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Gwen Marcey #3
When Death Draws Near
Death has always been part of Gwen Marcey’s job. But when faced with her own mortality, everything takes on a different hue.
Forensic artist Gwen Marcey is between jobs and homes when she accepts temporary work in Pikeville, Kentucky. The Eastern Kentucky town, located deep in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains, has been plagued by a serial rapist and a series of unexplained deaths. Before Gwen can develop a composite drawing, the latest witness vanishes, just like all the previous victims.
Turning her attention to sketching the face of an unidentified body, she discovers a link between his death and a Pentecostal serpent-handling church. Serpent-handling is illegal in Kentucky, and the churches have gone underground to avoid the authorities and continue to worship as they believe. Gwen is offered a handsome reward to infiltrate the renegade members, a reward she desperately needs as it seems her breast cancer has returned.
Joined by her digitally-obsessed, Generation Z daughter, Gwen goes undercover to a nineteenth century revival, planning to draw the faces of the snake handlers so they can be identified and arrested. Instead she uncovers a murderous plot and a festering evil.
333 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 2, 2016
61 people are currently reading
1471 people want to read
About the author
Carrie Stuart Parks
35 books915 followersCarrie Stuart Parks is Christy, Carol, and Inspy award-winning author, an award-winning fine artist, and internationally known forensic artist. Along with her husband, Rick, she travels across the US and Canada teaching courses in forensic art to law enforcement as well as civilian participants. She has won numerous awards for career excellence. Carrie is a popular platform speaker, presenting a variety of topics from crime to creativity.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 157 reviews
June 27, 2016
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Carrie Stuart Parks, and Thomas Nelson for providing me with a copy of this book, which allows me to provide you with this review.
In her latest forensic thriller, Parks brings Gwen Marcey back for another adventure, well out of her comfort zone. After accepting a brief job in rural Kentucky, Marcey arrives to help the Pike County sheriff with a serial rapist. Marcey interviews the latest victim in hopes of getting enough to provide a forensic sketch, before they are able to secure enough information, the victim goes missing, as have the other rape victims. Sheriff Clayton Reed has another project on which he could use Marcey's assistance and shuttles her over to visit a state senator, whose lavish home is both daunting and alluring. Marcey is asked to go undercover to identify key members of a serpent charming church, a local branch-off of the Pentecostals. A number of its members have turned up dead from snakebites, poison ingestion, and other incidents, all of which points to danger within the sect. Leery of how she will be able to keep her task away from the others, Marcey waffles, but is soon convinced that her artistic skills might be more useful than anything else that's been tried. Marcey receives two pieces of poignant news before she makes her final decision: her daughter is being sent to stay with her for a time, and her cancer has returned. Working to digest both pieces, Marcey embarks on her adventure with daughter, Aynslee, alongside her. Aynslee exhibits typical teenage behaviour but turns out to be more interested in the religious experience than could have been imagined. Beginning with a service, Marcey and Aynslee are invited to a full revival, where serpents will appear and others acts of God presented. While Marcey does her best to focus on the ringleaders, she is intercepted by some who find her outsider nature to be more concerning. With a rapist still on the loose and a killer within the religious group, Marcey remains on guard and must find answers before she is revealed to be a skeptic. However, danger seems to find Marcey easily and she is pulled in deeper than she could have expected! which may leave her in dire straits before the cancer can ravage her body. A wonderfully compelling novel by Parks that tackles not only the forensics, but also struggles with religion, spirituality, and personal defeat. A must read by any reader whose interest strays into the forensics sciences.
Parks uses her Gwen Marcey character to emulate her own life experience, which shows in her writing. Detailed description of forensic artists and their techniques pepper the narrative as well as enrich the protagonist as she seeks to educate and undertake all tasks. This is an oft-forgotten aspect of forensics, so highlighting it appears to serve multiple purposes. Parks also ventures into the always-delicate area of religious groups for the second time, this time a Pentecostal sect whose use of serpents mirrors verses in the New Testament. Parks is able to present the idea as grounded in faith, even if Gwen Marcey's character is skeptical of the whole thing, without being demeaning or dismissive. This is a strong theme throughout, as the reader explores the nuances of religious belief and is faced with some acts that may seem dangerous or outright silly. Parks turns inward on the Gwen Marcey struggle with the news that cancer is back and how she will handle her inevitable death. Marcey has been through this before, but its reemergence weighs heavily on her mind and loosely accepted soul. There are portions of the novel in which Marcey begins to have conversations with herself and others in her mind, which led me to wonder if these were less to rationalize events and more along the lines of delusions tied to the disease. How Parks is able to pull in so many characters who have touched Marcey without writing them into the story is quite smart, while also pushing the envelop with Marcey's sanity and her grounded nature. The story plays out well and the characters support all needed aspects, allowing the reader to feel tied to everything, which not getting too bogged down in any single aspect. Parks shows her superior writing abilities in this regard and should be complimented for this approach. Truly a novel that has been well-crafted and succeeds in luring the reader in from the opening pages.
Kudos, Madam Parks for another stellar piece of writing. I cannot wait to see if Gwen Marcey returns for another adventure, should her health be up to it.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
In her latest forensic thriller, Parks brings Gwen Marcey back for another adventure, well out of her comfort zone. After accepting a brief job in rural Kentucky, Marcey arrives to help the Pike County sheriff with a serial rapist. Marcey interviews the latest victim in hopes of getting enough to provide a forensic sketch, before they are able to secure enough information, the victim goes missing, as have the other rape victims. Sheriff Clayton Reed has another project on which he could use Marcey's assistance and shuttles her over to visit a state senator, whose lavish home is both daunting and alluring. Marcey is asked to go undercover to identify key members of a serpent charming church, a local branch-off of the Pentecostals. A number of its members have turned up dead from snakebites, poison ingestion, and other incidents, all of which points to danger within the sect. Leery of how she will be able to keep her task away from the others, Marcey waffles, but is soon convinced that her artistic skills might be more useful than anything else that's been tried. Marcey receives two pieces of poignant news before she makes her final decision: her daughter is being sent to stay with her for a time, and her cancer has returned. Working to digest both pieces, Marcey embarks on her adventure with daughter, Aynslee, alongside her. Aynslee exhibits typical teenage behaviour but turns out to be more interested in the religious experience than could have been imagined. Beginning with a service, Marcey and Aynslee are invited to a full revival, where serpents will appear and others acts of God presented. While Marcey does her best to focus on the ringleaders, she is intercepted by some who find her outsider nature to be more concerning. With a rapist still on the loose and a killer within the religious group, Marcey remains on guard and must find answers before she is revealed to be a skeptic. However, danger seems to find Marcey easily and she is pulled in deeper than she could have expected! which may leave her in dire straits before the cancer can ravage her body. A wonderfully compelling novel by Parks that tackles not only the forensics, but also struggles with religion, spirituality, and personal defeat. A must read by any reader whose interest strays into the forensics sciences.
Parks uses her Gwen Marcey character to emulate her own life experience, which shows in her writing. Detailed description of forensic artists and their techniques pepper the narrative as well as enrich the protagonist as she seeks to educate and undertake all tasks. This is an oft-forgotten aspect of forensics, so highlighting it appears to serve multiple purposes. Parks also ventures into the always-delicate area of religious groups for the second time, this time a Pentecostal sect whose use of serpents mirrors verses in the New Testament. Parks is able to present the idea as grounded in faith, even if Gwen Marcey's character is skeptical of the whole thing, without being demeaning or dismissive. This is a strong theme throughout, as the reader explores the nuances of religious belief and is faced with some acts that may seem dangerous or outright silly. Parks turns inward on the Gwen Marcey struggle with the news that cancer is back and how she will handle her inevitable death. Marcey has been through this before, but its reemergence weighs heavily on her mind and loosely accepted soul. There are portions of the novel in which Marcey begins to have conversations with herself and others in her mind, which led me to wonder if these were less to rationalize events and more along the lines of delusions tied to the disease. How Parks is able to pull in so many characters who have touched Marcey without writing them into the story is quite smart, while also pushing the envelop with Marcey's sanity and her grounded nature. The story plays out well and the characters support all needed aspects, allowing the reader to feel tied to everything, which not getting too bogged down in any single aspect. Parks shows her superior writing abilities in this regard and should be complimented for this approach. Truly a novel that has been well-crafted and succeeds in luring the reader in from the opening pages.
