5 Stars: 5/5 Star Rating

Lies, lies, lies, can just one little lie really cause such heartache and division? Is it just a LITTLE lie? and if he told one lie, did he tell other lies too?

This is a really exciting book! I really liked Jane Hardy and Reid Bechtol. I had a couple of characters that I didn't care as much for and didn't trust and I was correct in my feelings, so I won't spoil it for readers.

I am anxious for book two in the series now! This was a great book to fill my hours during the Covid-19 Pandemic. It took my mind off the current troubles and concerns of the world for a little while.

I received a digital ARC of this book from netgalley and Thomas Nelson. All opinions expressed are my own.

It all started with one little lie. Just one that compounded unforeseen interest over time. First in the new Pelican Harbor series, this exciting novel is a successful combination of engaging, likable characters, breath-taking suspense, and a fresh infusion of faith and spiritual lessons. I enjoyed the Alabama Gulf coast and meeting Jane, Olivia, Reid, and Will.

Jane Hardy s father recently, suddenly retired as police chief of Pelican Bay. A highly skilled detective, Jane was appointed first as acting chief, and now, chief. What timing, as one thing after another begins to happen until Jane is not sure if she is cut out to handle these crises.

Jane has not been on speaking terms with the Lord for many years due to her upbringing, so she is only relying on herself as she tries to stem the sudden crime wave in town. When she and her father moved there and he began working for the police department, Olivia, the head dispatcher, immediately befriended her and grew to be like a mother to her. Olivia is the only person who knows the secrets of behind Jane and her father and has prayed for years for Jane to come to faith. Olivia, like Jane, does not know about that one pesky lie.

We meet the delightful 70-something Alfie and his hard-working teenage helper, Isaac when they are out shrimping. Their last haul for the night was extraordinarily heavy. Inside the net was a huge Grizzly cooler. Inside the cooler was a dead body wearing a wedding gown. There are no means to identify the person. Two clues are left behind, one of which indicate the *vigilante* is behind this death, even though to date, the vigilante has not killed anyone. Until a woman is found *punished* and dead in her front yard.

Amid these events, Reid Dixon, a well-known documentary filmmaker, arrives in town. He is doing a documentary on small town police chiefs and has permission from the mayor to follow Jane on all her duties. The last thing Jane wants is to be filmed, especially since there are some people she really does not want anyone to see her. Reid has an ulterior motive, to get close to and learn about Jane. Against either of their plans, they become tentative friends with potential for more. Reid s son Will likes the small town and wishes they could stay there rather than return to their New Orleans home.

When it seems that things could not get worse, including the serious illness of a loved one and the detective who wanted to be chief trying to prove Jane incompetent, her dad is framed. He is accused of killing the man in the ice chest and stealing and selling a small fortune of drugs and other items from the evidence room of the police department.

This intense, complex novel is everything that I have come to love about suspense novels by Colleen Coble. Lies, secrets, crimes that seem impossible to solve, and a heroine determined to do all she can to save her father and her town. I love how the author gently weaves the right amount of faith and spiritual lessons to encourage Christians while not preaching. The characters are well-defined. Whether there is one bad guy or multiple people behind events adds to the excitement and complexity. I was very surprised to learn the whodunit(s)! I did guess what the lie was and am looking forward to seeing how it plays out! I highly recommend this novel to fans of well-written Christian suspense with great characters and a potential for romance.

From a thankful heart: I received a complimentary copy of this from Celebrate Lit and NetGalley, and this is my honest review.

I cannot wait to read the second book in this series to find out how every one in this story is going to handle the secrets that were revealed in this first book. I loved the characters in this story. There were so many twists and turns throughout this suspenseful story. Every character seems to have a secret that needs to be revealed. I received a copy of this book from Celebratelit for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

There were many interesting aspects to this good mystery. There are insights into the long lasting effects of being raised in a cult. There is the whole issue of lies and whether it is appropriate to lie to keep another person from hurting. Then there is the difficulty of forgiveness. Even though this novel is basically a police procedure mystery, there are a number of subplots that keep the story interesting and moving at a good pace.

Because of the many spiritual and relationship issues, the novel is mostly character driven. Even so, this is a good mystery with many possible suspects and a good twist near the end. The plot is very complex and at times seemed almost unrealistic. Coble is good at crafting a complex plot, however, and it kept my interest. The only flaw, I felt, might have been that the villain's motive and ultimate evil desire was not set up well enough.

This novel is the first in a two part series so be prepared to be left hanging. I think you will find the characters interesting enough that like me, you will be waiting for the sequel coming out later this year.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Is a lie ever okay? What if it is to protect someone-maybe even save their life? Does one lie lead to many? What about lies by omission?

Jane Hardy lives in the little town of Pelican Harbor and has just been promoted as chief of police. Will the other officers be accepting of her new position, especially Paul who has animosity towards her already.

Her new position is immediately challenged with two murders and it is thought due to the nature of these crimes that there may be a vigilante living among them.

Reid Dixon writes well-known documentaries and has arrived in town, along with his fifteen year old son to do a documentary on the police force. The mayor gives an order to Jane to allow him to follow her around taking notes an videotaping. While Jane is definitely not pleased about this, she has no choice.

Jane grew up in a cult from which she and her father fled when she was fifteen, and had just given birth to a sweet baby boy. She woke up being told her baby had died and they must leave immediately as fire and chaos were breaking out all over the commune. Her mother chose to stay with the cult leader. Where is her mother? Is she still alive? Her father has no desire to talk about her to Jane.

Now, her father has been arrested for murder. Did he do this? It's not possible is it? He was a former chief of police. Jane has high regard for her father and believes he has always been an honest man. Has he?

You'll have to read the book to find out this and so much more.

I loved this fast paced story. I was terribly disappointed when I got to the end and realized it was a big cliff hanger. I look forward to reading Book 2 in this series for 'the rest of the story.'

I was given a complimentary copy of this by the publisher, Thomas Nelson and Netgalley. I was under no obligation to leave a positive review.