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Hidden Faces #1
Brink of Death
The noises, faint, fleeting, whispered into her consciousness like wraiths passing in the night.
Twelve-year-old Erin Willit opened her eyes to darkness lit only by the dim green nightlight near her closet door and the faint glow of a street lamp through her front window. She felt her forehead wrinkle, the fingers of one hand curl as she tried to discern what had awakened her.
Something was not right . . .
Annie Kingston moves to Grove Landing for safety and quiet—and comes face to face with evil.
When neighbor Lisa Willet is killed by an intruder in her home, Sheriff’s detectives are left with little evidence. Lisa’s daughter, Erin, saw the killer, but she’s too traumatized to give a description. The detectives grow desperate.
Because of her background in art, Annie is asked to question Erin and draw a composite. But Annie knows little about forensic art or the sensitive interview process. A nonbeliever, she finds herself begging God for help. What if her lack of experience leads Erin astray? The detectives could end up searching for a face that doesn’t exist.
Leaving the real killer free to stalk the neighborhood . . .
Twelve-year-old Erin Willit opened her eyes to darkness lit only by the dim green nightlight near her closet door and the faint glow of a street lamp through her front window. She felt her forehead wrinkle, the fingers of one hand curl as she tried to discern what had awakened her.
Something was not right . . .
Annie Kingston moves to Grove Landing for safety and quiet—and comes face to face with evil.
When neighbor Lisa Willet is killed by an intruder in her home, Sheriff’s detectives are left with little evidence. Lisa’s daughter, Erin, saw the killer, but she’s too traumatized to give a description. The detectives grow desperate.
Because of her background in art, Annie is asked to question Erin and draw a composite. But Annie knows little about forensic art or the sensitive interview process. A nonbeliever, she finds herself begging God for help. What if her lack of experience leads Erin astray? The detectives could end up searching for a face that doesn’t exist.
Leaving the real killer free to stalk the neighborhood . . .
349 pages, Paperback
First published April 8, 2004
75 people are currently reading
1579 people want to read
About the author
Brandilyn Collins
62 books634 followersBrandilyn Collins is a best-selling novelist known for her trademark Seatbelt Suspense®--fast-paced, character-driven suspense with myriad twists and an interwoven thread of faith.
Brandilyn is also known for her distinctive book on fiction-writing techniques, Getting Into Character: Seven Secrets a Novelist Can Learn From Actors (John Wiley & Sons). She is a sought-after teacher and speaker at writers' conferences.
Brandilyn is also known for her distinctive book on fiction-writing techniques, Getting Into Character: Seven Secrets a Novelist Can Learn From Actors (John Wiley & Sons). She is a sought-after teacher and speaker at writers' conferences.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
January 28, 2023
Unforgiveable tropes:
1. Women who are unnecessarily self-deprecating. I can't do anything right. I am so stupid. Yet somehow this worthless person is the only person who can find the solution to the problem. And even after this person has solved the problem they continue to be in disbelief of their worth. Overused in bad YA and chick lit.
2. Wrong is right. The main character defies what the police tell them to do, puts themself into dangerous situations, makes one terrible move after another and is the hero. Despite doing things that should have killed them or got them arrested, they are the catch the bad guy, solve the crime, etc. Police detectives, FBI, other experts no, they aren't solving the crime. This housewife from Pasadena, she's got it.
3. Sneaky Jesus. Early in the book the author mentions prayer or a religious neighbor. They do this as a throw away comment; you don't even notice it really. The main character will say something like: "too each his own, I've never been religious". As the action picks up, the prayer references will increase. The character will find themselves praying and not knowing why. They will magically be successful in a task that they prayed for. By the end of the book they decide religion is needed in their life. There is nothing wrong with religion in books but advertise it. This feels like an afterschool special that you would see on the ION network.
I am not the target audience for this book.
1. Women who are unnecessarily self-deprecating. I can't do anything right. I am so stupid. Yet somehow this worthless person is the only person who can find the solution to the problem. And even after this person has solved the problem they continue to be in disbelief of their worth. Overused in bad YA and chick lit.
2. Wrong is right. The main character defies what the police tell them to do, puts themself into dangerous situations, makes one terrible move after another and is the hero. Despite doing things that should have killed them or got them arrested, they are the catch the bad guy, solve the crime, etc. Police detectives, FBI, other experts no, they aren't solving the crime. This housewife from Pasadena, she's got it.
3. Sneaky Jesus. Early in the book the author mentions prayer or a religious neighbor. They do this as a throw away comment; you don't even notice it really. The main character will say something like: "too each his own, I've never been religious". As the action picks up, the prayer references will increase. The character will find themselves praying and not knowing why. They will magically be successful in a task that they prayed for. By the end of the book they decide religion is needed in their life. There is nothing wrong with religion in books but advertise it. This feels like an afterschool special that you would see on the ION network.
