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Sanctuary Point #2
Goodbye Noel
The first body is found under a trimmed Christmas tree, the second as they ring in the New Year (1947), the third goes head long out a window. Will a young pediatric nurse determined to make it on her own be able to care for an infant whose mother was murdered and escape the killer who has struck again? Can she trust the stalwart village detective with her life and her heart as he works to catch this killer before somebody else dies?
Pediatric nurse, Katrina Lenart, grew up strong willed and independent minded, while sharing her mother’s flair for high fashion. When the police chief gives her an orphaned baby to care for, her maternal instincts take over and she’s willing to fight anyone who might not have the infant’s best interests at heart, even the man she’s growing to love. After an attempt is made to kidnap the baby, she and the resolute village detective team up and do some sleuthing, undercover at a cult as well as at a fancy ball.
Detective Ian Daltry is a widower with a child and is not interested in a new love. Hunting a killer who stops at nothing has placed him in the position where he must protect a beautiful young woman he’s drawn to. Is there’s something he’s overlooked in analyzing the case? Will he find out what that is before this ruthless murderer kills someone he loves?
Pediatric nurse, Katrina Lenart, grew up strong willed and independent minded, while sharing her mother’s flair for high fashion. When the police chief gives her an orphaned baby to care for, her maternal instincts take over and she’s willing to fight anyone who might not have the infant’s best interests at heart, even the man she’s growing to love. After an attempt is made to kidnap the baby, she and the resolute village detective team up and do some sleuthing, undercover at a cult as well as at a fancy ball.
Detective Ian Daltry is a widower with a child and is not interested in a new love. Hunting a killer who stops at nothing has placed him in the position where he must protect a beautiful young woman he’s drawn to. Is there’s something he’s overlooked in analyzing the case? Will he find out what that is before this ruthless murderer kills someone he loves?
170 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 12, 2011
2 people are currently reading
50 people want to read
About the author
Nike N. Chillemi
11 books91 followersNike N. Chillemi writes contemporary, classic murder mysteries/detective novels. Plenty of twists and turns, action, a dash of grit, wry humor as her characters navigate through situations and relationships. There's usually a national security/public safety underlying theme to her work with an uplifting message. She likes her bad guys really bad, her good guys smarter and better. Her newest endeavor is ACTS OF MALICE.
Nike is the founding board member of the Grace Filled Fiction Spotlight (formerly the Grace Awards) and its Chair, a platform to promote excellence in Christian fiction. She has been a judge in the 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017 Carol Awards in the suspense, mystery, and romantic suspense categories; the Genesis Awards in 2018; First Impressions 2019, and an Inspy Awards 2010 judge in the Suspense/Thriller/Mystery category. She has written book reviews for The Christian Pulse online magazine. Her blog delves into murder mystery/suspense writing as well as the challenges of life. She lives in NE coastal Florida with one small dog and five cats, is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). https://nikechillemi.com/
Nike is the founding board member of the Grace Filled Fiction Spotlight (formerly the Grace Awards) and its Chair, a platform to promote excellence in Christian fiction. She has been a judge in the 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017 Carol Awards in the suspense, mystery, and romantic suspense categories; the Genesis Awards in 2018; First Impressions 2019, and an Inspy Awards 2010 judge in the Suspense/Thriller/Mystery category. She has written book reviews for The Christian Pulse online magazine. Her blog delves into murder mystery/suspense writing as well as the challenges of life. She lives in NE coastal Florida with one small dog and five cats, is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). https://nikechillemi.com/
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 31, 2011
The ‘crime fictionista’ strikes again! Goodbye Noel by Nike Chillemi starts with a bang and never lets up. This is the second in Chillemi’s ‘Sanctuary Point’ Series – mystery crime stories set in a small, post WW II American town. This installment takes place right after Christmas when a young mother is found dead under her Christmas tree. Katrina Lenart, a maternity nurse who happens to stumble upon the scene, is given temporary custody of the orphaned infant while Inspector Ian Daltry investigates the murder. The case turns out to be anything but a simple homicide as the twists and turns just keep coming. To complicate matters further, the Inspector and Nurse Lenart find themselves falling in love.
