When Death Draws Near

GIVEAWAY
RANDOM RETRO READ DAY!

PARKS, CARRIE STUART
WHEN DEATH DRAWS NEAR

Gwen Marcey takes death in stride. Until she's faced with her own mortality.

Forensic artist Gwen Marcey is between jobs when she accepts temporary work in Pikeville, Kentucky -- a small town facing big-city crime. But before Gwen can finish her first drawing of the serial rapist who is on the loose, the latest witness vanishes. Just like all the others.

Owen suspects a connection between the rapist and the "accidental" deaths that are happening around town, but the local sheriff has little interest in her theories. When her difitally-obsessed teenage daughter joins her, Gwen turns her attention to a second assignment: going undercover in a serpent-handling church. She could get a handsome reward for uncovering illegal activity -- a reward she desperately needs, as it seems her breast cancer has returned. But snakes aren't the only ones ready to kill. Can Gwen uncover the truth -- and convince anyone to believe her -- before she becomes a victim herself?

My Review:

published in 2016

One  of the things I love most about Gwen Marcey is that she is so relatable. She doesn't have it all together and she's real and vulnerable in her walk with the Lord even when she's raising her voice in sarcastic anger. She's an intriguing mix of contradictions. Snarky and vulnerable. Stubborn and hesitant. Faith-fueled and doubtful. Such a complex, interesting character with deep layers that are slowly being peeled back with every book. This is the third Gwen Marcey book and, while it can be read as a standalone, there's enough in her personal life story that will make more of an impact if you've read A Cry from the Dust and The Bones Will Speak first.

Again, Parks has astounded me with the breadth and depth of this suspense. Her background as a forensic artist brings such a unique spin to the story and there are so many interesting insights into the complexities of this career. It involves so much more than I'd imagined! Her investigation into a fringe snake-handling religious group ups the tension and though, I have a huge snake phobia, I coped quite well...except for one gripping scene (shudder.) But the suspense is so compelling it kept me reading...er listening...anyway!

Complexities in plot and characters combined with stellar storytelling skills make any Gwen Marcey book unputdownable. Having said that, I think When Death Draws Near is definitely the best so far. I have one more to go -- Portrait of Vengeance is awaiting me in my audible line up.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  When Death Draws Near, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday August 29 2020 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck