Violet Dawn

July 31, 2006
As a shy newcomer in the tiny tourist community of Kanner Lake, Idaho, Paige Williams is already considered reclusive by the gregarious standards of the village. But townspeople don't realize that Paige is fleeing a past so damaging that when she discovers a dead body, she dispenses with the evidence and hides the truth rather than go to the police, whom she mistrusts. With this opener, Collins (Dead of Night
) spins a tale of murder in a smalltown with an added twist of Christian faith, which is lightly handled. The writing is competent for the most part, with false notes occurring in some formal and stilted dialogue and Collins's penchant for overusing dramatic similes ("her heart drummed like the rataplan of rain on a roof"). One real strength is Collins's skill in handling multiple points of view and time shifts, which flow easily together and advance the plot. Short chapterlets keep the story moving, particularly in the fast-paced final third of the novel, and Collins throws in some interesting details of police procedure and crime scene investigation. Some characters, like the town's tough-but-tender police chief, are beautifully developed, while others, such as the monologues and predictability of the villain, are flat. In all, however, this is a promising and entertaining beginning to the Kanner Lake series.

September 1, 2006
All Paige Williams wants is a new start in the sleepy town of Kanner Lake, ID, and maybe somebody to care about her for once. Instead she finds the corpse of an aging movie actress, Edna San, in the hot tub at her rented home. Edna is the woman Paige had argued with earlier that day at Simple Pleasures, the store where Paige works. Fearful that her own sordid past will resurface if she calls the police, Paige decides to dump the body in the lake. Meanwhile, the real killer, who calls himself Black Mambo, is watching Paige, planning even further revenge. This initial title in Collins -s new -Kanner Lake - series features a sympathetic heroine and uses flashbacks effectively to set up this tale about child abuse and its long-term impact. With several suspense titles under her belt ("Brink of Death, Stain of Guilt, Web of Lies"), Collins knows how to weave faith into a rich tale. With possible crossover appeal for fans of Mary Higgins Clark, this is recommended for public libraries. Collins splits her time between Idaho and California.

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