It’s always nice to read a book without having to wade through unnecessary language and/or subject matter. The author did a nice job with the Christian aspect of trusting God. Regrettably, I found this story hard to connect with. The suspense was more drama than an edge of your seat read. It was quite easy to figure out the perpetrator early on, although there was a little bit of a twist later leaving the reader wondering briefly if they were correct, but it didn’t take long to figure out that they were. The second half flowed much better than the first, but just an OK read for me.

This book was intense! I was on the edge of my seat from the first page and stayed there through the entire book.
This plot was very well thought out and I had a blast reading it.
The characters were believable and felt like people you might know in real life. I loved how they dealt with their issues in their own way, but were also able to help eachother also.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys suspense.

I'm honestly not trying to be melodramatic, but before I write a review on Kelly Irvin's, Closer Than She Knows, I'm waiting for my hands to stop shaking and my heart rate to return to normal. Seriously! I knew Irvin could write great Amish books, but she can do eerie and creepy right along with the best of them!

Max Kennedy is an impressive hero—a youth pastor who's been redeemed from a past enslaved by alcohol and drugs. He's determined to help his friend, court reporter Teagan O'Rourke, when an elusive serial killer starts leaving her chilling notes. The notes were mystifying and added a doubly sinister touch to the who-dun-it aspect of the story.

Teagan wasn't a likeable heroine at first...but then who would be when being stalked by a crazed killer? She eventually grew on me, but I can't say I really felt any chemistry between her and Max. Until I did. Figure that one out. ;-)

A lot of impeccable research went into this novel and I learned more about serial killers than I ever cared to know. (GULP) With non-stop, heart-pounding excitement, and plenty of twists and turns, I highly recommend this thrilling who-dun-it to every suspense lover.

*I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.*

Closer Than She Knows
by Kelly Irvin
Thomas Nelson--FICTION
You Like Them You Are Auto-Approved
Thomas Nelson
Christian | Mystery & Thrillers
Pub Date 09 Jun 2020 | Archive Date 17 Jul 2020

Thanks to Net Galley and Thomas Nelson Fiction I was given an ARC of this book. Many of the patrons at my library are interested in Christian Mystery and thrillers so this one hit the spot!! Well written and kept me in suspense.
I will recommend this book.

Closer Than She Knows by Kelly Irvin is her latest suspense novel and it delivers. I really enjoyed it. I have yet to find a book of Irvin's that I don't enjoy, actually. This story centers around Teagan and Max. Teagan is a court reporter in a family of police officers. Max is a youth pastor with a history of drug and alcohol abuse. Together, they could be beautiful. But, Teagan is holding back. She has decided that it can't work between them. Max is praying she changes her mind. When a killer targets Teagan by killing those around her, the two of them, along with her entire family, work to figure out who it is and what is happening. The killer is copycatting a serial killer that her father put away at one time. Is the killer just a copycat? Or are they somehow connected? Or is it someone else entirely? Teagan, Max, and her family have to work fast, because the killer continues to strike those around her and they all know that she could be next.
I did enjoy the book. It kept a good pace and the lead up to the conclusion was satisfying. Definitely a good read. Check it out! I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Closer Than She Knows
by Kelly Irvin


Thomas Nelson--FICTION
Thomas Nelson

Thomas Nelson--FICTION
Christian
Mystery & Thrillers
Pub Date 09 Jun 2020


I am reviewing a copy of Closer Than She Knows through Thomas Nelson Fiction and Netgalley:






Teagan O’Rourke has always been fascinated by Murder Mysteries. In her career as a court reporter she has been able to write official records for dozens of murders, real life murders. She has slapped evidence stickers on crime scene photos, and has listened to hours of chilling testimonies. But she has not known the smell of death, and never thought she could be a victim, until now...






A young officer is murdered right next to her, and then a man who calls himself a serial killer, starts leaving Teagan notes signing the names of characters from her favorite murder mysteries.






A Panicked Teagan turns to her friend Max Kennedy for help with this all. But Max longs for more than just a friendship with Teagan, he is afraid though that she could never trust someone with a past like his. He does not know how much more of God’s tough love he will be able to take before giving up on love all together. He also wonders if he will have the ability to keep Teagan long enough to find out.








Teagan, Max and Teagan’s Father who is a police officer race to track down a killer who has been elusive. They are fully aware they could be the next victim. Teagan who is desperate to save the ones she loves, battled the fears that haunted her in her childhood. Nothing seems to stop this obsessed murderer. But whatever she does he seems to be getting closer.




I give Closer Than She Knows five out of five stars!



Happy Reading!

I thought Kelly Irvin's Closer Than She Knows to be a pretty good read. I am giving it four stars. I recommend it.

A really enjoyable, twisty, plot turn of a book. The characters are rich, the interacation between them fun. Every time I thought I figured out who was behind the mayhem...the author lead me away from my conclusion...only to find I was right on both counts after all. A book I enjoyed.

This is a well written book that is packed full of suspense that will leave you on the edge of your seat. It is full of drama and light romance. This is a clean suspense novel which is honestly hard to find these days so if that is what you want this is the book for you!!

I read it in one sitting I just could not put it down.

I received this book from NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for an honest review.

This book was definitely edge-of-your-seat suspense. A murder within the first few paragraphs begins a who-done-it that involves a possible serial killer and a family full of law enforcement personnel. And the question, God, where are you?

