Review: Deception by Randy Alcorn

Overview: "Ollie Chandler is a brilliant and quick-witted homicide detective with exceptional deductive skills and street smarts. He's a police department legend for his off-beat methods that solve crimes and coax confessions. But he's a risk taker and a rule-bender who drives his procedure-conscious superiors crazy. If not for his success rate, he'd have been squeezed out of the detective division years ago.When a Portland State University professor is found murdered in his home, Ollie is called in. Some strange indications on the professor's body suggest a peculiar means of death. Tests confirm something even more bizarre than Ollie suspected.

A motive of revenge seems likely. But revenge for what? The murder mystery gets more complex the deeper Ollie probes.Deception is a spin-off of Randy’s first two novels, Deadline and Dominion." (From Randy Alcorn's website)

Review: This book was one amazing read! From the hilarious dialogue of smart-alec Ollie Chandler, to the perfect dose of Christian apologetics, and finally the mind-blowing plot twist at the end...Wow!

This book probably took me about 6 months to read because I purchased and began reading it when I was very busy. Of course I am always reading 3 or 4 books :-), so this one didn't always have priority. I don't recommend reading this one like I did. I forgot characters along the way and had to re-read several parts. I would have loved to have a list of characters in the back of the book to reference every now and then (minus character details that might give away the plot).

Alcorn's presentation of Chandler is brilliant. He succeeds in his portrayal of a down on his luck detective. I thoroughly enjoyed Ollie's interactions with his dog and his two friends Jake and Clarence. The way Jake and Clarence challenge Chandler's faith through discussions is solid and touches on many key points an unbeliever might ask.

The pace of the book is a little slow in the middle and in other parts because Alcorn spends a hefty time on dialogue. But it was a bearable because the tone and voice were perfect. The last 150 pages was an amazing flash of plot twists and audible "what's"??, and "no ways."

I highly recommend this book and was encouraged in many different ways.

5/5 Stars

Review: Higher Hope

Overview: Tami Taylor law clerk is assigned to a libel case involving an ouspoken preacher, all is not what it seems and Tami has to deal with several relationships at work.

Honestly, this was NOT my kind of novel. I have read several other Robert Whitlow books and was expecting something a little different.

First with the negative - 1) I don't read romance novels and this one had a little too much for my taste :-) There were some funny interactions and dialogue between the two men and Tami, but just not my flavor 2) The only courtroom scene found in the book took up less than a chapter. That scene was one of my favorite parts of the book, but it was so short!

Some positive comments - Whitlow's characters are well written and he intertwines elements of faith seemlessly. I really enjoyed the protrayal of Tami's conservative parents and how they interacted with their daughter.

2.5/5 Stars

Note: I am a review for Thomas Nelson Books

And the NEW winner is...

Well, "A Family" did not contact me with an address to ship the book :-( So I am holding a second drawing and the winner is Jessica!

I will get the book out to you as soon as possible.

Higher Hope review coming later this week.

And the winner is...

A FAMILY!! By random drawing, A Family will be getting Cyndere's Midnight. Contact me within 5 days with your mailing address and I will get the book sent to you.

Thank you to the other entries. Stay tuned for more reviews and giveaways!