If you have a hankering to indulge in Christian suspense stories, then the trilogy I have to share about today just might be perfect for your reading list.
About the Books:
Deadly Disclosures:
A Suspense-filled fiction mystery which answers an ominous question: How far will some go to silence an influential Christian voice? FBI agent Dinah Harris now has a missing person’s file to go along with a bad case of alcohol abuse and the depression she cannot seem to shake. Fighting to keep her focus, she struggles to find answers for why Thomas Whitfield, the prominent Secretary of the Smithsonian has vanished from his office with foul play almost guaranteed. Whitfield’s body is eventually found, and Dinah is drawn into a frightening conspiracy, as more people begin to die, and Whitfield’s faith is revealed as part of the motive behind his murder. Dinah finds troubling answers in an academic world filled with powerful financial endowments and a virulent opposition to the faith Whitfield only recently found. Can she reveal the truth before she finds herself the next silenced victim of a ruthless, unseen enemy?
The Shadowed Mind:
A suspense-filled mystery which answers an ominous question: Who will be found worthy to live; who is the next victim?
After the deadly investigation into the Smithsonian murders, Dinah Harris is now facing a daily battle to keep her sobriety while struggling to form a new career from the ashes of her former job as an FBI agent. From the shadows will emerge a cunning and terrifying killer, who carefully and methodically will decide whose life has value to society and whose does not.
Using her profiling and security skills as a private consultant based in Washington, DC, Dinah uncovers a connection to the shadowy world of neo-eugenics, and those who publicly denounce the killings but privately support a much different view.
Against this backdrop, Dinah must come to terms with her own past, as those associated with the deepening mystery face their own personal demons, and struggle with the concept of God’s inexhaustible grace and forgiveness. Old secrets are revealed, tragedies unearthed, and the devastating legacy of science without compassion is finally brought to light.
Pieces of Light:
CAN REDEMPTION OVERCOME HIS RAGE? Washington D.C. is gripped with fear at the hands of a deadly serial bomber. Religious icons and buildings are being targeted at an alarming rate, and lives are being lost. Former FBI agent Dinah Harris begins consulting on the case, sorting through both clues and unexpected challenges, professionally and personally, determined to find the kiey to solving this crisis.
The past impacts the present as a troubled family and a marriage fall slowly apart from the burdens of guilt and the pain of domestic violence. Confronting doubt and troubling questions of faith, Dinah will struggle to triumph in a story that highlights the redemptive grace of Christ to change even the most broken or evil life.
Through the painstaking investigation, it becomes clear that the bomber is angry at God and on a twisted mission as an avenging ‘angel of justice.’ Dinah focuses on the bombers disturbingly humanistic motives, while authorities race to stop the violence. Will the bomber complete his deadly goal or can Dinah save the next victim – and herself – before time runs out?
About the author:
Julie Cave credits her parents for introducing her to books at a young age, which fostered an enduring passion for reading and writing. As a child, her favorite authors were Enid Blyton and C.S. Lewis and it wasn’t long before she began copying them, writing short stories for anyone who would read them.
At fifteen, two things happened which would shape her future: she heard a creation science speaker at her church which cemented her faith in God; and she finished her second novel-length story and realized she had fallen in love with writing novels.
After school, she completed a health science degree, got married, and worked in banking and finance. All the while she wondered how she could combine her love of writing and her strong passion for Christian apologetics and evangelism. One weekend at a church camp, a friend asked, ‘What if the guy in charge of the Smithsonian Institution went missing?’
The result – and the answer to that question – is Julie’s maiden published novel, Deadly Disclosures. It was released in May 2010. The second book in the Dinah Harris mystery trilogy, The Shadowed Mind, was released in October 2010. In this novel, Dinah is confronted with two very different opinions on the value of human life. The third book, Pieces of Light, delves into the secular humanist movement to remove God from our culture.
Recently, familyfiction.com readers voted Julie #4 in the top ten New Authors for 2010, and her novels Deadly Disclosures and The Shadowed Mind tied in 10th place for Best Suspense Novel of the Year.
Julie has two daughters and lives in Brisbane, Australia with her family. She divides her time between being a wife, a mother and an author.
Visit Julie Cave’s website to keep in touch.
My Thoughts ~
Overall, I really enjoyed this particular trilogy. I like suspense novels in general and liked how Dinah’s growth as a person is portrayed. Going from an alcoholic on the verge of suicide to a Christian willing to openly share her faith was done quite well over the course of the three novels.
Now, I do have a few items to mention. For my Catholic readers, this title is definitely written from a Protestant viewpoint. While I don’t mind reading something that I know will not fully agree with my own faith and the teachings of the Catholic Church, I do appreciate knowing ahead of time that there will be conflicts.
Along that same thread, this series tackles the theory of evolution and how it has become like a religion for some people. While I do not believe that man evolved from apes which evolved from some single cell organism billions of years ago, I am not 100% convinced of the young earth theory. In my mind, a creationist believes that God is the Creator of all, yet does NOT automatically equate to belief in a literal interpretation of the Bible timeline that puts the earth at some 6000 year of age. (Some day I might expound upon my thoughts on this topic, but not now.)
However, not fully sharing this particular viewpoint does not make the story less interesting for me. If anything, I enjoyed how she worked in many current affairs (e.g. the healthcare legislation credited to President Obama) for the plot line. And, I completely agree that a humanist worldview is becoming prevalent at the same time so many of society’s ills are growing in prevalence.
To Ms. Cave, I tip the proverbial hat on a job well done as she crafted a story that both entertained and wove together her Christian theological beliefs.
You can purchase the books in paperback binding either individually or as a boxed set. Each title is also available in Kindle format for $6.72 a piece.
Disclaimer ~ I was sent a digital download of this series to facilitate a review. No monetary compensation occurred and all opinions are my own. Links to products on Amazon are affiliate links and may result in a small commission should you opt to purchase them.
Thanks for your review, Laura! I’m glad you enjoyed the series.