Friday, May 27, 2016

An Evie Blackwell Cold Case #1

Cover Art\
Published May 3rd 2016
 by Bethany House Publishers  
 
 
Synopsis:
 
She's turning up the heat on Carin County's cold cases . . .
Evie Blackwell loves her life as an Illinois State Police detective . . . mostly. She's very skilled at investigations and has steadily moved up through the ranks. She would like to find Mr. Right, but she has a hard time imagining how marriage could work, considering the demands of her job.

Gabriel Thane grew up in Carin County and is now its sheriff, a job he loves. Gabe is committed to upholding the law and cares deeply for the residents he's sworn to protect. He too would like to find a lifetime companion, a marriage like his parents have. . . .

When Evie arrives in Carin, Illinois, it's to help launch a new task force focused on unsolved crimes across the state. She will work with the sheriff's department on a couple of its most troubling missing-persons cases. As she studies old evidence to pull out a few tenuous new leads, she unearths surprising connections. One way or another, she knows Gabriel Thane and his family will be key to the answers she seeks. 
 
  
Meet the Author:
 
 
Dee HendersonDee Henderson is the author of numerous novels, including Taken, Undetected, Unspoken, Full Disclosure, and the acclaimed O'Malley and Uncommon Heroes series. Her books have won or been nominated for several prestigious industry awards, such as the RITA Award, the Christy Award, and the ECPA Gold Medallion. Dee is a lifelong resident of Illinois.
 
 
 
 
Questions and Answers with Dee Henderson
 
Traces of Guilt is more of a mystery than many of your novels, as Lieutenant Evie
Blackwell delves deep into solving two cold cases. Did you enjoy that change?
 
-I did. The title alludes to the reality that many times there are only traces in the case records
to point toward who is guilty. I like the unfolding nature of a cold case mystery where the
answer to the puzzle is there and can be found but only if enough details are put together
and in the right order. Yet it’s not going to yield the truth easily. I’m very much a first reader
when I write these stories, often not knowing how the mystery will be solved until I’m
writing those scenes that bring it together.
 
There’s also romance in Traces of Guilt, with the Thane brothers having interesting
lives, although the romance is broader than just Evie’s story. 
 
-I wanted the challenge of a complex story, of three brothers intricately involved in each
other’s lives, including a family focus that has them dealing with problems together. Each
brother is in a different stage of romance. Gabriel is just meeting someone, Joshua is
renewing a relationship from his past, and Will is ready to ask Karen to be part of his future.
The flow of their stories fits their family and makes for a nice romance layer the mysteries
could rest upon.
You created an interesting contrast between Evie Blackwell, who works for the State
Police Bureau of Investigations, and Gabriel Thane, the sheriff of Carin County. Both
are in law enforcement, and yet they have very different mind-sets about their jobs.
 
 
-They do. I wanted to present the difference between what it is like being a cop versus being a
detective. A detective’s job is done when the case goes back into the box. As sheriff, Gabriel’s
job is just beginning once a case gets solved; he learns from what happened and applies that
knowledge to better protect the community. Law enforcement has a great deal of variety to
it, and I enjoy exploring the differences across these books.
 
The underlying theme of the novel seemed to be that what is hidden in the past will
always come to light, that crimes will eventually be revealed, showing the real truth
about who people are.
 
-It’s taken from a passage in the Bible: “For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed,
and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.” It’s a caution,
a warning, that what people think they got away with, God has already seen, and He will
bring those hidden things into the light for everyone else to see. I think that’s one reason
we like crime fiction so much, when justice is done by the end of the story. God cares about
justice, and He made us to value and appreciate justice as well.
 
Do you plan to write more Evie Blackwell stories in the future? 
 
-Evie has an interesting future ahead of her as a detective, and also in her married life. I do
plan to explore her life in coming stories, either as the main character or as a significant
character in another’s story.
 
Available for Purchase:
 
 
 
My Thoughts:
 
This is a fabulous story!!
I have been a fan of Dee Henderson's writing for years and she always brings a wonderful read.  This story has elements of mystery, suspense and a hint of a romance. Her characters are always strong and well developed.  Secondary characters are woven into the story and help to bring the story to life. She also brings faith into each and every story ( I love this.) She weaves words together that always pull me into the story and keep me entertained.
 This story introduces Evie Blackwell who is a detective with the Illinois State Police.  The incoming governor wants to start a new task force focused on unsolved crimes across the state.  She has been hand picked by Ann Falcon to do a trial run and solve the first two cases because of her dedication to the job.  This is a perfect fit for her because she loves solving puzzles.  The cases lead her to Carrin County where she is to meet the former and current sheriff of the county.  She explains to Gabriel Thane, current sheriff, her assignment and the cases she is to investigate. Gabriel remembers both cases, but his father was the former sheriff and enlists his help in reviewing the case files.  As the story progresses important factors are brought to the surface that leads Gabriel and Evie to find things are more complicated than they ever imagined.  
This is a story I would recommend to anyone who loves mystery or suspense.
**I received this book from the publisher as part of their book blogger program.  I was not required to write a positive review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.  
 
 

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