When Death Draws Near by Carrie Stuart Parks
Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/2auSB8Y
Death has always been part of Gwen Marcey’s job. But when faced with her own mortality, everything takes on a different hue.
Forensic artist Gwen Marcey is between jobs and homes when she accepts temporary work in Pikeville, Kentucky. The Eastern Kentucky town, located deep in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains, has been plagued by a serial rapist and a series of unexplained deaths. Before Gwen can develop a composite drawing, the latest witness vanishes, just like all the previous victims.
Turning her attention to sketching the face of an unidentified body, she discovers a link between his death and a Pentecostal serpent-handling church. Serpent-handling is illegal in Kentucky, and the churches have gone underground to avoid the authorities and continue to worship as they believe. Gwen is offered a handsome reward to infiltrate the renegade members, a reward she desperately needs as it seems her breast cancer has returned.
Joined by her digitally-obsessed, Generation Z daughter, Gwen goes undercover to a nineteenth century revival, planning to draw the faces of the snake handlers so they can be identified and arrested. Instead she uncovers a murderous plot and a festering evil.
My thoughts:
With its unique story line and great characterization, When Death Draws Near is an intriguing read! Although this is the third Gwen Marcey novel, it is my first time to enjoy Carrie Stuart Parks’ storytelling. Drawing from her own expertise, Parks adds exceptional detail to the narrative, and I found the elements of forensic art to be fascinating. Gwen Marcey is a strong character, and I enjoyed her snarky sense of humor and the way she uses it to help lighten the mood of the darker situations she finds herself in. The suspense of this story kept me guessing, and I look forward to reading more Gwen Marcey novels!
Join Carrie in celebrating the release of When Death Draws Near by entering to win an Undercover Artist Starter Set.
One grand prize winner will receive:
- A copy of When Death Draws Near
- A $30 Michael’s or Hobby Lobby gift card (winner’s choice)
- Colored pencils
- A sharpener
- A pencil case
- An eraser
- A coloring prayer book
- A coloring notecard set
- A lap desk
Enter today by clicking the icon below, but hurry! The giveaway ends on August 22. The winner will be announced August 23 on the Litfuse blog.
Carrie Stuart Parks is a Christy finalist as well as a Carol award-winning author. She has won numerous awards for her fine art as well. An internationally known forensic artist, she travels with her husband, Rick, across the US and Canada teaching courses in forensic art to law enforcement professionals. The author/illustrator of numerous books on drawing and painting, Carrie continues to create dramatic watercolors from her studio in the mountains of Idaho.
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