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Evie Blackwell Cold Case #2
Threads of Suspicion
Evie Blackwell's reputation as a top investigator for the Illinois State Police has landed her an appointment to the governor's new Missing Persons Task Force. This elite investigative team is launched with plenty of public fanfare. The governor has made this initiative a high priority, so they will have to produce results—and quickly.
Evie and her new partner, David Marshal, are assigned to a pair of unrelated cases in suburban Chicago, and while both involve persons now missing for several years, the cases couldn't be more different. While Evie opens old wounds in a close-knit neighborhood to find a missing college student, David searches for a private investigator working for a high-powered client.
With a deep conviction that "justice for all" truly matters, Evie and David are unrelenting in their search for the truth. But Evie must also find answers to the questions that lie just beneath the surface in her personal life.
Evie and her new partner, David Marshal, are assigned to a pair of unrelated cases in suburban Chicago, and while both involve persons now missing for several years, the cases couldn't be more different. While Evie opens old wounds in a close-knit neighborhood to find a missing college student, David searches for a private investigator working for a high-powered client.
With a deep conviction that "justice for all" truly matters, Evie and David are unrelenting in their search for the truth. But Evie must also find answers to the questions that lie just beneath the surface in her personal life.
429 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2017
1061 people are currently reading
3108 people want to read
About the author
Dee Henderson
71 books4,182 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Dee Henderson is the author of 27 non-fiction and fiction titles, including Jesus our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus the Truth and the Life, The Good News Project, Taken and the acclaimed O’MALLEY series. Several titles have appeared on the USA Today Bestseller list; Full Disclosure has also appeared on the New York Times Bestseller list. For details visit: DeeHenderson.com
Dee Henderson is the author of 27 non-fiction and fiction titles, including Jesus our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus the Truth and the Life, The Good News Project, Taken and the acclaimed O’MALLEY series. Several titles have appeared on the USA Today Bestseller list; Full Disclosure has also appeared on the New York Times Bestseller list. For details visit: DeeHenderson.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 523 reviews
April 19, 2017
Threads of Suspicion was an enjoyable read for this lover of all books by Dee Henderson. This is not your traditional romantic suspense, because it is a continuation with return appearances from characters. This is a mystery with overlapping cold cases, that come together in a myriad of twists and turns. There are a couple developing romances, but neither comes to a full resolution. While both seem frankly impossible, I want the couples to find happily ever afters together. My favorite part was watching two very different cold cases spiral into overlapping cases that led to further overlapping murders. I knew the author would weave her magic and I was not disappointed. In fact, I'm really curious to see what further cold cases are solved by the cast of characters. There's a great team-dynamic developing. I will definitely watch for the next installment in this intriguing series.
March 4, 2021
Henderson's second Evie Blackwell Cold Case novel again explores some intriguing mysteries sure to keep readers engaged and fascinated until the ultimate resolution. Extreme wordiness drags the pace quite a bit, and characters are a little too perfect, but overall this is such an intricate and captivating mystery that it overcomes the shortfalls. For readers who enjoy puzzles and watching the pieces come together, this is a great story.
Evie Blackwell and David Marshal are assigned two cold cases in a town outside of Chicago. Evie's case is of a college student who disappeared without a trace after a concert, and David's case is about a missing private investigator. As they slowly unwind the clues, they realize that their cases may be connected — and they might also have a personal connection to David. As Evie and David work to bring closure to the families, danger might just be lurking, even after so many years.
Evie Blackwell and David Marshal are assigned two cold cases in a town outside of Chicago. Evie's case is of a college student who disappeared without a trace after a concert, and David's case is about a missing private investigator. As they slowly unwind the clues, they realize that their cases may be connected — and they might also have a personal connection to David. As Evie and David work to bring closure to the families, danger might just be lurking, even after so many years.
January 29, 2022
This is a Romantic Suspense, and this is the second book in the Evie Blackwell Cold Case series. I loved the characters. This book is told from several different characters point of view, and that part I felt was done very well. I loved the cold case stuff, but I felt there was parts of this book that was super slow moving and boring. The ending also was just ok to me. The ending I think could have been better if it was told in the point of view of one of the other characters because the point of view it was told in we misses all the action. I personally do not felt there was a lot of suspense in this book, and I wanted more suspense. The romance also was on the light side to.
July 12, 2017
3 1/2 stars.....did not enjoy this one as much as the first in the series, "Traces of Guilt." I feel the book was too long with details that did not interest me on cold case crime solving. I will read the next book in the series because I gave the first one 5 stars.
April 3, 2017
Threads of Suspicion is an excellent suspense novel. Procedural, comprehensive and delightful, it was a pleasure to sink within its pages and join the investigators as they search for answers.
Evie Blackwell has officially joined the Missing Persons Task Force. Their first case load takes them to Briar County, Illinois, where Evie begins investigating the disappearance of a college student. Meanwhile, Evie's new partner, David Marshall is investigating a missing PI. When their cases unexpectedly connect and then take a very personal turn, Evie and David will have their work cut out for them if they are to close both cases.
This is the second book in the Evie Blackwell Cold Case series. In the first book we met Evie Blackwell as she began a trial investigation for the newly created Missing Persons Task Force. Now that task force has official begun work and Evie, along with her new colleagues, are travelling to a new county within Illinois to investigate a series of cold cases. Despite this being the second book in the series, readers could easily begin their adventure with Evie with this book or read the books in any order, as they each feature a separate set of crimes and investigations. That said, it was lovely to rejoin Evie, reunite with a range of familiar faces from Dee Henderson's previously published books, and meet some new characters. David, Evie's new cold case partner is a particularly lovely new character, as is his girlfriend. I'm looking forward to getting to know them both a little better in future Evie Blackwell novels.
There is just something so consuming about Dee Henderson's writing. I know that when I am about to start reading a new Dee Henderson book that I should clear my calendar and prepare to hunker down and hide within its pages. Dee Henderson's books deserve to be savoured. Fortunately, thanks to holidays and a large weather event, clearing my calendar was exactly what I was able to do and I devoured this novel. I love the intricate way everything is pieced together. I love the steady pacing and focus on internal musing, and the hit of tension at the end as the case very quickly comes together. I love the twists in the case that I never saw coming. It feels like a real criminal investigation, where Evie and David follow the discovery of information and are hindered by the time in takes to pursue and crunch that information.
I also particularly love the characters. While sometimes the main characters feel incredibly perfect - flawed but flawed in a perfect way - they are nonetheless wonderful characters with whom to spend time. As mentioned before, there are plenty of familiar faces. Ann and Paul Falcon make a number of appearances, as do Bryce and Charlotte Bishop. Even a certain arson investigator named Cole gets a mention. Unfortunately, the character I most wanted to see, Gabriel Thane, did not make an appearance. While nothing romantic ever developed between Evie and Gabe in book one of this series, I was hoping it would in this second book. However, Evie is happily dating Rob Turney. While she is questioning her future with Rob, there was no mention of her reconnecting with Gabe. Sigh. It's not that I don't like Rob, he's an all-round great guy, I just preferred Gabe. But then, there is always the next book... Here's hoping.
I am eagerly awaiting the next book in this series, as Evie, David and the rest of the Missing Persons Task Force travel to a new county and begin a new set of cold case investigations. It is sure to be just as exciting and wonderful as this book.
