Rescued: Book 1 - Darkest of Portland Series

by Dena Crawford-Nibler

Calliope King has come across some strange and unsettling situations as a social worker. None of them compare to what she finds at the end of Abernathy Lane.

The Maxwells claim to be a family that believes in simple living and quiet devotion., but Callie has a feeling that something else is going on at their farm. Their clothing from centuries past, unnaturally silent children, and the fact that Callie can't find a trace of them in public records has her starting to believe that the Maxwell's placid farm hides something much more sinister than a family choosing to live apart from the modern world.

Callie enlists her friend, private detective Xavier Ramos, in her quest to find out more about the Maxwells. What he finds only muddies the situation further. Missing people, false identities, and suspicious deaths seem to follow the family everywhere they go.

As they dive deeper into the mystery, they soon realize that the Maxwells know that Callie and Xavier are looking into their lives.

And they are not happy about it.

Can Callie and Xavier discover what's hiding under the pleasant exterior of the farm at the end of Abernathy Lane? Who exactly are Charity and Simon Maxwell, and what are they doing that they want to keep hidden? And exactly how far will they go to protect their secrets?

Rescued is a suspenseful thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat until the jaw-dropping conclusion.

Genres: Mystery

267 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 1, 2023

About the author

Dena Crawford-Nibler is a mystery/suspense/horror writer who grew up near Salem, Oregon and went to Dallas High School. She obtained a B.S. in Chemistry at Oregon State University and began working in medical testing directly after. She lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and cat. Her website is denacrawfordnibler.com, head there to sign up for promotions and freebies!

Reviews

[Tonie Andrews · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bored and gave up after halfway.

[Brett Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rescued grabbed me during the very first chapter. I love to understand characters and introductions are important, but if it takes half the book, the author has lost me. Dena jumps right into the story and weaves the character development into the plot from the very start. Vivid details and intriguing word choice bring the story to life.
There is a prequel available for this book, yet at no time did I feel as if I was missing ANY context while reading Rescued.

Set in Portland, Oregon, Calliope King, our main character, is a social worker with a huge heart. Working on a suspicious call that came into her office about screaming and crying, Callie finds herself on Abernathy Lane. The occupants of the home are the mysterious Maxwells. Upon cursory glance, the Maxwells seem to be a family with lots of homeschooled children, yet nothing is visually amiss. Callie’s radar is on high alert though, because something does not “feel” right.

Prior to her departure from Abernathy Lane, Callie leaves a business card with one of the children. With little or no satisfaction, Callie carries on with her day. Consumed with the Maxwells, questions start to build in Callie’s head and she talks to her good friend, Xavier Ramos. As an ex-police officer with some history, Xavier is employed as a private detective and is quick to sink his teeth into the case of the strange Maxwell family.

As Xavier starts digging, Callie gets an unexpected call from a family member in the house. Faith/Ana (someone associated with the Maxwell family) is looking for a way out. Callie agrees to pick her up in the middle of the night at a location near Abernathy Lane. Once she picks the woman up, she feels the best place to take her is a hotel. After some conversation, Callie gives Faith clothes and food, and leaves her to get additional help.

In addition to Xavier, Callie also pulls her close friend, Angie into the situation. Angie deals with abused adults so agrees to talk with the girl at the hotel. Cue mysterious music— the more Callie, Xavier, and Angie get involved, the more tense the situation becomes for all of them. The Maxwell history runs deep and it is shrouded in mystery and criminal intent.

As the plot thickens, the author, Dena ties some non-fiction elements into the story which add credence to the rising action. The story is both intriguing and startling. There is an element of violence that I wasn’t expecting, however it plays very well as more and more is discovered about the Maxwell family.

I highly recommend this book. Dena Crawford-Nibler has written an awesome story which will keep you guessing throughout. Thanks Dena, for a great book!!

