Seeds of Evidence

Kit McGovern #1

by Linda J. White

Shaken by an unwanted divorce, FBI Special Agent Kit McGovern retreats to her grandmother s Virginia island home for a little R & R. But her vacation comes to an unexpected end when the body of a young Latino boy is found on the beach.Kit teams up with D.C. cop David O Connor to investigate the murder with the smallest of clues tomato seeds and acorns found in the boy s pockets. Using plant DNA evidence, Kit traces the young boy to a huge farm where more than a killer looms. With grit, determination, and a growing interest in David, Kit pursues her case and discovers that, to truly move forward in life, justice has to be tempered with mercy."

Genres: Suspense, Christian Fiction, Fiction, Mystery, Romantic Suspense, Book Club, Inspirational

ebook

First published April 1, 2013

About the author

Linda writes "white-knuckle fiction"--FBI thrillers with a twist of faith--from her home in rural Virginia. She's had careers as a government worker, a stay-at-home mom, and a journalist. Her husband, Larry, worked at the FBI Academy for over 25 years. Together they have three grown children. When she's not writing, you can find her walking in the woods, at the beach or doing something with grandchildren.

Reviews

[Gloria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seeds of Evidence is an exciting fast paced suspense that starts off with a beach scene where the body of a young Latino boy has washed up on the beach. FBI Special Agent Kit McGovern is taking some time off from work and enjoying time staying on the Virginia island where her grandmother used to live when she discovers the child's body. DC cop David O'Connor is also staying on the island recovering from a work related gunshot and is on the beach when the body washes up. Kit and David join forces to try to find out who the boy is, what happened to him and why is he on the beach. The investigation gets very interesting after the autopsy. Tomato seeds found in his stomach lead them to the thought that maybe he was with migrant workers before he died. He also had acorns in his pocket that lead them to seek advise from a botany professor in North Carolina who helped them figure how to search for the trees that the acorns grew on. As the investigation develops, the situation gets dangerous as more people are killed and others disappear and involves a large group of feds and local law enforcement.
Linda J White is a great writer of suspense with a thread of faith and romance running through them. Her novels are exciting and full of action page turners. Seeds of Evidence is another great story.

[Angela Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever read a book that kept your heart pounding from the first page on? Ever read a book that by paragraph two you knew you would not be putting it down until you read the final period? Ever picked up a book and said, eh, this might be a good read, only to be completely and totally blown away? Seeds of Evidence by Linda J White is THAT book.

From page one I felt like I had been sucked in through some hole and transported to Virginia and was hovering over the characters as their story played out. And the most impressive thing was, I didn't want to leave. It's rare that a book so completely and totally takes me in, to where I feel humidity in the air, the breeze off the ocean, smell the scent of the saltwater. I got chills, thrills, and yes a few tears. You can put me at the very top of Linda J White's fan list.

[JoAnn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome read

What an awesome suspense/romance by a terrific author. I literally could not put this book down. The plot is very good and involves human trafficking. I highly recommend this as well as any other books by this author.

[Rosemary Alband · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing

Kept my interest right from the beginning looking forward to reading more written by this author Linda J White this was one of the best books that I've read in a long time kept me trying to figure out the plot and where it was going to end

[Peter Lehu · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've never read a Christian suspense novel before, but I am embarking on a study of the fiction of the Eastern Shore of VA, so I came across this and quickly read it. I enjoyed all the references to real places and names on Chincoteague. The island was well-described and I got a kick out of many of the references. The rest of the Eastern Shore is treated as a wild, lawless place, compared to the safe vacationer's village. Place names on the mainland are rarely mentioned and some are invented. In the other ESVA novels I've read, most characters identify strongly with their environment but are nonetheless trying to escape the Eastern Shore mainland--in this book there are no real characters who live there, just one-dimensional criminals and their victims. But at least the area is not depicted as idyllic; the sad realities of the agricultural industry and the lives of migrant workers are a central part of the story.

