All Things Hidden [Paperback]

Judy Candis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2004

When one drug dealer after another starts turning up dead on her watch, Jael Reynolds teams up with the only other person who seems to care, FBI Special Agent Grant Lewis. The two soon uncover layer after layer of corruption, organized bigotry, and hate that justifies murder in the name of God.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The Klan meets Christianity in this thriller for the African-American market; what it lacks in subtlety it makes up for in strong faith. Jael Reynolds is a Florida divorcée who has found Jesus and regrets her former marriage to Virgil, whose physical attractions had once "called to her as if she were a slobbering pup." Virgil, a caricature of an ex-husband, berates Jael about her excessive work habits as a lead homicide detective. Trouble comes when drug dealers are knocked off one by one, and Jael is hot on the trail. When Jael's young son is kidnapped by the Klu Klux Klan, she turns to God for help, moving about his room, touching his belongings and claiming, "BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS, I CLAIM THE SAFE RETURN OF MY ONLY CHILD, RAMON." A showdown with evil ensues. As Jael reflects at the end of the novel, "She'd learned an enormous lesson that would carry her through the rest of her life. And whatever plan God had for her life, she had every confidence that He would see it through." The mechanics of fiction are shaky and the prolific use of "nigger" as a hate epithet lessens its shock value. Some Charismatic Christian African-American readers may appreciate this niche book, but many will be put off by its didacticism and one-dimensional characters.
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Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Walk Worthy Press (September 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446693154
• ISBN-13: 978-0446693158
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 1 x 8.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,104,969 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fast Moving Suspense, March 6, 2005

By 

Shelia M Goss (Essence Magazine Best-Selling Author of My Invisible Husband, Delilah, Hollywood Deception and more.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: All Things Hidden (Paperback)

I would highly recommend "All Things Hidden" for anyone who loves suspense novels. The added dosage of Christian principles made this book even better. The lessons in the book go hand in hand with the suspense and situations Jael finds herself in.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Christianity meets suspense, January 7, 2005

By 

Angelique C. Henderson "Ms. Jordy's mom" (Cumberland, RI United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: All Things Hidden (Paperback)

Kuwana Haulsey has written a stirring tribute honoring Dr. May Edward Chinn who was exactly as the title states. She was an angel for the people of the New York City area known as Harlem. The novel covers her 1896 birth in Massachusetts, moving to NY with her parents and living in dreadful poverty conditions. May was burdened with tremendous childhood and teen years of struggles and heart aches. Among them were an unplanned teen pregnancy, having to give her infant son up for adoption and afterwards suffering from severe depression. However, due to her mother's fortitude and continuous encouragement, May was accepted into college based on her extraordinary high scores, minus a high school diploma.

Facing enormous and threatening hardships throughout the enrollment of college and medical school; racism, sexism, financial difficulties and love affair barriers, May Chinn achieved what many dared her to accomplish. She became a doctor and is noted as the first Black female physician in New York. She served her patients diligently and tirelessly for many, many years. With amazing talents and working assiduously in order to aid the sick and needy that were in dire need of medical assistance, Dr. Chinn was definitely a woman who wore an invisible halo around her head. She was indeed the Black Angel of Harlem.

Angel of Harlem is definitely a great novel of worth. I was truly inspired by the biographical and historical information on this female pioneer's accomplishments. The sites of the NYC area, the Harlem Renaissance acquaintances (Zora Neale Hurston, Paul Roberson, Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen, Fats Waller and a host of others) of Dr. Chinn, along with information surrounding her musical mastery were treats within the chronicle. Ms. Haulsey has penned a prized novel regarding a woman with phenomenal integrity and breathtaking compassion.

Readincolor Reviewer

Tanya Tatum

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hidden, Yet Lying Right Under the Surface, March 22, 2007

By 

Sharel Love "Sharel E. Gordon-Love, Author" (North Plainfield, NJ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: All Things Hidden (Paperback)

Author Judy Candis has written a beautiful Christian Fiction mystery novel, one in which it is more than evident she spent a lot of time and love writing. Jael Reynolds was godly proud of her position with the police department as a detective with promises of a promotion to lieutenant in the near future, but not as much as she was humbled and thankful for her Christian walk and faithfulness to the Lord. Because of this, she is able to do her job and be a help to as many people as she can, but not even her eventful past, an arrogant ex-husband, raising her son alone, and the usual dealings of police work prepare her for what was lying beneath in her small Florida city.

For some reason, the unease Jael felt when the first drug dealer was killed would change her life as she knew it. The turn of events that followed appeared to be a serial killer taking out the local drug dealers, but that was just scratching the surface. As each event would unfold, it appeared to be one positive step towards solving the spree of killings, including bringing in the FBI. Even still things were not as they appeared to be.

Jael's faith was tested through the roof when her son and young friend were kidnapped because she had gotten too close to finding out about the true "White Power" hate crimes, who was involved and how they had covered their tracks. Stressed far beyond her limits, Jael found herself in a place of obedience by praying and waiting on God to move on her behalf as He placed people in her life and in the way of the ongoing investigation who turned out to be a help to her bringing those responsible to justice.

Author Judy Candis penned a beautifully written Christian Fiction mystery in which she took a lot of time to research and put into her story as it pertains to detective and police work. I would recommend this book to anyone who is going through a time in their lives where it seems they will not make it. In the face of adversity, there is God's mercy and His unfailing love and faithfulness. Rest in peace, Judy Candis.

Reviewed by Sharel E. Gordon-Love

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