Shepherd's Fall (The Prodigal Recovery Series, Book 1) [Paperback]

Wanda Dyson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 14, 2009

He is about to face the hunt of a lifetime.
Bounty hunter Nick Shepherd is fearless when it comes to chasing down criminals. It’s his difficult ex-wife, rebellious teenage daughter, and dysfunctional siblings that keep him awake at night. In charge of the family business, the Prodigal Recovery Agency, he thinks of himself as a shepherd of sorts. When his “flock” is out of his control, Nick’s well-ordered universe falls into chaos.

Danger comes too close to home.
Prodigal Recovery’s search for Zeena, a prostitute on the run, leads to a faulty arrest, complicating Nicks’s business. He is thrown together with Zeena’s twin, the beautiful Annie, and the two find themselves on a desperate search. The stakes significantly increase when Nick’s daughter is kidnapped.  

Can the shepherd stand?
Nick and Annie unwittingly uncover a drug trafficking ring that further condemns the kidnapper. Now, to save someone he loves, Nick must risk everything…but will it be enough?

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Bounty hunter Greg Price runs the Prodigal Recovery Agency and is searching for a prostitute when he becomes involved with the girl's twin sister, Annie. A new suspense series from the author of the "Shefford-Johnson Case" books (Intimidation).
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

“W. L. Dyson’s remarkable storytelling ability and knowledge of the treacherous world of bounty hunting pours across every page of Shepherd’s Fall. Suspense, intrigue, and redemption dominate this exceptional storyline. A highly recommended read!”
–Mark Mynheir, homicide detective and author of The Night Watchman

“The story of a family of bounty hunters, Shepherd’s Fall held me captive way past my bedtime. However, it was worth every sleepless moment to join W. L. Dyson’s beautifully flawed characters not only in the recovery of a fugitive, but in finding God in the journey. So this is how all those kids feel while awaiting the next book in a gripping series...”
–Tamara Leigh, author of Splitting Harriet and Faking Grace

“Gut-tightening, palm-dampening, jaw-dropping suspense as only W. L. Dyson can do. Shepherd's Fall delivers. In spades.”
–John Robinson, speaker, teacher, and author of Until the Last Dog Dies, When Skylarks Fall, and To Skin a Cat.

“Shepherd’s Fall is a great book that leaves its mark after the final page. Tautly written and quickly paced, it offers everything I need for a good read that leaves me thinking about the characters...and about myself.”
–Hannah Alexander, author of A Killing Frost

“Once again, Dyson delivers a powerful tale that gets better with each heart-pounding turn of the page.”
–Creston Mapes, author of Nobody

“Shepherd’s Fall is great suspense with wonderful characters. A rip-roaring beginning to a great series.”
–Gayle Roper, author of Fatal Deduction

“W. L. Dyson has created page-turning suspense in Shepherd’s Fall that keeps the reader guessing to the final pages. A unique blend of characters enriches this well-woven story. I look forward to more in this series.”
–Sharon K. Souza, author of Lying on Sunday and Every Good & Perfect Gift

“If you like the breathless pace of the TV series 24, you’ll love the.action, suspense, plot-twists, and family drama of Shepherd’s Fall. I couldn’t put it down, and I can’t wait for Dyson’s next release!”
–Linda Windsor, award-winning author of The Piper Cove Chronicles and The Fires of Gleannmara

“Shepherd’s Fall captures the reader with vivid characters, a relentless pace, and a heart-pounding conclusion that explodes like an emotional roller-coaster.”
–Terry Brennan, author of The Sacred Cipher

“W. L. Dyson’s Shepherd’s Fall is a fast-paced, suspenseful tale full of twists and turns that will keep readers flipping the pages until the last sentence. Dyson is a master at penning heart-wrenching emotion laced into action, with a strong thread of the Father’s redeeming love interwoven into the prose. This is a ‘don’t miss’ series. I’ve fallen in love with the characters at Prodigal Recovery Agency and anxiously await the next installment.”
–Robin Caroll, author of the Bayou Series (Bayou Justice, Bayou Corruption, Bayou Judgment, Bayou Paradox, Bayou Betrayal and Blackmail)

“Shepherd’s Fall will not disappoint anyone looking for action, danger, and suspense. This novel is a true page-turner. Good News: The book was outstanding. Bad news: We have to wait for more.”
–Glenn L. Rambo, twenty-year police veteran in New Jersey, currently holding the rank of Lieutenant

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: WaterBrook Press (April 14, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1400074738
• ISBN-13: 978-1400074730
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.9 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #965,476 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Born in Silver Spring, Md. in 1955, Wanda left Maryland at the age of 18 to see what the world had to offer. After living in NYC for a year, it was off to TN, then OH, MA, NJ, FL, PA, DE, and finally back to Maryland just before the release of her first book. She currently lives on a 125 acre horse farm in Western Maryland with 12 horses, her German Shepherd, Maya, Australian Shepherd, Dusty, various chickens, barn cats, and two pet rabbits. She still likes to travel, but prefers to visit for a week or two rather than move there. Although her recent week-long trip to Ireland made her long to move for the sake of adventure just one more time.

