I received this book from NetGalley for my honest review. Carrie grabs you from the beginning in this story, but it has many plots, twists and turns that at times leaves you totally confused and wondering where she is going with this story. Samantha is a teacher and she is teaching her students in the classroom when a car runs into their classroom. Everyone survives the incident, but this is when things go crazy and someone is after Samantha. I would honestly say for the most part this is a good book, but again there were many things that didn't make sense and left me confused at times as to what the author was trying to convey to the reader. I did stop reading the book for a bit as I was confused and came back and started the book over. I did finish it and did enjoy it for the most part.

In Fallout, author Carrie Stuart Parks transports the reader to the farming town of LaCrosse, Washington, for an intriguing suspense tale that will keep the reader guessing and turning the pages.

The story centers around Samantha Williams, an elementary school art teacher, who gets caught up in a dangerous situation when a car careens out of control and into her art classroom. The driver of the car, Dr. Beatrice Greer, an art therapist was shot and killed. Dr. Greer and passenger Dr. Dustin "Dutch" Van Seter, an anthropologist are employed with Clan Firinn, a privately owned and funded facility located outside of Pullman, Washington, that specializes in offering hope and rehabilitation to law enforcement and first responders suffering from PTSD and other disorders arising from their work. Dutch asks Sam to help draw a facial recognition from a skull from a body that was found at Alderman Acres, a new housing development owned by Clan Firinn, which leads her to getting drawn into the investigation. When mysterious events occur and danger lurks around every corner, Sam wonders if her own troubled past is connected to the events as she tries to find the truth, especially when she becomes a target by someone who is determined to keep deep secrets buried at all costs.

Author Carrie Stuart Parks weaves a fast-paced and suspenseful tale written in alternating first (Sam) and third person narrative (Dutch) that follows Sam and Dutch as they get dragged into a dangerous investigation that has placed a target on her life, and a threat of danger lurks around every corner.

The reader is easily drawn into this well written story with its richly descriptive plot and setting. It is filled with enough family drama and secrets, motives, possible suspects, action, government Cold War secrets, and intriguing twists and turns that definitely keeps the reader guessing until the surprising conclusion.

This was a really intense story to read! The author does a wonderful job of providing enough clues to engage the reader, and I found myself so caught up on trying to figure out who is behind all the incidents around the area. I loved how Sam was able to go beyond her troubled and shadowy past to hep Dutch put all the pieces of the puzzle together, I was absolutely stunned by the conclusion! I would be remiss if I didn't mention that I also loved reading about Sam and Dutch's backstory, both are broken people who have to overcome their traumatic pasts and learn to move forward.

Fallout will definitely take suspense readers on one heck of a thrilling roller coaster ride.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book via NetGalley from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Partners In Crime Virtual Book Tours.

https://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot.com/2022/09/fallout-by-carrie-stuart-parks-vbt-book.html

Carrie Stuart Parks starts Fall Out with a bang - literally! The story starts with an SUV careening into the classroom of Samantha Williams and her students. While no one in the classroom is hurt, a dead woman is found in the drivers seat of the SUV. Due to the crash, Samantha loses her car and her purse has gone missing. A stranger claiming to be a reporter befriends Samantha and brings her home with her as Samantha attempts to put the pieces of her life back together.

As authorities work to solve the mystery of who shot the SUV driver causing it to crash, they are also working to find out who two bodies found in a building site are. Samantha finds herself enmeshed in a series of mysterious events that carry with them a serious hint of secrets. As Samantha struggles to put the pieces together, past meets present in ways most unexpected.

Parks is a fairly new author for me to be reading. And I love her writing, but the story in this book seemed to keep speeding through events. There was little down time, allowing the story to breath. While there was a great deal of mystery in the story, which I can appreciate, it felt like the main characters were shrouded in so much mystery that it was difficult to get to know them.

Despite this, I still couldn't put down the story, and I was stumped until close to the end with the who dun it!

Thank you Netgalley and Thomas Nelson for a copy of this book! This review is my own, honest opinion!

Carrie Stuart Parks is one of my go-to suspense authors – I love the mix of forensics, faith, humor, psychology, danger, and romance. Nobody creates engaging and relatable heroines quite like she does, and she’s done it again in Fallout.

