Robin Caroll
Author of Deliver Us from Evil: A Novel
About the Author
Image credit: Photograph by Jodie Westfall Photography
Series
Works by Robin Caroll
Associated Works
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Birthdate
- 19??-08-19
- Gender
- female
- Organizations
- American Christian Fiction Writers
International Thriller Writers - Awards and honors
- Holt Medallion Award of Merit
Carol Award Finalist
Bookseller's Best Finalist
RT Reviewers' Choice Nominee - Agent
- Steve Laube
- Short biography
- “I love boxing. I love Hallmark movies. I love fishing. I love scrapbooking. Nope, I've never fit into the boxes people have wanted to put me in.” ~Robin Caroll is definitely a contradiction, but one that beckons you to get to know her better.
Born and raised in Louisiana, Robin is a southerner through and through. Her passion has always been to tell stories to entertain others. Robin’s mother, bless her heart, is a genealogist who instilled in Robin the deep love of family and pride of heritage—two aspects Robin weaves into each of her 14 published novels. When she isn’t writing, Robin spends time with her husband of twenty-plus years, her three beautiful daughters and two handsome grandsons, and their character-filled pets at home—in the South, where else? She gives back to the writing community by serving as Conference Director for ACFW. Her books have finaled/placed in such contests as the Carol Award, Holt Medallion, RT Reviewer's Choice Award, Bookseller's Best, and Book of the Year.
An avid reader herself, Robin loves hearing from and chatting with other readers. Although her favorite genre to read is mystery/suspense, of course, she’ll read just about any good story. Except historicals! To learn more about this author of deep South mysteries of suspense to inspire your heart, visit Robin’s website at www.robincaroll.com. - Birthplace
- Louisiana, USA
- Associated Place (for map)
- Louisiana, USA
Members
Reviews
“Darkwater Secrets” kept me glued to my iPad like few books have. It takes a special book to slow down my commute home in favor of a beachside bench to keep reading, and this certainly was that.
I felt the climax/reveal of the killer was a tiny bit underwhelming—there’d been so much buildup that I’d expected it to be harder won than it was.
Still, a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Fans of the Cheney Duvall series will enjoy this book’s setting in Louisiana; it show more felt like a modern take on “Secret Place of Thunder”, and I may have geeked out at obscure connections that only I probably made!
I received an ARC copy of the book from the publisher at no cost, and was not required to leave a positive review. All opinions are my own. show less
I felt the climax/reveal of the killer was a tiny bit underwhelming—there’d been so much buildup that I’d expected it to be harder won than it was.
Still, a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Fans of the Cheney Duvall series will enjoy this book’s setting in Louisiana; it show more felt like a modern take on “Secret Place of Thunder”, and I may have geeked out at obscure connections that only I probably made!
I received an ARC copy of the book from the publisher at no cost, and was not required to leave a positive review. All opinions are my own. show less
New Orleans is one of my favorite cities to visit. Nothing beats the sultry atmosphere of the city that has seen its share of colorful citizens, historic events, and renewed hope after tragedy. Robin Caroll has set her newest series right in the heart of the French Quarter, and the first book, Darkwater Secrets, captures all the sights, smells, and tastes of New Orleans. The novel is a wonderful combo of mystery and suspense, romance and drama as good as a seafood gumbo. I give this book a show more recommended rating.
While the setting is so very satisfying — carnival season with scenes at the St. Louis cemetery, Cafe du Monde, and St. Louis Cathedral — I really, really liked the characters. At the center of the novel is Adelaide Fountaine, general manager of the historic (but fictional) Darkwater Inn. She along with junior hotel owner Dimitri Pampalon and Detective Beau Savoie fuel the story. Along with a murder, there are secrets galore — everyone seems to be hiding something. Add to the mix some voodoo and real life struggles, and you have an intriguing plot. The novel has a definite Christian worldview, yet only one character really lives out his faith. I found this very realistic. Within the faith thread is the complex issues of justice and revenge. At the heart is the question of whether real justice can be achieved and whether people can take that into their own hands when the system fails. I thought the author handled the argument expertly. The story certainly made me think.
Darkwater Secrets was a page turner. Don’t be surprised if you look at the clock to discover you’ve stayed up way too late! 😉 I think for those groups who enjoy intrigue and mystery, it is an excellent choice for a book club. Twisting and turning with plenty to discuss. The mystery is solved at the end of the novel, but there is plenty more to come. I am eagerly awaiting book 2. And for those of you who find themselves wishing for some of Dimitri’s delicious dishes, there is Recipes from The Darkwater Inn — free for Kindle. Yum!
