💥🚓⚖️ "Aftermath" (2021) ⚖️🚓💥 - Blog Tour

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Aftermath by Terri Blackstock, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Aftermath 
Author: Terri Blackstock
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Release Date: May 11, 2021
Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense/Thriller

This gripping new thriller from New York Times bestselling author Terri Blackstock will leave you on the edge of your seat. 

A devastating explosion. 

Three best friends are at the venue just to hear their favorite band . . . but only one of them makes it out alive. 

A trunk full of planted evidence. 

When police stop Dustin with a warrant to search his trunk, he knows it’s just a mistake. He’s former military and owns a security firm. But he’s horrified when they find explosives, and he can’t fathom how they got there. 

An attorney who will risk it all for a friend. 

Criminal attorney Jamie Powell was Dustin’s best friend growing up. They haven’t spoken since he left for basic training, but she’s the first one he thinks of when he’s arrested. Jamie knows she’s putting her career on the line by defending an accused terrorist, but she’d never abandon him. Someone is framing Dustin to take the fall for shocking acts of violence . . . but why?

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | IndieBound | Christianbook | Bookbub

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MY REVIEW

Thank you in advance to the publisher, Thomas Nelson/TNZ Fiction, for providing an advanced review copy through JustRead Publicity Tours. A positive review was not required or requested and all words are my own.

I am definitely not new to Terri Blackstock as an author. In 2019 I won one of her books in a Christy Award finalist prize – Catching Christmas. In December, I also saw her book Smokescreen at the library. As I’d missed it in a promotion, I quickly skimmed it and decided I liked it enough to buy it.

But, Aftermath is the only book by the author I’ve read. I blame the never-ending leisure TBR pile. FYI: TBR – to be reviewed/read.

When I saw this; I HAD to get it!! To be honest, the cover didn’t grab me so much as the story blurb did.

Right off, let’s get the content and/or trigger warnings out of the way. As this does deal with a bombing that right off might disturb some readers. Other potential trigger/content issues:

** Obvious one – bombing

** Mass casualties

** Some political vibes (there are no view expressed though)

** Survivor’s Guilt

** OCD and Mental Health Issues

** Drug Overdose

** 1995 Murrah Building (Oklahoma) Bombing Mention

** Tasarnev (Boston Marathon Bomber mention)

So, there are already some heavy vibes to this story. And, from first chapter until nearly the end it is intense!

Blackstock tells the story in very short chapters (about 2-7 pages) so there is no lingering or even any time to take stock of the situation. Thus, Aftermath is a realistic, terrifying, exciting, tragic, emotional, and suspenseful edge-of-your seat read.

As this is an ARC there were several typos in it relating to spelling and/or missing words. There was a technical typo when Dustin was in court. Usually it is the charging agency (county/state/federal) VS the defendant; in this particular scene the opposite was written.

Overall, these typos did not hamper or hinder the development or enjoyment of the story.

The main characters and POVs are:

** Taylor Reid, a survivor who already has severe OCD issues. She loses two friends in the bombing

** Dustin Webb, falsely accused former Army veteran who is clearly set up to take responsibility

** Jamie Powell, a single mom (widowed) and criminal defense attorney. She is Dustin’s friend from childhood

** Travis, Dustin’s former military buddy and current business partner whose wife is dying from cancer

Blackstock does an impressive job of telling the story from two (3) to three (3) perspectives.

This very appropriately titled novel begins with three friends (Taylor, Mara, and Desiree) at a rally. They’re only there to hear their favorite band.

Just after the band exits the stage and a political candidate steps up – Taylor’s world is literally blown up. She manages to escape, sadly her friends do not.

Miles away, a traffic stop puts Dustin’s life in upheaval due to explosives found in his car shortly after the bombing.

Jamie Powell is about to give a statement about the acquittal of her client when she learns something has happened.

Dustin calls Jamie after learning that what was found in his vehicle (that he didn’t put there) ties him to the deadly bombing. Jamie doesn’t hesitate to defend her old friend who was orphaned at six (6) and raised by an aunt (Pat) that thought he could do nothing right.

Jamie is also a single mom, widowed. It is no secret that Dustin didn’t care for her husband, but Jamie understands as will the reader.

And, Blackstock does a great job in setting Dustin up to look like the primary suspect, although his lack of a social media presence is more in his favor than not.

There is no question where Jamie’s loyalties lie – Dustin. And, it is clear that he does have some solid alibis. What’s even more interesting – almost everyone likes him and has nothing negative to say about him. For me, that was definitely a unique twist. Then again, his Aunt Pat almost had nothing nice to say about him, and she was another character I didn’t like.

Still, the physical evidence against Dustin is pretty convincing. But, if it is convincing against him, what about his business partner as they worked on several jobs, including one that sold explosives together? That’s Dustin’s concern.  

Right off, I didn’t trust Travis. As soon as he was introduced there were big red flags. I’m sorry his wife was facing a losing battle against cancer and the couple had twin 2-year-old sons, but Travis rubbed me wrong. Even by chapter 34, Jamie had her own theories.

Blackstock kept the action moving with alternating POVs between the four main characters and each part of the investigation and case was revealed slowly – a mention of a truck here, people there. Even at the halfway point there were no real suspects or even a motive.

Taylor and her sister were upset that Jamie, not disclosing she was Dustin’s attorney, questioned them. They would’ve been questioned anyone – whether at trial or before.

But, it is Taylor’s growing obsession (partly due to her OCD) with “making it right” and “getting justice” that has her behaving irrationally. It was understandable to a point. It was clear she needed help and supervision though.

Even after Dustin uncovers more evidence to shift the investigation onto another suspect, the police are still target fixated on him. The action really ramps up by chapter 47 putting this into the “I definitely could not put this down for any length of time” mode.

There were times with one or two sub-plots that I knew where this was going, thus making it slightly predictable.

Blackstock definitely drew this suspense-packed, emotional read nearly right to the end; as in less than three chapters.

There was VERY little to dislike about the story overall. Sadly, I disliked Taylor throughout most of the book. I can’t imagine the terror and grief of going through something like that. And, while I knew she had problems that were exacerbated by the bombing, it was clear that those around her were not serving her interests and relying on her to “self-report”. She had no support system at all.

This isn’t all “dark” and gloomy. There was a light and funny moment in this book with Dustin and Jamie recounting her early driving experiences with garbage cans and mailboxes.

Thankfully, this was a standalone read as it had me looking for the exit. I could hardly put it down at times.  

Fans of suspense and Terri Blackstock are sure to enjoy this latest release! I’m definitely a fan of her suspense work so I wouldn’t hesitate to pick up another book by Blackstock.

I honestly loved the twists, turns, and suspense despite some parts being “I saw that”. I also enjoyed how Blackstock represented each view – the victim/survivor’s point; the defendant (who was falsely accused); and the lawyer working to exonerate her client. Each perspective was uniquely and realistically portrayed.

This is distributed by Christian publisher Thomas Nelson/TNZ Fiction, so there will be some references to God and some prayers. These are not integral to the story.

RATING:

 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

Terri Blackstock has sold over seven million books worldwide and is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. She has had over twenty-five years of success as a novelist. She’s the author of If I Run, If I’m Found, and If I Live, as well as such series as Cape Refuge, Newpointe 911, Moonlighters, and the Restoration series. Visit her website at www.terriblackstock.com.

CONNECT WITH TERRI: Website | Facebook

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(3) winners will receive a print copy of Aftermath by Terri Blackstock!

Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight May 11, 2021 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on May 18, 2021. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

 

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