Unless you live or have lived in the Pacific Northwest, you probably haven’t head of or been to the small Idaho towns where Carrie Stuart Parks’ fourth Gwen Marcey novel is set. For those of us who do know or have been to towns such as Lapwai, Orofino, or Kamiah, it’s a pleasant surprise to run across them in a story.

What was even more enjoyable about this story was the mystery around Gwen Marcey’s past. In Portrait of Vengeance, Gwen has a probationary position with a new task force and delves into a case of a double homicide with a missing four-year-old. The similarities to what happened to her was too much coincidence for her to leave alone.

I love this character’s sense of humor, her relationship with her best friend, and the fact she doubts herself where her personal life is concerned. She’s usually got it together professionally but when the personal bleeds into her job, it’s hard for her to keep it together. The behind-the-investigation scenes are interesting and engaging, but it’s Gwen’s journey that made this book an emotional and enjoyable read.

Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

This book literally kept me up reading all night. I had to keep reading to see how it turned out. The author did a great job keeping me guessing. I highly recommend Carrie Stuart Parks.

This is a good Christian Suspense/Thriller book about a serial killer thirst for revenge and Gwen Marcey, forensic artist on the case to find a missing child before the killer makes Gwen and the missing his or her next victim. Will Gwen find the child in time? How did Gwen's parents die 32 years ago? And who can Gwen trust besides Beth and her dog with some many suspects?
My grade of this book is an A plus.

Wow! This is an intense, non stopping mystery without a dull moment. I read it quickly and was very caught up in the story from the beginning. I have a book or two in the series and have not read them yet so I plan to go back and read them.

Gwen Marcey is a forensic artist and police officer with a new job at the Interagency Major Crime Unit (IMCU) in Missoula, Montana. When the jobs are being handed out, she is assigned a case in Alaska but when she heard of a case of the murder of parents and child abduction in Lapwai, Idaho, she requested it. She feels a close connection to the case from her own background. She headed there to work with the Nez Perce Tribal Police and is welcomed by the police chief, Seth Kus, but that is about the only one to welcome her to work with the police force on the reservation. Gwen has dealt with the loss of her parents as a child, breast cancer, divorce, a demanding ex and is used to dealing with life issues but crazy things start out right away beginning with her car disappearing along with her computer and belongings. She has to call her best friend, Beth Noble, to come to her rescue and bring clothes, computer, artist tools and the use of her car. Beth is a computer expert and her skills are used throughout this wild mystery. As the police, Gwen and Beth work on unraveling the case, it becomes clear that someone is out to get Gwen and stop her investigation. As she deals with the case, she also has to deal with her past and the mystery of what happened to her parents and the woman who raised her for fourteen years, a woman who she thought had been murdered. It is an emotional story about a woman who has had so much to deal with and has a lot of things to figure out about her past but with strength, courage and faith. This is a story that is so complicated and has so many layers to be peeled back and makes for an intense, edge of the seat read that is riveting to the end. I have to say that the mystery of who committed the crimes was a surprise that I did not figure out ahead of time. Carrie Stuart Parks is a talented writer with the ability to pull you into the story and make you feel that you are there. I highly recommend this book!

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the opportunity to read this ARC and give an honest review.

3.5 stars

Gwen Marcey is back, and this is her most personal case to date. She discovers that everything she thought she knew about her life could be nothing more than lies.

This is the fourth book in the series, but it could be read as a standalone. While not my favorite in the series, it is enjoyable and contains enough twists and turns to keep the reader engaged and guessing. The suspense is solid, and there is good character development.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy. I wasn't required to leave a review.

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Carrie Stuart Parks and Thomas Nelson for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

Returning with her much anticipated fourth novel, Carrie Stuart Parks takes readers on an emotional rollercoaster. After recently being hired to work on the Interagency Major Crime Unit (IMCU), Gwen Marcey attempts to curry favour with the team and her current beau by taking a case in Alaska. However, when another case is being described at the Unit briefing, Gwen cannot shake the intense flashback she has, directly tied to a traumatic event from her youth. Leaving little room for negotiation, Gwen swaps cases and heads to Idaho, where she will liaise alongside the Nez Perce Tribal Police in Lapwai. There, a couple has been murdered and their four year-old daughter is missing. When her reception is met with less than open arms, Gwen must begin her work as best she can, interviewing witnesses and providing any composite sketches that arise. When her vehicle is stolen, Gwen enlists the assistance of her best friend, Beth Noble, whose online prowess will surely come in handy. In a moment of emotional vulnerability, Gwen admits to discovering a murder scene of her ‘sorta-mom’ at fourteen, which led her out to Montana. This revelation, tied to the added admission that her parents were murdered when she was four, fuels Gwen as she tries to locate this little girl and ensure the killer is found. However, all that is easier said than done. Much of what Gwen grew up knowing changes the deeper Beth is able to dig around through old records. Gwen is distracted and she misses major elements of the crime at hand, which leads to her dismissal from the IMCU. There is surely an element that connects these past crimes to the current abduction, but the clues that tie it all together are slow to emerge. As Gwen and Beth continue to dig, key pieces of evidence fall into place, but that only pushes them into more danger. A killer lurks and Gwen appears to be their target. Her past and present collide, but someone wants to keep what is not yet known firmly veiled in mystery. Parks has spun a powerful story in this novel that will appeal greatly to the series fan and is sure to hook newbies who are just now learning about the wonders of this talented crime writer.

