Praise for Novels by Brandilyn Collins
Over the Edge
* * *
"Tense and dramatic . . . a dense and compact narrative that holds its tension while following the protagonist in a withering battle."
—New York Journal of Books
"A taut, heartbreaking thriller . . . Collins is a fine writer who knows how to both horrify readers and keep them turning pages."
—Publishers Weekly
"A frightening and all-too-real scenario . . . very timely and meaningful book."
—RT Book Reviews
Deceit
* * *
". . . good storytelling and notable mystery . . . an enticing read [that poses] tough questions about truth and lies, power and control, faith and forgiveness."
—Publishers Weekly
"Solidly constructed . . . a strong and immediately likable protagonist. One of the Top Ten Inspirational Novels of 2010."
—Booklist
"Filled with excitement and intrigue, Collins' latest will keep the reader quickly turning pages . . . This tightly plotted mystery, filled with quirky characters, will appeal to suspense lovers everywhere."
—RT Book Reviews
". . . pulse-accelerating, winding, twisting storyline [that will] keep your attention riveted to the action until the very end."
—Christian Retailing
Exposure
* * *
". . . a hefty dose of action and suspense with a superb conclusion."
—RT Book Reviews
"Brandilyn Collins, the queen of Seatbelt Suspense®, certainly lives up to her well-deserved reputation. Exposure has more twists and turns than a Coney Island roller coaster . . . Intertwining storylines collide in this action-packed drama of suspense and intrigue. Highly recommended."
—CBA Retailers + Resources
"Captivating . . . the alternating plot lines and compelling characters in Exposure will capture the reader's attention, but the twist of events at the end is most rewarding."
—Christian Retailing
"Mesmerizing mystery . . . a fast-paced, twisting tale of desperate choices."
—TitleTrakk.com
"[Collins is] a master of her craft . . . intensity, tension, high-caliber suspense, and engaging mystery."
—The Christian Manifesto
Dark Pursuit
* * *
"Lean style and absorbing plot . . . Brandilyn Collins is a master of suspense."
—CBA Retailers + Resources
"Intense . . . engaging . . . whiplash-inducing plot twists . . . the concepts of forgiveness, restoration, selflessness, and sacrifice made this book not only enjoyable, but a worthwhile read."
—Thrill Writer
"Moves from fast to fierce."
—TitleTrakk.com
"Thrilling . . . characters practically leap off the page with their quirks and inclinations."
—Tennessee Christian Reader
Amber Morn
* * *
". . . a harrowing hostage drama . . . essential reading."
—Library Journal
"The queen of seatbelt suspense delivers as promised. Her short sentences and strong word choices create a 'here and now' reading experience like no other."
—TitleTrakk.com
"Heart-pounding . . . the satisfying and meaningful ending comes as a relief after the breakneck pace of the story."
—RT Book Reviews
"High octane suspense . . . a powerful ensemble performance."
—BookshelfReview.com
Crimson Eve
* * *
"One of the Best Books of 2007 . . . Top Christian suspense of the year."
—Library Journal, starred review
"The excitement starts on page one and doesn't stop until the shocking end . . . [Crimson Eve] is fast-paced and thrilling."
—Romantic Times
"The action starts with a bang . . . and the pace doesn't let up until this fabulous racehorse of a story crosses the finish line.
—Christian Retailing
"An unparalleled cat and mouse game wrought with mystery and surprise."
—TitleTrakk.com
Coral Moon
* * *
"A chilling mystery. Not one to be read alone at night."
—RT BOOKclub
"Thrilling . . . one of those rare books you hurry through, almost breathlessly, to find out what happens."
—Spokane Living
". . . a fascinating tale laced with supernatural chills and gut-wrenching suspense.
—Christian Library Journal
Violet Dawn
* * *
". . . fast-paced . . . interesting details of police procedure and crime scene investigation . . . beautifully developed [characters] . . ."
—Publishers Weekly
"A sympathetic heroine . . . effective flashbacks . . . Collins knows how to weave faith into a rich tale."
—Library Journal
"Collins expertly melds flashbacks with present-day events to provide a smooth yet deliciously intense flow . . . quirky townsfolk will help drive the next books in the series."
