Sidetracked

by Brandilyn Collins

When you live a lie for so long, it becomes a part of you. Like clothing first rough and scratchy, it eventually wears down, thins out. Sinks into your skin. Thirty-four-year-old Delanie Miller has fled her dark past and is now settled into a quiet life in small-town Kentucky. She has friends, a faux "family" who lives in her house, and a loving boyfriend who may soon ask her to marry him. Her aching dream of a husband and future children are about to come true. But protecting this life of promise means keeping a low profile and guarding the truth of her past—from everyone. The town's peace is shattered when Delanie's friend, Clara, is murdered, and Delanie finds her body. The police chief quickly zeroes in on Billy King, a simple-minded young man whom Delanie knows would never hurt Clara. Delanie can hunt down evidence and speak out publicly against the chief—only at great risk of her own exposure. But after suffering such injustice in own her past, how can she keep silent now? Delanie must find a way to uncover Clara’s murderer yet save the life she’s created for herself—the deceit-ridden life that will forever distance her from others and God. With page-turning intensity, Sidetracked hurtles between Delanie’s trauma in Redbud and the chaos of her past. Those experiences forced Delanie to reinvent her present—but at what cost to her future?

Genres: Christian Fiction, Christian, Fiction, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Suspense, Thriller

312 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 30, 2014

About the author

Brandilyn Collins is a best-selling novelist known for her trademark Seatbelt Suspense®--fast-paced, character-driven suspense with myriad twists and an interwoven thread of faith.

Brandilyn is also known for her distinctive book on fiction-writing techniques, Getting Into Character: Seven Secrets a Novelist Can Learn From Actors (John Wiley & Sons). She is a sought-after teacher and speaker at writers' conferences.

Reviews

[Camille Herrera · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an okay book! I would have given it 3.5 stars id i could. I’m not typically a murder mystery reader but I had the kid i babysit blindly pick a book for me at the library so i went into this very blind. It was very plot driven and wasted no time on nonsense which made it an easy read and i definitely enjoyed it, but many of the big events felt like they happened for the purpose of writing a book, rather than being authentic to a story if that makes any sense at all! overall not bad i suppose just not my thing.

[C.J. Darlington · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't believe I didn't read this book sooner. I've always enjoyed a page-turning Brandilyn Collins novel, and Sidetracked is as good as what we've come to expect from the Queen of Christian suspense. With dual narratives upping the tension, Collins builds a tale of one woman's desperate need for family, belonging, and escaping her past. You feel for Delanie and her struggles on every page. There are some really good baddies in here too (at least one you'll hate!) This is Collins' first indie novel, and it's a terrific suspense tale to pick up during those cold winter nights.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Brandilyn Collins thriller. Read too late every night since I started it. A major page turner.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

rating a christian thriller a perfect five stars wasn't anywhere on my 2025 bingo card, but here we are. I had so many doubts going into this because I never read christian fiction, I find that lots of it tends to pander and doesn't make for an enjoyable reading experience. this book, however, was absolutely incredible. there were SO many crazy plot twists and it was set up so much better than I thought. it was really slow until the flashbacks started, but once those hit the book went by so fast. it may be one of the best thrillers I've ever read to date. the christian themes were present and recurring but not in your face, and provided a refreshing tie in to the necessity of relying on God in everything that happens. I think this book gave me whiplash but I couldn't be happier about it. I definitely highly recommend this book, as it's a super quick, super fun read.

[Christian Fiction Addiction · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Side-tracked” is a nail-biting read, one that captured me from the first page and kept me entwined in its grip until the end. Although the story involves murder, this is not one of those suspense stories where characters are constantly in mortal danger from being shot at. Rather, the tension swiftly builds throughout the story as readers watch the injustices unfold and are left wondering the fate of those who appear to be wrongly accused for the crimes. In fact, I found myself so tense at some of the scenes, especially those from the past, that I had to force myself to relax! The writing is crisp, a pleasure to read, with a heroine that you will grow to love. Although at first I wondered how I would enjoy the change in story line from the present-day Delanie to the past scenes of Laura, I enjoyed both equally and found them to be woven seamlessly together. In the midst of the suspense and unfolding drama, there are also deeper moments where characters encounter God, battle bitterness, and find the courage to face the consequences of their past actions and also the grace to forgive. I won't even hint at what the ending is of course, but I will say this - it is totally satisfying!

I devoured this book in short order as I simply couldn't put it down. I highly recommend this latest novel from Brandilyn Collins, and award it 5 out of 5 stars.

An electronic copy of this book was provided courtesy of the author for the purposes of this unbiased review.

