In case you didn’t notice, I changed the name of the Friday post to simply What I’m Reading. And then added the name of the book ~ Dead Even. So it’s now What I’m Reading ~ Dead Even. 🙂 The book is by Susan Sleeman and is the sixth book in her Truth Seekers series. It’s one you’ll want to read, as well as the other five books in this series. In fact, I haven’t found a book she’s written that I haven’t liked!
Early Books:
I looked back on my blog and found where I’d reviewed the very first book of hers that I read ~ Nipped in the Bud way back in 2012! It was eight years ago! Nipped in the Bud, a cozy mystery kept me turning the pages! You can read my post here. This was before she started writing her romantic suspense.
But before I get to my review, I want to talk about the photo and scripture. I took the picture in Natchez as I walked along the River Walk. When I took the photo, this verse 29 of Psalm 118 came to mind: “Give Thanks to the Lord for he is good; His love endures forever.”
Dead Even is part of Susan Sleeman’s Truth Seekers series, and it’s one you’ll want to read. Here’s the back cover copy:
When she discovers her worst nightmare…
When Maya Glass—the Veritas Center’s toxicology/controlled substances expert—goes to check on her scientist friend after a cryptic phone message, Maya stumbles upon her worst nightmare. Someone has released a deadly toxin and killed her friend’s assistant in his secluded island lab. Another friend is missing. Even worse Maya is exposed to the deadly botulism toxin and needs help. Fast. Problem is, the only person she can think of with the right contacts is her former love, FBI Agent Hunter Lane.
Will she let him help her or go it alone?
Maya sets out on a hunt to find her friend and Hunter warns the feisty and tantalizing Maya to back down. But when it becomes clear that he needs Maya to locate her missing friend and find the killer, Hunter knows they must work together to stop the killing spree before the killer gets even and ends Maya’s life.
My Take:
This story grabbed me from the get-go–“Warning! Death Ahead! Land at your own risk!” Why in the world would anyone go forward with those signs on the property? But the heroine, Maya Glass, knows the owner and how paranoid he is…and gentle. The signs are a joke, designed to keep others out of her friend’s laboratory.
Then she finds the owner’s best friend dead and deadly toxin in the form of a clay-colored powder everywhere. Botulism. A small vial is enough to kill thousands, and she’s been exposed. Maya spends the next forty-eight hours expecting symptoms to start any minute.
This is probably the last book in the Truth Seekers series featuring the Veritas Center. Each book is a stand-alone and you don’t have to read the others to know what’s going on.
Five years ago, Maya and Hunter should have been walking down the aisle but Hunter broke it. He feared she would die and leave him. She hasn’t forgiven him for hurting her. And now she has to work with him to stop terrorists from releasing the toxin. Dead Even is a fast-paced read, one you won’t be able to put down.
Leave a comment and I’ll enter you in a drawing for a book from my library. I’ve been reading Susan Sleeman’s books for eight years. Is there an author you’ve been reading that long or longer?
What I'm Reading ~ Dead Even by Susan Sleeman. Check out my review and leave a comment and I'll enter you in a drawing for a book from my library! Click To Tweet
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Comments 35
Um, yes. Moses, John, Peter, etc! All joking aside, I would have been 11, so no, my general reading has not stayed the same! Can’t wait to read this series!!
Author
Lol, Monique! Love your sense of humor. I think you’d like all of Susan’s series. Thanks for stopping by so early this morning.
I’ve really liked all of Susan Sleeman’s books that I have read so far! It’s on my TBR list.
Author
Yes, Mary–Susan Sleeman is one of my favorite authors! Thanks for stopping by.
Beautiful picture and verse. This book sounds really good. I dont read a lot if suspsense but ill have to check this one out.
Author
I think you’ll like it, Megan! It also sets up the Nighthawk Security Series! Thanks for stopping by.
Pat, that’s a great photo and fitting Scripture to go with it. Thanks for featuring these.
Well, back in my science fiction reading days, it would have been Isaac Asimov and Arthur Clarke to be sure. There were others, but those two come immediately to mind. In the Christian romantic suspense genre, it would have to be Lynette Eason. Also, Irene Hannon and Dee Henderson. 2012 is when I started reading this genre.
I’ve read all of Susan Sleeman’s books, and loved every one of them. In my view, she falls into the category of “can’t write a bad story” authors. “Dead Even” is a great book.
Author
I agree, Tim about Susan’s books! And Teri Blackstock is probably the first Inspirational author I read…then Dee Henderson, and Kristin Heitzman’s Freefall.
I still read Freefall every so often, one of the few books I re-read. Thanks for stopping by!
One of my favorite authors is Dana Mentink. I just love her books.
Author
Especially her dog books, Patricia! I need to get caught up on her books! Thanks for stopping by.
Me, too. I’ve read her latest ones, and have gone back to read her earliest to catch up. Progressing forward, I’m in the middle of “Secret Refuge” right now. Once I’m through the “Gold Country Cowboy” series, I’ll have read them all.
Author
You’re further along than I am, Tim…but I think I read some of her books way back in 2013 and 2014…
I need to check out Susan’s books. They sound really good! I have been reading Irene Hannon for a long time. Looking forward to the release of Obsession 🙂
Whoops hit enter to fast!
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Aww, thank you, Erika! I enjoy Irene Hannon’s books, too! Thanks for stopping by.
I thought of Dee Henderson, Terri Blackstock as the ones I’ve read the longest. But classic would be Agatha Christie and Eugenia Price.
That is a gorgeous picture.
Author
You know, Paula, I never read Eugenia Price’s books. Have no idea why I didn’t, but I’ve read Agatha Christie all my life! Glad you stopped by!
Great picture and verse. I need to get away and take some pictures. It’s been too long.
I don’t remember the first Susan Sleeman book I read, but I just finished reading the first book in her upcoming series. Like you, I have enjoyed them all. I read my first Davis Bunn book over ten years ago and am always looking for the next one. There are several others that I started reading around that same time. The interesting thing with Davis Bunn is that he keeps you guessing as to which genre his next book will be. Also, since that time he has written several books for the general public under his pen name, Thomas Locke. I appreciate that he keeps them clean whether writing for the general public or for his Christian audience.
Author
I’ve not read a Davis Bunn book lately, Edward. Will have to remedy that as I enjoyed the ones I have read. And I didn’t know he wrote under Thomas Locke! Glad you stopped by! And yes, you should get away and take some pictures! All of mine are taken with my phone.
Susan is one of my favorite authors but Terri Blackstock, Dee Henderson, Susie May Warren, and Irene Hannon are a few that I have read for years also, Pat, in Christian fiction.
Author
I really enjoy all of those authors, Gloria, and I credit Susie May Warren with teaching me to write. 🙂 I’m so glad you’ve read mine, Gloria, too and included me in such illustrious writers.
Great review, Pat! I have a few authors that I’ve been reading for at least a decade!
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Hi Caryl! I often stick with an author and read all of their books…Susan is one of them. Thanks for stopping by!
I have quite a few that I have read for at least 10 year. Susan is one of them.
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Me, too, Shelia! So glad you stopped by!
This book sounds intriguing and like a good page turner! Thank you for sharing about it, I really love the book cover. Have a great weekend and stay safe. God Bless you.
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I like the cover, too, Alicia. Susan always has good covers. Thanks so much for stopping by!
Beautiful photo. I liked the synopsis. It sounds like a really interesting book. There are some authors that I have been reading their books for a few years.
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Thank you, Diana! I’m glad you enjoyed the review. Thanks so much for stopping by.
I met Susan at a Blue Ridge Mountain conference. She has turned out a bunch of interesting books since then! She’ll be on my TBR list.
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She is quite prolific, Sally Jo! I wish I could turn out a book as quickly as she does. And they are always page-turners. Thanks for stopping by.
I enjoy Susan’s books. Thank you for sharing. I love the scripture.
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Thanks, Lucy! I’m always snapping photos and love to find scripture that fits the photo.
I have read a lot of Susan Sleeman’s books! I didn’t realize she wrote a cozy mystery before she really got into writing romanctic suspense! Now she has all these Indy ones and I haven’t read any of them! YIKES…I must remedy this soon 🙂 I love her writing.
An author who started me reading Christian fiction (before I even knew there was such a thing) was Beverly Lewis, so I’d say she’s my longest author I’ve known and read books by. Then there was Lauraine Snelling with her Red River series, which I devored! 🙂 Then I read “Return to Red River” series and loved it just as much. I’ve since discovered many CF authors and books over the years!
I always love the scripture and graphic you share with each post Patricia, they have been vey encouraging for me. I love that this one was taken in Israel, what a trip of a lifetime!
Author
Trixi, it was a trip of a lifetime! And I hope to return one day when this craziness is over. I love history so much I can almost picture myself living there. As I typed that, I wondered if I love history that much, why I never write historical. lol. I’m glad my memes encourage you. Thanks so much for stopping by.