D-Valued: Mystery & Suspense in a Small Town

by Marji Laine

Someone is lying. Possibly everyone. Tasha Sanderson came to her aunt's Texas farmhouse to disappear for a while — from the law firm that burned her, from the man she can't stop thinking about, from the version of herself she's not sure she likes anymore.

She didn't come to investigate a missing fiancé. Or a murder. Or the peculiar connection between a global tech scheme and a grieving man with nothing left to lose. But when a frightened woman at a roadside accident presses Tasha's hand and whispers find him — something clicks into place that Tasha can't ignore.

D-Street Investigations calls her a trainee. The police call her a nuisance. The killer hasn't called her anything yet.

But they've noticed her.

D-Valued is a Christian romantic mystery set in the small city of High Grove, Texas — where secrets run deep, connections run deeper, and one woman's instincts might be the only thing standing between the truth and another body.

Genres: Mystery

291 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 6, 2026

About the author

Marji is a "graduated" homeschooling mom who's thrilled to avoid the empty nest for a while longer. She lives in the Dallas area with her hubby of 35 years, her twin daughters, and a rescue pup named Rosie (or Madam Barksalot, depending on the day).

When Marji isn't editing or formatting for her authors or writing on her own projects, she leads a ladies' Bible study, works with the women's ministry at her church, and sings alto in the adult choir. As often as possible, she's playing strategy games and card games with friends and family.

She prefers mountains to beaches, dogs to cats, Tex-Mex, white roses, and the Pumpkin Pecan Waffle candle from Bath & Body Works. Her watching preferences include Hallmark mysteries, NASCAR, NFL games, and Perry Mason reruns.

You can find her here on Goodreads or at her website MarjiLaine.com

Reviews

[Beth Helm · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. The mystery and suspense kept me flipping pages as fast as I could.

[Carolyn Frazier · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first book by Marji Laine I have read but will definitely not be the last. This book is filled with intrigue from start to finish. I was kept guessing as to what would happen next, as well as who the suspect was. The ending is a bit of a new cliffhanger which I think may be the lead-in to the next book, but it only makes me want to keep reading. I can comfortably recommend this book to inspirational mystery and suspense readers. I loved the Bible verse at the top of each chapter. I received an advance digital copy to read and all opinions expressed are mine alone.

[Lill Kohler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marji continues to bring characters alive while giving us a mystery to solve. This is the first in a series, and I look forward to each installment. D-Valued brings back characters from her previous series, Grime Fighter Mystery Series, which I loved. Can't wait to see what Marji has in store for us.
I was given an advance pre-published copy of the book by the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Heather Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. From the very beginning, it captured me with the intrigue and action. I did find that I felt like I was missing a little back story of the characters initially, but the feeling quickly dissipated as the story continued. There was definitely plenty of action, suspense, intrigue, and I had no idea who the villain was until the reveal.

Marji Laine is a new to me author, and I will definitely be following Tasha's story and reading more books from this author.

[Lisa Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intrigued from the beginning, I loved the characters. Marji did a fantastic job of weaving in prior relationships without any data dumping, creating internal and external conflict between various characters. Despite hints along the way, I didn't guess who committed the crimes until the end, and this book left me salivating for the second book. Can't wait for the next installment.

[Betti · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is sure to keep you guessing all the way through. The author has given us a story that seemed so mixed up at times, I had trouble trying to keep everyone straight. But what a sweet ending - don’t miss it!

I received this copy through Faith Driven Books and was in no way solicited for a positive review.

[Jennifer Hallmark · Rating 5 out of 5]

D-Valued: Suspense in a Small Town is a good mystery/suspense read. The characters are well- written and feel like people you’d meet every day. The small-town setting is easy to follow. I liked how Tasha picked up clues from the smallest things. And Nathan is a great counterpart in the book. I’d highly recommend D-Valued if you like private investigator mystery/suspense…

[Brittany Clubine · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great read! I love Tasha, she is such a fun character that makes her story so enjoyable to read. The suspense kept me at the edge of my seat throughout the story. I can't wait to read more of Tasha's story!