What do you think?
Rate this book
The Baker's Wife
Before Audrey was the baker's wife, she was the pastor's wife.
Then a scandalous lie cost her husband a pastoral career. Now the two work side-by-side running a bakery, serving coffee, and baking fresh bread. But the hurt still pulls at Audrey.
Driving early one morning to the bakery, Audrey's car strikes something—or someone—at a fog-shrouded intersection. She finds a motor scooter belonging to a local teacher. Blood is everywhere, but there's no trace of a body.
Both the scooter and the blood belong to detective Jack Mansfield's wife, and he's certain that Audrey is behind Julie's disappearance.
But the case dead-ends and the detective spirals into madness. When he takes her family and some patrons hostage at the bakery, Audrey is left with a soul-damaged ex-con and a cynical teen to solve the mystery. And she'll never manage that unless she taps into something she would rather leave behind—her excruciating ability to feel other's pain.
Then a scandalous lie cost her husband a pastoral career. Now the two work side-by-side running a bakery, serving coffee, and baking fresh bread. But the hurt still pulls at Audrey.
Driving early one morning to the bakery, Audrey's car strikes something—or someone—at a fog-shrouded intersection. She finds a motor scooter belonging to a local teacher. Blood is everywhere, but there's no trace of a body.
Both the scooter and the blood belong to detective Jack Mansfield's wife, and he's certain that Audrey is behind Julie's disappearance.
But the case dead-ends and the detective spirals into madness. When he takes her family and some patrons hostage at the bakery, Audrey is left with a soul-damaged ex-con and a cynical teen to solve the mystery. And she'll never manage that unless she taps into something she would rather leave behind—her excruciating ability to feel other's pain.
353 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 3, 2011
106 people are currently reading
1484 people want to read
About the author
Erin Healy
15 books332 followersErin Healy is a supernatural-suspense novelist and an award-winning fiction editor. She began working with Ted Dekker in 2002 and edited twelve of his heart-pounding stories before their collaboration on KISS, the first novel to seat her on "the other side of the desk."
Erin is the owner of WordWright Editorial Services, a consulting firm specializing in fiction book development. She lives with her family in Colorado.
Erin is the owner of WordWright Editorial Services, a consulting firm specializing in fiction book development. She lives with her family in Colorado.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 257 reviews
June 27, 2017
The Baker’s Wife is a suspenseful thriller steeped in religious overtones. What started off slowly quickly turned into a gripping mystery. I really enjoyed this novel of good verse evil.
Protagonist, Audrey Bofinger, works to heal the wounds of her family and community. With her husband, ex-pastor Geoff, they open a bakery. She is blessed with a gift, or curse, to recognize when others need her help. One foggy morning, on the way into the bakery, she hits a scooter. The scooter is destroyed and the scene is covered in blood - too much blood, for anyone to have survived. The scooter belongs to Julia, the wife of police sergeant Jack Mansfield. When a body can’t be found and Julia is missing, suspicion soon turns to foul play. To make matters worse, Jack Mansfield is the man responsible for having Pastor Bofinger fired from the church and banned from preaching. When evidence isn’t sufficient, Jack decides to take matters into his own hands.
Healy beautifully and skillfully weaves a tale of intrigue, while carefully telling the story of each character. She has you second guessing as she feeds you pieces of the puzzle. Aside from being a suspenseful mystery, The Baker’s Wife deals with faith, compassion, judgment and man’s own flaws. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer
Protagonist, Audrey Bofinger, works to heal the wounds of her family and community. With her husband, ex-pastor Geoff, they open a bakery. She is blessed with a gift, or curse, to recognize when others need her help. One foggy morning, on the way into the bakery, she hits a scooter. The scooter is destroyed and the scene is covered in blood - too much blood, for anyone to have survived. The scooter belongs to Julia, the wife of police sergeant Jack Mansfield. When a body can’t be found and Julia is missing, suspicion soon turns to foul play. To make matters worse, Jack Mansfield is the man responsible for having Pastor Bofinger fired from the church and banned from preaching. When evidence isn’t sufficient, Jack decides to take matters into his own hands.
Healy beautifully and skillfully weaves a tale of intrigue, while carefully telling the story of each character. She has you second guessing as she feeds you pieces of the puzzle. Aside from being a suspenseful mystery, The Baker’s Wife deals with faith, compassion, judgment and man’s own flaws. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer
December 26, 2011
The BAKERS WIFE by Erin Healy was not at all what I was expecting. While it was a suspense/thriller it also falls into the Christian Lit genre. The fact of the matter is that the Christianity aspect is not only germane to the plot it is an integral part of it as are the subjects of pain, loneliness, guilt, and sanctimony.
All of women in this story, Miralee, Diane, Julie and Audrey have spent the better part of their lives running away from the emotional traumas of pain and guilt. Audrey, the central character in this novel is probably best described as an empath. She can sense the feelings of others and in some cases actually experience their physical pain. She is also a woman whose family has been brought to the brink of disaster by an unexpected scandal that changed the direction of their lives, but not its purpose. Once again Audrey's faith as well as her empathetic gift are being tested by unforeseen circumstances .......an early morning accident....an accident that has produced mangled steel, plenty of blood, a lot of suspicion, but no accident victim. Are the accident and the events that follow yet another test of faith for Audrey and her family?
