FBI-certified forensic artist Carrie Stuart Parks infuses her real-life expertise into her award-winning suspense novels.
Evelyn McTavish’s world came crashing down with the suicide of her fiancé. As she struggles to put her life back together and make a living from her art, she receives a call that her dog is about to be destroyed at the pound. Except she doesn’t own a dog. The shelter is … a dog. The shelter is adamant that the microchip embedded in the canine with her name and address makes it hers.
Evelyn recognizes the dog as one owned by archaeologist John Coyote because she was commissioned to draw the two of them. The simple solution is to return the dog to his owner—but she arrives only to discover John’s murdered body.
As Evelyn herself becomes a target, she crosses paths with undercover FBI agent Sawyer Price. The more he gets to know her, the more personally invested he becomes in keeping her safe. Together, they’re desperate to find the links between so many disparate pieces.
Stolen art. A New Mexico archaeological dig. An abandoned dog. And a secret that’s worth killing for. And the clock is ticking.
Praise for Fragments of Fear:
“A rollercoaster ride with a lovable protagonist and a suspenseful, twisty plot.” —Colleen Coble
“Over the years, Carrie has mastered forensic art, fine art, and her own brand of offbeat humor. As a novelist she combines these skills with another: puzzle writing––scattering puzzle pieces all over her fictional universe and then dropping them into place in twists, surprises, revelations, and side-pocket whimsy until the big picture emerges, never too soon, always on the brink of disaster.” —Frank Peretti
“I love Carrie Stuart Park’s skill in writing characters with hysterical humor, unwitting courage, and page-turning mystery. I hope my readers won’t abandon me completely when they learn about her!” —Terri Blackstock, USA TODAY bestselling author of the If I Run series
“Carrie Stuart Parks has been a favorite author of mine since I read her first book. She’s one of the few authors I’ll give up sleep for! Without fail, she delivers stories that reel me in and keep me turning pages until I’m done and craving more. Fragments of Fear is sure to make you a Carrie Stuart Parks addict as well! #CSPaddictandproudofit” —Lynette Eason, bestselling, award-winning author
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I love Carrie Stuart Park’s skill in writing characters with hysterical humor, unwitting courage, and page-turning mystery. I hope my readers won’t abandon me completely when they learn about her!
A rollercoaster ride with a lovable protagonist and a suspenseful, twisty plot.
Over the years, Carrie has mastered forensic art, fine art, and her own brand of offbeat humor. As a novelist she combines these skills with another: puzzle writing––scattering puzzle pieces all over her fictional universe and then dropping them into place in twists, surprises, revelations, and side-pocket whimsy until the big picture emerges, never too soon, always on the brink of disaster.
Fragments of Fear by Carrie Stuart Parks is a stand-alone suspense mystery. Evelyn McTavish is trying to move on after the death of her fiancé. Selling her art is the beginning but when she receives a call to pick up a dog that the shelter claims is registered to her everything seems to explode. With her life in danger her path crosses that of FBI Agent Sawyer Price. Now, with someone she can trust maybe she’ll make it out alive. If she can figure out just what is going on! This was a great story. Even though the odds were against her, Tavish never gave up. I would definitely like to read more from this author.
I received this book from Celebrate-Lit in exchange for my honest review.
“My hand is a positive shape. The negative space is the shape between my fingers. If I focus on the negative space, I will always draw the positive shape correctly.”
Carrie Stuart Parks, once again, deftly and masterfully weaves an intense tale brimming with suspense and authenticity that begs to be read in one sitting. The author is well-known for her intricately and tightly woven plot that feels like a 5000-piece puzzle systematically snapping into place page by page and this book is classic Carrie Stuart Parks. From reading her previous books, I knew to look out for the villain amongst the many secondary characters introduced during the plot, but I was (yet again) stunned at the ending. I was somewhat surprised at the book’s third person limited point of view since the author’s previous Gwen Marcey series was in first person perspective but it worked well for this book.