I enjoyed reading this book and plan to read the rest of the series. Chillemi has a fresh, bold writing style that is easy to read but also has depth. The author has done an excellent job of making the characters sound authentic for the time period. As well, the story never lags as new elements keep cropping up in the case, making the resolution, when it finally occurs, a genuine surprise. Even though this is book two, Goodbye Noel stands firmly on its own and the fact that it takes place over the holiday season should not deter readers from enjoying it at any time, so don’t wait until next Christmas to read it. I highly recommend this novel to those that like a good crime story. Well done.
I enjoyed reading this book and plan to read the rest of the series. Chillemi has a fresh, bold writing style that is easy to read but also has depth. The author has done an excellent job of making the characters sound authentic for the time period. As well, the story never lags as new elements keep cropping up in the case, making the resolution, when it finally occurs, a genuine surprise. Even though this is book two, Goodbye Noel stands firmly on its own and the fact that it takes place over the holiday season should not deter readers from enjoying it at any time, so don’t wait until next Christmas to read it. I highly recommend this novel to those that like a good crime story. Well done.
March 2, 2013
I appreciated Katrina's spiritual maturity in the first novel in this series, but in Goodbye Noel (which I read over the past Christmas/New Years holiday which was the perfect time to read it)I really enjoyed Katrina's spunk and intelligence.
I have to say Detective Ian Daltry is one of my favorite heros in the murder mystery genre. What a guy.
This one has a despicable villian, which I really love.
I recommend this novel highly. I recommend the series. I'm reading them in order. Can't wait to start the next one. Though I'm not a fast reader.
I have to say Detective Ian Daltry is one of my favorite heros in the murder mystery genre. What a guy.
This one has a despicable villian, which I really love.
I recommend this novel highly. I recommend the series. I'm reading them in order. Can't wait to start the next one. Though I'm not a fast reader.
March 24, 2012
Goodbye Noel by Nike Chillemi is the second novel in the Sanctuary Point series. Burning Hearts,the first, was good. This one is even better. Katrina Lenart and Ian Daltry meet in front of a Christmas tree with a dead body. An infant is crying down the hall. Ian is the police detective investigating the murders. Yes, there's more than one. He lost his first wife. Will he lose Katrina, too, just as he realizes he’s in love with her? Katrina vows to keep the baby safe, but can she? Will she even be allowed to keep it? The father is still alive. Christian fiction with a good plot and interesting setting baits your hook. If you’ve ever wanted to adopt a child, you’ll identify with this book and Katrina’s feelings and emotions. The author writes with vivid description and details that make the story realistic and allows us a glimpse of certain types of religious meetings. I enjoyed both novels and look forward to her third in the series.
October 18, 2014
Katrina Lenart, a maternity nurse from Long Island, New York, is enjoying a toboggan ride with her best friend's brother, until they see something bloody on the snow-covered ground near a neighbor's cottage.
Concerned, the two of them rush to check on the residence. They find the door ajar, enter the cottage, and stumble upon the lifeless body of Noel Bauer. A pool of blood is beneath her head.
Moments later, the cries of an infant echo down the hallway. Katrina makes a vow to the child. "You're going to be fine. Somehow, I'll make sure. I promise."
Detective Ian Daltry arrives. He and his rookie-officer search the premises. Ian grabs the family Bible, flips through the pages, and finds an empty envelope tucked inside. The return address is for the children's home in Sayville. Did Noel Bauer go to the next county, adopt the baby, and hide it from everyone? Did her husband find out the child was adopted and wasn't his? Did he become enraged and turn violent?
Speaking of which, where is Noel's husband?
As the investigation ensues, Katrina clashes with Detective Ian Daltry. She finds the man disconcerting, not at all like the college-age fellows she's use to. She wonders if the stern detective even possesses a light side. Perhaps he uses police manuals at night for nifty bedtime reading.
Ian, a widower with a young daughter, is just trying to do his job. Since his own wife was murdered, Ian's determined to find Noel's killer, nothing more, but Katrina Lenart is making it hard for him to focus. Her startling green eyes, not to mention her swirling blonde hair keep distracting him. She must be at least ten years younger than he is, which would be a factor if he were even mildly interested in the insufferable woman, but he isn't.
