Unveiled

guest reviewer Catrina Bradley

Thanks to the dedicated work of Claire St. James and the Truth Project, a wrongly-convicted man is released from death row. Just days later, a woman is murdered and he is the sole suspect, assumed to be guilty by everyone. When Claire discovers the victim was her ex-sister-in-law, she is forced to return to the town of Blood Bayou and the ex-husband she hasn’t seen in seven years.

Claire becomes entangled in a mystery everyone else in town denies exists. The more questions she asks, the deeper into danger she puts herself. Perhaps the biggest mystery to Claire is the change in her ex-husband. Could Jack’s faith and his God truly have that power? Claire is the main character, but this is as much Jack’s story as it is hers. He is now pastor of the local church, and the community has forgiven his speckled past. Can Claire also learn to forgive him?

The lush bayous make a perfect backdrop for Karen Young’s novel: dark, dank, and a little creepy at night when predators prowl; warm, sun-dappled and romantic in the daytime when love reignites.

I was a bit disappointed to find out that I had pegged “who done it” well before the end of the book. Although I had ruled out this suspect because I assumed it was a “red herring” – one who looks TOO guilty and we’re sure it’s not him – I was let down to find out the guilty party was so obvious. Also, I was annoyed by some of Claire’s actions; her character seemed to be smart enough to know better. I dislike typical fictional-female stereotype behavior.

That being said, “Blood Bayou” is a fast-paced thriller that builds suspense with each chapter as details are revealed and plot twists are dropped in. Blood Bayou is also a Christian novel; though the message of salvation is blatant it is woven into the plot and the dialog naturally and beautifully, making this a book a non-believer could enjoy and not be offended by.

Reviewed by Cathy Bradley, Unveiled
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Publisher: Howard Books
Publication Date: May 2009

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