She is currently working on another high-octane suspense novel. You can visit her website for her appearance schedule, book release updates, and more at www.WandaDyson.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Family You Can't life with them Can't Live Without Them, April 14, 2009

By 

Nora A. Stlaurent "TBCN Founder" (Georgia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Shepherd's Fall (The Prodigal Recovery Series, Book 1) (Paperback)

W.L. Dyson has penned a story full of police action and suspense, interwoven with the theme of family. How do these police - bounty hunter type men - do family and how do the woman in their lives make them or break them?

Nick is the firstborn in their family, which means his father has left him in charge of their family business - bounty hunting. His father, Nickolas Shepherd, has left one-third of the business to each of his three children: Marti, Steve and Nick. Things haven't been the same since pop died. Their mom is sick and Nick, along with his siblings, are doing all they can to keep the business afloat.

Nick has been all consumed with the business to the extent of neglecting his own family. His wife has divorced him - she couldn't wait on Nick forever - she had a life to live. Nick's daughter is trying to get his attention by breaking the law - maybe she could see her dad that way. He's missed all her school functions - maybe he'll show up to bail her out. Nick is furious that Krystal has shoplifted. But, she reminds him that he hasn't been there for her. Krystal thinks to herself, "The only time they acted like parents was when she got into trouble." She had finally found what would get their attention and some love. Nick began thinking "no wonder God didn't answer his prayers anymore. He's done the same thing with God (as he had done with his family). He just lived his life his way, and expected God to be there to handle the things he didn't want to deal with. ...Never listened to God; never considered God's opinions. God, do this, God, do that." That's no way to live. No wonder his wife divorced him and his daughter has rebelled. Nick struggles with "how" to do family on all fronts -- from his ex-wife, his daughter, his brother Steve, and Marti, his sister. Everyone wanted more from him. He was failing everywhere and everyone; even failing to hold the business together.

It took the kidnapping of his daughter to bring life as he's known it, to a screeching halt. What's important in life anyway? Nick faces the biggest challenge of his life so far, and clearly sees what is very important in his life -"family". This is such a high price to pay for his blunder.

But, now he knows that in order in insure his daughters safety, he has to work as a team with his family. Can he do this? He'll die trying!! You will definitely want to read how this ends.

Finding Hope Through Fiction
[...]

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars fast-paced crime thriller, April 17, 2009

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Shepherd's Fall (The Prodigal Recovery Series, Book 1) (Paperback)

Prodigal Recovery Agency Nick Shepherd wonders how he got into his current personal mess. Besides the fact that he owns one third of a failing bounty hunter business inherited form his late dad, his two siblings Steven and Marti denote dysfunctional, his mom is in an Alzheimer's nursing home, his former wife Jessica tortures him with her demands and their daughter Krystal is rebelling. Still his agents like Matt Connor and Rafe Constanza are the best especially with watching each other's back

Though he has doubts about taking on the search for the runaway hooker meth addict Zeena Bantham, Nick agrees as he needs the money and the firm needs the reputation as the business is falling apart. While on the case, Nick meets Zeena's sister, cancer victim Anne McNamara who insists on being part of the hunt. However, as he comes closer to finding the "tweeter", someone abducts Krystal and unaware of that moment threatens Marti as Nick's past has returned with a vengeance to disrupt his already screwed up present and probably destroy his at best shaky future.

This fast-paced crime thriller focuses on the life of a bounty hunter as his work intrudes on his family turning his once loving wife into a shrill and his once adulating offspring wondering if he will ever be there for her. Filled with action from the onset and a felon in plain sight, fans will relish this fine thriller as W.L Dyson shows she has the right stuff.

Harriet Klausner

4.0 out of 5 stars Would make a good TV series, September 14, 2011

By 

Trish Perry "www.trishperry.com" (Virginia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shepherd's Fall (The Prodigal Recovery Series, Book 1) (Paperback)

I'm late to the party on this one, but once I got to it, I found it a truly entertaining read. Dyson paints a vivid picture of the seedy side of life experienced by bounty hunters. She also shows how difficult it is for the hero to have a normal family life under his professional circumstances. For Nick Shepherd, a normal family of origin involves a father and siblings all in the risky business together. Anything more pedestrian than that is hard to pull off. But Nick tries, and that's why this story--which could have been a flat crime drama--is well rounded and identifiable for the reader. I could easily imagine a TV series based on Dyson's concept--I think it would be a hit.