Carrie Stuart Parks

Dear Readers,

Carrie Stuart Parks' newest release, When Death Draws Near has my favorite thing, a really good mystery.  It also has one of my least favorite things. Snakes.  Thankfully the snakes are what make the story a bit more of an edge of your seat mystery. 

When Death Draws Near is the third in the Gwen Marcey series.  I have enjoyed each of them, not only because of the well thought out mystery, but because I have really enjoyed getting to know the characters that Carrie writes.  Gwen herself is a very interesting character because of her back story.  

Gwen is trying to get back on her feet after her husband left her when he found out she had breast cancer.  Yup quite a low life.  She also has an amazing 12 year old daughter, who has found her way into each of the mysteries. This of course does make them a bit more intense because of the mother angle.  

In this story, Gwen finds herself in Tennessee trying to help find the Hillbilly rapist.  He kidnaps, tortures, and then releases his victims.  Each woman then quickly leaves without providing any help to the police.  They have only one picture from a security camera, but they can't make out details.    

When the case suddenly seems to close, Gwen believes she will be sent home in disgrace.  Then one of the locals, who happens to be a state senator, hires her to help identify the people who belong to the illegal snake handling church.  She just needs to infiltrate them, draw the faces and get out.  What she finds instead of a bunch of crazies that she is told about is a group of caring, loving people, who she is drawn to because they are so accepting of her and her daughter.  Who are the real criminals here? 

The rest of the mystery you are going to have to find out for yourself.   I like how Carrie is good at leading you down one path and yet laying the ground work for the correct answer to the puzzle.  I will admit I did not figure this mystery out until Carrie and Gwen practically hit me over the head with a clue or two.  

This has been a wonderful series to read.  One of the most interesting aspect of the storylines has been Gwen dealing with her after cancer life.  How everything hinges on her past treatment and how every time she goes to the doctor or has a health issue, the first thing question she asks herself is "is the cancer back?"  It just adds so much to the series.  Thank you Carrie for adding that to your books because it does remind us all what it is like to be a cancer survivor.  

Happy Reading,  

Carrie Stuart Parks

Dear Readers,

I broke the number one rule when reading thrillers.  Do not and I repeat DO NOT read a thriller while staying in a cottage in the woods.  I just did that with Carrie Stuart Parks' newest book, The Bones will Speak.  Yup sitting in the woods in the middle of nowhere and I decided reading about a serial killer was a good idea.  I will admit I probably read the book a little faster than if I was sitting at home.   At least there was a house full of people and I wasn’t alone, that would have been worse.

Gwen Macey is trying to find work as often as she can.  She thinks maybe things will be on a more even keel now and she and her daughter will be able to find a rhythm in life and move forward.  It has not been a kind couple of years with Gwen’s cancer and of course the divorce.  But things may just start looking up.  That is until her dog Winston brings home a human skull.  Well, at least part of one. 

When Gwen goes looking for the burial site for the human remains she instead finds a missing girl.  One that looks like she has been tortured and left for dead.  What really hits Gwen is how much the young teen looks like her own daughter.  Suddenly Gwen has to deal with a killer who seems to be aiming to kidnap her daughter.  Gwen just has to find the killer before they find Aynslee. 

Good clues, fun read, and a bit of a chill up the spine.  That is what makes for a wonderful thriller and this book has them all.  If you missed the first book, A Cry from the Dust, I do recommend that one first.  Get that one read so you can move on to book #2.  Just don’t read it in a cabin in the woods.  Unless you don’t like sleeping until the last page has been turned.

Happy Reading.

Carrie Stuart Parks

Dear Readers,

New author Carrie Stuart Parks’ new book A Cry From the Dust is one you don’t want to miss reading.  Especially if you are a mystery lover like me.  It was a bit different in that the main character is a forensic artist.  Gwen is just coming to the end of a time in her life that has been extremely difficult.  She fought breast cancer, her husband divorced her and then wrote a bestselling book which did not paint her in the best light, and her daughter has now entered her teenage years and it is not going well.  Oh and don’t forget she is entering early menopause because of the chemo she had.   It really has not been a great year or two. 

Finally landing a job reconstructing the faces of the victims of a massacre in 1857, Gwen is thinking things may just be turning around.  It isn’t the best situation for her daughter because the job is in Utah, but it is a start.  But someone or a group of someones does not want those faces knows.  First there are the protestors and after that there is the attack on the site following a murder.  Gwen is beginning to think she should not have taken this job after all.

Of course the mystery continues from there, but I don’t want to reveal any more to you as that is no fun and will ruin a good chunk of the book.  I loved following the trails of clues and "un-clues" that Carrie laid down for us.  As any good writer of mystery can tell you, a few rabbit trails to throw you all off is a good thing and Carrie was very good at it.   

She also includes loads of history of the Mormon church, which made the book even more interesting.  It is not done in a dry history book way, but a way that made it very much a part of the story.  I have read books that just include history of a story and boy does that make for dry reading, but Carrie doesn’t do that.  I learned a bit more about the LDS and how they ended up in Utah and who their leaders were.  It even delves into some of the beliefs they have for the end of the world. 

If you are looking for an interesting mystery to read, this is a great one to start with and I am looking forward to seeing what Carrie writes next.

Happy Reading,