Book Review: Water Grave by Mitchell S. Karnes

 

Happy Mardi Gras, My Lovelies!  I hope you're having a lovely week so far.  I can't believe that Ash Wednesday is tomorrow: Easter will be here before we know it!

Do you give-up anything for Lent?  I usually try to give up on all negative thoughts and focus on a really well-written Lenten Bible Study.  This year I will be participating in a class at church.

Today I'm sharing with you a mystery thriller that is the first in a series:  Water Grave by Mitchell S. Karnes.  It is a Christian mystery published by WordCrafts Press, and I'm reviewing this book through TLC Book Tours.  Thanks for including me as part of the blog tour, TLC!

About Water Grave

Publisher: Wordcrafts Press (January 29, 2025)

Paperback: 280 pages

According to Goodreads

Six years ago, Hannah Leah Abelard needed a fresh start. She changed her name to Abbey Rhodes and enlisted in the United States Army as a part of the "Ever Vigilant," 18th Military Police Brigade. They taught her how to be a great cop. Abbey moved to Tennessee three years later and joined Metro Nashville's Police Department.

Now, in her third month with Homicide, Abbey is thrust into a case that may bring the walls she built crashing down around her, exposing a dark past she thought she'd left behind. A young pastor is found dead in the bottom of his baptistery and Abbey is forced to investigate the one place she swore never to return—the church. The case takes Abbey deeper into a tangled web of lies and secrets where the most dangerous ones may be her own.

My Review

When I first started reading this murder mystery, I wasn't sure I was going to like it because of the brutal murder of a young minister near the most sacred place in a church: the baptistry.  It was difficult for me to read.  But once Abbey and her supervisor were on the case, I couldn't put it down.  There are several possible suspects, and the pacing of this mystery is perfect.  Like every other well-written mystery, this one has several plot twists, and a few of them were shocking: I gasped out loud!  The resolution of the mystery itself was completely unexpected, yet there are plenty of clues in the narrative.  Pay attention if you read this book to the behavior of all the characters.

There is also a little bit of a romance between Abbey and another character that reveals so much about her trauma and healing process.  Abbey's story is heartbreaking, and the fact that she lost her faith in God because of how she was disregarded and blamed as a victim made me so angry for her.  However, she is befriended by mature Christians who support and love her right where she is, and with their support, she is able to share her story and continue healing.

One of the features of this book that I like are the Points to Ponder in the back of the book.  They are helpful for the individual reader as well as a book club.  I recommend this book if you enjoy Christian fiction, fast-paced mysteries (plus this one is shorter at only 280 pages: it's a quick read), and a story with a little romance.  It would  make a great beach or lake read with Spring Break in a couple of weeks.

One of the Bible verses that is mentioned throughout the book is Romans 8:28, which is a favorite of mine.  It is also a recurring theme as well.

Disclosure:  I received a copy of Water Grave from TLC Book Tours via the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.  

Do you enjoy reading murder mysteries?  Have you read any good ones lately?

Until next time...

Blessings!
Ricki Jill