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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The clock is ticking! Murder, suspense, mysterious clues that throw her into a run for her life situation. Who to trust? Take a chance on the undercover FBI agent, stick with someone she knows or both? Her choices certainly had consequences! Fear certainly plays a big part throughout this book and with plenty of action and suspense, it made for a hard to put down book.
This is my first Carrie Stuart Parks book and it definitely will not be my last as I devoured this one. Loved that it keeps you guessing and on your toes throughout. I found this to be very inventive and smart writing that engrossed me from page one. Murders keep piling up and knowing who you can trust becomes a puzzle when your life is on the line. A complex story line and a real character in Tavish, as she suffers from panic attacks, who finds strength to keep going through her adversity. Throw in a lovable dog and you have the makings of a great story. This is not just a story of running for your life but of running the race towards Proverbs 3:5. Self perception is also addressed and how someone else sees us can be enlightening. Run to snatch this one up, as you won’t be disappointed.
I received a complimentary copy from CelebrateLit/publisher. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.
My Thoughts on Fragments of Fear:
This book is very unique. It centers on art but then again it doesn’t.
Some big takeaways from the book. Acceptance is important no matter what we look like. The negative space is real and we need to be looking for it and at it and the people who live there. Lies are all around us and hurt can come from even the closest relatives and the nicest people.
What would you do to save someone you loved? If someone wasn’t who you thought they were which way would you remember them after they died?
All these questions and thoughts plus so much more went through my head while reading Fragments of Fear. Art is definitely not my thing. I know nothing about it. All the names in the book were just that to me. I couldn’t tell you which were real artists and which weren’t. But that’s not the reason I picked up this book.
I chose to read this book because I’m a lover of mystery, suspense, and murder books. But I don’t want the normal ones on the shelves. I want the murder mysteries that are written by Christian authors so I don’t have to worry about content that I don’t approve of. Nothing like getting into the midst of a really good mystery only to come across questionable content and have to stop reading.
This book will not make you stop reading. Instead, it’s going to make you keep reading. You might take the book to the dining table, or even possibly the bathroom because you don’t want to set it down.
While I figured out parts of the book before they were revealed there were some definite wow and you’ve got to be kidding me moments. Loved them! In fact, I loved the whole book. The style of writing is unique and flows really well. Nothing disjointed here.
I loved the strength that the main character comes to have. She develops strength in herself and learns who she can and cannot trust. Of course, learning brings about some wrong decisions. But her knowledge of negative space keeps her relatively safe and thank goodness she happened to mention to Sawyer about negative space as well. It’s like their own secret code!
Also, have you ever heard of a bad guy with a good heart? There might be one of those in here too. And let’s not get me started on that dog. Oh, how adorable. Tavish is so lucky that sweet pup got foisted on her.
Highly recommend this book and I’m going to be checking out other books by this author now as well.
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.
Fragments of Fear by Carrie Stuart Parks is the first in what I hope is a new series based on the characer Evelyn McTavish. Evelyn may be rich but she does not have a great life. An artist, she soon finds herself in the middle of a homicide and with the murderers out to get her next. Ms Parks has written a fascinating new novel with memorable characters. The author’s experience as an artist really came through in this book, adding details like negative space that definitely made the story interesting. In contrast to the author’s other books, this book has some quirky elements. I really enjoyed this aspect of the book, along with the never-ending suspense that this author does so well. Don’t miss this book! It’s a joy. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.
Evelyn McTavish is an accomplished but struggling artist and she seems to have a hard time realizing her self-worth. “Tavish” has apparently had a weight problem in the past so she has a poor self-image of herself, her relationship with her mother is very strained, and she has just buried her fiance when this book begins. Suddenly, she finds herself caretaker to a dog whose owner has been murdered and running from the person who probably killed him. As the story continues, Tavish and FBI Special Agent Sawyer Price work together to find answers as more murders are committed, art work is stolen and art forgeries are discovered. Along the way, Tavish has her car stolen, she becomes a walking target, and she finds her sanity being questioned. Who is behind this and why is she the target? Sawyer seems to want to protect her but are his motives honest and pure? Perhaps the only positive outcome from all of her problems is that Evelyn Yvonne McTavish finally begins a relationship with the Heavenly Father that her late beloved grandmother had encouraged her to find.
