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Bowers and Hunter Mystery #2
Stormen
Mange turister besøger Tidewater hvert år. Men præsten Luke Bowers bliver hurtigt klar over, at Susan Champlain ikke er som de andre. Hun opsøger ham og fortæller, at hendes mand vil få hende til at ”forsvinde” på grund af et foto hun har taget. Besøget gør Bowers så urolig, at han nævner det for sin veninde politikommissær Amy Hunter. Samme aften finder de Susans døde krop på stranden. Politiet finder spor, der leder dem til en serie uopklarede mord, til de magtfulde kriminelle i området - og til det forsvundne maleri af Rembrandt: The Storm on the Sea of Galilee. De, der er bag drabene, har skabt et røgslør af bedrag og forræderi, en bevidst ”Storm” opfundet til at skjule sandheden. Nu skal Hunter og Bowers sammen finde ud af, hvilken hemmelighed Susans foto gemmer. Men vil de være de næste mål på en morders dødbringende dagsorden...?
348 pages, Hardcover
First published July 28, 2015
57 people are currently reading
141 people want to read
About the author
James Lilliefors
20 books45 followersJAMES LILLIEFORS is a journalist and novelist who grew up in the Washington, D.C. area. His novels include THE PSALMIST and THE TEMPEST and the geopolitical thrillers THE CHILDREN'S GAME (as Max Karpov) THE LEVIATHAN EFFECT and VIRAL.
For Max Karpov, see https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
For Max Karpov, see https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
April 18, 2016
Review: THE TEMPEST by James Lilliefors
That unusual crime-solving duo from THE PSALMIST return: Maryland State Police Homicide Unit Detective Amy Hunter, and Methodist Pastor Luke Bowers, head pastor of the Tippecanoe County Methodist congregation. In their second outing, they set out to uncover the truth about a wealthy summer tourist who announced in advance her husband was a danger to her. At stake also is major art fraud. Throughout, the author reveals the peculiarities and peccadillos of an insular community which paradoxically thrives on tourism
That unusual crime-solving duo from THE PSALMIST return: Maryland State Police Homicide Unit Detective Amy Hunter, and Methodist Pastor Luke Bowers, head pastor of the Tippecanoe County Methodist congregation. In their second outing, they set out to uncover the truth about a wealthy summer tourist who announced in advance her husband was a danger to her. At stake also is major art fraud. Throughout, the author reveals the peculiarities and peccadillos of an insular community which paradoxically thrives on tourism
September 7, 2015
The Tempest is a good old-fashioned police procedural mystery novel. It reminded me of BBC detective shows, many of which I’m completely addicted to. The reader mostly knows who the bad guy is (or is it bad guys?) and is just waiting for the detectives to get with the program already. But don’t fall into that trap. There are a few twists and turns waiting for the reader, although the suspense builds so slowly that it at times seems to disappear altogether, which is often the best kind of thrill as it catches the reader off guard.
The start of the novel was a bit confusing – a plethora of characters with deliberately baffling dialogue. The Tempest is chock full of strange characters to the point that it seems a bit unrealistic to have that many weird folk all in one place. On top of the somewhat strange folk of Tidewater, there was a lot of ‘unusual’ and not entirely realistic interaction and dialogue. Although I liked Luke and Amy, I missed more interaction between the two. In fact, Luke didn’t seem to help solve the mystery all that much or not at least in the way a reader expects considering Luke’s mention in the sub-title. I thought the interaction between Hunter and her colleagues was also somewhat unusual. Obviously, they missed the memo on teamwork.
I enjoyed the artistic references. Lilliefors has obviously researched this area prolifically. Although not religious, the biblical aspects did add to the mystery and tied Pastor Luke’s involvement into the resolution of certain crimes. I recommend this novel to readers who, like me, enjoy a good BBC detective show once in a while.
