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The Psalm 23 Mysteries #1
The Lord Is My Shepherd
Being a church secretary seemed like such a boring job... until the bodies started piling up.
As church secretary Cindy Preston prepares for the Easter service, she literally stumbles across a dead body in the sanctuary. A prominent church member has been stabbed to death in the locked church. With whispers and suspicions surrounding the members of the congregation, Rabbi Jeremiah Silverman, from the Jewish temple next door, helps Cindy search for the truth. As Easter Sunday draws near, the pressure mounts when the killer leaves clues that more deaths should be expected. Fighting against time, the rabbi and the church secretary work together, learning more about each other and their faiths as they seek to expose the truth. But what secret is the rabbi hiding?
As church secretary Cindy Preston prepares for the Easter service, she literally stumbles across a dead body in the sanctuary. A prominent church member has been stabbed to death in the locked church. With whispers and suspicions surrounding the members of the congregation, Rabbi Jeremiah Silverman, from the Jewish temple next door, helps Cindy search for the truth. As Easter Sunday draws near, the pressure mounts when the killer leaves clues that more deaths should be expected. Fighting against time, the rabbi and the church secretary work together, learning more about each other and their faiths as they seek to expose the truth. But what secret is the rabbi hiding?
277 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2009
95 people are currently reading
2140 people want to read
About the author
Debbie Viguié
91 books1,040 followersDebbie Viguié is the New York Times Bestselling author of more than three dozen novels including the Wicked series co-authored with Nancy Holder. In addition to her epic dark fantasy work Debbie also writes thrillers including The Psalm 23 Mysteries, the Kiss trilogy, and the Witch Hunt trilogy. Debbie also plays a recurring character on the audio drama, Doctor Geek’s Laboratory. When Debbie isn’t busy writing or acting she enjoys spending time with her husband, Scott, visiting theme parks.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 187 reviews
March 17, 2023
Edgier than usual for a Christian mystery...but still an enjoyable read. Can't wait to read the further installments!
January 5, 2011
I picked this up, and promptly plowed through it, as I was genuinely interested in picking up the following book in the series... while it was possibly on sale! But I had to be sure it was something I'd actually want to read more of!
As the plot quickly picked up pace, and the most eclectic group of characters began to reveal themselves... I knew I had to see the WHOLE book through before I could make a true conclusion. I was not in the slightest disappointed. The next book is now loaded up to prove it.
While there were many ways the themes and characters could have been handled I truly appreciated the melding of genuine Protestant believers and the unexpected rabbi (and other Jewish believers) in the mix. As they each observed important celebrations & fought with understanding & embracing each other through the strange circumstances... I found myself questioning how I might handle such relationships & opportunities.
As usual, in any mystery, I was right in it trying to point fingers, second-guessing EVERYONE, and then even baffled at times having NO CLUE who to accuse next.
As the plot quickly picked up pace, and the most eclectic group of characters began to reveal themselves... I knew I had to see the WHOLE book through before I could make a true conclusion. I was not in the slightest disappointed. The next book is now loaded up to prove it.
While there were many ways the themes and characters could have been handled I truly appreciated the melding of genuine Protestant believers and the unexpected rabbi (and other Jewish believers) in the mix. As they each observed important celebrations & fought with understanding & embracing each other through the strange circumstances... I found myself questioning how I might handle such relationships & opportunities.
As usual, in any mystery, I was right in it trying to point fingers, second-guessing EVERYONE, and then even baffled at times having NO CLUE who to accuse next.
December 9, 2011
I downloaded this nook book when it was a free offering from Abingdon in late October. There are so many free books that it takes a long time for me to get around to reading those I've already downloaded, but I was attracted to this book because it was a Christian murder mystery, which is what I'm writing.
The reviews I've read of this book tend to be at one extreme or the other. Readers either love it or hate it. Generally those who hate it object to the number of murders for a Christian book. That's almost right. The real problem is that this book is in a cozy voice, which means the murder usually takes place offstage, there's not a lot of violence, and the stories are generally character driven. Villains aren't really, really bad guys in cozies. At least, we don't feel like they're bad guys through most of the book. But the murderer in this book is a serial killer who not only kills dozens of people in this book, but has killed multiple people in other cities before. Serial killers and cozy mysteries don't fit together well. The reader is left with this disjointed feeling. My best description of how I felt when I finished the book was "Huh."
The story is told from three different viewpoints: Cindy, a church secretary, Jeremiah, a rabbi, and Mark, a police detective. Unfortunately, no matter which point of view a chapter is told from, they all sound alike. At first I thought the author was slipping out of the point of view of one character into that of another but the more I read, the more I realized that wasn't true. If a story is told from more than one point of view, each character has to be reflected in the language, the sentence structure, and the attitudes of the telling of events. That wasn't the case in this book.
Last of all, there's a concept attributed to the Russian playwright Anton Chekov which (roughly) states that if you have a gun on the wall in the first act, you'd better have someone use it by the third act. "The Lord is My Shepherd" violates the converse of this, i.e., if you have a gun in the third act, you'd better set it up in the first act. It's not a gun in this book, but something unlikely happens without having any reason given either in the current scene or, better yet, having been set up earlier in the book. I don't want to spoil the plot by explaining too much, but that kind of thing made me immediately downgrade my opinion of the story.