I must admit that I don’t often read stories set in New Mexico so I enjoyed the references to Albuquerque and the use of Native American artifacts in the plot. I also enjoyed the unending suspense and trying to guess just what was coming next. Fragments of Fear is filled with non-stop action and danger and I can see why other readers are so eager to read Parks’s books. This was my first time to read a book by Carrie Stuart Parks but it won’t be my last!
I voluntarily received an Advance Reader’s Copy from Thomas Nelson as part of JustRead Publicity Tours but I was not required to write a positive review.
I have adored Carrie Stuart Parks’s writing since I picked up her first novel. I’m really glad to have another Christian suspense author to enjoy. So many Christian play it safe by writing romantic suspense, but those lean toward the romance side as more of a plot tactic. But Parks is definitely not like that. She writes suspense that grips me in the first chapter and doesn’t let go. In Fragments of Fear, the plot had me guessing a couple time of where I thought the story would head to, but Parks would throw a curve ball in the action and take the story in a different direction. I love how each one of Parks’ heroines are artist who use their ability to capture the bad guy. There was a budding romance between Evelyn and Sawyer, but I really didn’t believe they fell in love as fast as Parks claimed they did by the end of the novel. While the romance really didn’t fit, the suspense was well-written and captured my attention. I believe fans of Steven James, Ronie Kendig, and Lynette Eason should pick up this book or anything by Carrie Stuart Parks.
I received a complimentary copy of Fragments of Fear by Carrie Stuart Parks from Thomas Nelson Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.
MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK
I really enjoyed this fast paced thriller from author Carrie Parks. Tavish seemed to get herself in trouble everywhere she went. When she finds her boyfriend dead, the street is so bad she finds herself chewying on her fingernail, a very bad habit. And her boyfriends death leads to a string of deaths, and she can’t seem to find the connection. Then she meets FBI Special Agent Sawyer Price, who not only is a bit attracted to Tavish, he wants to help her find answers.
Tavish and Sawyer wiggled their way into my heart from the beginning. I love the unique and interesting characters created by Ms. Parks. They all played their parts so well in each scene of this highly rated thriller. Tavish was a mixed up young lady, she wasnt a Christian, instead she depended on her Crystal’s. And the supporting characters have their own unique qualities as well. There are so many twists and turns to this story. I tried throughout the book to figure out who did what, it was all so mixed up, it seemed like everyone was guilty. I love the way this author weaves all of the characters together with the horrific issues going on, and created an ending that was a shocker in some ways. Near the end, I had narrowed the killer down to a few, but I was still shocked at the results. I love when authors keep us guessing throughout the story. Especially authors like Carrie Parks, writing such twisted scenes, bringing every character into the picture. And I appreciate that Ms. Parks shows Tavish’s life before and after she gives her heart to Jesus.
If you love a good clean thriller/mystery, this is the book for you. You will love this one! A copy of this book was given to me by the author or publisher. I am not required to write a positive review. The opinions here in this review are totally mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
This is a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat. This is a great thriller that keeps you guessing from start to finish. I loved the characters and they were well portrayed. There was so much action in this story. I received a copy of this book from Celebratelit for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
Fragments of Fear
Fragments of Fear begins with a funeral and a bombshell of a revelation that sets the pace for the entire book. Carrie Stuart Parks gives readers another read bursting at the seams with action, unexpected twists, and plenty of questions to be answered about what, exactly, is happening.
Multiple suspects, stolen art, dead bodies, and a dog are pieces of the puzzle that just do not seem to fit together—at least not until the end when everything starts to quickly fall into place.
Evelyn McTavish (Tavish to everyone but her mother) is a character I sympathized with at first but came to admire as the story unfolded. Her self-image may be in the ditch but her tenacity and fight to expose the truth are her best characteristics. Plus, her journey to faith is authentic and well-paced.
