Lay Your Body Down

by Amy Suiter Clarke

A young woman returns to her rural Minnesota hometown, where a radical evangelical pastor has poisoned everyone’s minds—and may be covering up a murder. After Del Walker fled her small hometown and its cult-like church, she vowed to never return. The man she loved, Lars, left her to marry the local golden girl Eve, and their romance is now the focus of Eve’s viral blog espousing the pastor’s conservative philosophy about women and marriage. But six years later, Lars is suddenly killed, and she’s convinced it couldn’t have been an accident.

When Del returns to her hometown for the funeral, she discovers the now mega-church—and the insidious, patriarchal teachings of Pastor Rick Franklin—has grown not only in size but in influence. Eve was clearly discontent in her marriage, despite the carefully constructed “Noble Wife” positivity of her blog posts, and Del knows better than anyone just how far she will go to get what she wants. Del is determined to cut through the church’s lies and corruption to find out who killed Lars—even if it means confronting the religious trauma she’s spent years trying to bury.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook, Suspense, Contemporary

272 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 27, 2023

About the author

Amy Suiter Clarke is an acclaimed author. Her debut psychological thriller Girl, 11 was an Amazon Editors pick for Best Mystery, Thriller & Suspense and received praise in The New York Times, Mystery and Suspense Magazine, CrimeReads, Book Riot and more. Her second novel Lay Your Body Down was a New York Times Book Review recommended thriller and People Magazine must-read thriller of the summer. Originally from a small town in Minnesota, she completed a BA in Theater in the Twin Cities then earned an MFA in Creative Writing with Publishing at Kingston University in London. She currently lives in Melbourne, Australia. Her fiction has been translated into twelve languages and published in fifteen territories around the world.

Reviews

[Lit with Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Writing: amateur | Plot: tons of potential but mid execution | Ending: ight then

Phat ass trigger warning: religious trauma, sexual assault/harassment, grooming | Hybrid eyeball/earhole read.

SYNOPSIS

Del Walker returns home to 'The Messiah' aka The Mess, a small town dominated by Pastor Rick Franklin and his church cronies, to find out if her ex Lars really died in an accident, or if it was cold blooded murder.

MY OPINION

Cults/religious sects remain my favourite trope, and yet, I still struggle to find a banger. When you strip away everything else, this plot was simply oozing potential. But the execution was like me trying to run up a hill: I can do it, but it's gonna be a struggle.

Before I get into it, I just want to advise those that are devoutly religious and can't handle any religious slander should stay far, far away from this. Amy Suiter Clarke does try to play the fence, but the overwhelming attitude is the church is where dreams and self-worth go to die. You've been warned.

Ok, so I started this with my eyeballs but I had to tap into the audio at about 40% to get it over the line. I found the writing to be extremely amateurish, which watered down the seriousness of the themes and topics broached in this book. Just imagine a six-year-old explaining to you what 9/11 is about. It's still sad but it doesn't have the same emotional impact. That's the vibe here.

Next, I think Del's reasoning to go full Nancy Drew was a lil forced. This one's on me because I knew going into it but I do not like when full-grown adults are hung up on lusty emotions they had when their brains weren't fully developed. Especially in this case when Del's feelings for Lars occurred while she was balls-deep in the church's Noble Wife teachings, and since then she's done a complete 180. Anyways, I didn't fact this personal dislike into my rating, but what I did consider was the fact that Lars straight up cheated on Del, ditched her, and never apologized. HUH??? You're dead to me. Quite literally. RIP though. Why the fk would I literally risk my life to figure out which religious whackjob in this backwoods town may or may not have killed Lars intentionally? That sounds like a problem for the police, or his wife Eve if we're going the citizens gone rogue angle.

Also, at the beginning Del says she still loves Lars (how? why? Idk. Just vibes), but then she starts scamming on the restaurant owner Finn and never really delves into her feelings, or lack of, for Lars again. Since the motive for Detective Del's sleuthing was her feelings for Lars, it seemed odd that she would be bussin it open in a commercial fridge for some rando without a second thought???

Del's bizarre behaviour didn't stop there. Like Kit in The Only One Left, she stomps around town, interrogating people with the discretion of a nude beach. She hasn't been back home in six or so years, but she expects everyone to confess immediately to her intrusive questions. But since no one will really talk to her, Del takes matters into her own hand by spreading her wild theories around town with no tangible evidence. And then has the audacity to think people should mollify her when the subject of her half-cocked theories reportedly dies by suicide. Girl?

