For four years, Jo Oliver has been Chief of Police of the quiet village of Haversport, Illinois. She’s kept her husband’s abuse a secret, until today. Adding to the chaos of her personal life, her old flame drags her into the FBI’s investigation of the Mentor Sister Serial Killer.As the holidays approach, the serial killer escalates. And so does her husband, leaving Josie fighting for her … her marriage, faith, and fate.
Cleansed by Death seamlessly weaves gritty, imperfect characters, faith, and white-knuckle suspense that will leave readers breathless and guessing until the end.
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This is the first book in a series that will follow Police Chief Josie through lots of adventures and life-altering changes. The entire series is thriller to the max. If you love a good suspense/mystery/thriller read then you are going to adore this series.
Book one introduces you to Josie. She’s the chief of police. She stands for all that is good and fair. But yet. . . She has lost her faith in God. Her husband is abusive. Her life is anything but perfect.
In this book, you’re going to have a serial killer to chase who is bad to the extreme. The serial killer, of course, has a calling card in the was he kills his victims and if you’re squeamish you might not like this book because the author has wonderful powers to bring the scenes to life around you. You also might not want to read this book when you’re home alone in the dark at night during a thunderstorm.
I highly recommend this book and this series to anyone looking for a good thriller book.
I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Celebrate Lit. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.
Cleansed by Death starts Catherine Finger’s Jo Oliver Thriller series. I have read the other books in the series already and feel that each one can be read as a stand alone. I do recommend for readers to read all of them because they are great reads.
Cleansed by Death is full of mystery and suspense, as well as, action and danger. At just about two hundred pages, I had no issues reading the whole book in just a few hours. I could not put it down until I finished to the end. Josie Oliver is quite the character. I admired her determination, bravery and courage. I believe many readers would be able to relate to her.
I am giving Cleansed by Death four and a half stars. I am looking forward to reading more by Catherine Finger in the future.
I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
A Chief of Police who is a woman. An accomplished woman who is hiding a secret. An overwhelmed woman who suffers abuse from her husband. Jo Oliver is the woman described above and now, because of a serial killer and the intense search to find him, her secret is about to be exposed.
Cleansed by Death explores the hunt for the Mentor Sister Serial Killer and Chief Jo’s emotional distress that engulfs her during this search. There is a disturbing scene when she contemplates suicide but author Catherine Finger also shows the immense support that she receives from her co-workers and friends. Jo’s special friend Gino constantly reminds her that she isn’t alone and that she is truly valued by God. And then there is Nick Vitarello! He joins in the hunt for the killer and his support suggests that some old feelings still linger. What if Jo wasn’t a married woman? Is is possible that their relationship might be renewed?
If you enjoy reading suspense novels with a faith message running through them, you will certainly want to read Cleansed by Death.
I received a digital copy of this book from the author and Celebrate Lit. I was under no obligation to write a favorable review. These are my own thoughts and opinions.
Cleansed by Death is the start of the story of Jo Oliver and all of the people who surround her. Being the first book in the series, I was interested in seeing how the story would come to life. I was looking forward to reading this book because I typically enjoy suspense novels. I found myself riveted as I continued reading. I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish.
This book contains domestic abuse, something I would not think of a police chief falling prey to typically. The characters seem to have a depth to them that I enjoyed. I became caught up in this world the author created. I wanted to see how the story would end.
I felt caught up in seeing how Jo was willing to fight for her faith, marriage, and even her own life. So if you enjoy suspense novels, check this book out for yourself.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from CelebrateLit, this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own.
It has been an interesting experience reading this series backwards but that has not hindered my enjoyment of it. Even though I knew what was ahead of Jo and several other characters, I was able to approach my reading as though the earlier books were extended flashbacks. Didn’t stop me from thinking a time or two “just wait, you’ll get what’s coming to you!”
Well written with constantly building suspense, Cleansed by Death is a page turner that has a few surprises in store for the reader. Strong characters fill the major roles in the story, many of them good friends of police chief Jo Oliver who provide a much needed support team for her. Although Jo has spent years in an abusive marriage only to lose her husband to another woman, there is some indication of a potential romance with a long-time friend and co-worker. Another friend is a spiritual mentor to Jo and provides a compelling salvation message during their interactions.
Cleansed by Death provides the series with an excellent start that would have driven me to read the rest of the series had I not already read the other two books. I definitely plan to purchase the fourth book of the series Capsized by Death as soon as possible. I do need to know how everything turns out for Jo and her gang.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Celebrate Lit. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
“The vision had shown me how my life could look, if I would acknowledge God existed and invite Him into a relationship with me. God would live inside me and He would conquer the darkness on my behalf.”
This is the first time, to my knowledge, that I have read a series backwards. The blog tour was set up that way in order to showcase the release of book 4 first. Because I cringe at spoilers, I admit that I was initially chagrined when I realized the reverse chronology, but I will say that it was an interesting venture and that in the end I honestly did enjoy following Chief of Police Jo Oliver from the resolution of some points of her story to their beginnings. Unless this is your customary approach, however, my general advice is to read this series in order because the stories definitely build on one another.
As with any series worth its salt, the main character in “Cleansed by Death” undergoes a significant change not only from book one to book four, but also within book one itself. Jo Oliver’s metanoia occurs through visions and takes the form of spiritual warfare, culminating in one intense scene that readers may find disturbing. Her faith walk with Christ, of course, is not an immediate and perfect transformation but rather one that takes place one step at a time over the course of the whole series. What I did not understand or like in her character was the amount of drama that she continuously exudes. Because the story is related in the first-person from her perspective, the reader is drawn into the nasty details of both the Mentor Sister Serial Killer case and Jo’s divorce. For a police chief, she appears to be lacking in her instinct of what to do about her situation or how to keep herself safe. To me, this seems rather unbelievable, even accounting for the fact that she suffers from abuse.
One of the best inclusions in “Cleansed by Death”, in my opinion, is the character of little Samantha, whom Jo hopes to adopt soon. I appreciate that Finger gives a nod to adoption and enjoy how Sam heals Jo’s heart. As for the other characters, there is a mixture of those with good hearts and those who have more sinister motives. I
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Celebrate Lit and was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.
I read this series in a strange way and don’t recommend doing it. I started with the last book and ended with the first book in the series. I recommend starting with the first book. I enjoyed the story line but I got a bit confused about some of the characters through this whole series. I liked how the main character becomes more self reliant as the series progresses. I liked the suspense though it seemed to end abruptly. I received a copy of this book from Celebratelit for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
This is the book that starts the exciting series that pushes this author to the top as a suspense writer. I have read the other books in the series but it is still nice to read how it all started. Josie is a take charge kind of woman when it comes to her job as Chief of Police. I wish I could say the same for her marriage. It really bothered me that she refused to report her abusive husband and have him arrested. It seems ironic that as a police officer she investigates domestic violence but she won’t stop it in her own home. But we have to dig deep to understand what makes Josie make decisions that go against her oath to protect and serve.
She is very close with an FBI agent named Nick. It is obvious that there is an attraction between the two. At some point Nick will get tired of seeing bruises on Josie and hopefully get Josie to finally leave her husband. At this point I have to say that we are all flawed. We may be Christians but we stumble like everyone else. I’m not justifying Josie’s attraction to Nick, but I want you to remember this woman is in need of someone to love her, make her feel important and protect her. It is easy to judge others when we aren’t in their situation. Her friend Gino is a wonderful character who reminds Josie that God loves her and He is waiting for her with open arms. There is a scene in the book that may be sensitive to some when suicide is thought about by a character. It shows how desperate someone can be and how much they need to find peace that only God can give. He can heal the broken hearted and the unloved and fill them with joy.
Josie has been called in to help in the investigation of a serial killer. The gruesome murders are hard to read and at times I had to take a break from the story. I feel like the author is finding her style in this book and trust me the other books just get better and more intense. I enjoy her writing and love that she keeps readers glued to the story.
The killing spree gets more gripping as the serial killer is out of control. There are questions of who it is and why certain women are being targeted. The author lays out the investigation in subtle hints that at the end will fit together like a puzzle. The ending is Oscar worthy as the police get closer to finding out who the killer is. The author integrates powerful techniques to reveal the person behind the destruction, torture and an reveals an unstable mind. The faith element grows strong at the end and shows a transformation of several characters. I recommend you find a place where you won’t be disturbed and get ready to immerse yourself in a suspenseful story that never lets up till the last page.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.
Page-turning suspense!
Today is a gift, and every minute of this day has a purpose hidden in it for you. – Gino
Jo Oliver, the local Police Chief, is well known in her town and surrounding area. This feisty heroine has the reputation for solving even the most heinous crimes. Unfortunately her personal life is slowly dissolving into chaos, making her very vulnerable. Good thing she has a fabulous team of crime fighters in her corner.
This well-written novel is all you can ask for in a whodunit with plenty of suspense and danger. What the mystery is behind this murderer, and who the next victim might be keeps the reader on the edge of the seat hoping it won’t be a main character. The author does an outstanding job of describing the incredible darkness of fear and depression as well as the glorious light that comes from trusting God. The One that is in you, IS greater than the one that is in the world – a principle that Jo needs to understand, believe and live by.
I highly recommend this incredible beginning to the Jo Oliver Thriller series and am looking forward to getting to know these characters better. This copy was received through Elk Lake Publishing and CelebrateLit. The comments, impressions and rating are my own and are in no way solicited.
Brilliant from the opening paragraph!
I don’t normally read murder mysteries, but I can’t wait to read the next book in the series when it comes out! Catherine Finger developed some strong and lovable characters I hope to be reading about for years to come! Everyone could use a Josie in their corner when things get rough. A MUST read!