Recommended.
Great for Book Clubs.
Audience: adults.
(Thanks to Gilead Publishing and JustRead Book Tours for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.) show less
While the setting is so very satisfying — carnival season with scenes at the St. Louis cemetery, Cafe du Monde, and St. Louis Cathedral — I really, really liked the characters. At the center of the novel is Adelaide Fountaine, general manager of the historic (but fictional) Darkwater Inn. She along with junior hotel owner Dimitri Pampalon and Detective Beau Savoie fuel the story. Along with a murder, there are secrets galore — everyone seems to be hiding something. Add to the mix some voodoo and real life struggles, and you have an intriguing plot. The novel has a definite Christian worldview, yet only one character really lives out his faith. I found this very realistic. Within the faith thread is the complex issues of justice and revenge. At the heart is the question of whether real justice can be achieved and whether people can take that into their own hands when the system fails. I thought the author handled the argument expertly. The story certainly made me think.
Darkwater Secrets was a page turner. Don’t be surprised if you look at the clock to discover you’ve stayed up way too late! 😉 I think for those groups who enjoy intrigue and mystery, it is an excellent choice for a book club. Twisting and turning with plenty to discuss. The mystery is solved at the end of the novel, but there is plenty more to come. I am eagerly awaiting book 2. And for those of you who find themselves wishing for some of Dimitri’s delicious dishes, there is Recipes from The Darkwater Inn — free for Kindle. Yum!
Recommended.
Great for Book Clubs.
Audience: adults.
(Thanks to Gilead Publishing and JustRead Book Tours for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.) show less
What a great idea for a novel! Two recovery specialists pitted against each other to recover a treasure map! I have loved Robin Caroll’s other romantic suspense novels set in the South that feature law enforcement, but her latest book, Weaver’s Needle, has an extra dose of special. I loved how she combined adventure and romance against the backdrop of Old West legends and Native American lore. This one gets a highly recommended rating from me!
Landry Parker and Nickolai Baptiste, two show more recovery specialists (those usually hired by insurance companies to recover lost or stolen art or documents), both have reasons to accept the challenge of retrieving the stolen treasure map for widow Winifred Winslett. Family is important to both and that plays a big role in taking the job, but the challenge of a puzzle and the allure of lost gold sweeten the deal. In the wilds of the Arizona back country, they begin separately to follow leads, but soon recognize the necessity to combine their expertise. There’s also a lot of chemistry between the two that keeps drawing them closer.
Weaver’s Needle has a definite National Treasure vibe. Adventure, suspense, danger, and romance keep the pages of this book turning. Landry and Nickolai are great characters that a reader can root for, especially as their feelings for each other deepen. Their backstories are complex and add a depth to a novel that is action-packed. There is also an element of the mystical as Caroll introduces the behind the scenes actions of Apache shamans. The addition of Native American lore is intriguing and compliments the Christian message of God’s sovereignty that runs throughout the story. But make no mistake, God, not nature or spirits from another world, is definitely in control.
I loved Weaver’s Needle and am hoping that Caroll will bring Landry and Nickolai back for more exciting thrill rides!
Highly Recommended.
Audience: adults.
(Thanks to Barbour Publishing for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.) show less
Landry Parker and Nickolai Baptiste, two show more recovery specialists (those usually hired by insurance companies to recover lost or stolen art or documents), both have reasons to accept the challenge of retrieving the stolen treasure map for widow Winifred Winslett. Family is important to both and that plays a big role in taking the job, but the challenge of a puzzle and the allure of lost gold sweeten the deal. In the wilds of the Arizona back country, they begin separately to follow leads, but soon recognize the necessity to combine their expertise. There’s also a lot of chemistry between the two that keeps drawing them closer.
Weaver’s Needle has a definite National Treasure vibe. Adventure, suspense, danger, and romance keep the pages of this book turning. Landry and Nickolai are great characters that a reader can root for, especially as their feelings for each other deepen. Their backstories are complex and add a depth to a novel that is action-packed. There is also an element of the mystical as Caroll introduces the behind the scenes actions of Apache shamans. The addition of Native American lore is intriguing and compliments the Christian message of God’s sovereignty that runs throughout the story. But make no mistake, God, not nature or spirits from another world, is definitely in control.
I loved Weaver’s Needle and am hoping that Caroll will bring Landry and Nickolai back for more exciting thrill rides!
Highly Recommended.
Audience: adults.
