one of those faiths. This book was thought provoking and it made me cry!

[Kelsie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book enough to read it all in one day. The identity of the murderer was obvious from very early on, but there were other things that kept me guessing. I felt there were too many points of view happening. Hannah, her mother, her father, the police chief, Dulcey, Fiona and maybe more that I've missed. Like, it worked okay, but a plethora of narrators is not my favorite style. There were too many ideas packed in, I think, but it did all fit together relatively nicely by the end. As I was telling my husband about the story it sounded pretty crazy ex. "So there's a murder, also a mega church and Irish fanatics and also marijuana. Oh and uterus tea and terrorism and many references to Kansas City Ballet and suffering. And a restaurant in a church. And a hippy. Also vodka and Nazis. And a somewhat forced star-crossed lovers angle." Like, I really did like it but partially for nostalgic reasons, since the first time I came across this story was 17 years ago.

[Kimberlee Monson · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a little hard to follow the story and times and there were also parts that just kind of ended and you wondered what would’ve happened next. I felt like the book was hurrily finished after taking so long to actually get moving. other than that it was a good book.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was just ok.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

dulcey Martinez is a rising TV reporter/investigator who is incharge of covering the story of "operation Crackdown." She works with the police after getting a tip on the hotline offering $5000 for anyone with a tip on a cocaine house. She then goes in and records the bust covering the people including children that are involved. On one such occation she meets Miguel, a baby who mother was arrest as a dealer. The baby is taken into social services. Dulcey is torn because she can't have children of her own and really wants children, but then justifies that her life is too busy. After taking a tip about a person that want to give her the inside torn of a crack house she goes in alone to do a torn on camera and everything goes wrong. She and Pablo run for their lives. The dealers wants revenge of his loss in the operation hideout, putting a target on Dulcey's back. Her mother who has come to help also is in danger along with Izzy, who's mother has been murdered, and Pablo for breaking the code of silence on his brother. Rosa, dulcey's mother is investigating the church after the missionaries give her a blessing after her accident. Dulcey is not convinced in miracles and is struggling with being stated as the guardian of Izzy and Manuel not to mention the man that is helping hide her Deimtri, is using. Will she be able to see miracles happen?

[Linnae · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dulcey is an investigative reporter in NYC, working on a story about the local police force shutting down crackhouses. She's 3 weeks into a lucrative new job and loving (almost) every minute of it. Seeing the kids affected in the aftermath of the drug busts is hard, but she tells herself it's not her job and keeps going.

Then it gets a bit more personal. A member of a drug family wants out and wants Dulcey to help him, in exchange for a story and tour of the operation (while everyone is away.) She goes for it. Of course she does! This is what she lives for! But once she's there, things go wrong and before long she'll be lucky to escape alive.

Suspenseful read, for the most part. My main complaint was that the ending was too long and didn't match the pace and tone of the rest of the book. It was good to get some closure and have Dulcey (and her mother, and the children, and everybody) delivered to their happy endings safe and sound, but the climax happened chapters ago and there we were still chugging along. That was when I started skimming.

[Dakoa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Behind The Scenes is a great suspense book.
Dulcey has hit the big times at Air time a big time reporting company. The top investigation network. She is getting double her old pay salary.
This book keeps you on the edge of your seat as Dulcey works on Operation Crackdown catching criminals who run big crack operations in New York. When she gets a hit on one of the biggest crack operations in New York she has to do it. She feels her duty. As her popularity rises her life is at risk. One of the biggest drug dealers has someone working for him who wants out. But to be safe and away from his boss he needs a new life and money. So that's where Dulcey comes in a trade for information for money and a contract that he cant be arrested. Dulcey gets o caught up her life is the balance.
I would highly recommend this book if you enjoy mysteries and action and suspense. This book keeps you on the edge of your seat. As the great reporter Dulcey sprinkles he Dulcey Dust her popularity rises and her life becomes more in danger.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. Perhaps the best part was the conversation between Hannah and FBI agent Brett about terrorism. The threat and fear of the terrorist act made (forced) Hannah more willing to be open-minded about the terrorist's complaint after years of ignoring him. Brett said, "that's why terrorism works." It reminds me of the warning from Christ, we can choose to be humbled or we can be compelled. We can choose to humble ourselves and listen or continue in pride and self-righteousness until something terrible happens and shatters our sense of safety.

[Berdean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Things aren't always as they seem. It was an intreguing story about a town that once had a rock quarry, and it gets flooded. Liam Bennigan loses his life in an accident, that even fifteen years later his family believes their was fowl play. Nobody has listened to them all these years, but when a body is found and terrorists attack and threaten the white church on the hill the truth comes out.

[Kristen Landon · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm sorry, but this book really needed some better editing. Grossman had a good idea that could have played out really well. But in a murder mystery, it's hard to take a four year time break and keep the tension alive and strong. That was just one of the problems. At times we'd lose our main character for long stretches. There was a serious lack of line editing as well. One example--this is a direct quote--"the college students from the college" Come on! Did no one proof read this at all?

[Shauna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall I enjoyed reading this book. It was a nice quick read with an interesting story line. I really like the characters journey through the book as she figured out who she really is and which direction her life should go. The only thing I didn't enjoy was it felt like it had a little bit of a cliffhanger ending making you wonder if there was to be a sequel in the future. I looked and the author did write a book in 2009, called Missing Pieces, that has the main character Dulcey in it.

[T.K. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would give this book 3½ stars if it was an option. This book is well-written and compelling. The pace is a little slower and the murderer is pretty obvious from the moment the body is found, but there is more to the story, and the characters were sufficiently dynamic to hold my attention throughout.

[Swhe641200 · Rating 3 out of 5]

9/11 GSB This is about a town that was the best place to raise a family. The church on the hill where the preacher and wife left children to be raised by themselves. A body is discovered in their man made lake that killed a owner of a quarry. The sons go on rampage with terrorist type. Kind of scarry to see what hate can do to people.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! and disturbing at the same time. I love the power that a mother has and I can see those four marching up that hill to their sons. Fearless! I thought Hannah and Jared's prom night was creative, cute, and memorable.

[Melinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was hard to put down, I actually spent one afternoon letting my kids watch TV while I read it. (Horrible). It took interesting turns and kept me guessing what would happen next. As far as LDS literature goes, I enjoyed this one.

[Shae Burton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written but I expected less violence. Or, as more of a romance novelist and reader, I would have preferred less violence and less of the twisted mind plot. If you enjoy those things, though, you will love this book.

[Juliana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really good book. I'd call it a Mormon Mystery Thriller. It's really tense at some parts, and the end it pretty sad.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love mysteries. This is a good one!

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jeni seems to put people she knows in her books, that's what I like about her.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being a friend of mine, Jeni wrote a page turner with me in it!

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

great mystery, thought provoking look at the difference between how things appear and what is really happening

[Miriam · Rating 3 out of 5]

After taking a little while to get into this book was really fast-paced and exciting. Some parts were quite predictable but others were quite unexpected. A good, quick read.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thriller of a read.

[H.M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't like how it leaves you with a cliffhanger at the end. Or maybe I should say I do not like the cliffhanger.

[Faye howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

fast read. Parts were quite exciting to read. I did not like the way the book ended, maybe Jeni has a sequel.

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book kept you guessing. Mystery..murder and a little LDS twist!