As a reader of several of Parks’s other books, I knew the romance side of things would be downplayed. So, of course, my only critique of this book is that I would have liked a little more of that interaction between Tavish and Sawyer Price. Even without that one preference, the intense and intriguing suspense is worth the time invested in reading this one.
Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
I get these calls all the time. You know, the calls offering a solar-energy deal for homeowners? Only I’m not a homeowner. Or the calls offering a deal on my credit card debt. (But I don’t have credit cards). I’m so used to just disregarding these calls, although if I get a live person on the other end, I’ll have them take me off their list. Tavish got a call like that. It was a dog pound, letting her know her dog had been picked up. Only, Tavish doesn’t have a dog. When she learns the dog will be put down if she doesn’t come get it, Tavish has to push aside the fragments of fear that have defined her life the past few months and take action. When she does, she finds herself in the middle of a lot more fear, and a lot more action!
Evelyn Yvonne McTavish-Tavish to her friends (us!) – is living in a world turned upside down by her fiance’s death and the questions he left behind. And she’s falling apart. Nails bitten to bloody stubs, bailed on her job (fortunately there’s that trust fund), trying to launch her art business and not trying to belong in her mother’s rich, political, fake world. No one believes her when she insists that her fiance’s death was murder. She is ridiculed and written off as an embarrassment. Horoscopes, crystals, and mantras from her therapist don’t seem to be enough to win the fight with anxiety.
But then, she HAS to fight.
Because people have started disappearing, starting with the original owner of her surprise puppy. And once she starts digging, someone tries to make Tavish disappear too. The girl who was barely hanging onto the fragments of fear that made up her life? She’s still hanging on by a thread. But now she’s fighting to solve a mystery before more people die.
“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the assessment that something else is more important than fear.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt (and apparently some others, too!)
I’VE LIVED IN THE PLACE OF FEAR BEFORE.
If that’s you – if fragments of fear define your life – it’s time to get up. Cling to Jesus (he can handle the shakes and tears!), and then find something worth fighting for. Something that forces you to get up and go, because it is more important that the fear. More important than the awful feeling in your gut. When the fear comes, ask the Holy Spirit to be with you through it, and press forward. Keep moving.
WOULD I RECOMMEND FRAGMENTS OF FEAR?
If you enjoy suspense, you’ll enjoy this book. I thought the artistic element, so far outside my own experience, was really neat. I really loved the courage that sprung out of this girl as she found something worth fighting for. Giving up, giving in, wasn’t an option. I loved how God drew her near after being so scattered, even using the bad guys to do it!
I received a review copy of this book; all opinions are my own.
With her usual deft characterization, Carrie Stuart Parks has brought to life a cast of unique and believable people (and dog) in Fragments of Fear. This book moves fast, with as many twists and turns as any thriller, without losing sight of the individuals’ character development. The book begins with a rather ditzy, anxiety-ridden woman, burdened with shock and sorrows, but as soon as I started getting impatient with her, the story shifted, and I was hooked.
Each of the supporting characters is well-drawn and has a meaningful role in the story, just as every detail is important to the tightly-constructed plot. The author knows art and archaeology, and that expertise is obvious in the story. There’s also murder, theft, a disappearing corpse and chip technology in the mystery. The ending was surprising and satisfying.
I had to look up the breed of dog in the story, because it sounded so unusual. Marley is a Puli. Google it.
It’s action-packed suspense, all the way through, but there’s a little romance and a light faith theme. If you like thrillers and suspense, you will enjoy this one!
This was a quick read as all of Carrie Stuart Parks books are. I’m reading as fast as I can as the suspense and dangers increase. Lots of intricate happenings seemingly unrelated but are they tied up somehow? It starts out at a funeral that Evelyn McTavish is attending for her fiancé. She has been tied up in knots ever since her beloved grandmother died over a year ago. They were very close, much more so than her and her mother Helen. Whenever she finds herself in a stressful situation she tends to chew her fingernails to the point of bleeding. Her fingers are covered with bandaids. She also chants a saying to calm herself. But I identified with her finding myself chewing mine as the plot began to get thicker and thicker.