I am not the target audience for this book.
February 16, 2023
I am shocked by the high reviews this book has gotten. Perhaps it’s because I listened instead of reading it, and the narrator was very melodramatic. However, the writing oh my gosh. One quote that sticks with me is “the ER smelled of the clean of disinfectant and the dirt of disappointment ”. WTH?
Nice that she tried to avoid the usual “she bit her lip” but I wish I had a nickel for every time I read “She sucked in her lower lip.” Or maybe it was her upper lip I really don’t care there’s a lot of lip sucking.
Overall, I have nothing against Christian fiction, but I think it’s dangerous to have a book that says this person prayed and then everything went fine or miraculous things happened with almost every single prayer this nonbeliever prayed. I’m not saying God doesn’t answer prayers but it doesn’t work like a cosmic vending machine. Unanswered prayer shouldn’t change your faith.
Overall, it just felt like she was trying to hard. Too hard to be dramatic. Too hard to give a Christian message. Trying to hard to not use the word said just trying too hard. It was a decent story but so cringey.
Nice that she tried to avoid the usual “she bit her lip” but I wish I had a nickel for every time I read “She sucked in her lower lip.” Or maybe it was her upper lip I really don’t care there’s a lot of lip sucking.
Overall, I have nothing against Christian fiction, but I think it’s dangerous to have a book that says this person prayed and then everything went fine or miraculous things happened with almost every single prayer this nonbeliever prayed. I’m not saying God doesn’t answer prayers but it doesn’t work like a cosmic vending machine. Unanswered prayer shouldn’t change your faith.
Overall, it just felt like she was trying to hard. Too hard to be dramatic. Too hard to give a Christian message. Trying to hard to not use the word said just trying too hard. It was a decent story but so cringey.
September 22, 2022
This was such a good book! I loved seeing the main character evolve over the course of the story! I would say that this one is a bit more graphic than what I'm typically used to, but it didn't bother me too much if I just skim-read through a couple parts 🙃 Overall, I loved the mystery/Thriller aspect of it and am excited to read the next books in this series!
January 31, 2015
From the opening scene in BRINK OF DEATH you know you're in good hands. You're also in for a ride - one that thrusts you into the world of Annie Kingston - single mom, former courtroom artist, and a woman about to live a nightmare.
Told in Annie's engaging first person point of view (except for the prologue and the scattered scenes following the villain in third person), there are no wasted words. Every chapter leads you seamlessly into the next. Tight, suspenseful, and peppered with compelling details about forensic art, BRINK OF DEATH will keep you up waaaaaay past your bedtime. And the good news is it's book #1 in the Hidden Faces series.
Without compromising the thrills, Brandilyn keeps her story clean, which is something Christian readers will appreciate. But this is also a book you could give to friends or relatives with no concern about hitting them over the head with its religious message. We're gently led to think about God as we follow Annie's story.
Final word? The characters in BRINK OF DEATH are REAL (no cardboard stereotypes here), and this series will win Brandilyn many more loyal fans, myself included.
Told in Annie's engaging first person point of view (except for the prologue and the scattered scenes following the villain in third person), there are no wasted words. Every chapter leads you seamlessly into the next. Tight, suspenseful, and peppered with compelling details about forensic art, BRINK OF DEATH will keep you up waaaaaay past your bedtime. And the good news is it's book #1 in the Hidden Faces series.
Without compromising the thrills, Brandilyn keeps her story clean, which is something Christian readers will appreciate. But this is also a book you could give to friends or relatives with no concern about hitting them over the head with its religious message. We're gently led to think about God as we follow Annie's story.
Final word? The characters in BRINK OF DEATH are REAL (no cardboard stereotypes here), and this series will win Brandilyn many more loyal fans, myself included.
January 15, 2018
A great Christian suspense mystery book. So good I decided to read it a 2nd time. This time by audio. I gave up on Christian books for the main part a few years back; because they are often taste like sick syrupy drizzle. A christian's life in actuality is not a "fantasy" story; This is one of the few authors I would read twice with any of her books. I also quit reading Christian Authors because they are few and far between at the library. (Even though I learned about her by reading a book of hers which I found at the library.) My final reason is at that time before e-readers or even with them, I had less money to spend at one time, and could not buy them since Christian books often more expensive. I do recommend her books highly for good suspense reads for Christians if you can get them.