Kudos, Madam Parks for another stellar piece of writing. I cannot wait to see if Gwen Marcey returns for another adventure, should her health be up to it.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
July 8, 2018
When Death Draws Near is the second book I've read by Carrie Stuart Parks and my favorite in the series so far. I loved continuing the Gwen Marcey series and seeing how life continued for Gwen. This story definitely didn't go as expected, in many ways, and there were a ton of twists. I didn't see the ending coming...
I feel like When Dead Draws Near ended with a bit of romance, but it wasn't a focal point of the story. I'm excited to see what happens next in Gwen's life and plan on picking up book four ASAP.
All in all, I loved When Death Draws Near. I recommend it if you like suspense novels or have enjoyed books by Dani Pettrey, Lynette Eason, Irene Hannon, or Brandilyn Collins.
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*
I feel like When Dead Draws Near ended with a bit of romance, but it wasn't a focal point of the story. I'm excited to see what happens next in Gwen's life and plan on picking up book four ASAP.
All in all, I loved When Death Draws Near. I recommend it if you like suspense novels or have enjoyed books by Dani Pettrey, Lynette Eason, Irene Hannon, or Brandilyn Collins.
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*
August 11, 2016
I’m going to start this review with a sentence I never thought I’d have occasion to say.
If you enjoy Cynthia Ruchti’s books, you’ll enjoy this thriller by Carrie Stuart Parks.
Let me explain. One of the main reasons (out of several) that I consider Cynthia Ruchti one of my favorite authors is the voice she gives to her characters’ inner dialogue. It speaks my sense of humor and makes me laugh even when I’ve already gone through a pack and a half of tissues on a particular book.
Carrie Stuart Parks give that same kind of almost-snarky, very relatable voice to Gwen Marcey’s inner dialogue, and I love it! Gwen herself as a character is authentic and honest – she’s human. She gets angry at God. She gets angry at her ex-husband. She has a typical mother-daughter relationship with her teenager, and she has a best friend who is the perfect Ethel to her Lucy. (Or it might be the other way around.) She loves her dog. She loves her career but she’s struggling to make ends meet. She’s scared of spiders and other bugs. And she’s a cancer survivor who relates the effects of chemo and a double mastectomy with frankness and likability. She’s funny and sincere and really really smart and gutsy, and she’s exactly the type of character I would love to have as a friend.
So Gwen is fantastic as a recurring main character in the series (you can certainly read When Death Draws Near as a stand alone but I’ve just caught up on all three and you will appreciate Gwen more if you read them from the beginning) … but what about the suspense? Because a good thriller must be suspenseful – even a little scary.
Once again, Carrie Stuart Parks passes this test with flying colors! My. Goodness. Do not plan on sleeping while you’re reading When Death Draws Near – or perhaps for a bit after you’ve finished lol. All three of her books start out intense and really stay that way until the end, with brief lulls for research (which I usually find even more fascinating… because I’m geeky that way), but the scary sometimes sneaks up on you. And while in every single book in this series so far I’ve been so confident that I had it solved before Gwen, I had to eat my theories when Parks’ masterful plotting threw me a curveball. I went from “C’mon. It’s SO obvious.” to “Well. I didn’t see that one coming.” and smiling sheepishly (and hypothetically) at the person who would have been swiftly jailed had I been the one solving these crimes.
Each Gwen Marcey book has spotlighted forensic artistry, something in which Parks clearly adds her own career expertise to the mix. I found this absolutely fascinating – particularly the psychological elements that are involved. I also love the focus of each book and how well Parks has handled potentially sensitive topics. In A Cry From The Dust, Gwen stumbles onto an extremist offshoot of the LDS. In The Bones Will Speak, she runs awry of a neo-Nazi group. And in When Death Draws Near, she finds herself in the middle of snake handlers. I think just the natural intensity that goes along with any of these groups automatically ratchets up the tension in the book itself, and this gives added depth to the suspense. And while Parks does zero in on the extremists, she really focuses more on the warped evil committing crimes in their name and doesn’t pass judgment on the religions from where they originated. In other words, your suspense novel will not be interrupted for a political speech lol. (Amen.)
Gwen Marcey should be every criminal’s worst nightmare even though she typically wields a pencil and her brain instead of a gun. And Carrie Stuart Parks should be on every suspense-fan’s must-read list! High-intensity, edge-of-your-seat thrilling action and psychology. Compelling characters. Moments that make you laugh. Moments that make you look over your shoulder. Moments that make you wonder if it’s ok to pray for a fictional character. All of these elements combine into a fast-paced book that will grip you by the heart AND the mind and refuse to let go until you’ve reached the end. All three books in the series are fantastic, but this one may be my favorite.
(I received a copy of this book in exchange for only my honest review.)
Read my full review at Reading Is My SuperPower
If you enjoy Cynthia Ruchti’s books, you’ll enjoy this thriller by Carrie Stuart Parks.
Let me explain. One of the main reasons (out of several) that I consider Cynthia Ruchti one of my favorite authors is the voice she gives to her characters’ inner dialogue. It speaks my sense of humor and makes me laugh even when I’ve already gone through a pack and a half of tissues on a particular book.
Carrie Stuart Parks give that same kind of almost-snarky, very relatable voice to Gwen Marcey’s inner dialogue, and I love it! Gwen herself as a character is authentic and honest – she’s human. She gets angry at God. She gets angry at her ex-husband. She has a typical mother-daughter relationship with her teenager, and she has a best friend who is the perfect Ethel to her Lucy. (Or it might be the other way around.) She loves her dog. She loves her career but she’s struggling to make ends meet. She’s scared of spiders and other bugs. And she’s a cancer survivor who relates the effects of chemo and a double mastectomy with frankness and likability. She’s funny and sincere and really really smart and gutsy, and she’s exactly the type of character I would love to have as a friend.
So Gwen is fantastic as a recurring main character in the series (you can certainly read When Death Draws Near as a stand alone but I’ve just caught up on all three and you will appreciate Gwen more if you read them from the beginning) … but what about the suspense? Because a good thriller must be suspenseful – even a little scary.
Once again, Carrie Stuart Parks passes this test with flying colors! My. Goodness. Do not plan on sleeping while you’re reading When Death Draws Near – or perhaps for a bit after you’ve finished lol. All three of her books start out intense and really stay that way until the end, with brief lulls for research (which I usually find even more fascinating… because I’m geeky that way), but the scary sometimes sneaks up on you. And while in every single book in this series so far I’ve been so confident that I had it solved before Gwen, I had to eat my theories when Parks’ masterful plotting threw me a curveball. I went from “C’mon. It’s SO obvious.” to “Well. I didn’t see that one coming.” and smiling sheepishly (and hypothetically) at the person who would have been swiftly jailed had I been the one solving these crimes.
