Book picks similar to
The First Witness by Todd Easterling
fiction
mystery-contemporary-espionage
tbr
book-club
Keeper of Secrets
Anjuelle Floyd - 2007
One truth begets another as a passionate tale of confrontation in a San Francisco restaurant travels from eyewitnesses to others. Each protagonist views the attack through an emotion-stained lens, the story taking on a life of its own as filtered through different individuals' pasts, present and futures. Each character unweaves and re-braids their hidden truths, and exposes a chain of inner mysteries that binds them."Karmic truth, the effect of our decisions with our secrets and our deepest loves, comes back and squeezes the hearts of these characters. The elegant, super-rich, super-accomplished African-Americans in Keeper of Secrets are as susceptible as anyone to conflicting passions, ones that may not be reconcilable in this world... Floyd pulls the reader into their lives without mercy." --Clive Matson, author of Let the Crazy Child Write! and First Ten SongsA linked novel centered around the inhabitants of a wealthy enclave of African Americans in the Bay Area. An attempted murder transforms each character. Told from eight different perspectives.
Breaking Away
Heather Atkinson - 2012
Her boyfriend Darryl is becoming more and more unstable and she's bearing the brunt of his aggression. Haunted by the horrors she suffered as a teenager at the hands of her stepfather and stepbrother, she recognises the danger she's in and knows she has to get away. Unfortunately she leaves it too late and Darryl viciously attacks her.Zak Banks, Darryl's best friend and officer in the Manchester police force takes her under his wing, having secretly loved her for years. As their relationship develops things get even worse for Laura when the stalking starts and she is attacked. But who can she trust? When Zak's colleagues begin to suspect that he is behind the attacks on her, Laura is plunged into a nightmare that will force her to confront the many demons of her past.Contains sex, strong language, violence and scenes of domestic abuse.
No eye has seen
Graham Carter - 2007
Mother of three, Sarah Glen, loses her life under unusual circumstances when her car is forced from the road in what appears to be a random act of road rage.What follows is a breathtaking story of adventure and excitement as Sarah explores the limitless wonder of her new home, Paradise.The Throne Room, New Jerusalem, departed loved ones, all these and more are unveiled in this thought provoking tale.While Sarah's remaining family and friends struggle to come to terms with the passing of the popular mom, angels, good and evil, fight for supremacy in the age-old battle between the kingdoms of darkness and light.
Goodness and Mercy
Patti Hill - 2013
And sometimes, mercy comes at the worst possible moment. At least, Lucy thinks so.After the death of her parents, sixteen-year-old Lucy Richter struggles to keep a promise to her father--to save what remains of her family. Lucy fails tragically but won't allow her dwindling family to disappear. She shanghais her twin siblings, Goody and Mercy, from a Wisconsin orphanage to a Colorado peach ranch and an aunt who is a less-than-welcoming stranger. Lucy is prepared to keep the peace with her aunt, but will her sister's gifts draw unwanted attention and crush Lucy's dream of family?And World War II rages on. Absent men strain the running of Honey Sweet Ranch and force alliances of the most intriguing and unlikely kind, including German POWs. Within these relationships, Lucy is given the chance to discover an unfamiliar and healing faith.With her defining style, Patti Hill tells a story of love and loss with one of America's darkest times as a backdrop. Hill's characters resonate, and her descriptions draw the reader into a drama that is perfectly paced and infused with a wondrous hope.
Courthouse Cowboys: A Modern Tale of Murder in Montana
P.A. Moore - 2011
The trial involving the disabled teen with Klinefelter's syndrome was featured on Dateline, NBC, City Confidential, Discovery, TLC, Rolling Stone, and Sports Illustrated. As you follow Paige Defalco's one woman quest for justice in small town Montana, you'll ride with her in the front car of the roller coaster, wondering if this former cynical prosecutor turned defense attorney will recover the soul she misplaced, 'somewhere between the Catholic Church and the Courtroom.'Thanks for checking it out and please let me know, through your honest review, what you think!P.A. Moore
The Watchman's Daughter
Alexandra Connor - 2007
With her father unable to do his night watchman rounds, Kate does all she can to help her family survive. But when Andrew Pitt comes into her life, everything changes. True happiness seems to be on the horizon for Kate as she and Andrew make plans to marry. Then tragedy strikes and Kate takes the only course she can to protect the people who depend on her. With her future looking hopeless, Kate must find a way to escape – and to get back the man she loves.
Head Games
Kevin Alex Baker - 2011
Desperate to prove his talents have value, he agrees to work for Dr. Foster, a psychologist who secretly hires performers to infiltrate the everyday lives of his patients, and then stage situations which advance their therapy. This part-time job becomes Jordan's toughest role yet as he's assigned to follow an eccentric patient named Julie, lie his way into her life, and help Foster rebuild her trust in men. White Oleander author Janet Fitch raved, “Kevin Alex Baker is a rare find, and Head Games is a sweet discovery, a ripping page-turner.”
The Lonely Mile
Allan Leverone - 2011
But the kidnapper, a sociopath known as the “I-90 Killer,” escapes and vows revenge, targeting Ferguson’s own daughter as his next victim. Now one terrified father must unravel a plot that may go much deeper than he realizes, racing against time to save his only child from an unthinkable fate.