The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.
Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog Madison's Library.
Evie Blackwell has officially joined the Missing Persons Task Force. Their first case load takes them to Briar County, Illinois, where Evie begins investigating the disappearance of a college student. Meanwhile, Evie's new partner, David Marshall is investigating a missing PI. When their cases unexpectedly connect and then take a very personal turn, Evie and David will have their work cut out for them if they are to close both cases.
This is the second book in the Evie Blackwell Cold Case series. In the first book we met Evie Blackwell as she began a trial investigation for the newly created Missing Persons Task Force. Now that task force has official begun work and Evie, along with her new colleagues, are travelling to a new county within Illinois to investigate a series of cold cases. Despite this being the second book in the series, readers could easily begin their adventure with Evie with this book or read the books in any order, as they each feature a separate set of crimes and investigations. That said, it was lovely to rejoin Evie, reunite with a range of familiar faces from Dee Henderson's previously published books, and meet some new characters. David, Evie's new cold case partner is a particularly lovely new character, as is his girlfriend. I'm looking forward to getting to know them both a little better in future Evie Blackwell novels.
There is just something so consuming about Dee Henderson's writing. I know that when I am about to start reading a new Dee Henderson book that I should clear my calendar and prepare to hunker down and hide within its pages. Dee Henderson's books deserve to be savoured. Fortunately, thanks to holidays and a large weather event, clearing my calendar was exactly what I was able to do and I devoured this novel. I love the intricate way everything is pieced together. I love the steady pacing and focus on internal musing, and the hit of tension at the end as the case very quickly comes together. I love the twists in the case that I never saw coming. It feels like a real criminal investigation, where Evie and David follow the discovery of information and are hindered by the time in takes to pursue and crunch that information.
I also particularly love the characters. While sometimes the main characters feel incredibly perfect - flawed but flawed in a perfect way - they are nonetheless wonderful characters with whom to spend time. As mentioned before, there are plenty of familiar faces. Ann and Paul Falcon make a number of appearances, as do Bryce and Charlotte Bishop. Even a certain arson investigator named Cole gets a mention. Unfortunately, the character I most wanted to see, Gabriel Thane, did not make an appearance. While nothing romantic ever developed between Evie and Gabe in book one of this series, I was hoping it would in this second book. However, Evie is happily dating Rob Turney. While she is questioning her future with Rob, there was no mention of her reconnecting with Gabe. Sigh. It's not that I don't like Rob, he's an all-round great guy, I just preferred Gabe. But then, there is always the next book... Here's hoping.
I am eagerly awaiting the next book in this series, as Evie, David and the rest of the Missing Persons Task Force travel to a new county and begin a new set of cold case investigations. It is sure to be just as exciting and wonderful as this book.
The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.
Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog Madison's Library.
July 7, 2017
I didn't like this book. The main mystery was interesting, but I wanted more from the conclusion. The other mysteries were interesting,too, but I didn't care as much about their endings. There were too many storylines in this book. Also, I thought this book was too slow. There isn't much action. It's character driven with a lot of telling, not showing. I did like the characters, though.
August 14, 2025
1 Star. I enjoy mystery and detective fiction but didn't catch the additional descriptor 'Christian' for this one. The title grabbed me. A cold case task force has been established by the state Governor and Evie Blackwell is an important member. 'Threads' refer to the lines of inquiry she and her partner, David Marshal, develop concerning a missing young woman. Over 200 threads and the suspicion spotlight focuses on several in turn. Fascinating. Is a second case, that of a missing private eye, related to the first? A premise for a good read. Yet I never knew there was a sub-group of my favourite genre which added Christian preaching and American mid-west conservative morality to the mystery mix. It's very prominent in the novel. The things you learn. Not for me; I only have so much reading time. The lead characters are bland and next-to flawless. So far from reality. Is this sub-group a response to the main category of mysteries and thrillers with such flawed but interesting detectives as Spenser, Carl Merck, Kinsey Millhone, and Virgil Flowers? My thanks to the editor / librarian who added the extra tag; I promise to take you more seriously in the future. (Oc2017/Aug2025)
April 3, 2017
You simply cannot put this book down, it is that good. I love this cold case team, and the work they are doing. I am amazed at the story every single time, and the twists and turns it takes to keep you on your toes. This is a must-read for anyone who loves a good suspense. *I received a NetGalley copy of this book*
August 27, 2020
This book started off much, much better than its predecessor. They jumped straight into the cold case, and following their clues and interviews was fun… for about eight chapters. I was glad that even when Ann Falcon showed up—again!—she didn’t come off as overbearing and controlling. Instead, she served as a listening ear and advice giver. This is more than I could have hoped for after despising the character for at least three books.
That being said, the detectives sat around talking a lot. They discussed the case a lot. They told facts instead of us getting to see them discover these facts in real time. They dumped backstories of witnesses and victims in their dialogue rather than their being worked into the storyline in smaller chunks so they’d be easier for the reader to digest.
The story was also overly preachy… even while the leads were drinking chardonnay. While they were drinking alcohol, they chatted about how God “cares about our decisions, how we’ve lived.” Does the alcohol not count as the way they’re living, as a decision God cares about? I really struggle with the whole social drinking thing that has been featured in a plethora of fictional books in the last decade or so. This pet peeve is a personal preference thing, and I realize many, many people will see it differently, that I will likely be in the minority here. But I see the saturation of society into alcoholic beverages, and it saddens me to no end.
“I know the drivers here and their bad habits.” Like letting his girlfriend get behind the wheel after she’d been drinking wine? Yeah, that doesn’t sound like a great idea to me. Especially since she’s a cop and chose to break the law by driving buzzed. Even one glass of wine can alter a driver’s thinking process, and a cop would know better, would be trained better. That pretty much lost me. Drunken driving is a huge problem in our society; just look up the stats for how many fatal car wrecks involve drunk drivers every year if you want proof. Promoting this type of law-breaking behavior in a police officer is atrocious. Cops are supposed to set the example, not be the exemption to the law.
I’m ending this book disappointed once again. While the leads were working a case, there was no action. No chases, no gunshots, no suspense. There was a lot of people sitting around talking… then going somewhere to sit around and talk some more under the guise of interviewing people. There were mentions of car wrecks and murders and missing people… but none of them happened in real time; they were all in the past. Reading this book really felt like watching an investigative journalist work without the suspense of whether or not they would get shot at or blown up in their own car because of secrets they were uncovering.
Right when I thought we were going to get some action, finally!, in chapter 23, it turned out to be a false alarm. See, we ended up sitting in a closet with a fretful girl, going through the plan for recovery from the “panic” she was currently going through. Having experienced many panic and anxiety attacks in my life, this felt completely unrealistic. When that full-blown panic sets in, there’s no stopping it for rational thoughts. The panic focuses solely on worst-case scenarios. It doesn’t permit a person in the throes of fright to think rationally and calmly about how they’ll handle press and police interviews in a different location once the threat is gone.
I could completely relate to this line: “He was impatient for more activity.” Yep. So was I, buddy, so was I. And I never got it.
