Candace Johnson was only twelve when she lost her mother. After seventeen years of marriage, she lost her husband. Now her best friend, Pamela Coleman, has been killed. Losing so many loved ones has caused Candace to put her faith in God on the back burner. Will she ever be able to connect with the heavenly Father again?
I liked Candace. She was a strong, independent woman and a good mother to two teens – Rachel (16) and Daniel (14). I also liked Beulah and Mrs. Roberts, and some of the conversations Candace had with them.
Candace stopped attending church regularly after her husband’s death, but even though she was struggling with her faith, she did not forget where her help came from. Candace knew how to call on God in times of need.
I understood Candace's pain, but I did not agree with her thinking God took her loved ones. Her mother, her husband, her best friend, each of them died in a way that I don’t believe God would have anything to do with. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11) Reading this story, I was reminded of how sometimes Christians don’t take the time to thank God when good things happen, but they are quick to blame Him, or say He’s the One responsible, when something goes wrong. It’s as if they forget there’s also an Enemy. The thief (Satan) comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy (John 10:10).
This novel has sixty chapters, but most are not lengthy. The story grabbed me from the beginning. It was written in a way that kept me wondering and guessing who the killer was and, although there was a bit of repetitiveness, it was not predictable. While investigators looked into Pamela’s murder, Candace did some investigating of her own. She was a woman fighting for justice. She had questions and with every turn of the page I was anticipating the answers. I started reading in the evening hours. When I was ready to go to bed, I had to read one more chapter, and then one more…. It was difficult to put this book down.
Survivor’s guilt, legalism, adultery, flawed Christians, domestic violence, forgiveness - Tyora Moody deals with these issues and a bit more. She has penned an entertaining, suspenseful debut!!