Eight stars
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Janice Cantore, and Tyndale House Publishers for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
Always eager to read authors new to me, I accepted this ARC by Janice Cantore. A wonderful thriller with very addictive storylines, I was completely hooked in the early pages. Detective Lainie Jensen has seen a great deal while working for the Long Beach PD. However, when she learns that her sister, Evie, has gone missing in Hawaii, all her training goes out the window. When she arrives to search for Evie, Lainie’s brother-in-law, Stan, is being cagey and sharing a narrative that makes little sense. All the while, FBI Special Agent Ben Isaacs is working a money laundering case that has taken up months of his time. His partner has gone deep undercover and Special Agent Isaacs is working a lead that one Stan Moffitt might be his best option to cracking things wide open. Days after Special Agent Isaacs reaches out to Stan’s wife, she goes missing in Hawaii, sending him out there to look into things, just as news that his partner has gone missing as well. As Special Agent Isaacs and Lainie’s cases converge, focussed on the same missing woman, they must put aside their differences and find some harmony. What does Stan know about Evie’s disappearance and how does it tie into the money laundering? The case moves from Hawaii back to Long Beach, where new truths emerge and someone is determined to silence anyone who dares reveal too much. A gripping story that keeps the reader hooked until the final page turn!
I am quite interested in Janice Cantore’s premise and delivery with this novel. The storytelling was superb and kept me hooked from start to finish. The narrative developed well and kept me wondering what awaited me as things progressed, with keenly crafted mysteries and thrills to inch things along. As the momentum built, I could see the author depicting things in such a way that there was no getting out of the tension and trouble brewing with each revelation. Short chapters kept the story clipping along and provided the reader no reprieve as things approached their climax. I was literally reading well into the night and wondering what could possibly happen next. While it is listed as Christian fiction and mystery, I did not feel a religious inculcation and feel anyone with an open mind could enjoy this book without feeling awkwardness about any preaching nature.
Characters are perfectly developed for this type of thriller, mixing backstories with ongoing events. The thorough exploration of both Lainie Jensen and Ben Isaacs proved ideal to assist the reader with understanding the protagonists. Well-crafted secondary characters helped push things along as well, leaving much for the imagination to conjure. The banter and dialogue added something to the piece, such that I was never left wondering for too long, as I envisioned how individuals would come together at key points. Cantore knows how to create characters that keep the reader entertained and intrigued at all stages.
Surprises work well in thrillers and the author made sure to pepper them throughout. There were so many moments that I was not expecting something, only to have it occur and develop before my eyes, while the mystery got more intense. I found myself gripped and unable to put the book down, which is a sign that this was just what I needed as I push through many books of late. I would definitely return to read more by Janice Cantore, and see she has much from which to choose!
Kudos, Madam Cantore, for a great thriller that never lost its momentum.
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