Aftermath focuses on the circumstances after a bomb is detonated at a political rally.  Taylor Reed narrowly escapes the blast, but her friends are killed. She struggles to deal with survivor’s guilt. Dustin Webb is pulled over by police, only to find that someone stashed explosives in his trunk. He’s framed for the bombing. Jamie Powell, longtime friend of Dustin, becomes his lawyer. She knows he’s innocent, but the charges are serious, and they don’t have much time to prove Dustin’s innocence.

I’m a fan of the author, and this story is what readers expect from a Terri Blackstock novel. She has a way of creating characters that work their way into your heart, but she doesn’t shy away from the suspense. Aftermath mixes danger and high stakes action with intense emotions during the aftermath of a terrible tragedy. The author tackles the subject of mental health head on, but also shows the characters struggle with grief, overcoming the past, and some serious betrayal. This book sucked me in on page one with the intensity of the bombing, but I couldn’t put it down. I became so invested in the characters and had to keep reading to the very end.

This is definitely high on my list of books to recommend. Terri Blackstock is always a must-read author for me, and with stories like this, I will keep coming back for more.

Overall Rating:
5 stars (I loved it, couldn’t put it down)

Suspense Rating:
5 stars (Non-stop edge-of-your-seat suspense from start to finish)

I received an ebook review copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The post Aftermath appeared first on Best In Suspense.

For Fans of Mystery, Complex Characters, and Small Town Secrets

Smoke Screen brings all the suspense and intrigue readers expect from Terri Blackstock. Although not as fast-paced as some of her other novels, Smoke Screen throws readers into the complex lives of Brenna and Nate. The two high school sweethearts are reunited after the years and buried secrets have separated them.

The drama unfolds right from the first page. Brenna is going through a nasty custody battle for her two children. Nate’s job as a smoke jumper sends him back to town to heal from his wounds after he rescues a family from a deadly fire. Nate’s father served time for killing Brenna’s father, so their relationship is tense as Nate’s father is released from prison and pardoned.

The author writes characters with flaws and emotions so real that readers won’t want the book to end. Nate’s humility and strength shine when the town throws unfounded accusations his way. Brenna’s struggles are magnified when the deck is stacked against her in the fight for her children. But mysteries run throughout the novel as Nate tries to uncover what happened the night Brenna’s father was murdered.

Definitely move Smoke Screen to the number one spot on your TBR list. The complex characters and small town secrets will keep readers hooked until the very end.

I received a complementary ebook review copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The post Smoke Screen appeared first on Best In Suspense.