Closer Than She Knows in Christian Fiction Devourers

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Closer Than She Knows

Kelly Irvin

Start date: October 1, 2022

Finish date: October 31, 2022

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What Members Thought

May 04, 2020 Cara Putman rated it really liked it

A really enjoyable, twisty, plot turn of a book. The characters are rich, the interacation between them fun. Every time I thought I figured out who was behind the mayhem...the author lead me away from my conclusion...only to find I was right on both counts after all. A book I enjoyed.

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Oct 04, 2022 Loraine rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary, intrigue, modern-christian-fiction, christian-fiction, love-finds-you, romance, hoopla

Rating: 3.5

Teagan O'Rourke along with her entire family are all involved in some aspect of law enforcement. Her dad is a retired police officer, her sisters and brothers except for 1 are police officers, and Teagan is a court reporter. Before he retired, her dad was involved in a serious case of a serial killer. He's in prison, but once again a serial killer is copy catting him; and, in turn, leaving notes for Teagan along with murdering people within her circle. Can her family along with her bo ...more

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Dec 15, 2022 Beverly rated it it was amazing

Shelves: af-mystery, af-christian

Really enjoyed this mystery/thriller that takes place in my hometown of San Antonio, TX. The main character lives in Southtown, which is an area of SA that I am not very familiar with, so interesting setting. I also liked that the main character was able to grow and change some of her obstinate viewpoints.

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Jun 03, 2020 Maureen Timerman rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2020

I've read many of this author's books, mostly Amish, this one is so different, and wow, most I didn't see coming.
Evil, but who is this horrible individual, I was sure guessing, but I was fooled all the way to the end. Got part of it right, but I really didn't know.
Kelly Irvin has given us a Suspense Novel that will have you looking over your shoulder, you will never see or know whom the next victim is. The big question is why? There are hints as to who, but then that becomes impossible, a copy c ...more

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Mar 12, 2020 Cheri rated it really liked it

Shelves: suspense

#CloserThanSheKnows. #NetGalley

I read this book in one day, I couldn't put it down. This book was creepy. Teagan O' Rourke is a court recorder, among a family of police officers. Her family is really close knit. When Teagan starts receiving letters written by a serial killer, and bodies are found and she is the common denominator, it is a race to find the killer. Max Kennedy is a friend of Teagan's and my favorite character. A fast paced read that I couldn't put down, even though I guessed who ...more

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Aug 07, 2020 Iola rated it really liked it

Kelly Irvin made her name in Amish romance before publishing Tell Her No Lies, her first romantic suspense novel, in 2018. I was impressed by that novel, but was less impressed by Over the Line (I鈥檓 from New Zealand, and the story was too pro-gun for my tastes, especially in the aftermath of the Christchurch shooting).

Closer Than She Knows takes all the strengths of Tell Her No Lies and builds on them to deliver a powerful novel.
Teagan O鈥橰ourke is a court reporter. She鈥檚 not a journalist, but th Kelly Irvin made her name in Amish romance before publishing Tell Her No Lies, her first romantic suspense novel, in 2018. I was impressed by that novel, but was less impressed by Over the Line (I鈥檓 from New Zealand, and the story was too pro-gun for my tastes, especially in the aftermath of the Christchurch shooting).

Closer Than She Knows takes all the strengths of Tell Her No Lies and builds on them to deliver a powerful novel.
Teagan O鈥橰ourke is a court reporter. She鈥檚 not a journalist, but the person who sits in the courtroom and transcribes every word spoken during a trial. That鈥檚 new鈥擨鈥檝e never read a novel featuring a court reporter before. It was interesting to find the court reporter is also responsible for the physical evidence in the trial, and that鈥檚 where Closer Than She Knows starts 鈥�

Teagan is transporting trial evidence under police escort when her escort is shot in the head. That鈥檚 shocking enough, but when Teagan鈥檚 next-door neighbour is stabbed to death and another friend attacked in Teagan鈥檚 house, then the police suspect Teagan is also a target. Notes found by the bodies leave Teagan鈥檚 father, a retired policeman, suspecting the murders might be related to one of his cases鈥攁 convicted murderer and suspected serial killer.

What follows could be a typical chase-type romantic suspense novel, but it鈥檚 more than that. There鈥檚 also Teagan鈥檚 relationship with Max, the youth leader at her church. He thinks she鈥檚 not interested in anything more than friendship because he鈥檚 a recovering alcoholic. She鈥檚 not interested 鈥� but for a completely different reason. Max challenges her on her reasoning, partly out of selfish reasons (he disagrees with her), but more because he says her belief is limiting God. That was an interesting and welcome twist.

Yes, Closer Than She Knows is definitely Christian fiction, and it isn鈥檛 afraid to address some of the hard questions in life and faith: why do bad things happen to good people? Can we go against something we believe in when the people we love are in danger? Can we trust God with the hard things? And more 鈥�

There was plenty of tension which kept me turning the pages until the satisfying end. But there were also touches of humour and some tender moments amid the suspense and the introspection. Overall, Closer Than She Knows is an excellent example of Christian romantic suspense, with a great balance between faith, romance, and suspense, and a cast of believable and interesting characters.

Recommended for fans of Christian romantic suspense.

Thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review. ...more

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