FBI agent Sawyer Price vows to help her but they find themselves separated and working for the truth alone. As the danger escalates Tavish begins to run out of places to hide from those seeking to harm her.
Nail biting suspense complete with thefts, forgeries, murders and explosions. You’ll find yourself on the edge of your seat as each dangerous situation comes to light.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through Celebrate Lit but was not required to write a review positive or otherwise.
I am a big fan of suspense and romantic suspense but I haven’t read many of Carrie Stuart Parks’ books but after this one that will be changing. This book grabbed me and wouldn’t let go until the end. It has many twists and I didn’t figure out who was behind all the evil until the book revealed it which is unusual for me. I loved the characters although Tavish has major confidence problems but I kept rooting for her to work them out and get to know the one and only God. Spencer is a very likable character and sometimes you wonder why he is interested in Tavish. Altogether a fantastic read that suspense fans are sure to enjoy. Don’t miss out on this book. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
This was such an interesting mystery to follow. With twists and turns all over the place, readers are kept on their toes while they follow Tavish, Sawyer, and the clues. Carrie Stuart Parks never ceases to amaze me with her attention to detail. From the archaeological site, to the crystals Tavish wore around her neck, there were so many aspects that she needed to pay attention to and research. Plus, her background as a forensic artist is evident in her writing, which only enhances the story in my opinion.
I will say that this story had less of a faith theme then I would have thought. The positive is that it’s a good way to reach a broader market. But with Tavish’s thoughts in the beginning regarding God, I would have assumed there would be a big growth in character and faith. Not that there wasn’t any, I think I was just expecting more. Just a personal preference here though.
Readers who are looking for a fun, suspenseful puzzle to solve will devour Ms. Parks’ latest book. You’ll find a few surprises at the end, and will feel completely satisfied once you read the last few words. You may even want to look into traveling to New Mexico. I know I want to go there now!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This seems not only interesting but also cultural. It reveals how these two genres of fiction; Christian and Crime may be intertwined. These also teach.
I read this author’s second novel (The Bones Will Speak) back when it released, and loved it, but hadn’t yet gotten around to reading any of her other books. As soon as I saw this cover I knew I wanted to read this book (I mean come on, the lettering is gorgeous and the whole cover just screams awesome, suspenseful thrill ride!) and then when I read the description I was totally sold, and so I jumped at the chance to request a review copy!
Oh, wow! It was indeed an awesome, suspenseful thrill ride, I couldn’t put it down and read it start to finish in a little over a day!
I love heroines that are strong, but also flawed and real, so it makes perfect sense that I instantly liked Tavish. Even though our socio-economic backgrounds are very different, I could relate to her in so many ways, and I felt myself learning, growing, and gaining a new perspective on things right alongside her!
This book was SOOOO good, super suspenseful, and action packed from beginning to end! For a majority of the book I had no clue what the criminals were trying to hide, and that was totally okay with me because it kept me turning pages faster and faster to see what the next twist would be!
I am a big romance novel fan, and while there is a bit of romance in this book it is a very light thread, the book is much heavier on the suspense/mystery side of things than the romance and I actually totally loved that, it was perfect for this particular book and made for a very refreshing change of pace!
Oh, and Marley! I’m a huge animal lover and I absolutely adored Marley the dog, she was so sweet and her presence just added that perfect little something to the story, as well as many humorous moments that made me literally laugh out loud!
I love this author’s writing style and wit, and how she can write an amazing, spellbinding, completely gripping thriller, but at the same time she knows just when to lighten things up with a touch of humor!
Overall, I loved everything about Fragments of Fear and HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT! I loved every moment I spent reading it and hated to see it end!
I am very much looking forward to this author’s next book, and I plan to get a copy of her previous book, Formula of Deception and read it very soon!
(5 Stars!)
