Amy Suiter Clarke's "Lay Your Body Down" is a gripping and thought-provoking thriller that delves into the dark underbelly of religious extremism and its devastating consequences. The story follows Del Walker, a woman who returns to her hometown and the ultra-conservative church she fled years ago after her ex-boyfriend's suspicious death. As she investigates the circumstances surrounding his demise, Del uncovers a web of secrets and lies that threaten to shatter the idyllic facade of the community.

Clarke's writing is sharp and evocative, painting a vivid picture of the insular world of the Messiah Church and its charismatic leader, Pastor Rick Franklin. The narrative is expertly paced, alternating between Del's present-day investigation and flashbacks to her traumatic past, building tension and suspense with each revelation.

The characters are complex and compelling, each grappling with their own demons and motivations. Del is a particularly well-drawn protagonist, her resilience and determination tempered by the deep-seated trauma she carries. The supporting cast, including Del's estranged family and the enigmatic Pastor Franklin, are equally intriguing, adding layers of nuance to the story.

The novel's exploration of religious extremism is both timely and unsettling. Clarke doesn't shy away from portraying the manipulative tactics and psychological control employed by those in power, highlighting the devastating impact on individuals and families. The story also raises questions about faith, doubt, and the search for truth in a world shrouded in deception.

However, "Lay Your Body Down" is not without its flaws. The plot, while initially gripping, can feel overly convoluted at times, with numerous twists and turns that may strain credibility. The ending, while satisfying in some respects, leaves certain questions unanswered, leaving some readers wanting more closure.

Overall, "Lay Your Body Down" is a compelling and disturbing thriller that will stay with you long after the final page. It's a cautionary tale about the dangers of blind faith and the importance of questioning authority. While not without its flaws, the novel's strengths in character development, suspense, and social commentary make it a worthwhile read for fans of psychological thrillers and anyone interested in the complex dynamics of faith and power.

This was an overall great read. I loved everything from the characters to the plot of the story. The plot was also very well put together. The author used this dynamic writing style that also enhanced the story.

The blurred boundary between religion and cult forms the backdrop of Amy Suiter Clarke's "Lay Your Body Down," focusing on an evangelical church's transformation into a cult, overlooked by devout followers until fatalities mount. Delving into themes of herd mentality, religious fervor, and manipulative leadership, the narrative occasionally lags in the middle but maintains a mostly consistent pace. It's crucial to emphasize that the story doesn't condemn religion but serves as a cautionary narrative, highlighting the dangers of blindly following human leaders in matters of spiritual faith. This was an engaging read, with unforeseen surprises and reveals that kept me glued until the end.

I would like to thank NetGalley and William Morrow for providing me with an advance e-galley of this book in exchange for an honest review. Look for it now in your local and online bookstores and libraries.

Loved this book! I will be honest, I was a tad nervous starting, as I’m a devout Christian, but LAY YOUR BODY DOWN was powerful and addicting. I was immediately sucked in by Amy Suiter Clarke’s writing style and I can’t wait to read more by her!

Thank you, NetGalley and William Morrow for the opportunity to read and review.

want the same things as as any other teenage girl:romance, love, adoration. I want a boy who will claim me as his own, who will win my heart, and spend every day trying to keep it. But I know the way to find these things is not the way the world tells me is so.


Del Wakefield returns to her rural Minessota hometown, something she’d swore she’d never do, where the evangelical pastor has posioned everyone’s minds-and may be covering up the murder of her beloved Lars.

The church in the small town is cult-like, and the man she loved has married the girl who always gets her way, Eve. Only the funeral of Lars can bring Del back. When she returns she is astonished to see the church, Messiah, has grown to a megachurch with the zealous Rick Franklin teaching very patriarchial ideals of women being submissive to men and becoming there “Noble Wife”.

Del is determined to cut throught the churches corrucption to discover the truth. Told through dual POV Del’s and Eve’s blog, as well as present and past timelines the correuptoion and lies are revealed to the reader.

My thoughts:

This book was difficult to put down and had me drawn in from t he first page. I loved the expository Of Del’s current life and the way Clarke walks the reader to the past where the story unfolds. I have always been fascinated by religious-cult groups that preach archaic gender roles. It reminded me of a time I saw a friend reading a religious book on being sumbmissive to their husbands. That is something that goes against my moral fiber but it’s intriguing to read about groups that prescribe to this ideal. I love a thriller with a side of social commentary and Clarke delivers just that!

I am here to tell you this is definitely a book you should move to the top of your TBR!

