Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Bethany House Publishers (2017), 432 pages
Original publication date
2017
Description
Fiction. Suspense. With the public eye fixed on the governor's new Missing Persons Task Force, Detective Evie Blackwell and her new partner, David, are under pressure to produce results. While they investigate two missing persons cases in Chicago, Evie and David's conviction that justice is truly possible for all will be tested to the limit. Dee Henderson Pens Another Compelling Cold Case Mystery Evie Blackwell's reputation as a top investigator for the Illinois State Police has landed her an appointment to the governor's new Missing Persons Task Force. This elite investigative team is launched with plenty of public fanfare. The governor has made this initiative a high priority, so they will have to produce resultsâ??and quickly. Evie and her new partner, David Marshal, are assigned to a pair of unrelated cases in suburban Chicago, and while both involve persons now missing for several years, the cases couldn't be more different. While Evie opens old wounds in a close-knit neighborhood to find a missing college student, David searches for a private investigator working for a high-powered client. With a deep conviction that "justice for all" truly matters, Evie and David are unrelenting in their search for the truth. But Evie must also find answers to the questions that lie just beneath the surface in her personal li… (more)
Language
Original language
English
Physical description
432 p.; 8.27 inches
ISBN
0764219979 / 9780764219979
User reviews
LibraryThing member mckzlve
I won this book for free via LibraryThing's member giveaway, and they requested a review. I read the advanced reader's copy, so there may be differences the version I read and the actual publication. Onto the spoiler-free review:
To me, this book read more as a fiction novel than a danger/forensic
As for critiques, I didn't particularly care much for the romantic backstory of the main character. I thought that it seemed a little out of place in the story. Perhaps older readers or people with a bigger interest in romance would enjoy the romantic parts, though. There are also a handful of discussions about Christianity. They weren't extremely lengthy, but I am not a very religious person, so I did not care much for it. Again, this could appeal to some readers.
Overall, I didn't feel like I had complete closure at the end of the novel. In my opinion, the ending could have also been more thrilling. I did like the majority of the book, though.
8/10, decent read, fairly good plot.
To me, this book read more as a fiction novel than a danger/forensic
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science novel (which I was completely fine with). I've never read any mystery books before, and I really enjoyed reading through this. I liked the genuine interaction between the two main characters. Henderson also does a great job of describing environments and setting tones, and she does it without simply listing adjectives. I felt like the novel had good flow and a semi-interesting plot.As for critiques, I didn't particularly care much for the romantic backstory of the main character. I thought that it seemed a little out of place in the story. Perhaps older readers or people with a bigger interest in romance would enjoy the romantic parts, though. There are also a handful of discussions about Christianity. They weren't extremely lengthy, but I am not a very religious person, so I did not care much for it. Again, this could appeal to some readers.
Overall, I didn't feel like I had complete closure at the end of the novel. In my opinion, the ending could have also been more thrilling. I did like the majority of the book, though.
8/10, decent read, fairly good plot.
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LibraryThing member Topazshell
Nine years ago in Chicago five women disappeared. Two detectives, Evie Blackwell and David Marshall, work together trying to find a solution to the above crime along with another crime involving a murdered detective who had been working on a case about an unfaithful spouse. Both cases have gone
It would seem like Evie and David would become romantic involved while working together. However, it never happens. As a matter of fact, neither thinks of romance because each are involved with other people. David is involved with Margaret called Maggie throughout the book. She is a very famous singer. Evie is involved with Rob. These cases are cold because six to nine years have past. The methods used by these detectives to solve these awful crimes are amazing.
In "Threads Of Suspicion" by Dee Henderson, there is the added layer of Christian values. There is the feeling that the author definitely is a devout Christian. Still, she is able to write a hardcore detective novel. While it is a Christian or Inspirational novel, it is not too gentle or preachy. I especially liked the relationships between the four couples. While Rob and Evie seem to get along easily, there is a huge obstacle between Maggie and David. It is interesting to find out where their patience and love will take them.
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cold. Evie is working on the missing women, mainly a college student named Jenna. The cases begin to interweave which thickens the distasteful stew.It would seem like Evie and David would become romantic involved while working together. However, it never happens. As a matter of fact, neither thinks of romance because each are involved with other people. David is involved with Margaret called Maggie throughout the book. She is a very famous singer. Evie is involved with Rob. These cases are cold because six to nine years have past. The methods used by these detectives to solve these awful crimes are amazing.
In "Threads Of Suspicion" by Dee Henderson, there is the added layer of Christian values. There is the feeling that the author definitely is a devout Christian. Still, she is able to write a hardcore detective novel. While it is a Christian or Inspirational novel, it is not too gentle or preachy. I especially liked the relationships between the four couples. While Rob and Evie seem to get along easily, there is a huge obstacle between Maggie and David. It is interesting to find out where their patience and love will take them.
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LibraryThing member alekee
Loved being back in Evie Blackwell’s life, I’ve come to admire this girl, and this book doesn’t disappoint.
If I had a missing loved one, I would sure want my Governor to put his recourses into find answers, and that is exactly what Evie and her task force are doing.
Evie and her partner David
Evie case revolves around a missing college coed and David’s is a missing PI, and you are going to be surprised how one case helps solve another, and how their personal lives become intertwined.
I hope we will be back again soon and help bring hope back to grieving families and friends.
I received this book through Bethany House’s Blogger Program, and was not required to give a positive review.
If I had a missing loved one, I would sure want my Governor to put his recourses into find answers, and that is exactly what Evie and her task force are doing.
Evie and her partner David
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Marshall are placed together and bounce their cases off of each other. I would have love being in that office. These two have a lot more than law in their corner; they both have a deep faith in God, and share this with others.Evie case revolves around a missing college coed and David’s is a missing PI, and you are going to be surprised how one case helps solve another, and how their personal lives become intertwined.
I hope we will be back again soon and help bring hope back to grieving families and friends.
I received this book through Bethany House’s Blogger Program, and was not required to give a positive review.
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LibraryThing member VeraGodley
My thoughts: I have been a long-time fan of Dee Henderson's books eagerly anticipating each new release in a series beautifully connected. Her writing skills and story telling expertise render a reader's experience that is full blow enjoyment.
Usually entailing her writings with matters of suspense
In her new series featuring Evie Blackwell and her cast of cohorts in crime solving, book one titled Traces of Guilt begins Evie's adventures as a member of a special task force charged with examining Cold Cases. The task force continues to look into several cold cases in Threads of Suspicion where she works closely with David as they pursue connections for each of their assigned cases and find that often one clue leads to an entirely different case.
I found the first half of this Henderson book less enjoyable than her previous publications. Usually, the story and action grab your attention right from the beginning and the reader finds it difficult to put it aside. With Threads of Suspicion I found myself struggling to "break ground" with the process of the story. I don't know if this is the fault of too little editing or the fault of this reader's own lack of attention at the time of reading. Whatever, I did continue because I felt that Henderson would have a real story and a real twist worthy of pursuing.
I was not disappointed as the ending action and case solved led to a satisfactory conclusion to all the threads pursued during the investigation of these varied cold cases.
DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from Bethany House a division of Baker Publishing Group to facilitate this review. Opinions are my own and freely given.
Usually entailing her writings with matters of suspense
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and criminal investigation, the reader's ride through the pages is hard to stop until the very last page of text has been consumed.In her new series featuring Evie Blackwell and her cast of cohorts in crime solving, book one titled Traces of Guilt begins Evie's adventures as a member of a special task force charged with examining Cold Cases. The task force continues to look into several cold cases in Threads of Suspicion where she works closely with David as they pursue connections for each of their assigned cases and find that often one clue leads to an entirely different case.
I found the first half of this Henderson book less enjoyable than her previous publications. Usually, the story and action grab your attention right from the beginning and the reader finds it difficult to put it aside. With Threads of Suspicion I found myself struggling to "break ground" with the process of the story. I don't know if this is the fault of too little editing or the fault of this reader's own lack of attention at the time of reading. Whatever, I did continue because I felt that Henderson would have a real story and a real twist worthy of pursuing.
I was not disappointed as the ending action and case solved led to a satisfactory conclusion to all the threads pursued during the investigation of these varied cold cases.
DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from Bethany House a division of Baker Publishing Group to facilitate this review. Opinions are my own and freely given.
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LibraryThing member RavenNight
I received this for free from a LibraryThing giveaway.
I didn't make it far. This book just wasn't for me. I kept wanting to put it down almost as soon as i picked it up. The summary of the book was really intriguing and seemed like something I'd be interested in, but I couldn't get into it.
The
About 50 pages in, when David was telling Evie about Maggie, it just felt very preachy. It was going on and on about how God is the right choice and he couldn't marry his fiancée until she had faith. It felt more like the author was telling everyone reading that they needed to be Christian more than it felt like a character was talking to another character.
The dialogue was not very believable, either. All of the characters spoke exactly the same and it seemed very stiff and description-filled.
I was so excited for this book, but it's not one I would recommend.
I didn't make it far. This book just wasn't for me. I kept wanting to put it down almost as soon as i picked it up. The summary of the book was really intriguing and seemed like something I'd be interested in, but I couldn't get into it.
The
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idea of the book was great, but the writing style was more telling than showing and I just couldn't do it. Some of the writing reminded me more of a romance instead of a mystery, except it wasn't a romance.the sentences all seemed to be formulated in the same way and almost no variation. It was so hard to focus on. I don't know; it just wasn't for me.About 50 pages in, when David was telling Evie about Maggie, it just felt very preachy. It was going on and on about how God is the right choice and he couldn't marry his fiancée until she had faith. It felt more like the author was telling everyone reading that they needed to be Christian more than it felt like a character was talking to another character.
The dialogue was not very believable, either. All of the characters spoke exactly the same and it seemed very stiff and description-filled.
I was so excited for this book, but it's not one I would recommend.
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LibraryThing member Virginia51
I can only say that I love this story. I am so looking forward to book 3 in this series( An Evie Blackwell Cold Case). I love how Evie and David work so well together. There is just enough suspense in the story. Evie is on a missing person cold case squad in Illinois and still working for the
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Illinois Bureau of Investigation. She is very busy. There are many twists and turns throughout this story. Each cold case is very interesting. I did not want to put this book down. I received a copy of this book from Bethany House for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will. Show Less
LibraryThing member Becky_L
Dee Henderson has made a name for herself in Christian romantic suspense. It can be hard for others to live up to the high bar that Henderson sets. In the case of Threads of Suspicion, Book II of Evie Blackwell Cold Case Mysteries, Henderson writes well, but doesn't meet her previous standards of
Lieutenant Evie Blackwell and a group of other detectives, including David Marshall, are assigned by the governor to revisit cold cases in counties across the state. Evie is trying to discover what happened to a college co-ed, Jenna, who disappeared after a concert. Her partner, David, is tasked with locating a detective who went missing some years previous.
Evie and David find their cases intertwine and spend time working together. As they work, they have spiritual conversations that are realistic and very frank, yet slow the pace of the action. I kept wondering if Henderson could have planted the Biblical ideas little by little, so the story line didn't seem so disjointed.
Needless to say, I had a hard time connecting to the book. Maybe I was expecting more action, which eventually came,but not enough to call this a favorite book, as I had hoped.
Still, there was much good conversation to take to heart. Here are some examples.
"Life reveals truth."
"God appreciates justice even more than we do, so it makes sense that He'd be interested in helping us find it."
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. This did not influence my opinions, for which I am solely responsible.
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the O'Malley series.Lieutenant Evie Blackwell and a group of other detectives, including David Marshall, are assigned by the governor to revisit cold cases in counties across the state. Evie is trying to discover what happened to a college co-ed, Jenna, who disappeared after a concert. Her partner, David, is tasked with locating a detective who went missing some years previous.
Evie and David find their cases intertwine and spend time working together. As they work, they have spiritual conversations that are realistic and very frank, yet slow the pace of the action. I kept wondering if Henderson could have planted the Biblical ideas little by little, so the story line didn't seem so disjointed.
Needless to say, I had a hard time connecting to the book. Maybe I was expecting more action, which eventually came,but not enough to call this a favorite book, as I had hoped.
Still, there was much good conversation to take to heart. Here are some examples.
"Life reveals truth."
"God appreciates justice even more than we do, so it makes sense that He'd be interested in helping us find it."
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. This did not influence my opinions, for which I am solely responsible.
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LibraryThing member vintagebeckie
Dee Henderson is a favorite with lots of readers. Her beloved O’Malley series tops the lists of many romantic suspense fans. As with many authors, her writing has evolved over the years featuring more depth in character development and in relationship dynamics. The suspense element has waned a
Evie Blackwell, a detective with the Illinois State Police, has been assigned to the Missing Person Task Force, a multi-jurisdictional team tasked with solving the most difficult of cold cases. Evie and team member David Marshall share an office while investigating separate cases. But soon their individual cases intersect in interesting ways. Just what happened to a private investigator? And what did he have to do with a missing college student?
As stated above, Threads of Suspicion is more mystery than thriller. There is one instance of suspense late in the book, but much of that happens off page. Evie and David are dogged investigators exploring every thread no matter how obscure. I found the way they went about their individual cases interesting and their unique modes of operation intriguing. If the novel had just been about the cases, I would have liked the book fine. But Henderson includes a lot of character development, especially when it comes to their love relationships. I have to say that a little of that would have gone a long way. The characters really think — a lot — about the direction their love lives are going. Yes it’s realistic, but for me it became a bit tedious to read. I found myself skimming over those scenes to get back to the mystery. The characters are dedicated Christians, and their choices are influenced heavily by their faith. That’s a plus for fans of inspirational fiction.
All in all, I liked Threads of Suspicion. But I didn’t love it. I will definitely read any sequel that may come in the future, but I am hoping for more mystery.
Recommended.
Audience: adults.
(Thanks to Bethany House for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
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bit, and mystery has become more the norm. That is what I have found in her Evie Blackwell Cold Case series and in Threads of Suspicion, specifically. For the most part I like this turn in Henderson’s writing, though I have found some long-time fans do not. If you are looking for fast-paced, breath-holding suspense, this book is not for you. It is a slowly unfolding story featuring painstaking police work. I liked it, but if you are expecting another book a la the OMalley’s you may be disappointed.Evie Blackwell, a detective with the Illinois State Police, has been assigned to the Missing Person Task Force, a multi-jurisdictional team tasked with solving the most difficult of cold cases. Evie and team member David Marshall share an office while investigating separate cases. But soon their individual cases intersect in interesting ways. Just what happened to a private investigator? And what did he have to do with a missing college student?
As stated above, Threads of Suspicion is more mystery than thriller. There is one instance of suspense late in the book, but much of that happens off page. Evie and David are dogged investigators exploring every thread no matter how obscure. I found the way they went about their individual cases interesting and their unique modes of operation intriguing. If the novel had just been about the cases, I would have liked the book fine. But Henderson includes a lot of character development, especially when it comes to their love relationships. I have to say that a little of that would have gone a long way. The characters really think — a lot — about the direction their love lives are going. Yes it’s realistic, but for me it became a bit tedious to read. I found myself skimming over those scenes to get back to the mystery. The characters are dedicated Christians, and their choices are influenced heavily by their faith. That’s a plus for fans of inspirational fiction.
All in all, I liked Threads of Suspicion. But I didn’t love it. I will definitely read any sequel that may come in the future, but I am hoping for more mystery.
Recommended.
Audience: adults.
(Thanks to Bethany House for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
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LibraryThing member JenniferRobb
3.5 stars (rating shown may vary depending on site).
I've read other books by Dee Henderson including the first book in this series. I've enjoyed some of them though this series is probably not my favorite of the ones she's written. Despite the fact that this was written 4 or 5 years ago and left
So, apparently we are left to wonder if Evie decides if Rob is the "the one" for her. We're left to wonder if Maggie resolves her issues with Christianity so that she and David can get married or if she follows through on her resolve to let him go for good if she thinks she can't resolve it.
I was a bit surprised that other than a brief mention of Gabriel Thane sending Evie sweettarts candy and a brief mention of Evie not seeing herself as a sheriff's wife, there is nothing else about the family that figured so prominently in book 1 of the series.
I did like David, the member of the task force that Evie interacts with most in this book. I liked the friendship that develops between the two. I like that Henderson has Maggie honestly considering Christianity and trying to reason out what is keeping her from believing. I like that Evie is a single woman who does her job because she likes solving puzzles. I like that she is trying to figure out her relationship and whether she wants it to move forward or take a break.
I found it a little unbelievable that the task force takes on 5 unsolved cases and solves all 5. Granted, each is focusing all his or her attention (for the most part) on the case he/she chose whereas the original investigators probably had to split attention over several cases, but to bat 100% 100% of the time is unrealistic. And 3 of the cases (the three we don't hear much about) seem to wrap up fairly quickly and easily--if they were that easy to solve, why weren't they solved prior to the task force having to get involved?
Though I do think the methods shown are realistic (there's lots of legwork, lots of data-diving, lots of interviews) they aren't very exciting or suspenseful to read.
I've read other books by Dee Henderson including the first book in this series. I've enjoyed some of them though this series is probably not my favorite of the ones she's written. Despite the fact that this was written 4 or 5 years ago and left
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several unfinished plot points, it doesn't appear that other books featuring this character have been published (at least they are not showing on the site that I usually review on first). So, apparently we are left to wonder if Evie decides if Rob is the "the one" for her. We're left to wonder if Maggie resolves her issues with Christianity so that she and David can get married or if she follows through on her resolve to let him go for good if she thinks she can't resolve it.
I was a bit surprised that other than a brief mention of Gabriel Thane sending Evie sweettarts candy and a brief mention of Evie not seeing herself as a sheriff's wife, there is nothing else about the family that figured so prominently in book 1 of the series.
I did like David, the member of the task force that Evie interacts with most in this book. I liked the friendship that develops between the two. I like that Henderson has Maggie honestly considering Christianity and trying to reason out what is keeping her from believing. I like that Evie is a single woman who does her job because she likes solving puzzles. I like that she is trying to figure out her relationship and whether she wants it to move forward or take a break.
I found it a little unbelievable that the task force takes on 5 unsolved cases and solves all 5. Granted, each is focusing all his or her attention (for the most part) on the case he/she chose whereas the original investigators probably had to split attention over several cases, but to bat 100% 100% of the time is unrealistic. And 3 of the cases (the three we don't hear much about) seem to wrap up fairly quickly and easily--if they were that easy to solve, why weren't they solved prior to the task force having to get involved?
Though I do think the methods shown are realistic (there's lots of legwork, lots of data-diving, lots of interviews) they aren't very exciting or suspenseful to read.
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