Next, the baddie was reveal was painfully obvious. Big ole LE DUH right here. While Eve's character did have some development, it seemed highly unbelievable that after years of fending off the haters, she would have such a big change in her beliefs just because her husband didn't wanna dick her down 24/7. And what was up with Pastor Keith's beliefs as well? Unfortunately there were a lot of things in this book that weren't flushed out well enough to earn buy-in from me as a picky ass reader.

All in all, this was a middle of the road read. If you see me change this rating from a 3 to a 2 in the future, no you didn't. If you like cults/religious sects, straight-forward writing, and books that can keep you entertained but don't require too much brainpower, this is a good enough options IMO.

PROS AND CONS

Pros: plot had tons of potential

Cons: many aspects weren't explained, bland and basic writing, way too long, Del was a big ole dumb dumb (she reminded me of Kit from The Only One Left the way she sauntered around town with zero discretion and tack, asking invasive questions and then being surprised people didn't immediately breakdown and confess)

___

Check out my YouTube

[Kim ~ It’s All About the Thrill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first book by @asuiterclarke and it was so good!! Thank you so much to @thrillerbookloverspromotions @williammorrowbooks for my copy!! 🥰🥰🥰 Check out this cover!! Pub day is 6/27!! 🥳🥳🥳

I was instantly SOLD at the thought of this small town that was immersed in this cult like church ⛪️…HOWEVER I was a bit hesitant because.. well there are so many “cult” books out there…..BUT this is SO much more!!! Mystery…. Lies… Secrets 🤫… Murder??? 😳 Totally unique and kept me guessing the whole way to the end… and what an ending that was!! 😳🤯 I read the ending twice!! 😂 Never saw that coming. 🤐

A small town that has two train of thought… you either are ALL in with the Messiah Church… or you are one of the others and refer to the Mega Church as “the Mess” which is probably more accurate. 😂 So you are either clearly for or against…🤷‍♀️… The church that puts their men on a pedestal… they can do no wrong… and the women… need to mind their husbands and keep them happy… 😬 😠

So when Deliah fled this mess… 🏃‍♀️…she vowed to never go back… until she finds out her Ex that dumped her… for a “church” girl.. 😇…died under very suspicious circumstances…🤔… She packs her bags 💼 and is off to find.. the truth… what she may find out is just how powerful… the Messiah Church ⛪️ is… 😳

This had me intrigued all the way until the very last page!! I loved Deliah’s character… her determination to find out the truth… no matter what the cost… 😳…

❤️❤️❤️ This was my first @asuiterclarke book and I can’t wait to read Girl, 11 😍😍

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Girl, 11 by this author and was so excited to see that she had a new book coming. Lay Your Body Down is a very different read to her first novel, but once again it was hard to put down. There is a cast of highly unlikeable characters and you will be hoping to see their downfall.

Our main character is Del, who fled her small hometown as soon as she possibly could, The Messiah, the local church runs everything in town and her experiences with them were not happy ones. But when she hears that her ex-boyfriend Lars has been killed in a hunting accident, she knows she needs to return. Pretty soon she comes to realise that there is more to his death than is being said and she vows to get the truth. The Messiah will will do anything to stop her, putting herself in danger. With a shocking ending, this is a book you don't want to miss. If you love a cult story this is a must read,

Thanks to William Morrow and Edelweiss for my advanced copy to read. Publishes on June 27th.

[Kelly (and the Book Boar) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don’t know how this book came to be on my TBR (because you KNOW it wasn’t from that cover!). All I know is I was still eleven trillion on the wait list for a Kindle copy so I snagged it off the first come/first served shelf last Thursday at the library on my way home from work. I didn’t remember what it was supposed to be about so I took a quick looky-look at the synopsis and saw the potential for a culty church and your girl was down to clown. It also was clearly marked as a “novel of suspense” to which I now have to say . . .



And there was a blurb by Samantha Downing???



Dat bish be cray and I love her!

Unfortunately all I can say about this one now that I’m finished is it was nothing but wasted potential. It’s fine if you’re an author who doesn’t want to write dark stuff . . . but you really need to just stay out of the lane of stories that make the reader anticipate really dark stuff.