Each Gwen Marcey book has spotlighted forensic artistry, something in which Parks clearly adds her own career expertise to the mix. I found this absolutely fascinating – particularly the psychological elements that are involved. I also love the focus of each book and how well Parks has handled potentially sensitive topics. In A Cry From The Dust, Gwen stumbles onto an extremist offshoot of the LDS. In The Bones Will Speak, she runs awry of a neo-Nazi group. And in When Death Draws Near, she finds herself in the middle of snake handlers. I think just the natural intensity that goes along with any of these groups automatically ratchets up the tension in the book itself, and this gives added depth to the suspense. And while Parks does zero in on the extremists, she really focuses more on the warped evil committing crimes in their name and doesn’t pass judgment on the religions from where they originated. In other words, your suspense novel will not be interrupted for a political speech lol. (Amen.)
Gwen Marcey should be every criminal’s worst nightmare even though she typically wields a pencil and her brain instead of a gun. And Carrie Stuart Parks should be on every suspense-fan’s must-read list! High-intensity, edge-of-your-seat thrilling action and psychology. Compelling characters. Moments that make you laugh. Moments that make you look over your shoulder. Moments that make you wonder if it’s ok to pray for a fictional character. All of these elements combine into a fast-paced book that will grip you by the heart AND the mind and refuse to let go until you’ve reached the end. All three books in the series are fantastic, but this one may be my favorite.
(I received a copy of this book in exchange for only my honest review.)
Read my full review at Reading Is My SuperPower
July 14, 2019
Novel received courtesy of Goodreads.com First Reads Giveaway
This is the first "Gwen Marcey" novel that I've had the pleasure to read; however, the author gave enough background information that I knew enough to be able to comfortably read the story. The mystery begins as Gwen is sent to Pikeville, Kentucky to lend her forensic art skills to help catch a serial rapist. Since the sheriff obviously doesn't want her help and seems to resent her, Gwen manages to solve the mystery of a body that is found. That body is tied to the snake-handling holiness church in the area. Gwen finds herself unable to trust anyone around her and must use her forensic skills to solve the mystery.
I found the novel required me to believe coincidences and connections in the novel that were just a little to neat for me. While the descriptions of the holiness revival seemed real and engaged me in the scene, much of the solving of the mystery was not believable to me. While the novel leans very Christian, it wasn't over the top preachy.
This is the first "Gwen Marcey" novel that I've had the pleasure to read; however, the author gave enough background information that I knew enough to be able to comfortably read the story. The mystery begins as Gwen is sent to Pikeville, Kentucky to lend her forensic art skills to help catch a serial rapist. Since the sheriff obviously doesn't want her help and seems to resent her, Gwen manages to solve the mystery of a body that is found. That body is tied to the snake-handling holiness church in the area. Gwen finds herself unable to trust anyone around her and must use her forensic skills to solve the mystery.
I found the novel required me to believe coincidences and connections in the novel that were just a little to neat for me. While the descriptions of the holiness revival seemed real and engaged me in the scene, much of the solving of the mystery was not believable to me. While the novel leans very Christian, it wasn't over the top preachy.
August 23, 2016
I really enjoyed this book. The prologue threw me a bit, but man once the story started, I was hooked! Gwen is a great character, and the suspense and mystery were great! Loved, loved, loved this book!
I love a good suspense. If it has interesting characters, a great career, and a plot that keeps me reading, I'm hooked! That's exactly what happened with When Death Draws Near. I thoroughly enjoyed the first two books in the Gwen Marcey series, and this one takes it one step further. Her personal life continues to be out of control with the tension of providing for her daughter and keeping her safe when Gwen gets plunged into a new murder. This one dives deep into the wilds of Kentucky where people are dying from what appears to be snake handling. Is there more to it? And what can she do to track down the culprits while fighting back against her nemesis: breast cancer?
There are political layers. Spiritual layers. Crime. Tension. Suspense.
A race from the first chapter to the end, this book will delight suspense lovers of all types.
I love a good suspense. If it has interesting characters, a great career, and a plot that keeps me reading, I'm hooked! That's exactly what happened with When Death Draws Near. I thoroughly enjoyed the first two books in the Gwen Marcey series, and this one takes it one step further. Her personal life continues to be out of control with the tension of providing for her daughter and keeping her safe when Gwen gets plunged into a new murder. This one dives deep into the wilds of Kentucky where people are dying from what appears to be snake handling. Is there more to it? And what can she do to track down the culprits while fighting back against her nemesis: breast cancer?
There are political layers. Spiritual layers. Crime. Tension. Suspense.
A race from the first chapter to the end, this book will delight suspense lovers of all types.
August 2, 2017
4.5 stars. Looking forward to the next one!
August 23, 2016
Carrie Stuart Parks offers up another enjoyable novel with her latest, "When Death Draws Near", a book that kept me turning the pages from start to finish. I have greatly enjoyed watching Gwen in her job of forensic artist in the first two instalments in the series, so I was glad to see her return in a whole different kind of mystery as she goes undercover with a group of snake handlers! Gwen is one of those characters who you just can't get enough of, as she shows herself to be so strong in the face of challenges that may force someone else into just giving up. And I must confess to a bit of character envy, because I wish I could draw with the same skill that Gwen employs in her work with her fantastic memory for faces and her ability to bring them to life. Parks has definitely ratcheted up the "chill factor" in this suspense novel to a whole new level, and I was kept guessing throughout the book trying to figure out who was who and what, exactly, was going on. My only hesitation about the novel is that Gwen ends up choosing to take her daughter undercover with her into a cult where danger abounds. As a parent myself I simply can't imagine doing so, no matter how much I felt I had no other choice. At the same time, though, she shows us that we should never judge people just by what we think we know about them, as readers discover that the members of the cult are all too human, wrestling with their fears and doubts, just like any of us can do.
The Gwen Marcey series continues to fascinate me with its unique characters and well-written plots. "When Death Draws Near" is another solid addition to the series and one I am sure readers who enjoy suspense will be eager to add to their collection. I award this book a rating of 4 out of 5 stars.
Book has been provided courtesy of the publisher and the Litfuse Publicity Group, for the purposes of this unbiased review.
The Gwen Marcey series continues to fascinate me with its unique characters and well-written plots. "When Death Draws Near" is another solid addition to the series and one I am sure readers who enjoy suspense will be eager to add to their collection. I award this book a rating of 4 out of 5 stars.
Book has been provided courtesy of the publisher and the Litfuse Publicity Group, for the purposes of this unbiased review.
February 4, 2016
Carrie Stuart Parks is amazing in this latest Gwen Marcey novel. With a deft stroke, she pens a novel that is compelling and haunting. I could not read it fast enough. Her characters are rich and deep. Her plot is--well, quite frankly--nightmare-inducing. It's been a long time since a novel gave me nightmares, but this one did. It's THAT GOOD! I love the many characters who easily fit the suspect, and the inimitable Gwen Marcey, who's never one to give up. And the ending--yep, she got one over on me. I'm annoyed with myself for not figuring it out. But then, where's the fun in that? :-P
May 18, 2022
Page turner
A gripping story where no one’s who they seem. Gwen Marcey is in a battle not only for her life but her daughter’s. It’s a story you won’t put down until you reach The End! Even if it takes until two a.m.
A gripping story where no one’s who they seem. Gwen Marcey is in a battle not only for her life but her daughter’s. It’s a story you won’t put down until you reach The End! Even if it takes until two a.m.
June 30, 2017
WOW OWOW!! Full review coming soon
August 23, 2020
One of the things I love most about Gwen Marcey is that she is so relatable. She doesn't have it all together and she's real and vulnerable in her walk with the Lord even when she's raising her voice in sarcastic anger. She's an intriguing mix of contradictions. Snarky and vulnerable. Stubborn and hesitant. Faith-fueled and doubtful. Such a complex, interesting character with deep layers that are slowly being peeled back with every book. This is the third Gwen Marcey book and, while it can be read as a standalone, there's enough in her personal life story that will make more of an impact if you've read A Cry from the Dust and The Bones Will Speak first.
