Don't Close Your Eyes

by Betsy Brannon Green

In the quiet town of Eureka, Georgia, a woman is murdered. On that same night, Helen Tyler arrives in town. She’s a kind, soft-spoken woman who owns a handgun and refuses to give out her telephone number.

Matt Clevenger, the county sheriff, finds a white Bible on the end of the murdered woman’s bed, and learns that another body was found in exactly the same way just two weeks earlier.

With little more than this scant but bizarre evidence, Matt must uncover the secret identity of a killer. Helen Tyler must hide a secret past. Together, they embark on a terrifying journey that brings them ever closer to the answers to this deadly mystery, answers that will change both of their lives forever.

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

294 pages, Paperback

About the author

"WELCOME!!!!!

If you're not familiar with my books, I write mystery-suspense novels. I am LDS (Mormon) and so are some of my characters, but I have loyal readers from many different faiths. My goal is to engage the reader in my books. I want to make them laugh and cry and worry and dread the end.

Most of my books are set in the fictional town of Haggerty, Georgia - which is loosely based on my grandparents' hometown of Headland, Alabama (the most wonderful place on earth). Each book has an ample supply of romance, suspense, Southern hospitality and even recipies!"

by Betsy Brannon Green on http://www.betsybrannongreen.net/

Reviews

[Jenny · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book took about 100 pages before I was interested. That's because I am a shallow reader interested in little else than a romance, and the first hundred pages of this book focused very little on the romance and instead set up the murder mystery. Once past the first hundred pages, it was a pleasant enough read, but that's about the best I can say for it. In retrospect there were enough clues planted throughout the book that the murder was plausible without being overly predictable. I didn't figure it out until just pages before it was revealed. So I guess that says something for the book...

[Marie · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you like plot holes and overuse of the word "smirk", this book is your type.
It's not mine.
I almost gave her an extra star for an ok job of throwing suspicion around.
However, I took it away for the protagonist having a warrant out for her arrest, and law enforcement being ok with that, never arresting her since it's "just a civil matter" and hiring her to work at the sheriff's office....? And also her treatment of the neighbor's kids, feeding them cookies (bags and bags of Oreos- gag!) after their mother specifically asked her not to, and thinking their last name Nguyen is "weird".
This book was probably awful when it first came out and hasn't aged well.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very suspenseful and engaging book - Helen Tyler moves to town the same night a woman is murdered, but they initial response is not murder - finding out it was murder lead them to realize their were other murders similar to the original - and then the work is to find out who is doing these murders in this small Georgia town. Then Helen has secrets that the sheriff finds out about but yet enlists her help to solve these murders. A good murder/love story that has you stumped regarding the murderer until the end. I guessed the wrong person and I love trying to figure it out.

[Angelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this author but this book seemed like two different genres and it didn't work for me. Not enough action for an action book and the relationships weren't developed enough. She is a clean writer and I will read more of her.

[Kelly]

I don’t see what this title has to do with the plot of the book. Also Harrison got what he deserved and I only knew it was Judith like 5 minutes before she was revealed as the murderer so I would definitely die in a murder mystery

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book because a friend of mine told me I should read it a long time ago. I finally did and I am glad I did because I always forget how much I like a mystery. This one was not super intense but it was still a fun read.

[Suze Price · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard to put down. Kept me on the edge of my seat!

[Michele Blake · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kept me anxious with each page turn.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

These are quick, enjoyable reads. LDS romantic suspense.

[Tiffeny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I generally try to avoid reading Mormon fiction. They're usually super-cheesy and for that reason not enjoyable for me. I really really enjoyed this book though. The characters were very likeable and very witty. Along with Matt and Helen, my favorite characters were Crystal and the older woman who went to the care center at the end (can't remember her name, but she was a gem). I laughed many times. The story was entertaining and at times suspenseful and down-right creepy, which is right up my alley. The subject of the gospel was kind of a side story and the author was subtle with working it in the story. I thought she did a really nice job with not making it a main focal point, which is usually when the story turns cheesy. I'll definitely look for other books by this author to read.

SPOILER ALERT:
My only problem with the book came at the very end when the two main characters got married. I was happy that the Matt joined the church and that he and Helen decided to get married. I was not happy that they chose to marry out of the temple first, then go again later. I don't know of many situations when that is an OK choice. We're told to not settle for anything less than a temple marriage. Not a temple sealing a year or two later, but a temple marriage the first time around. It's a commandment. People do wait the year all the time, and then do it right the first time. My sister waited, after her boyfriend (soon to be fiance) joined the church when they were dating. Was it easy? No, but she knew the importance of a temple marriage, and didn't want to settle. I don't like it when authors make it seem OK. If the church is a priority, then you won't settle now and then hope that things turn out they way they should later, and I don't like it when authors make it sound like that's an OK choice.