I have been a fan of Carrie Stuart Parks and her work for a number of years. She offers a wonderful crime thriller, but tackles her stories from a unique angle. With Gwen Marcey as a forensic artist, this individualizes the protagonist and allows the reader to approach the crime fighting from a perspective that might not receive much merit. Basing Marcey on a number of her own experiences, Parks is able to speak with confidence as she weaves an intricate backstory. This novel is saturated with Gwen Marcey’s backstory and fills in many of the gaps left from the previous three books. Additionally, Gwen’s internalized arguments with others (both her ex-husband and Beth) show a struggle the character faces on a number of topics. Rather than simply loading the narrative with these breadcrumbs, the entire story takes on a Gwen Marcey flavour, permitting exploration and growth. Other than Beth and some minor mentions of others back in Missoula, Montana, the entire cast of characters is new and exciting, with a strong Indian (aboriginal) flavour. Politics surrounding the American treatment of this part of the population is woven throughout the story, allowing the reader to learn a great deal as the story progresses. The narrative is crisp and moves forward with an intense story told in short chapters. Parks keeps the reader wondering until the very end and offers up some hints and what might be to come in the ever-evolving battle between Gwen and her ex-husband. Parks has written another winner here and is sure to garner many more accolades for this work.

Kudos, Madam Parks for another wonderful novel. You never fail to impress me as I learn much about forensics from your unique experiences.
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This is the first book I've read by Carrie Stuart Parks and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was the perfect combination of suspense and mystery and kept me interested the whole way through. I also really appreciated the pacing of the book.

I love all of the Gwen Marcey books. She is a forensic anthropologist who finds herself in a case similar to a real life experience for her. Dead parents and a kidnapped child. Intriguing and fast paced. Very well done.

Thanks to Net Galley for a review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
Gwen Marcey is an unlikely heroine. She is a divorced breast-cancer survivor who is a forensic artist. She also has serious self-image problems. She is struggling to raise her 15-year-old daughter as a single mom when all the while her ex-husband is conniving and controlling. Her self-deprecating inner dialogues are often very amusing and telling. The suspense was tight and the twists in the story kept me on my toes. I just couldn’t help rooting for her. Read the first 3 in the series and then don’t miss this one--#4!

Portrait of Vengeance by Carrie Stuart Parks

Gwen Marcey finds herself in the middle of another suspenseful mystery, only this time it is her past intersecting with a present day murder and child abduction. As she tracks down the perpetrator, she narrowly escapes death by the villains who remain hidden until it is almost too late for her to escape.

The plot had more twists and turns than a mountain road. Just when the conclusion seems to be in sight, another twist occurs, which makes reading the book very exciting.
The ending had a satisfying conclusion, but left room and enough unanswered questions to necessitate another book.

I enjoy the way Parks set her stories in unusual places and teaches the readers important background information that makes her stories even more interesting. In addition, I enjoyed finding out more about Gwen and her past.

I really liked this book and plan on reading her next installment. Readers of suspense will enjoy it, too. I received this book at no cost in exchange for my honest review.

I am a huge fan of Carrie's books, but this was the best yet. It all came together: Historical threads, suspense twists, self-discovery. The result was a highly satisfying read. Run out and buy this book the day it releases. You won't be disappointed.

I love Ms. Parks books and was not disappointed with her Portrait of Vengeance. I was pulled immediately into the suspenseful plot. Couldn't put the book down. I highly recommend this book.

Fantastic book full of mystery and suspense. It had very believable action interwoven with great drama. I do wish that there was a consistent romantic theme. For me, it would just add the extra something that would have been needed for a five star review.

It's not often that I stay up until the wee hours of the morning just to find out what happens next, but Portrait of Vengeance gripped me from the first page and wouldn't let me go. Carrie Stuart Parks does a masterful job of creating relatable characters that not only entertain us, but make us think about our own hidden prejudices. She adds just enough humor to balance the suspense and tragedy.

It's also not often that a suspense novel surprises me with the final twists and turns--but Parks has woven multiple mysteries into the perfect blanket of suspense. You won't want to put this one down!

I became a fan of Carrie Stuart Parks writing when I read her first book A Cry from the Dust. As a debut author, she did a fantastic job drawing me into the lives and mysteries of Gwen Marcy. With each book after that, The Bones Will Speak and When Death Draws Near, Parks still captures my attention. When I found out that there would be more Gwen Marcy books than the typical three books, I was excited. With her latest addition to this series, Portrait of Vengeance, I really enjoyed this novel.

Like in her previous books, Parks uses her knowledge of forensic art to solve the crime put forth in the first chapter in the story. Her research flies off the page, allowing me to lose sleep as I fly through the pages. The writing is clear and concise. I had no problem visualizing the setting and followed along Gwen as she interviewed people and took a tour through the wilderness.

As for the continuing characterization of Gwen, Parks allows me to empathize with Gwen as she still struggles with her job, her ex-husband, and her daughter. This time the mystery centers around Gwen's past and made Gwen wonder if she was imaging the connection to the current crime she is working on. While this time, her daughter isn't a prominent struggle in her life; Gwen does receive a phone call from her ex-husband declaring he was taking full custody of their daughter. More internal and external struggles for Gwen.

As for the mystery, it was non-stop thrill ride. A thriller that kept me guessing. I figured out who the bad guy was sixty percent in, but I wanted Parks to prove me wrong or right, which is how I enjoy my stories. This novel keeps moving at a rapid pace and doesn't let up. I enjoy the connection between Gwen's past and the present mystery. Made it easier to stay engrossed in the story. I finished this book in less than one day. I couldn't put it down.

Portrait of Vengeance is an original novel with a reoccurring character that I have come to enjoy. Fans of Parks other works or Steven James' (my favorite thriller writer) should pick up this book. Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary copy of Portrait of Vengeance by Carrie Stuart Parks from Thomas Nelson Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.