The start of the novel was a bit confusing – a plethora of characters with deliberately baffling dialogue. The Tempest is chock full of strange characters to the point that it seems a bit unrealistic to have that many weird folk all in one place. On top of the somewhat strange folk of Tidewater, there was a lot of ‘unusual’ and not entirely realistic interaction and dialogue. Although I liked Luke and Amy, I missed more interaction between the two. In fact, Luke didn’t seem to help solve the mystery all that much or not at least in the way a reader expects considering Luke’s mention in the sub-title. I thought the interaction between Hunter and her colleagues was also somewhat unusual. Obviously, they missed the memo on teamwork.
I enjoyed the artistic references. Lilliefors has obviously researched this area prolifically. Although not religious, the biblical aspects did add to the mystery and tied Pastor Luke’s involvement into the resolution of certain crimes. I recommend this novel to readers who, like me, enjoy a good BBC detective show once in a while.
August 17, 2015
If you are a fan of crime shows such as Castle and White Collar, this book might just be right up your alley! The Tempest is a story about a homicide detective and local pastor who team up to find justice and seek the truth. This story follows the death of a young woman in the small and quiet Tidewater County that leads to a bigger scheme and the mystery of missing Rembrandt painting. This book follows the ins and outs of the local police investigation as well as the sinister plans of the criminals afoot.
The Tempest was quite a switch from what I have been reading over the past few months and at first it took quite a bit of time for me to transition into the story and appreciate the genre and writing style. The story begins and it was a bit hard to flow for me but I kept going, determined to give it a chance, knowing that it was a change for my norm of the day, and I was pleasantly surprised at the plot lines and the book as a whole. I could see this story being played out on the big screen. It reads like a movie plot, giving the reader insider information, understanding as to what is happening on a level that is above the characters themselves. There are still plot twists and surprises that you did not see coming but the reader is allowed a bird’s eye view of the drama unfolding.
I enjoyed reading Hunter and Bowers’ characters. They are so different but their desire to see justice prevail sets them on a similar path towards a common goal. It was refreshing to read two characters that were not wrought with personal drama. Instead the story focuses on the details and plot unfolding, allowing for personal stories to add character but not the drama I have become desensitized to. Hunter is a strong minded female detective and I appreciated that she was collected, smart, and focused. Her brains and determination are the main focus, not her looks or history. Bowers is a different character but I really admired what the author did with his character. In so many books today pastors and religion are the focus of something that is twisted and challenged. Not in this story. Bowers occupation and life choices enhance the story but don’t preach. They add to his character and disposition but do not bog down what is happening. I appreciated that his career was not a theme to be focused on but instead built a character who was compassionate and determined, a family man who wants to see justice.
The ins and outs of this investigation were interesting to see played out in the pages of this book. It was full of fluidity and discovery, constantly moving the reader from one point to another, giving insight but never truly revealing secrets until the opportune moment. Once my mind switched into Mystery Genre gear I was swept into a story of murder, justice, and suspense. If you love a good cop story and mystery, filled with determination and class, then this book should be on your TBR list!
The Tempest was quite a switch from what I have been reading over the past few months and at first it took quite a bit of time for me to transition into the story and appreciate the genre and writing style. The story begins and it was a bit hard to flow for me but I kept going, determined to give it a chance, knowing that it was a change for my norm of the day, and I was pleasantly surprised at the plot lines and the book as a whole. I could see this story being played out on the big screen. It reads like a movie plot, giving the reader insider information, understanding as to what is happening on a level that is above the characters themselves. There are still plot twists and surprises that you did not see coming but the reader is allowed a bird’s eye view of the drama unfolding.
I enjoyed reading Hunter and Bowers’ characters. They are so different but their desire to see justice prevail sets them on a similar path towards a common goal. It was refreshing to read two characters that were not wrought with personal drama. Instead the story focuses on the details and plot unfolding, allowing for personal stories to add character but not the drama I have become desensitized to. Hunter is a strong minded female detective and I appreciated that she was collected, smart, and focused. Her brains and determination are the main focus, not her looks or history. Bowers is a different character but I really admired what the author did with his character. In so many books today pastors and religion are the focus of something that is twisted and challenged. Not in this story. Bowers occupation and life choices enhance the story but don’t preach. They add to his character and disposition but do not bog down what is happening. I appreciated that his career was not a theme to be focused on but instead built a character who was compassionate and determined, a family man who wants to see justice.