Again, Parks has astounded me with the breadth and depth of this suspense. Her background as a forensic artist brings such a unique spin to the story and there are so many interesting insights into the complexities of this career. It involves so much more than I'd imagined! Her investigation into a fringe snake-handling religious group ups the tension and though, I have a huge snake phobia, I coped quite well...except for one gripping scene (shudder.) But the suspense is so compelling it kept me reading...er listening...anyway!
Complexities in plot and characters combined with stellar storytelling skills make any Gwen Marcey book unputdownable. Having said that, I think When Death Draws Near is definitely the best so far. I have one more to go -- Portrait of Vengeance is awaiting me in my audible line up.
Again, Parks has astounded me with the breadth and depth of this suspense. Her background as a forensic artist brings such a unique spin to the story and there are so many interesting insights into the complexities of this career. It involves so much more than I'd imagined! Her investigation into a fringe snake-handling religious group ups the tension and though, I have a huge snake phobia, I coped quite well...except for one gripping scene (shudder.) But the suspense is so compelling it kept me reading...er listening...anyway!
Complexities in plot and characters combined with stellar storytelling skills make any Gwen Marcey book unputdownable. Having said that, I think When Death Draws Near is definitely the best so far. I have one more to go -- Portrait of Vengeance is awaiting me in my audible line up.
August 5, 2016
When Death Draws Near by Carrie Stuart Parks is a contemporary Christian thriller. It is the third book in the Gwen Marcey series but can be read as a stand-alone. I had not read the previous novels.
When Death Draws Near's style is reminiscent of the 1950's film noir and I loved it. The novel is written in the first person from the point of view of Gwen. As the novel progressed, in my head, it felt like the voice over in the old black and white Philip Marlowe films. I found it a very clever and effective technique employed by Carrie Stuart Parks.
I must admit at times I found the number of different characters confusing, maybe this is because I had not read the earlier novels. However I soon got completely caught up in the action and found my heart racing as I sped to the conclusion of the novel.
Gwen has fought cancer. So far she is a survivor but a survivor who has no time for God and little faith in prayer. Gwen sees prayer as pointless. She believes that God already knows what will happen so why pray? "God knew the outcome. How could anything I prayed for make a difference?" Gwen has missed the whole point of prayer. Prayer is a two way conversation with God. It is to build a relationship and trust in Him. It seems like a miracle will be needed for Gwen to pray again.
Gwen is a good mother. She has a fierce instinct to protect her daughter. You do not want to cross her. This reminds the reader that God loves us and He too longs to protect us and help us through life.
Gwen is a forensic artist. The remains of the dead speak to her. She translates this into an artist's impression. This can be seen as a motif for our relationship with God. We do not necessarily need to use words but God sees just what we are like. It also ties in with the theme of identity. "My identity had been Robert's wife." Our identity should never be wrapped up in another person. Our identity should be found in Jesus.
There is the need for closure on present and outstanding crimes. Gwen will push on trying to uncover the truth.
The novel explores the silence of God. "Talk to me God! Answer me!" Sometimes we cannot hear God but that does not mean that He is inactive. God is always caring for us and working for our good.
The novel examines the theme of trust. Sometimes life is very confusing and we do not know who to trust. Gwen is told to "Trust no-one." But there is One whom she can trust and He is God.
Within the novel there is a religious group. It is viewed with suspicion and mistrust. Are the people good or deluded? You must read the novel and make up your own mind.
I very much enjoyed my first delve into the world of Gwen Marcey. I shall certainly be exploring more novels with her as the central character.
I received this book for free in exchange for a fair and honest review. No monetary compensation was received and all views expressed are my own.
When Death Draws Near's style is reminiscent of the 1950's film noir and I loved it. The novel is written in the first person from the point of view of Gwen. As the novel progressed, in my head, it felt like the voice over in the old black and white Philip Marlowe films. I found it a very clever and effective technique employed by Carrie Stuart Parks.
I must admit at times I found the number of different characters confusing, maybe this is because I had not read the earlier novels. However I soon got completely caught up in the action and found my heart racing as I sped to the conclusion of the novel.
Gwen has fought cancer. So far she is a survivor but a survivor who has no time for God and little faith in prayer. Gwen sees prayer as pointless. She believes that God already knows what will happen so why pray? "God knew the outcome. How could anything I prayed for make a difference?" Gwen has missed the whole point of prayer. Prayer is a two way conversation with God. It is to build a relationship and trust in Him. It seems like a miracle will be needed for Gwen to pray again.
Gwen is a good mother. She has a fierce instinct to protect her daughter. You do not want to cross her. This reminds the reader that God loves us and He too longs to protect us and help us through life.
Gwen is a forensic artist. The remains of the dead speak to her. She translates this into an artist's impression. This can be seen as a motif for our relationship with God. We do not necessarily need to use words but God sees just what we are like. It also ties in with the theme of identity. "My identity had been Robert's wife." Our identity should never be wrapped up in another person. Our identity should be found in Jesus.
There is the need for closure on present and outstanding crimes. Gwen will push on trying to uncover the truth.
The novel explores the silence of God. "Talk to me God! Answer me!" Sometimes we cannot hear God but that does not mean that He is inactive. God is always caring for us and working for our good.
The novel examines the theme of trust. Sometimes life is very confusing and we do not know who to trust. Gwen is told to "Trust no-one." But there is One whom she can trust and He is God.
Within the novel there is a religious group. It is viewed with suspicion and mistrust. Are the people good or deluded? You must read the novel and make up your own mind.
I very much enjoyed my first delve into the world of Gwen Marcey. I shall certainly be exploring more novels with her as the central character.
I received this book for free in exchange for a fair and honest review. No monetary compensation was received and all views expressed are my own.
July 31, 2016
Following A Cry From The Dust & The Bones Will Speak, When Death Draws Near is book number three in A Gwen Marcey Novel collection. Easy to read as a stand alone, this was my first CSP novel. I would classify this novel as a suspense mystery although there is a minor thread of romance strung in there to make all the hearties happy.
Having not read the previous Gwen Marcey novels, I was introduced to Forensic artist and main character, Gwen Marcey, immediately as unique character. Unlike most heroines owning the pages of mystery/suspense/romance novels-Gwen Marcey is not your typical twenty-to-thirty something who's kicking butts and taking names. No, instead you have a woman who's divorced with a rebellious teenage daughter and is facing a critical health crisis all while financially, spiritually, and physically struggling. However, Gwen Marcey isn't a flat character. Ms. Parks does a great job bringing out authentic emotion when the character is faced with a life changing phone call.
There is a heavy religious element to this story due to the plotline and Ms. Parks offers plenty of research to further develop the plot twists but for me it just seemed to slow down the action of the story as I found myself skimming to get to the good parts. However, it didn't stop me from finishing the book in six hours!
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
Having not read the previous Gwen Marcey novels, I was introduced to Forensic artist and main character, Gwen Marcey, immediately as unique character. Unlike most heroines owning the pages of mystery/suspense/romance novels-Gwen Marcey is not your typical twenty-to-thirty something who's kicking butts and taking names. No, instead you have a woman who's divorced with a rebellious teenage daughter and is facing a critical health crisis all while financially, spiritually, and physically struggling. However, Gwen Marcey isn't a flat character. Ms. Parks does a great job bringing out authentic emotion when the character is faced with a life changing phone call.
There is a heavy religious element to this story due to the plotline and Ms. Parks offers plenty of research to further develop the plot twists but for me it just seemed to slow down the action of the story as I found myself skimming to get to the good parts. However, it didn't stop me from finishing the book in six hours!
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
April 16, 2016
I waited for a while to start this because I wanted to read the second book first. But it didn't seem to matter. After reading the fjrst book, I was intrigued with the series but not overly impressed. However, this book impressed me. I couldn't read fast enough as I tried to figure out the connection between the serial rapist and the snake handling church and who the bad guy was! The suspense was twisty and creepy (just how I like it) and I didn't fully figure out the bad guy. they were on my short list of suspects, but I was a little surprised by the ending.