Samantha Williams has clearly been through some sort of trauma in her childhood, but she’s suppressed it as a means of coping. As the other suspense threads unfold throughout the story, Parks also feeds us just enough of Samantha’s backstory to keep it niggling at the back of our minds. Reminding us that there’s information just out of reach. Uniting us with Sam in her quest for the truth. In fact, all of the suspense elements in Fallout are laid out like that, allowing us the barest hint of a connection here and there to see if we’ll be able to connect the dots before it’s too late for these characters we’ve quickly come to love. As Samantha points out toward the end of the novel, it’s all about the dots. I absolutely loved the pace of the information reveals, the high levels of tension, and the almost gothic feel surrounding Clan Firinn. Who can we trust? Who is behind all the strange occurrences? And how are they all connected – if at all? Ahhhhhh I literally could not read this fast enough to see how each puzzle piece would come together in the end.

As a random side note that no one cares about but me (lol). I appreciated the mention of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory which is significantly tied to my own family history.

Bottom Line: I was glued to the pages of Fallout from the beginning of chapter one when art teacher Samantha sees an SUV hurtling toward her occupied classroom. Carrie Stuart Parks brilliantly crafts a plot that keeps readers on the edge of their seats, holding their breath, and even – as I did at a certain twist – gasping out loud at the unexpected. She also tucks in a gentle faith thread that is organic to the character and contributed to the overall narrative as well. Sam and Dutch are likable, intelligent, and empathetic characters with layers beyond what is first seen, and I of course loved the dash of sweet romance Parks wove into their story. The tidbits of Cold War history are fascinating and sobering all at the same time, and the mood of the novel is pitch perfect. Not to mention the expertly utilized nods to some of my own beloved children’s books. I can hardly wait to go back and read it again!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

Fallout, by Carrie Stuart Parks, is an intricately plotted story revolving around a young artist, Samantha Williams. On what becomes a very bad day, Samantha is teaching her after school art camp when a huge SUV comes plowing into her portable classroom. With quick action, Samantha gets her students to safety as well as saving herself. The building is destroyed, the car’s driver dead, and the passenger injured. In addition, Samantha’s car is destroyed and her purse with ID are missing.

Samantha is taken to be checked out along with the SUVs passenger. With her purse lost in the rubble, and no way to get to her apartment, or in it, Samantha accepts the offer of a bystander who is pulled into the afternoon drama to stay with her with no local inns and now way to pay. During the night there is an intruder where they are staying. The only sign of the intrusion is that Samantha’s empty purse is left behind. The following day the injured passenger, Dr. Dustin Van Seters, and his employer, Dr. Brun of Clan Firinn, a facility to help those dealing with addiction and PTSD issues, offer Samantha and her new friend, Mary, lodging at their facility so they can all work together to unravel the evolving mystery.
This is such a well written mystery of revenge, unlikely victims, and Cold War sins. I was captured by the prologue and had trouble putting this book down until the dramatic climax! I very much enjoyed this book and I do recommend it!

I'll admit that I was really confused in the beginning of Fallout. It takes off running without any context as to what is going on. But as I kept reading, I realized I needed to trust the author. I was sucked into the story and wanted to know what was going to happen next. I enjoyed putting together the clues with Samantha. She was an interesting character. I loved her Sneetch moments. There is nothing wrong with having a lot of "useless" information. You never know when it will come in handy. I definitely recommend this one. It was an enjoyable mystery.

Ughh I hate to do it, but this is a rare two-star book for me. I started this book and immediately couldn’t get into it, so I set it aside, read a different one, then came back to this one. I really wish I hadn’t wasted my time - this should have been a DNF from the beginning, but I was rating it for Goodreads and felt obligated to finish it. I think this publisher has gotten me before - I read a synopsis for what sounds like a decent thriller, then when I start reading, it turns out to be Christian fiction.

I have no problem with Christian fiction, if that’s your thing, but when I read thrillers, I want them to be gritty! I like gore, horror, cursing, sex … this literally reminds me of something I might have read in the 8th grade. If a car runs into a school, I want someone to get revenge, not pray (at least, in a book).