[Kay Defreese · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not know who the murdered was until the end of the novel. I had to keep reading it until I finished. There are not many books that keep me reading for hours to learn the outcome.

[Sarita · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the start of this book, this was one thrilling ride. The author did an excellent job jumping between the present time and the past and bringing everything together.

Laura was taken through a crazy and emotional journey. She had to deal with a lot of anger, grief and even hate towards her circumstances.

“In the end, God will judge. But we can’t always see a happy ending to the story in our lifetime. What we can do is make the best of the life we have left. Let God help you do that.”

I did guess the murderer from the start - it was a bit obvious - but what was scary was how fast the police just accepted that evidence proof their theory. But, there was also a few moments where I second guess myself and was wondering if there was a different twist coming.

Recommended to fans of Romantic Suspense.

[Georgann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a sad book. Sad for a wrongful conviction and for that poor 16 yo kid, for the guilt and lies and authorities who will not listen and can't even bring themselves to care. Sad for the hopelessness and for how many people are in prison right now, just like this. I figured out the murderer but it still kept me reading.

[Trish Lagenour · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a page turner. I enjoyed the story and the occasional reference to God and prayer.

[Rick · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has been a true pleasure over the last several years to be associated with The Book Fun Network and for the development of the Book Fun Magazine. I always keep an eye open for any new Brandilyn Collins and was excited when this new book came up for adoption in the month of May. I knew that I couldn’t pass this one up, course I also knew that I would be getting any sleep until it was finished.


Finding a dead body was the last thing that Delanie Miller wanted to do, check that, find the her best friend’s dead body was the last thing Delanie Miller wanted to do. Thrust into the middle of the investigation because of what she saw that night, Delanie is being forced where she doesn’t want to be. Can’t the police just take her statement and follow the leads? Why is she being looked at as the bad guy just because she doesn’t believe their number 1 suspect is truly guilty. Running concurrently to this story is another story of Laura Denton that seems to be faced with the same dilemma that Delanie sees happening. Laura has been accused of murdering her mother, but it doesn’t seem like anything can be done to prove her innocence. Can Delanie keep the investigation on track to ensure the right person is convicted of the crime? Will Laura be sentenced for a murder she claims she didn’t commit? Is there a connection between these two girls and their story lines? Find all of the right clues so you can BUY THIS BOOK!!!

From the start, this book grabs you with the story of Delanie’s eyewitness account of finding her best friend’s body just minutes after leaving the bridal shower. And off it goes, never letting you rest for just a moment. The additional story line that is running about Laura Denton and her murder trial, is equally as breath-taking as you get to see her murder trial, sentencing and life behind bars. This is like getting two great stories in one and both of them edge of your seat excitement. These two stories are clearly explained for their connection at the end and it is truly amazing how the author has managed to put these stories together and make them end up so cleverly. The attention to detail and plot twists make this a must read for anybody.

Is this a "guy's book"? This is ANYBODY’s book, which makes it even sweeter. The guy’s will enjoy the pulse-pounding, heart-throbbing suspense that reaches out from the front pages of this book never relinquishes control of you till the last page. Make sure you have a full day to finish this, because you won’t want to put it down till your done.

I received this book from the publisher and the Book Fun Network (bookfun.org) in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Rachelle Ayala · Rating 5 out of 5]

This page turner starts with the murder of a young woman right after her bridal shower. Her friend, Delanie, finds the body. Right away, we know Delanie has something to hide. However her sense of justice is even stronger and she does not shirk her duty to tell the truth when an innocent man is arrested for the murder.

The story weaves between present day Delanie and a sixteen year old girl, Laura, who found her mother's body one afternoon after school. I won't give away the connection except that it will keep you wanting to find out more in both storylines, the present day investigation into Clara's murder and the investigation and trial in Laura's mother's murder.

Because I'm a seasoned mystery reader, I very early on identified the real culprit. I realized the author dropped a person who was in the vicinity but purposely did not follow up on that person. I also realized who the real murderer was in the story in the past, because again, there was no examination of motive and the focus was too much on the red herring.

As the story moved along, the past and present collided and all was revealed. The important things is that the protagonist was someone I sympathized with and wanted to follow. I was glad that everything worked out at the end.

Finally, the references to God and Delanie's dependence on him was a bonus. There was no preaching or heavy handed religious message, but God's constant abiding presence was there and carried her even through the worst of times.

[Janet Sketchley · Rating 5 out of 5]

When a friend is murdered, Delanie Miller has to find the truth—or an innocent man will go to jail. That's something she absolutely can't allow. Even if it destroys the life she's worked so hard to build.

Sidetracked is two stories in one: Delanie's fight to find her friend's killer, and the events that shattered her teen years and brought her to this place, alone. Both plot threads find closure at the end.

