From Publishers Weekly
In her third installment of the Dylan Foster series, Wells crafts a dark Christian supernatural thriller with lighter romance notes. Southern Methodist University psychology professor Dylan Foster fears that Peter Terry, the demon who stalks her, is on the move again. Nicholas, her friend Maria Chavez's five-year-old son (conceived after Maria was brutally raped in an earlier book), is snatched at a birthday party in a park near Dallas. Five-year-old birthday girl Christine Zocci, who witnesses the abduction and is hyperattuned to the supernatural, ends up in the emergency room after she mysteriously goes into cardiac arrest. Her clues about Nicholas's kidnapper may enable Dylan to find him—unless time runs out. Wells does a fine job developing Dylan's character, but is less successful showing the terror of the kidnapping and Maria's response, which seems far too calm. The suspense builds nicely, however, and the demon's use of a rattlesnake (real or unreal? Dylan isn't sure) will give ophiophobic readers appropriate chills.
When the Day of Evil Comes and
The Soul Hunter should be read first to follow the plot line; as a stand-alone this may be confusing. Christian readers who like their suspense with a heavy dollop of the supernatural should find this series to their taste.
(Feb.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Review
"My Soul to Keep, the third and best Dylan Foster thriller, again demonstrates Melanie Wells’s wit, intelligence, and knack for telling a swiftly paced, complex story. Through a wonderful network of plots and subplots–and the ruminations of the ever-complicated Dr. Foster–the novel reveals the helplessness and fierce love at the heart of parenting, as well as the way that each of us is responsible for children, our own and others. Wells takes kids seriously–their fears, their vulnerabilities, their spiritual wisdom and resiliency. Written with passion, a good dose of humor and, dare I say it, soul, this novel reminds us that we all, with grace and good fortune, bumble our way toward salvation.”
- K. L. Cook, author of
Last Call and
The Girl from Charnelle
“
My Soul to Keep is a rich and meaningful story. Like water rising to a boil, its suspense sneaks up on you–before you know, you’re in the thick of a frightening drama. This is a story painful to witness, but a pleasure to read. Superbly crafted.”
- Robert Liparulo, author of
Deadfall,
Germ, and
Comes a Horseman
“
My Soul to Keep is a great example of gritty reality colliding with spiritual questions. Melanie Wells proves to be one of the most consistent writers around, threading mystery and supernatural intrigue around memorable characters. I’m a huge fan.”
- Eric Wilson, author of
A Shred of Truth and the novelization of
Facing the Giants
“
My Soul to Keep is a marvelous book. Lyrical and moving, the story and characters will stay with you long after you turn the last page. I can’t wait for Melanie Wells’s next novel.”
- Harry Hunsicker, Shamus Award-nominated author of
Crosshairs
“In
My Soul to Keep, Melanie Wells delivers tightly-woven mystery and profound drama with nail-biting intensity and a light touch. The struggles and triumphs of the wry and delightfully-flawed Dylan Foster allow us a glimpse of God’s mercy at our worst and His best.
My Soul to Keep is Melanie Wells’s best book yet and one not to be missed. I can’t wait for the next one.”
- Kathryn Mackel, author of
Vanished
“One moment,
My Soul to Keep will have you laughing out loud, and the next you’ll be under the covers with a flashlight, questioning unseen things, and hoping the ride never ends. Melanie Wells has one of the freshest, most uniquely readable voices in fiction. A few pages will have you hooked.”
- Creston Mapes, author of
Nobody
See all Editorial Reviews