The Replacement

Jill Lewis Trilogy #2

by Susan Wales, Robin Shope

Jill Lewis is a top-notch investigative reporter in Washington D.C. Her fiancé, John, is an FBI agent. Neither can talk about what happens on the job. But both are dying to know. When a high-profile senator is assassinated, Jill jumps at the chance to cover the story, soon digging up evidence of political scandal, intrigue, and deception. In the midst of what could be the story of her life, Jill's fiancé suddenly disappears. Where has John gone? Is he still alive? What has happened to him? Jill can only guess, but she has a sneaking suspicion that his mysterious disappearance has something to do with the headline-grabbing story she is investigating. This action-packed suspense novel offers the perfect mix of politics, conspiracy, and a little bit of romance to create an intriguing page-turner that rivals Dee Henderson's best-selling O'Malley series.

Genres: Suspense, Christian Fiction, Christian, Contemporary

368 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2006

Reviews

[Gloria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jill Lewis is an investigative reporter with the Washington Gazette newspaper and always manages to get near the action. As the story starts, she is waiting to meet Senator Brown on the Capitol steps as per his request but he stands her up. Actually, he runs pass her on the steps only to collapse further along due to a stroke. He was rushed to Bethesda Medical Hospital where he later died. Another senator, Thomas Henry Harrison from Alabama is expected to take his place as minority leader. The two senators are known for not getting along. Jill requests an interview with Senator Harrison for the Gazette and during the interview he lets her know that he thinks that Senator Brown was murdered by a drug made from snake venom that mimics a stroke. She prints the story in the Gazette and because of her story, the FBI opens an investigation into the death of Senator Brown. Jill's boyfriend, John Lovell is an FBI special agent who has been out of town for a few months surprises Jill with his return during this time. John plans a surprise dinner on his boss' yacht where he proposes to Jill and she happily accepts his proposal. Jill's investigation into the senator's death takes her on a wild ride and she comes to believe that John is also involved in the investigation but he can't talk about his job, something she will have to get used to as his wife. Tommy Harrison is attracted to Jill and lets her know that he wants to spend time with her even though she is engaged. This book is full of action that revolves around the senator's death. Jill investigates leads to see who is involved in his murder and what seems to be between rival senators and their ties to opposing pharmaceutical companies. This is a good book that I enjoyed but I feel that there is almost too much action and I wanted Jill to quit getting herself in so much trouble. The book doesn't move as smoothly as it could have but it is definitely an exciting and eventful read. But be warned: snakes are prevalent throughout the book! I gave this 3.5 stars.

[Stephanie]

DNF. The writing is so jumbled, with so much dialogue and characters thrown in, it's hard to get a grip on the story. It seems like the story moves fast paced and not at all at the same time. Stopped a few chapters in.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Creepy good unless you don't find snakes creepy then it is simply good.

Book 2 in the series finds Jill Lewis meeting with Senator Brown cancelled when he dies a few feet from her on the steps of the building. Was it a natural stroke or murder made to look natural?

John & Jill continue their romance in the hope that their careers wont be an insurmountable obstacle.

Charismatic Senator Thomas Harrison's romantically chasing Jill has her confused.

Poisonous snake venom plays a large roll in a new cancer drug and in murdering anyone who gets in the drug company's way really added to the tension and plot twists.

A Christian Murder Mystery that is very forthright with Christianity being a large part of the characters' lives.

[Nikolina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many twists and turns

Great mystery. The suspicion moves through most of the characters in the book. I only suspected the real culprit briefly. I will read more by this author

[Ed Boring · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great continuation of the story.

[Tim Blankenship · Rating 4 out of 5]

good plot twists

Good plot twists to keep it a page-turner and is well-written. The characters are realistic and very believable in an interesting storyline.

[C.J. Darlington · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Gazette investigative reporter Jill Lewis has covered Capitol Hill for years. So it's no big deal when a high-profile senator calls her with an urgent meeting request. She juggles her schedule and waits for him on the Capitol steps. But he never arrives. Suffering a massive stroke practically at Jill's feet, Senator George Brown is dead within days, and his rumored successor, Senator Tommy Harrison, shoots to the top of Jill's must-interview list.

When she finally obtains a face-to-face meeting with Harrison, Jill hopes for explosive information to include in her Gazette articles. She doesn't expect Harrison to dump a bomb in her lap. He believes Senator Brown was murdered, and not with a conventional weapon either, but with a powerful drug called MST. Banned by the FDA (thanks to pressure from Senator Brown), its formula includes the venom of the saw-scaled viper.

Jumping in with both feet to cover the story, Jill's life spins into a whirlwind of speculation and fact digging. Just who is Senator Tommy Harrison? How did his wife die? And what about the mysterious young woman who's convinced she's being followed for misplacing a Fish & Game Commission file? The facts don't add up, and Jill's determined to find out why.

Jill Lewis, as any amateur sleuth worth her salt, is full of inquisitiveness and go-get-'em spunk, which lands her in one harrowing scrape after another. Through it all she presses on, and the twisting plot speeds forward, albeit sometimes a little too quickly. Several of the key action scenes feel rushed, and Jill seems to miraculously recover from a few harrowing experiences much faster than the average Jane. However, these are tiny quibbles for an otherwise riveting story. Wales and Shope had me guessing and re-guessing the novel's outcome (and its villain) until the very end. And while it does read as a stand-alone, I get the feeling I'm missing out on some characterization of Jill and her fiancé from the authors' previous book, The Chase.

Susan Wales and Robin Shope team up with a writing style that melds the plucky heroine of a chick-lit or romance novel with the danger and plot twists of straight suspense. It's a winning combination fans of Dee Henderson, Kathi Mills-Macias, and other romantic suspense authors will thoroughly enjoy. I smell a third book, which is a good thing.

[Lonnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a bit better than the first one, but I ruined the suspense by reading book 3's cover before I finished book 2, so I knew how it was going to end! The reviews call it a "page-turner that rivals Dee Henderson's best-selling O'Malley series". I don't think it even comes close to Dee Henderson's series...

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just found this author and really like her. I like the mix of a business setting with mystery and relationships.

[Traci · Rating 4 out of 5]

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[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

WARNING: This book talks about snakes ... A LOT!