Double or Nothing
Donald Wells - 2009
From Donald WellsThe author of The Fix-It Man & The Reynolds Family SagaDOUBLE OR NOTHINGDavid Manning suddenly realizes that he's being watched.The woman, not much more than a girl really, appears to be homeless.David tries to ignore her but the girl soon follows him wherever he goes and so David decides to confront her.What happens next will send his life spiraling out of control in ways that he could never have imagined and, that in the end,will either unite him with his soul mate, or send him to an untimely and violent death.
The Shameful Diary of a Hopeless Romantic
Suzi Case - 2011
She wants to write a bestselling children's book, lose weight and fall in love before she hits 30. Unfortunately nothing seems to be going according to plan and she finds herself in the middle of a love triangle and signed up for a marathon when she can't even run a mile. What's a girl to do but write about it of course?
Painting the Lake
Jody Wenner - 2016
George has always plunged into the season with a sense of contentment, but as the snow begins to fly he hits a patch of icy luck. Newly retired, he heads up north to escape his troubles and do some painting. There he meets a young woman who begins pursuing him for more than his art. When she takes him on a wild ride, George isn't surprised to find Detective Nancy Simmons at his cabin door. For Nancy, winter comes with a much harsher reality. She feels the bite as she investigates who dumped a young woman's body in Lake Superior's frigid waters. Maybe George isn't as innocent as he seems.
You, Me, and the Colors of Life
Noa C. Walker - 2015
Her life-affirming attitude fascinates Thomas, a shy young man who begins to see the rich colors of life in a whole new light. As she reveals a world he never could have imagined for himself, Thomas falls head over heels for the strong young woman and becomes part of her quirky circle of friends and her loving family.Their generosity of spirit draws Thomas out of his shell. He finds strength in their visits to the children’s hospital where Janica volunteers, captivating the kids’ attention with her imaginative stories. But all too soon fate deals them a harsh blow. Can their love survive life’s obstacles?You, Me, and the Colors of Life is a moving, hopeful story about the power of love and the power of living a life filled with joy.
Impossible to Forget
Imogen Clark - 2022
In her final letter, Angie has charged her four closest friends with guiding Romany through her last year of school—but is there an ulterior motive to her unusual dying wish?Each of the four guardians possesses an outlook on life that Angie wants to give her daughter as a legacy. Three of them have known each other since university: the eternally nomadic and exotically named Tiger; the shy and practical Leon with his untapped musical genius; and Maggie, a brilliant lawyer who doesn’t know her own abilities. But the fourth guardian is a mystery to the others: they’ve never even heard of former model Hope before…As the guardians reflect on their friendship with Angie, it becomes apparent that this unusual arrangement is as much about them as it is about Romany. Navigating their grief individually and as a group, what will all five of them learn about themselves, their pasts—and the woman who’s brought them all together?
Destined, a novel of the Tarot
Gail Cleare - 2010
She gets the courage to walk away from her safe routine and takes a job at the fabulous curio shop owned by Henry Paradis, an occult scholar. Recognizing her psychic talents as the valuable gifts they are, Henry teaches Emily to accept her magical nature and “look forward.” She chooses the path to light, finds lifelong friends, falls in love with an incredibly sexy man, learns the power of desire and intention, faces her worst fears and is swept toward awakening. The mystical images of the Tarot’s archetypal trump cards chart the way, 22 sequential steps along the path to success known as “The Fool’s Journey.” Illustrated by images from the Payen Tarot of Marseilles (1713), which is the oldest surviving Tarot deck."Cleare's narrative follows Emily, a young woman on a path of self-realization and awakening...The novel is well plotted...offers a little bit of self-help and a little bit of chick lit, packaged together with a positive, make-your-own-destiny message: a pleasant, comforting read." - Publishers Weekly"A thoughtful and much recommended novel of tarot. Through the unknown, we can find something magnificent. "Destined" tells the story of Emily, who takes a job at a curio shop and delves into the occult and mystery. A novel of romance and the life of the occult and the tarot, it's a fascinating break into this culture and the belief in mysticism." - Midwest Book Review
Death Angel
Martha Powers - 2006
Within a few short hours they are thrust into the black hole of every parent's worst nightmare. Suddenly they are at the center of attention of their community, the media, and the police… for all the wrong reasons. Richard has been singled out as the primary suspect in a heinous crime that took more than an innocent life.With Richard as a suspect, Kate's life unravels into unbearable chaos, grief, and a whole new world of deception. Neighbors turn away, and only a small handful of close friends are there to help. Or are they? After a second murder and Richard's disappearance, Kate sets out to find the killer in their midst and clear her husband's name. She begins to piece together an eerie puzzle, finding clues in the heart of her own community.In Death Angel anguish, suspicion, and death combine in the horrifying aftermath of a vicious crime that pits a mother's love against a ruthless killer. Kate's need for answers puts her in jeopardy as the real murderer realizes her determination could uncover the secrets he's desperate to keep hidden. In a stunning conclusion, Kate risks her own life to track down and kill the Death Angel.