[Kristy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

When Delilah (Del) Walker left Bower, MN her sophomore year in college, she tried to never look back on the town or their church, The Messiah (which basically was the town). Yet when she finds out her ex-boyfriend, Lars, had died, she returns only to discover not all is what it seems, and this mega church may be doing more than just manipulating the Bible for their own gain. Del believes Lars’ death was no accident and as she tries to uncover the truth, more suspicious things begin to happen.

Del sometimes tended to be a little manic in her thinking and rushed to conclusions that supported her biases as opposed to the evidence at hand. ”Real evidence. That’s what I’ve been lacking this whole time,” she finally thinks after two-thirds of the events have passed. But even after that, amateur sleuth she was not. (However, considering the ultra-conservative, “women are only created to be wives” upbringing Del had, I felt this fit with the story.)

While things tended to get a bit chaotic at times, I was hooked, not only on the mystery behind Lars’ death and subsequent happenings, but also with what felt like an exposé into a cult-like mega church and the religious trauma that can stem from it. I considered The Messiah a part of the setting but also a character in this story. Del scoured for clues to reveal the truth about the church and solve Lars’ death, creating a bumpy yet thrilling ride till the end.

Side note: Even though a conservative church serves as the backdrop for this story, it is not done so maliciously or against Christianity. Rather, it points to how people can take a religion and weaponize or manipulate it for their own use and power. I grew up going to legalistic churches, and I have shared some of the struggles Del and others in this story have. Some of what they were taught was reminiscent of what I heard, which led to a greater connection between me and these characters.

I received an advanced copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.

[Jennifer *Nottoomanybooks* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did you say cult trope? Heck yeah! One of my faves! In this book we have a religious cult where women are supposed to learn how to be a noble wife during teenage years. It is a very old idea, think 1950’s housewife. Del is brought back to her hometown for the death of her ex boyfriend. She thinks it wasn’t accidental and starts investigating people from the church.

It is told through Del’s diary entries, the Noble Wife Blog posts, and Delilah’s POV. I enjoyed the different formats. We explore how people can be manipulated by leaders, and herd mentality. There were enough twists to keep me guessing, which I can appreciate!

[Jorie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really 2.5 Stars

A mostly taught mystery with valid and oftentimes cuttingly relatable commentary on Evangelical church culture, particularly as it exists in the American Midwest. I didn’t grow up in the church, but I was more or less raised Christian in Illinois. The aesthetic of churches resembling conference halls, casseroles, forced politeness, and abstinence-only education are all things very familiar to me. Lay Your Body Down depicts these experiences and their darker underside truthfully, though this was somewhat undermined by an over-the-top villain reveal that was both predictable and contrived.

It would’ve been a stronger, more compelling story with a main character shift, however. Really, this is Eve’s story, not Delilah’s. There’s intrigue enough in the story of someone leaving, then having to come back, but I get more juice off of the stories about those entrenched, trying to break free.

[Taylor Givens · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5***

Im shocked to find out that this isn’t a YA novel. liked the plot enough even though I found it a bit juvenile, predictable, and trope-y. There were a few good little plot twists but the writing wasn’t my cup of tea. I’m bummed because I love the idea of this story but I thought the execution was very simple and a bit boring. I wanted more complexity. It took me longer to read this one than it should have because I wasn’t very excited to pick it up.

I will say that I just started watching Righteous Gemstones and it was fun to visualize those worlds crossing as there are a lot of parallels.

I would try to read another book by this author in the future but I don’t see myself recommending this one to others.

ALSO. SPOILER. If a man pretended to be interested in me and then tormented me for weeks before leaving me in a ditch to die, we would NOT still be on speaking terms, even if he was being blackmailed to do it. And I certainly wouldn’t still be romantically interested in him after that, even if he had a change of heart and pulled me out of the ditch just before I died. 🤮🙄

[Carol · Rating 2 out of 5]