Throughout THE BAKER"S WIFE we are offered examples of the different temper, language and introspection of "believers" and "non-believers" ranging from those that proudly justify themselves to those that humbly condemn themselves plus their personal views of their different standing before God. All of the various characters appearing in this book will evoke some sort of emotional response in the reader not to mention a bit of personal contemplative reflection.
While Christian lit is not my genre of choice, I must say that THE BAKER'S WIFE still managed to keep me engaged until the last page.
All of women in this story, Miralee, Diane, Julie and Audrey have spent the better part of their lives running away from the emotional traumas of pain and guilt. Audrey, the central character in this novel is probably best described as an empath. She can sense the feelings of others and in some cases actually experience their physical pain. She is also a woman whose family has been brought to the brink of disaster by an unexpected scandal that changed the direction of their lives, but not its purpose. Once again Audrey's faith as well as her empathetic gift are being tested by unforeseen circumstances .......an early morning accident....an accident that has produced mangled steel, plenty of blood, a lot of suspicion, but no accident victim. Are the accident and the events that follow yet another test of faith for Audrey and her family?
Throughout THE BAKER"S WIFE we are offered examples of the different temper, language and introspection of "believers" and "non-believers" ranging from those that proudly justify themselves to those that humbly condemn themselves plus their personal views of their different standing before God. All of the various characters appearing in this book will evoke some sort of emotional response in the reader not to mention a bit of personal contemplative reflection.
While Christian lit is not my genre of choice, I must say that THE BAKER'S WIFE still managed to keep me engaged until the last page.
March 15, 2012
I am SHOCKED to see the 3.9 rating on this book. I ABSOLUTELY HATED IT~!
November 28, 2014
With the Baker’s Wife by Erin Healy, I learned something about myself! This is a mystery with rich with religious and psychological issues. The characters are drawn with beautiful detail. I found myself identifying with the main character, Audrey Bofinger. I tend to feel the pain and hurt of people deep within myself. Audrey does this to an extreme and uses “her gift” to get into missing person’s thoughts and feelings so deeply that she can figure out how to find them. She was so worn from feeling the pain or thoughts of others that she resorted to giving the families of those troubled or dealing with pain or sickness loaves of bread. She felt guilty about it like I do when I withdraw from something that I know will drain me too much. Now I see that as a normal activity, a way of protection.
Getting to the story, Audrey is a part of a loving family. Her husband, Geoff was the pastor of their church until something happened between Ed and the daughter of the Sergeant Jack Mansfield. Jack called an emergency meeting as a church deacon and provided “evidence” pushed for the firing of a pastor and banning of him ever to be a pastor again. I have meet Jack before several times in real people at churches, job interviews and other places. The irony is that I have seen something similar in real life. A deacon at my church called a meeting and had a pastor fired for a different reason. I will not go into it here, but that reason would have been my reason for hiring him!
Jack knows that the Lord is on his side and is constantly quoting the scripture to justify his thoughts and deeds. Jack sees everything in black and white, there is no forgiveness, he is extremely controlling. Jack does not examine his life or consider loving the people around him, he is just interested in them conforming to his view of correctness. Opposite of him is Ed, Audrey’s son and her husband, Geoff. They pose their own perceptions. There is also a woman named Diane who is connected to the story and mystery but she is a bit slow and never realized that she had been wronged. She needs others to help her see herself different.
The characters are beautifully drawn and the mystery did keep me in suspense but it was the characters in this book that shown for me. I have left out all the details of the mystery so you can discover them yourself!
I definitely want to read more by this author.
Getting to the story, Audrey is a part of a loving family. Her husband, Geoff was the pastor of their church until something happened between Ed and the daughter of the Sergeant Jack Mansfield. Jack called an emergency meeting as a church deacon and provided “evidence” pushed for the firing of a pastor and banning of him ever to be a pastor again. I have meet Jack before several times in real people at churches, job interviews and other places. The irony is that I have seen something similar in real life. A deacon at my church called a meeting and had a pastor fired for a different reason. I will not go into it here, but that reason would have been my reason for hiring him!
Jack knows that the Lord is on his side and is constantly quoting the scripture to justify his thoughts and deeds. Jack sees everything in black and white, there is no forgiveness, he is extremely controlling. Jack does not examine his life or consider loving the people around him, he is just interested in them conforming to his view of correctness. Opposite of him is Ed, Audrey’s son and her husband, Geoff. They pose their own perceptions. There is also a woman named Diane who is connected to the story and mystery but she is a bit slow and never realized that she had been wronged. She needs others to help her see herself different.
The characters are beautifully drawn and the mystery did keep me in suspense but it was the characters in this book that shown for me. I have left out all the details of the mystery so you can discover them yourself!
I definitely want to read more by this author.