I have mixed feelings about this mystery. It's not a bad book, but the writing level isn't quite there yet. I can see where the author might develop into a good mystery writer, but this novel didn't appeal to me enough to make me want to read future books of hers.
The reviews I've read of this book tend to be at one extreme or the other. Readers either love it or hate it. Generally those who hate it object to the number of murders for a Christian book. That's almost right. The real problem is that this book is in a cozy voice, which means the murder usually takes place offstage, there's not a lot of violence, and the stories are generally character driven. Villains aren't really, really bad guys in cozies. At least, we don't feel like they're bad guys through most of the book. But the murderer in this book is a serial killer who not only kills dozens of people in this book, but has killed multiple people in other cities before. Serial killers and cozy mysteries don't fit together well. The reader is left with this disjointed feeling. My best description of how I felt when I finished the book was "Huh."
The story is told from three different viewpoints: Cindy, a church secretary, Jeremiah, a rabbi, and Mark, a police detective. Unfortunately, no matter which point of view a chapter is told from, they all sound alike. At first I thought the author was slipping out of the point of view of one character into that of another but the more I read, the more I realized that wasn't true. If a story is told from more than one point of view, each character has to be reflected in the language, the sentence structure, and the attitudes of the telling of events. That wasn't the case in this book.
Last of all, there's a concept attributed to the Russian playwright Anton Chekov which (roughly) states that if you have a gun on the wall in the first act, you'd better have someone use it by the third act. "The Lord is My Shepherd" violates the converse of this, i.e., if you have a gun in the third act, you'd better set it up in the first act. It's not a gun in this book, but something unlikely happens without having any reason given either in the current scene or, better yet, having been set up earlier in the book. I don't want to spoil the plot by explaining too much, but that kind of thing made me immediately downgrade my opinion of the story.
I have mixed feelings about this mystery. It's not a bad book, but the writing level isn't quite there yet. I can see where the author might develop into a good mystery writer, but this novel didn't appeal to me enough to make me want to read future books of hers.
September 15, 2012
Think: Nancy Drew (grown and now a church secretary) investigates/is stalked by a methodical serial killer, as if told by Jerry Jenkins. Definitely a genre-bending story.
Quirky characters. A Christian who carried a deck of "lucky" playing cards. And a rabbi who lies about being married to above Christian girl. He isn't, he just says he is. A local cop who, faced with dozens of murder victims, doesn't get state or federal help. Now I've told too much.
The cop and killer parts don't bear close scrutiny: The logistics of the increasing large numbers of victims push credibility. Often no clue is given how a single killer captured (for example) a bus load of Italian tourists, subdued but didn't immediately killed them, transported them (in the bus assumedly) some distance, then killed costumed and posed them. Or how he killed two armed police officers, who were looking for him. But the book isn't about them. It's about the evolving relationship between Cindy and Jeremiah.
My biggest criticism however is that none of the supposedly Christian and Jewish characters acted as if their membership in those faith communities meant anything. Other than a few tossed-off references to prayer or church humor, the reader could not detect that their beliefs made any difference in their lives or worldview. (Jenkins wouldn't have made that mistake.)
A welcome change from the pabulum of typical Christian fiction. Sensitive readers are warned away from the mass murder aspects. Not as well written as Jenkins, but a good start.
Quirky characters. A Christian who carried a deck of "lucky" playing cards. And a rabbi who lies about being married to above Christian girl. He isn't, he just says he is. A local cop who, faced with dozens of murder victims, doesn't get state or federal help. Now I've told too much.
The cop and killer parts don't bear close scrutiny: The logistics of the increasing large numbers of victims push credibility. Often no clue is given how a single killer captured (for example) a bus load of Italian tourists, subdued but didn't immediately killed them, transported them (in the bus assumedly) some distance, then killed costumed and posed them. Or how he killed two armed police officers, who were looking for him. But the book isn't about them. It's about the evolving relationship between Cindy and Jeremiah.
My biggest criticism however is that none of the supposedly Christian and Jewish characters acted as if their membership in those faith communities meant anything. Other than a few tossed-off references to prayer or church humor, the reader could not detect that their beliefs made any difference in their lives or worldview. (Jenkins wouldn't have made that mistake.)
A welcome change from the pabulum of typical Christian fiction. Sensitive readers are warned away from the mass murder aspects. Not as well written as Jenkins, but a good start.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 10, 2017
What a fascinating book. :) I never had a clue about who the killer was or their motivation. The mystery was a little darker than a typical cozy, but still well done. I mostly liked the MC's, a Presbyterian church secretary and a rabbi. I was a little annoyed with Cindy feeling so unsafe, but I might be that way, too, if I was ever put in that situation. By the end, though, she had found her inner strength to help catch the killer. :) I liked how the author touched on the two religions, Christian and Jewish. It wasn't preachy at all, just informative. I look forward to other books in this series to see how the two MC's team up again. :)
September 4, 2019
Fun read
Really enjoyed this book and didn't want to put it down. I plan on reading more in this series. Kept me guessing for a while who the killer was.
Really enjoyed this book and didn't want to put it down. I plan on reading more in this series. Kept me guessing for a while who the killer was.