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This author is quickly but coming one of my go to authors for a great read. In this book we have clementined she’s a social worker and gets a call. The children are being heard screaming at night and she must check it out. When she arrives at the iron gate and there’s met by charity who has gleaming white teeth but looks like she stepped out of the middle ages Clementine is taken aback. she can tell it’s against charities better judgment but she’s invited in anyway and when she asked to meet the children they walk in according to height small to big and they’re clean and look healthy but don’t act like normal children do but unless Clementine can find something concrete she may just have to close the case and leave whatever it is niggling at the back of her brain a mystery. That night however she gets an urgent call from a young girl she doesn’t know who says she is living at the compound it would like Clementine to come and rescue her and of course she does. If Clementine thought she would get all her questions answered she was wrong faith is close mouth and doesn’t seem to want to share any secrets about the compound Clementine let it rest for now. she did get her bath for Angela to see if she could find fake any services so she could start her life again but Angela ran up against a brick wall as well because Faith says she doesn’t remember her last name or where she came from. This whole time Clementine has had another one of her friends Zeb a private investigator look into the compound and see what he can find out and he digs up a dead girl not literally but figuratively they say the girl killed her self but there’s too much strain surrounding these people for her to let it go. When she goes on her second visit they invite her to church service and she notices to read from Books that old Bibles in our unlike any religious thing she’s ever seen when they’re not looking she takes one and despite everything she’s done until now this is going to be her first big mistake. this was such a strange weird great story. I love Dina Crawford Nibbler‘s books but this one really went above and beyond in the OMG department. I absolutely loved it and highly recommend it. I received this book fromBook Sirens but I am leaving this review totally voluntarily please forget any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review

[KKEC Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rescued by Dena Crawford-Nibler
Published: January 1, 2023
Dena Crawford-Nibler
Pages: 272
Genre: Suspense
KKECReads Rating: 5/5
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.

Dena Crawford-Nibler is a mystery, thriller, and horror writer who grew up near Salem, Oregon, and went to Dallas High School. She obtained a B.S. in Chemistry at Oregon State University and began working in medical testing directly after. She lives in Portland, Oregon, with her husband and cat

“Highly unlikely that anything will happen.”

Callie is compassionate and dedicated to protecting children. So when she gets a call to investigate a home with children possibly in danger, she assumes it will be a routine inspection. Except it isn’t. And now, there may be no survivors.

This was very well done and well executed. The plot was so fast-paced and scary! I read the prequel, Intertwined, first, and I’m glad I did. It was a great introduction to the characters and the situations they are currently in.

Callie is such a great character. She is passionate and compassionate and a loyal friend. I enjoyed the friendship between her and Xavier, and I appreciate how caring she is to those she loves.

Xavier is a bit of a mystery. After everything he has been through, it’s evident that he is a little lost and looking for a sense of identity. I hope in the coming book; he gets that.

Angie was a great character, a lot like Callie. Intelligent and passionate, but also an overwhelmed working mom of three kids under five.

I found the side struggles realistic and appreciated the nod to working mothers. The plot for this book was scary because things like this happen in real life, so this could have been an episode of a documentary.

I think this series is going to be fantastic, and I am looking forward to continuing to read it. So far, I have found the books well done, and the twists have been great. I enjoy the writing style and themes within this series.

[Caitlin C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy moly I could not put this book down! When I read the synopsis about the book, there were a lot of suggestions to read the

prequel first, so I did. I enjoyed that book so much I couldn't wait to start this one! This definitely can be read first, but the prequel gives a lot of information about the characters and their backstory.

The book initially caught my attention as the main characters is a CPS social worker. I also work as a social worker with the state, and I was so impressed with how factual the information is and how accurately they describe the life of a social worker.

On top of that, the story and writing drew me in immediately. It starts off with Callie, the social worker going out on a CPS intake to a compound where there are allegations that children are screaming at night. Callie immediately gets a creepy feeling when she walks on to a compound and into what has a cult like feeling. The children all look fine, and there is no immediate safety threat that Callie can identify, but she just can't shake the feeling that something is horribly wrong. Later that night she gets a call from one of the member on the compound, begging for help. Callie immediately jumps in the car and heads out to rescue the girl. From there, the oddities unfold and the threats start.