The writing was so sophomoric, it also feels like something written in 8th grade. Disaster after disaster strikes, and the women involved speak like kids, with their weird sayings and “Sneetches thoughts” (don’t ask). Our main character, Samantha, is always peeved that she has to drink soda when there’s no water, calls murderers “creeps” and is constantly quoting the Bible when she’s trying to solve Nancy Drew-type mysteries.

Okay so I think you get the point. If you’re a super religious type who has a teenage daughter that likes thrillers, then this is the book for you guys. If you are looking for a true thrill with dynamic writing, this is NOT the book for you. I’m sorry to do it, but it was that bad. Two stars.

(Thank you to Thomas Nelson Fiction, Carrie Stuart Parks, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.)

After a difficult childhood, Samantha Williams craves simplicity: jigsaw puzzles, lectures at the library, and the students she adores in her role as an elementary school art teacher in the dusty farming community of LaCrosse, Washington.

But when an SUV crashes into the building where she teaches, her entire world is upended. Samantha manages to keep the children safe, but her car isn’t so lucky. Oddly, her purse—with her driver’s license, credit cards, and other identification—is missing from the wreckage.

After authorities discover that the driver in the accident was shot seconds before the crash, Samantha quickly becomes entangled in increasingly strange events that have her constantly looking over her shoulder.

Samantha has long tried to forget the tragedy of her past, but the twisting connections she discovers between the murdered driver, a deadly secret government project, and an abandoned town can't be ignored. Those involved are determined to keep these secrets buried, and they’ll use any means necessary to stop Samantha’s search for truth.

My review. This book kept me reading when I should have been going to bed. It appears someone wants Samantha dead and she has no idea why. As investigation gears up, it seems that other deaths have occurred and they all seem to be related to a government secret and her murdered parents. It took me a bit to get all the characters straightened out. But once I did, it fell into place.

I recommend this book to all who want an action filled book.

I was given this book by Thomas Nelson Publishing via NetGally in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.

Ms. Parks has delivered another edge of your seat page turner. I loved this romantic suspense. Definitely couldn’t put this book down. I highly recommend this book.

I found this to be an intriguing read. It kept me very involved until the end. There are a number of twists and turns, and it is action packed. It is not high octane for those who like their stories in that way, but I happen to like both types! There are bursts of high-octane action and then periods of slow burn! At times, it does move a little slow, but I was okay with that! Samantha was a great character, I thought. I lot of things were happening to her that she didn't understand. The opening scene would frighten anyone! However, when it became apparent that things were happening to her, specifically, she had to go back to her past in her memory and try to figure out why. She didn't have all the answers, but I loved how she tried to put together the pieces that she did have. I enjoyed the other characters also. I found it interesting that she latched onto Mary so quickly when they just met in the parking lot after "the accident" but their personalities couldn't be more different! I did like Dutch a lot too. The romance aspect is very, very light so don't expect much in that area. All in all, I found this book intriguing and interesting. Who is after Sam and what does the Hanford nuclear plant have to do with anything? I recommend this book!

Samantha's past is complicated and shrouded in mystery. And her life becomes more so when an SUV crashes into the school where where she teaches. She makes for a quirky character who guards her secrets and keeps to herself. For the most part, the story is told from Sam's point of view, with occasional switches to another character's viewpoint - I found the transitions were confusing in a few places. Set against the historical backdrop of a nuclear facility during the Cold War created a counterpoint between Sam's quirkiness and some serious and intesting subject matter. The action was paced nicely, accelerating significantly in the second half of the book to keep those pages turning. Overall, an enjoyable read.

This is another good inspirational novel of suspense from Parks. While previous novels have featured forensic artists, this one is a bit different. The heroine is an artist but teaches kids. While she does get the opportunity to do some forensic work, it is not the thrust of the plot. The novel started with a suspenseful scene but I felt it took a while for the plot to develop to the point I was engaged. There is plenty of action that follows and it wasn't until nearly the end the reason for it all became clear.

For me, the strength of the novel was the setting of eastern Washington, near the Hanford Nuclear Facility. Living in nearby Idaho, Parks has done a great job describing the small towns, the Palouse, the Snake River, and more.