It doesn't need to be read as a series, but I do think it would be better that way.
Thanks to Netgalley and publishers for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
It doesn't need to be read as a series, but I do think it would be better that way.
Thanks to Netgalley and publishers for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
June 14, 2017
Carrie Stuart Parks has a unique style and one that has improved with each book in the Gwen Marcey Series.
Forensic Artist Gwen Marcey is a middle aged, divorced, cancer survivor with a teenage daughter. She is low on funds and takes on a job in Kentucky that involves exposure to snakes. Creepy.
Gwen talks to herself quite a bit, which is comical. Her daughter is a typical teenager that is into electronics and finds nothing cool about her mom.
When Death Draws Near was an enjoyable suspense novel and I look forward to the next in the series.
Forensic Artist Gwen Marcey is a middle aged, divorced, cancer survivor with a teenage daughter. She is low on funds and takes on a job in Kentucky that involves exposure to snakes. Creepy.
Gwen talks to herself quite a bit, which is comical. Her daughter is a typical teenager that is into electronics and finds nothing cool about her mom.
When Death Draws Near was an enjoyable suspense novel and I look forward to the next in the series.
July 19, 2017
4.5 stars! I love this entire series, but I think this is the best one yet. The next book can't come out fast enough!
October 28, 2023
I think this was my least favorite of the three as a mystery. When the reveal happened I was trying to figure out who everyone was. I don't know if it was because there was a lot going on with the book or if I just wasn't as into the mystery.
The growth of Gwen Marcie was pretty significant in this book. There also was a development of hearing her ex husband more in her thoughts and heads. I don't know if that is suppose to show the gradual growth of what a trauma does? Or just a development of the story line? I don't know.
Probably my least favorite part of this book was the romantic interest. Not because it was saturated a lot, I did appreciate that it wasn't that. But it felt like a highschool romance with the awkward girl and the drop dead jockey. She is leary of this guy in the first place so why is she attracted and wanting more? He's pretty of the group she's investigating so....
But I'm binge-reading these because the author really did a good job with giving information and an intriguing story line without getting too wordy.
The growth of Gwen Marcie was pretty significant in this book. There also was a development of hearing her ex husband more in her thoughts and heads. I don't know if that is suppose to show the gradual growth of what a trauma does? Or just a development of the story line? I don't know.
Probably my least favorite part of this book was the romantic interest. Not because it was saturated a lot, I did appreciate that it wasn't that. But it felt like a highschool romance with the awkward girl and the drop dead jockey. She is leary of this guy in the first place so why is she attracted and wanting more? He's pretty of the group she's investigating so....
But I'm binge-reading these because the author really did a good job with giving information and an intriguing story line without getting too wordy.
May 20, 2019
This author is FANTASTIC and this was my favorite book in the series so far! I never saw the twist coming at the end! I love that! Can’t wait till Wednesday when the fourth book in this series will be here and I can start it!
August 31, 2016
WHEN DEATH DRAWS NEAR; STORY LINE:
Gwen Marcey, forensic artist, is back in action in When Death Draws Near, book 3 of the Gwen Marcey stories. Pikeville, Kentucky is the center of murder, accidents, and rapes; then, there are the Pentecostal Snake Handlers to add spice. Gwen's job in Pikeville is to render a drawing of the latest victim. What starts as a simple case spirals out of control into much worse. Gwen finds her cancer has returned, her ex-husband is still a controlling conniving jerk who loves to humiliate and demean her, and something is very off in Pikeville.
The Hillbilly Rapist is active, bodies are found murdered, the Sheriff's Dept seems ineffective, and the local underground snake handling Pentecostal Church is going strong. Gwen finds herself hired to infiltrate the group, identify and render drawings the handlers and report any illegal activity. The richest man in town, who happens to have White House aspirations, wants the Pentecostal snake handlers out of business.
Pikeville is a hub of criminal activity and Gwen finds herself in the center of the storm. Come with Gwen as she ferrets out the truth, protects her daughter, meets a new man, and delivers justice.
WHEN DEATH DRAWS NEAR, CHARACTERS, PLOTTING, AND DEVELOPMENT:
In When Death Draws Near, author Carrie Stuart Parks has crafted a first-rate criminal story. As a result, I found I could not put down this book. Ms. Parks had many threads in this story which she skillfully wove together to create an intense and intriguing story-line. Consequently, the plots just kept coming; woven into the story by a master.
Furthermore, Ms. Parks has a cast of characters which she skillfully developed and was progressive throughout the book. You will root for Gwen, shiver and worry when in danger, despise her ex-husband, and love her attitude to life. Her daughter you will find is a normal teenager with all their attitudes and opinions. The secondary characters are essential to the story line and well-developed. Also, I found Ms. Parks' research into the Pentecostal Movement well done and her legal background added much authenticity to the story-line.
Ms. Parks has a killer of an ending which you will not expect. Kudos, Ms. Parks, kudos. What a surprise, my mouth fell open! The pacing of the revelations were spot on and the length of the book was correct. This book does not rely on fluff to fill the pages.
In concluding the review of When Death Draws Near, I found this a well-written and developed book. The story never lags or bogs down nor does the author fill the story with meaningless dialogue. Once again, Ms. Parks has crafted a first-rate criminal story-line.
WHEN DEATH DRAWS NEAR, RECOMMENDATION: 5 STARS:
In conclusion, I do not hesitate to give this book 5 stars. You will not regret purchasing this book if you love a good solid crime story.
Final Note: I received this book from the author and Netgalley in return for an honest book review. Book reviews of any novel are dependent on the book review author’s opinion; consequently book reviews on line under my name and on my blog are my opinion.
Gwen Marcey, forensic artist, is back in action in When Death Draws Near, book 3 of the Gwen Marcey stories. Pikeville, Kentucky is the center of murder, accidents, and rapes; then, there are the Pentecostal Snake Handlers to add spice. Gwen's job in Pikeville is to render a drawing of the latest victim. What starts as a simple case spirals out of control into much worse. Gwen finds her cancer has returned, her ex-husband is still a controlling conniving jerk who loves to humiliate and demean her, and something is very off in Pikeville.
The Hillbilly Rapist is active, bodies are found murdered, the Sheriff's Dept seems ineffective, and the local underground snake handling Pentecostal Church is going strong. Gwen finds herself hired to infiltrate the group, identify and render drawings the handlers and report any illegal activity. The richest man in town, who happens to have White House aspirations, wants the Pentecostal snake handlers out of business.
Pikeville is a hub of criminal activity and Gwen finds herself in the center of the storm. Come with Gwen as she ferrets out the truth, protects her daughter, meets a new man, and delivers justice.
WHEN DEATH DRAWS NEAR, CHARACTERS, PLOTTING, AND DEVELOPMENT:
In When Death Draws Near, author Carrie Stuart Parks has crafted a first-rate criminal story. As a result, I found I could not put down this book. Ms. Parks had many threads in this story which she skillfully wove together to create an intense and intriguing story-line. Consequently, the plots just kept coming; woven into the story by a master.
Furthermore, Ms. Parks has a cast of characters which she skillfully developed and was progressive throughout the book. You will root for Gwen, shiver and worry when in danger, despise her ex-husband, and love her attitude to life. Her daughter you will find is a normal teenager with all their attitudes and opinions. The secondary characters are essential to the story line and well-developed. Also, I found Ms. Parks' research into the Pentecostal Movement well done and her legal background added much authenticity to the story-line.
Ms. Parks has a killer of an ending which you will not expect. Kudos, Ms. Parks, kudos. What a surprise, my mouth fell open! The pacing of the revelations were spot on and the length of the book was correct. This book does not rely on fluff to fill the pages.