Callie's friend and former cop turned private eye, Xavier Ramos starts investigating for her and finds that this case is a total onion, so many layers, it's hard to figure out where to start. He is fiercely protective of Callie, but is also battling his own past demons.

This book was so face paced and addictive that I could not put it down. I stayed up well past my bedtime to finish it and I can't wait to read more!

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

[Dakota · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rescued is probably my favorite book so far by Dena Crawford-Nibler, another delightful thriller and mystery. As the series name implies, this has a number of dark elements that make this both intriguing and fascinating, but may not be for the faint of heart. The protagonist, an employee focused on child welfare, makes a routine house call which leads to a much deeper and darker investigation.

The story follows two primary characters seen in one of her previous novels, Xavier and Callie. It was certainly fun to be able to see more of these characters, Xavier the witty one to charge into action, while Callie is compassionate and more thoughtful with her choices. They are both relatable and amusing, and despite their different approaches they have a lot in common including traumatic pasts. With their respective skills, they are able to work together and tackle anything head on, even if that can land them into trouble.

I’m certainly curious to see how this book will fall into a series as this story seems wrapped up neatly. But as this takes place in Portland, like any major city, it holds a sizable population where I’m sure many thrilling events occur on a daily basis leading to endless opportunities. If you have a stout heart for dark events, you love thrilling mysteries, and you want a wonderfully trauma informed care perspective on crime, then this could be a book for you!

[Squid Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It was well researched with the explanations of what made a cult given a good section, and real life examples given so we could look them up (if you needed to) to understand more. The flow of the book was nice and the story went a brisk pace. Everything led up to the ending without there being too made giant leaps of disbelief needed.

I agree with what others have written, perhaps if I had read the prequel before starting this book I would have been more emotional engaged with the characters? I am not sure that I can either picture or hear the characters, but that may also be due to the head cold I am fighting! My biggest disconnect was that all the characters seemed to be acting quite a way outside of their job roles, if this was set up as a PI firm, or whatever I might have gone along with it more. The introduction of her sister was also something that I felt, unnecessary? She was there just to teach us about cults and there might have been a more organic way to find out that info, however, as this is part of a series perhaps the siblings will develop more storylines.

I would probably be interested in reading more by the author, I have already downloaded the prequel and so this review might change as I get more info about the backgrounds.

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

[Curiosity · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and author for providing me with a copy of this book for my review!

I did not know what to expect when I started reading this book. Immediately, I felt close to the main character, Callie. I loved how her kindness was shown through her action and how much she cared about her community. The action started very early on in the story. I was invested in the mystery of the strange Maxwell family from the get-go. I took investigative notes and often paused my reading to jolt down my theories.

On the other hand, I had some reservations about the way we discover who the real cult leader is. I felt that part was a little bit rushed. I would've loved for them to be introduced earlier in the story for more in-depth character development into their situation and reasoning.

Nonetheless, the writing was phenomenal. Crawford-Nibler has an amazing way of pulling the reader into the story through relatable dialogue and interesting descriptions. As for the character building, it was my favourite part of this thriller. Each character was crucial to the plot and helped it unfold. I am more than looking forward to reading more books from this author.

[Bette Reith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagine you are a social worker and on a home visit you see a perfect mom with her perfectly behaved children all giving you the same smile. Your gut reaction is that there is something wrong, but is that enough to dig deeper? You decide yes, but the more you question, the more horrifying the answers become. Do you keep searching for the truth, and put yours and your friends lives in danger? This is the dilemma that Callie faces in Rescued the first book in the series Darkest of Portland Series by Dena Crawfor-Nibler. Although this is the first book of the series read the prequel, Intertwined first. It gives you background on the characters as well as a riveting storyline. Thanks to BookSirens for the ARC of this book.

