Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Dark Justice by Brandilyn Collins - REVIEWED

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Dark Justice
B&H Books (October 1, 2013)
by
Brandilyn Collins


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Brandilyn Collins is a best-selling novelist known for her trademark Seatbelt Suspense®. These harrowing crime thrillers have earned her the tagline "Don't forget to b r e a t h e . . ."® Brandilyn's first book, A Question of Innocence, was a true crime published by Avon in 1995. Its promotion landed her on local and national TV and radio, including the Phil Donahue and Leeza talk shows. Brandilyn's awards for her novels include the ACFW Carol Award (three times), Inspirational Readers' Choice, and Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice.

Brandilyn is also known for her distinctive book on fiction-writing techniques, Getting Into Character: Seven Secrets a Novelist Can Learn From Actors (John Wiley & Sons). The Writer magazine named Getting into Character one of the best books on writing published in 2002.

When she's not writing, Brandilyn can be found teaching the craft of fiction at writers' conferences.

ABOUT THE BOOK

If I’d had any idea what those words would mean to me, to my mother and daughter, I’d have fled California without looking back.

While driving a rural road, Hannah Shire and her aging mother, who suffers from dementia, stop to help a man at the scene of a car accident. The man whispers mysterious words in Hannah’s ear. Soon people want to kill Hannah and her mother for what they “know.” Even law enforcement may be involved.

The two women must flee for their lives. But how does Hannah hide her confused mother? Carol just wants to listen to her pop music, wear her favorite purple hat, and go home. And if they turn to Hannah’s twentyseven- year-old daughter, Emily, for help, will she fall into danger as well?

Pressed on all sides, Hannah must keep all three generations of women in her family alive. Only then does she learn the threat is not just to her loved ones, but the entire country . . .

If you'd like to read the first chapter of Dark Justice, HERE.



My Thoughts:
“Like the Bible verse says, ‘He guards the steps of His faithful ones, for a man does not prevail by his own strength’.”  (p. 246)

Hannah Shire’s aging mother may suffer from dementia and sometimes scream in revolt of a request made to her by others, but there are times when she speaks with such clarity and truth that her daughter and everyone around her are totally amazed!  The opening statement was spoken as Hannah and her mother were fleeing for their very lives!  They were weary physically, emotionally and spiritually and at this point didn’t even know where they were headed….they were just trying to protect those they loved!  For you see, ever since they stopped to help an accident victim – one who was randomly saying little understood phrases – they have found themselves pursued relentlessly by people intent on killing them – and they don’t know why!

Well, they do know it has something to do with information found on a flash drive that was given to them unexpectedly.  At the time they discover they are in possession of the flash drive they have no clue about the significance of the information it contains.  However, they quickly learn that there are many people willing to kill to protect the information from getting into the wrong hands!

This story is not too distant from reality in the day and age in which we live.  There are indeed a variety of radical extremists that are willing to kill and be killed for their “cause”, and I think we would all sleep lightly if we realized how closely our lives interact with such extremists!  If we know the truth that Hannah’s mother quoted on page 246, perhaps such knowledge really wouldn’t disturb us at all! What I do know is that Hannah Shire, her mother and her daughter find themselves unwittingly drawn into a terrorist plot that has the potential to cripple the nation. Whether or not they are able to figure out what they need to do in time…well , you will have to read the book to find out!!

I will tell you that this is a very intense plot that is in no way predicable nor is the outcome clean and neat.  Lives are forever and irrevocably changed within the pages of this story, and you will be left to wonder if and when you might be drawn into such a scenario during your lifetime.  It is entirely possible!

I’ve been a long-time fan of Brandilyn Collins, and I must say, Dark Justice is some of her best work yet!! I am happy to recommend this book!! 

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