I love it when an author is reliable in presenting the historical facts woven into the story. Such is the case with Parks. She notes in an Afterward, virtually all she wrote about the Hanford Nuclear Facility is accurate. Readers not only get an interesting mystery but some history about actions during the Cold War.

This is a good novel for readers who like an unusual setting and a plot originating in government actions during the Cold War. The characters are developed well, with a number of quirky or rather unusual ones needing healing from past trauma. There is a good faith message included and just a hint of romance. I have read all of Parks' novels, have liked them and will be looking for her next one.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

It was an interesting premise but I struggled to connect with the characters and though there was a  lot going on, I didn’t care what happened to them. Some of the details seemed inconsistent. For example, Sam is portrayed as a deep introvert except with her students. She refuses to sleep unless the doors are secured. Yet, she goes off with a strange woman she met at the scene of an accident, gets into a car with strange men and her objections were minimal at best.
It was also very convenient that whenever Sam needed help, there was always a kind soul who had no agenda to help.

Some threads were not resolved because while we know who the men that were chasing Sam were and why, their involvement was wrapped up in an almost dismissive manner. It was like, these evil men were stalking you but since they weren't the ones trying to kill you there will be no penalties.

Readers will be reminded that God is always with us. Sometimes He uses angels to take care of His people.

I received an advanced reader's copy from the publisher through NetGalley; a positive review was not required.

A mystery with a heavy Christian theme.

Samantha Williams is living a quiet life when everything is upended after a car crashes into the school where she is working. When her identification disappears along with her purse and all those other important pieces of documentation, she’s left with no where to go until she is offered a place to stay at Clan Firinn along with a woman she met at the accident site. There she meets a hunky PhD, Dustin “Dutch” Van Seters and there is an instant mutual attraction. Before she can focus on romance, however, Samantha needs to figure out if the target is really her and why.

I just was not able to really get into this book and nearly put it aside. The characters seemed banal and insipid and I never felt that the actions of Samantha were believable. The plot was a bit thin and all the connections so hard to find convincing. I should have passed as it just didn’t have what I was looking for in a suspense thriller.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for this e-book ARC to read and review. I see that others liked it a lot more than I did.

Parks is a master at suspense. In Fallout, Samantha Williams finds herself in the midst of all kinds of trouble. She has no idea why bad things are happening to her and all around her but knows she’s got to figure it out to get her life back. There is danger at every turn and an increasing sense of urgency.

I liked how Sam blurted out “sneetches,” crazy quotes that came to mind when she got nervous. I appreciated her quirkiness and enjoyed watching her bloom and overcoming fears. There wasn’t a lot of depth to the development of her relationship with Dutch but that wasn’t the main focus of the book.

There were a couple surprises and twists. There were several potential villains so it was fun to try to figure out who was ultimately behind all the villainy. It was a great read and hard to put down. I’d recommend it.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson for providing me with an e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoy Carrie Stuart Park's style of writing. Her knowledge of forensics always adds an interesting element, and her stories tend to be as unique as they are entertaining. As such, I couldn't wait to read her latest.

From the start, I was drawn into the action, and initially found myself really thinking I was going to enjoy the main character Samantha... perhaps because like her I enjoy simple things like jigsaw puzzles and famous quotes myself. Still, somehow along the way, I found that I lost that connection. There were a lot of pieces to the puzzle that was this story, so I'm not sure if it was trying to keep it all straight or what happened, but there was certainly a disconnect for me. Still, I found the story intriguing enough to read on and I did find the overall story to be quite interesting. It did move at a slightly slower pace than many others in the suspense genre, but it worked well for this story. I do think if I could have kept that initial connection with Samantha, I would have gotten even more enjoyment, but I still found it to be a good read!

If you enjoy Christian suspense with just a hint of romance, this is certainly one worth checking out.

**I received a complimentary copy for consideration. All thoughts are my own.

This story started out a little slow for me, but about 25% into the story really picked up and I was hooked!

Samantha was a very interesting heroine. She had wonderful quirks and spunks. There were so many layers to her story and I was surprised once everything was revealed.

Dutch had his own issues he was working through while trying to solve the mystery around them. He was a terrific leading man with his humbleness and strength of character.