This can best be described as a cult-themed book, which I generally try to avoid at ll costs. So why am I reading this? First of all, it was recommended by a trusted friend and secondly my neighbor bought it, read it, and is still singing its praises. I found that Amy Suiter Clarke’s Lay Your Body Down is not the typical cult book. Somehow, she manages to toe the line between cult and the "mega-church gone haywire".... but it's still brain washing no matter what fancy names you give it. She cleverly raises the question, and has characters mention the word "cult" several times but leaves it to readers to decide for themselves. The Messiah, or “The Mess,” ...isn't that cuteness personified?), doesn’t immediately have all the markings of a traditional cult leader. The followers can attend college, but only colleges preferred by "The Mess". They can have contact with people and family that are not a part of "The Messiah".... but they are carefully and secretly monitored. So as far I could see the whole shebang had all the distinct characteristics of a cult where the members didn't question authority...they were told what they needed to know...with all the typical patriarchy structures. It takes a bit from another religion with the confessionals. I found out that in this religion it is called "Auditing". “The members here are so afraid of being shunned that they even started making up sins to please the elders. Frankly, in spite of it being an "eye-opener" about these groups...I spent the majority of the read saying "What is the matter with you people? Stop acting like little lab rats"!! Then I just became overly frustrated with them all and stopped reading.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I still haven't read Girl, 11, and now after finishing Lay Your Body Down, I don't know why I have been waiting! Amy Suiter Clarke's writing sucked me in immediately, and despite how frustrating Del can be as a character sometimes, I still adored it. There are a decent number of twists, one of which I saw coming, and yet... this book could do no wrong in my eyes. I actually loved the gratification of being partially right, and the other twists completely blew my mind.

There are some serious cult vibes coming off the church in this story, and I couldn't help but be nervous for our MC as she pushes her limits with them. Besides Del's viewpoint, we also have the inclusion of her diary (labeled with her full name Delilah since she was a member of the church at the time it was written) as well as posts from the Noble Wife Journey blog. These different elements created such an engrossing read, and I didn't want to put this thing down.

The audiobook has a full cast(!) and is narrated by Helen Laser, Hallie Ricardo & Carlotta Brentan. I would be lying if I said I didn't love this book on audio, and for me, listening to it was one of the highlights of my experience. I also couldn't help but love the small-town Minnesota setting being a Minnesota native myself, and now I am thoroughly curious about which small town the author grew up in. Lay Your Body Down is everything I could have wanted from a cult/church book, and the trauma that brings Del back in the first place (along with the possible murder of Lars) was nothing short of compelling. Family and friendship are also large themes in the novel, and I loved the way the author brought everything together.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Alix · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

For some reason I’m always drawn to stories about people leaving an oppressive religious cult which is why I picked this book up. The plot revolves around Del trying to uncover the mysterious circumstances surrounding her ex-boyfriend’s death. She returns to the religious community she left six years ago and is met with hostility and suspicion. I can understand why she’s met with so much hostility because Del is not discreet in her investigations in the slightest. She throws out accusations like no other and asks really offensive questions. Del in general though is not the most likable character. She lacks maturity and emotional intelligence but that in part could be due to her stunted childhood. I understand her feelings of anger towards her ex-community but I felt that she was letting her anger cloud her judgment at times.

This book also gave me YA vibes and I didn’t care for the excerpts we got of teen Del’s diary or the blog posts we got from Eve. Those elements didn’t add anything for me and was just page filler. It was fairly obvious that one character was involved in the mystery and that they weren’t what they appeared. The resolution wasn’t bad but it didn’t blow me away either. I think the character depth was lacking which is why I didn’t care about the reveal or what was going to happen. Overall, the book isn’t bad but it just wasn’t for me.

[Liralen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Something is rotten in the state of Minnesota. Del thought she'd left her small-town church—and its powerful preacher—behind for good. But when the man she once thought she'd marry is found dead, she's pulled back into it...and only now is she realizing just how deep the rot goes.

I've been reading a lot about conservative religion lately, to the extent that my s.o. heaves a tired sigh when I tell him about a new is-it-a-cult book. He looked mildly interested when I said I was reading a murder mystery—until I asked him to guess its themes. He thought for a second, and then his shoulders drooped and he sighed. "Is there a cult?"

So, uh, yes. That's where I went in. At the core of this story is Eve—Eve, one of Del's best friends when they were younger; Eve, who tempted Lars away from Delilah; Eve, who is partially responsible for the stratospheric rise of the local preacher. She's been writing a blog since her teenage years, one in which she writes passionately about the messages of purity and being a "Noble Wife" that the preacher spouts. The basic message is clear: if you are good and pure and perfect, your (future) husband will cherish you, and God will smile upon you. The messages that go unsaid, though...