April 25, 2013
This series has potential to be interesting, with the beginning days of learning forensic art, and beginnings belief in Christ. Unfortunately, this particular book had a number of unbelievable parts to it, so that the excitement sometimes felt contrived and unnecessary. Most specifically, the main character'l continuous need to do everything by herself when a call to 911 is obviously needed. I also think the author was setting us up to have the main character come to a belief in Christ in a later book in this series. But I think this particular book was lacking some common sense because of the set up, which wasn't completed in this book. I'll be giving this series a second chance with the next book, to see if this potential is realized, because there were moments of brilliance within this story.
July 30, 2021
Very intense. Suspenseful and keeps you turning the pages. Collins has her own style when it comes to suspense. Very different from most authors. I enjoyed the book and it’s plot and the fact that it was pure suspense and no romance involved although you can get a feeling that maybe there will be later in the series. Murder and a lot of blood involved.
December 22, 2022
Well developed plot of murder and the twists and turns of solving it. Not only does a neighbor provide comfort to a traumatized child but she also becomes involved in the investigation in spite of her resolve to resist. This experience provides an opportunity for her to see the faith of God's believers and the power of prayer.
dnf
May 21, 2025DNFd at the first chapter because it is in first person, present tense. (the prologue was really good, and in third person)
I’m on the hunt for a book to really grab me, and I thought Brandilyn Collins would do it, but alas, not this time.
I’m on the hunt for a book to really grab me, and I thought Brandilyn Collins would do it, but alas, not this time.
October 20, 2023
3.5 Stars!
December 17, 2018
Annie and her family have just moved into her father's house. Hoping to get her son away from the influence of bad friends she moves to a smaller community. But right across the street a break in and murder occur shortly after they move in. Annie has been a courtroom artist for years, when the police can't get the murder victim's child to give a good description of the killer, Annie reluctantly volunteers to see if she can draw him from the child's description. Annie is scared that she will somehow traumatize the child more than she already is, but through a slow process they manage to come up with a likeness of the killer. Annie realizes right away that she has seen the face before. As the police run into one dead end after another Annie becomes frustrated and, hoping to keep her family safe, helps the police follow a trail that may once again lead to a dead end or may lead to putting herself into more danger.
BRINK OF DEATH had one thrilling scene after another that kept this reader on the edge of my seat the entire time. In fact it was so tense at times that I had to put it down and go do something else in order to be able to handle it when I came back to it! I love forensic shows on TV and so it was fascinating to me to read about Annie's transformation from courtroom artist to becoming a forensic artist. I especially loved the little glimpses we got into the killer's thoughts. I did get frustrated with Annie a couple of times when she couldn't seem to deal with life, but she matured as the book went on and she gained confidence so became a much more likable character for me. If you are a fan of thrillers/mysteries I definitely recommend this book. Not much in the way of romance, but there are a couple of men I have my eye on for Annie as the series continues!
BRINK OF DEATH had one thrilling scene after another that kept this reader on the edge of my seat the entire time. In fact it was so tense at times that I had to put it down and go do something else in order to be able to handle it when I came back to it! I love forensic shows on TV and so it was fascinating to me to read about Annie's transformation from courtroom artist to becoming a forensic artist. I especially loved the little glimpses we got into the killer's thoughts. I did get frustrated with Annie a couple of times when she couldn't seem to deal with life, but she matured as the book went on and she gained confidence so became a much more likable character for me. If you are a fan of thrillers/mysteries I definitely recommend this book. Not much in the way of romance, but there are a couple of men I have my eye on for Annie as the series continues!
March 21, 2016
I'm giving this more of a 3.5. This is the first in the " Hidden Faces" series by this author. It is a very easy book to read, not a lot of characters , not too technical and enough suspense to keep on reading the book.
When the main character , Annie Kingston moves from the big city to a small community she expects to find peace and quiet- but finds nothing of the sort. Her next door neighbor, during a robbery is killed and the only witness is her 12 year old daughter. Annie , who used to do courtroom sketching, is asked to help make a drawing of the killer, from the 12 year old who was the only witness to the crime.
The author keeps her story clean, which is something Christian readers will appreciate. But this is also a book you could give to friends or relatives with no concern about hitting them over the head with its religious message.
After reading so many psycho, thriller books and some cozy mysteries... this is a nice change of pace for a mystery and I will read the next in this series !
When the main character , Annie Kingston moves from the big city to a small community she expects to find peace and quiet- but finds nothing of the sort. Her next door neighbor, during a robbery is killed and the only witness is her 12 year old daughter. Annie , who used to do courtroom sketching, is asked to help make a drawing of the killer, from the 12 year old who was the only witness to the crime.