December 30, 2011
I really enjoyed this book, the mystery element kept me reading and what made it even more compelling was God’s guiding hand in solving the mystery. Audrey is able to feel the weight of God’s arm on her shoulders guiding her to someone in her community who is in need in some way. She uses this gift to bring bread she and her husband have baked on his day off from being a pastor. She comforts and spends time with those who need that extra bit of attention, until an act occurs that costs her husband his job and her son his college acceptance. Then, they turn to running a bakery to earn their living. Baking bread and acting as a pastor turn out to have more parallels than one would think.
Baking bread involves taking the time to pay attention and having the patience to knead for long enough, allow it to rise for long enough, and bake for long enough. Too much or too little time in an area can ruin a loaf. So many times in life we are rushing around and not taking the time to appreciate the smaller moments, the things that seem inconsequential, but maybe all the steps involved are important for a reason and having patience would give us all a chance to see that. The lesson on bread baking comes from Estrella, a grandmother who has been working with bread for decades and has come to work with the couple because the place she worked for before wasn’t interested in the beauty of bread.
While being held hostage at the bakery, Audrey’s son Ed wonders if, “his own humiliation wasn’t divine at all, but merely a distraction from what he was supposed to be doing? What if all this, this insane ordeal, was not a consequence of his own sin but a chance for God to do something amazing, if only Ed would participate?” How much more would we all experience if we participated more? If we were less afraid to say what we think and step in when we see a situation where we could lend a hand?
While solving the mystery, I also thought about how some people would view Audrey as crazy. She believes fully that God is working through her and having her experience a part of the pain that a person is having so she knows who needs her help. She feels that it is God, but most of us would be looking for some other explanation as to why phantom pains were cropping up and looking for medical help for ourselves.
I read this book as part of a Litfuse Blog tour.
Baking bread involves taking the time to pay attention and having the patience to knead for long enough, allow it to rise for long enough, and bake for long enough. Too much or too little time in an area can ruin a loaf. So many times in life we are rushing around and not taking the time to appreciate the smaller moments, the things that seem inconsequential, but maybe all the steps involved are important for a reason and having patience would give us all a chance to see that. The lesson on bread baking comes from Estrella, a grandmother who has been working with bread for decades and has come to work with the couple because the place she worked for before wasn’t interested in the beauty of bread.
While being held hostage at the bakery, Audrey’s son Ed wonders if, “his own humiliation wasn’t divine at all, but merely a distraction from what he was supposed to be doing? What if all this, this insane ordeal, was not a consequence of his own sin but a chance for God to do something amazing, if only Ed would participate?” How much more would we all experience if we participated more? If we were less afraid to say what we think and step in when we see a situation where we could lend a hand?
While solving the mystery, I also thought about how some people would view Audrey as crazy. She believes fully that God is working through her and having her experience a part of the pain that a person is having so she knows who needs her help. She feels that it is God, but most of us would be looking for some other explanation as to why phantom pains were cropping up and looking for medical help for ourselves.
I read this book as part of a Litfuse Blog tour.
February 19, 2013
Erin Healy, editor-turned-novelist, knows fiction from the inside out. She spent many years as an award-winning fiction editor working with such renowned novelists as James Scott Bell, Melody Carlson, Colleen Coble, Brandilyn Collins, Traci DePree, L. B. Graham, Rene Gutteridge, Robin Lee Hatcher, Denise Hunter, Randy Ingermanson, Jane Kirkpatrick, Frank Peretti, Lisa Samson…and the list goes on. (Wow.) In 2002, she began working with rock-star novelist of the supernatural, Ted Dekker, editing twelve (count ‘em, twelve) of his books before co-authoring with him Kiss and Flame.
Healy went on to write several novels in her own name, including The Baker’s Wife.
I loved this spellbinding novel. From the original plot and setting to the complex characters, this story earned my admiration and approval. Every beat of every scene is exquisitely fleshed out. Healy gives her readers a deeply sympathetic heroine, with a supernatural ability to feel another’s pain, as well as one of the most spine-chilling villains–a self-proclaimed Christian with twisted theology–I’ve encountered. The story provides satisfying turns in both plot and character development. On top of that, Healy possesses one of the most engaging voices I’ve found in Christian fiction.
Another aspect of The Baker’s Wife that intrigued me was the handling of the moral issues. There’s murder, premarital sex and abortion, and yet these hot-button issues are handled without judgment, with compassion and grace.
On her website, www.erinhealy.com, Healy says this about her books: “The Irish girl in me is fascinated by the concept of thin places, a Celtic name for locations in the world where the veil between physical and spiritual realities is so delicate that a person can see through it. For me, thin places are revelations about what it means to be a spiritual creation in a physical world. I write supernatural suspense novels from a Christian worldview, with eyes open to God’s mysterious side. Read with me into the thin places where God’s world intersects ours, and changes it forever.”
Love that!
In summary, I could not put this book down and I cannot wait for the next one by this talented novelist. Erin Healy, you’ve won yourself a new fan.
Healy went on to write several novels in her own name, including The Baker’s Wife.
