Today is Friday the 13th. Does that mean anything to you, other than it’s Friday and it’s the 13th? I’ve never suffered from paraskevidekatriaphobia or fear of Friday the 13th. Have you? Now onto what I’m reading!
This week I’m want to tell you about a book I read a couple of weeks ago. What She Knew by D. L. Wood. I always try to open my books with a great opening line. Well, D. L. Wood wrote one I wished I’d thought of!
Danielle Lake was fifteen years old the first time she saw a dead body.
I was hooked! Here’s the back cover copy:
Boston police detective Dani Lake dreads returning to her small hometown of Skye, Alabama, for her ten-year high school reunion–and not just for the normal reasons.
At only fifteen, Dani tragically discovered the body of her murdered classmate, setting in motion the process that led to the unjust conviction of her dear friend and an unshakable burden of guilt she carries to this day. So when new evidence surfaces during her trip home which suggests the truth Dani’s always suspected, she embarks on a mission to expose the real killer, aided by Skye detective Chris Newton–who happens to be the man Dani’s best friend is dying to set her up with, and also the only person who believes her.
But when Dani pushes too hard, someone pushes back, endangering Dani and those closest to her as she unearths secrets deeper and darker than she ever expected to learn—secrets that may bring the truth to light, if they don’t get her killed first
I only get to read at night and I finished this book in two nights, staying up way past my bedtime to read to The End! This book kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I love the way D. L. Wood uses her settings to draw you in. I felt like I lived in Skye, Alabama by the time I finished the book.
Dani Lake is back in Skye to take care of closing up her parents’ house after their deaths four months ago. But she’s not just back for that. She is determined to prove the man convicted of killing one of her classmates thirteen years earlier is innocent. The dead body she found. She feels responsible for his conviction, but the real killer doesn’t want her investigating the crime. And neither do the local sheriff and prosecutor. But she has one ally. Detective Chris Newton. Together, they sort out the clues. The ending has a twist you won’t see coming.
I think this is my favorite D. L. Wood book…I say I think because I love all her books. 🙂 Leave a comment and I’ll enter you in a drawing for a book from my library. Tell me was there anything that happened in your teen years that changed the course of your life and maybe sent you on a different career path.
And the winner of last week’s drawing for The Gray Chamber is Erika!
Oh! Wait!! Several writer friends have gotten together and made a rafflecopter where you could possibly win $30. Check it out here! We’re trying to get followers on Instagram… Click here.
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Comments 25
Hmm. Well, I’m still a teen, and not sure of my career path, but have been wondering about becoming a paramedic for the last several years through my love of reading books about doctors, etc, and then being in hospital twice myself and seeing other medical emergencies. I also really enjoy human biology, so I guess I’ll see where that leads me. My next younger sister, Danielle (!), first saw a dead body when she was two. It was our granddad on our dad’s side, and while we were at the “viewing”, Danielle commented that “Granddad’s sleeping in the cotton.” I remember wondering why everyone was crying. Both grandparents on Mum’s side died before any of us were born, and Nana on dad’s side died a few years ago. Our second youngest barely remembers her, and the baby never got to meet her 🙁 But death is a part of life, and in our case, the deaths we saw were natural, and we weren’t scarred for life by them.
Author
Hi Monique! I’m so glad you have a plan! I think that was my main problem when I was a teen–I didn’t have a specific goal. When I taught abstinence in schools, I always emphasized that they should have a goal for their lives. Thanks for stopping by!
First, I like the number 13, whether it’s a Friday or any other day. Our daughter was born on the 13th of the month (actually a Wednesday). Our daughter-in-law was born on the 13th (we didn’t meet her until about sixteen years later. It’s a perfectly good number. When that day rolls around each month, I often say something like: “It’s Friday the thirteenth on a Wednesday (whatever day of the week it happens to be).” This book sounds like a good one. I don’t think I have read anything by D.L. Wood. I can’t think of a specific event in my teen years that changed the path of my life. I believe God just worked circumstances to nudge me gradually toward the path.
Author
Edward, as always, I enjoyed your comment! Esp “It’s Friday the thirteenth on a Wednesday (whatever day of the week it happens to be).” D. L. Wood is a really good author. I’ve read several of her books…reviewed here and here.
Thanks for stopping by!
Pat, thank you for directing me to an author I haven’t read yet. And, thank you for teaching me a new, big word. I’ve never been bothered by Friday the 13th. I think it was one of the characters in the old Pogo comic strip who once commented “Friday the 13th falls on a Thursday this month.”
I had really good mentors through high school and college who greatly influenced my career path, but the biggest immediate influencer was the economy in the early 70’s. Yet, there was God’s hand in all of it.
Author
So agree, Tim. And in my case, God took my mess-ups and turned them around. 🙂
When I was 17, I became pregnant with my first child. Her father did not want to be involved . This definitely changed my career path. I had a full scholarship to Washington College in Maryland in their creative writing program based on my writing. I had to give that scholarship up and just get a job and go to my local Community College. I spent four years working full time and going to school full-time and raising a child. I became a special education teacher so that I would be on my daughters schedule and more available to her. During this time I met a wonderful man who married me and adopted my daughter, so it all worked out! We have been married for forty-two years and had two other children and we have six beautiful grandchildren! I taught for 35 years and loved the job and my students. I still tutor, and I’m determined to try to get back to writing.
Author
Linda, your story could have been mine, except for the wonderful man you met and I never made it to college other than a few courses. I’m so proud of you for persevering!
Oh, this book sounds good!
Author
It is, MS Barb! I think you would really enjoy it!
This sounds like a great book! I look forward to reading it!
When I was 13 (37 years ago), my family moved from Dallas, Texas, to a small town in Oklahoma where my parents became houseparents at a children’s home. It was totally a move of God, and like “The Road Not Taken,” that move has “made all the difference.”
Author
Heather, what a wonderful thing for your parents to do! I’m sure you were blessed by their move. Thanks for stopping in!
I admit to a little Friday the 13th fear in that I don’t like to travel on that day. Silly, I know. There are no real events in my teen years that changed my life or career choice. I preordered this book and look forward to reading it as well as her other books that I already purchased on Kindle. Thanks for the review.
Author
I believe you will really enjoy D. L. Wood’s books, Gloria! Thanks for stopping by.
Thank you for sharing a new to me author. I can’t think of anything in my teen years that changed my career path. Friday the 13TH doesn’t bother me as I was born on the 13th.
Pat, Thank you for recommending D.L. Woods books. I’ll check them out. Nothing exciting in my teen years. Parents and I both made it though without any major issues.
Enjoy your weekend!
Author
That’s wonderful, Caryl! And you enjoy your weekend, too!
Hi Pat. I was born on Friday the 13th, but I don’t have any superstitions about it. My mother always said it was the best day of her life (but I might have given her some second thoughts about that over the years!!) Like Tim mentioned, I remember the comment from the Pogo comic strip, one of my favorites.
Thanks for the information about D. L. Wood’s books. I have a couple of hers in my TBR queue that will now be moved closer to the top of the list.
The course of my life was changed during my senior year in high school. I met a sweet sophomore lass in Spanish class. We became fast friends – next month, we’ll be celebrating our 52nd wedding anniversary! She has been my rock and kept us centered. We raised three upstanding gentlemen, who married delightful ladies and filled our life with four lovely and lively granddaughters.
God has truly blessed our lives and we thank Him every day for our loving family.
Author
What a delightful comment! Fifty-two years! That is wonderful. And I, too, remember the comment from Pogo…wonder what happened to that comic strip? I don’t get it any longer. Thanks, Michael, for stopping by and commenting!
The Pogo comic strip was created by Walt Kelly, who died in 1973 at age 60. The comic was revived in 1989 under the title “Walt Kelly’s Pogo”, with some later help by Kelly’s son and daughter. The strip was discontinued in 1993.
It was a great comic strip, and entertained and educated many over the years. The more you studied the frames in the strip, the more you saw things Kelly hid in plain sight. I remember there was a boat some of the characters would use, and the boat’s name changed in every frame. I looked forward to this strip every day.
Author
I really liked the comic strip! The Comics were the first thing I learned to read, Tim.
Love this post. I graduated high school at 17 and ventured to the University of Florida to become an English teacher, inspired by my creative writing teacher my senior year. Then my brother convinced me that pharmacy would be a great field with opportunity. One semester in 200 level chemistry convinced me to change my major to fashion design and off I went to Florida State University where I wound up graduating in Home Economics Education. I spent my working years, teaching junior high to college levels and ended up as a guidance counselor and a private investigator in my husband’s agency! When I retired from education I came back full circle to my love for creative writing and work at it daily.
Author
I’m so excited about your new-old career, Sally Jo! Home Economics…my favorite subject in school. 🙂
I used to stress out on Friday the 13th before I became a believer….but it no longer bothers me anymore.
I need to check out this author (new-to-me) because I love suspense! I always appreciate your reviews and recommendations Patricia. Expounding my TBR pile makes me happy, lol!
Author
I think you would really enjoy her books, Trixi! Thanks for joining in the conversation!