In concluding the review of When Death Draws Near, I found this a well-written and developed book. The story never lags or bogs down nor does the author fill the story with meaningless dialogue. Once again, Ms. Parks has crafted a first-rate criminal story-line.
WHEN DEATH DRAWS NEAR, RECOMMENDATION: 5 STARS:
In conclusion, I do not hesitate to give this book 5 stars. You will not regret purchasing this book if you love a good solid crime story.
Final Note: I received this book from the author and Netgalley in return for an honest book review. Book reviews of any novel are dependent on the book review author’s opinion; consequently book reviews on line under my name and on my blog are my opinion.
August 2, 2016
I have thoroughly enjoyed both of Carrie Stuart Parks first books in the Gwen Marcey series A Cry from the Dust and The Bones Will Speak. Both stories take a past cancer survivor and throw her in the perils of danger. With the addition of When Death Draws Near, I felt that Parks does a good job tying this story in with the other two.
Parks writes her novels in the first person point of view. This is a hard perspective to write the story in because as an author, they might want to jump around into the other characters heads, but they aren't allowed to. I don't remember any moment that Parks jumps into another characters viewpoint. What I really like about the first point of view for Gwen is that Parks really made her a human. What I mean is that she struck a chord with me. Parks allowed her to be angry at God. As a Christian, I can still follow God and believe in him, but there are moments where I question God's choices for my life. I'm glad to see Gwen do the same thing. I really enjoyed seeing Gwen's thought process of worry. It rang true. I became more empathized with Gwen for her situation.
Parks took a different route with her novels. In the first novel, A Cry from the Dust, she discussed the Mormon faith, and in The Bones Will Speak, she features a Neo-Nazi group. In When Death Draws Near, she jumps right into a snake handling cult that uses the Bible to back up its practices. While the novel does not put down these beliefs, Parks researched and studied what makes their practices so appealing to others. Parks shows if the world's preconceived notions are right or wrong. She doesn't lead me down a road to persuade me. Instead she shows the facts and allows me to make my own decision.
While I loved returning to such a strong heroine as Gwen, I really enjoyed that in this final book she might get her chance at happiness. For the past two books, even this one, I watched as Gwen struggled with the onset of her ex-husband, Robert, and her teenage daughter, and the cancer that destroyed her appearance, but during When Death Draws Near, she learns to silence Robert's critical voice, connect with her daughter, and learn to open her heart at the chance of romance. The plot moved at a nice pace, and I really had a hard time putting the book down, which unfortunately, I had to do a lot. Even the bad guy came out of the left field. I did not guess the right person.
Unique and different, Carrie Stuart Parks newest novel When Death Draws Near taught me about preconceived notions, showed me more of the human side of Gwen, and kept my attention on the plot. I really enjoyed When Death Draws Near. I hope there is another book in Gwen's life that I will be able to enjoy.
I received a complimentary copy of When Death Draws Near from Thomas Nelson Publishing and the opinions stated are all my own.
Parks writes her novels in the first person point of view. This is a hard perspective to write the story in because as an author, they might want to jump around into the other characters heads, but they aren't allowed to. I don't remember any moment that Parks jumps into another characters viewpoint. What I really like about the first point of view for Gwen is that Parks really made her a human. What I mean is that she struck a chord with me. Parks allowed her to be angry at God. As a Christian, I can still follow God and believe in him, but there are moments where I question God's choices for my life. I'm glad to see Gwen do the same thing. I really enjoyed seeing Gwen's thought process of worry. It rang true. I became more empathized with Gwen for her situation.
Parks took a different route with her novels. In the first novel, A Cry from the Dust, she discussed the Mormon faith, and in The Bones Will Speak, she features a Neo-Nazi group. In When Death Draws Near, she jumps right into a snake handling cult that uses the Bible to back up its practices. While the novel does not put down these beliefs, Parks researched and studied what makes their practices so appealing to others. Parks shows if the world's preconceived notions are right or wrong. She doesn't lead me down a road to persuade me. Instead she shows the facts and allows me to make my own decision.
While I loved returning to such a strong heroine as Gwen, I really enjoyed that in this final book she might get her chance at happiness. For the past two books, even this one, I watched as Gwen struggled with the onset of her ex-husband, Robert, and her teenage daughter, and the cancer that destroyed her appearance, but during When Death Draws Near, she learns to silence Robert's critical voice, connect with her daughter, and learn to open her heart at the chance of romance. The plot moved at a nice pace, and I really had a hard time putting the book down, which unfortunately, I had to do a lot. Even the bad guy came out of the left field. I did not guess the right person.
Unique and different, Carrie Stuart Parks newest novel When Death Draws Near taught me about preconceived notions, showed me more of the human side of Gwen, and kept my attention on the plot. I really enjoyed When Death Draws Near. I hope there is another book in Gwen's life that I will be able to enjoy.
I received a complimentary copy of When Death Draws Near from Thomas Nelson Publishing and the opinions stated are all my own.
October 20, 2016
I'm really enjoying this series. I’ve always been a fan of detective fiction, and although Gwen Macey isn’t technically a detective, she uses her skills in forensic art (drawing and analysing facial features) and statement analysis to help investigate the cases she’s called into. Author Carrie Stuart Parks has drawn on her own real life experience in creating Gwen’s character, and I have to admit my nerdy side geeks out a little at the glimpses we get into this highly specialised area of forensics! Gwen also has an unfortunate knack for getting caught up in the action, and the final third of the book made for gripping reading as Gwen tried to extricate herself from the situation she was in.
Having said all that, if you have a fear of snakes, then this might not be the book for you! When Gwen is flown out to Pike County, Kentucky, to help identify a murder victim, she also finds herself investigating the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ with Signs Following; in other words, Pentecostal snake handlers! (A sect that really does exist, I might add.) Let’s just say it’s a good thing Gwen is (marginally) better with snakes than she is with spiders! For my part, there were one or two scenes that had me shuddering. I’m glad it was Gwen and not me! I also thought Carrie Stuart Parks handled the sect well, neither promoting it nor denigrating it, but allowing the characters to present a variety of opinions and observations.
As with the previous two books in the series, the plot is intriguing and there is an interesting group of secondary characters who muddy the waters: especially when the main suspect accosts Gwen and her daughter, Aynslee, only to warn them, “Don’t trust anyone. Anyone. Do you understand?” before fleeing into the night. Things only become more interesting when Gwen and Aynslee attend a snake-handling revival at the behest of state senator, Arless Campbell, and his wife Blanche.
Plot and forensics aside, the other thing I love about this series is Gwen herself – her dry, often self-deprecating wit, and her personal struggle as a breast cancer survivor whose husband divorced her because she is now ‘damaged goods’. Again, the author has real life experience to draw on, and it shows. Aynslee is well-drawn too, matching her mother for dry wit and adding a wonderful relationship dynamic as Gwen tries to navigate life with a teen – although I occasionally wished Gwen would pull her up for being disrespectful with her ‘whatever’ responses.
This was a great read, and I hope it isn’t the last we’ll see of Gwen Marcey.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not influenced the content of my review.
Having said all that, if you have a fear of snakes, then this might not be the book for you! When Gwen is flown out to Pike County, Kentucky, to help identify a murder victim, she also finds herself investigating the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ with Signs Following; in other words, Pentecostal snake handlers! (A sect that really does exist, I might add.) Let’s just say it’s a good thing Gwen is (marginally) better with snakes than she is with spiders! For my part, there were one or two scenes that had me shuddering. I’m glad it was Gwen and not me! I also thought Carrie Stuart Parks handled the sect well, neither promoting it nor denigrating it, but allowing the characters to present a variety of opinions and observations.
