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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*3.5 stars*
From cover to cover, Fragments of Fear was a total page turner! I was instantly wrapped up into Tavish’s world and could palpably feel the suspense as the drama unfolded. It’s a psychological suspense novel that gets inside your mind and will kick your thoughts into overdrive. Did a murder actually happen or was Tavish’s mind really playing tricks on her? Which characters are truly the good and bad guys? Where does her mother truly fit into the puzzle? There were answers I simply needed to know and thus my nose was in the book until the very end.
Although I was fully captivated by the action and suspense in this novel, I have to admit that the faith element was rough for me. Tavish started out saying she wasn’t religious but also wore a necklace symbolizing her belief in the power of crystals. The only time she expressed interest in calling out to God was when she was being chased and was asking for His help in escaping. There really needed to be another strong Christian character to have more dialogue with especially since there was only one verse she called to remembrance from her grandmother in the past. It felt like God was minimized to a wishmaker and so I really struggled with that aspect.
If you’re looking for a page-turning psychological suspense then this is one I could easily recommend. I needed more from the faith element, but the story itself held my attention and kept the pages turning rapidly. I’m curious what the author will come up with next.
*I received a copy of this book from the author. Thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone.
”We have three hours to figure this out and disappear for a bit. It’s hard to kill someone you can’t find.’
Evelyn McTavish, or Tavish, as she prefers to be called, is slowly pulling herself together after her fiancé commits suicide. Then she’s called by a vet clinic to pick up her dog; only she doesn’t own a dog. But this dog’s microchip says she does. Hmmm. From this moment forward, things begin happening at a rapid pace: murders happen, art is stolen, and absolutely nothing is as it seems. Tavish’s life is turned completely upside down. Can she even believe anyone anymore? She connects with an FBI agent, Sawyer Price, and maybe, just maybe he is who he says he is. Even is nobody else is.
From the first moment, this book pulled me into the story and I read for hours at a time, finishing it in less than one day. What a mystery! This is taut, full of excitement and flies along at a rapid pace, and it is a complete surprise at the end! A clock is ticking throughout the book and so was my heart! I was gasping in disbelief. I never guessed for one minute. Not once. Absolutely loved it. Recommended.
*My thanks to the publisher, Thomas Nelson, for a preview copy of this book via Net Galley. The opinions stated here are entirely my own.