Without getting into a lot of detail about the plot (keep the mystery a mystery and all), I'll say that I flew right though this. Clarke does an excellent job of dropping crumbs that you don't fully register until after the fact, and the creepy religion feels more accurate than you might think. If I'd read this five years ago, I might have thought the Noble Wife blog was over the top, but I've done something of a broad swim through the weirdness that is American Christian fundamentalism since then, and...folks? If you think it's unrealistic? There are popular, real-life social media accounts doing just about the exact same thing. (There are some places in which I wondered whether Clarke has been reading the same sources I have.)

I do wish there'd been a little more open discussion of forgiveness, or maybe more to the point forgiving and forgetting, and what that means. With some key exceptions, the vibe of the end of the book suggests that there will be quite a lot of water sent under the bridge, and relationships healed to an extent that I'm not sure is realistic—there's a lot of hurt to go around through the course of the book, and the events that precede it. And...I wonder how many of these relationships can really be built or rebuilt to full strength after all that. That said, Lay Your Body Down exceeded my expectations and hit at that perfect balance of murder mystery and critical look at conservative religion...even if my s.o. would have preferred me to bring more murder and less cult to the dinner table.

Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.

[Julie]

Gah. Not how I wanted to begin my reading year: with a DNF (at page 37). I nearly kept going, just so I wouldn't abandon my first read of the year, but I can't manage the cringe. The narrator is unbearably whiny and the execution of the premise promises insufferable melodrama.

Onward.

[Bethany Morrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perks of being a CP!

[Brooke - Brooke's Reading Life · Rating 5 out of 5]

*www.onewomansbbr.wordpress.com
*www.facebook.com/onewomansbbr

**4.5 stars**

Lay Your Body Down by Amy Suiter Clarke. (2023).

When Del fled her small hometown and its cult-like church six years ago, she vowed never to go back. Lars, the love of her life, was marrying local golden girl Eve, author of a popular blog about the church's 'Noble Wife' teachings. But now Lars is dead in an "accident". When Del returns for the funeral, she discovers the church and Pastor Rick have taken over the town. And Eve isn't acting much like a grieving widow. Del is determined to cut through the church's lies and corruption to find out what really happened to Lars - even if it means confronting memories.

I was really looking forward to this one not only because the synopsis sounded so intriguing, but also because I thought the author's debut, 'Girl, 11' was a fantastic read. Well the author has hit it out of the park with this current book as well! Del's hometown is a creepy feeling town that has been basically taken over by the church run by Pastor Rick. Del has only returned after learning that her first love Lars is dead in extremely suspicious circumstances that has been deemed an accident. Intersecting the chapters is posts from Eve's blog about being the perfect "Noble Wife" which are disturbing to say the least. Del's personal investigation into Lars's death is tense, with church members blocking her every step of the way. Her own history with the church and Lars is gradually revealed. This was an excellent read and I loved the clever ending.
Overall: highly recommend this terrific book for any readers who enjoy thrillers.

[Emilie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wow. I'm not sure where to start with this one.

As a recovering evangelical, I can tell you that Amy Suiter Clarke knows what she's talking about. This book should come with a trigger warning for survivors of church trauma. The self-righteousness, the sanctimonious gossips, the music, the potluck dinners -- it's all there. I'm not kidding when I say I had flashbacks while reading this. I've already recommended it to a few fellow former churchgoers, based solely on the feeling that Clarke GETS IT.

However.

The mystery is REALLY far-fetched, the protagonist is super annoying, and the twists are incredibly predictable. The church people are the most unlikeable, one-dimensional characters ever created, reminding me of why I no longer want to hang out with church people in the first place. And the "investigation" drags on for far too long before we make any progress on solving this mystery.

No young woman who left a church under the shadow of "immoral behavior" is going to show up in her home town and start asking questions about a death she finds suspicious. It just makes Del come off as obnoxious and bratty for her to be showing up on people's doorsteps and being nosy. She comes across as incredibly dumb too -- why did she trust the people she trusted? Why did she put herself in positions where she'd be in danger? I found it hard to sympathize when she found herself in a tight spot, because she's the one who put herself there.

***SPOILERS AHEAD***




This book spends a lot of time building up to what happened between Del and Noah, but when we finally find out what it was, it falls flat. Pictures of her breasts? That's it? Yes, I understand that what Noah did was wrong and it would be devastating for a teenager. But ruining her life? I'm not buying it. In addition, Pastor Rick never touches her, even though we spend half the book thinking he's going to. If you're going to set a murder mystery in a megachurch, then make the villain a villain! I wanted more overt bad behavior on the part of both Rick and Noah.