—RT BOOKclub
"Skillfully written . . . Imaginative style and exquisite suspense."
—1340mag.com
Web of Lies
* * *
"A master storyteller . . . Collins deftly finesses the accelerator on this knuckle-chomping ride."
—RT BOOKclub
"fast-paced . . . mentally challenging and genuinely entertaining."
—Christian Book Previews
Dead of Night
* * *
"Collins' polished plotting sparkles . . . unique word twists on the psychotic serial killer mentality. Lock your doors, pull your shades—and read this book at noon."
—RT BOOKclub, Top Pick
". . . this one is up there in the stratosphere . . . Collins has it in her to give an author like Patricia Cornwell a run for her money."
—Faithfulreader.com
". . . spine-tingling, hair-raising, edge-of-the-seat suspense."
—Wordsmith Review
"A page-turner I couldn't put down, except to check the locks on my doors."
—Authors Choice Reviews
Stain of Guilt
* * *
"Collins keeps the reader gasping and guessing . . . artistic prose paints vivid pictures . . . High marks for original plotting and superb pacing."
—RT BOOKClub
". . . a sinister, tense story with twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat."
—Wordsmith Shoppe
Brink of Death
* * *
". . . an abundance of real-life faith as well as real-life fear, betrayal and evil. This one kept me gripped from beginning to end."
—Contemporary Christian Music
"Collins' deft hand for suspense brings on the shivers."
—RT BOOKclub
"Gripping . . . thrills from page one."
—christianbookpreviews.com
Dread Champion
* * *
"Compelling . . . plenty of intrigue and false trails."
—Publisher's Weekly
"Finely-crafted . . . vivid . . . another masterpiece that keeps the reader utterly engrossed."
—RT BOOKclub
". . . riveting mystery and courtroom drama."
—Library Journal
Eyes of Elisha
* * *
"Chilling . . . a confusing, twisting trail that keeps pages turning."
—Publisher's Weekly
"A thriller that keeps the reader guessing until the end."
—Library Journal
"Unique and intriguing . . . filled with more turns than a winding mountain highway."
—RT BOOKclub
"One of the top ten Christian novels of 2001."
—christianbook.com
Other Novels by Brandilyn Collins
Over the Edge
Deceit
Exposure
Dark Pursuit
Rayne Tour Series (cowritten with Amberly Collins)
Always Watching
Last Breath
Final Touch
Kanner Lake Series
Violet Dawn
Coral Moon
Crimson Eve
Coral Moon
Hidden Faces Series
Brink of Death
Stain of Guilt
Dead of Night
Web of Lies
Chelsea Adams Series
Eyes of Elisha
Dread Champion
Bradleyville Series
Cast a Road Before Me
Color the Sidewalk for Me
Capture the Wind for Me
Copyright © 2012 by Brandilyn Collins
All rights reserved.
Printed in the United States of America
978-1-4336-7163-0
Published by B&H Publishing Group
Nashville, Tennessee
Dewey Decimal Classification: F
Subject Heading: MYSTERY FICTION HOMICIDE—FICTION ROMANTIC SUSPENSE NOVELS
Author represented by the literary agency of Alive Communications, Inc., 7680 Goddard Street, Suite 200, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80920, www.alivecommunications.com.
Scripture quotations are taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org) Also used Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB), Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 • 16 15 14 13 12
For my niece, Laura Sheppard.
What a joy to see you grow
and to anticipate what you will become.
Contents
Article 1
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Article 2
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Article 3
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Article 4
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Article 5
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Article 6
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Article 7
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Article 8
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Article 9
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Article 10
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Article 11
Epilogue
Cherrie Mae Devine's Quotes
Discussion Questions
Acknowledgments
"What anxious moments pass between the birth of plots and their last fatal periods."
CATO, BY JOSEPH ADDISON
http://www.pulitzer.org/works/2010-Feature-Writing
2010 Pulitzer Prize
Feature Writing
The Jackson Bugle
Gone to Ground
What happens to a small, quiet Southern town when evil invades in the form of a serial killer?
