I really enjoyed this one, read it in one day. The characters were easy to like and I was hooked right from the beginning. Loved the writing style of the author, would definitely read more from them.

I think this was a really good premise and really liked the setting and everything. But I hated that the main character didn't stand up for herself enough and I didn't get that main character energy from her. But overall the story was pretty intriguing and makes you want to read more and more as the mystery grows. And I was really surprised by the ending tbh. Overall it was a great way to end my friday night nothing like a good ole thriller.

A series of letters ignites Charlie’s curiosity about the convicted murderer’s innocence. As she digs deeper, she sees things others may have hidden or ignored. I absolutely had to read this after reading the description and it did not disappoint! Such a good read!

Charlie is back in her hometown and raising her niece, Rainna, 3 years after the murder of her sister Dani. Dani's boyfriend Darius was quickly arrested and convicted of the crime, leaving Charlie with no questions about his guilt. That is until the third letter from him arrives on the third anniversary on the anniversary of Dani's a=death arrives. Something about the letters, when she finally reads them, strikes a chord in Charlie, and she decides to start asking some questions about the crime. What she finds leads to more questions than answers - and in a small town, people aren't too keen to answer questions on a matter that may dig up some secrets they'd prefer to keep quiet.

This book was a great mystery because it really shows the obstacles that can get in the way of trying to reexamine cases when there are questions of innocence. At almost every turn, Charlie and Darius' brother, Malachi, were stonewalled by people who basically told them to drop it, even when they were within their rights to ask for documents or simply ask questions. It was frustrating to see. But it was also just as satisfying to see the mystery as they began to make progress and put the pieces together.

As far as the ultimate solution, I did not guess it. There were some great suspects and red herrings in there, but in the end everything made sense and the clues were there - which means the author really laid down a good story.

Charlie and Rainna were fantastic - I loved them so much! They were so sweet to watch interact and I couldn't help but smile every time there was a scene with the two of them. The author did a great job with that subplot - KUDOS! Also, Malachi was an excellent supporting character, supportive and kind without being bitter about his brother's situation.

Overall, this was an amazing story, with a good mystery and some awesome characters. I encourage readers to pick it up if they're looking for a great oyster with a unique premise!

3.5 stars - A slow burn but juicy mystery. Thank you netgalley & the publisher for the arc, in exchange for an honest review!

A very very very slow burn if you’re into that sort of thing. I’m…not.
I had a difficult time getting through this as most chapters didn’t end on a cliffhanger and if they did, it didn’t pack enough of a punch for me to care to continue. When lingering questions were answered, they didn’t feel very surprising or even sinister in nature.
Adams is clearly knowledgeable about the legal system and I think she created a story that had A LOT of potential and even a story that is truly scary: A wrongfully convicted murderer. I just think execution could have been better.
I thought the characters who were supposed to be ‘friends’ and ‘family’ walked all over the MC and treated her like garbage and worst of all she let them!!! It was painful watching a protagonist be a punching bag for other protagonists and it left a sour taste in my mouth that she let people talk to her however they wanted and that never changed.
The ending was the best part of the book but it almost seemed like a non-ending in ways. It wrapped up very quickly and literally no one learned their lesson.
I’m giving this 2.5 but rounding up to 3 since this is Adams’ first book and she clearly has knowledge about the legal system.
Shoutout to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

Thank you to by V. L. Adams and NetGalley for providing me this ARC. I received this Arc earlier this summer.

This is a good solid read. I felt the beginning was slow. But it did pick up later in the story. I liked Charlie's character alot he was likeable and relatable. It's a solid mystery book. I might do a re-read this fall or next fall for Halloween. I like mysteries all year round but sometimes I relish mysterie more during the spooky time of the year. 3.5

This has such an intriguing premise: a woman receives letters from the man convicted of killing her sister, proclaiming his innocence. There were fantastic small town vibes, with a tightly connected and claustrophobic network of gossip. A place where everyone knows everyone else's business and it makes uncovering secrets even more difficult. I was hooked to the end on who did it and how things would shake out. I found the first couple of chapters a little rough but once the investigation started in earnest, the writing style found its stride and it became a page-turner. 3.75 stars.

Charlie Allen gave up her big city life in Dallas to return to her Oklahoma small town after her sister Dani was murdered, leaving behind a young daughter, Rainna. Dani’s boyfriend Darius has been convicted of her murder. After two years of doing her best to raise her niece, Charlie receives letters from Darius proclaiming his innocence. Here is where the story really picks up and becomes suspenseful as Charlie starts to question the truth about her sister’s murder and looks into her sister’s final days and the police investigation, uncovering some important considerations. This small-town mystery is a real winner. I really enjoyed the setting and the characters.

The main character, Charlie, moves back to her small town to raise her young niece after her mom, Dani- Charlie's sister, is murdered. Two years later, Charlie decides to open and read the letters from Dani's boyfriend, Darius- the man convicted of her murder. The letters strike a chord and Charlie decides to reach out to Malachi, Darius' brother. Charlie decides to respond to Darius' pleas for forgiveness and his innocence by further investigating the trial and events leading up to Dani's death.

Charlie is a very quirky and relatable character who dearly loves her niece, Rainna, a very loveable and precocious toddler. As Charlie delves into the details of her sister's final days and begins to look into the police investigation and trial, she realizes that not everything is as it seems and discovers some important details about those involved.