The ins and outs of this investigation were interesting to see played out in the pages of this book. It was full of fluidity and discovery, constantly moving the reader from one point to another, giving insight but never truly revealing secrets until the opportune moment. Once my mind switched into Mystery Genre gear I was swept into a story of murder, justice, and suspense. If you love a good cop story and mystery, filled with determination and class, then this book should be on your TBR list!
September 9, 2015
A Little Miracle of a Mystery!
Are there miracles? And can art dealer Walter Kepler pull one off? That is the crux of THE TEMPEST, a superbly written mystery-thriller by James Lilliefors.
The story begins with us eavesdropping in on a conversation held between Kepler and his attorney Jacob Weber. Tantalizing bits of Kepler’s plan are tossed about like bread upon the water, but before we can learn more, the story veers and settles in Tidewater County. It’s a beautiful ocean front community that attracts a crush of summer visitors. An elusive young woman named Susan Champlain is one, and Pastor Luke Bowers is more than intrigued by her presence, but as he puts it, “Not all mysteries are meant to be solved, and Susan Champlain, it seemed, would be one of those that wasn’t …” While he’s right as far as he goes, he never anticipates her murder, or that it will consume Tidewater until they do the opposite of his idle conjecture.
This was my first time reading Mr. Lilliefors and I was drawn in by his use of language and by his ability to paint a compelling picture. It’s his ability to not only depict characters, but apply light and shadow to add depth and dimension that distinguishes him from the pack. I particularly liked his aesthetic in selecting words. He has an exquisite ear for picking just the right ones to convey an exact nuance. I loved the characters he’s crafted and found The Bowers and Amy Hunter, the detective heading the murder investigation, to have a unique dynamic that left nooks and crannies to be discovered and explored. As for Amy Hunter, I appreciated the manner in which her investigative style is documented—most especially her interrogations. The dialogue in these sessions rang more than true and I was thoroughly engaged as she tried her best to ferret out the truth.
I flew through the pages loving the complex twists and turns. THE TEMPEST is a true mystery that will keep you riveted until the end … which brings me to the end. The ending is very much like the painting in dispute during much of this tale. The Storm in the Sea of Galilee by Rembrandt is that treasure, and in the painting, each of fourteen voyagers has a differing reaction to the storm. Mr. Lilliefors’ ending is very much like that. Each will see it from his or her own perspective.
I highly recommend THE TEMPEST by James Lilliefors. It’s a wonderful, very smart read by an amazingly talented author. Final score: 5.0
For the purposes of full disclosure, I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest revie4w.
Are there miracles? And can art dealer Walter Kepler pull one off? That is the crux of THE TEMPEST, a superbly written mystery-thriller by James Lilliefors.
The story begins with us eavesdropping in on a conversation held between Kepler and his attorney Jacob Weber. Tantalizing bits of Kepler’s plan are tossed about like bread upon the water, but before we can learn more, the story veers and settles in Tidewater County. It’s a beautiful ocean front community that attracts a crush of summer visitors. An elusive young woman named Susan Champlain is one, and Pastor Luke Bowers is more than intrigued by her presence, but as he puts it, “Not all mysteries are meant to be solved, and Susan Champlain, it seemed, would be one of those that wasn’t …” While he’s right as far as he goes, he never anticipates her murder, or that it will consume Tidewater until they do the opposite of his idle conjecture.
This was my first time reading Mr. Lilliefors and I was drawn in by his use of language and by his ability to paint a compelling picture. It’s his ability to not only depict characters, but apply light and shadow to add depth and dimension that distinguishes him from the pack. I particularly liked his aesthetic in selecting words. He has an exquisite ear for picking just the right ones to convey an exact nuance. I loved the characters he’s crafted and found The Bowers and Amy Hunter, the detective heading the murder investigation, to have a unique dynamic that left nooks and crannies to be discovered and explored. As for Amy Hunter, I appreciated the manner in which her investigative style is documented—most especially her interrogations. The dialogue in these sessions rang more than true and I was thoroughly engaged as she tried her best to ferret out the truth.
I flew through the pages loving the complex twists and turns. THE TEMPEST is a true mystery that will keep you riveted until the end … which brings me to the end. The ending is very much like the painting in dispute during much of this tale. The Storm in the Sea of Galilee by Rembrandt is that treasure, and in the painting, each of fourteen voyagers has a differing reaction to the storm. Mr. Lilliefors’ ending is very much like that. Each will see it from his or her own perspective.
I highly recommend THE TEMPEST by James Lilliefors. It’s a wonderful, very smart read by an amazingly talented author. Final score: 5.0
For the purposes of full disclosure, I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest revie4w.
September 28, 2015
Another Bible-related Mystery Solved!
I've always loved mysteries, but James Lilliefors is the first writer to set them in my kind of world. In both this book and The Psalmist he makes a real world church look like it could be part of such a story as well as the ordinary people in it.
I further like his character development and his avoidance of unnecessary sex, violence and nasty language. I enthusiastically recommend both books to all my Christian friends!
I've always loved mysteries, but James Lilliefors is the first writer to set them in my kind of world. In both this book and The Psalmist he makes a real world church look like it could be part of such a story as well as the ordinary people in it.
I further like his character development and his avoidance of unnecessary sex, violence and nasty language. I enthusiastically recommend both books to all my Christian friends!
November 7, 2015
I really like Lilliefors' voice. The Tempest does a lovely job telling a "what if" tale about a painting stolen during a famous real-life art museum robbery.
May 2, 2018
4/6 stars. read my danish review here: https://sidsesbogreol.dk/stormen-jame...
June 28, 2020
Loved it
Both The Psalmist and The Tempest are highly recommended.
The characters are so well developed I started to feel as though they were real people.
Both The Psalmist and The Tempest are highly recommended.
The characters are so well developed I started to feel as though they were real people.
August 8, 2015
I received a complimentary copy of this book as a part of a book tour for a fair and honest review and rated it 4.5 out of 5 Stars.
A fan of crime stories solved by partners, I was thrilled to be given the opportunity to read and review The Tempest by James Lilliefores. I had planned to read the first book in the series, The Psalmist, however I ran out of time and decided to just dive into The Tempest. Fortunately for me, this story stood well enough on its own and I was able to enjoy the story, and the characters, as the story developed. If you’re a fan of book series, movies or t.v. shows featuring crime solving duos, such as Rizzoli and Isles or Major Crimes, this is a book you’ll definitely want to check out.
Mr. Lilliefores does a good job introducing us the to the central crime figure behind the mystery from the very first page and then slowly introduces us to the victim, and the crime solvers Methodist Pastor Luke Bowers, and Amy Hunter, Tidewater County's chief homicide investigator. While it’s not normal to pair a religious leader and a cop as crime solvers, I found this duo very interesting and enjoyed getting to know their characters both individually and as a duo. When a summer tourist visiting the area, and temporarily attending Luke’s church, approaches him about her fear her that her husband is going to harm her, the first person he naturally thinks of involving is Amy because of their past association solving a crime. When the woman turns up dead, Luke and Amy find themselves being drawn into another murder mystery, and one that involves organized crime and stolen art masterpieces.
The secondary characters, from Susan Champlain, the murder victim, to the members of Luke’s church, the people in town and the criminals involved are all well developed and I enjoyed watching them interact with Luke and Amy as they investigate. While we do get to know what is going on in both character’s personal lives at the same time, the story’s main focus is on the crime solving and not on their personal drama and angst, something which often derails so many stories lately. .