Sounds interesting, doesn't it?
Trust me, it is. Nike Chillemi isn't labled the Crime Fictionista for nothing.
I highly recommend this book.
Concerned, the two of them rush to check on the residence. They find the door ajar, enter the cottage, and stumble upon the lifeless body of Noel Bauer. A pool of blood is beneath her head.
Moments later, the cries of an infant echo down the hallway. Katrina makes a vow to the child. "You're going to be fine. Somehow, I'll make sure. I promise."
Detective Ian Daltry arrives. He and his rookie-officer search the premises. Ian grabs the family Bible, flips through the pages, and finds an empty envelope tucked inside. The return address is for the children's home in Sayville. Did Noel Bauer go to the next county, adopt the baby, and hide it from everyone? Did her husband find out the child was adopted and wasn't his? Did he become enraged and turn violent?
Speaking of which, where is Noel's husband?
As the investigation ensues, Katrina clashes with Detective Ian Daltry. She finds the man disconcerting, not at all like the college-age fellows she's use to. She wonders if the stern detective even possesses a light side. Perhaps he uses police manuals at night for nifty bedtime reading.
Ian, a widower with a young daughter, is just trying to do his job. Since his own wife was murdered, Ian's determined to find Noel's killer, nothing more, but Katrina Lenart is making it hard for him to focus. Her startling green eyes, not to mention her swirling blonde hair keep distracting him. She must be at least ten years younger than he is, which would be a factor if he were even mildly interested in the insufferable woman, but he isn't.
Sounds interesting, doesn't it?
Trust me, it is. Nike Chillemi isn't labled the Crime Fictionista for nothing.
I highly recommend this book.
September 8, 2014
The year is 1946. In the fictional town of Sanctuary Point, on the south shore of Long Island, New York, life is getting back on track after the war. It's Christmas time, and spirits are high – until Katrina Lenart finds one of her neighbours dead.
Who would murder this young woman while her baby slept in the next room? With the father nowhere to be found, Katrina gets permission to care for the infant. She is, after all, a pediatric nurse. And she lives with her parents, who will babysit while she's at work.
Katrina and the detective assigned to the case, Ian Daltry, get off to a bad start but quickly fall for one another. Ian can't forget losing his wife in a drive-by shooting, and he'll do anything to keep Katrina, his daughter Amy, and baby Leslie safe.
But can he do enough? Why is the baby a target? And for whom?
Katrina is equally determined to protect the baby, and she quickly becomes Ian's unofficial helper to solve the mystery.
Goodbye Noel is a fun mystery with plenty of clues and red herrings. It gives an interesting picture of this era, where children of immigrant parents still face discrimination (Katrina's parents are Czech) and where there aren't enough eligible bachelors to go around. It's an elegant time, even for middle-class people like Katrina and her family, and we get to observe a high-society soiree as well.
Nike Chillemi has written four mysteries so far in the Sanctuary Point series. Goodbye Noel is the second. For more about the author and her books, visit her Crime Fictionista website.
[Review copy from my personal library.]
Who would murder this young woman while her baby slept in the next room? With the father nowhere to be found, Katrina gets permission to care for the infant. She is, after all, a pediatric nurse. And she lives with her parents, who will babysit while she's at work.
Katrina and the detective assigned to the case, Ian Daltry, get off to a bad start but quickly fall for one another. Ian can't forget losing his wife in a drive-by shooting, and he'll do anything to keep Katrina, his daughter Amy, and baby Leslie safe.
But can he do enough? Why is the baby a target? And for whom?
Katrina is equally determined to protect the baby, and she quickly becomes Ian's unofficial helper to solve the mystery.
Goodbye Noel is a fun mystery with plenty of clues and red herrings. It gives an interesting picture of this era, where children of immigrant parents still face discrimination (Katrina's parents are Czech) and where there aren't enough eligible bachelors to go around. It's an elegant time, even for middle-class people like Katrina and her family, and we get to observe a high-society soiree as well.
Nike Chillemi has written four mysteries so far in the Sanctuary Point series. Goodbye Noel is the second. For more about the author and her books, visit her Crime Fictionista website.
[Review copy from my personal library.]
