by Stacy Green
Series: Delta Crossroads #1
Genres: Romantic Suspense
Source: Author
Purchase*: Amazon *affiliate
Getting pregnant as a teenager and being coerced into giving her baby up for adoption left a festering scar on Jaymee Ballard’s life. Trapped by poverty and without many allies, Jaymee nearly gives up hope of getting her daughter back after her best friend is murdered. Now, four years later, a wealthy woman with legal connections hires her as a housekeeper, and Jaymee gathers the courage to seek her help. But Jaymee’s last chance ends up in a puddle of blood in one of the historic antebellum mansions in Roselea, Mississippi. I just murdered your wife...again. An unsigned letter consisting of six horrifying words turns Nick Samuels stagnant life upside down. Stuck in emotional purgatory since his wife’s unsolved murder four years ago, Nick is about to self-destruct. The arrival of the letter claiming credit for his wife’s murder and boasting of a new kill sends Nick to Roselea, where he and Jaymee’s worlds collide. Jaymee and Nick realize exposing the truth about her daughter’s adoption is the only way to solve the murders. Up against years of deception, they rush to identify the killer before the evidence–and Jaymee’s daughter–are lost. But the truth doesn’t always set the guilt-ridden free. Sometimes, it destroys them.
You know that thrill you get when you open a new book and realize within the first few pages that you are going to enjoy the ride ahead? The one where you know the laundry isn’t going to get done as the world melts away and the story surrounds you? That is exactly what happens when I opened up Tin God and began this suspense. Filled with secrets, murder, and clues with a side dish of romance I quickly found myself immersed in Green’s book and the small town nestled against the banks of the Mississippi. Three-word review: suspenseful, tightly-woven, thriller
The tale begins when we meet Jaymee Ballard a struggling waitress whose back history is enough to make you shudder. At seventeen she was forced to give up her newborn and with the help of a friend she had hopes of finding her daughter. It’s been four years since her friend’s murder and the noose of poverty is making it harder to fulfill her deepest desire. All of that changes when the wealthy woman she cleans house for is discovered murdered and her best friend’s husband returns bearing a note that says, “I just murdered your wife…again.” Nick Samuels failed his wife years ago and is determined to solve this case. A discovery that Jaymee’s daughter is somehow connected leads the two to work together and the tale that unfolds is riveting, filled with twists and turns that kept me on edge.
The characters in Green’s novel are fleshed-out, tormented and genuine. From the sinister to the sweet, Green fleshed them out bringing this town and its secrets to light. Jaymee is angry, frustrated and so courageous. She is also stubborn, independent and proud. I loved watching this emotional, head-strong woman makes steps to trust, and confront her past. Nick is a well-known investigative newspaper reporter but since his wife’s death, he has just been stuck in a rut as he obsesses over everything he did and didn’t do in his marriage. The fact that her killer still roams free torments him. I liked the interaction between Nick and Jaymee, without trying to they help each other confront the past and deal with their own emotional baggage as they hunt down answers. A romance develops slowly and felt genuine as it held the promise of healing, hope, and love. The suspects in the case, all affluent members of this societies small-town gave us a glimpse into its dark secrets. There are giant pink elephants wandering the streets but townsfolk ignore them. We often see this dynamic in small-town politics and Green captured it beautifully.
Stacy Green weaved a fantastic suspense thriller that felt plausible and made me shiver. Her descriptions of the homes to the oppressive heat in the small town of Roselea were captivating and so fleshed out that I could taste the humidity and smell the river. From the beginning, she gave us a strong sense of the town’s mentality and deeply religious convictions. The more we learn about Jaymee and her baby the darker the tale becomes. Green wove all of the murders together with a common thread and I found it riveting as Nick and Jaymee unraveled clues and got closer to the truth. The tale gradually picked up the intensity as the pieces clicked together. The facts and events had an air of believability about them and could have been ripped from today’s headlines. Green added some twists that even I didn’t see coming, and any more that is hard to do. The tale wrapped up nicely and I was delighted to hear there is a second book that deals with one of the secondary characters.
Fans of mysteries, thrillers, and romantic suspense will find Tin God captivating. Green writes like a seasoned author and could hold her own against some of the big thriller authors whom I love. I absolutely cannot wait to read the next book in this series.
About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram
kimbacaffeinate
Thanks Trish, I am getting settled. Still tweaking and learning the new digs. This was a solid thriller and I loved the small time dynamics.
Trish
Looks like the big move went smoothly! Congrats and enjoy your new home!
I love thrillers especially those with great characters and that can keep the suspense flowing. Great review, you’ve shot this one straight on to my wishlist.
Lauren
I’m a huge fan of thrillers, and this sounds like a really well written one I don’t want to miss! (PS – I absolutely LOVE your new blog design!! I know I’m probably WAY late in commenting on it, but I was out of town last week and am just now catching up on blog reading. Sorry in advance for comment bombing you :D)
kimbacaffeinate
I love thrillers too, and I am glad you liked my blog. I hope your trip was fun! Bomb away!
Gina
Whoa….sounds like you’re definitely in for some chills with this one. *-* Thanks for the fab share!
kimbacaffeinate
Thanks Gina, I quite enjoyed this:)
Lisa
I love when a book can make you actually “feel” the surroundings or convey feelings. This would usually be a drive buy for me but gosh you have me curious!
The site looks good! Seems like it was mostly painless, thanks to Carmel.
kimbacaffeinate
Yes, the move over was seamless she did great job moving things over, now the final tweaks and to go back and update at least this months posts. I am glad I piqued your interest as this was a excellent read:)
Stacy Green
Hi Kimba! First, I love the new site. Very smooth and simple to navigate.
Secondly, thank you so much! I really appreciate your taking the time to write such a detailed review, and I’m so happy you enjoyed TIN GOD.
Thanks for sharing with your readers!
kimbacaffeinate
Ah you are so welcome, first post in my new home!
Heidi
Yeah, looks like Carmel got you all transferred. I was just thinking I need to read a good thriller, I know I have a couple of ARCS so I should dig them out. Yeah for great fleshed out characters. The book I reviewed today had week unlikable characters 🙁
kimbacaffeinate
Yes, I am here..LOL Still tweaking. This was an excellent read and so sorry about your latest read.
Candace
I’ve been craving a little suspense lately. I don’t normally read it, so I’m not sure I have much around here, but I really want a book that pulls me in and I HAVE to keep reading, like I’ll DIE if I set that book down. Ya know?
I’m glad this one worked well for you!
kimbacaffeinate
Isn’t that the greatest feeling! Thanks Candace!
Kris
This book sounds interesting.. will have to add it to my TBR.
kimbacaffeinate
thanks Kris!
Andrea
I love when I realize I’ve hitten the book jackpot within the first few pages! So glad you loved Tin God.
kimbacaffeinate
Me too!!
Diana Leigh
The new site looks great!
kimbacaffeinate
thank you Diana:)
kindlemom1
Yay! I love the new look and how easy the switch was!! It looks awesome!!
I have never heard of this read but it sounds fantastic!
kimbacaffeinate
thanks Ali, and I hope you read it:)
Jenny
Oooo look at your new site Kimba! It looks awesome! I’ve been thinking about transferring to WordPress but I’m so worried everything will just get messed up. That clearly didn’t happen to you though:)
This sounds like an outstanding thriller, I’m going to recommend it to my sister in law who devours mysteries and thrillers like candy:) Thanks for the review of this one!
kimbacaffeinate
Thanks Jenny this was a great read and I am glad I made the move:)
blodeuedd
Wow it’s so new and shiny
kimbacaffeinate
Thanks Bloduedd, it is getting there:)