The mystery was well developed and well-paced. There were plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader interested and clues and revelations were shared at just the right time. The story was filled with plenty of suspense and with the characters determination to see justice prevail. I especially liked how both Luke and Amy’s sense of justice felt natural and how neither character used the events taking place as an opportunity to “preach” at the reader and instead let the reader reach their own conclusions on how justice would best be served.
Will Luke and Amy discover who is behind the murder and why Susan was killed? Will they be able to bring the criminals to justice or will the stolen masterpieces remain hidden from the rightful owners? You’ll have to read The Tempest to find out. I really enjoyed reading this story and look forward to reading the next installment in this series.
A fan of crime stories solved by partners, I was thrilled to be given the opportunity to read and review The Tempest by James Lilliefores. I had planned to read the first book in the series, The Psalmist, however I ran out of time and decided to just dive into The Tempest. Fortunately for me, this story stood well enough on its own and I was able to enjoy the story, and the characters, as the story developed. If you’re a fan of book series, movies or t.v. shows featuring crime solving duos, such as Rizzoli and Isles or Major Crimes, this is a book you’ll definitely want to check out.
Mr. Lilliefores does a good job introducing us the to the central crime figure behind the mystery from the very first page and then slowly introduces us to the victim, and the crime solvers Methodist Pastor Luke Bowers, and Amy Hunter, Tidewater County's chief homicide investigator. While it’s not normal to pair a religious leader and a cop as crime solvers, I found this duo very interesting and enjoyed getting to know their characters both individually and as a duo. When a summer tourist visiting the area, and temporarily attending Luke’s church, approaches him about her fear her that her husband is going to harm her, the first person he naturally thinks of involving is Amy because of their past association solving a crime. When the woman turns up dead, Luke and Amy find themselves being drawn into another murder mystery, and one that involves organized crime and stolen art masterpieces.
The secondary characters, from Susan Champlain, the murder victim, to the members of Luke’s church, the people in town and the criminals involved are all well developed and I enjoyed watching them interact with Luke and Amy as they investigate. While we do get to know what is going on in both character’s personal lives at the same time, the story’s main focus is on the crime solving and not on their personal drama and angst, something which often derails so many stories lately. .
The mystery was well developed and well-paced. There were plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader interested and clues and revelations were shared at just the right time. The story was filled with plenty of suspense and with the characters determination to see justice prevail. I especially liked how both Luke and Amy’s sense of justice felt natural and how neither character used the events taking place as an opportunity to “preach” at the reader and instead let the reader reach their own conclusions on how justice would best be served.
Will Luke and Amy discover who is behind the murder and why Susan was killed? Will they be able to bring the criminals to justice or will the stolen masterpieces remain hidden from the rightful owners? You’ll have to read The Tempest to find out. I really enjoyed reading this story and look forward to reading the next installment in this series.
December 31, 2016
Some of the story was good and I wanted to read to the end. However, there seemed to be way too many characters in this mystery and it appeared to drag out a bit with the investigation. I was a bit confused with all of the characters that Hunter spoke with. They began to blur together a bit. It could be that I didn't have a ton of time to read and began reading this in mid October and it is now almost January.
August 25, 2015
*I received a free copy from the publisher/author for an honest review*
A book which starts off as a simple open and close death case opens a can of worms leading to a pretty complicated story.
The book blurb caught my eye inspite of it being too wordy. It might have gone good with the mysterious happenings in the book if it had been shortened.
The book started off with a mysterious discussion by Kepler. And that was followed by another mysterious event, Susan's death. From that point, the main story was started and what followed was a hide and seek search for the murderer and ultimately the instigator behind the killings and the art thievery.
The story was fast paced and the plot had surprising twists and turns and the final revelation of the murderer is the greatest of them all. I certainly didn't look at that character as the antagonist. Another surprise was the relationship between the 2 antagonists and I am not even sure if one of them is an antagonist because of his intentions though his actions cause him to be one. The events unfolded so fast that it was a bit of information overload at times but I was able to get over it easily and get caught up in the suspense of the story.