I loved this spellbinding novel. From the original plot and setting to the complex characters, this story earned my admiration and approval. Every beat of every scene is exquisitely fleshed out. Healy gives her readers a deeply sympathetic heroine, with a supernatural ability to feel another’s pain, as well as one of the most spine-chilling villains–a self-proclaimed Christian with twisted theology–I’ve encountered. The story provides satisfying turns in both plot and character development. On top of that, Healy possesses one of the most engaging voices I’ve found in Christian fiction.
Another aspect of The Baker’s Wife that intrigued me was the handling of the moral issues. There’s murder, premarital sex and abortion, and yet these hot-button issues are handled without judgment, with compassion and grace.
On her website, www.erinhealy.com, Healy says this about her books: “The Irish girl in me is fascinated by the concept of thin places, a Celtic name for locations in the world where the veil between physical and spiritual realities is so delicate that a person can see through it. For me, thin places are revelations about what it means to be a spiritual creation in a physical world. I write supernatural suspense novels from a Christian worldview, with eyes open to God’s mysterious side. Read with me into the thin places where God’s world intersects ours, and changes it forever.”
Love that!
In summary, I could not put this book down and I cannot wait for the next one by this talented novelist. Erin Healy, you’ve won yourself a new fan.
October 13, 2011
Complex doesn't even begin to describe this book. I think this would be great for a discussion group because there is endless material --- from the plot twists, all the characters and their relationships to each other and reactions to their situations, and the spiritual applications of all the above ... I think the book could provide quite a lot of fodder for intelligent debate and discussion.
For the most part the character populated her world with some interesting and even mysterious characters. Some of them seemed to fall into the predictable stereotypes and I wished she had given them something to pull away from those patterns. For example, Jack's character as the over zealous and legalistic religious leader and cop made him even more obnoxious and abusive. It was hard to feel anything for him as a person.
I think the pacing might have felt faster than it was at times because there is a somewhat larger than normal cast of characters that feel so central to what's going on. Audrey, Geoff and their son, plus Jack, Julie (and to a lesser extent - their daughter), then Diane - are central to what's going on. Then there are other characters that feature prominently as well. It wasn't too many - but it's more than the two or three that I'm used to.
I liked most of the differences that made this book unique. If you love intelligent suspense novels with a lot going on in them. this may be a good book for you as well. I'm thankful to Thomas Nelson for providing me a copy in exchange for my honest review.
For the most part the character populated her world with some interesting and even mysterious characters. Some of them seemed to fall into the predictable stereotypes and I wished she had given them something to pull away from those patterns. For example, Jack's character as the over zealous and legalistic religious leader and cop made him even more obnoxious and abusive. It was hard to feel anything for him as a person.
I think the pacing might have felt faster than it was at times because there is a somewhat larger than normal cast of characters that feel so central to what's going on. Audrey, Geoff and their son, plus Jack, Julie (and to a lesser extent - their daughter), then Diane - are central to what's going on. Then there are other characters that feature prominently as well. It wasn't too many - but it's more than the two or three that I'm used to.
I liked most of the differences that made this book unique. If you love intelligent suspense novels with a lot going on in them. this may be a good book for you as well. I'm thankful to Thomas Nelson for providing me a copy in exchange for my honest review.
January 6, 2016
I had a difficult time getting into the book. Being a pastor's wife who has seen mistreatment of pastors and their families and known legalistic people who seem to ignore or try to kill the lovely truth of God's grace and forgiveness, it was uncomfortable reading. The mystery of Julie's disappearance was captivating and once I got connected I wanted keep reading. I'm thankful our God is not the one Jack conjured up. The book reminds us all that if we are believers we are only sinners saved by grace and if we aren't believers that God will forgive sin and give new life. We will never be justified on our own or live up to the Law without Christ. Finally, I didn't get the almost paranormal activity the pastor's wife experienced when she should be helping or identifying with the feelings of others--for me that was "out there" and a bit weird. I couldn't recommend it unreservedly.
June 25, 2021
This book was AWFUL!! The representation of “Christianity” is completely wrong, if I read this as a non-Christian I would never give my life to Christ. What place does an empath have as a Christian? The references on many occasions as Diane being “the fat one” or the one with chunky arms and legs is so insulting and degrading. She doesn’t refer to the other characters as “the skinny ones”. There is animal cruelty, violence and a story I am just appalled with. I wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone. If I could give it less than one star I would.
October 11, 2018
I felt the tension the entire story. This book is today. Accusations are flying everywhere. One doesn't know who to believe. False reports damage and destroy. That's what this story is about.
Great story. I was drawn in from the start and loved it to the end. The antagonists were using religion as an ax to destroy. Sometimes the church can be the most dangerous place.
Add, that I love baking having baked in the Navy. I could relate.
Great story. I was drawn in from the start and loved it to the end. The antagonists were using religion as an ax to destroy. Sometimes the church can be the most dangerous place.
Add, that I love baking having baked in the Navy. I could relate.