Content: alcohol, alcohol-influenced driving by a cop (not shown to be bad), crude gesture
That being said, the detectives sat around talking a lot. They discussed the case a lot. They told facts instead of us getting to see them discover these facts in real time. They dumped backstories of witnesses and victims in their dialogue rather than their being worked into the storyline in smaller chunks so they’d be easier for the reader to digest.
The story was also overly preachy… even while the leads were drinking chardonnay. While they were drinking alcohol, they chatted about how God “cares about our decisions, how we’ve lived.” Does the alcohol not count as the way they’re living, as a decision God cares about? I really struggle with the whole social drinking thing that has been featured in a plethora of fictional books in the last decade or so. This pet peeve is a personal preference thing, and I realize many, many people will see it differently, that I will likely be in the minority here. But I see the saturation of society into alcoholic beverages, and it saddens me to no end.
“I know the drivers here and their bad habits.” Like letting his girlfriend get behind the wheel after she’d been drinking wine? Yeah, that doesn’t sound like a great idea to me. Especially since she’s a cop and chose to break the law by driving buzzed. Even one glass of wine can alter a driver’s thinking process, and a cop would know better, would be trained better. That pretty much lost me. Drunken driving is a huge problem in our society; just look up the stats for how many fatal car wrecks involve drunk drivers every year if you want proof. Promoting this type of law-breaking behavior in a police officer is atrocious. Cops are supposed to set the example, not be the exemption to the law.
I’m ending this book disappointed once again. While the leads were working a case, there was no action. No chases, no gunshots, no suspense. There was a lot of people sitting around talking… then going somewhere to sit around and talk some more under the guise of interviewing people. There were mentions of car wrecks and murders and missing people… but none of them happened in real time; they were all in the past. Reading this book really felt like watching an investigative journalist work without the suspense of whether or not they would get shot at or blown up in their own car because of secrets they were uncovering.
Right when I thought we were going to get some action, finally!, in chapter 23, it turned out to be a false alarm. See, we ended up sitting in a closet with a fretful girl, going through the plan for recovery from the “panic” she was currently going through. Having experienced many panic and anxiety attacks in my life, this felt completely unrealistic. When that full-blown panic sets in, there’s no stopping it for rational thoughts. The panic focuses solely on worst-case scenarios. It doesn’t permit a person in the throes of fright to think rationally and calmly about how they’ll handle press and police interviews in a different location once the threat is gone.
I could completely relate to this line: “He was impatient for more activity.” Yep. So was I, buddy, so was I. And I never got it.
Content: alcohol, alcohol-influenced driving by a cop (not shown to be bad), crude gesture
August 18, 2017
Easy mystery, huge disconnect with first book! Good Nice read though!
I had to give it two stars not my usual five, because I knew the motive and the killer about seven chapters into the book, not the exact name of course. Knew how it was going to end by the tenth. But she writes a good engaging mystery even when you can see what is coming. So that's why she lost the first star.
The Second and Third star were lost due to I don't know, maybe it's just fickleness on my part as a reader. And what I've come to expect from a Dee Henderson book (which is usually excellence-it's rarely not, I've only written a couple other reviews for a book of hers where I didn't rave about it). Let me see if I can lay it out so someone else understands where I'm going and where my disconnect with this second Evie Blackwell book is.
Sidebar on first Evie Blackwell
I LOVED the first book, the family she gets thrust into, the cases, the way they are all set up, the way everyone interacts, the mystery, the drama, all the crazy angles. Ms. Henderson gets us all involved and completely invested in all those characters it couldn't have been written any better everyone/everything just flowed. That was a Dee Henderson book at it highest level.
This second book then, I was expecting great things. If not absolutely fantastic, then a solid read like the bulk of her books. And that's not what we got, we got a decent read, a nice easy mystery to read before bed. Which just makes me so sad it had the potential to be so very much more, and the main characters (Evie/Rob) behaviors and personalities in this one. To much for me, I'll explain:
While I'm not adverse to characters changing a bit within a series, the author set someone up as a possible major player in Evie's life and gets us really invested in that possibility. Then bam, nothing about it but a random sidebar here and there in the second book. Now she's on her way to marrying a guy she was adamant about not marrying in the first book????? HUH?? Makes Evie seem wishy washy, even flighty. Then Ms. Henderson brings in the previous hardly mentioned boyfriend. Which, Ann Falcon, (a character who Ms. Henderson has spent many many books getting us all to love and trust implicitly) thinks is not a good fit for Evie for many reasons. Then Ms. Henderson proceeds to try and prove Ann wrong about the boyfriend throughout the story. Way to make a beloved character look petty and shallow. Or make it look like Ann maybe shouldn't be someone we should trust anymore. Or maybe she's reaching for a new angle on a story or something, and we don't know what's coming yet; but it left me with a bad feeling in my mouth. I don't know. I found myself losing faith with the author and the characters because of the way they were presented in this second novel.
Also, the more I listened to Rob give his reasons for wanting to marry Evie, I was just thinking, if you need a moral compass and someone to keep you from letting your head get too big, go see a therapist. Because that should not be one of the biggest reasons you chose that person for a spouse. Made him seem even more shallow to me. Maybe others didn't see it that way, but I didn't like their dynamic at all. I would lose faith in Evie if she chose him. To me it looks like all the compromises are on her side, he wants her in a different job eventually, probably only after she's done making enough big name contacts for him, then settle down to raise the kids. The only compromise on his side is how long he waits to push her to retire. And the other big one that pushed my buttons wrong was that he lets his mother treat her that way, make those underhanded comments about Evie's job or making it to the event or the tone she takes with her. He lets it slide, doesn't ask her to stop, tell her this is the woman I love and you shouldn't talk to her that way. That's not love to me either if you are going to let someone you love be torn down little by little every time they see you. And yes you don't live with your in-laws, but you kind of do if it's over a lifetime. Those digs can tear a person up inside over time and cause serious damage to a relationship. Evie shouldn't have to see it as all her responsibility to have patience with the woman, others are culpable for the moms behavior as well. The dad too, sat there and did nothing, and from what was said throughout the book, never checks his wife's behavior towards Evie. Not even in private has Rob said they talk to her about her behavior and told her it has to stop. Not cool. I don't care how awesome any man is. If he's going to let his family belittle me and my job and things got serious. I'd be gone, I'd never let him be belittled and I'd expect the same!
I guess my issues were bigger than I'd originally thought once I got them all down.
All in all, they don't stop it from being a good mystery to read. If I decide to read it again, I'll skip any part that has anything with the boyfriend. It will make it a much better read, despite the easy guess on Who done it!
I had to give it two stars not my usual five, because I knew the motive and the killer about seven chapters into the book, not the exact name of course. Knew how it was going to end by the tenth. But she writes a good engaging mystery even when you can see what is coming. So that's why she lost the first star.
The Second and Third star were lost due to I don't know, maybe it's just fickleness on my part as a reader. And what I've come to expect from a Dee Henderson book (which is usually excellence-it's rarely not, I've only written a couple other reviews for a book of hers where I didn't rave about it). Let me see if I can lay it out so someone else understands where I'm going and where my disconnect with this second Evie Blackwell book is.
Sidebar on first Evie Blackwell
I LOVED the first book, the family she gets thrust into, the cases, the way they are all set up, the way everyone interacts, the mystery, the drama, all the crazy angles. Ms. Henderson gets us all involved and completely invested in all those characters it couldn't have been written any better everyone/everything just flowed. That was a Dee Henderson book at it highest level.
This second book then, I was expecting great things. If not absolutely fantastic, then a solid read like the bulk of her books. And that's not what we got, we got a decent read, a nice easy mystery to read before bed. Which just makes me so sad it had the potential to be so very much more, and the main characters (Evie/Rob) behaviors and personalities in this one. To much for me, I'll explain:
While I'm not adverse to characters changing a bit within a series, the author set someone up as a possible major player in Evie's life and gets us really invested in that possibility. Then bam, nothing about it but a random sidebar here and there in the second book. Now she's on her way to marrying a guy she was adamant about not marrying in the first book????? HUH?? Makes Evie seem wishy washy, even flighty. Then Ms. Henderson brings in the previous hardly mentioned boyfriend. Which, Ann Falcon, (a character who Ms. Henderson has spent many many books getting us all to love and trust implicitly) thinks is not a good fit for Evie for many reasons. Then Ms. Henderson proceeds to try and prove Ann wrong about the boyfriend throughout the story. Way to make a beloved character look petty and shallow. Or make it look like Ann maybe shouldn't be someone we should trust anymore. Or maybe she's reaching for a new angle on a story or something, and we don't know what's coming yet; but it left me with a bad feeling in my mouth. I don't know. I found myself losing faith with the author and the characters because of the way they were presented in this second novel.
Also, the more I listened to Rob give his reasons for wanting to marry Evie, I was just thinking, if you need a moral compass and someone to keep you from letting your head get too big, go see a therapist. Because that should not be one of the biggest reasons you chose that person for a spouse. Made him seem even more shallow to me. Maybe others didn't see it that way, but I didn't like their dynamic at all. I would lose faith in Evie if she chose him. To me it looks like all the compromises are on her side, he wants her in a different job eventually, probably only after she's done making enough big name contacts for him, then settle down to raise the kids. The only compromise on his side is how long he waits to push her to retire. And the other big one that pushed my buttons wrong was that he lets his mother treat her that way, make those underhanded comments about Evie's job or making it to the event or the tone she takes with her. He lets it slide, doesn't ask her to stop, tell her this is the woman I love and you shouldn't talk to her that way. That's not love to me either if you are going to let someone you love be torn down little by little every time they see you. And yes you don't live with your in-laws, but you kind of do if it's over a lifetime. Those digs can tear a person up inside over time and cause serious damage to a relationship. Evie shouldn't have to see it as all her responsibility to have patience with the woman, others are culpable for the moms behavior as well. The dad too, sat there and did nothing, and from what was said throughout the book, never checks his wife's behavior towards Evie. Not even in private has Rob said they talk to her about her behavior and told her it has to stop. Not cool. I don't care how awesome any man is. If he's going to let his family belittle me and my job and things got serious. I'd be gone, I'd never let him be belittled and I'd expect the same!
I guess my issues were bigger than I'd originally thought once I got them all down.
All in all, they don't stop it from being a good mystery to read. If I decide to read it again, I'll skip any part that has anything with the boyfriend. It will make it a much better read, despite the easy guess on Who done it!
January 7, 2018
Loved being back in Evie Blackwell’s life, I’ve come to admire this girl, and this book doesn’t disappoint.
If I had a missing loved one, I would sure want my Governor to put his recourses into find answers, and that is exactly what Evie and her task force are doing.
Evie and her partner David Marshall are placed together and bounce their cases off of each other. I would have love being in that office. These two have a lot more than law in their corner; they both have a deep faith in God, and share this with others.
Evie case revolves around a missing college coed and David’s is a missing PI, and you are going to be surprised how one case helps solve another, and how their personal lives become intertwined.
I hope we will be back again soon and help bring hope back to grieving families and friends.
I received this book through Bethany House’s Blogger Program, and was not required to give a positive review.
If I had a missing loved one, I would sure want my Governor to put his recourses into find answers, and that is exactly what Evie and her task force are doing.
Evie and her partner David Marshall are placed together and bounce their cases off of each other. I would have love being in that office. These two have a lot more than law in their corner; they both have a deep faith in God, and share this with others.
Evie case revolves around a missing college coed and David’s is a missing PI, and you are going to be surprised how one case helps solve another, and how their personal lives become intertwined.
I hope we will be back again soon and help bring hope back to grieving families and friends.
I received this book through Bethany House’s Blogger Program, and was not required to give a positive review.
August 9, 2017
4.5 Stars... I really enjoyed the complete story and the cases was interesting. I found myself hooked from the start and loved every idea about the case. The only thing that annoyed me was that there seemed to be to many coincidences in overlapping life and the case but this didn't distract from an engaging story. I really enjoyed the introduction of the new characters and felt that most added something except Evie boyfriend, I found him to be an annoying side story that just dragged the book backwards and the character really hard to like or see with the main character. Even despite the authors best efforts to give him a favourable look. Still Looking forward to the next one...
June 5, 2017
This was my first Dee Henderson book to read. Given that I enjoy a taste of suspense, I thought I might like it and I was right. There was the perfect balance of “regular life” with the suspense of Evie being a detective on a cold case. The entire plot of Jenna had me intrigued. I was kept guessing as to what the answer to her disappearance was. I felt like I journeyed along the quest with Evie and David.
I really appreciated the spiritual content. David had a simplistic earnestness about him, and his testimony was realistic and Biblical. Evie’s prayers were sometimes a little too familiar (like calling God “Dad” and chatting with Him something like, “I don’t have time to talk right now, but I’ll catch up later, okay?”). Yes, God is not just a “great judge sitting up in heaven,” but we are to reverence Him. That seemed to be a little lacking. There was one character that was debating the question of salvation. I’m unclear as to whether or not she actually accepted Christ. It appeared that she just took a step that direction (which I don’t have a problem with; it just wasn't 100% clear to me).
The romance was very little in this book. Evie and David were co-workers, yet were not love interests. I was afraid a love triangle might happen (which I don’t like), but it didn’t. Evie and Rob were a great pair and David and Maggie a great pair. I actually appreciated Evie’s struggle with her relationship with Rob (as in, she didn’t have relationship problems; she just had to decide why she was hesitant to say a hearty “yes!” to him). It was very realistic—not all of the “romance is nothing but rosy” viewpoint. There were some kisses mentioned as well as hugs, but they were all casual. I don’t recall any of the feelings explored. So, in short, I liked the romance aspect in this book (shockers!).
Now…the writer in me…this was a dialogue-driven book. If I were to give a guesstimate, it appeared that about 80% of the book was dialogue. Given that they were talking through a case, it was interesting. The downfall was that I didn’t really feel that I was “in” the characters. I didn’t really know them. I realize that this is my critique as a writer, so it would be injustice to knock a star for that. I did enjoy the read. I just had to shut off my writer’s brain for the narrative.
Overall, this leaves me waiting to get my hands on another Dee Henderson novel.
*I received this book from Bethany house and happily provided my review*
I really appreciated the spiritual content. David had a simplistic earnestness about him, and his testimony was realistic and Biblical. Evie’s prayers were sometimes a little too familiar (like calling God “Dad” and chatting with Him something like, “I don’t have time to talk right now, but I’ll catch up later, okay?”). Yes, God is not just a “great judge sitting up in heaven,” but we are to reverence Him. That seemed to be a little lacking. There was one character that was debating the question of salvation. I’m unclear as to whether or not she actually accepted Christ. It appeared that she just took a step that direction (which I don’t have a problem with; it just wasn't 100% clear to me).
The romance was very little in this book. Evie and David were co-workers, yet were not love interests. I was afraid a love triangle might happen (which I don’t like), but it didn’t. Evie and Rob were a great pair and David and Maggie a great pair. I actually appreciated Evie’s struggle with her relationship with Rob (as in, she didn’t have relationship problems; she just had to decide why she was hesitant to say a hearty “yes!” to him). It was very realistic—not all of the “romance is nothing but rosy” viewpoint. There were some kisses mentioned as well as hugs, but they were all casual. I don’t recall any of the feelings explored. So, in short, I liked the romance aspect in this book (shockers!).
Now…the writer in me…this was a dialogue-driven book. If I were to give a guesstimate, it appeared that about 80% of the book was dialogue. Given that they were talking through a case, it was interesting. The downfall was that I didn’t really feel that I was “in” the characters. I didn’t really know them. I realize that this is my critique as a writer, so it would be injustice to knock a star for that. I did enjoy the read. I just had to shut off my writer’s brain for the narrative.
Overall, this leaves me waiting to get my hands on another Dee Henderson novel.
*I received this book from Bethany house and happily provided my review*
June 21, 2017
Another amazing book from Dee Henderson! I am quite enjoying this new character of Evie. The cases are interesting (love the cold cases angle) and I really liked the addition of David and the rest of the task force. David was an extremely likable character and one of my favorites, I look forward to seeing him again. There were a few personal threads left open for the next book and I can't wait to see what happens next. Hoping for another book in this set sooner rather than later!!
May 31, 2017
My thoughts: I have been a long-time fan of Dee Henderson's books eagerly anticipating each new release in a series beautifully connected. Her writing skills and story telling expertise render a reader's experience that is full blow enjoyment.
Usually entailing her writings with matters of suspense and criminal investigation, the reader's ride through the pages is hard to stop until the very last page of text has been consumed.
In her new series featuring Evie Blackwell and her cast of cohorts in crime solving, book one titled Traces of Guilt begins Evie's adventures as a member of a special task force charged with examining Cold Cases. The task force continues to look into several cold cases in Threads of Suspicion where she works closely with David as they pursue connections for each of their assigned cases and find that often one clue leads to an entirely different case.
I found the first half of this Henderson book less enjoyable than her previous publications. Usually, the story and action grab your attention right from the beginning and the reader finds it difficult to put it aside. With Threads of Suspicion I found myself struggling to "break ground" with the process of the story. I don't know if this is the fault of too little editing or the fault of this reader's own lack of attention at the time of reading. Whatever, I did continue because I felt that Henderson would have a real story and a real twist worthy of pursuing.
I was not disappointed as the ending action and case solved led to a satisfactory conclusion to all the threads pursued during the investigation of these varied cold cases.
DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from Bethany House a division of Baker Publishing Group to facilitate this review. Opinions are my own and freely given.
January 15, 2018
This is the second Evie Blackwell Cold Case mystery but reads well as a standalone. The special cold case task-force is now official and working on their first cases. Threads of Suspicion features David and Evie in a fascinating play-by-play of police procedures. And I do mean fascinating.
It's like watching a crime drama show only getting all the clue building bits they skim over to get to the action scenes. This suspense is the opposite. Low on action and danger but high on the painstaking work police officers put in before they make an arrest. It's rich in dialogue, friendship building and complicated romances (David and Evie are both in serious relationships -- but not with each other.)
Evie is an astute, tough-as-nails cop but surprisingly vulnerable in her personal life. It's an intriguing contrast -- the confident and brilliant investigator doesn't mesh with the caution she carries into her romantic relationship. Love the rich, deeply thoughtful conversations she has with Rob. His steadfastness and patience as he waits for her.
A brilliant glimpse into the complicated world of investigative police work -- not your typical action-packed suspense but captivating all the same.
It's like watching a crime drama show only getting all the clue building bits they skim over to get to the action scenes. This suspense is the opposite. Low on action and danger but high on the painstaking work police officers put in before they make an arrest. It's rich in dialogue, friendship building and complicated romances (David and Evie are both in serious relationships -- but not with each other.)
Evie is an astute, tough-as-nails cop but surprisingly vulnerable in her personal life. It's an intriguing contrast -- the confident and brilliant investigator doesn't mesh with the caution she carries into her romantic relationship. Love the rich, deeply thoughtful conversations she has with Rob. His steadfastness and patience as he waits for her.
A brilliant glimpse into the complicated world of investigative police work -- not your typical action-packed suspense but captivating all the same.
December 3, 2024
2024: I still wish there were more of this series!
2021: WHY AREN’T THERE MORE OF THESE, I LOVE THIS STYLE OF MYSTERY SOLVING SO MUCH, DOES ANYONE HAVE RECS FOR SOMETHING SIMILAR?????
I tried another book labeled cold case, but it was dual timeline, and while intriguing, it wasn’t what I was looking for. But I love this tugging at different threads until it all unravels style of case solving versus guns blazing, all-action.
2021: WHY AREN’T THERE MORE OF THESE, I LOVE THIS STYLE OF MYSTERY SOLVING SO MUCH, DOES ANYONE HAVE RECS FOR SOMETHING SIMILAR?????
I tried another book labeled cold case, but it was dual timeline, and while intriguing, it wasn’t what I was looking for. But I love this tugging at different threads until it all unravels style of case solving versus guns blazing, all-action.
January 8, 2024
How dare the book end like that😑
June 27, 2017
I have not read a Dee Henderson book in a long while, too long so I opted to start with the second book in her new series, An Evie Blackwell Cold Case. This novel is over 400 pages and did take me some time to read it. Not because it was slow or anything, just because there was so much story and information within in the story that really did fascinate me. The author definitely has done her research in how missing person cold cases are handled and just some of the thought processes and work processes that are involved.
This is about a team of detectives that are given cold cases to try to solve. This particular story was focused on Evie Blackwell and her partner David. The amount of information they had to process and given the time that had passed on the cases, to me was staggering. I thoroughly enjoyed the way their brains worked and the white board scenarios that grew from looking at all the old evidence with fresh eyes.
We do get to see some of the personal lives of these detectives, especially in the romance department. I liked that we had two people working together and they were just friends and partners as they each had someone else special.
This story was intricately detailed and was quite a mystery/suspense. I wanted to just peek at the end so many times to see how everything wrapped up but I did not as that would have ruined the whole story. If you enjoy well-done crime dramas, this is a story that really gets into the details of how detectives work.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to give a positive review and the views and opinions expressed are my own.
http://pausefortales.blogspot.com/201...
This is about a team of detectives that are given cold cases to try to solve. This particular story was focused on Evie Blackwell and her partner David. The amount of information they had to process and given the time that had passed on the cases, to me was staggering. I thoroughly enjoyed the way their brains worked and the white board scenarios that grew from looking at all the old evidence with fresh eyes.
