Review & #Giveaway – Among the Innocent by Mary Alford @maryalford13 #LSBBT #LoneStarLit #TexasAuthor #AmishRomance #Suspense #Thriller #ChristianFiction
AMONG THE INNOCENT
by
MARY ALFORD
Fiction / Christian / Suspense
Publisher: Revell
Date of Publication: June 7, 2022
Number of Pages: 304 pages
Scroll down for the Giveaway!
When Leah Miller’s entire Amish family was murdered ten years ago, the person believed responsible took his own life. Since then, Leah left the Amish and joined the police force. Now, after another Amish woman is found murdered with the same MO, it becomes clear that the wrong man may have been blamed for her family’s deaths.
As Leah and the new police chief, Dalton Cooper, work long hours struggling to fit the pieces together in order to catch the killer, they can’t help but grow closer. When secrets from both of their pasts begin to surface, an unexpected connection between them is revealed. But this is only the beginning. Could it be that the former police chief framed an innocent man to keep the biggest secret of all buried? And what will it mean for Leah–and Dalton–when the full truth comes to light?
USA Today bestselling author Mary Alford keeps you guessing as two determined souls plumb the dark depths of the past in order to forge a brighter future–together.
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Praise
“Readers will be compelled to keep turning the pages until they uncover the truth behind a dark legacy hidden behind lies and madness. Highly recommended.” —Nancy Mehl, author of the Quantico Files
“Among the Innocent is no buggy ride but a race to stop a killer.” —DiAnn Mills, bestselling and award-winning author of Trace of Doubt
“Among the Innocent had me glued to the page from the start. Dishes sat in the sink and chores piled up until I finished it. I highly recommend this story!” — Patricia Bradley, author of Crosshairs
“Mary Alford proves she’s a master storyteller with Among the Innocent. Expect an adrenaline rush on every page.” — Debby Giusti, author of Smugglers in Amish Country
This is the first book I have read by this author and now I’m wondering why! This Christian Suspense novel has everything I look for in a book: developed characters, fascinating backstory, a bit of mystery, a hint of romance, and action-packed scenes that will have you wondering if you can put the book down or if you will need to continue reading the book.
I haven’t read a book that included Amish characters in some time and I forgot how much I enjoy the simple life, slightly different language, and the close-knit ties they have in their communities. I have read about rumspringa for the teens and how that can influence their desire to stay in the Amish community or venture out on their own. The downside to this is that the teens can be easily influenced by western culture since it is very different from their own. We see that with several of the female characters that are taken in by the killer’s charm and don’t realize that what he is portraying is not right.
Leah is familiar with both worlds and is able to bridge the gap when needed. However, the death of her family dredges up memories when new girls are found murdered and notes are left behind for Leah. I wondered throughout the book who was behind all of this and I did start to figure it out but not until closer to the end when a few clues are provided. I still didn’t grasp the full impact of those clues until all was revealed. I thought Leah could be reckless when it came to her own safety at various times throughout the book, but thankfully Dalton, the new police chief, did his best to keep her safe. However, sometimes the killer had the jump on Leah and Dalton which just added to the tension in the story.
Dalton may be the new chief but he has another motive for his move to St. Ignatius. It is hinted at but we don’t find out the true reason until much later in the book. There are some twists regarding his secret and the outcome but you’ll have to read the book to find out what.
While this is a Christian-based book, the religious aspect is minor, but it brings in the faith that Leah and Dalton have that everything will turn out ok and that a higher power is watching over them.
This was a fantastic read and I will be investigating more of this author’s works. We give it 5 paws up.
Mary Alford is a USA Today bestselling author who loves giving her readers the unexpected, combining unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots that result in stories the reader can’t put down. Her titles have been finalists for several awards, including the Daphne Du Maurier, the Beverly, the Maggie, and the Selah. She and her husband live in the heart of Texas in the middle of 70 acres with two cats and one dog.
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GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!
TWO WINNERS!
Copies of Among the Innocent
+ $25 gift card to Barnes & Noble.
(US only; ends midnight, CDT, 6/17/2022)
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6/7/22 | Guest Post | Shelf Life Blog |
6/7/22 | BONUS Promo | Hall Ways Blog |
6/8/22 | Review | StoreyBook Reviews |
6/8/22 | BONUS Promo | LSBBT Blog |
6/9/22 | Character Interview | Reading by Moonlight |
6/10/22 | Review | It’s Not All Gravy |
6/11/22 | Deleted Scene | All the Ups and Downs |
6/12/22 | Scrapbook Page | Chapter Break Book Blog |
6/13/22 | Review | Rainy Days with Amanda |
6/14/22 | Excerpt | Rox Burkey Blog |
6/15/22 | Review | Jennie Reads |
6/16/22 | Review | The Plain-Spoken Pen |
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Jan Sikes
What a wonderful review! This sounds like a great read!
Mary Alford
Thank you, so much for sharing AMONG THE INNOCENT with your readers! I hope you have a blessed week.
Kristine Anne Hall
There’s nothing better than unexpectedly being blown away by a new-to-you author. Love this review & can’t wait to snag the book (will get it on audio for sure).