River's Edge

August 23, 2004
This well-crafted suspense novel picks up immediately following the second installment in the Cape Refuge series: Blair has just become a Christian and a newspaper owner; Morgan struggles with infertility; and Jonathan faces two opponents in his quest to become the mayor of Cape Refuge, their small Georgia island town. When the wife of one of Jonathan's opponents goes missing, among those the chief of police suspects are the third mayoral candidate (who is, unsurprisingly, an atheist), a prosperous fertility doctor and a local psychic who appears to have uncanny knowledge about the case. Despite some didactic moments (a biblical exposition of the dangers of divination, for example), the novel manages to be more plot-driven than message-driven, a step forward for evangelical Christian suspense. Numerous red herrings in the meticulously plotted story will keep readers guessing, and they will be delighted by the skillful surprise ending.

September 1, 2004
In this follow-up to Cape Refuge and Southern Storm, Morgan Cleary, depressed after suffering a miscarriage, turns to her friend Lisa Jackson, who had experienced similar fertility problems. But Lisa, married to the man running against Morgan's husband in the mayoral race, has disappeared. Police Chief Cade suspects foul play, and when self-described psychic Carson Graham leads Cade to her body, questions are raised about Graham's involvement. News reporter Blair Owens joins the investigation, hoping for a deeper personal relationship with Cade. Veteran writer Blackstock ("Newpointe 911" series) delivers a tight blend of mystery and romance that her readers will appreciate. With crossover appeal for fans of Mary Higgins Clark or Joy Fielding, this is recommended for both CF and mystery collections. Blackstock resides in Mississippi.

Copyright 2004 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.