April 9, 2011
This mystery is not your usual cozy. The Lord Is My Shepherd, Book 1 of the Psalm 23 Mysteries, is what's considered Christian fiction. I normally don't read books labeled as such because the ones I've picked up are too "preachy" and usually in a way that doesn't reflect my faith. However, this book was a pleasant surprise. Author Debbie Viguié deftly blends elements from many popular genres: mystery, thriller, humor, and even a touch of romance in the awareness and tension between a rabbi and a Protestant church secretary. She even manages to inject a believable faith into the story via the characterizations of Jeremiah and Cindy without being preachy or upsetting the balance of the story.
Debbie Viguié, best known as a fantasy and YA author, takes on the mystery genre in her own style. What you get is a nice cozy but with a serial killer plot which surprised me since this was published by Abingdon Press. Admittedly, I don't read what is generally called Christian fiction, but this mystery sounded promising, and, for the most part, it did not disappoint.
From the opening sentence, "More than anything, Cindy Preston hated Mondays," this cozy will keep you entertained and guessing until the killer is revealed. Even then, there are still a few surprises.
First Shepherd Presbyterian Church secretary Cindy Preston literally stumbles over a dead body in the sanctuary of her church. When Rabbi Jeremiah Silverman at the synagogue next door hears her screaming, he races to her rescue.
Thus begins an odd friendship between Cindy and the Israeli-born Silverman. The confluence of Christian Holy Week and Passover brings out the worst in the killer, and Cindy seems to be on the scene far too often. She, Jeremiah, and police Detective Mark Walters try to solve the mystery while the killer escalates.
I had only one other quibble, and that was with the characterization of the protagonist. Cindy cries. A lot. Maybe it's because I'm not given to weeping in fear or stress, but that got to me a little. I reached the point where I wanted Cindy to "woman-up" and get going. She did reach that point and proceeded to hang in there in spite of everything that was happening to her, and she solved the mystery and saved the day.
Now, she also screams a lot, but that's kind of funny. Perhaps the author purposely had her as a screamer because Jeremiah came running each time. Those scenes reminded me of a golden age screwball comedy. I don't want to give anything away, but in Book 2, an excerpt of which is given at the end of this book, Cindy hasn't seen Jeremiah since the murders were solved. Then, one evening she and he happen to be at the same party, and, you guessed it, she stumbles over a dead body, screams, and Jeremiah dashes in! Once again, the game is afoot.
In Conclusion
This is a book that any mystery reader would enjoy.
Debbie Viguié, best known as a fantasy and YA author, takes on the mystery genre in her own style. What you get is a nice cozy but with a serial killer plot which surprised me since this was published by Abingdon Press. Admittedly, I don't read what is generally called Christian fiction, but this mystery sounded promising, and, for the most part, it did not disappoint.
From the opening sentence, "More than anything, Cindy Preston hated Mondays," this cozy will keep you entertained and guessing until the killer is revealed. Even then, there are still a few surprises.
First Shepherd Presbyterian Church secretary Cindy Preston literally stumbles over a dead body in the sanctuary of her church. When Rabbi Jeremiah Silverman at the synagogue next door hears her screaming, he races to her rescue.
Thus begins an odd friendship between Cindy and the Israeli-born Silverman. The confluence of Christian Holy Week and Passover brings out the worst in the killer, and Cindy seems to be on the scene far too often. She, Jeremiah, and police Detective Mark Walters try to solve the mystery while the killer escalates.
I had only one other quibble, and that was with the characterization of the protagonist. Cindy cries. A lot. Maybe it's because I'm not given to weeping in fear or stress, but that got to me a little. I reached the point where I wanted Cindy to "woman-up" and get going. She did reach that point and proceeded to hang in there in spite of everything that was happening to her, and she solved the mystery and saved the day.
Now, she also screams a lot, but that's kind of funny. Perhaps the author purposely had her as a screamer because Jeremiah came running each time. Those scenes reminded me of a golden age screwball comedy. I don't want to give anything away, but in Book 2, an excerpt of which is given at the end of this book, Cindy hasn't seen Jeremiah since the murders were solved. Then, one evening she and he happen to be at the same party, and, you guessed it, she stumbles over a dead body, screams, and Jeremiah dashes in! Once again, the game is afoot.
In Conclusion
This is a book that any mystery reader would enjoy.
November 5, 2018
The Lord Is My Shepherd is the first book of a series which has become a new favorite of mine. The Psalm 23 Mysteries follows Protestant church secretary, Cindy Preston, and Rabbi Jeremiah Silverman as they stumble through murder mystery after murder mystery. The church and the synagogue stand next door to each other, and it seems to be by divine design that the two characters are pushed together for each mystery.
Cindy Preston hates Mondays. This Monday would be one of the worst so far, being that she trips over a dead guy in the dimly lit sanctuary. Rabbi Jeremiah hears her scream and rushes in to see what's wrong. This is the start of a reluctant partnership as the two become aware of the work of a serial killer who is reenacting certain scenes from Passion Week with dead bodies. Cindy seems to have attracted the attention of the serial killer and becomes one of the unwilling audience members of his rather bloody play. Follow Jeremiah and Cindy as they unwittingly become so entangled in the mystery that, almost by accident (but mostly by curiosity), they find themselves catching the killer.