That said, the primary function of this story is not to depict the region, but to be suspenseful and to relay a Christian message. There are plenty of cliffhangers and the story has a fairly complex and interesting plot. It's generally well written and White's writing does it job without getting in the way of the story. I'm not a Christian myself but I'm also not anti-religious and would have been open-minded to the book's message, but I hardly found any message to consider. Kit, the main character, loses her faith when life doesn't go her way, and she gets it back when she starts to see hope in the future. There's very little about what this faith actually consists of. God is someone who watches over you and makes sure your life has a happy ending, though sometimes it seems he's not there at all. But trust in him because things will work out. That's the extent of the Christian message. It seemed so silly to me that Kit refuses to date David, a seemingly perfect catch whom she is very attracted to, until he finds God himself. Maybe this kind of logic, which plays out in the characters' interior dialogue throughout the book, only makes sense to someone who identifies strongly as Christian.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first book for this author that I have read but I will be looking for others. Kit McGovern is an FBI agent on vacation in Chicoteague and finds a boy's body washed up on the beach. The story follows her as she works to solve the case even when her boss isn't sure there is a case. The story line includes human trafficking/slave labor. I don't know that there are other books in mind for Kit but I would be interested in reading others. I liked her character even when she was being difficult. The story did have a few slow spots in it but they didn't last very long and didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book. Read it in a couple of days which is good for me. It does have a fairly strong faith element in the book which I thought was very good. Along side it was also honest questioning and doubts because of things that had happened in the past.

[Deanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this novel when I visited Chincoteague Island / Assateague Island and Maryland's eastern shore. The local color included in this novel was impressive. I really enjoyed this book and felt it was almost ripped right from the current headlines in terms of its subject matter: human trafficking, opioid crisis, immigration, etc. Even though it was written over five years ago, I think it addressed all of these issues in a compassionate way that probably reflects the internal struggles most people continue to have with how to address these topics. I did like the characters, but the book is listed as Christian suspense and does contain issues of finding / struggling with faith. I didn't feel as if the characters or the author was actively proselytizing, but if this is not something you enjoy reading in your books, probably best to avoid this one.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I totally enjoyed the book-we read it for our monthly book club meeting! It kept my interest and at times I couldn't put it down! Some of our book club members didn't like, couple of them thought it was too negative and also thought it didn't come across as a mystery, I suspect that perhaps it wasn't classified as a mystery. I didn't agree with them on the negativity or on the mystery part. I thought a mystery was involved as the death of the young Latino boys body washed up on shore led to another of questions so Kit was involved with trying track down murders and what was behind the killing of such innocent! I liked the part where it talked about Kits Faith and the struggles she had due to her past history with her mom and ex-husband! It was significant when she came to forgive and move on with her life!

[DH Benson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this because I was curious about the Christian romance genre. It also is a murder mystery. I stopped reading it several times because I found the police procedural aspects of it not credible. And honestly, the romance aspect of it wasn't very credible either. And the Christian aspect was cliched as well. White does a good job setting scenes and relaying the feeling of place. But characters are typecast.

[Meaghan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the native Virginia setting and clear appreciation for Assateague and Chincoteague. The earlier portion of the book was intriguing and had me hooked. Unfortunately, I felt the second half was a bit slow, not as well written as it could have been and the religious elements felt somewhat incongruous with a story that starts with the murder of an innocent child. I also felt certain failures to follow up on important details by the main character, a trained FBI agent were not believable.

[Mary Tilghman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A white-knuckle crime story set in charming Chincoteague! I managed the read the whole book on a flight. Loved the characters, an FBI agent and a cop taking a break after a terrible ordeal. Loved the way the story expanded from the investigation of the murder of a child to crime all around the Eastern Shore of Virginia and into Maryland. There are questions about faith and a love story to round out this novel. Really. I couldn't put it down.

[Robbie Bayler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

The content was very well researched. The characters were well developed and believable. It is always a blessing to find a book that is devoted to a theme of the impotence of forgiveness and Grace in our journey to Jesus and our walk with Him. I would recommend this book to anyone except the most faint of heart or overly religious. 👍

[Rhonda Sappington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intrigue, mystery, edge of your seat reading!

This book was intelligently written with faith as the under current until forgiveness made it to the forefront. I will be looking for odd from this author.

