This title was previously published as Glimmer in the Darkness by Robin Patchen. New name, same great story.
From a USA Today bestselling author comes this edge-of-your-seat Christian suspense that will keep you reading all night long.Nothing could get her home…but this.
Cassidy Leblanc worked hard to shake off her tragic childhood. As a foster child with a mother in prison for murder, she was an outcast in her small New Hampshire town until she met James. But she and James’s sister, whom she was babysitting, were kidnapped. She escaped, but Hallie didn’t survive, and everybody assumed Cassidy killed her. Like mother, like daughter, after all. With public opinion and the authorities united against her, young Cassidy fled. Now, a decade later, another little girl has been kidnapped, and Cassidy may be the only person who can find her.
He doesn’t know who to trust.
James Sullivan never believed that Cassidy killed his sister, no matter what the authorities said. When his best friend’s daughter goes missing a decade after Hallie's murder, James keeps his opinions on the matter to himself. But when he finds Cassidy sneaking around his property, his thoughts turn dark. If she’s not behind the recent kidnapping, what is she doing back in Coventry? Her answer—that she’s returned to find little Ella, and she needs his help—has him reeling. Can he trust Cassidy, despite what the police tell him? If there’s any chance he can save Ella, he has to try.
Danger lurks on the mountain.
Together, they search for the elusive cave where Cassidy and Hallie were taken, but somebody will stop at nothing to make sure they don’t find it or, if they do, that they don’t come out alive.
Pulse-pounding suspense, a second-chance romance, and a precious little girl who needs her daddy. You don't want to miss it.
Robin Patchen is a USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of Christian romantic suspense. She grew up in a small town in New Hampshire, the setting of her Nutfield Saga books, and then headed to Boston to earn a journalism degree. After college, working in marketing and public relations, she discovered how much she loathed the nine-to-five ball-and-chain. After relocating to the Southwest, she started writing her first novel while she homeschooled her three children. The novel was dreadful, but her passion for storytelling didn’t wane. Thankfully, as her children grew, so did her writing ability. Now that her kids are adults, she has more time to play with the lives of fictional heroes and heroines, wreaking havoc and working magic to give her characters happy endings. When she’s not writing, she’s editing or reading, proving most of her life revolves around the twenty-six letters of the alphabet. Visit https://robinpatchen.com/subscribe to receive a free book and stay informed about Robin’s latest projects.
This is a well-written, entertaining mystery novel. It has a likable female protagonist, a second chance romance, intrigue, suspense, heartbreak, faith, hope, and a satisfying conclusion. I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator, Mr. Robert Andrew Stevenson, does a wonderful job voicing the characters.
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What if you were accused of murder. What if everybody you knew believed you were guilty? What if you were eighteen years old and had no family to depend on--or to defend you?
When Cassidy was a senior in high school, she and the girl she was babysitting--her boyfriend's sister--were abducted, and the little girl was killed. Cassidy escaped, but nobody in town believed her story. They blamed her for the child's death. Cassidy's mother was in prison for murder, so the townspeople thought, like mother, like daughter.
Rather than stay and fight to prove her innocence, eighteen-year-old Cassidy ran as far away from New Hampshire as the bus would take her.
She should've stayed and fought the charges, but she was afraid. I wish I could say I'm braver than she was, but I don't know. I was that kid who was scared to talk to strangers in the cafeteria. Not exactly a bastion of courage. 😂
Anyway, years later, Cassidy hears that another little girl was kidnapped from the same town, and she knows it's time to go home. She may be the only person in the world who can find the kidnapper's hideout.
Because going after a kidnapper and murderer all by herself isn't scary at all. 🙄
But returning to Coventry doesn't just mean trying to figure out who the bad guy is. It means Cassidy will have to face the past, the charges leveled against her, and the (hunky, strong-silent-type) ex-boyfriend who suspects she murdered his sister. In other words, she has to risk everything in order to maybe save a little girl she's never even met.
I'm not sure I'd have that kind of courage, which is probably why Cassidy is one of my favorite heroines. I think you're going to love her too.
"If you ever cared about me . . . I need your help. I can't do this by myself."
A desperate plea from a voice from his past, James Sullivan can scarcely believe his eyes or ears. She looks different, older, more mature . . .but amazingly gorgeous. Is Cassidy LeBlanc a cold blooded child killer like everyone in the small town of Coventry seems to believe, or has she been terribly misunderstood and betrayed by the very justice system that should have protected her as the victim of an horrible crime? Right now, it's irrelevant what everyone else believes, James must decide for himself what to do with the terrified woman cowering in his backyard.
As James and Cassidy push their own tragic history into a locked compartment, they race to find a small child who has been kidnapped, presumably by the same person who snatched Cassidy, along with James' young sister, ten years earlier. Cassidy is certain that the child is being hidden in a remote cave, if only they can find it; her recollection of the incident is sketchy at best and filled with tortured memories, the worst being guilt.
What a great story! Extraordinary plot, wonderful characters, intense pace, palpable romance, impressive spiritual depth, and an ending that will satisfy each and every reader with the reminder that we are loved by. . . . .
"The God of hope, . . . . . . He was the God of comfort too, wasn't He? He could handle her hope and her heartbreak. He could handle it all."
But I still loved the book. Very much. I will definitely read more from this author and series. I hope to read Reid's story. The story was very sad and I loved Cassidy. She was a great heroine. James turned himself around but he was pretty mean at first. The towns people just wanted vengeance and blamed her. For 10 long years. The ending was great.
I listened to this audio book and it is probably one of my favorite narrations yet. This book kept me wanting to listen, looking for opportunities that I could listen to the book. I enjoyed the different perspectives throughout the book and the suspense to figure it all out. However, the ending is really what caused the book to not get more than a 2.5 from me. In the book, one perspective is from that of the young girl who is kidnapped. We hear how the kidnapper talks to her, sounding very childish or delayed mentality, sounding very confused and not really understanding. I believe this perspective is designed to throw you off and make you think it is a different person, but the killer ends up being a grown man who showed no signs and symptoms of delayment or impairment. When this character was identified as the killer, I thought for sure the detectives would identify he had a split personality or something, but nothing even tried to explain why this grown man with a respectable and responsible job would act like a delayed teenager. I think if that had been explained, I would have been able to give the book at least 4 stars, if not 5. I’m curious if anyone else felt the same way!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Loved the suspense and the interplay between James and Cassidy in this story, especially during their time in the woods. Both have bad memories brought back to mind when children start getting kidnapped and locals are quick to blame Cassidy who their still consider guilty of kidnapping and death of James’ sister ten years prior. This is the very reason Cassidy went on the run 10 years ago because no one would listen and the real killer got away with it. But now Cassidy is back and intent on finding the real killer as well as rescue Ella the latest kidnapped girl.
One of my favorite lines on the book is about James. ‘His own life was marked by one glaring before -and- after moment’. Many of us can relate to that. I know I can. That moment when life will never be the same. And I loved the part about Cassidys life in the intermediate 10 years being about finding and saving list girls. Kept me guessing and kept me reading
This story is a little darker than some of Robin Patchen's books, but not in an off-putting way. She gets deep into some subjects that make the reader pause and think. And it's all good!
Very good! Clean, Faith in Christ blended in (not shoved down your throat) and lots of Suspense!. With as many Mysteries as I have read since a teen, I usually have a good guess as to 'who done it', but Robin had me stymied in this one until very close to the end. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
Plenty of suspense to intrigue you to read until the end. James and Cassidy have issues from a while back. Can they be resolved. I couldn’t put the book down, loved it. Ready for more .
Cassidy Leblanc had fled small town Coventry, New Hampshire when citizens were sure that she had kidnapped and killed the young sister of her high school boyfriend. Ten years has past, Cassidy now has a good job, a college degree, and a deep faith in God. But two more young girls have now disappeared and been found dead in copycat killings. Cassidy believes she has to find the killer if she is ever to clear her name.
This is my first book by Robin Patchen, but it certainly will not be my last. Her suspense is top-notch and kept me riveted from start to finish. The characters were complex and relatable, and the plot was filled with twists, turns, and numerous suspects. I especially liked how Patchen would wonderful fait gems throughout the story line. I look forward to reading the second in the Coventry Saga series.
Audiobook from BookFunnel app. This was a suspense filled first book in this series. I will be looking for more. Robin is a good author and I was glad to find this. I appreciate no bad language or bedroom scenes. When young girls keep disappearing and 2,have already died, 10 years after the first 2 girls were killed, the kidnapper reappears. Cassidy helps to track down the killer. She was suspected of killing the girl who was kidnapped along with her. She has felt guilty for years, it was a surprising end.
This was a great Contemporary Christian fiction suspense book. The story was believable and the characters were heartwarming. Parent Guide: due to some situations and difficult topics, I would encourage you to pre read this book before sharing with your older teens and above. I was able to listen to an audio version of this book via Bookfunnel, but it did not in any way affect my review. All opinions are my own.