Cindy Preston hates Mondays. This Monday would be one of the worst so far, being that she trips over a dead guy in the dimly lit sanctuary. Rabbi Jeremiah hears her scream and rushes in to see what's wrong. This is the start of a reluctant partnership as the two become aware of the work of a serial killer who is reenacting certain scenes from Passion Week with dead bodies. Cindy seems to have attracted the attention of the serial killer and becomes one of the unwilling audience members of his rather bloody play. Follow Jeremiah and Cindy as they unwittingly become so entangled in the mystery that, almost by accident (but mostly by curiosity), they find themselves catching the killer.
July 22, 2017
Really good start to this series. I adored the main characters! I read this book in one evening! My only complaint is it is really grisly for a "cozy". I lost track of how many died and it was very described the grisly scenes. I had to skim some. I'm really hoping the next book isn't as grisly.
September 16, 2019
Great read. I have read it before but I could not put it down. I love the interactions between Cindy and Jeremiah. Mark was great too. I hope to read this whole series.
July 3, 2010
Title: THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD
Author: Debbie Viguie’
Publisher: Abingdon Press
March 2010
ISBN: 978-1-4267-0189-4
Genre: Inspirational/mystery
Cindy Preston is the church secretary, and she hates Monday. After a long weekend away from the office, she never knows exactly what she’ll find, and she doesn’t like disarray. So, she unlocks the church doors and promptly falls over a body. Someone has been stabbed to death in the locked church.
Jeremiah Silverman is the Rabbi at the Jewish temple next door to Cindy’s church, and when he hears Cindy screaming he comes running. Jeremiah calls 9-1-1, and helps Cindy answer questions, then takes her safely home. Or maybe. Someone is walking around inside Cindy’s apartment.
As Easter Sunday draws near, a man named Jesus is found dead on a donkey, and clues are found that more deaths should be expected. Fighting against time and a serial killer, Cindy and Jeremiah try to expose the truth. Who is behind this, and why?
THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD is the first book in The Psalms 23 Mysteries series I’ve read by Ms. Viguie’. I do have the second book in the series over in my to-be-read pile.
I don’t know what the final version of the book is like (I have an advanced reader copy of this title) but I found the writing of this rather weak, contrived, and telling. It was not very strong engaging writing that draws the reader into the story.
However, I didn’t figure out who was the murderer. The person I thought might be it didn’t prove to be, so the author is definitely good at red herrings. If you like a mystery, then maybe THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD would be a good book to check out. Discussion questions are included at the end of the book. $13.99. 320 pages.
Author: Debbie Viguie’
Publisher: Abingdon Press
March 2010
ISBN: 978-1-4267-0189-4
Genre: Inspirational/mystery
Cindy Preston is the church secretary, and she hates Monday. After a long weekend away from the office, she never knows exactly what she’ll find, and she doesn’t like disarray. So, she unlocks the church doors and promptly falls over a body. Someone has been stabbed to death in the locked church.
Jeremiah Silverman is the Rabbi at the Jewish temple next door to Cindy’s church, and when he hears Cindy screaming he comes running. Jeremiah calls 9-1-1, and helps Cindy answer questions, then takes her safely home. Or maybe. Someone is walking around inside Cindy’s apartment.
As Easter Sunday draws near, a man named Jesus is found dead on a donkey, and clues are found that more deaths should be expected. Fighting against time and a serial killer, Cindy and Jeremiah try to expose the truth. Who is behind this, and why?
THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD is the first book in The Psalms 23 Mysteries series I’ve read by Ms. Viguie’. I do have the second book in the series over in my to-be-read pile.
I don’t know what the final version of the book is like (I have an advanced reader copy of this title) but I found the writing of this rather weak, contrived, and telling. It was not very strong engaging writing that draws the reader into the story.
However, I didn’t figure out who was the murderer. The person I thought might be it didn’t prove to be, so the author is definitely good at red herrings. If you like a mystery, then maybe THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD would be a good book to check out. Discussion questions are included at the end of the book. $13.99. 320 pages.
October 21, 2023
Well first off, I read the Psalm 23 Mysteries out of order. I started with Book 3 (
) by accident. This led to a moderate spoiler (), but didn't really hurt the book. As you can see, I still gave this book 4 stars, because I really enjoyed it.
Church secretary Cindy finds a murder victim when she gets to work Monday morning of Easter week. This understandably freaks her out, but due to some baggage on her part, she just can't let go until she gets some closure. Throw in the single Rabbi from the synagogue next door, complete with mysterious past, and this could have quickly become just another religious romance novel, which I will give you three guesses as to my interest level in, keeping in mind that I am a forty year old, male engineer. It doesn't though, there is a tension between the two, , but it is left as a suggestion rather than wallowing in it.
Also keep in mind there are some fairly dark aspects to this story: murder, etc. So if you are looking for the latest Amish farm girl novel, this ain't it.
The action is handled well, with a decent balance of foreshadowing versus red herrings. And the characters are sympathetic and interesting.
Definitely a fun read.
) by accident. This led to a moderate spoiler (), but didn't really hurt the book. As you can see, I still gave this book 4 stars, because I really enjoyed it. Church secretary Cindy finds a murder victim when she gets to work Monday morning of Easter week. This understandably freaks her out, but due to some baggage on her part, she just can't let go until she gets some closure. Throw in the single Rabbi from the synagogue next door, complete with mysterious past, and this could have quickly become just another religious romance novel, which I will give you three guesses as to my interest level in, keeping in mind that I am a forty year old, male engineer. It doesn't though, there is a tension between the two, , but it is left as a suggestion rather than wallowing in it.
Also keep in mind there are some fairly dark aspects to this story: murder, etc. So if you are looking for the latest Amish farm girl novel, this ain't it.
The action is handled well, with a decent balance of foreshadowing versus red herrings. And the characters are sympathetic and interesting.
Definitely a fun read.
September 25, 2011
I love reading books that I learn from as well as be entertained. This first in the series of "The Psalm 23 Mysteries" fills that requirement easily.
The Presbyterian Church, First Shepard is situated next door to the Jewish Temple. They have shared parking lots for many years, now they share a murder!
This gently presented novel holds some shocking Easter themed murders of a serial killer. It is not a traditional cozy murder, yet, it does hold some of the feel of a cozy. Amateur Sleuths, Church Secretary, Cindy and Rabbi Jeremiah work as a team to solve the killings with a reluctant detective, named Mark and his partner. You get the sense that the Police force is working beyond their staffing and against time, and Cindy with Rabbi Jeremiah are really contributing to the case.
While these disturbing killings are happening, it is Easter Week, and Passover. The book is terrific in that it teaches the rituals, traditions, and reasons for both celebrations. You knew that a great deal of research was conducted by the Author to make it understandable. I, thoroughly enjoyed learning about the purification of a Seder home.
I had no idea exactly why these horrific killings were happening to both communities. The solution was one that left me thinking the entire book over again in my mind. I eagerly await reading the next in the series.
The Presbyterian Church, First Shepard is situated next door to the Jewish Temple. They have shared parking lots for many years, now they share a murder!
This gently presented novel holds some shocking Easter themed murders of a serial killer. It is not a traditional cozy murder, yet, it does hold some of the feel of a cozy. Amateur Sleuths, Church Secretary, Cindy and Rabbi Jeremiah work as a team to solve the killings with a reluctant detective, named Mark and his partner. You get the sense that the Police force is working beyond their staffing and against time, and Cindy with Rabbi Jeremiah are really contributing to the case.
While these disturbing killings are happening, it is Easter Week, and Passover. The book is terrific in that it teaches the rituals, traditions, and reasons for both celebrations. You knew that a great deal of research was conducted by the Author to make it understandable. I, thoroughly enjoyed learning about the purification of a Seder home.
I had no idea exactly why these horrific killings were happening to both communities. The solution was one that left me thinking the entire book over again in my mind. I eagerly await reading the next in the series.
October 8, 2015
Cindy is a Christian church secretary at the First Shepherd Church, she really hates Mondays and this particular Monday goes from bad to worse when she trips over a dead body inside the church sanctuary as she turns on the lights while opening up the church, following her screams she is grabbed by a man who turns out to be Jeremiah the Rabbi from the Jewish Synagogue next door, what follows is a murder mystery that includes many more bodies and an investigation in which Detective Mark Walters just cant seem to keep Cindy and Jeremiah away from, The Lord Is My Shepherd by Debbie Viguie is a well written novel that my Mom suggested I read, it includes a lot of well developed characters and an interesting plot that I found fascinating, halfway through I thought I had the ending figured out but I have to say Mrs. Viguie twisted the plot just enough to really threw me off track, I really enjoyed this one and suggest The Lord Is My Shepherd to anyone who enjoys Christian Fiction and even more so for those who would never think to read this genre.
August 10, 2016
"The Lord Is My Shepherd" is a religious mystery/suspense novel. The heroine is a Christian while the hero is a Jew. There were details about how the Jews were celebrating the Passover and references to the Christian Easter activities. And, overall, both groups were open to getting to know each other better.
Cindy, Jeremiah, and Detective Mark were likable, nice characters. Mark and Jeremiah were good people to have around when there's a murderer on the loose. The suspense came from physical danger and the ever-increasing body count. It wasn't difficult to figure out who the bad guy was, but Cindy took a little longer to realize the significance of certain clues and pass that information on to the others. But it was difficult to believe that no one saw the killer setting up these elaborately posed death scenes or managed to put up a fight against him.
The murders were pretty gruesome but weren't described in gory detail. It was more in how people reacted to the scenes. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting suspense novel.
Cindy, Jeremiah, and Detective Mark were likable, nice characters. Mark and Jeremiah were good people to have around when there's a murderer on the loose. The suspense came from physical danger and the ever-increasing body count. It wasn't difficult to figure out who the bad guy was, but Cindy took a little longer to realize the significance of certain clues and pass that information on to the others. But it was difficult to believe that no one saw the killer setting up these elaborately posed death scenes or managed to put up a fight against him.
The murders were pretty gruesome but weren't described in gory detail. It was more in how people reacted to the scenes. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting suspense novel.
April 26, 2017
I really appreciated that this book could simply be a great murder mystery without involving foul language and sex. Maybe it's because of the religious aspect of the story, but I found it very refreshing regardless of the reasons behind it.
The only negative point I found in the story is that it is blatantly obvious who the killer is the moment they appear. That is sort of rectified by the fact that it isn't revealed how the killer is involved with the victims or the other characters until the end of the story, so there is still plenty of mystery to keep you on the edge of your seat.
I found the substance of this book and the pace at which the mystery unravelled to be quite engrossing. The writing is good, and the story is put together very well. This one is definitely deserving of a recommendation for mystery readers.
The only negative point I found in the story is that it is blatantly obvious who the killer is the moment they appear. That is sort of rectified by the fact that it isn't revealed how the killer is involved with the victims or the other characters until the end of the story, so there is still plenty of mystery to keep you on the edge of your seat.
I found the substance of this book and the pace at which the mystery unravelled to be quite engrossing. The writing is good, and the story is put together very well. This one is definitely deserving of a recommendation for mystery readers.
September 16, 2013
I'm primarily a reader of historical fiction, but trying to come up with new and varied monthly themes for my book review blog has pushed into reading a wider variety of books than I used to. This Christian murder mystery is one of them. I find murder mysteries creepy, and this was no exception, but I liked it anyway. ;) My favorite part was the development of the friendship between Cindy and Jeremiah. While there's definitely a hint that the friendship may turn into something more in future books, but it stayed within the bounds of friendship in this book, which was refreshing. While there was no obvious Christian lesson being pushed by this story (as far as I could see) it was nice to read a good story written for an adult audience with none of the blush factors that make me wary of adult books.
July 23, 2015
This is my second time reading this book, and both times I really enjoyed the chemistry between Jeremiah and Cindy. I kept hoping it would turn into a romance! The mystery itself was interesting, the motive for the murders was somewhat unique to me, although the book felt a bit short and rushed at the same time. I liked the themed setting as well, though I thought it a little odd that a Christian Church would be so close to a Jewish Synagogue. I enjoyed the book well enough to continue with the series!
October 28, 2016
What a pleasant surprise! I didn't think a serial killer mystery labelled "Christian fiction" would be bloody enough for me, but I was wrong. There are deaths galore and plenty of thriller violence for fans of this type of mystery. Otherwise, it was clean, meaning no sex or vulgar language. I enjoyed this so much! The main characters were so lovable both the church secretary and the Rabbi. I can't wait to read the next book!. The mystery was a lot of fun and the whole thing was a page-turner for me. I feel like I've found a hidden gem with this series.
August 9, 2019
I can't decide if she's mocking the Christian faith, or if she's a believer and trying to tie it in to her writing. Some of her other books would lead me to believe the latter, but then yet other books make me wonder. I read this one very quickly, and I enjoyed the overall mystery. I've read a few comments that leave me hesitant about how gruesome the rest of the novels will be. I'll read the next one in the series, but I'm slightly apprehensive.
January 4, 2017
I really liked this book - other than there was a lot of killing. It made me stop and think about Christ's life. It also gave me some insights into the Jewish religion. I went on to read the next book
Reread this 12-3-14 - enjoyed it just as much as the first time. On to reading the next book again.
reread this 1- 4-17
Reread this 12-3-14 - enjoyed it just as much as the first time. On to reading the next book again.
reread this 1- 4-17
December 14, 2012
Quick easy, untaxing murder mystery tale. Maybe a little naive or stretching belief of police procedures but I did enjoy it and the pages turned very quickly.
Particularly enjoyed the interaction between Cindy and the Rabi and about the jewish religious ceremony of Passover.
Odd that I can swing from cosy murder thriller to hard core horror, but that's pretty much says it all about me.
Particularly enjoyed the interaction between Cindy and the Rabi and about the jewish religious ceremony of Passover.
Odd that I can swing from cosy murder thriller to hard core horror, but that's pretty much says it all about me.
November 8, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery, although it did seem like more people died than necessary. I would have read it closer to Easter if I had known it contained an Easter/Passover plot.
The plot was fast-paced; I learned things about the Jewish Seder; it was nice to see people of different religions getting along.
They aren't perfect people. I don't know what I think of a rabbi lying to get into the hospital to see a patient, and Cindy was obnoxious to the hospital staff as a patient. I know that in real life, stress and pain can make patients overly cranky, but still... I was just talking with my husband about me trying not to let my own foot pain make me act cranky. Both he and the child at hand said I haven't been cranky, so maybe it's more how I feel inwardly, and somehow I just think people can see that.
Other reviewers complained that the local police should've had help from state or even FBI, since the crimes were across state borders. They didn't receive that help, though - no mention of them asking for it - and were overwhelmed.
I had wondered about the murderer's capabilities in killing so many armed police, and others, at a given time. It never mentioned whether there was any police or military training in the murderer's background, but I did find that surprising. What was he, the Winter Soldier? (Sorry, that's a bit of Marvel humor not really related to the story at hand.)
One reviewer complained that Cindy was always screaming or crying... Well, some of that's to be expected, and yeah, some of it was a bit much for me. But we do all process things differently.
Jeremiah does seem to be headed for a romantic relationship with Cindy, and I'm curious what he would do with the prohibition for Jews marrying Gentiles, (Deuteronomy 7:3-4) whether that's important to him or not. Or, whether it's important to Cindy to marry someone of like faith. The Christian terminology is being "unequally yoked" if not. (2 Corinthians 6:14) I know there's a variety of opinions in both faiths about holding to that... There was a Jewish guy who was interested in me during college, but I didn't really reciprocate, although we did talk quite a bit.
One reviewer wasn't sure whether the author, Debbie Viguie, was putting down Christianity or whether she was trying to incorporate it into her story. Sigh. Yes, there was a mix of both. I don't really think she meant to put down Christianity, just some of the inevitable problems in church, such as the bickering church leaders. That's just reality that it happens sometimes. Yes, the murderer had warped views on Christianity, but the whole congregation wasn't like that, and there were many people who took their faiths seriously, including Jeremiah, the rabbi.
The main character, Cindy, herself, seemed to have stumbled into being a church secretary, but she also seemed to find some sort of feeling of security in the church environment, until the murder took place. She has some convictions, but they do seem to be muddled with those of her mom, without her really understanding why. [I'm not sure her mom would've had solid answers, either.] Church, to her, was a place to go when you're in trouble, and she was in trouble, needing a job. I wouldn't say that she's a seeker, exactly, and she's definitely not a newcomer, but she is a little unsettled in her faith, and whether she can grapple with that feeling and either resolve it or come to terms with it remains to be seen.
Some people do get distracted by the problems and let it detract from their faith in Jesus, confusing it with a faith in other people.
So, to answer the question about whether the author was putting down Christianity or whether she was trying to incorporate it into her story, I would say that not only is there a little of both, but that a final understanding of the author's views remains to be seen. I was so uncertain about this that when I was looking for the sequel, I wasn't sure whether to look in Christian fiction or whether I should look in secular mysteries. The bookstore has it under Christian fiction, but then again, I have discovered that there are vast swaths of Christian fiction writers who don't understand Christianity very well. Debbie Viguie at least knew the details of the Passion Week.
Favorite quotes:
"The first duty of the living is to continue to live."
"It's hard being a youth pastor, you know? It takes a level of energy and enthusiasm that is really difficult to maintain emotionally and physically."
The plot was fast-paced; I learned things about the Jewish Seder; it was nice to see people of different religions getting along.
They aren't perfect people. I don't know what I think of a rabbi lying to get into the hospital to see a patient, and Cindy was obnoxious to the hospital staff as a patient. I know that in real life, stress and pain can make patients overly cranky, but still... I was just talking with my husband about me trying not to let my own foot pain make me act cranky. Both he and the child at hand said I haven't been cranky, so maybe it's more how I feel inwardly, and somehow I just think people can see that.
Other reviewers complained that the local police should've had help from state or even FBI, since the crimes were across state borders. They didn't receive that help, though - no mention of them asking for it - and were overwhelmed.
I had wondered about the murderer's capabilities in killing so many armed police, and others, at a given time. It never mentioned whether there was any police or military training in the murderer's background, but I did find that surprising. What was he, the Winter Soldier? (Sorry, that's a bit of Marvel humor not really related to the story at hand.)
One reviewer complained that Cindy was always screaming or crying... Well, some of that's to be expected, and yeah, some of it was a bit much for me. But we do all process things differently.
Jeremiah does seem to be headed for a romantic relationship with Cindy, and I'm curious what he would do with the prohibition for Jews marrying Gentiles, (Deuteronomy 7:3-4) whether that's important to him or not. Or, whether it's important to Cindy to marry someone of like faith. The Christian terminology is being "unequally yoked" if not. (2 Corinthians 6:14) I know there's a variety of opinions in both faiths about holding to that... There was a Jewish guy who was interested in me during college, but I didn't really reciprocate, although we did talk quite a bit.
One reviewer wasn't sure whether the author, Debbie Viguie, was putting down Christianity or whether she was trying to incorporate it into her story. Sigh. Yes, there was a mix of both. I don't really think she meant to put down Christianity, just some of the inevitable problems in church, such as the bickering church leaders. That's just reality that it happens sometimes. Yes, the murderer had warped views on Christianity, but the whole congregation wasn't like that, and there were many people who took their faiths seriously, including Jeremiah, the rabbi.
The main character, Cindy, herself, seemed to have stumbled into being a church secretary, but she also seemed to find some sort of feeling of security in the church environment, until the murder took place. She has some convictions, but they do seem to be muddled with those of her mom, without her really understanding why. [I'm not sure her mom would've had solid answers, either.] Church, to her, was a place to go when you're in trouble, and she was in trouble, needing a job. I wouldn't say that she's a seeker, exactly, and she's definitely not a newcomer, but she is a little unsettled in her faith, and whether she can grapple with that feeling and either resolve it or come to terms with it remains to be seen.
Some people do get distracted by the problems and let it detract from their faith in Jesus, confusing it with a faith in other people.
So, to answer the question about whether the author was putting down Christianity or whether she was trying to incorporate it into her story, I would say that not only is there a little of both, but that a final understanding of the author's views remains to be seen. I was so uncertain about this that when I was looking for the sequel, I wasn't sure whether to look in Christian fiction or whether I should look in secular mysteries. The bookstore has it under Christian fiction, but then again, I have discovered that there are vast swaths of Christian fiction writers who don't understand Christianity very well. Debbie Viguie at least knew the details of the Passion Week.
Favorite quotes:
"The first duty of the living is to continue to live."
"It's hard being a youth pastor, you know? It takes a level of energy and enthusiasm that is really difficult to maintain emotionally and physically."