Tavish is an heiress since the death of her grandmother, a fledgling artist, and a quirky and impulsive twenty-five year driven by anxiety, fear, somewhat overactive imagination, and compassion. Sawyer is a loyal, compassionate, loving FBI agent who runs into Tavish at a local gallery during one of her art showings. Tavish’s wealthy mother’s art is stolen then returned, Tavish’s fiancé is murdered as well as quite a few others Tavish has known, then Tavish herself is hunted down by a faceless ruthless entity, and Sawyer gets involved in the swirl of conspiracy and secrecy as he tries to protect Tavish. The romance is a small subplot but enough to keep their budding friendship and attraction interesting.
If you enjoy a well-written, fast-paced suspense, you will absolutely love this book! I received a copy of the book from Thomas Nelson via Celebrate Lit Tours and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.
Fragments of Fear is a fast-paced Christian suspense novel. Evelyn “Tavish” McTavish is an artist with a variety of problems (nail biting, anxiety, panic attacks, self-confidence issues). Tavish lives in the guest house on her mother’s estate and is an heiress thanks to her grandmother. Just before her first gallery showing, Tavish finds herself drawn into a dangerous mystery. Sawyer Price is an FBI Agent who finds himself attracted to Tavish and tries to keep her safe which is not an easy task. Fragments of fear is an action packed mystery full of twists and turns. You never know what is going to happen next. Tavish finds herself out of her comfort zone and in unknown territory as she tries to unravel the clues and keep herself from being killed. I like that Tavish does not give up and she continues to dig for the truth. She learns more about herself and God whom she has ignored for most of her life. I appreciate that the mystery is wrapped up at the end with complete details. Marley was just a delight. Such a sweet, loving yet plucky dog. The romance is present, but it does not dominate the story. Fragments of Fear has unknown villains, art thefts, explosive situations, missing artifacts, microchips, a spunky Puli, a concerned FBI agent, and an apprehensive heroine.
I think I have read all of Carrie Stuart Parks’ books, and this one might be one of my favorites. There were many twists that I did not see coming at all. I really liked the theme of facing who we are and who we are called to be. The only possible downgrade (which obviously did not reflect my rating) was the fact that the main characters’ relationship did not seem to reflect the actual time that they spent with each other. How they related to each other at the end did not fit the story line. But other than that, I found it to be a very enjoyable read!
Evelyn McTavish’s world came crashing down with the suicide of her fiancé. As she struggles to put her life back together and make a living from her art, she receives a call that her dog is about to be destroyed at the pound. Except she doesn’t own a dog. The shelter is adamant that the microchip embedded in the canine with her name and address makes it hers.
Evelyn recognizes the dog as one owned by archaeologist John Coyote because she was commissioned to draw the two of them. The simple solution is to return the dog to his owner—but she arrives only to discover John’s murdered body.
As Evelyn herself becomes a target, she crosses paths with undercover FBI agent Sawyer Price. The more he gets to know her, the more personally invested he becomes in keeping her safe. Together, they’re desperate to find the links between so many disparate pieces.
And the clock is ticking.
The minute I started reading I was hooked. I didn’t want to put it down. There were a lot of characters thrown at you in the beginning of the book. But once I had them figured out it was easier to follow the story line. All the different characters were part of the mystery and were needed. Some that I thought were just thrown in there were part of the big picture. The only negative thing I would say about the book is the very end. Sawyer and Tavish ran into each others arms and proclaimed their love for each other. They were only with each other for a few times in a span of several days. I think it would have made more sense to have them want to explore they feelings they are starting to have rather than proclaim their love.
I recommend this book to all who enjoy a good mystery.
I was given this book by Thomas Nelson Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.
Carrie Stuart Parks has been a favorite author of mine since I read her first book. She’s one of the few authors I’ll give up sleep for! Without fail, she delivers stories that reel me in and keep me turning pages until I’m done and craving more. Fragments of Fear is sure to make you a Carrie Stuart Parks addict as well! #CSPaddictandproudofit
This was another page turner from Carrie Stuart Parks. It was fast-paced and full of twists and turns. I had trouble putting it down.
It took some time for me to warm up to the heroine, but by the end she really shows her grit and determination. Her spiritual growth was slow, but steady throughout.
What a great read! The characters were relatable, the story shifted and turned like a sleek racecar in Monte Carlo, and my fingers flipped the pages as fast as they could.