January 9, 2025
I enjoyed this book and the various women portrayed inside- a sequel would be great due to other story lines wihh more potential to continue
October 28, 2011
Before Audrey Bofinger was the baker's wife, she was the pastor's wife. Now this pastor's wife is suspected of murder. Murder of the Julie Mansfield, whose body has now gone missing immediately after Audrey's car hit her motor scooter, leaving behind a pool of Julie's blood in a thick fog early one morning. Until the fog clears, no one can seem to find the body, yet the evidence clearly shows someone has apparently been injured if not killed. So just where is the body?
The thing that complicates the process is that Julie is the wife of police officer, Jack Mansfield. The very same Mansfield family that was responsible for removing Audrey's husband, Geoff from being the pastor of the local church. Now they run the bakery in town and Jack is convinced that the Bofinger family is responsible for murdering his wife, if they can just locate the body. The fact that Julie is missing and hasn't shown up for work at the local high school just seems to complicate the process. If that wasn't enough, a mysterious stranger arrives in town the morning of the accident with links to the past that will further add to the mix of Julie's life.
When Jack feels that the police detectives are stalling trying to locate his wife and arrest Audrey, he takes matters into his own hands. Just what has happened to Julie? Is Audrey really responsible of a great planned murder and cover-up? Is Julie really dead or has she had enough of Jack and left town?
All these questions just add to some juicy ingredients in the latest murder suspense thriller by Erin Healy in the latest novel, The Baker's Wife. I received this novel compliments of Litfuse Publicity for my honest review and was instantly hooked from the beginning. This is one of the best mysteries I have read in quite some time and truly was stuck with the knowledge of just what is really going on. There seems to be a connection that Audrey has to people hurting in the book that manifests itself in a physical way which leads to adding some spice and flavor to this wonderful book. I am completely sold on books now by Erin Healy and can't wait to add even more to my personal library. Stellar suspense that hooks you and keeps you entertained the entire way leads me to rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars!
The thing that complicates the process is that Julie is the wife of police officer, Jack Mansfield. The very same Mansfield family that was responsible for removing Audrey's husband, Geoff from being the pastor of the local church. Now they run the bakery in town and Jack is convinced that the Bofinger family is responsible for murdering his wife, if they can just locate the body. The fact that Julie is missing and hasn't shown up for work at the local high school just seems to complicate the process. If that wasn't enough, a mysterious stranger arrives in town the morning of the accident with links to the past that will further add to the mix of Julie's life.
When Jack feels that the police detectives are stalling trying to locate his wife and arrest Audrey, he takes matters into his own hands. Just what has happened to Julie? Is Audrey really responsible of a great planned murder and cover-up? Is Julie really dead or has she had enough of Jack and left town?
All these questions just add to some juicy ingredients in the latest murder suspense thriller by Erin Healy in the latest novel, The Baker's Wife. I received this novel compliments of Litfuse Publicity for my honest review and was instantly hooked from the beginning. This is one of the best mysteries I have read in quite some time and truly was stuck with the knowledge of just what is really going on. There seems to be a connection that Audrey has to people hurting in the book that manifests itself in a physical way which leads to adding some spice and flavor to this wonderful book. I am completely sold on books now by Erin Healy and can't wait to add even more to my personal library. Stellar suspense that hooks you and keeps you entertained the entire way leads me to rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars!
July 11, 2012
Wow.
A great book.
Simply, How far will you go to protect and save a love one?
I bought this on the 8th, at a little store in the local truckstop. I have bought quite a few books there, and have never been disappointed. This one was certainly no different.
I picked it up on the 9th, read about 10 pages, but was really tired and went to bed. Yesterday, (the 10th) I picked it up, and completely finished it. All 341 pages. I simply could not put it down.
This book truely illustrates how we are all interconnected – though we may not now it.
Diane – back from prision, looking to correct what she can of a wrong she commited over 25 years ago
Julie – the detectives wife, depressed, lonely, and missing everyone she views has left her over the years
CoraJean – a mother, dying, without either of her children around her
Ed – A son. Possibly a father. The world has fallen down around him, and he feels out of control
Donna – A daughter, lost her life far to young.
Miri – A daughter. Feels no responsibility in anything, just wants everyone to get over themselves and grow up!
Geoff – A pastor. A baker. Harbors resentment, and guilt. Wants the best for his family
Audrey – A mother. A caretaker. A wife. Feels God in the world around her, but is afraid of losing so much.
Take people like this, add a small town, and a devestating accident and you can see the tempers flare, and passions collide.
While it was a slight murder-mystery (which I suspected), I was very happy with it’s writing and delivery. It’s a quest to find one woman, and the many different paths one can take to get there. It’s a story about just how far we will go to protect and save a loved on. And it truely makes you question how far you will go yourself.
A great book.
Simply, How far will you go to protect and save a love one?
I bought this on the 8th, at a little store in the local truckstop. I have bought quite a few books there, and have never been disappointed. This one was certainly no different.
I picked it up on the 9th, read about 10 pages, but was really tired and went to bed. Yesterday, (the 10th) I picked it up, and completely finished it. All 341 pages. I simply could not put it down.
