Deadly Devotion
June 15th, 2013. Filed under: This & That.Deadly Devotion
By Sandra Orchard
In the first installment in the Port Aster Secrets series, Deadly Devotion weaves a web of intrigue around the sleepy town of Port Aster and the death of a research scientist. While police believe it to be a suicide, evidence mounts that leads Kate Adams to believe it had to be murder. Suspicions lead to danger as Kate struggles to uncover the truth. Full of suspense, Deadly Devotion will keep readers guessing until the very end.
Research scientists Kate Adams and her colleague Daisy are on the brink of a breakthrough for treating depression with herbal medicine when Daisy suddenly dies. Kate knows that if it hadn’t been for Daisy’s mentorship, she wouldn’t have the job she loves or the faith she clings to. So when police rule Daisy’s death a suicide, Kate is determined to unearth the truth.
Former FBI agent Tom Parker finds it hard to adjust to life back in his hometown of Port Aster. Though an old buddy gives him a job as a detective on the local police force, not everyone approves. Tom’s just trying to keep a low profile, so when Kate Adams demands he reopen the investigation of her friend’s death, he knows his job is at stake. In fact, despite his attraction to her, Tom thinks Kate looks a bit suspicious herself.
ISLAND BREEZES
Did Daisy kill herself? Her research partner is adamant that she did not. Well then, who did?
That was what got Kate upset enough to storm into the police station and demand that Daisy’s case be reopened. That didn’t work so Kate decided to do her own investigation and find the murderer.
This is definitely dangerous and finally Detective Tom Parker decides to help her “off the record.” Tom decided to do this even though it could cost him his job. He tries to protect Kate from herself.
Eventually he realizes she’s right, and then he has to protect her from the killer. Both he and Kate are all over the place as far as suspects. It’s hard to pin someone down when you can’t figure out the motive.
As a reader, you, too, will be all over the place trying to decide who the murder is. I was near the end before I figured it out, but still hadn’t figured out the motive.
Sandra Orchard just got added to my list of favorite suspense/mystery authors.
***A special thank you to Donna Hausler for providing a review copy.***
Sandra Orchard is an active member in American Christian Fiction Writers, The Word Guild, Romance Writers of America and a local writing group. She recently participated in the Writers’ Police Academy for hands-on training and simulations at a police training facility. She is the author of Shades of Truth, Critical Condition, which won the 2012 RT Reviewer’s Choice Award for it’s series and Deep Cover, which won the Canadian Christian Writing Award for romance in June 2012 and was recognized as one of the top five novels of the year by Family Fiction magazine. Orchard has also received a Daphne DuMaurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense in both the inspirational category and for best score overall. She lives in Niagara, Ontario, Canada. To find out more, please visit www.sandraorchard.com.
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, offers practical books that bring the Christian faith to everyday life. They publish resources from a variety of well-known brands and authors, including their partnership with MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) and Hungry Planet
Available June 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.