(Thanks to Barbour Publishing for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.) show less
I'm starting my review with a warning about the book. When you start this book, make sure you allow yourself time to read the entire book in one sitting. Why? To put it simply, because there is no way to read this book without stopping. The story line is rich in intrigue and takes us to the dark places of a person's emotions. I was shocked at first to read that a company thought the only way to pick who would get the promotion out of four people was to play a game. It's not just any old show more game, folks. It's a game specifically designed to use past hurts, fear, manipulation, anger and secrets against you. How will each person act in different situations is where the real nitty gritty goes.
To understand the master mind behind the game, we get to meet Grayson. I enjoyed him so much and found his intelligence to be quite impressive. I thought it was cool that the four people didn't know they were playing a game, but trying to outshine their peers in front of the boss. They were watched at all times like a lab rat which is kinda creepy. The author delves into their past in a way that brings out the darkness in some and in others an almost give up attitude. I can tell you right now I would never want to play this type of game. I did forget to mention that one of the players in the game is Grayson's ex-wife. Anna Belle is the epitome of girl gone bad. There is nothing nice I can say about her. She was mean, vindictive and down right evil. Anna Belle is the woman that other women hate and men fall all over for her attention. Someone definitely has it in for her, when she is found dead . The first person the police point a finger at is Grayson. I wasn't surprised because it is a given the ex-husband is automatically the top pick as the killer.
Anna Belle is certainly not a popular person and I'm not sure anyone shed a tear over her death except maybe her mother. There is however another character I found to be extremely annoying. Danielle and Grayson's friend Brandon are investigating the death. Danielle is so determined to prove Grayson guilty that she made me want to stomp on her feet several times. She is so relentless in proving Grayson guilty, that she has tunnel vision. Her character is so well developed I loved to hate her. She was one of my top picks of stand out characters in the story.Her nastiness towards Grayson is evident when she says to him, " Although , you know sometimes murderers will do bad things to themselves to garner sympathy and try to throw off suspicion."
It is a cat and mouse chase as Grayson tries to figure out what went wrong in the game, as the police start closing in on him. I was literally turning pages fast because I had to know who the killer was. I had my list but I was very wrong. The author has included faith in the book but not in a preachy way. Grayson really stands on his beliefs and will face the question of is he able to forgive. That is one of the great lessons in the book and one of the hardest things people have to deal with. The author knows how to shock readers with intense drama and an ending that will have you looking for more books by this very gifted author.
I received a copy of this book by Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion. show less
To understand the master mind behind the game, we get to meet Grayson. I enjoyed him so much and found his intelligence to be quite impressive. I thought it was cool that the four people didn't know they were playing a game, but trying to outshine their peers in front of the boss. They were watched at all times like a lab rat which is kinda creepy. The author delves into their past in a way that brings out the darkness in some and in others an almost give up attitude. I can tell you right now I would never want to play this type of game. I did forget to mention that one of the players in the game is Grayson's ex-wife. Anna Belle is the epitome of girl gone bad. There is nothing nice I can say about her. She was mean, vindictive and down right evil. Anna Belle is the woman that other women hate and men fall all over for her attention. Someone definitely has it in for her, when she is found dead . The first person the police point a finger at is Grayson. I wasn't surprised because it is a given the ex-husband is automatically the top pick as the killer.
Anna Belle is certainly not a popular person and I'm not sure anyone shed a tear over her death except maybe her mother. There is however another character I found to be extremely annoying. Danielle and Grayson's friend Brandon are investigating the death. Danielle is so determined to prove Grayson guilty that she made me want to stomp on her feet several times. She is so relentless in proving Grayson guilty, that she has tunnel vision. Her character is so well developed I loved to hate her. She was one of my top picks of stand out characters in the story.Her nastiness towards Grayson is evident when she says to him, " Although , you know sometimes murderers will do bad things to themselves to garner sympathy and try to throw off suspicion."
It is a cat and mouse chase as Grayson tries to figure out what went wrong in the game, as the police start closing in on him. I was literally turning pages fast because I had to know who the killer was. I had my list but I was very wrong. The author has included faith in the book but not in a preachy way. Grayson really stands on his beliefs and will face the question of is he able to forgive. That is one of the great lessons in the book and one of the hardest things people have to deal with. The author knows how to shock readers with intense drama and an ending that will have you looking for more books by this very gifted author.
I received a copy of this book by Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion. show less
Awards
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Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 31
- Also by
- 1
- Members
- 1,241
- Popularity
- #20,683
- Rating
- 3.9
- Reviews
- 117
- ISBNs
- 102
- Languages
- 1
- Favorited
- 2