What a gifted author, I’m reading as many of her novels as I can in the future. As a bonus, you don’t need any caffeine while reading, it’s a pure adrenaline rush!
What an exciting, adventure filled story! There is so much action in this book, the story never lags. I really enjoyed it!
Want to read a very captivating and thrilling book? Look no further! Carrie has once again entertained and captivated my attention with a tale that is just outstanding! I started the novel one evening rather late and hated to wait till the next day to finish it, but alas I had to. So, when I picked it up the following day, I just kept turning pages until the very end. It was an unbelievable tale about a woman who doesn’t want to be called by her real name but by Tavish, which is a part of her last name.
Tavish is a brilliant woman who owns a company, is an heiress when she turns 30, and an artist. She views herself different from what is reality, and all she wants is to be loved. What changes her whole life is that she loses her fiancée and inherits a dog she at first loathes. But life is about to rush her headlong into trouble and running for her life.
Tavish meets an FBI agent named Stewart though he doesn’t reveal that part of his life to her at first. Tavish and her mother don’t get along at all but wait to read what happens between these two characters! There is romance, danger, mystery, faith, adventure and more awaiting you in the pages of Fragments of Fear. When you’re done, don’t be surprised if you are wanting to read another of Carrie’s books!
Don’t hold your breath when reading this exciting and surprising tale!
At first I honestly didn’t know what to think of this story but as I continued on I became so wrapped up in the plot I was absolutely spellbound and couldn’t put it down! A twisting plot, so pay close attention, an adorable pup named Marley, and a very unexpected ending! A great introduction to a “new to me” author.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for an an advanced copy of this book. Thoughts and review of this book are mine.
Can she trust anything…or anyone?
Carrie Stuart Parks is definitely one of my go-to, must-read, favorite authors. All I have to do is see her name on the cover and I know I am going to seriously love the book. Her brand of suspense/thriller, sometimes with a dash of romance, is right up my alley. And I simply love her no nonsense writing style.
Needless to say, I’ve been pretty excited about reading Fragments Of Fear since I first heard about it several months ago. And, oh, I was so NOT disappointed! It was everything I had hoped for and more! Sorry, but I just had to gush a little there. I wasn’t kidding when I said that she is one of my favorite authors.
Anyway… Fragments Of Fear was an excellent read. It’s a taut psychological thriller slash romantic suspense novel and I was totally engrossed in the story right from the start. One of the things that Carrie Stuart Parks does well, aside from painting vivid mental images of the characters and settings, would be the psychological element. Seriously, you feel every bit of Tavish’s emotional roller coaster as she seeks the truth, and a little justice, while being gaslighted and terrorized by some very nasty bad guys.
Carrie Stuart Parks brings the New Mexico landscape alive, from the elegant art world to a dusty archaeological dig, in Fragments Of Fear. It’s a story that I really enjoyed and would definitely recommend.
(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)
3.5 stars
“Am I trying to connect something that isn’t connected? What am I missing?”
Evelyn “Tavish” McTavish’s life has turned into a nightmare of missed connections; first it’s her dead fiance, next it’s a dog that doesn’t even belong to her, then there is the matter of a client who wasn’t completely forthcoming, and to top it all off . . . someone has just tried to kill her. Tavish’s life goals are so simple; become a successful artist and live happily ever after, but even that is in jeopardy before a handsome art critic turns out to be someone else entirely. However, a gazillion questions remain; what about her mother, and the stolen paintings, that were recovered somewhat easily? And . . . . and . . . . . . the list goes on and on until Tavish is convinced that she is going to lose her mind, if she doesn’t lose her life in the process. Going on the run seems the only logical thing to do.
This book will remind readers of a giant jigsaw puzzle with lots of missing pieces, merely hiding in plain sight. It’s complicated, maybe a bit rushed from a relational perspective, but chocked full of intrigue; providing fans with a lot to cheer about when Tavish’s fragments of fear are finally allowed to rest in the positive, not negative, space.