We do get to see some of the personal lives of these detectives, especially in the romance department. I liked that we had two people working together and they were just friends and partners as they each had someone else special.
This story was intricately detailed and was quite a mystery/suspense. I wanted to just peek at the end so many times to see how everything wrapped up but I did not as that would have ruined the whole story. If you enjoy well-done crime dramas, this is a story that really gets into the details of how detectives work.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to give a positive review and the views and opinions expressed are my own.
http://pausefortales.blogspot.com/201...
June 26, 2017
Evie Blackwell is a successful detective in the Illinois State Police. The new governor has recently established a Missing Persons Task Force, and Evie has been selected to be part of the team.
With her new partner, David, Evie heads to Chicago to solve the mystery of a missing college student, while David tries to locate a missing Private investigator.
It has been nine years since Evie’s college student disappeared and Evie is hoping to help the family find closure. When David and Evie’s cases intercept, it becomes clear that more may be on the line than the governor’s new task force. Can David and Evie solve the case before another young woman goes missing?
Evie Blackwell is a strong, vivid character that draws the reader in with her drive to find the truth and solve her case.
The case is very interesting, seemingly simple, but proving to be much more complex as certain aspects unfold throughout the investigation.
Her new partner, David, is rather charismatic and seeing the different ways that they both employ to solve their missing persons cases is interesting.
Both Evie and David are devote Christians and employ their faith to help them solve cases but they also understand that not everyone, including ones that they love, share their faith. They sometimes discuss their faiths together, opening up the gates to the religious questions that sometimes plague the faithful as well as those seeking the truth behind Christianity.
Despite the religious aspects of this story, this book is a great read for anyone looking for an interesting cold case investigation type of read. It focuses more on the case than the faith, making a great read for Christian and non-Christian mystery fans.
I’ve always been a fan of a good mystery novel, especially one that kept me guessing, which this one did. It was difficult to be able to guess ahead of time, but still a very satisfying mystery.
The dynamics involving local and non-local celebrities, such as the governor and the senator, heightened the interest of the social dynamic outside of the college crowd.
I would have liked the case to have been slightly more intense than it was, however, understanding that this was a nine year old cold case made the intensity level understandable. As the case progressed so did the intensity level to some extent.
I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys a tough puzzle and/or anyone who enjoys Christian fiction mysteries.
I borrowed my copy of this novel from my local library and have permission from the publishers at Bethany House to use the image of the cover artwork featured above.
stephanietiner.weebly.com
With her new partner, David, Evie heads to Chicago to solve the mystery of a missing college student, while David tries to locate a missing Private investigator.
It has been nine years since Evie’s college student disappeared and Evie is hoping to help the family find closure. When David and Evie’s cases intercept, it becomes clear that more may be on the line than the governor’s new task force. Can David and Evie solve the case before another young woman goes missing?
Evie Blackwell is a strong, vivid character that draws the reader in with her drive to find the truth and solve her case.
The case is very interesting, seemingly simple, but proving to be much more complex as certain aspects unfold throughout the investigation.
Her new partner, David, is rather charismatic and seeing the different ways that they both employ to solve their missing persons cases is interesting.
Both Evie and David are devote Christians and employ their faith to help them solve cases but they also understand that not everyone, including ones that they love, share their faith. They sometimes discuss their faiths together, opening up the gates to the religious questions that sometimes plague the faithful as well as those seeking the truth behind Christianity.
Despite the religious aspects of this story, this book is a great read for anyone looking for an interesting cold case investigation type of read. It focuses more on the case than the faith, making a great read for Christian and non-Christian mystery fans.
I’ve always been a fan of a good mystery novel, especially one that kept me guessing, which this one did. It was difficult to be able to guess ahead of time, but still a very satisfying mystery.
The dynamics involving local and non-local celebrities, such as the governor and the senator, heightened the interest of the social dynamic outside of the college crowd.
I would have liked the case to have been slightly more intense than it was, however, understanding that this was a nine year old cold case made the intensity level understandable. As the case progressed so did the intensity level to some extent.
I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys a tough puzzle and/or anyone who enjoys Christian fiction mysteries.
I borrowed my copy of this novel from my local library and have permission from the publishers at Bethany House to use the image of the cover artwork featured above.
stephanietiner.weebly.com
June 18, 2017
I've had this book for over 2 weeks, but I hadn't had a lot of time to sit down and read a book, book. It actually only took me two sittings to get the book done when I finally had some time!
This was another great book by Dee. The cold cases were interesting and it was fascinating to see how they were interrelated. We were introduced to some new key people...I loved David from the get-go and am glad Evie gets to work with him. It took me a while to warm up to Rob though (I think he was mentioned in passing in the first book, but this is the first time we've met him).
Most of the book is slow and methodical, with a lot of suspects and a lot of theories to go through, but the tension picks up in just the right spots. I could almost feel what Maggie was feeling in the safe room and I was hoping and praying certain suspects weren't the murders! I couldn't help but breath a sigh of relief when the cases were resolved.
Can't wait for Evie's next cold case!
This was another great book by Dee. The cold cases were interesting and it was fascinating to see how they were interrelated. We were introduced to some new key people...I loved David from the get-go and am glad Evie gets to work with him. It took me a while to warm up to Rob though (I think he was mentioned in passing in the first book, but this is the first time we've met him).
Most of the book is slow and methodical, with a lot of suspects and a lot of theories to go through, but the tension picks up in just the right spots. I could almost feel what Maggie was feeling in the safe room and I was hoping and praying certain suspects weren't the murders! I couldn't help but breath a sigh of relief when the cases were resolved.
Can't wait for Evie's next cold case!
June 3, 2017
Threads of Suspicion is a enduring book you want to settle down and get ready for a major ride. A ride that has twist and turns. Yes but it also goes upside down in a heartbeat and with you unawares. Meanwhile you have your romantic partner there making sure you feel safe. That is how you feel reading this book, romantic, safe, with some mysterious vibes that smacks you in the face and surprises the crap out of you, but you enjoy it then you get upset because you find you are at the end of the book and you cannot wait until you find out that Ms. Henderson wrote another one. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. I read this book and all of the opinions area my own.
If you would like to read more of my Christian book reviews go to christianlybookreviewers.blogspot.com
If you would like to read more of my Christian book reviews go to christianlybookreviewers.blogspot.com
April 8, 2017
Unlike the O’Malley series, the Evie Blackwell Cold Case series is more mystery than suspense. The danger has largely happened in the past yet there is still some urgency in trying to solve the cold cases Evie and David are working on. If you’re a fan of spine-tingling danger with lots of action, this may not be the book for you.
However, this book is still a great read. It is fascinating to see how Evie and David approach their individual cold cases. They learn from each other and find that there is more than one way to discover the truth. The detail and effort their team puts into solving their cases is phenomenal. I wondered how realistic that is. How many cases are pursued that thoroughly? It was inspiring and I’m even more grateful for the people who spend their time trying to bring closure to families who have been hurting for so long.
It was interesting to me that a lot of their research covered what happened after the crime….studying how people acted after a disappearance. I thought most of the process would deal with before the crime. The story and the research really gripped me.
