Tag: Berkley Stephanie Jaye Evans

Safe From Harm
(A Sugar Land Mystery)
2nd in Series
Mystery
The Berkley Publishing Group (March 5, 2013)
Published by The Penguin Group
Cover Design by Judith Lagerman
Trade Paperback: 336 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0425253465
E-Book File Size: 593 KB
ASIN: B0099CVN4C

In this second installment of the Sugar Land Mysteries Preacher “Bear” Wells, his wife Annie Laurie, and their teenage daughter Jo get wrapped up in a death the rocks the town. Bear and his wife come home to find their daughter cradling the dead body of her friend Phoebe. Everyone believes Phoebe committed suicide, but Jo just can’t believe that. Why would Phoebe kill herself in their house?

Bear wasn’t comfortable with Jo’s new friend but Annie Laurie saw the good in her and the tragedy in her life. Phoebe’s mother has just died and she was forced to move in with her father, her stepmother and their children. Her father seemed to have a perfect life but all is not what it seems to be. Jo finds herself caught up in the mystery of this family and Phoebe’s death. Bear just hopes he can protect his daughter.

Dollycas’s Thoughts
This is not a mystery that hits you right in the face. The author has written a story that engages you in the characters first and the mystery is the subplot. We were introduced to these imperfect characters in Faithful Unto Death and quickly became invested in their lives. I like that there is a real family story outside of the questionable death of the teenager.

Jo has teenager issues and has disagreements/fights will her friends. She is starting to date and her dad is having trouble coping with that.  Annie has a big heart and it sometimes leads her down the wrong path. Bear tries to take on everything himself but his family and Detective Wanderly work hard to keep him in check. The church volunteers are not all as they appear. Some are better and some have secrets and issues. The characters are true to way things are in life.

This is a mystery wrapped up in a very heartfelt story driven by wonderful characters. I highly recommend this book and the first in the series as well.

About This Author
Stephanie Jaye Evans is a fifth generation Texan. She got her BA from Abilene Christian University and an MLS from Rice University. Her first book in the Sugar Land Mystery Series, Faithful Unto Death, was awarded the William F. Deeck—Malice Domestic Grant for Unpublished Writers and was a Library Journal Debut of the Month. The second in the series, Safe From Harm  released on March 5, 2013. She lives in Sugar Land, Texas with her long-suffering husband and pug dogs. Find out more on her webpage here. Follow her on: