"Fire Storm" by Nancy Mehl - Kaely Quinn Profiler, book 2

When FBI profiler Kaely Quinn reluctantly takes leave to take care of her ailing mother, she can't help but notice a connection between a series of house fires in the small Nebraska town. Concerned there may be a serial arsonist, Kaely offers her services to local law enforcement, never dreaming how close to home those fires will come.

If you haven't read book one, stop reading now--there are some major spoilers ahead for Mind Games, and the shock value is worth it, believe me. Don't ruin it for yourself. Plus, this book will just make more sense if you know more of Kaely's history.

It's really interesting reading from the perspective of a character with major psychological issues (Kaely's great at what she does, but she's a real doozy). I did like Mind Games a lot more than Fire Storm (mainly for that psychological blow out of left field), but I'm glad we can see more of Kaely--she's such a complex character, there's no way a single book could do her justice. She does make progress in this book, but she's got a long way to go . . . I'm still interested to see what happens next (and the description of the upcoming Dead End sounds fantastic).

Thank you Bethany House and NetGalley for the complimentary e-book. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions are my own.

Kaely Quinn Profiler
1. Mind Games
2. Fire Storm
3. Dead End (spring 2020)

Nancy Mehl's "Mind Games"

FBI profiler Kaely Quinn, daughter of a convicted serial killer, tries to stay out of the spotlight, but it's difficult with a reporter dogging her steps. When the reporter receives a threatening letter to Kaely, written in the form of a poem and hinting at multiple murders to come, they aren't sure whether to believe him, until a man fitting the description of the first victim in the poem is found dead. Then the hunt is on to find the killer before more people--and ultimately Kaely herself--meet their intended fates.

Mind Games is right--let's just say, it's not only the serial killer trying to mess with people's heads. There were some serious surprises in this story . . . I can only assume that they will be addressed in books to come, because that is a terrible (but brilliant) thing to drop on an unsuspecting reader.

I liked Kaely better than some other heroines with super-traumatic pasts that I've read--she's got major issues (no surprise), which aren't neatly wrapped up in the end, but there's hope on the horizon. And she wasn't cold, or completely holding everyone at arm's length; just incredibly wary with her trust, and with good reason. I like that Noah was careful in how he handled working with her and not letting his frustrations get the better of him; he's a good guy. I look forward to seeing him grow. And I enjoyed the team, particularly their boss, Solomon. It really felt like a high-profile, multi-agency case, where there were a lot of people working together (not just the main characters), and the majority of which were intent on catching a killer, not encouraging interdepartmental squabbles. Which is as it should be.

I was a little disappointed to have guessed the killer right away (not that I was without doubts on occasion). Though to be fair, my logic was based on experience with mystery novels rather than clues, which did ultimately point to the killer, but the author was pretty crafty in how she laid them out. It was still a satisfying mystery and clever suspense.

I'm glad to see there's another book already on the horizon, because this one demands a sequel, or more. (Not to say the case doesn't get solved--it does. But Mind Games.)

Thank you Bethany House and Goodreads for a free book. I was not required to write a review, and all opinions are my own.

Kaely Quinn Profiler
1. Mind Games
2. Fire Storm 
3. Dead End (spring 2020)

Nancy Mehl's "Blind Betrayal"

U.S. Marshal Casey Quinn and her partner are in charge of delivering an important witness to testify before Grand Jury in Washington DC--along with a Marshal from her past. When a bomb destroys the marshals' St Louis office, Casey and her colleagues are running blind, and it becomes dangerously clear that there is more to the witness's story than they realized . . .

I enjoyed getting to see the old Marshals crowd from previous books in the series. Given that the scope of the danger in this story was far more than Casey and EJ could have handled by themselves, I liked how the author kept it realistic and had the Marshals, FBI, and local Law Enforcement all working together against the threat. I also enjoyed that the author threw in a few red herrings that actually offered a few moments of relief from the intense action (just the calm before the storm, however . . .). It's an intense, complex, fast-paced suspense.

The witness herself proved more complex than I expected, and I appreciated that protecting her was always the first thing on the marshals' minds, even though they were battling personal relationship issues, not to mention not knowing the fate of their friends and coworkers at the bombed Marshals Office. She seemed very real in her reactions and feelings.

Thank you Bethany house and NetGalley for the complimentary e-book. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions are my own.

Defenders of Justice
1. Fatal Frost
2. Dark Deception
3. Blind Betrayal

Nancy Mehl's "Dark Deception" - a twisty, complex suspense

Kate O'Brien watched a serial killer murder her sister and nearly died at his hands too. Because of her testimony, the man was put in jail, and Kate went into witness protection. When evidence appears that hints that the killer was framed, the man who killed her sister is released from prison and set up for a new trial. Deputy Marshall Tony DeLuca, who was with Kate years ago at the earlier trial, comes to fetch her, but a call from his boss makes him stay put with her until the case is straightened out. However, even in the sheltered resort where Kate has been living, danger is lurking . . .

If you want a twisty suspense designed to keep you off-kilter, this is it. Sure, if you read enough mystery/suspense, it's easy to pick up on clues so that the book is not completely one surprise after another, but it's definitely complex enough that I have trouble believing anyone could peg the entire mystery. Complex can often mean confusing, but the author does a good job of rehashing things in an orderly manner in the end so that it all makes sense.

The romance is definitely secondary to the suspense plot--just a tad to sweeten the story. I actually really enjoyed the secondary points of view this time (normally I prefer just the main characters, especially if the book is a romance, but as I said, the romance is far from the focus of the book). It reminds me of a cop show, where other members of the team are working their different angles to fill in the details and aid the characters at the center of the action. On that subject, this book would make a great thriller movie.

Thank you Bethany House and NetGalley for providing a free e-book. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions are my own.

Defenders of Justice
1. Fatal Frost
2. Dark Deception
3. Blind Betrayal

Nancy Mehl's "Fatal Frost" - Review and Giveaway - an apropos read given current events

After a visit by her absentee US Marshal father, US Marshal Mercy Brennan finds herself in the sights of St. Louis's most powerful gang. Deputy Marshal Mark St. Laurent--her ex-boyfriend--is assigned to get her out of town and keep her safe. But it isn't until a freak ice storm strands them in a remote location that Mercy learns just how much the Marshals have been keeping her in the dark--and just how much danger she's really in. Between the enemy and storm, will they survive long enough for help to arrive--if it's even coming at all?

Wow, this story is quite apropos given all the recent the violence involving law enforcement. And it offers a pretty scary but believable situation--using video coverage to frame cops for shootings. Never mind the videos have been doctored, never mind that it wouldn't hold up to scrutiny--just the media frenzy alone could easily set off deadly rioting. It's a scary notion to contemplate. It also begs the question, in this technological age where everyone has access to photo/video editing programs, just how much can we trust such "proof" anymore?

I feel . . . almost . . . double-triple crossed. There are characters you can trust and those you can't, but how do you know which is which? Ah, the thrilling paranoia of a mole in law enforcement! (not something I'd never want to experience personally, of course). It really ramps up the suspense. And this book has suspense in spades.

There's at least one situation introduced early on that isn't ever dealt with (unless I really missed something from reading too fast; it's a hard book to put down); but since this is a series, I'm going on a hunch it will come into play in later books. Tons of suspense, some masterful manipulation, and a few good statements of faith make this a highly enjoyable read.


I received a free copy from the publisher. No review, positive or otherwise, was required—all opinions are my own.

Defenders of Justice
1. Fatal Frost
2. Dark Deception 
3. Blind Betrayal

Nancy Mehl's "Rising Darkness"

In the third Finding Sanctuary suspense, Sophie Wittenbauer, following lead that might break open her investigative reporting career, finds herself confronting her Mennonite past--in more ways than one. Not only is she searching for a long-missing murderer in a town founded by Mennonites, but Jonathon Wiese, a young man from her hometown who knows her disgraceful past, now resides in the Sanctuary. Will she have a chance to ferret out the murderer before her cover is completely blown? Or will her ambition be her doom?

I was a bit slow on the uptake, given that it's been a couple years, but I eventually realized that this book has close ties to Mehl's Road to Kingdom series, especially the novel Unbreakable. I like that Sophie and Jonathon are given a second chance at healing and happiness. It isn't necessary to read the earlier books or Road to Kingdom series, but if you want the complete backstory, that would be the way to go.

Within two chapters I was squirming from all the lies piling up. I read books; I know how it goes: truth will out, every time, and it will not go well when it does. However, Mehl's revealing of the truth proved less painful than I expected--quite a relief. I didn't really like Sophie at first--mostly because of her love of ambition over people--but she grows a lot as she is forced to confront that ambition, her fears, and her past. And once one uncovers more of her backstory, it makes it clear just how much she has to overcome.

I thought this quote to be insightful: "Every human being on the face of the planet makes a daily choice to trust. Life doesn't really encourage it, you know." (location 132/153) No, life does not make it easy to trust, but that's where faith steps in.

I'm anti-voluntary villain confessions, but otherwise I liked the ending--I think it finishes on just the right note. A good mystery/suspense.

Thank you Bethany House and NetGalley for an e-copy to review; I was not required to make the review positive, and all opinions are my own.

Finding Sanctuary
1. Gathering Shadows
2. Deadly Echoes
3. Rising Darkness 

Nancy Mehl's "Deadly Echoes" - a good mystery/suspense

In the second book of Nancy Mehl's Finding Sanctuary series, Sarah Miller, the school teacher in Sanctuary, learns of her sister's murder and the horrible similarities it shows to their parents' deaths years before. However, the police seem loathe to draw any connection between the two, which are both being blamed on robberies gone wrong. Sarah and her friend deputy sheriff Paul Gleason decide to look over the cases to draw together enough evidence to make the case stay open, but in the meantime Sarah is dealing the difficulties that come with taking in her grief-stricken, orphaned niece. Should Sarah drop the case, like most people seem to want? Or should she put herself - and her niece - in danger by pursuing justice?

While this book focuses less on the Mennonites than the first of the series did, it still is a nice cross-genre book that combines contemporary suspense and mystery with the conservative values that characterize the plain people. It is encouraging to see a town so successfully operate with such a mix of peoples.

The author deals with the tough issue of taking care of a newly orphaned child in a believable way. Cicely is hurt and afraid, living with someone she only knows a little, and her actions reflect her insecurity. Even Sarah, who went through a similar situation in her own childhood, finds Cicely difficult to deal with. She can draw on her experiences to help understand her niece, but it doesn't keep her from being wounded every time Cicely lashes out.

While the romance is not as strong an aspect of the story as in other romantic suspense novels, I like how it is carried out. Sarah and Paul realize after a while that despite being attracted to each other and seeing each other frequently, all they ever talk about is Sarah's case - not exactly something to build a relationship on. So then they plan steps to get to know each other without any reference to the murders. They are wise in how they deliberately go into their courtship.

Mehl brings in several biblical principles, including the difference between revenge and justice, and, to a greater degree, the danger of comparing ourselves to others. And thank heaven for a sensible heroine who uses her head! (Sometimes, heroines of suspense novels make the most foolish decisions . . .)  I found it a well-rounded book with a nice balance between suspense and mystery and spiritual growth, and the lighter dose of romance was perfect for this story, considering what the characters were going through.

Thank you Bethany House and NetGalley for an e-copy to review; I was not required to make it positive, and all opinions are my own.

Finding Sanctuary
1. Gathering Shadows
2. Deadly Echoes
3. Rising Darkness 

Nany Mehl's "Gathering Shadows"

Nancy Mehl crosses genres in her suspense set in a private Mennonite town.  TV news reporter Wynter Evans' younger brother disappeared nine years ago, but she never gave up hope that somewhere, sometime he might still be found.  When she comes across a photograph of a young man who strongly resembles the boy that disappeared, she travels to the small Mennonite community where the picture was taken, preparing to do a small human interest piece on the town while surreptitiously investigating the boy.  In spite of the antagonism of a number of the occupants, Wynter finds herself charmed by Sanctuary and its helpful young mayor, Rueben King.  However, the town seems steeped in secrets, and clearly someone does not want their secrets to be revealed . . .

While I have begun reading more and more suspense, I have never read much Amish fiction, so this is something new for me.  The two genres are not typically paired together, but it caught my attention.  While the majority of the story takes place in a Mennonite community, the mystery/suspense aspect is stronger, given that the main characters are not Mennonite themselves.  It is a good taste of Amish fiction and introduction to lives devoted to simplicity without diving headlong into the genre.  Wynter's interviews as a reporter help clear up misconceptions and convey some surprising facts for those of us who are fairly ignorant about the Amish, Mennonites, etc - a nice, natural way to convey the facts without bogging down in back story or explanations.  

Although I initially was unimpressed - even annoyed - with Wynter's photographer, Zac became my favorite character.  While Wynter has her share of change, opening herself up after years of holding everyone at bay, Zac's development is more radical yet: from sullen jerk to a fun and loveable guy.  I really like how his relationship with Wynter develops once they are over their bumpy beginning.  Since this is the first book of a series, I am hoping Zac will feature prominently in the next installment. 

The author does a good job keeping the reader's attention with a number of surprise revelations.  The mystery reminds me of a jigsaw puzzle - there are many widely differing pieces that must belong to the same puzzle - it's unlikely that pieces of a different one got mixed in - but finding where they connect is the challenge.  The romance moved a bit fast for me, considering Wynter is there for less than two weeks, but it seems longer given that they spend so much time together.  An enjoyable read - 4 out of 5 stars

Thank you Bethany House and NetGalley for providing a free e-copy for the purpose of review; I was not required to make it positive, and all opinions are my own.

Finding Sanctuary
1. Gathering Shadows
2. Deadly Echoes
3. Rising Darkness