I enjoyed reading the book and found the characters endearing and relatable. However, the book did take some time to gain momentum and build my interest, I can be a bit impatient at times. I really liked V.L. Adams' writing style and attention to detail in the storyline, characters, and settings. Towards the last quarter of the book, the story began to unfold rather quickly compared to the rest of the book, but not too much that it was difficult to keep up.

This was a solid mystery. I enjoyed solving this puzzle and i was surprised! I didn’t have it figured out. I definitely suspected several but it wasn’t who i thought.

There was a lot of details about their lives which was nice but also i wanted back into the mystery. I also really despised Ethan. And everyone’s obsession of him. I hate how they were always pushing him on the MC and i just wanted to tell everyone off.

It was a page turner tho and i definitely wanted to get to the bottom of this one.

I love a good murder mystery, but throw in a possible false conviction and characters seeking redemption and I’m sold!

It’s a sad reality, in this day and age, that there are innocent people sitting in prison. Charlie didn’t believe this at first, that the man convicted of her sister’s murder could be innocent, but after receiving a series of letters, she begins to question everything she once thought. As she digs deeper for the truth, she realizes that the real killer might have been walking amongst them all along.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story. It kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end, and the big reveal caught me by complete surprise (which always makes me happy). Highly recommend!

*Thank you to NetGalley and New Degree Press for providing a copy of this book to review.*

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4787715022

A very good book - kept me guessing & turning the pages. Charlie is a great character that I could relate to. Great writing; Definitely recommend!

I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

It’s been a long time since I’ve finished a complete book in one day. But I couldn’t put this one down!! I honestly had no idea who would end up being at fault or how it all would come together in the end and it kept me wanting to read every chance I got.

Charlie’s sister was tragically killed young, and although the personal found responsible for her death was behind bars, Something never sat right with Charlie.

This story has bits of mystery, sleuthing, love and friendship and is all wrapped up in a nicely written package. I will definitely be recommending this to my friends!

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book. These thoughts and opinions are my own.

Lets just talk about how original and mysterious this cover is.

Ill totally admit it, I am a cover snob and when I saw The Source of Smoke, pop up on netgalley, I was instantly intrigued and needed to know more. Well, after reading the synopsis, I was completely consumed with the need to get my hands on this book ASAP.

The Source of Smoke, was an easy and fluid read that I was able to finish in one sitting. The plot was executed with perfection and the characters came to life. The pace was done well and kept my interest from very early on.

This was my first book by V.L Adams but I know it will not be my last. One of my favorite things about netgalley is being introduced to new authors that I would not have known about had it not been for this site.

I cant wait to see what everyone thinks of The Source of Smoke when it releases on June 7, 2022!!

The highlight of the book has to be the brilliant storytelling – it was unbelievably unsettling and unputdownable at once. Even though it was intensely dark and terrifying, I basically inhaled this book in less than two days, and was amazed at the plethora of emotions it generated in me.

Book: The Source of Smoke by V. L. Adams available June 7, 2022 🔸Charlie Allen has gotten away from her childhood town and is satisfied with her life in Dallas when the unthinkable happens. Her sister, Dani, is killed and her sister’s young daughter, Rainna, becomes her responsibility. Charlie loves her niece and gives up everything to move back to Oklahoma to care for her. With a successful cooking blog, she is free to move anywhere and has settled into new routines with her niece until the letters begin to arrive from Dani’s convicted killer claiming his innocence. Charlie does not want to believe it, but she has her own questions about what really happened. As the cast of characters expands, so do the suspects, but is Dani just trying to find a way to channel her grief, or is she really on to something? 🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸 There was tension from the very first sentence of this book that continued to intensify. Each twist and turn had me holding my breath to see what would happen next. The author was so great at making every character suspicious, so that there was no one person I felt could be fully trusted, even Charlie herself. The detail and research that went into this book was phenomenal. Even small details, like knowing there is a dress code for visiting someone in prison, were appreciated. I did not learn there was a dress code until I was in line awaiting visitation several years ago. It would have been nice to know beforehand. This is a book I highly recommend. The writing is great, the characters feel real, and the plot keeps you engaged until the end. Make sure you check it out!

The Source of Smoke
by V. L. Adams
Description
Since Charlie’s sister was killed, Charlie has dedicated herself to be the perfect guardian for her niece — even if it means the painful sacrifice of moving back to the hometown she'd wanted to leave for good. Her sister was murdered by her boyfriend in a crime of passion, case closed — or so Charlie thought.

A series of letters ignites Charlie’s curiosity about the convicted murderer’s innocence. As she digs deeper, she sees things others may have hidden or ignored. She comes to an impasse where she has to decide what, if anything, she’s going to do about it.


This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, New Degree Press, and by #NetGalley. The review expressed is my honest review.
Charlie with hurt, and sadness, and her sister's daughter, learned through grief, love, and loss. to set the wrongs rights ,to free the innocent and see through the smoke.

What a good story this was full of mystery and suspense and I couldn’t put it down once I started reading it so it was read in one sitting and how I enjoyed it, great book ..

The Source of Smoke had me pulled in from the very beginning. I didn’t want to put it down! Not only is the suspense great, but the range of emotions you experience while reading is amazing. I will definitely be recommending this book.