David and Evie are both in relationships with different people. They both have issues that need to be resolved before things can progress. I was hoping to find out some of the answers to their questions but that will make me all the more eager for the next book. The book is 432 pages long but ended before I was ready to leave.
Thank you to Bethany House for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Evie Blackwell Cold Case series:
Book 1: Traces of Guilt
Book 2: Threads of Suspicion
However, this book is still a great read. It is fascinating to see how Evie and David approach their individual cold cases. They learn from each other and find that there is more than one way to discover the truth. The detail and effort their team puts into solving their cases is phenomenal. I wondered how realistic that is. How many cases are pursued that thoroughly? It was inspiring and I’m even more grateful for the people who spend their time trying to bring closure to families who have been hurting for so long.
It was interesting to me that a lot of their research covered what happened after the crime….studying how people acted after a disappearance. I thought most of the process would deal with before the crime. The story and the research really gripped me.
David and Evie are both in relationships with different people. They both have issues that need to be resolved before things can progress. I was hoping to find out some of the answers to their questions but that will make me all the more eager for the next book. The book is 432 pages long but ended before I was ready to leave.
Thank you to Bethany House for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Evie Blackwell Cold Case series:
Book 1: Traces of Guilt
Book 2: Threads of Suspicion
June 14, 2017
There was *a lot* going on in this book. So much so that at times I lost track of cases and characters, and I think the characters lost track of their own thought flows.
Evie Blackwell and the Missing Persons Task Force she's been assigned to is on their first official cases. Five cases; 5 task force members. Evie is for some reason paired up with David Marshal even though they are working different cases. All the other task force team members work solo and only pop up occasionally.
There are task for members, crime suspects, crime victims, witnesses, friends, love interests, famous people, security, hairdressers...just a lot of people and names to keep track of. And so many story lines: crimes for the task force, arson for not the task force, romantic ties, friendships, God, music, fan obsession.
I think this book just tried to do too much. And I think I'm settling into the idea that Dee Henderson writes relationship novels not suspense novels. As usual, Henderson brings in characters from her other stories and series. On that note, I think it's time to reread the O'Malley series - her best work, in my opinion.
P.S. Hate the cover.
Evie Blackwell and the Missing Persons Task Force she's been assigned to is on their first official cases. Five cases; 5 task force members. Evie is for some reason paired up with David Marshal even though they are working different cases. All the other task force team members work solo and only pop up occasionally.
There are task for members, crime suspects, crime victims, witnesses, friends, love interests, famous people, security, hairdressers...just a lot of people and names to keep track of. And so many story lines: crimes for the task force, arson for not the task force, romantic ties, friendships, God, music, fan obsession.
I think this book just tried to do too much. And I think I'm settling into the idea that Dee Henderson writes relationship novels not suspense novels. As usual, Henderson brings in characters from her other stories and series. On that note, I think it's time to reread the O'Malley series - her best work, in my opinion.
P.S. Hate the cover.
November 20, 2018
I thought this novel was fairly fast-paced, but not overly so. I eagerly flipped pages, trying to figure out what would happen next with both Evie's and David's cases. There were definitely some twists and turns that I did not see coming, and I really liked the emphasis on the cases themselves, with the personal lives of the detectives taking a back seat.
However, the way the 'personal lives' threads were left at the end of the novel left me with a decidedly 'unfinished' feel. For instance, there is a pivotal moment for Maggie, but we never see the resolution to that moment: does what she experienced change her, or are she and David still at an impasse? With Evie herself, there was also a hint of 'unfinished business', though with that one, you did see more of a resolution. In both situations, I was definitely left wanting 'more', and since as far as I'm aware, this is the last Evie Blackwell novel, that's disappointing.
3.5 stars
However, the way the 'personal lives' threads were left at the end of the novel left me with a decidedly 'unfinished' feel. For instance, there is a pivotal moment for Maggie, but we never see the resolution to that moment: does what she experienced change her, or are she and David still at an impasse? With Evie herself, there was also a hint of 'unfinished business', though with that one, you did see more of a resolution. In both situations, I was definitely left wanting 'more', and since as far as I'm aware, this is the last Evie Blackwell novel, that's disappointing.
3.5 stars
May 4, 2017
I found myself falling more in love with the character of Evie Blackwell in this book than in Traces of Guilt. Meeting the other members of the task force was also a treat. Finally, this book brought back the threat of current danger similar to Dee Henderson's earlier books. Well done!
July 7, 2025
Wonderful mystery/suspense book for Christian Fiction fans. I'm bummed that there aren't any more books in this series.
Loved it! More, please!
Loved it! More, please!
July 13, 2022
The second book in the Evie Blackwell Cold Case series. Enjoyable mystery.
April 29, 2023
1.5 stars rounded down to 1. here is the long list of beef i have with this book
1. too much dialogue. sooooo much dialogue. 80% of it is useless conversational dialogue that felt like it was just trying to take up space on the page.
2. instead of showing the reader a characters personality trait via their thoughts/actions the author makes the bold decision to tell the reader what this character is like by working it into the dialogue in the most unsubtle way possible ... exhibit: "I work cases differently. I'm looking someone in the eye, listening to what is said, watching for the lie. I'm intense but in a different way" (pg 118)... the characters might as well have done an icebreaker where they all told everyone their name and one fun fact about themselves.
3. the author takes so long to get to the meat and potatoes. the first 150 or so pages is just evie stumbling her way through the already compiled files on the cold case. she doesn't even have to do her own detective work ... she's just reading shit. and it still takes her forever.
4. evie is the most uncompelling main character of all time. her main personal turmoil is her weird relationship with her boyfriend/not-yet-fiancé because she's convinced herself she's not ready to marry him for no discernible reason. she doesn't stand out at all.
5. all of the characters are bland and very one dimensional. this character is a singer so everything that has to do with them is music related ("God wired Maggie to be all about music (...) you take a break in a conversation, and she's jotting a song lyric or two in the margin of the newspaper she's reading" pg 117.) the main character is a female cop so she's very by-the-book and obedient... i cannot recall any other personality traits presented for these characters.
6. the author hashes out every single (& mostly unnecessary) thought evie has (what she's going to have for dinner, what she's planning on wearing the next day, how cold she is, etc.)
7. so much talk about religion and christianity in general. the story is very sexless and purifying; the characters who aren't married don't sleep together or live together, they never do more than give each other a tiny peck on the lips. it's as if the author read a "How to Write a Mystery Novel in a God Honoring Way" guide before she dusted off the typewriter. there's several scenes and an entire conversation detailing why a side character won't marry his fiancée until she accepts god into her life (or something like that). if i had known the characters in this book would be taking up whole chapters talking about how they found jesus i probably would've skipped right over it.
8. evie jumps to a lot of seemingly random conclusions about her case and at some parts prays to god and asks for answers (which, correct me if i'm wrong, is supposed to be HER job).
9. in the last 150 pages or so the pov's randomly switch around, which i felt was irrelevant and mostly just confusing.
and lastly, 10. the case evie was semi involved in that was assigned to her partner gets swiftly wrapped up in the last like 20 pages. so anticlimactic.
besides the things i disliked about the book i didn't mind the mystery the story revolves around, it just sort of felt like the book could've cut out about 200 pages of extra dialogue and random scenes. the writing also held up; not overly complicated, relatively easy going. there were definitely some parts where the case started to finally gain traction that i enjoyed. i will admit that i did read this one fresh off of finishing a harlan coben book (which tend to be no bullshit, fast paced, complicated mysteries), so the transition from that to this probably altered my expectations. but all things said and done, i probably will not be picking up another dee henderson book anytime soon. i am simply unimpressed.