The author keeps her story clean, which is something Christian readers will appreciate. But this is also a book you could give to friends or relatives with no concern about hitting them over the head with its religious message.
After reading so many psycho, thriller books and some cozy mysteries... this is a nice change of pace for a mystery and I will read the next in this series !
July 29, 2009
Soon after Annie Kingston moves her family to the small town of Grove Landing, California, her neighbor is killed in a break-in. Erin, the twelve-year-old daughter of the neighbor sees the killer but is too traumatized to offer up a description. Because Erin is friends with Annie’s daughter, Annie, who is a courtroom sketch artist, offers to help Erin create a drawing of the killer.
Erin’s father’s faith during this whole ordeal amazes the nonbeliever Annie and, as she tries to help Erin, she finds herself asking God for help. (Especially after she learns that the killer was actually looking for her own home & not her neighbor’s.)
A work of Christian Fiction but characters just didn't make me care about them.
Erin’s father’s faith during this whole ordeal amazes the nonbeliever Annie and, as she tries to help Erin, she finds herself asking God for help. (Especially after she learns that the killer was actually looking for her own home & not her neighbor’s.)
A work of Christian Fiction but characters just didn't make me care about them.
June 27, 2008
These are thee best books I have ever ever read! I read this whole series in the summertime when I was working at the Bismarck Tribune. I started to do some routes that started at about 2:00 am, so I would stay up and read until 2:00 am rolled around. These books were so suspenseful that doing the paper route would make the hairs on my skin stand up! Brandilyn is a Christian author, which is strong in her books, which is the best part!
July 20, 2014
This is the first Brandilyn Collins book I have read. She was recommended to me by a friend. The book catches your interest immediately and is not one to read if you are alone at night. It was hard to put down and I liked the characters. I imagined the detective looking like a young Fred Thompson.
March 3, 2009
Excellent. A quick read but well done. Hooked me right in. Liked the characters. Liked the plot. Can't wait to read the next books in the series.
July 31, 2012
I loved this book! It was fast paced enough to keep me reading, suspenseful enough to keep me up all night reading, and good enough that I want to read book 2!
September 21, 2014
whoa. I was not prepared for the suspense! I really enjoyed this book!!
January 13, 2015
So thrilling! So creepy! Loved this book so much!
July 5, 2018
I chose an oldie, but a goodie, for my morning walks when I downloaded the audiobook of Brink of Death, the first book in Brandilyn Collins’ Hidden Faces series. Published back in 2004, this novel kicks off a four book series featuring Annie Kingston, a recently divorced mother of two. Seeking to protect her children from bad influences back in the San Francisco Bay Area, Annie moves them to her late father’s (a controversial and hated defense attorney) home in an exclusive fly-in neighborhood. But bad things can happen in good neighborhoods too, as Annie soon discovers when her neighbor is murdered.
Told in Annie’s first person voice and the 3rd person POV of the bad guy, the reader gets a good look into Annie’s fears and doubts and the maniacal thinking of the psychopathic murderer. Collins promises Seatbelt Suspense, and she delivers with this book. Annie, a courtroom artist, is recruited to come up with a composite of the murderer from the eyewitness account of the victim’s daughter. Annie’s discovery that she has seen the man before sets her on a investigation of her own. The action comes fast and furious as Annie uncovers the motive behind the murder. I loved that Annie explores the field of forensic art — lots of great info and insight shared. Annie is a non-believer going into the story, but her neighbors’ witness in a time of trauma kindles her interest in a God who promises always to be at her side.
Brink of Death is a great choice when you just need a suspense-filled book. It’s a quick read that keeps you turning the pages and staying up past your bed time. 😉 It is also the first book in a series that promises more of the same. And the good news is all the books are out — binge-reading here you come! Brink of Death is currently $2.99 on Kindle, and the other 3 in the series are discounted as well — all 4 for less than $18!
Recommended.
Audience: adults.
(I purchased the audiobook from Audible. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
Told in Annie’s first person voice and the 3rd person POV of the bad guy, the reader gets a good look into Annie’s fears and doubts and the maniacal thinking of the psychopathic murderer. Collins promises Seatbelt Suspense, and she delivers with this book. Annie, a courtroom artist, is recruited to come up with a composite of the murderer from the eyewitness account of the victim’s daughter. Annie’s discovery that she has seen the man before sets her on a investigation of her own. The action comes fast and furious as Annie uncovers the motive behind the murder. I loved that Annie explores the field of forensic art — lots of great info and insight shared. Annie is a non-believer going into the story, but her neighbors’ witness in a time of trauma kindles her interest in a God who promises always to be at her side.