A really good book. Very suspenseful. A serial kidnapper and murderer has a 5 year old girl in his clutches and only the woman which is everyone’s suspect knows how to find the child and the person who has her. With the help of her former boyfriend they go on a search all while hiding from the police. I really like Robin Patchen’s books. This one probably deserves a 5* rating but I settled on a four star.
I received an advance copy of Glimmer in the Darkness by Robin Patchen. The story has a few twists and turns and the revealing of the background of Cassidy's situation. Despite the story being about abuse, it is handled well and the story is a positive one of redemption after judgements being made without having all the facts. A great read by Robin Patchen again!
Robin Patchen's latest release, Glimmer in the Darkness, is included in the Dangerous Deceptions Christian romantic suspense boxed set. It was wonderful to return to New Hampshire with Robin. I am beginning to know and care about the characters of Coventry, as much as I had her Nutfield, NH characters. In this book readers jump right into a murder and kidnapping case involving young girls. The case appears to be connected to a decade old case in which the suspect, a teenage girl, was never located. Cassidy Leblanc has changed her name and made a life for herself on the west coast, but she is compelled to return to Coventry to search for the man who held her captive a lifetime ago, determined that another young girl won't meet the same fate as her young friend Hallie. She soon realizes that she cannot do this alone, and her close friend, Hallie's brother, may be the only one who can help.
Patchen has once again gifted her readers with an action-filled tale of suspense and deep emotion. Her writing style keeps readers in the palm of her hand and on the edge of their seat. She has long been among my top five favorite suspense writers. I am grateful to have received a copy of this book from the author without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.
I've been a big fan of Robin Patchen's for awhile and have read everything she has written. This one was another 5 star review! Cassidy returns to Coventry 10 years after running away in order to help find a missing girl and in so doing, help make up for the past. Though she'd planned to avoid him, she ends up running into her high school sweetheart, James, and the 2 work together to try to find Ella before it's too late. This book was full of twists and turns and I never saw it coming who the villain was until he was revealed. I enjoyed the cast of characters in this book and the depth that they had. They were likable and relatable. There were some heavier topics included such as child abuse (nothing detailed, so hopefully wouldn't be a trigger) and the main plot line involves kidnapping of young girls. But the author handles these heavy subjects with a great deal of care and grace. There's a solid faith thread throughout and a strong theme of forgiveness in this story line. By the end, I was definitely fighting tears. Special thanks to the author for an advance e-copy of this book as part of the Dangerous Deceptions collection. I was not obligated to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.
I originally wrote a review of this book when it was included in the Dangerous Deceptions book set. Since then, I have been informed that this book set is not longer available and thus, the reviews are no longer available. In order to write another review, I decided that I would just reread Glimmer in the Darkness and that ... is my first compliment. I am an avid reader and rarely re-read any books, so this is a sure indication of an excellent book AND, the fact that I thoroughly enjoyed it AGAIN, is the best compliment I can give. The characters are complex and well developed. Attention to detail in the complicated plot which unfolds seamlessly. A kidnapped child whose inner voice speaks the truth of the love of her earthly father. Cassidy, even though her childhood was difficult and circumstances forced her to flee, she returns to help and has the inner voice of her heavenly Father, who she calls the God of Hope. James, who had distanced himself from the faith of his youth, but now finds himself calling on this God in prayer. Beautifully written and you will be engaged from the very beginning. Highly recommend!
The story is full of suspense and action. Ask yourself as the story unfolds if you would have run in similar circumstances. Cassidy, the heroine has a strong faith, while the hero, James, has been estranged from God, having concluded ten years earlier that God was not interested in his life. Follow the events of the story to see what has caused him to feel this way. Also, try to imagine how the little girl who was kidnapped must have felt when the kidnapper kept calling her his sister and talking about how their mommy had treated them, how he planned to take care of her, and how bright the future would be. All she wanted was to go back to her daddy. Although the truth usually comes out, the scars caused by evil deeds still remain and sometimes have lasting effects. I received an advance copy of this book as part of the Dangerous Deceptions box set from the author. This is my honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.
