Detective Chase Washington knows Brooke Turner is guilty of murdering her best friend. What he can't comprehend is how she has managed to elude capture for six months. With Lenora Chambers’ blood calling out to him from the ground, Chase will stop at nothing to find Brooke Turner and bring her to justice. When he finally tracks her down, nothing is as black and white as Chase thought. Lost in the wild with no way to communicate with the outside world and another possible suspect on their trail, Chase and his prisoner have become the prey in a desperate quest to survive. Fans of riveting, edge-of-your-seat suspense with clean romance and spiritual truths will love this fast-paced offering.
Sara Davison is the author of numerous romantic suspense series, as well as the standalone, The Watcher. A finalist for more than a dozen national writing awards, including the Christy Award, Davison is a Holt Medallion, Cascade, and two-time Carol Award winner for romantic suspense. She lives in Ontario with her husband, Michael. Like every good Canadian, she loves coffee, hockey, poutine, and apologizing for no particular reason. Get to know Sara better and subscribe to her short, monthly newsletter at www.ontheedgesuspense.com
The title attracted my attention first, and when I saw it was written by the same author as Eye of the Mind, I knew I had to read it. I’ve read two other short novellas by this author, included in anthologies, but my love of her most recent book had me putting this one at the top of my reading list.
238 pages - don’t let the page count fool you! Davison will surprise you with the depth of this story.
One Nine - I won’t ruin the surprise for you, but I love it when I get to the point in the novel when the title makes sense. This one is good, and I love the personal connection it has with the author.
This is a clean romantic suspense novel about Brooke Turner, who is a person of interest in the murder of her best friend, Leonora Chambers. There are several people trying to locate Brooke, but she’s managed to avoid detection for the past six months. I wasn’t ready for the twist when she was located, nor the Christian love and grace she extended. I loved how Davison showed the dual edge of ‘you are never alone’...both comforting and creepy.
If you enjoy murder mysteries, shorter novels, a light faith thread and a few unpredictable twists, consider this quick read. It packs a punch.
This was good! It's a short romantic suspense novel with the main female character a successful author. Unfortunately, she is being framed for committing a crime plot from one of her novels.
The title stands for Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
LOVED this book!! Chase and Brooke meet when Brooke runs after her best friend Lenora is murdered, Chase is the detective assigned to the case, and Brooke is the chief suspect. When Chase finds her, so does Lenora's real killer, and from there, both Chase and Brooke are in the killer's crosshairs. Love how everything works out, especially after Brooke is arrested the final time!! Trying so hard not to give spoilers!! This is a must read if you love suspense!!
I received a complimentary copy of this book, was not required to leave a review, and the opinion expressed is my own.
One Nine: This is an exciting story of a woman, Riley, on the run after being framed for a murder she didn't commit. Chase is the detective determined to bring her in because she's guilty. Or is she? When someone targets her, he finds himself protecting her and trying to prove her innocence.
One Nine was fast-paced and action-packed as Detective Chase Washington tracks down Brooke Turner, who is accused of murdering her best friend. However, their situation changes as they must elude the real killer and prove Brooke's innocence. As the story unfolds, we learn more of Brooke's backstory and how she was set up to be framed for her best friend's murder. This story has twists and turns.
This is my first book by Sara Davison and it didn't disappoint! The perfect balance between suspense and romance (meaning a little more of the former). This was bone-chilling through and through, so I was thankful for glimpses of the faith in God that both main characters had. And I was pleased to see how the Gospel was portrayed in this book too. Well done!
What a suspenseful read from a new to me author. I loved the premise about using an author's own story against her. The title comes from my favorite Bible verse Joshua 1:9. I look forward to reading more from this author.
This book has heart pounding suspense with wonderful characters, page-turner, and full of faith. Sara did a great job with the book crammed with details, that it didn't seem like a short story. I was given an ARC copy and this is my own opinion. I highly recommend this book.
It's hard to keep a novel short, but with this, its length created numerous plausibility issues that were never explained. It could have also benefited from a professional line edit. That could have provided word count space for better character development, like more on why Brooke fell for for the psycho Zane in the first place. That was explained by only a couple of lines, e.g., the guy was handsome and charismatic. I suppose the thing with the tattoo would suggested they were promiscuous? Like a quick one night stand?
And oh, the tattoo. Why didn't Investigator Washington pounce on it? Down in the States, if you spot a tattoo on the arm, you'd suspect assault type tendencies. If on the neck, then you'd look at the potential for human trafficking. It would have been hilarious if Brooke had placed 6:19 on her arm, that verse from Corinthians. Would have liked to seen a Biblical worldview investigator challenge her on the hypocrisy. That would have created some great doctrinal conflict between the two.
These additional items were hard to swallow (and distracting): nothing was ever explained about how Zane tracked the pair in the woods and put up all those red banners. Nothing explained how Brooke and Chase survived the night in subzero temperatures without succumbing to serious hypothermia. Bouncing between a rifle and a shotgun as if they are the same firearm. There is a difference. Bear season or turkey? A tornado in the Toronto province? Okay, possibly, but very rare. How about a rest area in the middle of nowhere? In America, our rest areas are placed along interstates. But in Canada, maybe they put them out there in the middle of nowhere? Finally, I struggled to accept Chase's willingness to put the hunters at risk instead of waiting for the SWAT team. Here in the US, Chase would likely have been charged with willful negligence in his duties.
So, yeah, all that stuff was a bit distracting. If you can swallow it, you'll still find this quick, short read quite satisfying. The pacing is excellent.
This story throws you straight into the chaos. From the opening scene, you are dropped right into the heart of a crime where Brooke Turner wakes up to a nightmare. Her best friend is dead, and all the evidence points to her. The problem is that Brooke has no memory of what happened. Suddenly, she’s on the run, desperate for answers and for the truth to come to light.
Detective Chase Washington takes the case, but his pursuit of justice quickly becomes far more complicated than expected. As secrets unravel and danger closes in, the two are thrust into a whirlwind of suspense with a literal tornado on their heels. Amid the nonstop tension, the emotional depth shines as Brooke and Chase navigate fear, faith, and fragile trust.
The story beautifully weaves in the biblical promise of Joshua 1:9: “Be strong and courageous… the Lord your God is with you.” This verse underpins Brooke’s journey, bringing a layer of faith and hope to the relentless suspense. With heart‑pounding twists, emotional resonance, and a slow‑building romance under extreme pressure, “One Nine” is a faith‑driven thriller that delivers both tension and a deeply satisfying conclusion.
Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy (ARC) of this book, and this is my honest and unbiased review.
"Even if no one else in the world knew where she was - or who she was - God did."
Fleeing a murder scene might not have been the smartest thing to do, but it had kept Brooke Turner alive long enough to decide what to do next while giving her best friend's death a chance to be investigated properly. Unfortunately, the evidence at the scene had only pointed in one direction; hers.
Detective Chase Washington was absolutely, positively determined to find Brooke Turner, a cold-blooded killer who had murdered her best friend. The woman was like a ghost, simply disappearing, leaving no trail to follow, until one evening Chase happened to pick up a crime thriller and was shocked at what he read.
For a short novel, this story was impressively filled with compact pages of compelling plot twists and emotional character development. The faith elements were deeply inspiring, applying the meaning of one of my favorite verses in the entire Bible, Joshua 1:9, to extremely difficult circumstances.
The end result? I couldn't turn the pages fast enough.
I was hooked by the first gripping sentence: “Brooke Turner lay on her back staring up at her fingers, dripping red in the glow of the dying sun.” Grab your defibrillator and settle in for an enthralling suspense with stalker vibes galore and the kind of hair-raising pursuit that takes your breath away.
Brooke is on the run with no real game plan. She knows she’s innocent, she even knows who set her up but proving it is impossible. Meanwhile Chase is on the case and he earned the nickname ‘the Pitbull’ for a reason; he never gives up on an investigation.
The angst ramps up as Brooke battles both Chase’s preconceived ideas and the very real threat toying with them. Add in the wilderness setting for a good portion of the ‘chase’ and, phew, you’ve got a riveting read! Love the drama that plays out in their relationship and the twists with the suspense. It all adds up to making ‘One Nine’ (you’ve got to read the book to understand the title) an unputdownable read.
🥜 In a Nutshell: A woman is on the run after being framed for her friend's murder. A cop is trying to track her down and when he does, he finds out there is more to the story than he thought. They both end up having to trust one another as they fight for their lives.
✅ Crime follows a book plot ✅ Mistaken identity ✅ Strong faith content
I really enjoyed this story and the non-stop suspense! This definitely gives an "If I Run" vibe at the beginning but once the story gets moving, it's very different. I liked Chase and Brooke getting caught in the middle of nowhere and having to survive the elements while learning to trust each other in order to survive. It definitely had edge of your seat suspense and there wasn't a whole lot of romance for those who prefer it light. I liked the faith content a lot and how the characters trusted God in order to make tough decisions. All in all, a great suspense read that keeps you hanging on from page one with excellent faith content.
I think this is the year that God has blessed me with so many new authors and I believe that our favourite online providers need to increase stars to a level of 10. Another new to me author who had me page turning to the next. Her title of the book explained so profoundly for me personally. It is so good, it almost pushed me over the edge on my stance on tattoos. Brooke is, after 5 years, forced to go on the run again, but this time with Detective Chase Washington on her tail. Her courage and faith as they cross each obstacle stands out throughout. Although I couldn't pinpoint a suspect, thankfully it was revealed early and thereafter it was the suspense that kept me hanging in there. Uncanny or confirmation, I finished reading this on one nine August 2025. Although I received a copy, this is my honest and voluntary review and will be following this author for more.
There is a drum pounding in the wilderness, whose hollow echo gives shivers to all who hear it.
Brooke Turner is a well loved, published author who has been moving around for the last 5 years due to an abusive relationship. Somehow she has been found and now framed for her best friend’s murder. The action never lets up as suddenly it becomes a race to stay ahead of the murderer. The assurance that God is always with her is what keeps her going, but will she manage to stay alive?
These well developed characters have the most incredible experiences as they attempt to stay ahead of those who want them dead. I certainly hope we will see them again in another story soon. I received an early copy and these are my thoughts.
As the author noted this was her first short romantic suspense novel. I imagine it is tougher to be shorter in length than longer since she wants to develop the characters and the spiritual truths in an effective way. I would say she accomplished that goal and then some. I enjoyed the brevity of the novel because the pace was fast, and the characters were presented in a way that you could see them in action. The spiritual undertones were evident throughout. The title is perfect (i.e. the tattoo) and was reemphasized throughout. I found this copy on Kindle - Unlimited which was a plus. Even though romance is not my number one thing, it doesn't hurt to inject some in my reading and life for that matter.
This short novel packs a punch with its smart, action-packed plot—and is quite possibly a suspense author's worst nightmare! (I'm going to be careful what I write from now on...) Already in hiding from her past life, Brooke Turner has been framed for the murder of her best friend and sees no other option than running away. Again. Detective Chase Washington is determined to track her down and for justice to be served... until he finds himself in a cat-and-mouse chase in the wilderness alongside Brooke, and discovers the ugly truth. With a strong thread of faith, a slow-burn romance, and a familiar setting in Ontario, Canada—this page-turning suspense was a winner for me!
Nail-biter to the end! Writer Rylie is thought to be a murderer. Chase is a detective determined to arrest her. Rylie has an enemy who is following her and tormenting her. I started this book several chapters in. I find it stressful in plots like this until the characters realize who the guilty parties are. I read to the end and then started over at the beginning and read it all the way through again. It was that good! Highly recommend. The Bible verse featured is one of my favorites. How God was going to use Rylie's problems to help others was not expected, but again shows how God can use problems for the good.
One Nine is a heart-pounding inspirational romantic thriller that opens with a bang. Brooke is in serious trouble with few resources available for help. Thankfully, God is not limited by time or space. It’s His presence that has kept her going for 5 years. When her past and Detective Chase Washington catch up to her, things really get interesting. This book gripped me from the first page. The suspense was creepy and haunting but made the ending much sweeter. I received a free copy of this book and this is my honest opinion.
When Brooke found herself framed for a friend's murder, she ran. But now detective Chase has caught up with her and is determined she's guilty. The only problem? The true murderer still has plans for her that may make Chase's plans irrelevant...
I loved watching Chase and Brooke interact, particularly as Chase was forced to decide whether he believed her guilty or innocent. The story kept my turning pages far too long, and I loved the mix of faith, suspense and romance.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This was a great book by Sara Davison! The first one I’ve read by her and it won’t be my last. Moved it up on my TBR with the Christy Award nomination and upcoming awards presentation. It’s novella length but still has plenty of time to develop characters and the whole suspenseful story.
The only things that took my rating down half a star is the fact that you know who the perpetrator is very early on and also the ending I felt was a bit cheesy.
I’m going to be researching more of Sara’s books soon and get a list going of what I want to read next!
The suspense in One Nine is perfectly taut throughout. Romance is light (thank you!) and sincere. Great banter between the primary characters with a villain you love to hate. He's truly evil and it comes through with excellence. I really enjoyed the references throughout to trusting God even (especially?) when life isn't going the way we think it should.
This story was a part of The Long Hot Summer Volume One called Justice but now it has been released as a book on it's own.
Detective Chase pursues Brooke for what first appears to be the murder of her best friend. After he finds her they have to deal with a tornado and attackers before the truth is revealed.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. The review expressed here is my honest opinion.
Hold on to your hat because you’re in for an intense ride of action and suspense! And it starts from the very first page! This story is very well written and the characters are so well developed that they just jump off the page. Faith is lived out in both characters as they struggle with people trying to kill them, dangerous weather, and making some very hard decisions. For a short story, it delivers a first class story that doesn’t hold anything back! I highly recommend this book!!
I think this is the first book I have ever read from this author, so I was not sure what to expect. The story is filled with suspense and even some mystery. But all-in-all, it also is uplifting and encouraging to see a couple of the characters lean into trusting God fully and unreservedly. Fascinating, suspenseful storyline. I'm glad I tried this author, and look forward to reading more of her novels.
This book is really exciting and well-written. I love the way she wove some Christian beliefs in there while not sounding preachy or detracting from the story. The romance plot was sweet and believable. I read an advance copy. This is the first book I’ve read by this author, but it won’t be the last.
One Nine is an unputdownable, faith-filled romantic suspense read. The expertly woven storyline, complete with a murder, a skillfully orchestrated frame-up, and a harrowing trek through the wilderness, kept me engaged from the first page to the last. The characters are well-crafted and memorable. A dash of romance adds interest to the story. I especially appreciate the seamless blending of inspiring faith into the story highlighting the importance of trusting in God's presence and power in all circumstances. I totally enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. I read a copy of this book from the author with no obligation to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Framed for a murder she didn't commit, Brooke has been on the run for 6 months. Chase is a detective who is bent on bringing a killer to justice, and he believes Brooke did the crime. Thrown together during a storm & being chased by a guy bent on killing them, Chase had to re-evaluate all he thinks he knows. It is a story of trust & faith in God and the belief that true justice will prevail.
First I’ve read by Sara Davison. Short form story was well done. Quite a bit of action but I liked that the wrap up wasn’t just two pages, it was several chapters. Murder, life on the run, dangerous weather, an old cabin in the woods, sparks between the suspect and the detective. It was a good yarn. I would read more by her.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Oh my! This was one of the best and most exciting Christian suspense books I've read. It starts with a adrenaline rush and heart pounding scene and carries it throughout the story. The plot is believable and the twists make the story more enthralling. Wish I could give more than 5 stars.