I always enjoy Brandilyn Collins' suspense novels, with strong characters and fast-paced plots. I've read enough of them now to know I can trust this author to deliver a crackling tale that's realistic but that won't traumatize me. This one jumped to the top of my reading list when I bought it, and it's a great read.

Sidetracked is award-winning author Brandilyn Collins' newest Seatbelt Suspense® novel. Visit the author's website to learn more about Brandilyn Collins and her other books. For more about Sidetracked, visit the book's page, where you can read chapter 1.

[Review copy from my personal library. See my full review at http://janetsketchley.ca/sidetracked-...]

[Wade · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like Brandilyn Collins as an author as she does a great job with creating suspenseful mysteries that are clean and spiritual with enough realism to keep the pages turning. While I enjoyed many aspects of this book (always am a fan of Collins' style of doing present day along with flashbacks and then merging it all together), I must say that this was one was ridiculously predictable to the point that you think that there must be some crazy twist you didn't see coming to blindside you (I thought for sure she was sidetracking the reader for something big)...but alas, the first time the guilty person is brought up, I knew who it was, and as the book progressed, there weren't any other viable options for the guilty person. So I found that disappointing in that she didn't create some more red herrings and am extremely surprised with all the 5 star reviews. About to start the Hidden Faces series by Brandilyn Collins so hope that is much better.

Check out other reviews here: https://wadeurspider01.wixsite.com/we...

[Randy Tramp · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you think it can’t get any worse, it does.

Called, “Seatbelt Suspense,” and for good reason. Buckle up, for twists and turns you’ll never see coming.

In the book, the reader goes on a present-to-past journey. That writing style made the story more interesting. I found myself wanting to return to years prior to learning how the main character arrived in the present. Mystery intensified.

I have studied Brandilyn’s books on writing in order to better my own craft. The principles she’s laid out in her “helps” books are shown in Sidetracked. She’s a gifted writer, one that I try to emulate. (I fall very short of that goal.)

Great suspense-filled mystery with relatable characters. A story I’ll soon not forget.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book. I've read almost all of Brandilyn's books, and this is one of her best.

I loved Laura. My heart broke for her, and I raced through the book to find out what would happen to her.

Divided into present day and Laura's childhood, there are basically two stories told at once, which made the plot faster/more intense than if just one story played out.

Fans of Collins' books will love this newest addition.

[Candy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author is always a great read! I loved this story and the ending. I recommend this book to suspense fans!

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Again Brandilyn Collins gives readers a great story.

[Linda Greeson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Tedious

I found this book slow and a bit predictable. I didn't finish reading it for this reason. I also had trouble envisioning the scenes in my mind.

[Carissa (Regency Woman) · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wish the book's heroine had focused on logic and not emotion. Guessed the climax an hour from the end. This is the first book by this author that I've poorly rated.

[Kriste · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting multi time period perspectives.

[DeeAnn Christensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read.

This really is a page-turner. I enjoyed this book a lot. The story is well written and full of suspense. Quite a twist at the end. I'm grateful that she decided to face her past and move on. She found the courage to give it to God and live with His love and support. Good for Andy for sticking with Laura, after her confession. Loved the ending.

[Shirley Conley · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 starsThe story is told over two time frames 1995 and 2013-14. The suspense developed is sometimes breathtaking. The only reason for the lower rating is that I believe I knew “who done it” about the middle of the book. Contains murder, wrongly accused prisoner, black mail, and a great love story.

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a crazy story! Even though the true culprit is revealed well before the book ends, the path that the protagonist takes to reclaim her innocence packs an emotional punch! I do have to warn sensitive readers that this deals with murder and violence, and gets graphic at times. For those who don't mind such content, though, this is definitely worth reading!

[Gayle Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Put your seatbelt on when you open this book. It is a wild ride from beginning to end. This is a murder suspense and Ms. Collins ties it up very neatly at the end. This book should be on your to read list.

[Laura Chambers · Rating 5 out of 5]

My goodness, what a ride! I couldn't believe the ending! To think that...well, I'll let you find out for yourself. :)

[Lori Wasson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so good that I finished it in less than a week, which is unusual these days for me. To be in Laura's shoes would have been horrendous!

[Chad Billheimer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The main character is a little confusing and mysterious at first, but as more of her background gets revealed, the story really takes off and I couldn’t wait to read more!

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book I've read by Brandilyn Collins. Thoroughly enjoyed. Fast paced. Well woven plot. Can't wait to read another.

[TheReadingKnitter/ Kasey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book! I guessed some of the twist and turns and some I didn’t. This author is amazing as usual!

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing story with great twists!