This book truely illustrates how we are all interconnected – though we may not now it.
Diane – back from prision, looking to correct what she can of a wrong she commited over 25 years ago
Julie – the detectives wife, depressed, lonely, and missing everyone she views has left her over the years
CoraJean – a mother, dying, without either of her children around her
Ed – A son. Possibly a father. The world has fallen down around him, and he feels out of control
Donna – A daughter, lost her life far to young.
Miri – A daughter. Feels no responsibility in anything, just wants everyone to get over themselves and grow up!
Geoff – A pastor. A baker. Harbors resentment, and guilt. Wants the best for his family
Audrey – A mother. A caretaker. A wife. Feels God in the world around her, but is afraid of losing so much.
Take people like this, add a small town, and a devestating accident and you can see the tempers flare, and passions collide.
While it was a slight murder-mystery (which I suspected), I was very happy with it’s writing and delivery. It’s a quest to find one woman, and the many different paths one can take to get there. It’s a story about just how far we will go to protect and save a loved on. And it truely makes you question how far you will go yourself.
November 6, 2011
This was a strange book that I had trouble tracking with, at first. I finished the introductory chapter and then after not "getting" it, reread it again, then one more time as it finally made sense to me (the tie-in,) but that wasn't until I reached about page 100. I found the whole concept and premise a bit odd....that the main character had the ability to feel someone else's pain. And when that mirror-mirror on the wall scene happened it was a bit freaky. I loved the idea of the story about a hostage situation and a woman who was formerly a pastor's wife, but it didn't end up being anything like what I had anticipated. The writing style reminded me of Sibella Giorello's books. So if you love her style of writing and plotting, then you will love this book. I'm just not a fan of this style.
I did read The Baker's Wife in one sitting. It held my attention and it had some interesting spiritual plot points to it, like contrasting the difference between rigid legalism and grace. It's just not the kind of book that I normally love to read, so it was a bit of a disappointment. I guess for me a book has to be believable and I never bought into the empathy part of the suspense and didn't feel a connection to the characters. But that was probably just me and my personal reading tastes. Again, anyone who enjoys Sibella's writing style will love this book because the feel is very similar. The ending had a decent resolution to it, with no loose strings to tie up. I received this book from a publicist for a blog tour, so this is my honest opinion about the book.
I did read The Baker's Wife in one sitting. It held my attention and it had some interesting spiritual plot points to it, like contrasting the difference between rigid legalism and grace. It's just not the kind of book that I normally love to read, so it was a bit of a disappointment. I guess for me a book has to be believable and I never bought into the empathy part of the suspense and didn't feel a connection to the characters. But that was probably just me and my personal reading tastes. Again, anyone who enjoys Sibella's writing style will love this book because the feel is very similar. The ending had a decent resolution to it, with no loose strings to tie up. I received this book from a publicist for a blog tour, so this is my honest opinion about the book.
June 10, 2012
What happens when the police find a large amount of blood at the scene of a wreck but no body?
Audrey and her husband have always enjoyed baking bread and sharing it with the hurting in their town, so when they are forced out of their position as pastors of a church, they open a bakery, where they can continue to share bread. On a foggy morning, Audrey hits a scooter on the way to work. The police arrive to find a large amount of blood but no body, and Audrey becomes a suspect.
Tensions rise as the police identify the blood. It belongs to Julie, the wife of Jack,who cost Audrey's husband his role as pastor. When Audrey begins to "feel" the hurt and anguish Julie is experiencing, she knows it's up to her to find Julie and thus clearing her name. Will she be able to find Julie before Jack takes justice into his own hands?
I love the theme of this book: Christians should bear one another burdens. While we may not literally feel the pain of others like Audrey does in the book, we should minister to the hurting.
The mystery was interesting enough, but the plot was very detailed and a little too far-reaching for me to be swept away with the characters. There was plenty of action, but it was at time a little too unbelievable.
While I wasn't crazy about this book, I enjoyed it for the most part and will check out other books by Erin Healy.
Audrey and her husband have always enjoyed baking bread and sharing it with the hurting in their town, so when they are forced out of their position as pastors of a church, they open a bakery, where they can continue to share bread. On a foggy morning, Audrey hits a scooter on the way to work. The police arrive to find a large amount of blood but no body, and Audrey becomes a suspect.
Tensions rise as the police identify the blood. It belongs to Julie, the wife of Jack,who cost Audrey's husband his role as pastor. When Audrey begins to "feel" the hurt and anguish Julie is experiencing, she knows it's up to her to find Julie and thus clearing her name. Will she be able to find Julie before Jack takes justice into his own hands?
I love the theme of this book: Christians should bear one another burdens. While we may not literally feel the pain of others like Audrey does in the book, we should minister to the hurting.
The mystery was interesting enough, but the plot was very detailed and a little too far-reaching for me to be swept away with the characters. There was plenty of action, but it was at time a little too unbelievable.
While I wasn't crazy about this book, I enjoyed it for the most part and will check out other books by Erin Healy.
January 9, 2012
I had no idea that this was a book that revolved around a faith that provides joy and responsibility. None of the book's blurbs mentions that this book is really about Audrey's, the baker's wife, relationship to God and everything that happens is seen through that filter. I don't object to religious fiction but I would like to know that's what I'm going to get when I pick up the book.
The plot is interesting. Audrey's husband was a pastor when a member of his congregation gets him dismissed from his job. He and Audrey open a bakery where they minister through loaves of bread. One morning driving in a heavy fog, Audrey hits the scooter of the wife of the man who led to the pastor's dismissal. There is a lot of the wife's blood at the accident scene but no body. A search for the victim ensues.
Audrey is really too good to be true. She can somehow feel other's pain and rushes over to minister with a loaf of newly baked bread. She has personal conversations with God and is truly devout. I'm sure there is a wonderful market for this type of fiction. It's just that I am not interested in the genre. I think the blurbs should adequately reflect the story's content.
The plot is interesting. Audrey's husband was a pastor when a member of his congregation gets him dismissed from his job. He and Audrey open a bakery where they minister through loaves of bread. One morning driving in a heavy fog, Audrey hits the scooter of the wife of the man who led to the pastor's dismissal. There is a lot of the wife's blood at the accident scene but no body. A search for the victim ensues.
Audrey is really too good to be true. She can somehow feel other's pain and rushes over to minister with a loaf of newly baked bread. She has personal conversations with God and is truly devout. I'm sure there is a wonderful market for this type of fiction. It's just that I am not interested in the genre. I think the blurbs should adequately reflect the story's content.
April 7, 2012
I truly enjoyed reading The Baker's Wife by Erin Healy. I won't sum up the plot because I'm sure that other people have already done that on here, so I'll just chat a bit about what I liked about it!
1. The suspense held up for the entire novel. Some plot turns were somewhat predictable, but the mystery surrounding the scooter wreckage had me pretty much baffled.
2. Jack Mansfield gave me the CREEPS. I congratulate every author who succeeds in making me *that* uncomfortable when I'm reading.
3. Audrey's empathy was a nice touch. I like the idea of someone sensing another person's pain and then sending them some yummy bread to help them feel better!
4. And last of all, I admire Erin for touching on the topic of abortion. So few authors mention abortion in their novels for obvious reasons, but Erin did an excellent job of showing how abortion can throw whole families into disarray and cause a world of hurt.
I will definitely be reading Erin's next novel House of Mercy when it is released later this year, because each of her novels gets better and better!
1. The suspense held up for the entire novel. Some plot turns were somewhat predictable, but the mystery surrounding the scooter wreckage had me pretty much baffled.
2. Jack Mansfield gave me the CREEPS. I congratulate every author who succeeds in making me *that* uncomfortable when I'm reading.
3. Audrey's empathy was a nice touch. I like the idea of someone sensing another person's pain and then sending them some yummy bread to help them feel better!
4. And last of all, I admire Erin for touching on the topic of abortion. So few authors mention abortion in their novels for obvious reasons, but Erin did an excellent job of showing how abortion can throw whole families into disarray and cause a world of hurt.
I will definitely be reading Erin's next novel House of Mercy when it is released later this year, because each of her novels gets better and better!
December 6, 2014
I received this book as a gift during the middle of the semester and decided to wait until break to read it because it was labeled as suspense. Although the book did not necessarily hook me from the start, after a few chapters, I did not want to put the book down.
At first, I was intrigued the characters and found many of them interesting. With a mystery established in the beginning, the book kept me guessing throughout. When the book took an unexpected turn in the middle, I was even more drawn into the book, but the turn was not entirely unwarranted.
The Baker's Wife made me think, and not just about the mystery but also about the characters. I could see the motivations of the characters include of the antagonist. There seems to be a lot of background in the beginning of the story, but this helps establish why the characters act the way they do for the rest of the story.
I gave the book four out of five stars for its strong theme but heavy amount of details in the beginning. I would recommend this book to people who enjoy mystery or suspense stories in our current decade.
At first, I was intrigued the characters and found many of them interesting. With a mystery established in the beginning, the book kept me guessing throughout. When the book took an unexpected turn in the middle, I was even more drawn into the book, but the turn was not entirely unwarranted.
The Baker's Wife made me think, and not just about the mystery but also about the characters. I could see the motivations of the characters include of the antagonist. There seems to be a lot of background in the beginning of the story, but this helps establish why the characters act the way they do for the rest of the story.
I gave the book four out of five stars for its strong theme but heavy amount of details in the beginning. I would recommend this book to people who enjoy mystery or suspense stories in our current decade.