May 27, 2019
I was sucked in in the first chapter! That's what it usually takes to grab me and hold me, and Debbie Viguie BLEW IT OUT OF THE WATER with this one! She kept the action going all through the book, up until the last few pages! There was a sort of "give away" early on, so I kind of felt like it had to be wrong, but it wasn't totally wrong. It was only the beginning of a truly twisting story!
I especially liked the fact that there aren't any physical descriptions of the main characters. It allows the reader to form their own image of the character. Hopefully, the rest of the series holds the pattern.
On the down side, being the grammar stickler that I am, I can't help finding errors everywhere, in everyday life. This was no different. I wondered how the proofreader made it through without stumbling over the same sentences I did, for lack of proper punctuation, and how the manuscript got through editing without the corrections.
Nonetheless, my rating still stands. Outstanding read! I CANNOT WAIT to read the next one "I Shall Not Want"!
I especially liked the fact that there aren't any physical descriptions of the main characters. It allows the reader to form their own image of the character. Hopefully, the rest of the series holds the pattern.
On the down side, being the grammar stickler that I am, I can't help finding errors everywhere, in everyday life. This was no different. I wondered how the proofreader made it through without stumbling over the same sentences I did, for lack of proper punctuation, and how the manuscript got through editing without the corrections.
Nonetheless, my rating still stands. Outstanding read! I CANNOT WAIT to read the next one "I Shall Not Want"!
Read
January 24, 2018These books are brain candy. They are like slightly edgier/more violent versions of Hallmark mystery movies. The writing is not top notch, the scenarios and dialog are sometimes predictable and silly, but I think that’s why we like these kinds of stories right? Like, the end of a chapter is the same as the “dun dun dun” music before the commercial break. There’s murder and violence, but it’s “cozy” enough to not give you nightmares. It’s a way to do my favorite thing - reading - without having to put a lot of effort into it. Sometimes, you just need to be entertained. I’ve read all the books in this series (book 13 was not my favorite - I hope they will improve), and I enjoy the characters. I appreciate that they are not profane.
October 16, 2019
Very good read and mystery!
A church secretary prepares for an Easter service when she literally comes upon a dead body.
Whispers and suspicions surround members of the congregation. A prominent member has been stabbed to death in the locked church. Rabbi Jeremiah Silverman, from the Jewish Temple next door, helps the neighboring church secretary (Cindy Preston), search for the truth. Fighting against time, the rabbi and Cindy work together, learning more about each other and their faiths as they seek to expose the truth. As Easter Sunday draws near, the pressure mounts when the killer leaves clues that more deaths should be expected. But what secret is the rabbi hiding?
This book is hard to put down. Recommend highly!
A church secretary prepares for an Easter service when she literally comes upon a dead body.
Whispers and suspicions surround members of the congregation. A prominent member has been stabbed to death in the locked church. Rabbi Jeremiah Silverman, from the Jewish Temple next door, helps the neighboring church secretary (Cindy Preston), search for the truth. Fighting against time, the rabbi and Cindy work together, learning more about each other and their faiths as they seek to expose the truth. As Easter Sunday draws near, the pressure mounts when the killer leaves clues that more deaths should be expected. But what secret is the rabbi hiding?
This book is hard to put down. Recommend highly!
May 6, 2024
Cindy is a church secretary at the First Shepherd Church. Going to work on a Monday before Easter, she stumbles on a dead body. She screams, and the rabbi from the next door synagogue runs over to her rescue. This is only the beginning of a week of creepy murders. A serial killer is reenacting the Passion Week but with dead bodies. The community is horrified. Cindy, Jeremiah, the rabbi, and Mark, a local police officer, work together to find the killer and to learn his motive. It's obvious he is targeting someone from the church community and very possibly Cindy as well.
February 21, 2022
If you are looking for a gory, gruesome murder mystery, this book will fit the bill. However, I was scoping out a possible book for our church book club and it fell far short of my expectations for that. The story was compelling but not exactly inspirational!
There were multiple murders by a serial killer who attempted to reenact the events of Passion Week using dead bodies, including twelve neighbors and friends for the Last Supper and the crucifixion. Grizzly though quite ingenious...
There were multiple murders by a serial killer who attempted to reenact the events of Passion Week using dead bodies, including twelve neighbors and friends for the Last Supper and the crucifixion. Grizzly though quite ingenious...
May 13, 2017
I happened to start reading this book right after Easter and found it apropos since the book is centered around Easter week. This cozy starts with a church secretary finding a dead body in the sanctuary of the church where she works. A rabbi from the church next door hears her screams and comes to her aid. The book follows Cindy first trying to get over the shock of finding a dead body and move on, then ultimately being drawn into finding the murderer. The book is full of red herrings and keeps you guessing who the murderer might be. When the culprit is finally revealed there's still suspense and action to follow. Overall I enjoyed this book and liked the characters enough to want to read more books in the series. The only complaint I had was the ridiculous body count. Given the nature of the killer's MO, it fits with the story, but I found the carnage off putting.
July 12, 2018
I really loved Debbie Vigue’s Kiss of Night trilogy, so I thought I would pick up one of her mystery novels. This book did not disappoint. It really kept me on edge. I plan on picking up the next book in this series soon! The fantasy fan in me wishes she would continue her vampire series too, though. Anyway, don’t hesitate reading this book!
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