Pub Day

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Banyan Moon by Thao Thai
Thank you, Partner @bibliolifestyle @marinerbooks
Lay Your Body Down by Amy Suiter Clarke
Thank you, Partner @bibliolifestyle @williammorrowbook
Save What’s Left by Elizabeth Catellano

THIS ONE! Was SO GOOD! I have been thinking about this book since I put it down and have recommended it every time someone asks me for a book suggestion. The storyline was so creative and unlike anything I've ever read before - so much so that despite the predictability of the ending (I had identified the bad guy the moment he was introduced) was completely lost on me and I just couldn't put it down.

Very rarely do you see a novel approach the idea of a corrupt mega-church and have it flawlessly executed. As a former member of a church with similar vibes, I really identified with the way of living in this small Minnesota town and with many of the feelings that Del felt. I loved her investigative and curious spirit and her fearlessness and dedication to exposing wrongdoing and righting her past. Loved this one and could not recommend more!

⛪️ BOOK / REVIEW 📿

True confession - I almost DNF #layyourbodydown by Amy Suiter Clarke 😱. That being said, I am glad I kept with this book, despite my growing distaste of #cult and #religious novels. Overall, I enjoyed this one. Was I blown away? No, but this did hold my interest enough to keep pushing through.

For some reason, all of the books in this sub-genre read the same to me. They remind me why I struggle with organized religion sometimes and how some churches weaponize faith against their members.

I will give this novel a few creativity points, though! The main focus was related to solving a murder and less about religious atrocities and indignations. While this is categorized as a #thriller, I could also put a #romanticsuspense label on the genre. This was a welcomed touch to the book and definitely leaves readers questioning if Finn and Del made it work.

⭐️⭐️⭐️🌟

Thank you @williammorrowbooks and @harpercollins, for my copy!

Amy Suiter Clark had me at small town and cult-like church, and what a tale this novel is as Del tries to figure out her own life's path in Lay Your Body Down. I'm always fascinated by people whose religious communities are filled with rules and why some people will go the distance until they are in a cult-like group. A great read!

This book is a quick read because it immerses you so deeply that time slips away, leading to the inevitable one-sitting reading experience.

'The Messiah Church' portrayed in this narrative initially presents itself as a tight-knit community with warm embraces and a strong family-oriented ethos. However, once you become a part of this church, escape becomes impossible.

The juxtaposition of blog posts from a female member embracing the 1950s housewife mindset and flashbacks from Delilah’s teenage years within the church ignites a sense of anger. The women are systematically indoctrinated into submissive roles, molded into obedient and docile wives responsible for all the sins of men. Meanwhile, the boys escape any reprimand for their behaviour. It’s a distressing but painfully accurate portrayal, touching on victim shaming, sexual abuse, grooming, and secrecy as core themes of the church.

At its heart, this book is a thriller, characterized by a slow yet intense cat-and-mouse chase between the church and Delilah. Murders, cover-ups, and numerous unexpected twists keep the story engaging, making it a highly enjoyable read.

Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I still haven't read Girl, 11, and now after finishing Lay Your Body Down, I don't know why I have been waiting! Amy Suiter Clarke's writing sucked me in immediately, and despite how frustrating Del can be as a character sometimes, I still adored it. There are a decent number of twists, one of which I saw coming, and yet... this book could do no wrong in my eyes. I actually loved the gratification of being partially right, and the other twists completely blew my mind.

There are some serious cult vibes coming off the church in this story, and I couldn't help but be nervous for our MC as she pushes her limits with them. Besides Del's viewpoint, we also have the inclusion of her diary (labeled with her full name Delilah since she was a member of the church at the time it was written) as well as posts from the Noble Wife Journey blog. These different elements created such an engrossing read, and I didn't want to put this thing down.

The audiobook has a full cast(!) and is narrated by Helen Laser, Hallie Ricardo & Carlotta Brentan. I would be lying if I said I didn't love this book on audio, and for me, listening to it was one of the highlights of my experience. I also couldn't help but love the small-town Minnesota setting being a Minnesota native myself, and now I am thoroughly curious about which small town the author grew up in. Lay Your Body Down is everything I could have wanted from a cult/church book, and the trauma that brings Del back in the first place (along with the possible murder of Lars) was nothing short of compelling. Family and friendship are also large themes in the novel, and I loved the way the author brought everything together.

Taking place in a community where the megachurch/cult distinctions are fuzzy at best, this novel explores the consequences of a community adopting, and internalizing, a form of faith in which the requirements and restrictions for women are exhaustive, but for men, non-existent. Well-executed mystery with interesting cast of characters.

Ok, so unpopular opinion here… I did not like this book. I had soooo much hope for it because I love 🩷 everything to do with crazy religious cults (I have probably watched every documentary on them) but this was just sooo slow and really missed the mark for me. 🚫 I think the only reason I didn’t DNF it was because I read it through mixed media (hard cover 📗 & audio 🎧) to speed through it. Also, all the reviews of how amazing it was, I thought I was going to miss something. 😔 I think the only redeeming thing about the book was the ending. I did like the twist but leading up to it was painful. Overall, I’m giving it 2 ⭐️..

I love a good story on cults. When done well, an insight is given and some understanding as to why a person joined or won't leave. I find the ideas behind cults fascinating and this book was for me!

Lay Your Body Down is a scorching examination of what happens when one person in a community is given a god-like status.

Everyone will have vastly different views on this one, especially depending on your relationship with religion. Our MC Del fled home and left her church only to come back years later for a funeral. It forces her to confront how the church’s expectations for women and men affected her and countless other women.

There were very few moments my blood wasn’t boiling. As different women’s stories are told, it felt like a parade of, “but we don’t want to ruin the life of a promising young man.” 🤮 needless to say it’s tough, but such a powerful read who’s darker moments make the moments of camaraderie that much better.

When I first read the synopsis, my brain screamed CULT. As it does every time I find a thriller that focuses on a religious community. This one isn’t an in your face cult kind of book though. It’s more subtle and sinister and makes you wonder what’s going on behind the doors of today’s popular mega churches that seem to worship the pastor a little too much.

Have you read this or the authors first book, Girl, 11? This was my first of hers and I now NEED to get my hands on her debut.

A cult book?!?! Count me in! I really enjoyed this one! I kept my interest throughout and I just couldn't stop reading. Highly recommend!

*Thank you @williammorrowbooks for the copy in exchange for an honest review.*

Creepy, chilling, cult-ish oh my! Get ready to be fully immersed in this thriller by Amy Suiter Clarke. 5 stars all the way!

Lay Your Body Down by Amy Suiter Clarke was a fast paced thriller. Delilah, who goes by Del now, grew up in a town that was consumed by the church and the pastor in charge of it. It was basically like a cult. After high school, she left to go to college and fell in love with Lars. Through her Lars becomes involved in the church and is taken in by its influence. Not long after, she is betrayed by her best friend from the church who ends up marrying Lars. Devastated, Del leaves the church and her hometown and never looks back. Until she gets a mysterious voicemail from Lars out of the blue. It tells her that she was right about everything and he needs to talk to her. She did not respond and then sees on Facebook that he has been killed in a hunting accident. Del finds this to be suspicious and goes back to her hometown to figure out what happened. Needless to say, she is not welcome by the members of the church or the pastor who basically runs the whole town now. The pastor has his hands in everything including local, law-enforcement. Del’s own family is not even very happy to see her.
This book has themes of religion, family, relationships, sexual assault, and small-town politics. I very much enjoyed Del’s character and identified with a lot of the things going on in the church that she grew up in. I myself am the daughter of a minister, however, it was not a cult church, but some of the ideas were familiar to me.
I look forward to reading more of this authors books. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions on my own.

I recently delved into "Lay Your Body Down" by Amy Suiter Clarke, and I must say it left me with mixed feelings. 🤔

This psychological thriller weaves a tale of suspense and mystery that kept me engaged from start to finish. The author's ability to create a chilling atmosphere and maintain a sense of tension throughout the narrative was commendable.

The characters were intriguing, and their complexities added depth to the overall plot. I particularly appreciated the protagonist's struggles and growth, making her journey relatable.

However, despite these strengths, I found myself struggling with some aspects of the book. The pacing felt inconsistent at times, with slow moments interspersed with sudden bursts of action. Additionally, certain plot twists and reveals seemed forced, making the storyline somewhat predictable.

Moreover, the narrative occasionally became convoluted, leading to moments of confusion. While some ambiguity can heighten the mystery, it sometimes hindered my ability to fully immerse myself in the story.

Overall, "Lay Your Body Down" is a decent psychological thriller that offers a compelling premise and intriguing characters. Despite its flaws, it managed to keep me hooked until the end. As such, I rate it 3 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️.

Readers who enjoy psychological thrillers with an emphasis on character development might find this book worth a read. However, those seeking a tightly woven and consistently-paced plot might want to approach with caution.

This was such a twisty book!
Del grew up in a cult like church. Once older, she moved and planned to never return. Until she had to go back for a funeral. Del realizes things have taken an even more sinister turn 👀