November 9, 2011
I received this book as a goodreads giveaway. The story begins with an accident in which the victim is nowhere to be found. Audrey, driving through the fog hits a scooter belonging to Julie, the wife of a local police officer, Jack. Jack has driven Audrey's husband Geoff out of his role as minister. They now run a bakery in town. For Audrey her faith is in healing and sharing in the pain of others. She does this along with the gift of bread. In many ways their ministry is fulfilled through their bakery. For me the most compelling piece of the story is in how faith can be lived out through compassion and forgiveness, or lived in a way that leads to self righteousness and used as an excuss for wrong behavior. There is also Julie who belittles faith and has been shown the wrong example of faith in Jack. Actions can build up faith or actions can turn people away. The book asks, are you willing to reach out and accept the consequences?
February 11, 2012
I didn't realize this was categorized as 'Christian' suspense before I bought it. I most likely would not have bought it if I had - I strongly dislike preachiness and didacticism. Happily, there was very little of that in this story. It was an interesting take on how people of strong faith deal with adversity, and the mystery works quite well (although one 'forgotten' detail was pretty unrealistic). I did feel that Jack was a bit lacking as a character - his dialogue especially was so un-nuanced he was almost more of a caricature than a fully developed character. The two teen-aged characters were written very well. I also liked Diane as a character, although the wrap-up of her story was a little clunky. The description of Audrey and Geoffrey's relationship, particularly the bread-baking, was lovely.
August 1, 2013
Wow! This author does suspense right!!!! I was gripped from the beginning and physically affected with each chapter. I've not had such an intense reading experience in a long time, with the exception of Healy's "afloat" that I finished yesterday. I did not know these books were categorize as "Christian" or I wouldn't have read them but the use of religion and God in these stories really speaks to my own upbringing and touches my spiritual relationship with the God I've come to know as a spiritual adult functioning outside of the Church and Christianity itself. The deep emotions expressed in times of trials and in the face off with the unknown is very intense and powerful. I HIGHLY recommend the two I've read so far. Starting "House of Mercy" next.
December 16, 2018
This was a book club pick based on the abundance of positive reviews. All of us were somewhat surprised to find it's a Christian based mystery. That would've been OK, but the religious aspect of it overshadowed the mystery. References to Christian beliefs accompany almost every event in the story and there's also a super-natural bent that got tiresome. For me, that slowed the story down so much that I started skipping passages, then skipped whole chapters - eventually, I slogged through to the end.
Read
May 31, 2012Erin Healy knows how to do suspense. She writes with a supernatural thriller twist that creates a world where the unexpected becomes quite a real way of looking at experiences and relationships. She looks for that place where the world we know meets the world we don't know and pulls redemptive threads from one side to the other, all the while keeping you turning the pages because you have come to care so much about the characters.
November 7, 2015
I don't read too much Christian fiction because I'm always worried the book will be packed full of religious mumbojumbo; that's just not my thing. That being said, every so often I'll come across a book within the respected gene that catches my eye for some reason; usually a good-sounding mystery plot will peak my interest. The Baker's Wife wasn't too bad a book, but it wasn't as good as I was hoping. One thing I can say ... it made my mouth water with all the talk of baking bread.
June 8, 2022
The Baker's wife
Never having read Erin Healy, after this book, I will read more! Geoff Bofinger was fired as a pastor due to a mistake by his son. He & his wife, Audrey, run a bakery. Diane Hall was released from prison after serving 25 years. Diane & Audrey's paths will cross due to an unforeseen accident. Audrey also has the ability to feel other's pain. A snowball of events link several together which builds to suspense & a lesson in forgiveness.
Never having read Erin Healy, after this book, I will read more! Geoff Bofinger was fired as a pastor due to a mistake by his son. He & his wife, Audrey, run a bakery. Diane Hall was released from prison after serving 25 years. Diane & Audrey's paths will cross due to an unforeseen accident. Audrey also has the ability to feel other's pain. A snowball of events link several together which builds to suspense & a lesson in forgiveness.
June 11, 2022
Jack Mansfield seems to have a person vendetta against the Bowfinger family. Audrey's husband, Jeff, used to be a pastor of the local church but Jack accused him of misconduct and had him kicked out. Then Audrey was involved in an accident that wrecked his wife's scooter. Julie is nowhere to be found. Jack is convinced that Audrey is guilty of her disappearance and seeks revenge. Will Audrey be able to find Julie before it's to late?
February 7, 2022
Wow! Thoroughly enjoyed this book. The story revolves around the impact on other's lives of our choices and the blindness we have toward our own responsibilities...at least in the eyes of others. It's a story of forgiveness ~ the need for it and the need to give it. This story pulled at my emotions. That's the measure of a truly engaging book.
May 9, 2012
I personally really liked this! There were some bits and pieces I had figured out and others that I was anxious to find out. The ending wasn't totally satisfying to me which was the only major disappointment.
April 15, 2016
Loved the beginning and was looking forward to this. Took a real downward turn making it hard to get through..
Unbelievable plot, though could have been so much better. I tried a sample, enjoyed then bought the book. Was not worth the money or the time to read it.
Unbelievable plot, though could have been so much better. I tried a sample, enjoyed then bought the book. Was not worth the money or the time to read it.
May 23, 2019
Deeply intriguing book, Healy's themes are fascinating and have many deeper things to say than on the surface.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 257 reviews