With that said, having Rick be the actual murderer was a disappointment and a far too easy solution. Believe me when I say I know people like Pastor Rick, and they'd never get their own hands dirty. Hire a hitman? Absolutely. Shoot someone themselves? Never. They might mess up their perfect evangelist hair.

Finn's motives don't seem serious enough to me either. Anyone who's ever read a murder mystery could see the twist coming, but he wasn't very convincing. And all I could think was how dumb Del was not to see it coming too.

Eve and Keith are also unbelievable. People like that don't change their minds.

Church trauma is a really complicated topic and I appreciate the difficulty Clarke likely had in deciding to write this story, and in making it accessible to people who didn't grow up in that environment. I'm giving the book three stars just for sheer ambition. But the story needs more big events, and more nuance on the murder side of things.

Also, I'd like to meet Amy Suiter Clarke. I have a feeling we'd have a lot in common.

I received an advanced copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.

[Heather~ Nature.books.and.coffee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was good. It was my first book by Clarke and I enjoyed it. I am always intrigued by cults so this was right up my alley. Del Walker has fled her hometown in MN to get away from the religious cult, the evangelical Messiah Church. The people of the city have fallen into this herd mentality. There are plenty of very unlikable characters in this one. Our MC goes back to her hometown to find out who has killed her ex. The mystery was interesting, but seemed a bit dubious. I'm usually able to suspend my disbelief when reading books so this wasn't a huge issue for me. The end was so good. Just when you think you got to the "big twist" …there's MORE!! So that's always fun. Definitely recommend this one!

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yesssss! Where do I even begin?

This is an incredibly well written story. There are many aspects that several people will be able to relate to while reading. Del's character is so relatable, likable, everything. I found myself breathing heavily in many instances throughout the book. I had a guess of who killed Lars from the very beginning, and while I was correct, the twists and turns that led us there were unforeseeable. I was so happy for it to all be over because it had at last been resolved. However, I was also extremely sad because my journey with Del had come to an end.

I'm also a huge fan of when an author very delicately places the title of the book somewhere within the text!

Thank you NetGalley, Harper Collins Publishers, and especially Amy Suiter Clarke for allowing me this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Text Publishing]

The following book reviews have been shared by Text Publishing – publisher of Lay Your Body Down

‘Lay Your Body Down is an emotionally charged and unnerving thriller. Dangerous secrets, complex characters, and more than one “oh my God” moment. You won’t see the twists coming.’
Samantha Downing, bestselling author of A Twisted Love Story

‘In Lay Your Body Down, Amy Suiter Clarke perfectly captures the stifling air of small towns and insular churches. More than a murder mystery, this is an excavation of betrayal, revealing the ugly truth that has propped up so many life-destroying lies.’
Bryn Greenwood, New York Times bestselling author of All the Ugly and Wonderful Things

‘Amy Suiter Clarke’s Lay Your Head Down has everything I love in a good thriller—family drama, a determined main character, and an unflinching look at a timely issue. The story of Del Walker returning home to confront her past—and members of the corrupt mega church that was once the center of her life—will stay with you long after you reach its gripping conclusion.’
Kellye Garrett, award-winning and Edgar-nominated author of Like A Sister

‘Powerful and intricately nuanced, Lay Your Body Down is the kind of reading experience that stays with you long after the final page. Amy Suiter Clarke has created a novel as thought-provoking as it is propulsive. With a carefully winding plot and incisive commentary on religion, community, autonomy, and the long reach of the past, this story is perfect for book clubs, because it inspires so many conversations. A truly stunning sophomore novel.’
Laurie Elizabeth Flynn, author of The Girls Are All So Nice Here

‘Enthralling…[A] salacious mix of small-town cults and amateur sleuthing.’
Publishers Weekly

‘A small-town murder mystery that is also a searing examination of rigid religious ideology, the mindset and psychology of indoctrination, and the devastating consequences for women’s lives and autonomy. Lay Your Body Down is not only a gripping thriller, but a nuanced and compelling exploration of faith, family, power and accountability.’
Dinuka McKenzie, author of The Torrent and Taken

