A very interesting read. Thank you! ( )

In 2015 I read A Cry from the Dust by Carrie Stuart Parks. Her third Gwen Marcey series instance When Death Draws Near, takes the forensic artist Gwen Marcey to a new assignment in Pikeville, Kentucky. She has to draw a serial rapist to be caught. One after another the witnesses disappear. A Pentecostal cult with snake handlers, fire blazers and ecstatic use of glossolalia as to take a literal application of the signs following believers as stated by Jesus Christ in Mark 16 set the macabre background for dead bodies popping up in the past 6 months. When Gwen is promised a large reward to infiltrate in the cult and identify its members, the thrill and pace in the book get a boost and keep you hooked to the end.

Can this vulnerable woman, facing a returned breast cancer, broke and divorced, solve this serial rapist, and multiple homicide cases on her own? Can she protect her teenage daughter Aynslee? Macey undergoes intense emotions, really needs God's answers and help in anxious moments where she cannot trust anyone and seems to be left to her own devices. With poisonous snakes, simple folks turned into drunk political ambitious Halloween partygoers and devastating fires are the enemies to escape from, and death indeed draws near...it's important to focus and gather the evidence to point the correct killer(s).

The characters are well-developed, the plot convincing and the lively (or deadly) details of snake handlers, this odd branch of Christianity and forensic art contribute to my well-spent hours of reading. ( )

WHEN DEATH DRAWS NEAR; STORY LINE:

Gwen Marcey, forensic artist, is back in action in When Death Draws Near, book 3 of the Gwen Marcey stories. Pikeville, Kentucky is the center of murder, accidents, and rapes; then, there are the Pentecostal Snake Handlers to add spice. Gwen's job in Pikeville is to render a drawing of the latest victim. What starts as a simple case spirals out of control into much worse. Gwen finds her cancer has returned, her ex-husband is still a controlling conniving jerk who loves to humiliate and demean her, and something is very off in Pikeville.

The Hillbilly Rapist is active, bodies are found murdered, the Sheriff's Dept seems ineffective, and the local underground snake handling Pentecostal Church is going strong. Gwen finds herself hired to infiltrate the group, identify and render drawings the handlers and report any illegal activity. The richest man in town, who happens to have White House aspirations, wants the Pentecostal snake handlers out of business.

Pikeville is a hub of criminal activity and Gwen finds herself in the center of the storm. Come with Gwen as she ferrets out the truth, protects her daughter, meets a new man, and delivers justice.

WHEN DEATH DRAWS NEAR, CHARACTERS, PLOTTING, AND DEVELOPMENT:

In When Death Draws Near, author Carrie Stuart Parks has crafted a first-rate criminal story. As a result, I found I could not put down this book. Ms. Parks had many threads in this story which she skillfully wove together to create an intense and intriguing story-line. Consequently, the plots just kept coming; woven into the story by a master.

Furthermore, Ms. Parks has a cast of characters which she skillfully developed and was progressive throughout the book. You will root for Gwen, shiver and worry when in danger, despise her ex-husband, and love her attitude to life. Her daughter you will find is a normal teenager with all their attitudes and opinions. The secondary characters are essential to the story line and well-developed. Also, I found Ms. Parks' research into the Pentecostal Movement well done and her legal background added much authenticity to the story-line.

Ms. Parks has a killer of an ending which you will not expect. Kudos, Ms. Parks, kudos. What a surprise, my mouth fell open! The pacing of the revelations were spot on and the length of the book was correct. This book does not rely on fluff to fill the pages.

In concluding the review of When Death Draws Near, I found this a well-written and developed book. The story never lags or bogs down nor does the author fill the story with meaningless dialogue. Once again, Ms. Parks has crafted a first-rate criminal story-line.

WHEN DEATH DRAWS NEAR, RECOMMENDATION: 5 STARS:

In conclusion, I do not hesitate to give this book 5 stars. You will not regret purchasing this book if you love a good solid crime story.

Final Note: I received this book from the author and Netgalley in return for an honest book review. Book reviews of any novel are dependent on the book review author’s opinion; consequently book reviews on line under my name and on my blog are my opinion. ( )

Have you ever encountered an author you immediately connected with? One whose writing sucks you in and keeps you enthralled until the last page? One whose characters touch something deep in your being? Well for me that is Carrie Stuart Parks. You see, I love suspense — the twists and turns, the peek-between-the fingers moments and the page-turning goodness. And when I find an author who combines all of that plus excellent writing, multi-layered characterization and a plot that really could happen, I am hooked. But when I find an author, such as Parks, who can relate spiritual truths seamlessly while giving me goosebumps, I am going to buy her books every time. All of that to say, When Death Draws Near is another winner! This one is highly recommended.

Gwen Marcey returns in the third book by Parks. When Death Draws Near finds Gwen way out of her comfort zone in the heart of rural, Appalachian Kentucky where accents, food and snake-handling worship are definitely foreign. Gwen is in Pikeville to help the local sheriff with a serial rapist case, but soon finds herself drawn into an investigation of mysterious deaths some attribute to the secretive practices of a Pentecostal congregation. Gwen must rely on her forensic skills as well as intuition and mamma-bear instincts to solve the case and save herself and her daughter.

When Death Draws Near is suspense at its best. With a determined investigator who draws upon deep reserves of courage and faith, this novel becomes a race against time for both the characters and the reader. I just could not put this one down! Gwen is a fascinating character. Intelligent and tenacious, she is also vulnerable in her dealings with ex-husband Richard and her struggle with breast cancer. Gwen does a great deal of wrestling with God as she doubts the effectiveness of prayer, but yet knows that’s all she’s got. I could really identify with that. The setting of the novel is perfect. Parks created a small town and culture that I could easily see. Her Southernisms were spot on and gave me a few chuckles. As in her other books, Parks’ subject matter involves a religious cult, but this time she adds a refreshing twist. And if you are a fan of CSI or Criminal Minds, you are going to love When Death Draws Near. Parks’ own expertise shines through. Believe me, the book is definitely better!

When Death Draws Near can be read as a standalone, but I recommend you travel with Gwen from the very beginning. Her character’s growth is the best part of the series. I impatiently await the next installment in the Gwen Marcey series.

Highly recommended.

Audience: adults.

(Thanks to the publisher and LitFuse for a review copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.) ( )

Title: When Death Draws Near (Gwen Marcey #3)
Author: Carrie Stuart Parks
Pages: 330
Year: 2016
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
My rating is 5 stars.
Gwen Marcey has fallen on hard times. She has had to sell her home to pay off her medical bills from her prior breast cancer treatment. She is divorced now and her ex-husband has remarried. Their relationship is tenuous at best. Her teenage daughter is dressing like a rebel now with the help of her new step-mom. While on a case, she receives a call from her doctor after some recent testing and the news is not good. Can Gwen’s faith sustain her or will she let anger and despair rule?
She has a job opportunity provided by her friend Dave, so she heads off to horse country in Kentucky. While there, she is able to draw an accurate picture of a previously unidentified body. An identification of the body is established based on the picture, and the parents of the victim are so impressed with Gwen’s talent, they invite her to a religious revival. A local politician has befriended Gwen when the local police chief seems slow to investigate the murder as well as attempts to scare Gwen off the case. The politician wants Gwen to infiltrate this particular religious group in the hopes of her then being able to draw those people in the group. They allegedly are breaking the law with some of their religious practices and this politician has his eyes on working up the political ladder, so he wants to get some legislation on the books to make him look good.
This is another great mystery/suspense novel. I have read all three books in the series so far and each one has been excellent! I read quite a bit and the mystery/suspense genre is one of my favorites, so to find an author that can challenge my mind, make me laugh and stir compassion says a lot to me. Gwen’s sense of humor rings so true with me and her struggles in life are realistic. Her skill in forensic artistry I find amazing as I can’t even draw a stick figure! The next book in the series is titled, Portrait of Vengeance, and is due to be released in August 2017. These are books to place on your “keeper” shelf after sharing them with friends or family. Great job Carrie!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255. “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” ( )