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Dinah Harris Mysteries #1
Deadly Disclosures
Thomas Whitfield, proud Secretary of the Smithsonian and its extensive scientific influence, has disappeared from his office with foul play suspected. Dinah Harris, an FBI agent struggling with alcohol and depression, is seeking answers amidst the fallout of her own personal issues. Whitfield's body is eventually found, and other people connected to him begin dying as well, ultimately exposing a broader conspiracy connected to Whitfield's recent conversion to Christ and promotion of a biblical worldview in an academic world of financial gain hostile to this concept.
Will Dinah be able to experience the redemptive power of Christ before it's too late? or will the ominous danger stalking her investigation claim another victim?
Will Dinah be able to experience the redemptive power of Christ before it's too late? or will the ominous danger stalking her investigation claim another victim?
288 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2010
32 people are currently reading
329 people want to read
About the author
Julie Cave
7 books65 followersJulie Cave credits her parents for introducing her to books at a young age, which fostered an enduring passion for reading and writing. As a child, her favourite authors were Enid Blyton and C.S. Lewis and it wasn’t long before she began copying them, writing short stories for anyone who would read them. At fifteen, two things happened which would shape her future: she heard a creation science speaker at her church which cemented her faith in God; and she finished her second novel-length story and realised she had fallen in love with writing novels. After school, she completed a health science degree, got married, and worked in banking and finance. All the while she wondered how she could combine her love of writing and her strong passion for Christian apologetics and evangelism. One weekend at a church camp, a friend asked, ‘What if the guy in charge of the Smithsonian Institution went missing?’ The result – and the answer to that question - is Julie’s maiden published novel, Deadly Disclosures. Julie has one daughter and lives in Brisbane, Australia with her family. She divides her time between being a wife, a mother and an author.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
August 29, 2022
A real page-turner. I stayed up to finish it and find out who the mastermind behind all the murders was, when normally I'm quite content to leave the "big reveal" for another day. Dinah's vulnerability, her alcoholism and suicidal urges, are presented well and, of course, make for a sympathetic protagonist. The fact her weaknesses were known and have actually been used as integral to the set-up is a nice twist.
The secretary to the prestigious Smithsonian Museum is abducted just before he is about to deliver a speech to Congress. The FBI is called in and Dinah's former colleague, David Ferguson, arranges for her to be reassigned from her teaching role to help him locate the missing scientist. Ferguson is trying to help her recover from depression after a string of deaths in her family. Mired in grief, she is self-medicating with wine and vodka and it quickly becomes apparent that she might well be a liability rather than an asset on what soon transforms into a murder investigation.
The body count and the bottle count both rise quickly, as the Special Agents struggle to penetrate the lies of the Board of Regents at the Smithsonian and to fend off the media who are following Dinah around and have focussed, laser-like, on her drinking problem.
The novel contains a fine exposition of the evolution vs creation debate as well as a well-presented gospel message.
The secretary to the prestigious Smithsonian Museum is abducted just before he is about to deliver a speech to Congress. The FBI is called in and Dinah's former colleague, David Ferguson, arranges for her to be reassigned from her teaching role to help him locate the missing scientist. Ferguson is trying to help her recover from depression after a string of deaths in her family. Mired in grief, she is self-medicating with wine and vodka and it quickly becomes apparent that she might well be a liability rather than an asset on what soon transforms into a murder investigation.
The body count and the bottle count both rise quickly, as the Special Agents struggle to penetrate the lies of the Board of Regents at the Smithsonian and to fend off the media who are following Dinah around and have focussed, laser-like, on her drinking problem.
The novel contains a fine exposition of the evolution vs creation debate as well as a well-presented gospel message.
July 24, 2019
Lets start with the one star I gave. After the first chapters I thought it should be four, maybe five stars. It is well written, in fact it's quite a page turner. Until the debate about creationism and evolutionism begins. First problem is that these bits are breaks in the story. Multiple pages of evangelism that mostly lacks any relation to the plot. Even worse is how the "discussion" is written. Twentyfive percent pro evolutionism, but mostly with some of the least convincing arguments. The other part pro creationism. Just repeating the same few arguments over and over again. He who shouts the loudest isn't necessarily right, though.
Am I biased? Yes, I don't believe in creationism but neither do I believe in evolutionism. I do have the opinion evolutionism is the most likely theory.
I would have loved if the evangelism bits were as well written as the rest, and the argumentation so convincing that I would start to doubt. Or at least I could see why doubt seems reasonable.
But no, now it just spoils a good and well written story thaat i have only read till the last page in the hope the author played a game with me I didn't see through. But fortunately, I ended the book with the taste of rotten avocados n my mouth.
I'm curious how Dinah Harris' character develops in the series but I will never know. You can't handle so much lack of sense in one book, I'm afraid.
Am I biased? Yes, I don't believe in creationism but neither do I believe in evolutionism. I do have the opinion evolutionism is the most likely theory.
I would have loved if the evangelism bits were as well written as the rest, and the argumentation so convincing that I would start to doubt. Or at least I could see why doubt seems reasonable.
But no, now it just spoils a good and well written story thaat i have only read till the last page in the hope the author played a game with me I didn't see through. But fortunately, I ended the book with the taste of rotten avocados n my mouth.
I'm curious how Dinah Harris' character develops in the series but I will never know. You can't handle so much lack of sense in one book, I'm afraid.
January 3, 2020
I just read this book. It is totally everything. I wish I'd known it was the first book in a series. I'm jumping around a bit. I'd recommend buying the whole lot for yourself or someone special! I'm not into fantasy so Ted Dekker, et al, sorry! This is as good as it gets.
January 17, 2023
Picked this series up from my favorite apologetics organization - so, be forewarned, this book most definitely has an agenda. That being said I feel the story was fairly well developed and the characters believable and human-like.
The mystery was well-developed, the author fed the right clues at the right time so that we would happily follow her trail of red herrings. There was very little that would have allowed me as the reader to come to the right conclusion...so that was a little frustrating...but otherwise a very well put together little murder mystery.
The Gospel and Young Earth Creationism play a central role in this story, and so the information was liberally stirred in healthy helpings throughout the story. It was a little contrived, but with this sort of thing it almost has to be. Most stories don't go into deep religious and philosophical debate on purpose. All told, I feel the religious and worldview aspects were handled well.
There is a definite 'conspiracy theory' quality to this story, but the longer I'm alive the more willing I am to believe that the conspiracies are real and there is an agenda behind every organization in existence. Why would the Smithsonian be exempt?
The mystery was well-developed, the author fed the right clues at the right time so that we would happily follow her trail of red herrings. There was very little that would have allowed me as the reader to come to the right conclusion...so that was a little frustrating...but otherwise a very well put together little murder mystery.
The Gospel and Young Earth Creationism play a central role in this story, and so the information was liberally stirred in healthy helpings throughout the story. It was a little contrived, but with this sort of thing it almost has to be. Most stories don't go into deep religious and philosophical debate on purpose. All told, I feel the religious and worldview aspects were handled well.
There is a definite 'conspiracy theory' quality to this story, but the longer I'm alive the more willing I am to believe that the conspiracies are real and there is an agenda behind every organization in existence. Why would the Smithsonian be exempt?
January 1, 2019
Okay, so I wanted to like this book. I really did. I got the entire series as a Christmas present, and eagerly dove in, hoping for a nice mystery.
This book seemed to me to be roughly half story, one-quarter Creationism/Evolutionism, and one-quarter sermon. Seriously, I rarely mind "preachiness" in Christian books and movies, but this took it a little far even for me.
While the information conveyed was good, it would've been much better had it been scaled back and sprinkled throughout. Some pauses---specifically, a two-page sermon at one point, and four-page creation vs evolution debate at another---distracted greatly from the main plot.
The mystery solved was very conspiracy theory-esque in a lot of ways, far-fetched and some aspects almost ridiculous.
The characters were intriguing, though, and the murders were all portrayed rather well (detailed enough to be chilling, but not extremely graphic, no gratuitous violence).
It was okay to read once, though, and I'm still somewhat hopeful that it's setting up a good series.
This book seemed to me to be roughly half story, one-quarter Creationism/Evolutionism, and one-quarter sermon. Seriously, I rarely mind "preachiness" in Christian books and movies, but this took it a little far even for me.
While the information conveyed was good, it would've been much better had it been scaled back and sprinkled throughout. Some pauses---specifically, a two-page sermon at one point, and four-page creation vs evolution debate at another---distracted greatly from the main plot.
The mystery solved was very conspiracy theory-esque in a lot of ways, far-fetched and some aspects almost ridiculous.
The characters were intriguing, though, and the murders were all portrayed rather well (detailed enough to be chilling, but not extremely graphic, no gratuitous violence).
It was okay to read once, though, and I'm still somewhat hopeful that it's setting up a good series.
September 15, 2018
You found out almost right away that he was murdered because of creation vs evolution. I know people have arguments about it but murder? Not very realistic. Another thing that wasn't realistic was that the main character had a severe drinking problem and was still an FBI agent. It wasn't a few drinks occasionally, she had like a bottle of wine every night. I know she's the main character but I don't think the FBI would keep such a person no matter how good of an agent she use to be. If my husband was murdered and I found out an alcoholic was in charge of his case I would be so mad. Also this book was just boring. It didn't actually start getting good until chapter 19 (out of 21). They repeated themselves a lot and just went in circles. They didn't even solve the mystery, the murderer kidnapped her and told her everything. The main murderer didn't even get caught.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 11, 2021
Though I didn’t find this the most fantastic mystery I’ve read, I did find it an incredibly encapsulating story.
Dinah Harris has let go of her life and decided to not really care about, well, anything because of one event that I was itching to know the details of so I will not tell it, as it greatly enhances the storyline. Many people have tried to help her, but she remains in a state of utter hopelessness. Can her life be rejuvenated?
The telling of the actual story in this book wasn’t anything super exciting, although I did appreciate a lot of fun vocabulary words that were carefully woven in, making the mystery feel more authentic somehow. I also just happen to love vocabulary words...
I’m just stuck on the “background storyline”. To be honest, I didn’t care all that much about the mystery itself, I just cared about Dinah. Warning: this story is heartbreaking.
Dinah Harris has let go of her life and decided to not really care about, well, anything because of one event that I was itching to know the details of so I will not tell it, as it greatly enhances the storyline. Many people have tried to help her, but she remains in a state of utter hopelessness. Can her life be rejuvenated?
The telling of the actual story in this book wasn’t anything super exciting, although I did appreciate a lot of fun vocabulary words that were carefully woven in, making the mystery feel more authentic somehow. I also just happen to love vocabulary words...
I’m just stuck on the “background storyline”. To be honest, I didn’t care all that much about the mystery itself, I just cared about Dinah. Warning: this story is heartbreaking.
April 19, 2022
This was a great Christian mystery! I enjoyed reading it and was shocked by the ending...it is a cliffhanger leading into the second book of the series.
You follow Dinah, and FBI agent, who is struggling with alcohol and the loss of her family. She is brought in to help on the case of a missing person.
As she is trying to work on this missing person case, she starts hearing about creationism vs evolution. And finding friends where she never thought possible.
I feel that Julie Cave did a great job in writing this book. She had all the evidence and did her research, making this a very good book. I cannot wait to read the second book.
*I received the digital copy of this book from Master Books in exchange for my honest review.
You follow Dinah, and FBI agent, who is struggling with alcohol and the loss of her family. She is brought in to help on the case of a missing person.
As she is trying to work on this missing person case, she starts hearing about creationism vs evolution. And finding friends where she never thought possible.
I feel that Julie Cave did a great job in writing this book. She had all the evidence and did her research, making this a very good book. I cannot wait to read the second book.
*I received the digital copy of this book from Master Books in exchange for my honest review.
July 9, 2019
I think this book is really cool. The creation/evolution arguments were well-argued and make sense; I also think the last third of the book was so inspiring! The mystery was captivating, and I was enthralled by Dinah's backstory.
That said, I do have a few cautions: there is mild violence, as this book is a murder mystery. Dead bodies are found, and while the author doesn't go into much detail, the descriptions are slightly graphic. I don't recommend this book for anyone under the ages of 13.
That said, I do have a few cautions: there is mild violence, as this book is a murder mystery. Dead bodies are found, and while the author doesn't go into much detail, the descriptions are slightly graphic. I don't recommend this book for anyone under the ages of 13.
April 29, 2022
I really enjoyed the book Deadly Disclosures. The plot of the book follows Dinah Harris, an FBI agent, who is put on the case of a very influential missing person. Throughout the book Dinah struggles with tragedy in her past which leads her to a current struggle with alcohol addiction. I was equally interested in Dinah's backstory and what would come of her situation as I was the mystery she was working on. As the mystery progresses and facts become uncovered, you realize how important the creation vs. evolution debate can be in the realm of those with influence. There are lots of plot twists and turns as more people are "silenced" to keep the truth from being discovered. I was left guessing until the very end who was the mastermind behind it all, and it was someone not even on my radar.
I would definitely recommend this read to others but would like to add that the alcohol addiction Dinah struggles with is very real and a pretty big part of the story, so it might be hard for someone to read who has had a similar struggle or knows someone closely who struggles in the same way. I received this ebook in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
I would definitely recommend this read to others but would like to add that the alcohol addiction Dinah struggles with is very real and a pretty big part of the story, so it might be hard for someone to read who has had a similar struggle or knows someone closely who struggles in the same way. I received this ebook in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
November 3, 2017
Nederlandse versie gelezen. Dat ik het boek een heel weekend kon laten liggen, zegt wel genoeg. Veel bla bla over evolutionisten en creationisten. Veel bladzijdes overgeslagen. Ik heb doorgelezen omdat ik wilde weten wat er gebeurd was met het gezin van de hoofdpersoon. Toen ik dat wist heb ik niet meer verder gelezen.
May 7, 2018
I live this book! As someone who has struggled with depression, these characters were SOOOO relatable! The outstanding detail to criminal investigation had my jaw to my knees!! It has a lot of talk of achohol, depression, suicide, homicide, and gore. If you're under the age of 15, I wouldn't recommend it 😊
November 19, 2017
Our bookclub all liked this book
Well researched on evolution position . Exciting mystery kept me guessing. Clearly defined the life changing gospel of Jesus. Can't wait to read more
Well researched on evolution position . Exciting mystery kept me guessing. Clearly defined the life changing gospel of Jesus. Can't wait to read more
November 28, 2011
Deadly Disclosures is the first book in the Dinah Harris Mystery series published by Master books. As you may surmise from the series name, the main character is Dinah Harris. When we first encounter her in the story, she is a mostly washed up FBI agent, who is struggling with depression, alcoholism and is on the verge of suicide. The one thing that keeps her going, the routine that gets her up in the morning is her job. At one time Dinah was a highly respected FBI field agent, but after one of her cases goes horribly wrong, Dinah was removed from active field duty and now spends her days instructing the fresh off the farm FBI recruits. For better or worse, this was her day to day existence until a mysterious abduction thrusts her back into active field duty.
The seemingly unlikely abduction victim is Thomas Whitfield, secretary of the Smithsonian. As Dinah and her partner Ferguson begin their investigation of the alleged crime, it seems that nobody is willing to admit to any conflicts with Thomas Whitfield or want of doing him harm. However, the deeper they dig, the higher the number of people who are getting threatened or harmed along the way to protect some unknown secret. Dinah and Ferguson are unable to catch a break in the case until they meet Andy Coleman, president of Genesis Legacy, a Christian apologetics organization. Andy shares with them the story of how he and Thomas Whitfield got to know each other on the debate circuit, Thomas making the case for evolution and Andy making the case for creation / intelligent design. Through an unlikely meeting in the aftermath of the horror of Columbine High School, the direction of their relationship begins to change and Andy is able to tell Thomas about the faith that underlies his belief in a creator and intelligent design. Through this and a series of follow up conversations, Andy shares the gospel with Thomas, who eventually repents and accepts Christ as his Lord and Savior. Along with this new found faith, comes a rejection of his former beliefs in evolution. While this would be highly unpopular within the circles Thomas runs in, Dinah and Ferguson struggle to come to terms with whether or not it’d be enough to get him murdered.
There are still many more exciting twists and turns in the story that I could share, but I’ll end my spoilers for now as I want readers to be able to fully enjoy the story for themselves. All thing considered, Deadly Disclosures is a great piece of fictional writing. The book moves along at a fast pace, which made it really hard to put down. I actually finished the entire novel in about 48 hours. The story that unfolds around the creation / evolution debate felt like it was pulled from the headlines. The interchanges with Andy Coleman throughout the story provide an excellent summary of the case for creation / intelligent design over evolution. There are also several clear articulations of the gospel in the story that take place between Andy Coleman and Thomas Whitfield and eventually between the Colemans (Andy and Sandra) and Dinah. Although Deadly Disclosures is a work of fiction, it does a great job of taking on some raw life issues (tragic loss, depression, alcoholism, etc.) and showing that Jesus Christ is all sufficient, able to heal the deepest of wounds and deliver from even the deepest of hurts. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Deadly Disclosures and would highly recommend it, both as an excellent fictional story and for its presentation of the creation / evolution debate and its presentation of the gospel. Readers who enjoy Deadly Disclosures will also want to consider The Shadowed Mind (Master Books, 2010) and Pieces of Light (Master Books, 2011), books two and three in the Dinah Harris Mystery series.
Author Information:
Julie Cave credits her parents for introducing her to books at a young age, which fostered an enduring passion for reading and writing. As a child, her favorite authors were Enid Blyton and C.S. Lewis and it wasn’t long before she began copying them, writing short stories for anyone who would read them. At fifteen, two things happened which would shape her future: she heard a creation science speaker at her church which cemented her faith in God; and she finished her second novel-length story and realized she had fallen in love with writing novels. After school, she completed a health science degree, got married, and worked in banking and finance. All the while she wondered how she could combine her love of writing and her strong passion for Christian apologetics and evangelism. One weekend at a church camp, a friend asked, ‘What if the guy in charge of the Smithsonian Institution went missing?’ The result – and the answer to that question – is Julie’s maiden published novel, Deadly Disclosures. Since then, Julie has written and released the other two books in this trilogy, The Shadowed Mind and Pieces of Light. Julie has two daughters and lives in Brisbane, Australia with her family. She divides her time between being a wife, a mother and an author.