‘A devastating portrait of a cult like institution and a town in its thrall.’
New York Times

‘A powerful and alluring novel about mob mentality, indoctrination, and confronting one’s demons…Gripping and nuanced.’
Readings Monthly

‘Chilling!’
Kate Mildenhall

‘Clarke expertly delivers plenty of great twists and reveals through to the last page. But it is much more than this. It is an exploration of the dangerous and exploitative power of religion in the hands of unscrupulous and charismatic leaders.’
Pile By The Bed

‘As someone who was raised in church, I thought the depiction of putting forth a “joyful” outward appearance while struggling on the inside was so relatable and well done. This story is haunting and will stick with you long after the last page has been turned.’
CrimeReads

‘Terrifically terrifying…Lay Your Body Down may ostensibly be about the death of one man but it comes to reveal a much darker and deeper violence being perpetrated against women.’
2SER Final Draft

‘This mystery/thriller examines the intrusion of church doctrines into family spaces…Befitting the genre, the twists and turns are plentiful.’
Good Reading (4 stars)

‘In every truly great thriller, there needs to be a fantastic twist; Lay Your Body Down will fill your quota for a year.’
Australian

‘This book is the definition of a page turner.’
2SER Final Draft

[Darcia Helle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes the line between religion and cult is too easily erased.

Lay Your Body Down centers on an evangelical church that crossed the line and became a cult. But of course its members, as true believers, wore blinders, at least until the body count started to rise.

We explore herd mentality, religious zealotry, and the kind of mind control at which cult leaders excel. Parts, particularly in the middle, dragged a little, but pacing is mostly steady overall.

I think it’s important to note that this story is not contemptuous of religion. This is more of a cautionary tale serving as a reminder that spiritual blind faith should never be extended to a human leader.

*I received an eARC from William Morrow, via NetGalley.*

[Crystal FloridaGrams Of3 · Rating 4 out of 5]

So Del Walker left her small hometown that's dominated by a church, the Messiah.
Her ex-boyfriend is dead, so after 6 years, so goes back for his funeral, but everyone is sticking to the story "It was just an accident "
The Pastor Rick is the only person who has all the power of this town.

I liked it, but honestly, I got bored after a while because you basically figured it out quite early (even the big twist was so foreseeable, and I actually predicted it)

But it's a good read. 👍

[Melissa Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Religious trauma? 90s/Aughts Purity Nonsense? Cults?
Sign me up. Was this perfect? No. Did I enjoy reading this? Yep.
3.5, rounded up.

[Megan Magee · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Women are both delicately fragile and impenetrably strong. We are told we’re the weaker vessel, and yet also that our bodies have the power to bring about the destruction of men. That is why we must keep ourselves hidden- our sensuality, our desires, our ambitions. Submit at all costs.”
“If you are willing to let him hold your dreams and worries, to lay your body down for him- you can trust that any decision he makes for you is the right one. That’s the Noble Wife way.”
This is a mystery novel take on the trad wife culture from the perspective of a former member who has been awakened to the reality of the power dynamic within a small town church. I don’t know about yall, but I’m in the Bible Belt- so I’ve seen this, too many times to count. I’ve recovered from religious trauma, and found my version of God that guides my path- and I love that our MC takes this same approach to her backwater, lecherous small town. This wasn’t anything too stellar, but it scratched an itch for me, who loves a cult tale/ religion take. This is for fans of womens right and wrongs, The Handmaid’s Tale, and mid 2000s blogs ranting about husbands and motherhood.

[Jamele (BookswithJams) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have not read this author before and I gosh I really loved this book! Don’t you love when that happens? I was hooked by the subject as cult books always draw me in, and then the story and pacing kept my attention all the way through the end. I did not see a couple of things coming, a couple others I did, but all in all it was such a great and suspenseful read that had me turning the pages until the very end.

I definitely recommend this one and happened to read both audio and physical books, I really don’t think you can go wrong with either here.

Thank you so much to William Morrow Books and Thriller Book Lovers Promotions for the gorgeous finished copy to review.