As with the previous two books in the series, the plot is intriguing and there is an interesting group of secondary characters who muddy the waters: especially when the main suspect accosts Gwen and her daughter, Aynslee, only to warn them, “Don’t trust anyone. Anyone. Do you understand?” before fleeing into the night. Things only become more interesting when Gwen and Aynslee attend a snake-handling revival at the behest of state senator, Arless Campbell, and his wife Blanche.
Plot and forensics aside, the other thing I love about this series is Gwen herself – her dry, often self-deprecating wit, and her personal struggle as a breast cancer survivor whose husband divorced her because she is now ‘damaged goods’. Again, the author has real life experience to draw on, and it shows. Aynslee is well-drawn too, matching her mother for dry wit and adding a wonderful relationship dynamic as Gwen tries to navigate life with a teen – although I occasionally wished Gwen would pull her up for being disrespectful with her ‘whatever’ responses.
This was a great read, and I hope it isn’t the last we’ll see of Gwen Marcey.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not influenced the content of my review.
January 13, 2018
Another page turner from Carrie Stuart Parks!
This authoress is leading the pack both in intelligent mystery/thriller from the Christian authors´s pen and in very believable and realistic faith issues.
Forensic artist Gwen Marcey is dealing with the serial rapist and also the series of deaths by a snakebite/poison. The local sheriff seems to have some secrets. May the deaths something in common with the Pentecostal church and their religious practice of serpent handling?
And there is also the call from her oncologist with the need to do some additional testing...
I like Gwen Marcey very much. She is just real. So often I can not connect with the literary heroes/heroines because they are not believable - but this is not the case. Sure, Gwen is brave, resourceful, smart and on the top of her profession (all superhero qualities) - but she is also a woman with all of the insecurities and struggles I can relate to. She feels real, and she also feels warm.
I once again applaud the authoress (and also the publishing house) for the courage to "map" the variety of denominations and their practice. Be not afraid, the Pentecostal church is not shamed here (even if I find some od the practice, like the serpent handling, just dangerous). Gwen sees them realistically - and while she questions some aspects, she sees the goodness here.
I am also grateful to be able to learn some new things about the Pentecostal church there!
The scene where Gwen is captive has touched my heart. So much of real pain and anger, even towards God, Who is not always answering our prayers in the time we want/need Him to!
But He listens always - and the scene when Gwen realizes that is beautiful also.
The pace is fast, the criminal/criminals are on the loose and time is running out! I finished this book with the speed of the light. And while I recognize that there is maybe a bit too much crime and too much too resourceful criminals going around - but who cares? I have enjoyed the ride very much!
This authoress is leading the pack both in intelligent mystery/thriller from the Christian authors´s pen and in very believable and realistic faith issues.
Forensic artist Gwen Marcey is dealing with the serial rapist and also the series of deaths by a snakebite/poison. The local sheriff seems to have some secrets. May the deaths something in common with the Pentecostal church and their religious practice of serpent handling?
And there is also the call from her oncologist with the need to do some additional testing...
I like Gwen Marcey very much. She is just real. So often I can not connect with the literary heroes/heroines because they are not believable - but this is not the case. Sure, Gwen is brave, resourceful, smart and on the top of her profession (all superhero qualities) - but she is also a woman with all of the insecurities and struggles I can relate to. She feels real, and she also feels warm.
I once again applaud the authoress (and also the publishing house) for the courage to "map" the variety of denominations and their practice. Be not afraid, the Pentecostal church is not shamed here (even if I find some od the practice, like the serpent handling, just dangerous). Gwen sees them realistically - and while she questions some aspects, she sees the goodness here.
I am also grateful to be able to learn some new things about the Pentecostal church there!
The scene where Gwen is captive has touched my heart. So much of real pain and anger, even towards God, Who is not always answering our prayers in the time we want/need Him to!
But He listens always - and the scene when Gwen realizes that is beautiful also.
The pace is fast, the criminal/criminals are on the loose and time is running out! I finished this book with the speed of the light. And while I recognize that there is maybe a bit too much crime and too much too resourceful criminals going around - but who cares? I have enjoyed the ride very much!
August 14, 2016
Joining the Litfuse WHEN DEATH DRAWS NEAR blog tour w/a book review & #giveaway {http://prmo.me/bBJTG4} http://christianshelfesteem.wordpress...
When Death Draws Near by Carrie Stuart Parks made me want to draw the blinds when I was home alone and check the covers before I crawled into bed. It wouldn’t say it was scary, but the crime element of the story did rattle me a little.
In A Cry from the Dust, the first book of this series, the scandal revolved around a Mormon cult. This time Gwen Marcey becomes entangled with a group of snake handling Pentecostals (hence my need to check under the covers). I think it’s risky when an author targets different sects, but it works for Parks. On another note, reading A Cry from the Dust first helped me understand the characters’ thought processes in this book. One example is how Gwen often imagines conversations with her both friend and her ex-husband–having a familiarity with these characters was key for understanding and appreciating their banter.
As a middle aged mother of a rebellious teen, breast cancer survivor, and menopause sufferer; Gwen tends to use humor as a coping mechanism. I found myself laughing at her witticisms and enjoyed Carrie Stuart Parks’s use of humor throughout the story. It seemed to serve as a pressure relief valve given the seriousness of the investigations, as well as Gwen’s personal crises. Well balanced, well written, and thoroughly entertaining — suspense fiction fans will want to add When Death Draws Near to their reading lists.
I received this book free as a member of the Litfuse blogger program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
When Death Draws Near by Carrie Stuart Parks made me want to draw the blinds when I was home alone and check the covers before I crawled into bed. It wouldn’t say it was scary, but the crime element of the story did rattle me a little.
In A Cry from the Dust, the first book of this series, the scandal revolved around a Mormon cult. This time Gwen Marcey becomes entangled with a group of snake handling Pentecostals (hence my need to check under the covers). I think it’s risky when an author targets different sects, but it works for Parks. On another note, reading A Cry from the Dust first helped me understand the characters’ thought processes in this book. One example is how Gwen often imagines conversations with her both friend and her ex-husband–having a familiarity with these characters was key for understanding and appreciating their banter.
As a middle aged mother of a rebellious teen, breast cancer survivor, and menopause sufferer; Gwen tends to use humor as a coping mechanism. I found myself laughing at her witticisms and enjoyed Carrie Stuart Parks’s use of humor throughout the story. It seemed to serve as a pressure relief valve given the seriousness of the investigations, as well as Gwen’s personal crises. Well balanced, well written, and thoroughly entertaining — suspense fiction fans will want to add When Death Draws Near to their reading lists.
I received this book free as a member of the Litfuse blogger program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
August 10, 2017
This book provided some very interesting insight into some unusual practices involving snakes in church. I had never heard of this practice and was fascinated and kind of horrified to read about this. I despise snakes, they are my least favorite animal and the thought of them makes me cringe, so this book was difficult to read at parts. There are many scenes that are gruesome and creepy but also kept me on the edge of my seat.
Throughout the book you are with Gwen, a forensic artist, who was called in to help with finding a serial rapist. When she arrives, she is rebuffed by the sheriff and begins to receive threats. She then is presented with an opportunity to look into a mystery involving a church that uses snakes and drinks poisons as well as refuse medical treatment.
There was a lot going on in the book and it became a bit confusing at times. I did find the story to be very unique and liked the main characters profession…as a forensic artist (which the author also is), Gwen is skilled at interview skills as well as knowing when people are lying.
When I finished the book, I still felt like some things were left open…a few things didn’t seem to be addressed to the point that I expected them to.
I didn’t expect the culprit at all! I loved this part of the story, it was very clever and unexpected but also a little bit far fetched.
I requested this without realizing that it is the 3rd book in a series but it still can be read as a standalone as the author explains some of the characters’ backstories.