In this story we are introduced to Cassidy, a girl wanted by the police for the kidnapping and murder of 5 year old Hallie. Hallie is the little sister of James, who Cassidy was dating at the time of her kidnapping. James has never really been sure if Cassidy did what she is charged with. This story takes us through the wilds of Mt Coventry and the lake Ayasha region, such a beautiful setting. It's 10 years later and another little girl is missing. As we meet Cassidy and listen to her it is hard to tell if she is being truthful. After a chance encounter with Cassidy, James is confused should he turn her in or listen to her story? This story is full of suspense, action and romance. Ms. Patchen is the queen of writing Christian suspense, I have yet to read a book of hers that has let me down. This is the first book in her new Coventry series I received a free download of this book from the publisher. This review is my own honest opinion.
Robin Patchen never disappoints and I was highly anticipating the beginning of this new series. The bonus was that it was part of the Dangerous Deceptions box set. Glimmer in the Darkness clicked all the boxes for me. Hunting a kidnapper/killer on a mountain added to the tension and suspense of the story for me. Cassidy ran away over a decade ago because she couldn’t save Jame’s little sister. Now when another little girl goes missing she’s back to do what she failed to do before. With everyone against her, what will her reception be? James knows he might still have feelings for Cassidy but she ran away before. How does he know whether or not he can trust the woman she has become. Is it possible she’s the killer, or is there someone out there waiting? Strap yourself in and come along for the ride.
I became thoroughly immersed in "Glimmer of Darkness" by Robin Patchen, where young Ella is kidnapped. Cassidy returns to her hometown to find the little girl. She was involved in a kidnapping 10 years ago and feels that this and a more recent kidnapping/murder are all connected. Can Cassidy and her long time ago boyfriend James race against time to find Ella, or will he and the town still blame Cassidy for the death of the kidnapper's first victim? Ms. Patchen creates a most suspenseful story. Her characters are so vividly described that the reader is pulled into the story and feels a part of it. Though I did guess the kidnapper before the end, there were many other details that complete this clean romantic suspense. A great story and start to a new and exciting series.
As the Past Unravels, the Future Holds Many Surprises
This book covers it all, everything that keeps you wanting to know what if , what was and what happened. It has action, clean romance, a few surprises and God’s hand working in everything.
I already was familiar with Robin Patchen before reading this book and never have been disappointed. ‘Glimmer in the Darkness’ didn’t disappoint either. It is a heart-wrenching story that grabbed me from the first page. A little girl is kidnapped and an innocent woman is blamed. Thus we have several angles woven into the story … one of the little girl with her kidnapper and one of the accused proving her innocence all the while trying to find that little girl.
Wow! What a dramatic story, filled with the best and the worst in every human heart. I love the way Robin Patchen expresses her belief in God as essential as breath is to life. She doesn't preach or push just demonstrates the difference a life with Christ is as opposed to without Him. James and Cassidy made mistakes, had fears and doubts but never stopped trying to help others and themselves. I miss some of the friends from Nutfield and Coventry ( though Dylan had a cameo) but James and Cassidy quickly made my list of new book friends. I've already got book rwo in this series.
When you have one of Robin Patchen's books in your hands you can rest assured you will not be dissappointed!! She has the ability to draw you into her story. You get invested in the outcome and won't be able to stop reading untill you reach the ending! In Glimmer in the darkness we meet James and Cassidy. You will root for them and cheer them on! What an awesome and scary journey they go through to find peace and themselves! Little Ella and her father Reed . . . can't wait to see what is going to happen in their story ;-)
This is an engaging, suspenseful and very enjoyable book. I liked the main characters. There were many twists and turns throughout the story. One is allowed to see the character of the evil doer, but it is not clear who they are. The ending was a surprise when they are revealed. It deserves a rating of much higher than a 5. This is one book I will pick up and read again. Highly, highly recommend.
I received an advance copy from the author. This review is my honest opinion.
Cassidy was kidnapped along with another girl. They were taken into the mountains to a cave like structure. They escaped , but her friend fell to her death. Everyone blamed Cassidy for her death, claiming she murdered her. Cassidy ran away to a new life. When other young girls go missing, Cassidy returns to try to find the cave and rescue the captive. A page turner that kept me engrossed from the beginning.
An amazing thriller wi5 a touch of romance. James and Cassidy were best friends but a tragedy made Cassidy run from town. Now the nightmare is back in Coventry death Cassidy needs to help in bringing back justice for herself and for the girl missing. CAn James and Cassidy work together and find the real perpetrator?
I read this story when it was part of the Dangerous Deceptions Box Set. As a mystery writer, Ms. Patchen is one of the best & one of my favorites. It is described as "pulse-pounding suspense" & I totally agree. I could not put it down until I finished it. If you love mysteries, you want to get this book.