I liked Amy because of her drive to do the right thing by the victim's family. But at the same time, I felt she was a bit reckless. Luke was a surprising element with his insights and his wife more so because of her spot on conclusions. I even was suspicious of her for a while. I didn't know what Kepler would be about at any point of the story. There are 2 sane madmen who make all the reading worthwhile. The ending is where the entire back story is revealed and the beauty of the entire scheme comes into light.
The ending was kind of predictable in one sense while it was rather abrupt in another way. It was a very fast end to the antagonist whom I was looking forward to be brought before everyone. The story also laid bare the workings of a close community.
Overall, the book was enjoyable and kept me immersed in its pages and I think there will be more Amy-Luke in the future hopefully. Now I am going to check out the Psalmist which I haven't yet read.
My one line review : A captivating mystery which has you clinging to the pages till the end.
My rating : 4/5
My reread factor : 3/5
Floryie
A book which starts off as a simple open and close death case opens a can of worms leading to a pretty complicated story.
The book blurb caught my eye inspite of it being too wordy. It might have gone good with the mysterious happenings in the book if it had been shortened.
The book started off with a mysterious discussion by Kepler. And that was followed by another mysterious event, Susan's death. From that point, the main story was started and what followed was a hide and seek search for the murderer and ultimately the instigator behind the killings and the art thievery.
The story was fast paced and the plot had surprising twists and turns and the final revelation of the murderer is the greatest of them all. I certainly didn't look at that character as the antagonist. Another surprise was the relationship between the 2 antagonists and I am not even sure if one of them is an antagonist because of his intentions though his actions cause him to be one. The events unfolded so fast that it was a bit of information overload at times but I was able to get over it easily and get caught up in the suspense of the story.
I liked Amy because of her drive to do the right thing by the victim's family. But at the same time, I felt she was a bit reckless. Luke was a surprising element with his insights and his wife more so because of her spot on conclusions. I even was suspicious of her for a while. I didn't know what Kepler would be about at any point of the story. There are 2 sane madmen who make all the reading worthwhile. The ending is where the entire back story is revealed and the beauty of the entire scheme comes into light.
The ending was kind of predictable in one sense while it was rather abrupt in another way. It was a very fast end to the antagonist whom I was looking forward to be brought before everyone. The story also laid bare the workings of a close community.
Overall, the book was enjoyable and kept me immersed in its pages and I think there will be more Amy-Luke in the future hopefully. Now I am going to check out the Psalmist which I haven't yet read.
My one line review : A captivating mystery which has you clinging to the pages till the end.
My rating : 4/5
My reread factor : 3/5
Floryie
Read
August 4, 2015James Lilliefors's unlikely detective duo, Pastor Luke Bowers and homicide investigator Amy Hunter, return in a new murder mystery set in Maryland's picturesque Tidewater County
Tourists like Susan Champlain pass through the Chesapeake Bay region every year. But when Susan pays Pastor Luke Bowers a visit, he's disturbed by what she shares with him. Her husband has a short temper, she says, and recently threatened to make her "disappear" because of a photo Susan took on her phone.
Luke is concerned enough to tip off Tidewater County's chief homicide investigator, Amy Hunter. That night, Susan's body is found at the foot of the Widow's Point bluff. Hunter soon discovers Susan left behind clues that may connect her fate to a series of killings in the Northeast, a powerful criminal enterprise, and to a missing Rembrandt masterpiece, The Storm on the Sea of Galilee.
Whoever is behind the killings has created a storm of deception and betrayal, a deliberate "tempest" designed to obscure the truth. Now Hunter and Bowers must join forces to trace the dangerous secret glimpsed in Susan's photo. But will they be the next targets on a killer's deadly agenda .
Bolasco was actually Elena, Champlains's assistant and the murderer. The picture was given back.l
Tourists like Susan Champlain pass through the Chesapeake Bay region every year. But when Susan pays Pastor Luke Bowers a visit, he's disturbed by what she shares with him. Her husband has a short temper, she says, and recently threatened to make her "disappear" because of a photo Susan took on her phone.