Overall, this was an enjoyable Christian mystery.
I received this book from Booklook Bloggers in exchange for an honest review.
Throughout the book you are with Gwen, a forensic artist, who was called in to help with finding a serial rapist. When she arrives, she is rebuffed by the sheriff and begins to receive threats. She then is presented with an opportunity to look into a mystery involving a church that uses snakes and drinks poisons as well as refuse medical treatment.
There was a lot going on in the book and it became a bit confusing at times. I did find the story to be very unique and liked the main characters profession…as a forensic artist (which the author also is), Gwen is skilled at interview skills as well as knowing when people are lying.
When I finished the book, I still felt like some things were left open…a few things didn’t seem to be addressed to the point that I expected them to.
I didn’t expect the culprit at all! I loved this part of the story, it was very clever and unexpected but also a little bit far fetched.
I requested this without realizing that it is the 3rd book in a series but it still can be read as a standalone as the author explains some of the characters’ backstories.
Overall, this was an enjoyable Christian mystery.
I received this book from Booklook Bloggers in exchange for an honest review.
August 8, 2016
If you're a fan of criminal suspense books, like those of Terri Blackstock, you'll want to read Parks' latest "When Death Draws Near." It has all the action and suspense of a murder mystery but the drama like you'd find on the big screen. The combination can't be easy to pull off, and yet Parks wrote so many twists and turns into her story that she kept me guessing until the very last page.
Gwen isn't your typical leading lady. She's not super young, super rich, or super pretty. In fact, she's divorced, broke, and a cancer survivor - with the scars to show it. Her rough predicament pulled at my heartstrings more than once, but I liked her all the more for it. She was real - and she was really smart, too. I love stories in which the characters really use their brains to solve the case.
In Gwen's case, it went a bit beyond that, because while it was her brains that figured out whodunit, it was also her endurance that saved her skin - literally. Parks wrote a climactic ending that went on and on, spurring me on to find resolution.
Mystery stories have been my favorite since I read my first Hardy Boys' when I was seven, and I've collected a long list of great mystery authors since that time. I'm happy to report that I've just added another.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Gwen isn't your typical leading lady. She's not super young, super rich, or super pretty. In fact, she's divorced, broke, and a cancer survivor - with the scars to show it. Her rough predicament pulled at my heartstrings more than once, but I liked her all the more for it. She was real - and she was really smart, too. I love stories in which the characters really use their brains to solve the case.
In Gwen's case, it went a bit beyond that, because while it was her brains that figured out whodunit, it was also her endurance that saved her skin - literally. Parks wrote a climactic ending that went on and on, spurring me on to find resolution.
Mystery stories have been my favorite since I read my first Hardy Boys' when I was seven, and I've collected a long list of great mystery authors since that time. I'm happy to report that I've just added another.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 16, 2016
This is only the third book by Parks, and I have enjoyed all three and have found myself wishing she had more books out there to read. This one may be her best yet, and is one I didn't want to put down. The plot and story line were really great, and I found the whole snakes being used in worship thing fascinating. Even though I still think people who do that are nuts, I understand it a little more after reading this novel.
I have never been - and will never be - a big fan of first person point of view writing, but Parks does it so well that I had to go back and look after finishing the book to see which point of view she used for writing.
The author uses her expertise in being a forensic artist to bring authenticity to the main character's work in that area, and does a good job of making it interesting.
The suspense element is always important to me, and this book is full of it. I was in the dark as to the identity of the killer until the last minute, and found myself totally surprised. It is fun to figure that out, but it is also fun to be surprised, and this book did just that.
Loved and really enjoyed the book, and am looking forward to reading more about Gwen and her work.
This book was given to me in exchange for my honest review.
I have never been - and will never be - a big fan of first person point of view writing, but Parks does it so well that I had to go back and look after finishing the book to see which point of view she used for writing.
The author uses her expertise in being a forensic artist to bring authenticity to the main character's work in that area, and does a good job of making it interesting.
The suspense element is always important to me, and this book is full of it. I was in the dark as to the identity of the killer until the last minute, and found myself totally surprised. It is fun to figure that out, but it is also fun to be surprised, and this book did just that.
Loved and really enjoyed the book, and am looking forward to reading more about Gwen and her work.
This book was given to me in exchange for my honest review.
July 18, 2017
I can't recall ever before reading a mystery written from the point of view of an artist who does facial reconstructions for law enforcement. That was such a unique and cool angle to look at cases from, in and of itself, but add in an Appalachian setting, and you know I was hooked. Though the rest of the series doesn't take place in Appalachia, I'm hoping my library has the previous books, because I also quite liked the protagonist, forensic artist Gwen Marcey.
Marcey gets called in by the sheriff of a small Kentucky town to help draw identifying sketches of a rapist from descriptions provided by his victims. She winds up investigating a snake-handling church and unraveling a decades-old murder.
I very much appreciated that, although some of the cases Marcey investigated were rapes, there was no gratuitous or graphic description of the crimes. For a modern-day thriller/mystery in the vein of Kathy Reichs, it was not squeamishness-inducing, which I definitely liked.
Marcey gets called in by the sheriff of a small Kentucky town to help draw identifying sketches of a rapist from descriptions provided by his victims. She winds up investigating a snake-handling church and unraveling a decades-old murder.
I very much appreciated that, although some of the cases Marcey investigated were rapes, there was no gratuitous or graphic description of the crimes. For a modern-day thriller/mystery in the vein of Kathy Reichs, it was not squeamishness-inducing, which I definitely liked.
September 13, 2016
I love forensics and nothing more interesting to me than a forensic artist. It’s even more exiting to know the author, Carrie Stuart Parks, is a forensic artist as it adds such authenticity to the Gwen Marcey Series.
The joy in this series for me continues to be provided by the relatable and unique Gwen Marcey. She has a unique sense of humor, personal problems that we all can sympathize with, and a unique profession. You can’t help but cheer as she makes a step forward in her struggle with cancer and her divorce, and then feel her pain when the cancer returns.
Parks attention to detail is fabulous, and I love learning more about her unique profession. I love the creative descriptions and of course, this is a mystery so all of the twists and turns provided by the author keep you guessing and turning pages. If you love character driven mysteries, I highly recommend this series.
The joy in this series for me continues to be provided by the relatable and unique Gwen Marcey. She has a unique sense of humor, personal problems that we all can sympathize with, and a unique profession. You can’t help but cheer as she makes a step forward in her struggle with cancer and her divorce, and then feel her pain when the cancer returns.
Parks attention to detail is fabulous, and I love learning more about her unique profession. I love the creative descriptions and of course, this is a mystery so all of the twists and turns provided by the author keep you guessing and turning pages. If you love character driven mysteries, I highly recommend this series.
December 7, 2016
WHEN DEATH DRAWS NEAR by Carrie Stuart Parks. Haven't read her books before, can now see why others rate her so highly. A forensic artist out of a job, goes to a small town in Kentucky to help them. A rapist is on the loose, and the victims are disappearing. Before she can get a drawing to help them get the person. Snake handlers, going undercover, choices she makes in this case. The novel is written in first person, and the compelling story begins at the first page. Characters are very well developed, plot is filled with tension. Given ARC by Net Galley for my voluntary and honest review, I have given.
January 20, 2017
Kept me guessing!
Carrie Stuart Parks scores another hit with When Death Draws Near! She kept me guessing until the very end with edge-of-your-seat action and suspense with touches of humor! Add to that the message that I took away... to not look at things & people the way everyone else does... and she has a winner! Highly recommended!
Carrie Stuart Parks scores another hit with When Death Draws Near! She kept me guessing until the very end with edge-of-your-seat action and suspense with touches of humor! Add to that the message that I took away... to not look at things & people the way everyone else does... and she has a winner! Highly recommended!
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