[Jody Blanchette · Rating 5 out of 5]

You’re going to read this one very quick. It’s one of those books that you get so absorbed in, that you lose time and end up reading it in one sitting. Atleast, that’s what happened to me, lol.
As someone who has lost a family member to a church, this book hits home. The church in this book, The Messiah Church, is pretty hardcore. It lures you in with warm community embraces, and it’s family first message. Once you join the church, you can never leave.
To say that this book made me angry, is an understatement. I was boiling over with rage almost a quarter of the way through the book! Between blog posts from a female member, who agrees with the 1950s housewife mindset, and the flashbacks from Delilah’s teenage experience within the church, it’s hard not to get angry. Women are taught, as children, to be submissive little mindless ladies that belong to their husbands. It is drilled into them that they are the reason for all sins of man. While the boys are never given any sort of talking to about their behavior. It’s horrible, but rings so true!! Victim shaming, sexual abuse, grooming, and secrecy are the real message of this church.
At its core, this book is a thriller. It’s a slow cat and mouse chase between the church and Delilah. There are murders, coverups and quite a few twists. I really enjoyed this book, even though I tend to avoid stories that deal with the church. But sometimes, it’s good to read a book that makes you angry. That means it point was made. This book, will piss you off.

[LianaReads blog]

Amy Suiter Clarke's "Lay Your Body Down" is a captivating thriller that encompasses all the elements I adore in a novel of its genre. Filled with gripping family drama, a resilient protagonist, and an unflinching exploration of a timely issue, this book kept me hooked from start to finish. Clarke's writing is superb, effortlessly weaving a tale that had me constantly guessing and eager to unravel the mysteries that unfolded.
The story follows Del Walker, a young woman who reluctantly returns to her rural Minnesota hometown, only to find it under the influence of a radical evangelical pastor. With the suspicion of a murder cover-up looming, Del becomes determined to expose the truth, despite the religious trauma she has tried to bury.
Clarke's storytelling prowess shines through, skillfully addressing themes of manipulation, faith, and the dark side of religious communities. The narrative is enriched by well-developed characters, especially Del, whose journey is both relatable and empowering.
"Lay Your Body Down" is an incredible and thought-provoking read, bound to captivate a wide range of readers. Its well-crafted plot and unexpected twists will keep you engaged until the very end. I highly recommend this novel for anyone seeking an enthralling thriller with depth and substance.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a tough one to rate. The last little bit really rubbed me the wrong way. But overall enjoyed this on. Somewhere between 3 and 4 stars.

[Keila (speedreadstagram) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Del fled her hometown and cult-like church when she went to college. When she hears that her childhood love, Lars, is found dead in a hunting accident and the authorities are ruling it an accident, she rushes home. When she gets home, she learns that the church has only grown larger, and more controlling.

Del uncovers many secrets when she gets home. For starters, Lars’s wife was having difficulties in their marriage and seems to be the prime suspect in his death but now Del needs to convince the authorities to listen to her…will she succeed?

This was an interesting book on a religious community bordering on a cult. While I enjoyed Del’s character, I found her a bit naïve at times. She tried so hard to be a good detective, but she was not. The book was also quite jumbled – there was just a lot going on. However, bringing down the overbearing old way church was quite fun to read. It wasn’t done in a negative way against religion, it was more of what happens if people take religion and weaponize it for the good of only a few people. I viewed it more as Del grew up in a cult and that was easier for me to understand.

[ailsa g · Rating 2 out of 5]

i was SO excited to read this book from the moment i first heard about it. i thought the synopsis was intriguing and laid the groundwork for a really exciting thriller. and i found myself bored. del starts off in a state of depression, really. her life is turned upside down and she seems only like a shell of a person. when she goes back to her hometown things do begin to pick up but her relationships with supporting characters are bland and the storyline is predictable. pastor rick being the killer was mildly obvious and i think there was a missed opportunity to make him seem more ominous and build more tension around his character. del’s background story is heartbreaking but the way it’s conveyed is drawn out so slowly and it doesn’t really add anything major to the plot for how long it takes to learn every detail. plus noah is never held accountable nor does anyone in the book ever really acknowledge what happened to her so it all seems a little…? pointless?? the most interesting character to me was eve, she seemed to have the most development. i thought this book was a swing and a miss but i loved the idea of it and still enjoyed the story. just not what i thought it would be.

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF. Got about a quarter through the audio and knew I couldn’t stay in this for several more hours. Felt like I was reading a YA novel plus I didn’t care about the story or characters. Everyone felt like undeveloped caricatures.

Most of the reviews on here are gushing and feel like paid endorsements and general summaries rather than actual insight into the material.