Murder in the Appalachians by Susan Furlong is a captivating tale. The story is well written with developed characters. I enjoyed getting to know Emma Hayes and Logan Greer. The author’s vivid descriptions of the Appalachians allowed me to envision the area. The action starts at the beginning and continues throughout. It kept the story lively. I liked how the mystery involved Emma and Logan. I enjoyed solving it. I like how faith was incorporated into the story. The romance was sweet and realistic. The ending left me smiling. I enjoyed Murder in the Appalachians which combined mystery, suspense, action, romance, and faith into one spellbinding story.

This was my first book by Susan Furlong and hopefully not my last.
When her brother is killed they're told it was in the line of duty. What they don't know is that he called her and left a criptic message just beforehand leading her to believe that something isn't right. As an investigative journalist she won't quit until she finds the truth. Unfortunately, there are people who don't want her to live long enough to succeed.
He's taking some time off after a traumatic shift in the ER fishing. Instead of fish he finds a woman in danger. What happens when they discover that there's a connection between them? What happened to her brother and why? Who's after her? It's a race against time and they don't know who to trust?

Investigative reporter Emma Hayes is still reeling from her twin brother's death, when she makes a discovery that confirms that his death was no accident. ER doctor Logan Greer rescues Emma from the river, and finds himself swept into a dangerous chase that has life and death consequences.

Plenty going on in this fast paced mystery, set in the haunting Appalachian Mountains, with twists and turns throughout that kept me guessing. I liked Logan's family, and how they welcomed Emma. I also admired how Logan's faith really leads his life.

An exciting and well written read, with a lot going on, and strong themes of faith, and great elements of suspense and mystery. Very enjoyable read!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is probably my favorite love inspired romantic suspense book I have read so far! Really enjoyed the setting and fast paced suspense. Just the right pallet cleanse I needed. This was a random NetGalley ARC request and I am glad I requested it!

We follow Emma Hayes who is seeking answers after her brothers mysterious death - she goes back to get her brother's police notebook but someone was there looking for it themselves....she takes off and ends up off a riverbank. She wakes up to local ER doctor Logan Greer who is trying to help keep her safe and alive. He is helping her figure out what is going on, who is after her and who killed her brother....but everywhere they turn.....a killer could be right on them hiding in the mountains.

The faith content in this stands out, there's a great moment where Emma cries out to the Lord - really emotional for her and you as the reader. Really liked the backstory too of how Logan was technically connected to her brother and that situation, very interesting. This is one of those feel good, quick romance reads that you just need sometimes. :)

Thank you to the publisher for a copy to honestly read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

3.75⭐ rounded up
When Emma Hayes goes to her family's cabin to search for answers about her twin brother's murder, someone starts shooting at her. From that point on, there's non-stop action as she investigates the cold case he was looking into and possibly had something to do with his death. Not knowing who to trust in this small West Virginia town makes staying alive and finding the truth almost impossible. There's some big twists that I didn't see coming to keep it interesting. Also some intriguing characters that I would have enjoyed reading about more.

If you are looking for a quick romantic suspense with lots of action and multiple plot lines, this is the book for you. Even though it isn't a long book, Furlong does a wonderful job of connecting readers with her characters, building compassion for them, and placing readers in her story's setting. It is amazing how well she is able to build on the deep themes of grief, suffering, and rebuilding one's faith in such a limited number of pages. The story is well written with regard to the mechanics of writing as well as with regard to the art of writing. Our two protagonists are each grieving the absence of a sibling, and wrestling with the unanswered questions regarding the reasons behind that absence. Together they search for answers, never abandoning their search in spite of life threatening consequences. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of Murder in the Appalachians from Love Inspired Suspense via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Murder in the Appalachians by Susan Furlong. This is my first read by this author. I really enjoyed this book. Emma wants to find out why Daniel her twin and police officer was shot while on duty. Running from someone who is chasing her after looking in her brother’s cabin for a clue. She jumps in the river and washes up near where Nash is fishing. Being chased again, Nash decides to help her find out why. This story is suspenseful, action packed, with mystery and twists and turns. Who can they trust? How do they keep finding them ? Can they solve the mystery before someone gets killed? Thank you to #NetGalley, # Harlequin-Romance and the author #Susan Furlong food this arc read. This is my honest review. Released April 1

Reading this felt like running barefoot through the mountains with danger on your heels and prayer on your lips. My heart was in my throat half the time, and the other half I was whispering, “Lord, be near.”

From the opening chapter, I could feel the danger pressing in like fog through the holler. There’s something about suspense set in the mountains that feels closer. The silence is louder. The shadows are longer. And the lies? They settle like dust on everything.

But what carried more weight than the fear was the quiet truth beneath it all—not found in a clue or a chase, but whispered to the soul by the One who sees the whole path.

