🚌🛤️🚓 "Collison of Lies" 🚓🛤️🚌 (2020) - Book Review
MY REVIEW
Series: Amara Alvarez (Book #1)
Paperback:
400 pages
Publisher:
Revell (February 4, 2020)
Language:
English
ISBN-10:
0800736508
ISBN-13:
978-0800736507
“The case was tragic. But it was an accident.
Right?
Three years ago, a collision between a fast-moving freight train and a school bus full of kids led to devastation and grief on an unimaginable scale. But a fresh clue leads San Antonio police detective Amara Alvarez to the unlikely conclusion that one of the children may still be alive. If she's correct, everything law enforcement believes about the accident is a lie.
With time running out, Amara must convince others--and herself--that despite all evidence to the contrary, the boy is alive. And she will do everything in her power to bring him home.”
Three years ago, a collision between a fast-moving freight train and a school bus full of kids led to devastation and grief on an unimaginable scale. But a fresh clue leads San Antonio police detective Amara Alvarez to the unlikely conclusion that one of the children may still be alive. If she's correct, everything law enforcement believes about the accident is a lie.
With time running out, Amara must convince others--and herself--that despite all evidence to the contrary, the boy is alive. And she will do everything in her power to bring him home.”
Thank you in advance to Revell Books (a division of Baker Books Publishing) for providing a complimentary review through their Revell Reviewers program. A positive review was not required. All words and thoughts are my own.
Last year, during part of a “tour” with a publicity/review group, I was introduced to the genre of Christian Suspense. As I like suspense, this was an intriguing genre to me. I didn’t see how the two could co-exist. But, I quickly fell in love with it. And, it’s easily one of my favorite genres.
Tom Threadgill is a new author to Revell, and he knocks this genre out of the park with this novel.
Right off the cover is striking, and haunting, especially given the title – “Collision of Lies”.
Warning –> if kids in peril bothers you, then I would skip this book. However you do not see it depicted. By the time the book starts the accident is over three (3) years old. There are some vivid descriptions of the accident’s aftermath though.
With that said …
The story begins rather slowly with a chance encounter at a café between a grieving set of parents and Detective Amara Alvarez. Amara is a property crimes detective that wants to move into homicide.
Amara is doubtful about a text the parents have received that calls into question as to how their son, who died three years earlier, could send them a text. The mother is convinced that somehow her son survived, the father not so much.
Amara decides to only look into things to perhaps ease the mother’s feelings. And, she is working real cases that need to be solved. After all, several agencies investigated – the FBI, the local police, NTSB, the railroad authorities. Amara notes it’d be easier to name who wasn’t involved.
Like the tagline said – But it was an accident. Right?
That’s all she can find. There’s no evidence to the contrary. But, things just aren’t right. A seemingly unrelated double murder strikes the characters in this book wrongs. But, the people are unconnected. B
That is until a connection is found (a slight one), prompting Texas Ranger, Sara Colby, to be called in to “re-open” the Cotulla case. It is more an unofficial opening though, and it is to remain secretive.
I loved how Threadgill only threw out samples, like the supermarket samples – enough to get a taste, but nothing serious. Nothing to really bust the case wide open with the “ah-ha”, “here it is” moment.
The author, and forgive me for saying this, is sneaky. Up until halfway, he’s only throwing scraps at the characters and the readers. I had to keep reading to see where he was taking this story. The chapters were short, which made the pace of the novel almost non-stop. It was difficult to put down.
Due to the ME’s finding on some DNA, everything about the case becomes suspect. And, everyone involved becomes suspect as well – the police department, the ME’s office – nothing (and no one) is to be believed.
Eventually, the small pieces come together and the case is officially re-opened, causing the FBI to become involved.
Then the roller coaster ride begins. And, this isn’t a simple up/down, around type. This is the extreme – trip/upside down loops. Just when you think that you’ve got it figured out – nope. Nothing is to be believed and time begins crucial.
It is a “thrill a minute” type of read with some moments of levity that even made me laugh, which was courtesy of another character – Detective Jeremiah Peckham with the nickname of “Starsky”. As a fan of the TV series, Starsky (Paul Michael Glaser) was my FAVORITE. I also liked how the author referenced the TV series in Amara’s search.
There are some romantic elements – an older detective, Wylie, with Amara’s mom; Sara and the Medical Examiner; Amara and Starsky. I’m really hoping that we can find out why he got the nickname (though I think I know – his character’s personality), and I want to see them two together. They truly complement each other. And, I’d love to see them work a complete case together.
Threadgill writes two solid female leads in this – Amara and Colby. They’re strong without diminishing the role of the men in the novel either. They’re balanced and work together.
While sold by a Christian fiction group – this book lacks Christian references. Those who worry it may be “preachy” will find it isn’t. Faith, if any, is kept to a bare, almost miniscule level. However it is a solid clean read without the use of vulgarity, graphic language, profane language, or sexual references. Threadgill proves that a story can work and be riveting without using them.
This is the first novel I’ve read by the author, and with the teaser at the end of this one, I doubt it is going to be the last.
Last year, during part of a “tour” with a publicity/review group, I was introduced to the genre of Christian Suspense. As I like suspense, this was an intriguing genre to me. I didn’t see how the two could co-exist. But, I quickly fell in love with it. And, it’s easily one of my favorite genres.
Tom Threadgill is a new author to Revell, and he knocks this genre out of the park with this novel.
Right off the cover is striking, and haunting, especially given the title – “Collision of Lies”.
Warning –> if kids in peril bothers you, then I would skip this book. However you do not see it depicted. By the time the book starts the accident is over three (3) years old. There are some vivid descriptions of the accident’s aftermath though.
With that said …
The story begins rather slowly with a chance encounter at a café between a grieving set of parents and Detective Amara Alvarez. Amara is a property crimes detective that wants to move into homicide.
Amara is doubtful about a text the parents have received that calls into question as to how their son, who died three years earlier, could send them a text. The mother is convinced that somehow her son survived, the father not so much.
Amara decides to only look into things to perhaps ease the mother’s feelings. And, she is working real cases that need to be solved. After all, several agencies investigated – the FBI, the local police, NTSB, the railroad authorities. Amara notes it’d be easier to name who wasn’t involved.
Like the tagline said – But it was an accident. Right?
That’s all she can find. There’s no evidence to the contrary. But, things just aren’t right. A seemingly unrelated double murder strikes the characters in this book wrongs. But, the people are unconnected. B
That is until a connection is found (a slight one), prompting Texas Ranger, Sara Colby, to be called in to “re-open” the Cotulla case. It is more an unofficial opening though, and it is to remain secretive.
I loved how Threadgill only threw out samples, like the supermarket samples – enough to get a taste, but nothing serious. Nothing to really bust the case wide open with the “ah-ha”, “here it is” moment.
The author, and forgive me for saying this, is sneaky. Up until halfway, he’s only throwing scraps at the characters and the readers. I had to keep reading to see where he was taking this story. The chapters were short, which made the pace of the novel almost non-stop. It was difficult to put down.
Due to the ME’s finding on some DNA, everything about the case becomes suspect. And, everyone involved becomes suspect as well – the police department, the ME’s office – nothing (and no one) is to be believed.
Eventually, the small pieces come together and the case is officially re-opened, causing the FBI to become involved.
Then the roller coaster ride begins. And, this isn’t a simple up/down, around type. This is the extreme – trip/upside down loops. Just when you think that you’ve got it figured out – nope. Nothing is to be believed and time begins crucial.
It is a “thrill a minute” type of read with some moments of levity that even made me laugh, which was courtesy of another character – Detective Jeremiah Peckham with the nickname of “Starsky”. As a fan of the TV series, Starsky (Paul Michael Glaser) was my FAVORITE. I also liked how the author referenced the TV series in Amara’s search.
There are some romantic elements – an older detective, Wylie, with Amara’s mom; Sara and the Medical Examiner; Amara and Starsky. I’m really hoping that we can find out why he got the nickname (though I think I know – his character’s personality), and I want to see them two together. They truly complement each other. And, I’d love to see them work a complete case together.
Threadgill writes two solid female leads in this – Amara and Colby. They’re strong without diminishing the role of the men in the novel either. They’re balanced and work together.
While sold by a Christian fiction group – this book lacks Christian references. Those who worry it may be “preachy” will find it isn’t. Faith, if any, is kept to a bare, almost miniscule level. However it is a solid clean read without the use of vulgarity, graphic language, profane language, or sexual references. Threadgill proves that a story can work and be riveting without using them.
This is the first novel I’ve read by the author, and with the teaser at the end of this one, I doubt it is going to be the last.
RATING:
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐–
Goodreads
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐–
Bookbub
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐–
Personal Rating (see rating explanation in this blog: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2020/01/rating-system-2020-changes.html)
TOM THREADGILL is a full-time author and a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and the International Thriller Writers (ITW). He is currently on the suspense/thriller publishing board for LPC Books, a division of Iron Stream Media. He lives with his wife in rural Tennessee.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
TOM THREADGILL is a full-time author and a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and the International Thriller Writers (ITW). He is currently on the suspense/thriller publishing board for LPC Books, a division of Iron Stream Media. He lives with his wife in rural Tennessee.
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