1. too much dialogue. sooooo much dialogue. 80% of it is useless conversational dialogue that felt like it was just trying to take up space on the page.
2. instead of showing the reader a characters personality trait via their thoughts/actions the author makes the bold decision to tell the reader what this character is like by working it into the dialogue in the most unsubtle way possible ... exhibit: "I work cases differently. I'm looking someone in the eye, listening to what is said, watching for the lie. I'm intense but in a different way" (pg 118)... the characters might as well have done an icebreaker where they all told everyone their name and one fun fact about themselves.
3. the author takes so long to get to the meat and potatoes. the first 150 or so pages is just evie stumbling her way through the already compiled files on the cold case. she doesn't even have to do her own detective work ... she's just reading shit. and it still takes her forever.
4. evie is the most uncompelling main character of all time. her main personal turmoil is her weird relationship with her boyfriend/not-yet-fiancé because she's convinced herself she's not ready to marry him for no discernible reason. she doesn't stand out at all.
5. all of the characters are bland and very one dimensional. this character is a singer so everything that has to do with them is music related ("God wired Maggie to be all about music (...) you take a break in a conversation, and she's jotting a song lyric or two in the margin of the newspaper she's reading" pg 117.) the main character is a female cop so she's very by-the-book and obedient... i cannot recall any other personality traits presented for these characters.
6. the author hashes out every single (& mostly unnecessary) thought evie has (what she's going to have for dinner, what she's planning on wearing the next day, how cold she is, etc.)
7. so much talk about religion and christianity in general. the story is very sexless and purifying; the characters who aren't married don't sleep together or live together, they never do more than give each other a tiny peck on the lips. it's as if the author read a "How to Write a Mystery Novel in a God Honoring Way" guide before she dusted off the typewriter. there's several scenes and an entire conversation detailing why a side character won't marry his fiancée until she accepts god into her life (or something like that). if i had known the characters in this book would be taking up whole chapters talking about how they found jesus i probably would've skipped right over it.
8. evie jumps to a lot of seemingly random conclusions about her case and at some parts prays to god and asks for answers (which, correct me if i'm wrong, is supposed to be HER job).
9. in the last 150 pages or so the pov's randomly switch around, which i felt was irrelevant and mostly just confusing.
and lastly, 10. the case evie was semi involved in that was assigned to her partner gets swiftly wrapped up in the last like 20 pages. so anticlimactic.
besides the things i disliked about the book i didn't mind the mystery the story revolves around, it just sort of felt like the book could've cut out about 200 pages of extra dialogue and random scenes. the writing also held up; not overly complicated, relatively easy going. there were definitely some parts where the case started to finally gain traction that i enjoyed. i will admit that i did read this one fresh off of finishing a harlan coben book (which tend to be no bullshit, fast paced, complicated mysteries), so the transition from that to this probably altered my expectations. but all things said and done, i probably will not be picking up another dee henderson book anytime soon. i am simply unimpressed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 6, 2017
If you enjoy police procedurals, Dee Henderson’s Evie Blackwell series has some of the most detailed investigations I’ve read. As with the first novel in this series, this is more mystery than suspense, but the intellectual challenge involved in solving these cases made for fascinating reading. Short of actually doing the detective work yourself, you couldn’t get a much more realistic experience.
That being said, there’s a point at which realism becomes mundane in a novel, and I found myself reaching this point several times in this book. There’s lots of introspection and internal dialogue as Evie thinks things through. Discussions about what Evie and David will order in for a meal, who’s doing what and meeting whom when, and other such trivial matters are included in full, right along with extensive brainstorming sessions, talking through theories and ideas, and planning what their next step will be. It’s all seamlessly interwoven, completely natural, and interesting to a point, but it would have benefited from being trimmed down in the editing process. As it was, I inevitably found myself skimming these parts, wanting the story to get moving again.
I think this story also suffered a bit due to a lack of scene-by-scene tension. Despite the intellectual challenge these cold-cases presented and the unresolved state of both Evie’s and David’s romantic relationships (more on that in a moment), many individual scenes and conversations lacked the kind of internal tension that keeps a book’s pulse ticking. I think that’s largely due to the characters themselves. They all approach and respond to things with a well-regulated evenness of temper. They’re always polite, considerate, understanding, and in perfect control of themselves. It's a nice idea, and probably something to aspire to, but on the page it becomes ho-hum, especially if there’s nothing else happening to drive the story forward at that point.
In terms of the romance, both Evie and David are already in long-term relationships at the opening of the novel, and there is no suggestion that this will change, but both are working through some things that are preventing them from taking that final step to marriage. David’s story, in particular, is an interesting one, and although he isn’t a POV character in this novel (except for a scene or two at the end), I’ll be interested to see how his story develops. However, once again, a lot of the romantic tension is mitigated by the extremely rational (as opposed to emotional) way they each approach their situations.
To sum up, this is a unique series for those who enjoy the challenge of solving the unsolvable with a bit (or a lot) of old-fashioned detection and deduction. If you don’t mind the slower pacing, it makes for a good read.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. This has not influenced the content of my review.
That being said, there’s a point at which realism becomes mundane in a novel, and I found myself reaching this point several times in this book. There’s lots of introspection and internal dialogue as Evie thinks things through. Discussions about what Evie and David will order in for a meal, who’s doing what and meeting whom when, and other such trivial matters are included in full, right along with extensive brainstorming sessions, talking through theories and ideas, and planning what their next step will be. It’s all seamlessly interwoven, completely natural, and interesting to a point, but it would have benefited from being trimmed down in the editing process. As it was, I inevitably found myself skimming these parts, wanting the story to get moving again.
I think this story also suffered a bit due to a lack of scene-by-scene tension. Despite the intellectual challenge these cold-cases presented and the unresolved state of both Evie’s and David’s romantic relationships (more on that in a moment), many individual scenes and conversations lacked the kind of internal tension that keeps a book’s pulse ticking. I think that’s largely due to the characters themselves. They all approach and respond to things with a well-regulated evenness of temper. They’re always polite, considerate, understanding, and in perfect control of themselves. It's a nice idea, and probably something to aspire to, but on the page it becomes ho-hum, especially if there’s nothing else happening to drive the story forward at that point.
In terms of the romance, both Evie and David are already in long-term relationships at the opening of the novel, and there is no suggestion that this will change, but both are working through some things that are preventing them from taking that final step to marriage. David’s story, in particular, is an interesting one, and although he isn’t a POV character in this novel (except for a scene or two at the end), I’ll be interested to see how his story develops. However, once again, a lot of the romantic tension is mitigated by the extremely rational (as opposed to emotional) way they each approach their situations.
To sum up, this is a unique series for those who enjoy the challenge of solving the unsolvable with a bit (or a lot) of old-fashioned detection and deduction. If you don’t mind the slower pacing, it makes for a good read.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. This has not influenced the content of my review.
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