I received a copy of this book through the CelebrateLit Team. Which did not influence my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions are one hundred percent my own!
Despite having gravitated away from them for a while now due to other reading commitments, thrillers remain among my favorite genres. Finding ones that are clean (and Christian), however, can be a challenging task, so when given the opportunity to read and review “Fragments of Fear”, I jumped at the chance. The cover certainly seemed perfect for summer, with a desert landscape in smoldering shades of orange and yellow and a woman in the foreground running and looking over her shoulder. Fittingly, we were experiencing a heat wave when I began reading it.
With “Fragments of Fear”, Carrie Stuart Parks creates a twisty mystery with some unique characters. Evelyn McTavish, who goes by Tavish, is not your typical heroine. Wealthy? Yes. Glamorous? Not so much. Since her beloved grandmother’s death, Tavish seems to have lost herself, and this feeling is only compounded by her fiancé’s suicide. She doesn’t share her grandmother’s faith, instead dabbling in a mixture of New Age customs, and yet Proverbs 3:5 seems to speak to her from her grandmother’s epitaph. When she gets a call from an animal shelter to come and pick up her dog, which is microchipped with her information even though she has never owned a dog, she is thrust headlong into a situation that becomes more convoluted and perilous by the minute.
Parks leads readers down a series of trails, some of which turn out to be dead ends, keeping the plot moving forward at a constant pace and making this a difficult book to put down. No one is trustworthy, and the possibilities of what is transpiring and whether events are connected or not feed the uncertainty. The inclusion of the archaeology and especially the art elements enhances and adds dimension to the narrative. An aspect that I found particularly interesting was the fine art concept of negative space and how it can be applied to circumstances in daily life. Although I thought that the faith and spiritual components of this novel could have been more fully developed, Tavish’s religious journey was still nice to witness. This is a book that will appeal to both Christian and secular readers, with its combination of mystery, intrigue, light romance, and finding who you were meant to be.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through CelebrateLit and was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.
Well you definitely won’t put this one down until you are finished! The fast paced action will keep you on the edge of your seat throughout wondering if the mystery will ever be solved. Evelyn or Tavish as she liked to be called is an artist with an incredible memory, which proves to be providential in the circumstances she finds herself in. Between murder, kidnapping, flash floods, gunfire and explosions, you begin to wonder who can actually be trusted and thus solve this incredible conundrum that includes forgeries and stolen artwork.
Marley, the dog, is a great stress reliever for Tavish as well as the reader. He certainly brought a smile to my face a number of times. Marley’s unconditional love helped Tavish learn to believe in the verse left behind by her grandmother –
‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding’. Proverbs 3:5
This is my introduction to this author and I certainly will be looking for more. I received this ARC through NetGalley and CelebrateLit. The impressions and opinions stated are my own.
FRAGMENTS..OF..FEAR…..Carrie..Stuart .Parks
Evelyn found her fiancé, a meeting place he had suggested and he was in a rental car. The body unviewable, saying it was suicide, he left her no note, and he would have, saying why. Tonight was to be a celebration asking her Mother for Evelyn’s hand in marriage. Gravesite, with the fake grass, and his death seemed unreal. A mourner comes, saying she had so much she wanted to say to him., they were to be married. Asking to whom she meant, , it was the name of her fiancé.
Life for Evelyn was out of control, a grandmother had died, a fiancé, saying suicide, a job she hated, a mother did she even love her, her art would it sell.
Life was mix up, and then a call for a dog, the chip had her information, but not hers. The stranger at the gravesite, saying she was dumpy, and he only wanting her money. A novel full of twists, the uncertainties would life ever be normal again. Great story, that keeps one reading to the end.
Given ARC for my voluntary review and my honest opinion by Net Galley and
Thomas Nelson.
This is a wonderful book!! It is full of action, suspense, twists and turns, and will keep you guessing. It will keep you turning the pages because you have to know what happens next. This is a must read!! Thank you Thomas Nelson–Fiction via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this awesome book. All opinions expressed are my own.