Still Life by Dani Pettrey

This is book two in the series Chesapeake Valor

I'm really not sure what to say about this book. Let me start with the good stuff. It is very well-written. This is the second book I've read and Dani is a very gift author in her writing style. The story captures a group of friends who often investigate crimes together and are very good at what they do. To fully understand this book, you do need to have read book one. For me, I struggled a bit because it has been awhile since I read book one.

There is an element of trust that happens in this book. Avery has a very bad past and is struggling to fully believe that God loves her in spite of it, that her giving her life over to Christ truly does make her a new person and her past doesn't need to drag her down. Parker, her boyfriend, does a very good job of assuring her of that as well as still loving her despite her past and allowing her to tell her story at her own pace.

All that being said, I found the storyline rather disturbing. I won't go into a lot of details on here both to protect the essence of the story and because I don't want it on my blog. I am not doubting that there are psychos out in the world like that with a sick enough mind to do what happened in the book, but to me it was all around gross and creepy. I would certainly not be wanting just anyone to pick up the book and read it. The element of suspense and unexpected endings was alive and well put in this book, but the main story just ruined so much of it for me.

It's also not a book I would recommend reading just before going to bed. Every time I woke up, the story was on my mind gnawing at me, wondering how it really was all going to end.

I received this book from Bethany House and was not required to write a positive review.