Customer Reviews

Nazareth Child (A Del Shannon Novel)

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(0)
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In his terrific debut, Darrell James takes us for a ride along with his protagonist, Del Shannon, a kick-butt missing persons investigator. Great characters, great plot/premise, great writing -- the trifecta. I can't wait for more Del Shannon books. Highly recommended.

This novel is a great read. I didn't want to put it down. The writing is so descriptive. I felt like I was right there in the story. I could easily picture the characters. Del Shannon is such a gutsy character. I can't wait to experience her next adventure.

I admit, I was skeptical about reading a good debut novel. So many new authors intentionally or unintentionally copy the plot lines of accomplished authors, that sometimes you just can't get past the first few chapters. Not so in this case. I literally could not wait to turn the page to see what was coming next.

Plot twists, believable characters, the authorities in the background but not portrayed like bumbling idiots. All good points. I admit I was intrigued by the name of the character Del Shannon. I was hoping for a return of the books by an earlier author, but this is so much better. This Del is gritty and sexy, determined, yet with a heart under the rough exterior. Her FBI partner is not an idiot nor macho one-up-on-you kind of guy. Which is good. I wouldn't have liked him portrayed any other way.

I'm hoping that there will be more books portraying Del and how she can make a difference in the lives of the people she touches.

Good luck to Mr. James and keep being creative.

I read the book and loved it! Darrell masterfully brought the characters to life and I really got involved in the story. The descriptions of the setting are so exact, it is easy to picture the area. Looking forward to the next Del Shannon adventure.

A superlative first novel. Great intrigue in an interesting setting. Del Rocks! Great writing and wonderfully developed characters make it a book that is hard to put down. I look forward to the next Del Shannon story.

This is a real page-turner. The characters fly off the page and the story line grabs you and keeps a firm hold to the end. As a debut novel, it's a winner. Can't wait to join Del in her future adventures.

I had the privilege of reading this terrific book in its manuscript form and am so excited to see it finally in print. It's gripping, edgy and exciting and will leave you wanting more of both Del Shannon and Darrell James.

Excellent book, couldn't put it down. The best novel I've read in years. I'm looking forward to the next episode. Keep up the great work Mr James.

This is a fantastic book! Great characters, dialogue and writing. The setting descriptions were skillfully drawn, really pulling me in.
Warning- this fast-paced story kept gathering momentum so the last twenty percent of the book, I could not put it down.
Though the main characters were great, I was particularly impressed with the originality of the secondary characters,
much like Harlan Coben's secondary characters provide interest and depth to his books. Nigel, the dwarf, made an unique sidekick
for the villain, and I really liked the secondary character, Mariah, hopefully she too will show up along with Del and Falconet in future books.
Altogether an entertaining read!

As a trained investigator, Del Shannon tracked down one missing person after another, yet one proved more elusive than most, her mother. Having been taken from her Kentucky home as toddler by her father, Del had never been able to put together enough information to discover her missing past, but with the death of her reclusive and alcoholic parent she has been given a chance to find out her heritage.
Turns out that the FBI are investigating the flamboyant cult leader Silas Rule back in Del's home town of Nazareth Church and she is offered the opportunity to go in under cover to help the government discover if Rule is a blow-hard preacher or a Jim Jones figure leading his flock to eternal damnation, not to mention the last undercover agent they sent in has not been heard from for six weeks. Since Del has inherited the house in the community after her father's passing, she has a legitimate reason to be in town to claim her property.
With ATFE agent Frank Falcone masquerading as her husband, the pair go into the lion's den bent on discovering if the missing FBI agent is dead, or if Rule converted him to his right-wing zealot religion, and for Del, a chance to ask the people of the area if they know her mother. Armed with an old photograph and a nine-millimeter Baby Eagle, Del heads out looking for her lost mother and runs into more trouble than can be expected.
Locked in the windowless church with all the preachers, other faithful followers, and with the dam at the top of the valley about to blow and flood the plains, will she ever get the chance she so desperately wanted or will the town be obliterated from Kentucky's blue grass existence? James takes us on a wild chase to love life and redemption proving there is nothing to compare to a mother's love. A great debut novel that will hold you spellbound to its dynamite conclusion.