Jessica R. Patch

“I don’t believe anything in our life is wasted. This shell is chipped and broken. Been tossed by the waves. No control and yet it’s here on this beach. It’s not so far destroyed that I can’t recognize what it’s meant to be or find the beauty in it. I think the broken shells have stronger, richer stories than those I find that are in mint condition.”

Jessica Patch has penned another very memorable thriller, The Garden Girls. While Book 3 in FBI: Strange Crimes Unit, Garden Girls show more stands well on its own.

Young women are disappearing, without a trace until tattooed bodies begin appearing by lighthouses in North Carolina. The Special Crimes Unit is activated and sets up a home base in the Outer Banks. Returning there id difficult for one of their members, Ty Granger. Years ago, he escaped a religious cult based there in the mountains. Plus, his former girlfriend, Bexley Hemingway, lives in the area.

I liked how the Special Crimes Unit is like a family. They look out for each other. Especially in Ty’s case, the members are closer to him than his real family. Yet, his real family with its twisted past has left an indelible mark on Ty. He may have escaped the cult. He may be the religious behavioral analyst on the team, but he refuses to go from belief in one over-controlling religion to faith in God, which he considers another controlling religion. While several of Ty’s teammates are believers, Ty feels they are in a cult just as dangerous as the one of his youth.

This is a very gritty novel that explores the darkness of man’s depravity without God. We see how dark the mind of the seri*l kill*r is. We even see how dark is the hopelessness that Ty experiences when that same mastermind has almost totally outwitted him. “This went far deeper than a killer wanting revenge. This was a killer who wanted complete dominion over Ty.” Ty begins to lose all hope. Will God step in and begin to show up for him?

“Without hope, there was no meaning in life. The ocean was vast and shadowy, always reminding her that darkness lurked and was immense, terrifying and unpredictable, but when dawn peeped over the horizon it brought light to the darkness and color. Vibrant and beautiful. That was hope—light piercing the darkness, overwhelming it with its glory and majesty, bringing a new day and fresh mercy. Light chased away shadows and sparkled on the shores, beckoning one to come and stand in its presence with outstretched arms and to be wrapped in its warmth. Yielding to hope was possible.” Ty has been self-sufficient for so long. Finally, the terrifying hurricane and the fiend Ty and his team are chasing bring Ty to the end of himself. Will he give up or let go and let God?

I always like to write down a guess mid-way through the book when I’ve figured out the culprit. I missed it by a mile. Patch does a great job of tangling the clues together like knotted fishing line.

I recommend this book for those who are fans of the NCSI series and its spin-offs. I received a copy from Celebrate Lit. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“And the truth of drawing near to God rang true. He didn’t have to ask. He only had to draw.”

“He needed renewed strength. Not his own strength but something far greater and powerful—more powerful than this hurricane—to allow him to continue. Owen was right.” show less

From the middle of the novel to the end, it was impossible to put A Cry in the Dark down. I thought this novel was very well done. Violet is a complex character that I think deserved the spotlight. I cannot imagine the horrors that the women in this novel went through, but I am not ignorant to the fact that these things happen every day. My prayers go out to any woman who has this reality.

There were a lot of characters that kept getting thrown in the mix as the story progressed, and a few show more caught my eye early on, but there was one character in particular that honestly surprised me. Jessica R. Patch always seems to get me with at least one detail I wasn’t expecting in every one of her novels. I love it! Ty and his corny sense of humor are right up my alley, and I found myself chuckling on more than one occasion, which was the perfect comic relief, and was greatly needed in this heavier story.

While nothing holds a candle to The Garden Girls, I do think this was a good book. It had the creepiness factor dialed up to one hundred for sure. I don’t know why just the word Appalachia gives me the creeps, but it always has, so knowing this was the setting instantly gave me a sense of foreboding. This was a darker story that does have quite a few triggering topics and one pretty graphic scene, but they are all handled in a sensitive manner and show that God does meet you where you’re at, no matter where that may be. show less

This is another powerful, brilliantly plotted psychological thriller from master storyteller Jessica Patch--unputdownable and unpredictable! Thanks to the author's immersive writing style and attention to detail, I felt like I was there hearing every creak and cry in the night and discovering first hand every haunting secret of the small, close-knit town of Cold Harbor, Maine, and especially those of the creepy old secluded house on Darkwater Road. Several unexpected twists held revelations show more that had me gasping in shock and disbelief! The story explores the destructive power of trauma and brokenness, yet it also shows the beauty of embracing healing, finding hope, and trusting God to work all things together for good. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it!
I read an early copy of this book from the author/publisher via NetGalley with no obligation to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. show less

I love a twisty thriller, especially if it has an unreliable narrator! That kind of story keeps me on my toes. I found that and more in The Girl Upstairs by Jessica R. Patch. This book set in a picturesque secret-filled Maine coastal town was full of unexpected revelations, aha moments, and seriously creepy subject matter. (Content warnings: pregnancy loss and child abuse.) Gwen is the perfect character for the first person narration — fiercely devoted to finding justice, but broken in so show more many way — she tells a compelling story as she seeks a new life with her doctor husband. Unfortunately, the house they move to will not let them achieve the peace they so dearly need. I could not put this haunted house novel down! While this story is told through a Christian worldview, the references are subtle. I especially liked the juxtaposition of crows and black-capped chickadees — you’ll know it when you see it. 😉 This book is for those who don’t mind a bit (or a lot) of creep-factor, like surprises around every corner, and love a very satisfying ending. I think this book is a good choice for a book club. Lots of things to discuss — Can justice be achieved in a broken world? Does growth come from pain? Can past trauma be redeemed?

Highly Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions expressed are mine alone.) show less