Luke is concerned enough to tip off Tidewater County's chief homicide investigator, Amy Hunter. That night, Susan's body is found at the foot of the Widow's Point bluff. Hunter soon discovers Susan left behind clues that may connect her fate to a series of killings in the Northeast, a powerful criminal enterprise, and to a missing Rembrandt masterpiece, The Storm on the Sea of Galilee.
Whoever is behind the killings has created a storm of deception and betrayal, a deliberate "tempest" designed to obscure the truth. Now Hunter and Bowers must join forces to trace the dangerous secret glimpsed in Susan's photo. But will they be the next targets on a killer's deadly agenda .
Bolasco was actually Elena, Champlains's assistant and the murderer. The picture was given back.l
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 16, 2015
This is the second book in the Bowers & Hunter series, The Tempest. It is the second book in the series and I found it was just as good as his first book. The Psalmist. I enjoyed this book very much. I had a hard time putting it down.
I highly recommend this series. The first book, The Psalmist, was a great read for Mystery buffs. I enjoyed James Lilliefors' writing and i was very surprised the way the book ended. The characters, Luke Bowers (the pastor) and Amy Hunter (the homicide dectective), are believabled and I found myself rooting for them to every step of the way.
This book will not disappoint you at all. Do not miss out on this 5 star book. Read it and then tell me your opinion. I am sure you will be happy you didn't miss this series or the chance to read this authors work.
Thank you for your series. I cannot wait for your next Bowers &Hunter Series, please make it soon!
I highly recommend this series. The first book, The Psalmist, was a great read for Mystery buffs. I enjoyed James Lilliefors' writing and i was very surprised the way the book ended. The characters, Luke Bowers (the pastor) and Amy Hunter (the homicide dectective), are believabled and I found myself rooting for them to every step of the way.
This book will not disappoint you at all. Do not miss out on this 5 star book. Read it and then tell me your opinion. I am sure you will be happy you didn't miss this series or the chance to read this authors work.
Thank you for your series. I cannot wait for your next Bowers &Hunter Series, please make it soon!
August 19, 2015
Another Super Suspense
An unique friendship between a married Methodist minister and a young smart female homicide detective is again a central theme in the second book in a series. The minister is the only person she can completely trust to talk with about a case because multiple bureaus are involved in multiple states. The author wove a fascinating story about stolen paintings and a number of deaths because a few people knew too much. A fascinating piece is the fact that the theft of multiple painting from a Boston museum did happen. I never guessed who the killer was. The ending of what happened to the famous Rembrandt painting was a surprise too. I would read another book by this author.
An unique friendship between a married Methodist minister and a young smart female homicide detective is again a central theme in the second book in a series. The minister is the only person she can completely trust to talk with about a case because multiple bureaus are involved in multiple states. The author wove a fascinating story about stolen paintings and a number of deaths because a few people knew too much. A fascinating piece is the fact that the theft of multiple painting from a Boston museum did happen. I never guessed who the killer was. The ending of what happened to the famous Rembrandt painting was a surprise too. I would read another book by this author.
March 10, 2016
This is the second book I've read by this author, the first being "The Psalmist, " which I enjoyed very much. Same goes for this title.
Mr. Lilliefors has a great writing technique that paints vivid word pictures and puts the reader in the center of the action. He knows how to build a plot and keeps you turning pages. There are plenty of twists and turns and never a dull moment. I like the fact that while he's weaving a mysterious web, the author also gives glimpses into the personal lives of his protagonists, an unlikely pairing of a homicide investigator and Protestant minister. There's also a peak into the minds of the villains, which provides an additional layer of intrigue.
If you like a good partner crime story, you're going to like this this series.
Mr. Lilliefors has a great writing technique that paints vivid word pictures and puts the reader in the center of the action. He knows how to build a plot and keeps you turning pages. There are plenty of twists and turns and never a dull moment. I like the fact that while he's weaving a mysterious web, the author also gives glimpses into the personal lives of his protagonists, an unlikely pairing of a homicide investigator and Protestant minister. There's also a peak into the minds of the villains, which provides an additional layer of intrigue.
If you like a good partner crime story, you're going to like this this series.
September 1, 2015
This is book two in the Bowers and Hunter series, and whilst I haven't read book one The Psalmist, this definitely was easy to read as a stand alone book.
When a wealthy summer visitor to the town confides in Luke that she fears her husband is going to hurt and subsequent ends up dead, he contacts Amy and the duo come together on a case that involves organized crime and stolen art masterpieces.
This was a great mystery thriller and had me drawn in form the very beginning and although the ending may be have been slightly predictable it was still a great ending.
When a wealthy summer visitor to the town confides in Luke that she fears her husband is going to hurt and subsequent ends up dead, he contacts Amy and the duo come together on a case that involves organized crime and stolen art masterpieces.
This was a great mystery thriller and had me drawn in form the very beginning and although the ending may be have been slightly predictable it was still a great ending.
August 3, 2015
Really enjoyable
Really enjoyable and well written. Liked the twists and turns in the plot and if I had had the time, would have read it all in one sitting. Felt drawn into the plot, wondering where the relationship between Amy and Luke will go.
Really enjoyable and well written. Liked the twists and turns in the plot and if I had had the time, would have read it all in one sitting. Felt drawn into the plot, wondering where the relationship between Amy and Luke will go.
August 26, 2015
Quite enjoyable
This follows The Psalmest, and was well worth waiting for. There are many things I learned and a story with characters I'd come to know and follow. Well written and very interesting leaving you wanting more to read by this author.
This follows The Psalmest, and was well worth waiting for. There are many things I learned and a story with characters I'd come to know and follow. Well written and very interesting leaving you wanting more to read by this author.
January 23, 2016
A generous 3 stars. There was nothing actually wrong with the book but it was rather flat and listless. The big twist was not so big. And although the characters were pleasant enough I still struggles to finish this rather dull book.
October 10, 2016
Another good one
I really liked this because once again the author keeps you guessing. But another reason is that art isn't a typical subject for a murder mystery so that brought a new aspect and dimension.
I really liked this because once again the author keeps you guessing. But another reason is that art isn't a typical subject for a murder mystery so that brought a new aspect and dimension.
August 19, 2016
Review
Not my favorite in this series. Didn't care for characters nor their objective. I would still get another book by this author tho.
Not my favorite in this series. Didn't care for characters nor their objective. I would still get another book by this author tho.
August 7, 2015
Well written mystery
I love the characters the pastor who helped l.p. s solve crimes malfunctions as a caring minister is particularly fu
I love the characters the pastor who helped l.p. s solve crimes malfunctions as a caring minister is particularly fu
August 21, 2015
Like the series a great deal!
Fast moving interesting read that keeps me turning the pages. I can't wait for more from this crime fighting duo.
Fast moving interesting read that keeps me turning the pages. I can't wait for more from this crime fighting duo.
September 11, 2015
Great read
I love how clean this book is. I believe the author knows that you don't need sex and gore to write a good story. I can't wait to read more of this particular series.
I love how clean this book is. I believe the author knows that you don't need sex and gore to write a good story. I can't wait to read more of this particular series.
August 3, 2016
Not as good as the first book, but I enjoyed it!
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January 8, 2016I'm not finding this book a page turner.
Diana Carter
Diana Carter
December 21, 2015
Another lovely story
This is another well crafted and well researched tale. I look forward to more books in the Bowers and Hunter series.
This is another well crafted and well researched tale. I look forward to more books in the Bowers and Hunter series.
January 13, 2016
Liked this better than the first one. The characters and the back story on the stolen art was most interesting.
August 31, 2016
The book was alright. I may try reading another book by this author. I enjoyed the minister and the detective. Just was okay to read –no regrets for using my time this way.
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