Dena is a powerful writer, giving us great characters and a story line that has many twists and turns and an unexpected ending. This book was so captivating I could not put it down and read it straight through. If you like fast-paced mysteries, then this book is for you. I have a new author to follow and can’t wait to read more books by Dena.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I personally think if I had read the prequel this book would have resonated more. I think the background of the main characters (which was explained in Rescued) would have meant more and definitely would have been clearer. I am explaining this so bad. Book 1, Rescued was concise. It explained clearly what happened or who the main characters were, but I didn't feel it. It also moved a little slow but I was intrigued with the mystery so I stayed with it. The suspense built and a lot of action happened towards the end, which I understand, aka the culmination. There was a "say what moment" when we find one of the persons behind the scenes. That surprised the heck out of me - nice job! By the end I started to become invested in the main characters and just wish that had happened sooner for me. I will definitely read the prequel and would read book 2. Thank you for the arc! I freely volunteer my thoughts and opinions. #Rescued:book1 #darkestofportlandseries #denacrawfordnibler #booksirens

[Bookshelfenigma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this down. Rescued is intriguing, and startling with a variety of dark elements. It may not be for everyone.

Calliope King is a social worker who receives a call out about children crying and screaming at night. Her investigation takes her to a creepy compound occupied by the Maxwell family. Her investigation leads down a much darker and more disturbing path than she anticipated it would

She enlists the help of a former cop, now Private Investigator Xavier Ramos to investigate the Maxwell family. He discovers that this investigation has so many layers he doesn't know where to begin.

I was hooked from the first chapter, Dena jumped right in and got down to business. She set the scene, introduced the characters, and had my mind reeling from the start. As I was reading, my mind was thinking of what was possibly about to happen.

If you like a quick read, some suspense, and a little mystery, then read this book.

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

[Todd Roseweir · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a seriously great read.

I received a copy of this book from Voracious Readers Only to review, and thoroughly enjoyed it. It absolutely delivers as a detective/mystery story as well as a thriller, with equal and seamless emphasis on both. The author also captures the challenges involved for social services when trying to extract critical information from traumatized victims. The story is very gritty in places, but once I started, I could not put it down. I cannot recommend it highly enough, and the next book in the series is on list of must-reads.

The author has also written a "prequel" to this book, although it was published first. It is not necessary to read the prequel first, but doing so will avoid any spoilers for the events which are referred to in this book. It is also an excellent read.

[Rachael Maag · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story drew me in right away. I love reading about cults and was excited that this story was centered around a possible cult. It seemed like there was a good level of detail to ensure the situation was somewhat believable; laws seem to be correct as well as what CPS would look for in a home visit (although I am not an expert). I was actively engaged in the story and was working to figure out how it would end. Overall, it was a decent story.

I was able to predict a portion of the story, which was a little disappointing to me; I felt that it was very obvious what was happening. What was meant to be a shock was not a shock to me; I saw the twist a mile away. I think anyone who reads suspenseful novels will be able to see what is going to happen. However, I still enjoyed reading the book, and plan on reading the next book in the series.

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Something is amiss at the Maxwell farm and Calliope King, a dedicated social worker, wants to find out what secrets are hidden there. As she delves deeper into the mystery, she will enlist the aid of private detective Xavier Ramos. What they will uncover will put not only their lives, but others at risk. Dena Crawford-Nibler has brought us a well-written suspenseful thriller in Rescued. Though a tad long at times, it is a great story filled with twists and turns, and great characters. This first novel in the Darkest of Portland books introduces us to what will surely be a great series. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Casey Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! What a book! I was hooked from the very beginning and couldn’t wait to find out what happened next. Callie’s character was really well developed and I enjoyed her side of everything. The addition of Angie and Xavier was a nice touch without being overly scattered. By the middle I knew I had to finish in one sitting. I had to know how it ended. Definitely add this to your TBR! I know I cannot wait to see what happens next if this becomes a series!