Brink of Death is a great choice when you just need a suspense-filled book. It’s a quick read that keeps you turning the pages and staying up past your bed time. 😉 It is also the first book in a series that promises more of the same. And the good news is all the books are out — binge-reading here you come! Brink of Death is currently $2.99 on Kindle, and the other 3 in the series are discounted as well — all 4 for less than $18!
Recommended.
Audience: adults.
(I purchased the audiobook from Audible. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
September 16, 2022
This is my first book by this author. I really enjoyed it, and plan to read more of her books, starting with the rest of this series.
There was a good amount of suspense, though sometimes the suspense was just waiting to get through all Annie's thoughts. Sometimes I felt it went on too long and I just wanted to get to the action.
At first I was so frustrated Annie seemed to take forever to make up her mind about something, but then I realized, I can be like that, and then still make the wrong decision. And she definitely did that a lot. It did seem a bit unrealistic how much she stuck her nose into the official police business. More unbelievable that the detective let her.
I did like seeing Annie's spiritual changes. I appreciated that there were Christians surrounding her that prayed for her and helped her.
Great book
There was a good amount of suspense, though sometimes the suspense was just waiting to get through all Annie's thoughts. Sometimes I felt it went on too long and I just wanted to get to the action.
At first I was so frustrated Annie seemed to take forever to make up her mind about something, but then I realized, I can be like that, and then still make the wrong decision. And she definitely did that a lot. It did seem a bit unrealistic how much she stuck her nose into the official police business. More unbelievable that the detective let her.
I did like seeing Annie's spiritual changes. I appreciated that there were Christians surrounding her that prayed for her and helped her.
Great book
January 10, 2018
I had not read anything by this author until Brink of Death. Right from the beginning I was hooked. Annie becomes a herione immediately. Although she second guesses herself constantly in the beginning, the self doubt begins to lessen and full force her strength shines as she fights for herself and a toddler against a monster. So vividly is this described my heart raced and my palms were wet! Merging faith and and injustice beautifully, Brandlilyn Collins hits the mark. Will be starting Book Two in the series, Stain of Guilt soon!
May 2, 2020
Annie had been a court room reporter, now raising two children. Her son was getting into the wrong crowds. Leaving the area and going to the house her father had left her in Grove Landing, for the quiet life. Intruder across the street and murder happened. A young child is traumatized and saw the man, unable to give a description. Her sister Jenna says she can do a sketch with Erin, can she. Then if no one recognizes it, was it her past that clouded the sketch. Her father was a high profile lawyer, unliked even by his two daughters, was there something in his last case. This is a riveting, tense story, with children involved, and Annie self doubts. The pieces that come together will they survive.
July 12, 2021
In Book 1 of Brandilyn Collins's Hidden Faces series we meet Annie, former courtroom sketch artist thrust into the role of forensic artist. In the effort to help solve a murder close to home, she grapples with the responsibility of creating an accurate composite sketch while working with a traumatized 12-year-old, the only witness to the brutal murder. She also struggles with her nonexistent faith. If you enjoy heart-pounding suspense, this book is an excellent choice.
May 9, 2025
One of the worst books I've ever read. No suspense and very predictable. The narrator is annoying. It's structure is boring and linear, with just a few diversions to the suspect. There is a religious aspect, the narrator "finds Jesus" by the end. I knew this ahead of time and didn't think it would bother me, but it just added to the annoying tone. I found myself skimming and made myself finish it, hoping for some sort of redemption in the ending - but it wasn't there.
July 29, 2022
This book was hard to get through - so many parts seemed so unimportant to the plot line, there is no suspense as they basically tell you what’s going to happen before it happens & you constantly just lived in the ever changing thoughts of the main character. The end climax was done well but it feels like you wait the entire book for it instead of a continuous build up
November 27, 2023
The Hidden Faces series by Brandilyn Collins is another absolute favorite if mine! Annie Kingston is a convincing character. She's an average-looking single mother with two kids (including a rebellious son) and a lovably sassy sister. Once a courtroom artist, she is now a successful forensic artist who gets caught in enemy crosshairs.
June 17, 2017
This book was great. When a murder happens in her neighborhood, Annie knows she has to help find the killer. She goes against her intuition and helps aid in the investigation. In the end, she finds the killer, her strength, and much more.
December 24, 2017
Annie Kingston is quickly becoming one of my favorite main characters I've ever read. The way Brandilyn Collins writes Annie's inner thoughts makes me examine my own life and I don't know many authors who can do that. The mystery itself is just as compelling and heart-wrenching.
April 4, 2019
I personally feel like the journey of the story was a little drawn out, but it still captured my attention nonetheless. I found it surprisingly suspenseful towards the end. I’m looking forward to reading the next book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews