When Death Draws Near


When Death Draws Near is the third book in Carrie Stuart Parks' Gwen Mercey series. The first two books are A Cry From The Dust and The Bones Will Speak. I haven't read the first two books in the series yet, but I decided to pick up When Death Draws Near because the description was so compelling. The book description reads:

"Gwen Marcey takes death in stride. Until she’s faced with her own mortality.

Forensic artist Gwen Marcey is between jobs when she accepts temporary work in Pikeville, Kentucky—a small town facing big-city crime. But before Gwen can finish her first drawing of the serial rapist who is on the loose, the latest witness vanishes. Just like all the others.

Gwen suspects a connection between the rapist and the “accidental” deaths that are happening around town, but the local sheriff has little interest in her theories. When her digitally-obsessed teenage daughter joins her, Gwen turns her attention to a second assignment: going undercover in a serpent-handling church. She could get a handsome reward for uncovering illegal activity—a reward she desperately needs, as it seems her breast cancer has returned. But snakes aren’t the only ones ready to kill. Can Gwen uncover the truth—and convince anyone to believe her—before she becomes a victim herself?

In a thrilling race against time, When Death Draws Near plunges us into cold-case murders, shady politics, and a den of venomous suspects."

I absolutely loved this book, and I'll definitely be picking up the first two books in the series now. I loved Gwen's character - she's very complex, and the story line is full of twists, turns, surprises, and deep issues and stories. This definitely isn't your typical crime procedural novel, with a couple twists and turns but a predictable ending. This is a thrill ride of a book that kept me guessing and turning the pages till the end. I loved the unique aspect of the setting (Gwen going undercover in a serpent-handling church). It was extremely unique without being weird, which can be a hard balance to strike. I highly recommend When Death Draws Near to anyone who enjoys a suspense/thriller novel, and can't wait to read the rest of the series.

I received a copy of this book from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

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