Shattered Sanctuary by Nancy Mehl is this week’s Reader Friday. Here’s the first line. Prologue: He stood over the rough-hewn coffin, gazing at the face of his mother–the only person who had ever loved him.
But first the photo and verse that I almost saved for Easter. It’s another great photo from Tim Johnson and I love it! Did you know a Bible was deposited in the monument’s cornerstone during its construction? And that “Laus Deo” (Praise be to God) is inscribed on the east face of the monument’s capstone? I sure didn’t. The Latin phrase is the reason I chose that particular verse.
Now for Shattered Sanctuary by Nancy Mehl. Here’s the cover and back copy:
Was this the last thing she’d ever see? Would she be able to make things right before it was too late?
“God . . .” was all she got out before he lunged toward her.
Grappling with the aftermath of a tragic incident that altered her life, ex-police officer and bestselling mystery author Erin Delaney finds solace in the tranquility of a cabin nestled deep in the Smoky Mountains. But her restful stay is shattered when cries pierce the night, hinting at a lurking presence haunting the woods. When local police chief Adrian Nightengale seeks her help with a carefully arranged murder scene, she is thrust back into the world of crime solving. As they delve into the investigation, Erin’s intuition reveals chilling truths about the killer’s motives and strategically perfected methods.
Joined by the enigmatic Kaely Quinn-Hunter, a former FBI behavioral analyst, Erin not only embarks on a quest to stop the merciless serial killer, but also confronts the revived ghosts of her past. In a race against time, Erin must defeat her own demons while outmaneuvering a cunning killer or risk becoming the next victim in this deadly game of cat and mouse.
My take:
Oh, my goodness. Nancy Mehl has knocked it out of the park with this one. I loved her Kaley Quinn series and now she’s back helping Erin Delaney catch a serial killer. Both the characters and the story will grab you and not let go until The End! And then you want more.
I did not guess who the killer was untl almost the end of the story. Nancy Mehl has created a twisty, edge-of-your-seat plot that will have the reader flipping pages and staying up late like I did. It’s a great story…so good that I bought my own paperback copy even though I received an arc from the publisher. Can’t wait until the 2nd book comes out!
You can order Shattered Sanctuary here.
Shattered Sanctuary is this week's Reader Friday. Check out my review of this fabulous book and leave a comment. You might win a neat prize! Share on XOkay Readers what are you reading this week? Leave the first line in the comment or just comment, and I’ll enter you in an April drawing for a beautiful pen handcrafted by Dr. Steve Hooley, a $60 value. You can see more of his work at his website. 
This week I’m sharing a song by a couple that I always loved to listen to. The song takes me back.
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Comments 46
It sounds like a really interesting book. I recently won this book in a giveaway and am looking forward to reading it.
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You will enjoy it, Diana! It is so good.
never read this author
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You are missing a great treat, BN!
Pat, thanks again for sharing one of my photos. The verse you chose to go with it is a perfect match.
I read “Shattered Sanctuary” last week, and I agree completely with your review. This is one that will grab you until you finish it, and I never guessed who the killer was. Whew!
“Where is he? Plains City, South Dakota Police Detective West Cole peered through the foggy night as he drove his undercover SUV through town.” This is Laura Scott’s contribution to the continuity series, Dakota K-9 Unit, titled “Chasing a Kidnapper”. I love Christian suspense with K-9s. I just completed this book, and today will start on “Deadly Guardian” by Deborah Sprinkle. I’m going back to read the entire series after reading “Death Under the Ice” the other week.
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Thank you so much for allowing me the honor of posting your photo, Tim. I almost saved it for Memorial Day. 🙂 And I’m with you on Deborah Sprinkle’s series–After reading Death Under the Ice, I realized I needed to go back and reread it, too.
Love the picture and Scripture!
What had possessed her to agree to this crazy idea? First line from Colleen Coble’s, “Ambush”.
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Loved Ambush, Kimberly!
I like her Quinn series. The author used to live in same city near me. This one is on my TBR list
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Mary Z, I loved her Quinn series and Kaley is in this one. So good!
Great review, Patricia. The book sounds really interesting.
And, great picture, Tim.
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Thanks, Steve! I think you’d enjoy Shattered Sanctuary!
Malibu, April 14, 1966
The view from the car window is both calming and startling.
Susan Meissner’s “A Map to Paradise”
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Oh I can only imagine, Anne. I’ll have to get Susan Meissner’s book…I so want to go to Hawaii and reading about it is the next best thing.
Glad you posted Tim’s photo, Pat. It’s gorgeous. You are correct, the
Scripture goes perfectly with it.
I loved that bit of trivia about a Bible being deposited in the cornerstone of the Washington Monument and also the phrase “Laos Dio” inscribed on the side. YES!!!!
Nancy does write some page turner, eyes wide-open kind of books. That was a great review. Thanks!
I’m reading These Tangled Threads by Sarah Loudin Thomas. “‘It must be—“ Ellen Harshaw closed her eyes and kissed her fingertips, her shoulders dropping as she exhaled and flung her hand wide—exquisite.”
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I loved These Tangled Threads, Barbara. Our church book club read it a while back…book clubs are great ways to read and discuss books! And I’m ashamed that I didn’t know a Bible was in the cornerstone of the Washington Monument!
Well how about that, Pat! You already read These Tangled Threads! 🙂
Probably most of us didn’t know about the hidden Bible in the Washington Monument but now we do! Thanks to YOU! 🙂
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I’m rethinking when I read it–maybe it was in the ACFW bookclub. 🙂
Enticing review, Pat. (But when has Mehl ever let readers down?!) Yesterday I finished reading Three Gates to Hell, a crime-procedural and suspense novel written by a retired police officer and prison chaplain named B.F. Randall. It’s incredibly realistic and SO tense! Up next, a speculative fiction novel called The Castle Rose by Tabitha Caplinger.
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You are so right, Priscilla, about Nancy never letting the reader down. Three Gates to Hell sounds realling interesting. I’ll have to find it!
Great review, Pat. It is on my want to read list.
“If Maggie Reynolds could just make it past August seventh, she would finally be able to breathe again.”
The Summer of You and Me by Denise Hunter
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Love Denise Hunter’s books, Gloria! This one sounds intriguing.
I have not read any if Nancy Mehl’s books but this one sounds great! I am currently reading Echoes of Darkness by Darlene L Turner.
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Oh, Carolyn, I think you’d love Nancy Mehl’s books!
Have read several of Nancy Mehl’s books and have enjoyed them all. I am reading Lacy Williams, Wind River Hearts series. I try to read different genres during the week for a change of pace. Too many great Christian authors which I am so thankful for.
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Sharon…so many good Christian books and so little time! 🙂 I’ll have to check out the Wind River Hearts series.
Happy Friday, Pat!
I’m looking forward to reading Nancy’s new series.
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Thanks, Caryl!
Another gorgeous photo, Tim! Thanks to you and Pat for sharing this. Beautiful scripture as well. I was blessed to see this exact scene on my DC visit many years ago.
Scattered Sanctuary is on hold at my library. I have enjoyed many of Nancy’s books and am looking forward to reading this one.
I just finished Expired Return by Lisa Phillips and will begin the next book in this series, Expired Hope.
Have a blessed weekend everyone!
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Sounds like you have a busy weekend of reading, Mary G! Thanks for commenting.
I’m reading an ARC of WHERE SECRETS LIE by Colleen Coble and Rick Acker. They make an amazing writing team!
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Oooh! That sounds like a great read, Vickie! That do make an amazing team.
My thanks to Pat for reviewing SHATTERED SANCTUARY. I consider it a privilege to be reviewed by someone who writes the kind of great books Pat does. She’s awesome!
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Aww, thank you, Nancy! I loved Shattered Sanctuary!
currently reading Missing in Texas by Virginia Vaughn! Book sounds great!
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Virginia writes amazing books, Shelia!
I’m reading Shattered Sanctuary right now. I can tell it’s going to be a great book. It’s fun to see Kaely in a new series. The picture is really beautiful. Thank you, Tim, for sharing it. The verse fits it well.
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So glad you’ve nabbed a copy, Erika!
Love the picture! From what I’ve always heard, Tim was there at the best time of the year to visit DC. I have heard for many years how beautiful the cherry blossoms are, but I’ve never made it there to see them. That’s a shame since I live less than five hours from there.
I will definitely be looking for Nancy’s new book. I just finished reading Cold Vengeance early this morning. I have enjoyed every book of hers that I have read.
I started reading Miracles at Promise Lodge by Charlotte Hubbard this afternoon. I believe this is the last book in her Promise Lodge series. Here’s the first line: As Isaac Chupp entered the bulk store at Promise Lodge, he was immediately aware of how bright and clean it was–and that all the aisles ran perpendicular to the checkout counter.
As soon as I read that name, I thought it sounded familiar. Within the first few pages, I found out why.
I remember hearing Golden Rings on the radio a number of times back in the day.
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Now you have me intrigued, Edward. I’ll have to get Miracles at Promise Lodge!
Shattered Sanctuary was sooooo good! I bought it, read it in short order and reviewed it. Nancy Mehl is a true literary artist.
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A-men, Gail! I love Nancy’s books.
Loved Shattered Sanctuary and shared my copy with a friend at church.
My first lines are from The Curious Inheritance of Blakley House by Joanna Politano: “They call you odd and perhaps you are. Or perhaps…perhaps the scope of normal is wider than any of us believed.”
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Paula, that book caught my eye this week…must get it!
Beautiful picture! I’m currently reading Meddling with Mistletoe by Liz Johnson. It’s really good, very lighthearted and fun, something I needed right now.
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Oh, Megan, I could really use something lighthearted right now, too…I’ll have to nab Liz’s book!