"A Slow Burn" is a Christian historical novel set in 1977 in Texas. This is the second novel in the series. You can understand and enjoy the story even if you haven't read the first novel, but I got the feeling the story would have had even more depth (and there was plenty already) if I'd read the first book before this one.

This was one of those stories that drew me in and came vividly to life in my imagination, but I think it had more to do with a few, select setting details combined with vividly drawn characters. You truly got to know Emory and Hixon's deepest thoughts, hurts, and fears--nothing held back. The characters were realistic in their reactions to the events and in their coping mechanisms.

The low-level suspense came from the mysterious break-ins at Emory's house and people's worries that the murderer might strike again. When the story ends, we still don't know the name of whodunit, but Emory has finally admitted the truth about herself to herself and started down her road of healing. It's a long, hard, and painful road for her to get to that point, and I suspect it's not going to be an easy road for her from this point on, either.

There was a Christian element--God is clearly involved in these character's lives and is pursuing a closer relationship with them. It didn't come across as one character preaching to another, though--it's more people loving each other like Christ loves us. There was a minor amount of "he swore" style and fake bad language. Emory did use drugs. There were no sex scenes. Overall, I'd recommend this book.

1973. Defiance, Texas.Emory Chances 13-year-old daughter, Daisy, was kidnapped and murdered. After her funeral, Emorys sorrow is made more acute by feelings of self-recrimination. She hadnt been a model mother. Shes never been a model anything woman, wife, daughter, mother, or employee, and the whole town knows it. When the investigation into Daisys death closes before a perpetrator can be found and made to pay, Emory sinks further into overwhelming despair and addiction.Then someone begins stalking her. Moving things inside her house. Taking Daisys picture. Haunting Emory. Taunting her. Pushing her to the very edge of sanity and endurance.Only two people in Defiance seem to care much about Emorys state of mind or physical safety. Police Officer Spellman cares, but Emory figures hes just doing his job, taking care of folks in trouble. And Hixon Jones. A humble, Bible-thumping black man, Hixon does maintenance work on Emorys housewhether or not she asks for it, or even wants it. When Hixons best friend dies of cancer, his sorrow and a sense of duty toward that friends final wishes bring him ever closer to some kind of relationship with the beautiful, bitter woman he has always admired, but only from afar.Unspoken love. Shame. Forgiveness. Acceptance. Painful truth. Mary DeMuths second book in the Defiance, Texas trilogy brings them all into play. This talented author has the ability to reach deep into a readers heart and mind and leave her handprint forever imprinted thereon. As is to be expected from DeMuth, A Slow Burn is a tight, well-written tale packed with psychological nuances, shadowed with palpable human pain and heartache, and made bearable by an intricately woven thread that keeps the reader reminded of Gods constant love, even in the midst of tragedy and sorrow. I loved the first Defiance sory, Daisy Chain, and as a follow-up, A Slow Burn does not disappoint. Wonderful writing, an absolute must-read!

In this follow-up novel to Daisy Chain, DeMuth had found her groove. Editorially sound, this gripping story set in Defiance, TX takes readers into the beauty and pain of real-life, and will touch their hearts along the way. I highly recommend this book.

A keep you rivited book. It is not helpful to start book if you have a lot of holiday stuff to do. Once you start you will not want to put it down. Artfully written.

Mary DeMuth has intertwined artful writing, a powerfully imagined plot, and characters that are startlingly human. A Slow Burn brims with a prevailing grace that abundantly covers even the most devastating of human regrets. DeMuth's novels just keep getting better. Tina Ann Forkner, author of Ruby Among Us and Rose House