Gone to Ground
Praise for Novels by Brandilyn Collins
"Tense and dramatic . . . a dense and compact narrative that holds its tension while following the protagonist in a withering battle."
âNew York Journal of Books
"A taut, heartbreaking thriller . . . Collins is a fine writer who knows how to both horrify readers and keep them turning pages."
âPublishers Weekly
"A frightening and all-too-real scenario . . . very timely and meaningful book."
âRT Book Reviews
". . . good storytelling and notable mystery . . . an enticing read [that poses] tough questions about truth and lies, power and control, faith and forgiveness."
âPublishers Weekly
"Solidly constructed . . . a strong and immediately likable protagonist. One of the Top Ten Inspirational Novels of 2010."
âBooklist
"Filled with excitement and intrigue, Collins' latest will keep the reader quickly turning pages . . . This tightly plotted mystery, filled with quirky characters, will appeal to suspense lovers everywhere."
âRT Book Reviews
". . . pulse-accelerating, winding, twisting storyline [that will] keep your attention riveted to the action until the very end."
âChristian Retailing
". . . a hefty dose of action and suspense with a superb conclusion."
âRT Book Reviews
"Brandilyn Collins, the queen of Seatbelt Suspense®, certainly lives up to her well-deserved reputation.
Exposure
has more twists and turns than a Coney Island roller coaster . . . Intertwining storylines collide in this action-packed drama of suspense and intrigue. Highly recommended."
âCBA Retailers + Resources
"Captivating . . . the alternating plot lines and compelling characters in
Exposure
will capture the reader's attention, but the twist of events at the end is most rewarding."
âChristian Retailing
"Mesmerizing mystery . . . a fast-paced, twisting tale of desperate choices."
âTitleTrakk.com
"[Collins is] a master of her craft . . . intensity, tension, high-caliber suspense, and engaging mystery."
âThe Christian Manifesto
"Lean style and absorbing plot . . . Brandilyn Collins is a master of suspense."
âCBA Retailers + Resources
"Intense . . . engaging . . . whiplash-inducing plot twists . . . the concepts of forgiveness, restoration, selflessness, and sacrifice made this book not only enjoyable, but a worthwhile read."
âThrill Writer
"Moves from fast to fierce."
âTitleTrakk.com
"Thrilling . . . characters practically leap off the page with their quirks and inclinations."
âTennessee Christian Reader
". . . a harrowing hostage drama . . . essential reading."
âLibrary Journal
"The queen of seatbelt suspense delivers as promised. Her short sentences and strong word choices create a 'here and now' reading experience like no other."
âTitleTrakk.com
"Heart-pounding . . . the satisfying and meaningful ending comes as a relief after the breakneck pace of the story."
âRT Book Reviews
"High octane suspense . . . a powerful ensemble performance."
âBookshelfReview.com
"One of the Best Books of 2007 . . . Top Christian suspense of the year."
âLibrary Journal, starred review
"The excitement starts on page one and doesn't stop until the shocking end . . . [
Crimson Eve
] is fast-paced and thrilling."
âRomantic Times
"The action starts with a bang . . . and the pace doesn't let up until this fabulous racehorse of a story crosses the finish line.
âChristian Retailing
"An unparalleled cat and mouse game wrought with mystery and surprise."
âTitleTrakk.com
"A chilling mystery. Not one to be read alone at night."
âRT BOOKclub
"Thrilling . . . one of those rare books you hurry through, almost breathlessly, to find out what happens."
âSpokane Living
". . . a fascinating tale laced with supernatural chills and gut-wrenching suspense.
âChristian Library Journal
". . . fast-paced . . . interesting details of police procedure and crime scene investigation . . . beautifully developed [characters] . . ."
âPublishers Weekly
"A sympathetic heroine . . . effective flashbacks . . . Collins knows how to weave faith into a rich tale."
âLibrary Journal
"Collins expertly melds flashbacks with present-day events to provide a smooth yet deliciously intense flow . . . quirky townsfolk will help drive the next books in the series."
âRT BOOKclub
"Skillfully written . . . Imaginative style and exquisite suspense."
â1340mag.com
"A master storyteller . . . Collins deftly finesses the accelerator on this knuckle-chomping ride."
âRT BOOKclub
"fast-paced . . . mentally challenging and genuinely entertaining."
âChristian Book Previews
"Collins' polished plotting sparkles . . . unique word twists on the psychotic serial killer mentality. Lock your doors, pull your shadesâand read this book at noon."
âRT BOOKclub
, Top Pick
". . . this one is up there in the stratosphere . . . Collins has it in her to give an author like Patricia Cornwell a run for her money."
âFaithfulreader.com
". . . spine-tingling, hair-raising, edge-of-the-seat suspense."
âWordsmith Review
"A page-turner I couldn't put down, except to check the locks on my doors."
âAuthors Choice Reviews
"Collins keeps the reader gasping and guessing . . . artistic prose paints vivid pictures . . . High marks for original plotting and superb pacing."
âRT BOOKClub
". . . a sinister, tense story with twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat."
âWordsmith Shoppe
". . . an abundance of real-life faith as well as real-life fear, betrayal and evil. This one kept me gripped from beginning to end."
âContemporary Christian Music
"Collins' deft hand for suspense brings on the shivers."
âRT BOOKclub
"Gripping . . . thrills from page one."
âchristianbookpreviews.com
"Compelling . . . plenty of intrigue and false trails."
âPublisher's Weekly
"Finely-crafted . . . vivid . . . another masterpiece that keeps the reader utterly engrossed."
âRT BOOKclub
". . . riveting mystery and courtroom drama."
âLibrary Journal
"Chilling . . . a confusing, twisting trail that keeps pages turning."
âPublisher's Weekly
"A thriller that keeps the reader guessing until the end."
âLibrary Journal
"Unique and intriguing . . . filled with more turns than a winding mountain highway."
âRT BOOKclub
"One of the top ten Christian novels of 2001."
âchristianbook.com
Other Novels by Brandilyn Collins
Over the Edge
Deceit
Exposure
Dark Pursuit
Rayne Tour Series
(cowritten with Amberly Collins)
Always Watching
Last Breath
Final Touch
Kanner Lake Series
Violet Dawn
Coral Moon
Crimson Eve
Coral Moon
Hidden Faces Series
Brink of Death
Stain of Guilt
Dead of Night
Web of Lies
Chelsea Adams Series
Eyes of Elisha
Dread Champion
Bradleyville Series
Cast a Road Before Me
Color the Sidewalk for Me
Capture the Wind for Me
Copyright © 2012 by Brandilyn Collins
All rights reserved.
Printed in the United States of America
978-1-4336-7163-0
Published by B&H Publishing Group
Nashville, Tennessee
Dewey Decimal Classification: F
Subject Heading: MYSTERY FICTION \ HOMICIDEâFICTION \ ROMANTIC SUSPENSE NOVELS
Author represented by the literary agency of Alive Communications, Inc., 7680 Goddard Street, Suite 200, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80920, www.alivecommunications.com.
Scripture quotations are taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org) Also used Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB), Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 ⢠16 15 14 13 12
For my niece, Laura Sheppard.
What a joy to see you grow
and to anticipate what you will become.
Contents
"What anxious moments pass between the birth of plots and their last fatal periods."
CATO,
BY JOSEPH ADDISON
http://www.pulitzer.org/works/2010-Feature-Writing
2010 Pulitzer Prize
Feature Writing
The Jackson Bugle
Gone to Ground
What happens to a small, quiet Southern town when evil invades in the form of a serial killer?
By: Trent Williams
October 29, 2010
(Excerpt)
Amaryllis, Mississippi, is a scrappy little town of strong backbone and Southern hospitality. A brick-paved Main Street, a park, and the legendary ghost in its old cemetery are all part of its heritage. Everybody knows everybody in Amaryllis, and gossip wafts on the breeze. Its denizens are friendly, its families tight. On the surface Amaryllis seems much like the flower for which it's namedâbright and fragrant.