[Nicole Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun read – mystery (of the serial murderer vein) with a love story mixed in.

I read this one while visiting my Grandpa Todd in Savannah. We spent a lot of time with older people, and I think that’s part of why the older crew featured in this novel was particularly fun for me.

Favorite quote: “Change isn’t always easy, dear, but it’s often for the best.”

[Beth Pearson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I'd like to do 3 and 1/2 stars for this. I liked it and enjoyed it, but I wasn't obsessed with it like I sometimes get. (Which of course, is better for my sleep hours anyways so maybe it deserves 5 stars for being interesting and allowing me to function in regular life also). : )

I liked the mystery and the romance of this story. I liked the small town characters although I suspect their instant acceptance and friendship is a bit rosy colored as the small towns I have lived in take a while to warm up to a person. I actually figured out the "bad guy" early on in the story, but my suspicions only made me more interested in the story instead of less. Since I knew the Who--it was nice to get the why and how from the author. She made it believable.

One of the better LDS fiction stories that I've read.

[Aubrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this because my favorite genre is murder mystery. I really like Mary Higgins Clark, but her books were starting to get predictable for me. I had never read by this author before, so it was something new and different. It is an LDS author, so there were LDS references in the storyline...it was weird at first, but I decided I liked it...made it more relatable to me. Not the best book I've ever read, but I have to say that I couldn't put it down.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Knowing how hard Matt Clevenger has tried to get his life back after losing his wife and two sons, you root for him to solve this murder case. All roads keep leading to a dead end however. At first it didn't seem that Matt and Helen would become romantically involved at all. But thanks to an LDS bishop, the relationship takes a dramatic turn. I really like Crystal Vines--Matt's quirky secretary.

[Bailey Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't close your eyes, Betsy Brannon Green, Mystery. There have been murders reported in the small town of Eureka. All the evidence that the sheriff, Matt Cleavenger, can find is a small white bible on each murdered woman's bed. Meanwhile, Helen Tyler has moved into town. As Helen and Matt work together, it seems as though Helen has a past. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good mystery, and just a little bit of romance.

[Marilee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has some of the same characters as "Never Look Back" and in my opinion, is the most suspenseful of all of her books. I had a hard time putting it down at night because it was so good and also because I must admit I was a little scared. Once everything was resolved, I thought "Why was I so scared?", but that just shows what a good author Green is.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my least favorite of Betsy's books. The suspense part and story telling were fabulous, but the romance part really gnawed at me. I was uncomfortable with the way she handled an extremely difficult Gospel principle for many women (can you say multiple wives?!?!?)and that the love story didn't evolve enough to make that plausible to me. Great mystery though, and I'm still glad I read it :)

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a fun, quick read. I didn't know I was that involved in it until I started trying to figure out which crazy smalltown character was the murderer while trying to sleep at night. It's by an LDS author, so there's kind of an LDS side story going on. I actually found that kind of interesting.

[Annemarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite books of this author's. I loved all of the suspense in it and how different the ending was. Definitely not what I would've expected. One book I could read over and over again.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I kept thinking that I knew who the killer was and then she would throw in a new twist and I would wonder if I was right. Written very well. I would recomend it to those that enjoy Betsy Brannon Green books.

[Morgan Cleere · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't Close Your Eyes is a very suspenseful book. As clues begin to be uncovered, it appears that they are no closer to the answer than when they began. The murder was definitately not who I expected.

[Maricatherine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't like this book so well, which is suprising because I normally love any book by Betsy Brannon Green. I am a character lover, more so than plot, and there was too much plot. The characters weren't as well rounded as I would have liked, and the plot tended to get very heavy.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clean Thriller

[Liesl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read. It is fun to see the southern old ladies type gossip-interactions.

[Rachel Bori Orme · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book4

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started reading this and realize that I had already read it, so it must not have made a great impression.

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a mystery of a serial killer in a small town and the life of several people on one particular road.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one kind of scared me at times... But I loved it!!

[Laurel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an LDS author and the book was really good. The suspense was great and I actually got really scared. I didnt expect it to be that good.

[Jayme · Rating 4 out of 5]

People may not be who you think are.