This quote: “You don’t think it was just a coincidence – do ya? – that Logan happened to be at that very spot, in the middle of the woods … inches from where you were laying, hurt and afraid? … God put him there at that moment for a reason.” Love that! Because I’ve lived that over and over again. Not the bullets or the chase, but the moments where you realize: That was the Lord. Somehow, Susan Furlong managed to bottle that exact kind of holy moment and plant it in the middle of a life-or-death storyline. That’s rare and wonderful!

Logan? He’s not flashy. He’s not polished. He’s real. He’s steady. And when he thought: “His father had taught him not to worry about what others thought, only what God thought,” That’s not the kind of truth you forget—it’s the kind that follows you into real life.

I love a good mystery. I love heart-pounding suspense. But what I treasure is when those things are anchored in God’s presence. And this story? It never let me forget Who was in control—even when the ground felt shaky beneath their feet.

Murder in the Appalachians reminded me that no matter how dangerous the path, God goes before you, walks with you, and never leaves you behind.

This book had pulse-pounding moments and it also had prayer-soaked ones. And that balance? That’s what made it unforgettable..

I received a digital ARC of this book from the publisher, Harlequin – Love Inspired Suspense, and Net Galley. I am not required to write a positive review nor paid to do so. This is my honest and unbiased review. My thoughts and opinions expressed in this book review are my own. My review focuses on the writing and story’s content, ensuring transparency and reliability.

Good suspense with danger, intrigue, corruption, and a murder that stalls a cold case investigation. Emma Hayes is an investigative journalist who tries to find out who killed her twin brother Daniel and which case he was working on. Dr. Logan Greer is on vacation and fishing when he sees an unconscious Emma across the stream. He rescues her and starts helping her in her search for the truth.
Emma has a crisis of faith when she does not understand why God let her brother die. Logan has a strong faith but still struggles with PTSD from his time in the service. When they try to put the pieces of the puzzle together, they get deeper in trouble. They are not only seeking what clue Daniel left behind, but also the mysterious disappearance of Logan’s sister years ago. They do not know who to trust.
This was a realistic tale that kept me guessing until the final reveal. I enjoyed the faith journey of Logan and Emma as well as the romance that grew between them. The supporting characters, Joe and Rachel and veteran Huey, added depth to the plot that was complex and interesting.
* A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Love Inspired Suspense through NetGalley. All opinions are mine alone.*

Murder in the Appalachians by Susan Furlong
On the run in the mountains…
with a killer on their trail.
After unearthing secrets from her late brother’s police notebook, journalist Emma Hayes discovers his death was no accident—he was murdered. Only someone doesn’t want Emma to find out the connection to the cold case her brother was investigating…and they’ll kill to keep it that way. Now Emma must rely on local ER doctor Logan Greer to help her stay alive and follow a trail of elusive evidence. But as they unravel a conspiracy, they realize that the killer could be anyone hiding in the mountains…
This is Emma Hayes and brother Daniel's story.
This is Logan Greer's story.
Autumn’s yellow-and-orange-tinged Appalachian Mountains painted a picturesque scene from the highway, but up close, under those trees and alone on the trail, the shadowy woods seemed menacing. Emma pulled her jacket tighter, wishing she was back in DC and her snug apartment, where she could hole up, shut out the rest of the world and wallow in her grief. But her twin brother’s death was shrouded in questions, and she needed answers, so she continued to trudge along the trail, dodging roots and branches, until she reached the clearing.
Everything remained as Daniel had left it: a pair of mud-caked boots rested by the door, a fishing pole propped at an angle in the corner, an old shirt tossed over the back of a chair. She felt the fabric, soft and thin from years of use, and pressed it to her face, inhaling a hint of wood smoke and exhaling a jagged breath. Not even thirty, Daniel had had his whole life ahead of him before he was fatally shot. Officially, he’d been one more police officer killed in the line of duty. Unofficially, she suspected more to the story.
Logan Greer cast his line and watched his fly dance over the water, breathing in the mountain air and exhaling the stress he’d stored over the past few months. There was something truly poetic about fishing, the sun gleaming on ripples of water, the fish waiting in shadowed pools, and the way a perfectly cast fly kissed the water. He sighed. It’d been a difficult month, which was his own fault. He’d been pushing himself at the hospital, taking on extra shifts in the ER, all while attending fundraising events to keep up with the never-ending bills and supplies needed to run his free clinic.
I recommend this book.
Murder in the Appalachians by Susan Furlong is a 5 star book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions shared here in this review are my own.
I am looking forward to reading more books by Susan Furlong.
Lethal Wilderness Trap
Peaches and Scream (A Georgia Peach Mystery Book 1)
Rest in Peach (A Georgia Peach Mystery Book 2)
and more books.