By: Trent Williams
October 29, 2010
(Excerpt)
Amaryllis, Mississippi, is a scrappy little town of strong backbone and Southern hospitality. A brick-paved Main Street, a park, and the legendary ghost in its old cemetery are all part of its heritage. Everybody knows everybody in Amaryllis, and gossip wafts on the breeze. Its denizens are friendly, its families tight. On the surface Amaryllis seems much like the flower for which it's named—bright and fragrant.
But the amaryllis flower is poisonous.
In the past three years five unsolved murders have occurred within this tiny burg. All the victims were easy targets—women who lived alone, ranging from age 48 to 64. Each was killed in similar fashion while asleep in bed—from a single knife stab to the neck. Inflicted with precision, each stabbing cut the victim's carotid artery, causing her to bleed out in a matter of one to two minutes. After being stabbed, the women were then stuffed into their bedroom closets. The reason for that remains one of the many mysteries surrounding the case. This strange M.O. has led to the dubbing of the murders as the "Closet Killings."
Three victims have been white, two black. The culprit, while unquestionably a monster and a coward, is no respecter of race.
Or anything else.
MONDAY
APRIL 25, 2011
Prologue
"Get me a Bible and some cigarettes—and I'll talk."
Chief Cotter stared at the person facing him across the worn wooden table. Man, it was stuffy in the cramped interrogation room. And what kind of crazy stall tactic was this? He had no time for it, not in his present state of mind. He'd barely slept since Erika Hollinger's murder a week ago. And the pressure to nab the killer off the town's streets laid hard on him.
He fired back with a question.
The answer hit like a sucker punch.
MONDAY—THURSDAY
APRIL 18–21, 2011
Chapter 1
Cherrie Mae
You can tell an awful lot bout people from cleanin their houses. Like the time I drug a hot pink thong out from under ol Ed McAllister's bed—a lacy little piece a cloth that wouldn't a fit round his wife's hiney in her best days. So what did Verna McAllister do to protect her husband's stellar reputation? Tried to hide her shock while swearin up and down she used that thong for a dust rag. Mm-hmm. Thing's no bigger than a piece a lint. Besides, who cleans that house, her or me?
I've had plenty other revelations. Like when I seen that hoard a sleepin pills stuck down in Alicia May Alkin's sweater drawer—enough to kill at least two and a half people. And her so happy and all after marryin the man a her dreams.
Words is just air. Faces tell you more, if you pay attention. (Most people don't.) But houses, they hold the darkest secrets.
Not that I go pokin round the places I clean. Well, maybe I do, but a woman's got to have somethin to keep her brain goin while she scrubs toilets. Like Sherlock Holmes said, "My mind rebels at stagnation." Besides anybody in this town'll tell you Cherrie Mae Devine's the best housecleaner around. I got my customer list—white and black folk alike—so full there ain't room for one more, and that's a fact. So I figure some rovin eyes now and then ain't gon hurt nobody. I always keep my discoveries to myself.
But mercy,
what I seen today.
Austin Bradmeyer, mayor a Amaryllis, is a finicky man. Finicky enough he wants me cleanin his house twice a week—every Thursday and Monday—even though the missus don't work, so what she do all day? The mayor keeps his things just so, and that includes his fancy mahogany office. Big desk and leather chair, a straight-back settee, and huge shelves full a books. The top a the desk is always perfect, no cluttered papers, every pen in the wooden holder. Even his ash tray is always emptied into the trash can. (Which don't keep smokin from bein a nasty habit.) I happen to know that office is Mayor B's private little place. The missus ain't even allowed to go in there.
See, Mayor B ain't as nice and gentlemanly as folks think. I seen him more than once come home for lunch and yell at his wife over nothin. And I mean stompin round, red-faced mad. Fire in his eyes like the devil. So outta control he don't even care I seen him—as if anybody would believe my word over his anyway. Then he'll turn it off, just like that. Light a cigarette and go back to his plastics factory, no doubt smilin at everbody there.
I done lived long enough to know this: people can fool you. You think they one thing—they might be somethin else altogether.
Gone to Ground Page 1
