Customer Reviews

River's Edge (Cape Refuge, No. 3)

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I say Terri Blackstock has done it again. I just love how she can create a suspensful, exciting novel that incorporates characters that are full of faith, but also human. This latest book, River's Edge, is right on par with her previous work. The book has more plot twists than I expected leaving an exciting ending. The characters are well developed, and while many of them have Christian faiths, they are all still human and real. I especially loved Terri's inclusion of the topic of infertility. This topic is rarely discussed in the fiction world, and speaking from personal experience, I was delighted with her coverage. The women's struggles in this book were very realistic. I say it is a great read.

I read these back to back and they were all so hard to put down. You never know who the killer is until the very end, and when you find out you are totally suprised.

"River's Edge," the third entry in the four-volume "Cape Refuge" series by Terri Blackstock, is yet another example that this unique author somehow continues to improve with each book. This is especially impressive considering that all of Ms. Blackstock's novels are outstanding. Her superb writing style; her creative plots of mystery, and compelling insight into human relations; her ability to integrate, so skillfully, her strong convictions in the Christian faith... all of these attributes, and more, make her works special. Very special. --RON HOWE (a.k.a. Toby Martin II)

This is the third in Blackstock's Cape Refuge series. She writes a decent mystery and the ending is brilliant, but her characterizations occasionally fall flat. Morgan really annoyed me in this book, because she behaves as a super-Christian with no faults at all. She's totally emotion-driven and apparently doesn't understand the basics of logic or reasoning. Not all Christians are like that. Meanwhile, her sister Blair (a better overall character) has taken over the newspaper and is writing about the murder of a prominent local politician's wife, but this causes her to clash occasionally with Matthew Cade, the police chief and the man she's deeply in love with.

There's an interesting subplot about IVF and infertility, which bored me since I had two kids the good old-fashioned way and I have married friends who are childfree. I have never understood women and men who put having a baby as the be-all, end-all of their lives. I certainly don't know any Christians who think that way. Some Christians deliberately decide to forsake having children in order to share in missionary work, but Morgan's job on this earth is, apparently, to be a mother. At several points in the book, I wanted to reach into the pages and slap her.

Sheila Caruso is another fairly well developed character. She's a reformed (?) drug addict who's released from prison early and is attempting to start a new life at Hanover House with her children, Sadie and Caleb. She behaves in a fairly predictable manner, but she's at least realistic.

The book is far more plot-driven than message-driven, but there is good counsel on why Christians avoid psychics and mediums and what it means to engage in spiritual warfare with the weaponry Paul described in Ephesians. All in all, a satisfying read.

Terri Blackstock knows her craft and I love reading her books. She sticks with the story line and the Christian examples come forth out of that, as in life, Christian's aren't perfect! The River's Edge grabs you right away and you become one of the townsfolk in the whirl of excitement over a dramatic mayoral race, the ongoing saga of Hanover House residents Blair running the town paper with her own "flair" and of course there has to be a DB! (dead body) Cade becomes ever more endearing to us as do the other characters we loved in the last two books... I especially find the plight of Morgan very poignant since I had the same infertility battle... a crises you can't imagine if you haven't experienced it. Well done!

I enjoyed reading Terry Blackstock's Cape Refuge series. This was a predictable, but very enjoyable book. I have read the whole series and was glad to an ending to the story. It is easy to read- like the previous ones before it.

Even though I've given Blackstock's previous two books in this series 3-stars each, there's something drawing about the characters, Morgan, Jonathan, Blair, Cade, and Sadie.

In this, book number 3, Jonathan's mayoral opponent Ben and his wife Lisa have been trying to have a baby for over a decade and have been going the medical route. Morgan and Jonathan have been trying as well but for less time. Lisa goes missing right before the mayoral debate is scheduled to take place and third candidate Sam is angry that Jonathan is postponing the debate because of Ben's missing wife. Sam figures it's a publicity stunt. Seeing that she's a Christian, should Blair disregard the psychic's tip in the case?

If Jonathan doesn't get elected mayor, Cade is most likely going to be ousted from Cape Refuge's police force. Sam especially wants him out so he can put in a new force.

Sadie's mother is hoping to be released from prison early but what will that mean for Sadie and young Caleb? What will it mean for Morgan who has grown to love them?

This is a great continuation of the Cape Refuge's series. The book plus the whole series is very well written, thrilling and suspenseful.

It is really great that you can have a mystery novel written from a Christian perspective.

Terri Blackstock is a great writer and a strong Christian. Her message of keeping your faith by your need for Christ is throughout all of her writings.

Highly recommended writer that keeps you in tune with God.

Terri Blackstock is a very good christian fiction writer. I only recently discovered her. I am in the 3rd book of the series on Cape Refuge and it is wonderful. I have the next 4 book "Light" series waiting. Go Terri!!!!!!!!!!

Ralph Walker

Terri Blackstock knows her craft and I love reading her books. She sticks with the story line and the Christian examples come forth out of that, as in life, Christian's aren't perfect! The River's Edge grabs you right away and you become one of the townsfolk in the whirl of excitement over a dramatic mayoral race, the ongoing saga of Hanover House residents Blair running the town paper with her own "flair" and of course there has to be a DB! (dead body) Cade becomes ever more endearing to us as do the other characters we loved in the last two books... I especially find the plight of Morgan very poignant since I had the same infertility battle... a crises you can't imagine if you haven't experienced it. Well done!