“Her confidence in him twisted his gut; her brother had died while he’d sat paralyzed, prisoner to his painful past.”

Great quote from Susan Furlong’s Murder in the Appalachians which attests to how the backstory to this book is super powerful. The fact that Logan was the last person to see Emma’s brother alive—the doctor who tried to resuscitate him. Wow! I am absolutely a fan of backstory and this one was woven into the story very well adding to the tension and making me root for their happily ever after!

Christian takeaway: TEN STARS! If I could give this story extra stars, I would. The pivotal moment where Emma is in pain and wants to connect with Jesus, but intrusive thoughts lie to her really tugged my heart. She is truly an overcomer. The epilogue wrapped up the story very well, and the author’s note was an added bonus reminding me that Christian authors have a calling. Good job. A must read.

Wow!

Wow! This is one book I could not put down! The mystery and intrigue had me guessing the entire time, and as much as I tried, I could not figure out "who had done it" until the end. Family, friendship, faith, and romance added even more to Emma and Logan's story, and the mystery surrounding it kept me on the edge of my seat. Every time I thought it was all wrapped up, another curve ball got thrown in. All of this made for a great read that I highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy that I received. All comments and opinions are voluntary and completely my own.

"On the run in the mountains… with a killer on their trail."
Murder in the Appalachians will have you on the edge of your seat and you won't want to stop turning the pages. This is an action packed read with a great mystery, suspense and romance. The author wrote this so well and I can not wait to read another book from this author. All of the characters in this are great and the mystery will keep you guessing untill the end. I loved this book a lot and would recommend it to any reader especially if you like romantic suspense. Thank you to the author Susan Furlong for the ARC read of this book in exchange of my honest review and thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin-Romance/ Love Inspired Suspense for the ebook in exchange of my honest review.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

Just when I thought this book was going to end, up pops the missing piece of the puzzle. Emma is looking for answers to her brothers death however someone doesn't want her close to the answers. She is on the run and Logan, a local doctor, finds Emma along the river injured. From then on the two of them are on the run and Logan is trying to help and protect Emma as much as he can. Not everyone in the community are who we think they are but will it be too late for Emma and Logan or will the killers get them before they solve the mystery?

On the run mystery/suspense with lots of twists and turns. Definitely one I would recommend.

After her twin brother died, Emma returns to his home to discover a secret he left for her but someone has staked the home out and now wants to know what she has found. A story of suspense and intrigue lead the reader through the terror of death and hope for a budding relationship. This book will entertain and help you believe that God is at work even in tragedy. Well written with deep faith showing through the words on the page.
I was given an advanced copy of the book in exchange for a review.

I read Murder in the Appalachians in one day because it is so suspenseful, and I couldn't stop reading it! Be prepared to be pulled into Emma and Logan's story from the first page until the last. It's a story about searching for the truth. Emma is searching for the truth about her brother's death. She's convinced that this homicide isn't what it appears to be since he was working on a cold case when he was killed. Being shot at and chased only confirms her theory. It turns out that the cold case indirectly involves the disappearance of Logan's sister years ago.

I loved Emma and Logan! They're both strong characters with real struggles. Logan struggles with PTSD, yet he puts others' needs ahead of his own. Emma is a brilliant investigative journalist, so there's no way she's going to let her brother's murder get mishandled. Emma and Logan are in constant danger, but they seek refuge with one of Logan's friends who is a veteran in his 70s. A few other vets live in the house too. I absolutely loved these guys! They're funny and tough even though they're all senior citizens by now. It's characters like these guys who make a good book even better.

I highly recommend Murder in the Appalachians! It's got well-written characters and a suspenseful mystery that will keep you guessing! If you're a fan of Love Inspired Suspense, you won't be able to put it down!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

This book is full of action, suspense, and just enough twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat. The author brought the story to life with her words and you felt like you were there. If you are a fan of clean romantic suspense, you will love this book.
I received a complimentary copy from Harlequin via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Emma is absolutely put through the wringer! She is shot at, pursued, and then attached again and again. And that was just in the first two chapters!
Something insidious surrounded her brother’s death and as she and the local doc, Logan, relentlessly try to suss out the clues their lives are constantly in the line!
Both Logan and Emma are dealing with their own demons and inadvertently wreak havoc in many people associated with them.
I held my breath during one part, heck I was starved for oxygen as I read, because I found myself doing that a lot.
It’s action packed drama, insulated in sadness and reckoning, but also has the realization that life is to be lived and not just be full of recriminations and regret.
My favorites were Huey and the vets! That’s the part I held my breath the longest with.

Secrets, murder, cold case, conspiracy - hang on it’s a thrilling bumpy ride from cover to cover.

I received an advanced reader’s copy from Harlequin and Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

An action-packed romantic suspense. Many questions about various murders eventually all get solved. Several surprises. Quick read. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.