**thank you to booksirens for the arc of this book. All options are my own**

[Kaylee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not get enough of this book! I love the storyline and how I never knew quite what to expect next. Following the story of CPS worker Calliope King and her investigation into a local cult was such a wild rollercoaster of events, I absolutely loved every bit of it! You'll love the good characters and hate the bad. They're very well-written, and it's so easy to picture them and just how they truly are.

I can't recommend this book enough. It's definitely a new favorite!

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

[Erica Hiznay · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was about half way through the book, I almost gave up because I felt like it was dragging a bit. But once I hit about 70% through, the story line and action picked up. The ending was SO good and unexpected. I’m usually pretty good at guessing endings and this one was a doozy! Really, really good and made the book worth the read. I would say that I would be inclined to read the next one in this series. I would only hope it won’t be as slow through the beginning and middle.

I was provided with this book as part of an ARC and was not obligated to review.

[Julie Fitzpatrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG Wow, I couldn't put this book down, what a page turner. An amazing and intense storyline which grips and scares you all the way to the point you keep reading and turning the page to find out who will make it through. Even scarier when you think something so crazy and horrid like this has actually happened and/or is happening in this mad world right now. I am so grateful for Voracious Readers finding this author for me as I am determined to read the whole series and more of Dena Crawford-Nibler, thank you.

[Delphia Von Heeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rescued is Book 1 in the Darkest of Portland Series by Dena Crawford-Nibler.I think that Rescued is a fabulous thriller. I felt that Rescued was so emotional, intense, it left me breathless, it was scary, WOW… it is amazing. Callie , social worker, knew something was wrong at the farm. But, she had no idea what was really wrong. I think that Rescued should be on everyone's reading list. I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.

[Billie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.

I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.

[Lisa Matthews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given this book to read by Voracious Readers in exchange for an honest review.

When starting this book I realised there is a prequel so read that first. I loved them both! This is book one in a series that i will definitely continue to read. I love the main characters in this series especially after getting to know their backgrounds in the prequel. This book had lots of ups and downs and twists and turns. I didn't want to put it down! I can't wait to read the rest.

[C.A. Powers · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an insanely wicked story!I absolutely loved it! I could not believe what I was reading! Kudos for an amazing storyline. The story was scary, fast-paced and action-packed. I enjoyed the characters: Calli, Angie, and Xavier and their friendship and dedication to each other. I can't wait to read more by Dena.

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

[Miriam Lofgren-bangs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to VoraciousReadersOnly I received a complementary copy of Dena Crawford-Nibler’s book Rescued. It started of very routine- social worker looking into a possible case involving children being raised in an odd way…and then it’s a roller coaster ride of cults, missing people and more! A thoroughly enjoyable read!

[Jamie Park · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why did I love this so much? It is weird, violent, and crazy? Can you imagine the paperwork involved in this case? This poor social worker needs to switch careers for a bit. You need respite girl.

Keep up the great writing.

[Jane Verwey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Couldn’t put it down. More than sufficiently creepy. The first novel I have read about cults, but definitely believable. As good, if not better, than many murder mystery books I have read, by more famous authors. Looking foreword to reading more in this series.

[Elizabeth Campbell-Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a book! I was expecting one thing, but got something entirely different. The twists and turns were great. Looking forward to reading more from this author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Voracious Readers Only and this is my unbiased review.

[Amanda Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This book was packed full of action from the first page to the last. Just when you think the characters have it all figured out and you know what’s going on, something else happens and there’s another twist. Once I started reading, I couldn’t put it down.

[Gwen Hight · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rescued Book1-Darkest of Portland Series

She is a social worker making a check on the children of a home and uncovered a cult that was full of missing women and murder and she and her friends almost lost their lives A good read

[Ann Lund · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-written book, easy to read. Character development was good. I really enjoyed it. It started calm, but turned into a page-turner. It even successfully took my mind off all the itching of a bad case of poison ivy. I recommend it.

[Annemarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books that once you start reading, you don't want to stop. Characters you can empathise with and a great believable storyline. I can't wait to read the rest of the books in the series.