January 13, 2012
Pediatric nurse Katrina Lenart discovers a crying baby—in the house where his mother was just brutally murdered. Detective Ian Daltry arrives to investigate and personalities begin to clash. But the sparks soon fly in a different direction as romance blooms during the long, frustrating investigation. The list of suspects keeps growing, as does the body count. What clues are missing? Katrina is his second chance at love after his first wife was murdered three years before. Will Ian solve the case before he loses her as well?
I love this second book in the Sanctuary Point Series and enjoyed the sparks flying between Ian and Katrina. They are an unlikely couple yet they somehow fit well together, despite their similar take-charge personalities and forthright banter. The reader soon understands both characters and wants the relationship to work. But many forces are at play and there seems to be danger around every turn.
There is some mild profanity from “the bad guys” but it fits with the characters and is not overly done.
There were so many possible murderers in this cast, that, once again, I did not know who the real killer was until the end. And I like to be surprised!
An action-packed read without being too grisly. And once again, Ms. Chillemi effortlessly intertwines faith and Scripture into the text without it seeming out of place. My only regret was not being able to read it straight through. I’d recommend reading this when your calendar is empty for the day!
December 16, 2011
All I can say is WOW. I can see how Ms. Chillemi got her nickname of the Crime Fictionista. She sure does know how to build a story - and a crime plot. The whole time the detective is interviewing people, I felt like I was right there with him, listening for nuances in answers, watching the unconscious body language of nerves or fear. But through it all, she doesn't give a thing away. Yeah, you hear his thoughts, but they're just that - pieces that he's trying to put together in some way that makes sense.
And the way she describes Katrina's family and home life gives the story such a warm rich texture. Again she made me feel like I was right there in the kitchen eating dinner with them, or sitting by the fire.
Oh, and the love you feel from these strangers for this baby is amazing. Truly, this is the way every child should be loved!
And then the romance begins.
Well, I'm beginning to think I can't say enough good things about this story. It's heartwarming, gut wrenching, edge of your seat intriguing, and just plain sweet all rolled into one. Check it out for yourself, it's a wonderful read!
And the way she describes Katrina's family and home life gives the story such a warm rich texture. Again she made me feel like I was right there in the kitchen eating dinner with them, or sitting by the fire.
Oh, and the love you feel from these strangers for this baby is amazing. Truly, this is the way every child should be loved!
And then the romance begins.
Well, I'm beginning to think I can't say enough good things about this story. It's heartwarming, gut wrenching, edge of your seat intriguing, and just plain sweet all rolled into one. Check it out for yourself, it's a wonderful read!
April 21, 2014
Well, I'm finished reading the novel and it was a wonderful story to read at the holidays. Coming from that Eastern European background,it was especially enjoyable reading about the Christmas and New Year's traditions of Czechoslovakia. However, I think this novel could be read at any time of year.
Katrina is a heroine who truly gripped me. She was independent, strong in character, and someone I cared about. I cheered her on as she fought to protect an orphaned infant from a deranged killer. At first she doesn't know if she cares for the way Det. Daltry is handling the murder of the baby's mother, but she soon comes to trust him.
The author infused in the story the theme of justice for the murder victim in a profound way. This struck a note with me as well.(less)
Katrina is a heroine who truly gripped me. She was independent, strong in character, and someone I cared about. I cheered her on as she fought to protect an orphaned infant from a deranged killer. At first she doesn't know if she cares for the way Det. Daltry is handling the murder of the baby's mother, but she soon comes to trust him.
The author infused in the story the theme of justice for the murder victim in a profound way. This struck a note with me as well.(less)
October 11, 2013
This book brings you in and holds you hostage. A wonderful read that keeps you guessing throughout the whole book! I changed my opinion of the culprit several times and still did not get it right. Very well written, the scenes are described so that you can see what is going on, and each time you are sure of who the murderer is, another incident happens that makes you not so sure. This book is filled with twists and turns and has a love story braided through it. Just when it worked itself out, the author zings you at the end with the real murderer and why. I challenge anyone to try to figure this out before the end!
May 2, 2013
This was the second book in the series. Loved it just as much as the first one. A little bit more romantic than the first but, wonderful just the same. Great book.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews