Falling into Place

by Susan Brinkmann

Investigative reporter Ari Dalton is once again forced to confront the evil workings of the Satanic gang, Hades Hood, while investigating two more hate crimes at local churches that leave yet another innocent sacristan dead. Working closely with FBI Supervisory Special Agent Jesse Sandoval, their attraction to each other becomes even more apparent, as does their paradoxical worldviews.
As she continues her Mystical Marvels series and delves into the dark worlds of witchcraft, goddess worship, and channeling, Ari's relationship with Jesse finally ruptures under the strain of their differing views. They just don't see eye-to-eye about religion and the painful breakup forces Ari to question herself and her beliefs like never before.
Meanwhile, she is introduced to another ancestor, Ariella Rose "Rosie" Everleigh, who lived during the reign of Queen Elizabeth the First whose vicious persecution of Catholics forced Rosie to live under the constant threat of imprisonment. Inspired by Rosie's courage, which was drawn from her deep faith, Ari finally reaches out for help, and finds it in the last place she ever thought to look—the Church.

305 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 8, 2026

About the author

Susan Brinkmann, O.C.D.S., is an author and award-winning journalist is a member of the Third Order of Discalced Carmelites. She serves as Director of New Age Research for Women of Grace® (www.womenofgrace.com) and is a frequent guest on EWTN’s Women of Grace® television show. She is the founder of Live Catholic (www.livecatholic.org ), an educational nonprofit devoted to teaching authentic Catholic prayer in the Carmelite tradition to the faithful. Susan formerly worked as a Correspondent for the Catholic Standard & Times, the newspaper for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

For the last 10 years she has been the lead researcher for Women of Grace’s New Age Q&A Blog which is the largest blog of its kind in the world. The library of information now exceeds 1600 entries on everything from acupuncture and angels to wicca and yoga.

She has also authored seventeen books, including The Learn to Discern Compendium: Is It Christian or New Age which has an imprimatur from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Avila Institute published her book, A Catholic Guide to Mindfulness which educates the Catholic faithful about the Buddhist practice of mindfulness and how it differs from authentic Catholic spirituality, teaching and thought. Along with Johnnette Williams, she co-authored the Young Women of Grace Study Program which teaches girls ages 13+ what it means to be authentically feminine. Susan’s Like a Catholic series which introduces Carmelite spirituality to the faithful. This series includes Pray Like a Catholic, Live Like a Catholic, Mindful Like a Catholic, and Fight Like a Catholic, all of which have imprimaturs from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Her daily devotional, entitled Day by Day in the Little Way: 365 Reflections on the Teachings of St. Therese of Lisieux introduces devotees to the Little Way of Spiritual Childhood.

In the fall of 2024, Viident Publications will launch Susan’s new series of Catholic women’s novels entitled The Chronicles of Ariella, a gripping saga of murder, romance and redemption that spans six novels and 2000 years of Church history.

Her national journalism awards include the Bernadine-O’Connor Award for Pro-Life Journalism, the Eileen Egan Journalism Award from Catholic Relief Services, and numerous awards from the Catholic Press Association and the Philadelphia Press Association.