Disclaimer:
This book was provided by Master Books for review. The reviewer was under no obligation to offer a favorable review.
The seemingly unlikely abduction victim is Thomas Whitfield, secretary of the Smithsonian. As Dinah and her partner Ferguson begin their investigation of the alleged crime, it seems that nobody is willing to admit to any conflicts with Thomas Whitfield or want of doing him harm. However, the deeper they dig, the higher the number of people who are getting threatened or harmed along the way to protect some unknown secret. Dinah and Ferguson are unable to catch a break in the case until they meet Andy Coleman, president of Genesis Legacy, a Christian apologetics organization. Andy shares with them the story of how he and Thomas Whitfield got to know each other on the debate circuit, Thomas making the case for evolution and Andy making the case for creation / intelligent design. Through an unlikely meeting in the aftermath of the horror of Columbine High School, the direction of their relationship begins to change and Andy is able to tell Thomas about the faith that underlies his belief in a creator and intelligent design. Through this and a series of follow up conversations, Andy shares the gospel with Thomas, who eventually repents and accepts Christ as his Lord and Savior. Along with this new found faith, comes a rejection of his former beliefs in evolution. While this would be highly unpopular within the circles Thomas runs in, Dinah and Ferguson struggle to come to terms with whether or not it’d be enough to get him murdered.
There are still many more exciting twists and turns in the story that I could share, but I’ll end my spoilers for now as I want readers to be able to fully enjoy the story for themselves. All thing considered, Deadly Disclosures is a great piece of fictional writing. The book moves along at a fast pace, which made it really hard to put down. I actually finished the entire novel in about 48 hours. The story that unfolds around the creation / evolution debate felt like it was pulled from the headlines. The interchanges with Andy Coleman throughout the story provide an excellent summary of the case for creation / intelligent design over evolution. There are also several clear articulations of the gospel in the story that take place between Andy Coleman and Thomas Whitfield and eventually between the Colemans (Andy and Sandra) and Dinah. Although Deadly Disclosures is a work of fiction, it does a great job of taking on some raw life issues (tragic loss, depression, alcoholism, etc.) and showing that Jesus Christ is all sufficient, able to heal the deepest of wounds and deliver from even the deepest of hurts. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Deadly Disclosures and would highly recommend it, both as an excellent fictional story and for its presentation of the creation / evolution debate and its presentation of the gospel. Readers who enjoy Deadly Disclosures will also want to consider The Shadowed Mind (Master Books, 2010) and Pieces of Light (Master Books, 2011), books two and three in the Dinah Harris Mystery series.
Author Information:
Julie Cave credits her parents for introducing her to books at a young age, which fostered an enduring passion for reading and writing. As a child, her favorite authors were Enid Blyton and C.S. Lewis and it wasn’t long before she began copying them, writing short stories for anyone who would read them. At fifteen, two things happened which would shape her future: she heard a creation science speaker at her church which cemented her faith in God; and she finished her second novel-length story and realized she had fallen in love with writing novels. After school, she completed a health science degree, got married, and worked in banking and finance. All the while she wondered how she could combine her love of writing and her strong passion for Christian apologetics and evangelism. One weekend at a church camp, a friend asked, ‘What if the guy in charge of the Smithsonian Institution went missing?’ The result – and the answer to that question – is Julie’s maiden published novel, Deadly Disclosures. Since then, Julie has written and released the other two books in this trilogy, The Shadowed Mind and Pieces of Light. Julie has two daughters and lives in Brisbane, Australia with her family. She divides her time between being a wife, a mother and an author.
Disclaimer:
This book was provided by Master Books for review. The reviewer was under no obligation to offer a favorable review.
June 21, 2017
The story was fine though somewhat sophomoric. Cave was heavy handed in her evangelism of Christian beliefs.
February 24, 2018
For dated fiction, it still is somewhat relevant to our time. There was some repetitious moments, but overall, a very good first book for Julie Cave.
January 18, 2021
Good book. Suspenseful. I appreciated the Gospel message included.
April 29, 2022
Deadly Disclosures (A Dinah Harris Mystery) by Julie Cave
FBI Special Agents Dinah Harris and David Ferguson are on the hunt after Thomas Whitfield, secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, has gone missing. What ultimately unfolds is a struggle between Creationism and Evolution as a conspiracy is uncovered.
Not only was I drawn into the mystery of Whitfield’s disappearance, but the character development of Dinah Harris kept me wanting more. After the loss of her family, her story slowly unfolds as she struggles with balancing her work life with her personal life filled with alcoholism and depression.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read the remainder of the books in this series. Each chapter brought a new surprise that I was not expecting. I would definitely recommend this book, but for mature teens because of some of the sensitive topics discussed. Not only are you getting a great, clean, mystery, but you also get a book that takes on serious issues and becomes a story of redemption.
I received a free copy of the eBook format of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.
FBI Special Agents Dinah Harris and David Ferguson are on the hunt after Thomas Whitfield, secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, has gone missing. What ultimately unfolds is a struggle between Creationism and Evolution as a conspiracy is uncovered.
Not only was I drawn into the mystery of Whitfield’s disappearance, but the character development of Dinah Harris kept me wanting more. After the loss of her family, her story slowly unfolds as she struggles with balancing her work life with her personal life filled with alcoholism and depression.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read the remainder of the books in this series. Each chapter brought a new surprise that I was not expecting. I would definitely recommend this book, but for mature teens because of some of the sensitive topics discussed. Not only are you getting a great, clean, mystery, but you also get a book that takes on serious issues and becomes a story of redemption.
I received a free copy of the eBook format of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.
August 18, 2022
A great story
December 6, 2023
Content warning for depression, alcoholism, and suicide.
July 6, 2023
I really do appreciate what this book was trying to do, and it wouldn't be a bad reading for say, a teenage girl who loves Nancy Drew and wants to branch out a bit. The creation/evolution debate is a smidge heavy handed, but does make for a decent plot point, and I do always like it when Christian authors are trying to tackle real, difficult life stuff in their novels.
That said, I think this particular author was trying to go a bit too far outside her personal experience in portraying that difficult life stuff... Her descriptions of alcohol usage/abuse were so nonsensical as to really distract from the story being told. (For example, a character drinks a bottle of wine in the evening and is supposed to be still drunk and reeking of alcohol the next morning. Apparently the author doesn't know the difference between wine and hard alcohol?)
I had similar but milder confusions with how the FBI supposedly works, but that's pretty standard for mysteries in general, so I'll mostly give that a pass.
If you decide to give this book a go, do be prepared for mild descriptions of torture, a plot thread involving school shootings, references to child death, lots of depression with suicidal thoughts and a suicide attempt, the above mentioned (weirdly depicted) alcoholism, and depictions of unhappy marriages.
That said, I think this particular author was trying to go a bit too far outside her personal experience in portraying that difficult life stuff... Her descriptions of alcohol usage/abuse were so nonsensical as to really distract from the story being told. (For example, a character drinks a bottle of wine in the evening and is supposed to be still drunk and reeking of alcohol the next morning. Apparently the author doesn't know the difference between wine and hard alcohol?)
I had similar but milder confusions with how the FBI supposedly works, but that's pretty standard for mysteries in general, so I'll mostly give that a pass.
If you decide to give this book a go, do be prepared for mild descriptions of torture, a plot thread involving school shootings, references to child death, lots of depression with suicidal thoughts and a suicide attempt, the above mentioned (weirdly depicted) alcoholism, and depictions of unhappy marriages.
January 4, 2024
I enjoyed this book, but think the second and third in the series are better
January 15, 2019
Alhoewel het boek niet altijd makkelijk wegleest en het even duurt voordat je erin zit, heeft het een waardevolle inhoud. Ik vind het met name origineel dat het een christelijke kijk op de wereld vanuit de wetenschap beschrijft tegen de achtergrond van de evolutietheorie. Als je dan bedenkt wat voor zware onderwerpen dat zijn, dan is het eigenlijk wel erg knap hoe 'simpel' Julie Cave dat in haar verhaal heeft weergegeven. Toch miste ik soms wat snelheid en had ik af en toe van die frustrerende momentjes zoals: kom op, die link tussen dit en dat had je als detective allang moeten leggen! Ook snapte ik Dinah Harris, de hoofdpersoon, niet altijd, met name omdat haar verleden lang onduidelijk blijft.
July 30, 2021
Summary: Deadly Disclosures by Julie Cave is a mystery. But it’s not just that. It’s an amazing book that unpacks many issues like depression, the creation vs. evolution debate, and dealing thoughts of suicide. We begin with a ‘sneak peek’ of the underlying, sinister mystery groundwork that’s being laid. Thomas Whitfield, who’s the secretary of the Smithsonian Institute, is currently writing a paper which he plans to present to the board at the Institute. However, something happens and Thomas just disappears. His office is cleared out of any documents, his computer is wiped, and there is no forensic evidence left. The board suspects an abduction, so they hire the FBI to look into it. On the case they place our main character Dinah Harris, and her partner Ferguson. Dinah used to be in the gang control department, but got removed after a tragic accident involving her drinking problem and a young man being killed as a result. The first glance at the case seems to say that Thomas has left of his own accord. But the second says that he was kidnapped. Questioning the board members like Catherine Biscelli, Justice Pryor, and Senator Winters do no good. Nothing helpful comes up. Until Thomas’ secretary Lara calls Dinah and asks to talk with her. But when Lara doesn’t show and Dinah and Ferguson find her unconscious and bloodily beaten in her shower, they know the conspiracy stretches beyond Whitfield. Will Dinah be able to unravel the web of layers to the mystery and catch culprit? Or will her alcoholic problem entangle her from pursuing the truth?
Worldviews: I actually found these books at the Answers in Genesis’ Creation Museum a few years ago on a family road trip. If you haven’t been there, you should go. But that’s besides the point right now. Anyways, it was my birthday, so my dad got these books for me. Good choice Dad. They were awesome and I was done the first two books before we’d even wrapped up our trip. Julie Cave is a Christian author, and I love how this book mixes in scientific proof for the Biblical worldview against the faulty evolutionist worldview, all the while making it a vital part of the gripping storyline. There is another prominent worldview being featured here, and that’s of course the evolutionist/atheistic one. One of the characters was actually an evolutionist, but converted to Christianity when he saw the overwhelming proof of a young Earth worldview. So obviously this book is very pro-Creation, which I am a huge fan of.
Foul Language: No bad words.
Violence: There was definitely a bunch of violence. Now don’t get scared when I say this, because it’s not overly gory, at least from my perspective. I mean, this is an FBI murder mystery novel, of course there’s going to be violence. I will advise caution for
Romance: Literally zero. Some flashbacks to when Dinah met her husband Luke, but that’s basically it.
Alcohol: Dinah is actually an alcoholic, which was kind of an amazing redemption story that we get to see played out through the series. There were some scenes describing her hangovers, throwing up as a result of drinking, her going into the store to buy alcohol, and then her drinking and passing out. The main reason for her drinking is that she’s still grieving and depressed over the loss of her husband and child, so she’s choosing to drown her sorrows in wine. Don’t do this. It just damages you more.
Rating and recommended age level: I’m rating this 4 stars. This book was truly so suspenseful, and this series has been my go to mysteries. I have seen a lot of reviews on Goodreads about the story being too tedious and amateur, but honestly, I like it a lot. I think the flow of the plot worked very well for me personally. Some other reviews also say the creation vs. evolution part is way too preachy, but honestly I believe that it kind of needed to be that long to give accurate and detailed proof in the arguments. Yes, it may be tedious to read, but it’s worth it. As for the age level, I’m definitely going to give it a 13-14+ due to the mature content. But this is an amazing book to read. 10/10 recommend!
Worldviews: I actually found these books at the Answers in Genesis’ Creation Museum a few years ago on a family road trip. If you haven’t been there, you should go. But that’s besides the point right now. Anyways, it was my birthday, so my dad got these books for me. Good choice Dad. They were awesome and I was done the first two books before we’d even wrapped up our trip. Julie Cave is a Christian author, and I love how this book mixes in scientific proof for the Biblical worldview against the faulty evolutionist worldview, all the while making it a vital part of the gripping storyline. There is another prominent worldview being featured here, and that’s of course the evolutionist/atheistic one. One of the characters was actually an evolutionist, but converted to Christianity when he saw the overwhelming proof of a young Earth worldview. So obviously this book is very pro-Creation, which I am a huge fan of.
Foul Language: No bad words.
Violence: There was definitely a bunch of violence. Now don’t get scared when I say this, because it’s not overly gory, at least from my perspective. I mean, this is an FBI murder mystery novel, of course there’s going to be violence. I will advise caution for
Romance: Literally zero. Some flashbacks to when Dinah met her husband Luke, but that’s basically it.
Alcohol: Dinah is actually an alcoholic, which was kind of an amazing redemption story that we get to see played out through the series. There were some scenes describing her hangovers, throwing up as a result of drinking, her going into the store to buy alcohol, and then her drinking and passing out. The main reason for her drinking is that she’s still grieving and depressed over the loss of her husband and child, so she’s choosing to drown her sorrows in wine. Don’t do this. It just damages you more.
Rating and recommended age level: I’m rating this 4 stars. This book was truly so suspenseful, and this series has been my go to mysteries. I have seen a lot of reviews on Goodreads about the story being too tedious and amateur, but honestly, I like it a lot. I think the flow of the plot worked very well for me personally. Some other reviews also say the creation vs. evolution part is way too preachy, but honestly I believe that it kind of needed to be that long to give accurate and detailed proof in the arguments. Yes, it may be tedious to read, but it’s worth it. As for the age level, I’m definitely going to give it a 13-14+ due to the mature content. But this is an amazing book to read. 10/10 recommend!
July 8, 2015
I’m so thankful to have received a review copy of this compelling, enlightening, mystery. I’d watched Expelled by Ben Stein. He interviewed scientists who believed in creationism and scientists who believed in Darwinism. I didn’t fully understand the conflict he described. Julie Cave made this matter clear and helped me understand the huge battle raging in the science world. Julie’s passion for defending the bible’s account of creation spilled out into the pages of this book.
Thomas Whitfield, secretary of the Smithsonian, says to a fellow scientist Andy Coleman, “Okay, I can understand your arguments but I’ve just never been able to take God seriously. Science has the answers for so many problems. Look at what we’ve achieved in the medical field.”
“Believing in God and being a scientist are not mutually exclusive, Thomas. While I agree with you that science has found answers for many things, it falls short in many ways. For example, can science explain why that young man put on a mask and gunned down his fellow students?....Science can’t really explain the essence of our humanity, or our spirit and soul.”
I was gripped at the debates these two gentlemen had throughout this novel; above is just a snippet of things they discussed. Julie penned such a compelling story on many levels. Her characters are believable. I had compassion in my heart as each struggled to get answers to Thomas Whitfield’s murder and the meaning of life.
FBI Agent Dinah is fighting demons of her own, as she tries to drown them and numb the pain she can’t seem to get over. Ferguson, her partner, went out on a limb to get her on this case. She didn’t want to let him down, but she can tell he’s exasperated with her. He could smell the alcohol on her breath and could tell she has a hung over. He rolled his eyes and wondered where the brilliantly minded Dinah he knew was? She wondered the same thing. She had to find a way to get her act together and find the murderer.
Among all the FBI drama, police raids and finding clues to catch the murderer, there are some funny scenes with the guy who runs the forensic tests. Julie has the perfect blend of humor, drama, mystery and debates, as well as her characters dealing with issues of the heart.
I liked how this author had Dinah or Ferguson ask a question or discover something new about the case and wonder why he or she would do that, then the author would flash back to the event and you got to see first hand what exactly happened. This was very effective. I learned so much from this story. I was drawn into it hook, line and sinker. I can’t wait to read another book by this author.
Disclosure of Material Connection:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
Nora St. Laurent
The Book Club Network www.bookfun.org
The Book Club Network www.psalm516.blogspot.com
Book Fun Magazine www.bookfunmagazine.com
Thomas Whitfield, secretary of the Smithsonian, says to a fellow scientist Andy Coleman, “Okay, I can understand your arguments but I’ve just never been able to take God seriously. Science has the answers for so many problems. Look at what we’ve achieved in the medical field.”
“Believing in God and being a scientist are not mutually exclusive, Thomas. While I agree with you that science has found answers for many things, it falls short in many ways. For example, can science explain why that young man put on a mask and gunned down his fellow students?....Science can’t really explain the essence of our humanity, or our spirit and soul.”
I was gripped at the debates these two gentlemen had throughout this novel; above is just a snippet of things they discussed. Julie penned such a compelling story on many levels. Her characters are believable. I had compassion in my heart as each struggled to get answers to Thomas Whitfield’s murder and the meaning of life.
FBI Agent Dinah is fighting demons of her own, as she tries to drown them and numb the pain she can’t seem to get over. Ferguson, her partner, went out on a limb to get her on this case. She didn’t want to let him down, but she can tell he’s exasperated with her. He could smell the alcohol on her breath and could tell she has a hung over. He rolled his eyes and wondered where the brilliantly minded Dinah he knew was? She wondered the same thing. She had to find a way to get her act together and find the murderer.
Among all the FBI drama, police raids and finding clues to catch the murderer, there are some funny scenes with the guy who runs the forensic tests. Julie has the perfect blend of humor, drama, mystery and debates, as well as her characters dealing with issues of the heart.
I liked how this author had Dinah or Ferguson ask a question or discover something new about the case and wonder why he or she would do that, then the author would flash back to the event and you got to see first hand what exactly happened. This was very effective. I learned so much from this story. I was drawn into it hook, line and sinker. I can’t wait to read another book by this author.
Disclosure of Material Connection:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
Nora St. Laurent
The Book Club Network www.bookfun.org
The Book Club Network www.psalm516.blogspot.com
Book Fun Magazine www.bookfunmagazine.com
December 6, 2010
Book Review by Kim G. Jones
“Deadly Disclosures” by Julie Cave
Classified as Fiction
WARNING! This book should come with a warning!
If you begin to read this book at night, you will not get much sleep because you won’t want to put this book down! If you read this book during the day, it MIGHT cause you to neglect your work because you just have to keep reading to see what’s around the next corner!
Julie Cave, the author, is a word artist in this book! Her descriptions of Dinah Harris, the main character, practically leap off the pages as you discover Dinah’s interesting character traits! The action, adventure and suspense she has woven through the book create vivid images that make this book hard to put down!
Julie Cave builds this book around a character, Dinah Harris, an FBI agent with “skeletons in her closet.” Dinah’s assignment to a high level, priority case with agent David Ferguson leads through dangerous twists and turns that surprised and astounded me.
Dinah’s case: Discover what happened to Thomas Whitfield, secretary for the Smithsonian. He has seemingly disappeared into thin air! The discovery of Whitefield’s body leads Dinah on a treacherous investigation that eventually causes Dinah’s life to be jeopardized!
You will want to rush through this book to discover for yourself the answers to this clever mystery. HOWEVER, do take the time to enjoy this journey – because – also tucked away in this mystery is yet another mystery of faith that is REALLY ASTOUNDING!
I have read this book twice now, which I rarely do, and I enjoyed the second reading even more than the first! Also, while this book fits into the fiction category, through a little “investigation” of my own, I have discovered that this book is closer to fact than you can even imagine! The scientific reasoning and documentation in this book are accurate! The threats and dangers that Creationist in this book face are also portrayed in an accurate manner! This book has inspired me to continue to study and grow in my faith!
If you love well-written mystery with suspense you will love this book! But if you start reading it at night, don’t say I didn’t warn you if you can’t put it down and get no sleep!
Special Note: Julie has written well! It is refreshing to me that No profanity or pornographic writing appears in this book. The main character, Dinah Harris does have character flaws, but the writer has dealt with them very tastefully. This book is classified as Christian Fiction.
“Deadly Disclosures” by Julie Cave
Classified as Fiction
WARNING! This book should come with a warning!
If you begin to read this book at night, you will not get much sleep because you won’t want to put this book down! If you read this book during the day, it MIGHT cause you to neglect your work because you just have to keep reading to see what’s around the next corner!
Julie Cave, the author, is a word artist in this book! Her descriptions of Dinah Harris, the main character, practically leap off the pages as you discover Dinah’s interesting character traits! The action, adventure and suspense she has woven through the book create vivid images that make this book hard to put down!
Julie Cave builds this book around a character, Dinah Harris, an FBI agent with “skeletons in her closet.” Dinah’s assignment to a high level, priority case with agent David Ferguson leads through dangerous twists and turns that surprised and astounded me.
Dinah’s case: Discover what happened to Thomas Whitfield, secretary for the Smithsonian. He has seemingly disappeared into thin air! The discovery of Whitefield’s body leads Dinah on a treacherous investigation that eventually causes Dinah’s life to be jeopardized!
You will want to rush through this book to discover for yourself the answers to this clever mystery. HOWEVER, do take the time to enjoy this journey – because – also tucked away in this mystery is yet another mystery of faith that is REALLY ASTOUNDING!
I have read this book twice now, which I rarely do, and I enjoyed the second reading even more than the first! Also, while this book fits into the fiction category, through a little “investigation” of my own, I have discovered that this book is closer to fact than you can even imagine! The scientific reasoning and documentation in this book are accurate! The threats and dangers that Creationist in this book face are also portrayed in an accurate manner! This book has inspired me to continue to study and grow in my faith!
If you love well-written mystery with suspense you will love this book! But if you start reading it at night, don’t say I didn’t warn you if you can’t put it down and get no sleep!
Special Note: Julie has written well! It is refreshing to me that No profanity or pornographic writing appears in this book. The main character, Dinah Harris does have character flaws, but the writer has dealt with them very tastefully. This book is classified as Christian Fiction.
December 11, 2011
Julie Cave first heard a creation science speaker at her church when she was just 15, igniting her interest in creation science and sparking an enthusiasm for defending the Bible’s account of creation. She has obtained a degree in health science, and is currently completing a degree in law. Julie is married with one daughter and lives on the east coast of Australia. You can learn more about Julie and her books by stopping by her website, http://juliecave.com/.
In "Deadly Disclosures", book one in the Dinah Harris Mystery series, we first meet FBI investigator Dinah Harris. Dinah is struggling with a personal tragedy which is causing her personal and professional world to unravel. As Dinah struggles with her personal demons, she and her FBI partner, Ferguson, work to unravel the disappearance and subsequent murder of the Secretary of the Smithsonian, Thomas Whitfield.
Their investigation leads them to the Board of Regents for the Smithsonian. The board is composed of such people as the Supreme Court Chief Justice and Chancellor Maxwell Pryor, the Vice President of the United States, Charles Ransome, three Senators, three Congressmen, and CEOs of various businesses. These were people that would need to be treated carefully, but would Dinah be able to do so, or would her abrasive personality cause more problems for them?
As the investigation progresses, it becomes more deadly as two people who spoke with Dinah and Ferguson turn up dead. With the body count rising, Dinah runs into more personal troubles when her drinking starts hindering her ability to function at work. Will meeting Andy Coleman, a Christian Scientist who often debated against Thomas Whitfield, help Dinah find the faith she needs to save her life?
The book is fast paced and kept me turning the pages to find out what would happen next. Although this is the first book in the series, it is actually the second "Dinah Harris Mystery" which I've read. As with my first book by Julie Cave, I found myself drawn into the story-line and riveted by Julie's writing style. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who love mystery and suspense with a message of faith and God's love masterfully woven in.
In "Deadly Disclosures", book one in the Dinah Harris Mystery series, we first meet FBI investigator Dinah Harris. Dinah is struggling with a personal tragedy which is causing her personal and professional world to unravel. As Dinah struggles with her personal demons, she and her FBI partner, Ferguson, work to unravel the disappearance and subsequent murder of the Secretary of the Smithsonian, Thomas Whitfield.
Their investigation leads them to the Board of Regents for the Smithsonian. The board is composed of such people as the Supreme Court Chief Justice and Chancellor Maxwell Pryor, the Vice President of the United States, Charles Ransome, three Senators, three Congressmen, and CEOs of various businesses. These were people that would need to be treated carefully, but would Dinah be able to do so, or would her abrasive personality cause more problems for them?
As the investigation progresses, it becomes more deadly as two people who spoke with Dinah and Ferguson turn up dead. With the body count rising, Dinah runs into more personal troubles when her drinking starts hindering her ability to function at work. Will meeting Andy Coleman, a Christian Scientist who often debated against Thomas Whitfield, help Dinah find the faith she needs to save her life?
The book is fast paced and kept me turning the pages to find out what would happen next. Although this is the first book in the series, it is actually the second "Dinah Harris Mystery" which I've read. As with my first book by Julie Cave, I found myself drawn into the story-line and riveted by Julie's writing style. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who love mystery and suspense with a message of faith and God's love masterfully woven in.
January 4, 2019
Title: Deadly Disclosers: A Dinah Harris Mystery
Author: Julie Cave
Published: 2010
Genre: Fiction/Christian/Suspense
Summary: Dinah Harris is an FBI agent with a bad past and a low position in the work ladder because of her past mistakes and on top of that she is an alcoholic. However the recent disappearance of Thomas Whitfield, a high member of the Smithsonian gives her the chance to redeem herself. She and her partner Ferguson start the case trying to find if they can find out where Whitfield disappeared to, and why he disappeared. When they find Whitfield dead they start to learn that his death is bigger then they thought, and that his religion had a big part to play in why he was gotten rid of. Dinah soon finds that the debate of does God exist is more important in the case than she thought. But before she can find the killer, she has to overcome her own problems and face her own past.
What I liked about it: As someone who doesn't read many suspense/legal thrillers, I found this to be really interesting. I will admit I was a little young when I first read this, but having read this book and the three following it, I will say they are really interesting. Ms. Cave takes serious issues like Creation vs Evolution, Eugenics and the value of human life, hatred for the Church and Domestic violence, and Racism and weaves them into her stories in a way that makes you understand why some people believe what they do, while still explaining why God’s grace covers all and all people are fallen and can be forgiven. Her villains are realistic and she does a good job of keeping you wondering who they are until the end of the book.
Language: Some but not that much.
Romance: Dinah is widowed, and it talks about how much she loved her husband and son but there is no romance.
Violence: This is definitely a murder mystery, it's not too graphic but it is definitely not for little kids.
Magic: None
Recommended Age: Like I said above, I was kind of young when I started reading these, I would recommend them for 14 or 15 and up. Because of the more mature themes.
Author: Julie Cave
Published: 2010
Genre: Fiction/Christian/Suspense
Summary: Dinah Harris is an FBI agent with a bad past and a low position in the work ladder because of her past mistakes and on top of that she is an alcoholic. However the recent disappearance of Thomas Whitfield, a high member of the Smithsonian gives her the chance to redeem herself. She and her partner Ferguson start the case trying to find if they can find out where Whitfield disappeared to, and why he disappeared. When they find Whitfield dead they start to learn that his death is bigger then they thought, and that his religion had a big part to play in why he was gotten rid of. Dinah soon finds that the debate of does God exist is more important in the case than she thought. But before she can find the killer, she has to overcome her own problems and face her own past.
What I liked about it: As someone who doesn't read many suspense/legal thrillers, I found this to be really interesting. I will admit I was a little young when I first read this, but having read this book and the three following it, I will say they are really interesting. Ms. Cave takes serious issues like Creation vs Evolution, Eugenics and the value of human life, hatred for the Church and Domestic violence, and Racism and weaves them into her stories in a way that makes you understand why some people believe what they do, while still explaining why God’s grace covers all and all people are fallen and can be forgiven. Her villains are realistic and she does a good job of keeping you wondering who they are until the end of the book.
Language: Some but not that much.
Romance: Dinah is widowed, and it talks about how much she loved her husband and son but there is no romance.
Violence: This is definitely a murder mystery, it's not too graphic but it is definitely not for little kids.
Magic: None
Recommended Age: Like I said above, I was kind of young when I started reading these, I would recommend them for 14 or 15 and up. Because of the more mature themes.
April 7, 2010
Dinah Harris is a washed up FBI agent who has a major drinking problem. She should have been fired, but the powers that be, figured surely she couldn't cause too much harm in a teaching position. However her friend Agent Ferguson, believes that she is not washed up and still has great skills to offer in helping to solve a delicate case. The Secretary of the Smithsonian has gone missing and he needs to be found, and publicity needs to be kept low.
Ferguson and Harris, work together trying to figure out why in the world anyone would kidnap a nice mild mannered man like Thomas Whitfield. They find the deeper they dig the more complex this case becomes. Not only that, the investigation quickly turns into a murder investigation when Thomas Whitfield's body shows up in the trunk of a car fixing to be crushed for scrap. They really are baffled to figure out why anyone would want the man dead, he seemed to have no enemies, but when people talk to the FBI about this case they have a tendency to wind up dead. Three of the people they have talked to about Thomas Whitfield have been found dead. How many people will die before they solve this case? And how high is the stakes in this case, it seems that the powers that be, have lots of control over the decisions being made about the case.
Dinah will face her own demons from her past, will they destroy her? Has Ferguson wasted his time, effort and trust on a drunk?
Julie Cave, has brought an exciting story, that follows along with the political climate of America. This book will have you on the edge of your seat as you realize that some of the things you are reading are just a bit too real for your peace of mind. Do not miss this book!!! 283 pages $9.99 US 5 stars
This book was provided by the publisher for review purposes only, no payment was received for this review
Ferguson and Harris, work together trying to figure out why in the world anyone would kidnap a nice mild mannered man like Thomas Whitfield. They find the deeper they dig the more complex this case becomes. Not only that, the investigation quickly turns into a murder investigation when Thomas Whitfield's body shows up in the trunk of a car fixing to be crushed for scrap. They really are baffled to figure out why anyone would want the man dead, he seemed to have no enemies, but when people talk to the FBI about this case they have a tendency to wind up dead. Three of the people they have talked to about Thomas Whitfield have been found dead. How many people will die before they solve this case? And how high is the stakes in this case, it seems that the powers that be, have lots of control over the decisions being made about the case.
Dinah will face her own demons from her past, will they destroy her? Has Ferguson wasted his time, effort and trust on a drunk?
Julie Cave, has brought an exciting story, that follows along with the political climate of America. This book will have you on the edge of your seat as you realize that some of the things you are reading are just a bit too real for your peace of mind. Do not miss this book!!! 283 pages $9.99 US 5 stars
This book was provided by the publisher for review purposes only, no payment was received for this review
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