The Heavy Hearts: A Contemporary Small Town New Adult Murder Mystery

The Mercy and Justice Mysteries #10

by J.R. Mathis, Susan Mathis

When a tragedy strikes Vincent Trent and his fiancée Sally Mayfield, Father Tom and Helen work to determine if foul play was involved.

277 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 14, 2023

About the author

Susan Mathis was born in and grew up in an extremely small town in Alachua County, Florida where her family has lived for more than 100 years. When Susan was still very young, James (J.R) Mathis was born in a somewhat bigger small town about 100 miles south of where she lived. Within a decade, James' small town would become part of Orlando, the biggest tourist destination in the United States. He was not amused. That is how, while Susan was running barefoot, swimming in lakes full of alligators and feeding chickens, James was sitting in his bedroom reading books faster than his father could bring them home from the library.

Were James and Susan to write their love story, it would definitely be an enemies-to-lovers trope. They met in the library where he was working. He found her demands for books that he had to pull and bring to her so unreasonable that he actually turned her into the head librarian. She in turn was so anxious to drive him away that when some friends secretly set them up she laid out an entire speech about how miserable her life was (she is typically very upbeat). Little did she suspect that he had a passionate attraction to misery and they were married just over a year later.

Fast forward 26 years, three children, four grandchildren and 20 years of James working for the Federal government. He was diagnosed with a highly treatable but still very scary form of cancer. As so often happens, this brush with mortality inspired him to do something he’d always wanted to do, write a novel. After the publication of the second Father Tom Mystery, Susan joined him as coauthor. As far as the Mathises are concerned, writing together is the most fun a couple can have sitting at a computer.

Reviews

[Alihan · Rating 5 out of 5]

As stated in the ‘blurb’ this novel opens with a shocker. Almost inconceivably and certainly incomprehensibly, a mother gives their adult daughter an abortion pill without her knowledge. She is then found dead; but who did it? There are clues as to the identity of the murderer throughout along with many red herrings. Ultimately it is the motive that we need and then it all comes together.
I recommend this book. It has a depth that moves it from being a ‘cosy’ to something darker and ultimately more thought provoking.

[PAR · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful book. You will be hooked from the very first page. This was the first novel I have read a novel by James (J.R.) and Susan Mathis. I was impressed. The story line is solid, and the characters are well developed. This could easily be a true life story. My emotions ran the entire gambit form sorrow with tears, and joy with laughter. I highly recommend this novel. I received this book from BookFunnel. This is my true and honest opinion.

[Divya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was yet another entertaining book in the series that follows Father Tom and his wife, Helen who is the chief of police. The story moves at a great pace and broaches on some difficult topics. The mystery is well thought out and has some unexpected turns along the way. I received a free copy of the book and this is my voluntary and honest review.

[Karen L. Hicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another terrific Father Tom and Chief Helen book. This book had me crying tears of joy and tears of sorrow. The writing is so good that one really gets lost in the story. Father Tom and Helen are a winning team ,and the other characters are well defined, too.

[Charlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Heavy Hearts is another terrific Father Tom and Chief Helen book. The story was both heartbreaking and heartwarming as it unfolds. The writing is excellent and the characters are well-developed. Some of the topics in this edition are difficult but handled thoughtfully. The pace was good with some unexpected twists along the way. I highly recommend this book.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.