What I think you should know:
Fragments of Fear is a contemporary suspense novel. Evelyn McTavish who prefers to be called Tavish is an heiress who has just lost her fiance and feels alone in the world. When she witnesses a horrible crime no one believes her, so she the investigation into her own hands.
What you might want to know:
The book does contain violence and murder, however the author, Carrie Stuart Parks did not include details that were not necessary. Tavish suffers from severe anxiety.
What I enjoyed about this book:
Tavish isn’t sure of her place in life and has let her opinion of herself be tarnished by others, in this book she is learning to lean on herself. FBI Agent Sawyer Price was a great character, he added an extra layers to the story, giving you a view of Tavish in someone else’s eyes. The technical art details were also a great touch giving me things to think about. The author did a masterful job of writing a story that had me intrigued from the first page to the last.
Who will enjoy this book ( just to name a few):
Fans of Suspense
Fans of Mysteries
Fans of Christian Fiction
I received a complimentary copy for this book from Celebrate Lit, this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own.
Tavish is a very wealthy young woman who doesn’t have the best relationship with her mother. I guess if you call your mother by her first name, it is obvious there is a fracture in the relationship. I didn’t care for Tavish’s mother at all. Maybe her mother is upset that her daughter is independent and doesn’t always do what her mother wants her to do. Her mother is always requesting Tavish’s appearance at functions she doesn’t want to be at. Whatever the reason, the author does a great job of exploring their relationship throughout the story.
The suspense in the book is good and has many twists in it. What would you do if you received a call from an animal shelter saying to come pick up your dog before it is euthanized? Tavish is quite confused with the call because she doesn’t own a dog, but I’m so glad she has a good heart. The dog is a clue to something that brings the story to an adventure filled with secrets and danger. I adored the dog and thought it was a great addition to the story.
Sawyer is charming and wants to help Tavish while trying to keep her safe. I love that he is not afraid to share his faith and encourage Tavish to not give up. It was fascinating to read about archaeology and be able to feel a part of the dig that was going on. I love the element of art in the story and have always enjoyed learning about different pieces that an artist has put their heart into.
Tavish has a difficult time trusting people and when her life is in danger, she will have to learn to let her guard down and trust Sawyer. She is thrown into an unexpected turn of events that bring her to a place where she will encounter life and death. I loved how the author keeps readers guessing with her excellent ability to throw in curves that involve intrigue and surprises.
It’s hard to figure out who are the enemies and just what they are after which made me want to read as fast as I could. The book is very good with layers of complicated people who are after something of value. I have to say that I loved how intense the story is at times. Overall the story is well written and delves into the art world with drama, heart pounding action and a bit of faith scattered throughout the story.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.
It didn’t take reading but one book to place Carrie Stuart Parks on my absolutely must read author list. She is one author whose novels I will purchase as soon as they are released if I am not offered a review copy. Happily for me, I managed to score a copy of Fragments of Fear to review but it is definitely worth the price. Each one of this author’s books has been awesome but I believe Fragments of Fear is the best one yet. I was hooked from page one and was pretty much useless until I had reached the end.
The plot moved along quickly, sometimes at breakneck speed, with so many twists, turns, and surprises that I never knew what to expect next. Characters were well-rounded and realistic. I loved that Tavish was so unaware of her own attractiveness, primarily because she didn’t live up to her mother’s expectations. Sawyer was the perfect hero, so affirming and protective and full of faith! And of course Marley the dog tried to steal the whole show! It was encouraging to watch Tavish transform from a relatively unhappy, insecure person who relied on her crystals and other new age practices to a beautiful and confident young woman who learned to trust the Lord.
I loved Fragments of Fear but will cut my review short for fear of offering any spoilers. Take it from me, if you are a fan of Christian suspense or thrillers, you don’t want to miss this one.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Celebrate Lit. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
Fragments of fear
Definitely a lot involved in the book. Everywhere she went Takish got into some kind of trouble. Never was sure who was on her side, even her own mother. She really had quite the adventure.
At the beginning of the book she inherited a dog. A different type of dog that is in most books. So she tries to figure out why the dog was in her name. One thing leads to another.
This is my first book by the author. It definitely won’t be my last. I really enjoyed her writing.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher through Celebrate Lit. This review is my own opinion.