Teagan O’Rourke loves murder mysteries, her job as a court reporter, her dog Tigger, her family, and God. Her quiet life implodes when a police officer riding in a car with her gets shot by a sniper.

Before the day ends, her neighbor gets murdered and a killer has left Teagan a note, promising more victims. Her family—mostly police officers or retired police officers—close ranks around her, but Teagan worries they’ll turn into victims, too.

Her best friend, Max Kennedy, will do anything to keep Teagan safe, even though her family doesn’t approve of him. He’d like to move beyond friendship, but he can’t figure out why Teagan puts up a barrier. Maybe she doesn’t trust him because of his past. He’s ready to lay down his life for her. And he may have to.

As Teagan and her father race to uncover the identity of the killer, she starts to realize she has another love to add to her list. One she might lose to the killer...or to her decision to not have children.

Why You’ll Love This Book

If you love inspirational suspense, you’ll love this book. Irvin, author of Over the Line and Tell Her No Lies, continues her fast-paced suspense offerings with ordinary, flawed characters who navigate life-threatening situations by clinging to the Rock.

Teagan is a court reporter in a family of law enforcement officers. She loves mystery novels, her dog, her family (despite how she feels about their occupations), and her best friend Max; even if she can't admit it yet.

The murder of a police officer close to Teagan is only the first in a series of brutal murders accompanied by chilling letters threatening the lives of everyone she loves. How will Teagan react? Can she confront the insecurities and pain of her past? Will she accept help from the people she wants to keep far away from the situation? Will she and Max grow closer together? Or will the trauma they experience drive them apart? Who hates her (or her family) enough to kill?

Closer Than She Knows kept me guessing right up until the end. You won't want to miss this one!

This is a well written book that will keep you on the edge of your seat. It is full of suspense, drama and a touch of romance. If you like clean suspense, you will love this book. I read it in one day, yes it's that good! Thank you Thomas Nelson--FICTION via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Closer Than She Knows by Kelly Irvin was a good mystery with a disappointing main character.
The book is well written and an interesting serial killer story. The opening scene in the police car really caught my attention. The book would win the award for having the stupidest main character.

Personally I liked Teagan, the main character, for about 20 pages of the entire book and then she lost me again. She was stupid. Smart, strong women have a brain and know the difference between independence and being stupid. Teagan never figured that out.

A serial killer is targeting her and killing people around her. The author did some really good research about serial killers that she sprinkled throughout the book that was interesting.

There were several other characters in the book. Teagan’s dad, siblings, and a supposed friend of the family (he was downright rude but all in the name of caring about them *insert eye roll) and Max. The guy she has had a crush on for two years but won’t have a relationship with because she doesn’t want children. But it takes her two years to decide to tell him this.
Violence - several deaths, minor details, a serial killer past and present

I received this book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review.
You can see my full review at More Than a Review dot com where I rate the level of sex, violence, language and drug/alcohol use in books.

A brilliant mystery story that kept me on the edge of seat. I also read this book in two sittings. Loved it. Highly recommended xx

My first read by Kelly Irvin and it was an enjoyable read told from the perspective of a court reporter, Teagan, who has heard and seen the most gruesome cases but never expected to be involved in one until she witnessed the killing of a police officer. Now the murderer is connecting with Teagan who knows all of the subsequent victims. Well written and well paced as a suspense novel with a heavy sprinkling of romance, (I could have done without that), I can see this as a first in a series!

A good murder mystery that falls somewhere between a cozy mystery with a family of connected characters and a thriller where the serial killer has a fascination with our heroine. This was an easy, entertaining read that will not give you nightmares but will test your detective skills. Great story line, great characters set in a community that will keep you looking for clues.

Kelly Irvin might be best known for her Amish fiction, but if you haven't yet checked out her romantic suspense novels, you are truly missing out! I have enjoyed her previous works in the genre, so I couldn't wait to check out Closer Than She Thinks as well.

The action picked up right from the start, as a police officer is shot as she sits next to the main character, Teagan. It doesn't let up from there, as more bodies pile up throughout...leaving behind notes to Teagan, signed by the fictional killers in the mysteries that she so adores. As a fan of mystery novels myself, I must admit I really enjoyed the idea of this particular calling card. It certainly drew me in and kept me wondering who the killer was, and how all the many details in the story fit together.

Now, I must admit that I actually figured out the 'whodunnit' in this one well before the big reveals- both in the who I suspected it might be and his or her relationship to others in the story. But again, I read a LOT of this type of story, so I've gotten pretty good at picking up on the little clues throughout. Despite figuring it out, it didn't take away my enjoyment of the story. There were still a few other elements that came as more of a surprise and kept me wondering if my initial guesses had in fact been incorrect... and all in all it kept me reading to the end to put all the pieces together.

I also enjoyed the romance throughout the story as well, though found it certainly took a backseat to the action in this one. There was also a strong faith element in this story, which I personally enjoy very much. I will say that I didn't find this one to be quite as good as others I've read by the author in the past, but still a very good suspense read nonetheless. If you enjoy Christian romantic suspense, this will certainly be one worth checking out.

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley for consideration. All thoughts are 100% my own.

Suspenseful. A page-turner filled w/ twisty plots. Hard to put down. Highly recommended. Five stars.

Another suspense filled romance from Kelly Irvin filled with plenty of twist and turns to keep you turning the page. A family of cops, a serial killer, a string of murders. There's lots of interesting things to discover. There were a couple of points that fell a bit flat for me; but overall this is an enjoyable romantic thriller.