[Dawn Traylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story

I really enjoyed this book. The author had been recommended based on other books I read and she is great. The story kept moving and had a couple of subplots too so every detail had a reason for being there!

[Joe Bellew · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m going to Chincoteague for the first time this coming fall, so this novel, set there, interested me. Very disappointing. Amateurish crime story. Unrealistic relationships. And I did not appreciate the Christian proselytizing.

[Kelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing! New-to -me author and I'm hooked! Well-developed characters and intriguing plot line. Twists and turns keep you reading long after you should be asleep! Looking forward to reading more by the author

[Frances M. Hardy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great

Another Linda J White great. Has the mystery and suspense (and a little bit of romance) without the gore and bad language that seems to be present in so many of the new books published lately.

[Kaitlyn | read_withkaitlyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took a hot minute to get into this one because there was soooooo much build up. I loved the crime aspect of it more than anything. Didn’t care for the love story part, tbh.

3.5 stars rounded down!

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have not read any fiction about human trafficking before. That was my favorite part of this book, learning about it. I want to read more.

[Gayle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review

A New author for Me. Excellent book. After I got into it could not put it down. Recommend this book to all. Would even read the second time.

[Carol S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suspense, mystery, and a great love story

Good plot and great writing. Love the character Kit. The Christian focus is worked in to the story very naturally. Great read!

[Maggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good but simply too much police procedural for me.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super good mystery! Plus, I love that it’s a Christian thriller/mystery. My only complaint is that it was very hard to put it down. I was up late two nights in a row to finish it;)

[Sherri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I especially liked the behind the scenes of how she felt as FBI agent. Good quick read.

[Suzanne S. Lines · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast moving

Beautiful descriptions. Make you want to be there as part of the action.can't wait for the next one good read

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Page turner! Could not set it down. Well I did one night!!

[Riley Beale · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great read. I love Linda J. White. She's a good author.

[Susan West · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very good book. It kept moving and had a lot of twists and turns in the storyline. It kept my interest, and I look forward to reading more books by Linda White.

[Kim Humphrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beach, mystery, law enforcement… similar to Charles Martin “Keeper” series. First time reading this author, I will read more.

[Create With Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

When FBI Special Agent Kit McGovern arrives on the beautiful island of Chincoteague, Virginia – a place she spent many summers with her grandmother – she is looking forward to a much needed respite from the stresses of her professional and personal life.

So is David O’Connor – a D.C. homicide detective on a 6-month leave of absence following a life-altering, on-the-job incident.

Although they arrive on the island from different stations in life, they have many things in common.

Both are passionate about their jobs.
Both are good at what they do.
Both are willing to fight for what they believe in and have a heart for justice.
Both are reeling from the hurts of past relationships.
Both have wounds in need of healing.
Both are feeling lost and estranged from God.

Chincoteague seems like the perfect place to rest, relax and recuperate.

Chincoteague is remote.
Chincoteague is scenic.
On Chincoteague, there are no murders…
That is, until Kit and David arrive.

The last place anyone would ever expect to stumble across a dead body would be on the beautiful beaches of Chincoteague Island. And yet, one morning when Kit is jogging on the beach and David is returning from an early morning surf, their vacations come to a grinding halt when an 8-year old Latino boy mysteriously washes up to shore.

Both Kit and David suspect foul play. Neither can get the boy out of their minds. They’re also having difficulty getting one another out of their thoughts.

Thus begins Linda J. White’s Seeds Of Evidence – a summer thriller that will enthrall you from beginning to end!

You’ll be captivated as you delve deeper and deeper into the mystery that surrounds the little boy that no one has reported missing. You’ll be fascinated as you see where the investigation leads. You’ll be on the edge of your seat as the story develops. And, you’ll be inspired as you see how God works in the lives of these two main characters.

I truly enjoyed Linda’s well-researched novel and appreciated her attention to detail. I loved how Linda built anticipation and suspense with each passing chapter. I found Seeds Of Evidence exciting and true-to-life and thought the characters were well-developed and believable. I’m still reeling from the explosive ending!

If you love mysteries and thrillers, definitely add Seeds Of Evidence to your summertime reading list!

This review was originally published at Create With Joy.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review purposes. I was not compensated or required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.