Even though it was a slow start, the story had my attention. The author gave enough misdirection to keep me guessing. I hadn't figured out exactly who the culprit was until the reveal. It then all made sense.

Really good story and I hope the author does more with the Clan Firinn.

If you've read Carrie Stuart Parks before you should enjoy this one. If you are new to this author, but enjoy authors like Terri Blackstock or Dani Pettrey you should enjoy this one.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author, but was under no obligation to provide a review. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Carrie Stuart Parks writes great books with interesting storylines and characters. Her experience as a forensic artist makes for rich backdrop. Fallout is no exception. Samantha Williams is teaching an art class to young children at the local school in rural Washington when a car plows through the portable building. Only Sam's quick thinking saved the children and herself. Thus begins a long path to solving a mystery of why it happened and who was the target. We aren't given much information about Sam's background, but it unravels slowly. She lives small with few possessions, and all are destroyed quickly. Her own car was involved, and her apartment was flooded on purpose. Again, why? She is led to depend on strangers.
Dr. Dutch Van Seters is an anthropologist who needs Sam's artistic help drawing reconstructed faces for skulls of bodies found. He was a passenger in the car that crashed into the portable and the driver was shot and killed. Something strange is going on. It soon becomes clear that many victims are involved in this plot to exact payment. But for what and by whom? This is a multilayered mystery with surprises, unforeseen connections, danger, and suspense threaded with faith. Highly recommended for mystery lovers.
I received a complimentary copy from Thomas Nelson and NetGalley. All thoughts are mine only.

This book started out strong, grabbed my interest, made me curious, kept me reading until I had the first inkling that it might not be a genre I would normally choose to read. This happened when the main character sent up a quick prayer and then it happened a few more times making me more sure that though this was a well written story...it was not for me. As I often do, I read the end and again there was more bible verses and bible focus that cemented in my mind that this book was not for me so at page 90, I closed the book and decided to move on to read another book instead.

I believe that this book is probably going to be a hit and receive high star ratings from a number of readers. That said, within the pages I did read I made a note that Samantha might be TSTL. Why? She made some questionable choices regarding a stranger that showed up...actually...this happened more than one time with more than one unknown person she met. I felt that she seemed to head out with blind trust that definitely had not been earned.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

Samantha Williams likes her life exactly the way it is. While teaching an elementary school art class, an SUV crashes into the building & her room. She manages to save the children. Her car is totaled; her purse is missing. And … the SUV’s driver is dead — shot.

As unusual events begin to happen, Samantha becomes more scared. Secrets swirl — the murdered SUV driver, memories of a childhood tragedy, an unusual PTSD project. Someone is determined to keep secrets buried and Samantha along with them.

My review …
Twisting, swirling plots, sub-plots. Characters you immediately suspect then appear to be okay. Murky events. If painted, it would be very dark with grays, deep purple, streaks of lightning, with movement going in multiple directions, but in the upper right-hand corner a blue sky.

“Fallout” by Carrie Stuart Parks kept me engaged from the very beginning. A stand-alone novel of suspense interwoven with multiple situations. And that is a problem for this reviewer. I can’t think of a way to highlight a part of the book without giving something away. Hmmm — I was surprised by something that happened at the end. Oh, Fonzie! Isn’t that a great name for a dog!

Weaknesses …
“Too”. Just too many twists. When I read the untitled notes at the end of the book, I could see how this talented author could bring so many things to be part of the plots and subplots. Ms. Parks is a forensic artist and an instructor.

Samantha’s change from a young woman who led a very quiet, simple life into a brave, extremely knowledgeable person was not quite believable. It was too sudden of a change for this reviewer.

I wish the author had included the Scottish Gaelic for the name of the PTSD complex. The name made no sense until I read the end notes.

Recommendation … Yes. I do recommend the book because the mystery or rather mysteries keep the reader guessing and wondering throughout. And isn’t that what a mystery is supposed to do? “Fallout” rates a solid 3.5 stars rounded to 4 stars for sites using only whole numbers.

I received a complimentary e-ARC copy of “Fallout” via NetGalley from the publisher, Thomas Nelson–FICTION. A positive review was not required; the opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Rating: 3.5 stars
#Fallout #NetGalley #CarrieStuartParks