The Chase: A Novel (Crime Scene: Houston) [Paperback]

DiAnn Mills (Author)

Book Description

Release date: April 3, 2012 | Series: Crime Scene: Houston

To the FBI it's a cold case. To Kariss Walker it's a hot idea that could either reshape or ruin her writing career. And it's a burning mission to revisit an event she can never forget. Five years ago, an unidentified little girl was found starved to death in the woods behind a Houston apartment complex. A TV news anchor at the time, Kariss reported on the terrifying case. Today, as a New York Times bestselling author, Kariss intends to turn the unsolved mystery into a suspense novel. Enlisting the help of FBI Special Agent Tigo Harris, Kariss succeeds in getting the case reopened. But the search for the dead girl's missing mother yields a discovery that plunges the partners into a witch's brew of danger. The old crime lives on in more ways than either of them could ever imagine. Will Kariss's pursuit of her dream as a writer carry a deadly price tag? Drawing from a real-life cold case, bestselling novelist DiAnn Mills presents a taut collage of suspense, faith, and romance in The Chase.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Award-winning author DiAnn Mills is a fiction writer who combines an adventuresome spirit with unforgettable characters to create action-packed suspense-filled novels. DiAnn's first book was published in 1998. She currently has more than fifty books published. Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists and have won placements through the American Christian Fiction riter's Carol Awards and Inspirational Reader's Choice awards. DiAnn won Christy Awards in 2010 and 2011.

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (April 3, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310333172
• ISBN-13: 978-0310333173
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (90 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #88,690 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Award-winning author DiAnn Mills is a fiction writer who combines an adventuresome spirit with unforgettable characters to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels. DiAnn's first book was published in 1998. She currently has more than fifty books published.

Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists and have won placements through the American Christian Fiction Writer's Carol Awards and Inspirational Reader's Choice awards. DiAnn won the Christy Award in 2010 and 2011.

DiAnn is a founding board member for American Christian Fiction Writers and a member of Inspirational Writers Alive, Romance Writers of America, and Advanced Writers and Speakers Association. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country. DiAnn is also the Craftsman mentor for the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild.

She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent! March 21, 2012

By Iola

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Kariss Walker is an ex-TV news anchor-turned novelist who wants to move from women's fiction into suspense against the wishes of her agent. But she has a long-held desire to protect the children, and an unsolved crime from her TV days is calling to her. She calls in a favour and finds herself working in the Houston FBI office with Special Agent Santiago Harris (Tigo), reopening the Cherished Doe case. But Kariss is soon involved in Tigo's gang case, and things only get worse when Kariss witnesses a shooting and finds herself a target.

Christian Romantic Suspense is my favourite genre, and The Chase ticks all the boxes - likeable and intelligent heroine, hardworking and heroic hero, with a lot of action, some humour, a growing relationship, a strong cast of supporting characters and an underlying Christian theme.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Involved in . . . The Chase March 25, 2012

By Nicole Petrino-Salter

Format:Paperback

DiAnn Mills is a prolific bestselling author. You don't get to be either of those things without having a solid and abundant audience. The Chase is my first Mills' novel, and in reading this romantic suspense, not heavy on the romance, I can understand why she has steady readers. The Chase keeps what starts out as two simple plotlines evolving into complex issues with two primary conflicted characters leading the way.

FBI Special Agent Santiago Harris (Tigo) is the classic rogue player who will if necessary barge headlong into situations that could easily take him down. Successful author of women's fiction and former news anchor Kariss Walker has pursued the case of a young Hispanic girl coined "Cherished Doe" found starved to death near a Houston low-rent apartment district for several years. A now cold-case, she wants to write a novel about the girl, making it a suspense, and her uppity New York literary agent refuses to back her new effort. In order to re-investigate the case and do the proper research, Kariss engages her old friend in the FBI. He assigns her to the reluctant agent Tigo who's way deep in an investigation of gun running by a powerful Houston gang. Trying to figure out all the players through his informant turns out badly. When Kariss is inadvertently involved in a gang shooting at the hospital, Tigo now has to figure out how to protect her along with everything else.

A mutual admiration develops between the two with each one recognizing certain likable qualities in each other while respect forms. It isn't heavy-handed or silly attraction but it's there for both of them to fight off and deny.... The wide net of all suspected involvements by wealthy investors into this gang activity presents the frustrating problem of connecting all the links in this complex chain. During this process, Kariss aids and hinders the investigation making some stupid and life-threatening choices because of her desire to rectify some serious wrongs.

If I had to fault the story, I might suggest Kariss's parents came off a little too spiritually dogmatic and stereotypical, and Kariss as a co-protagonist wasn't easy to warm up to which was probably intentional. Some of her decisions might have conjured up her journalistic history with TV reporting, but, really?

For DiAnn Mills' fans I'm sure The Chase will provide satisfying entertainment. It's cleanly written with a variety of well-illustrated characters, and as the investigations seem to merge, the intensity escalates. DiAnn knows her audience, and this one will provide them with what they want and expect. Read more ›

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars So dumb July 5, 2012

By Antigone Walsh VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

While The Chase promise to be a fun summertime read, it fails to deliver. Bestselling author and former TV anchorwoman Kariss Walker wishes to change genres from women's fiction to suspense. She is hoping to fictionalize the tragic and brutal case of the death of a little girl into a suspense story. To do so,she uses the good will she generated while an anchor to get embedded with an FBI agent. The agent assigned to shepherd her is Tigo Harris, a manly man focused on eradicating a violent gang run gun cartel. Their initial antagonism merely masks a strong attraction and begrudging respect. As they begin with differing agendas, they end up with love and resolution of both the cases and all their clumsily contrived obstacles.

What I did like about this book was that the author was not afraid to imbue her characters with some values. Kariss is unembarrassed by her christianity and Tigo assumes responsibility for his ailing mother without whining or resentment. Both characters demonstrated restraint in their budding romance. Many romantic suspense novels read more like soft core porn and I, for one, prefer the less is more approach.

Unfortuantely, the rest of the novel is just dudmb. Kariss is one of the stupidest heroines in recent memory. She drives into a crime ridden ghetto with a new jaguar and then gets out of the safety of her car. Is it any surprise she is accosted and mugged? Stupidity is not an attractive feminine characteristic. She sticks her nose in where it doesn't belong and inteferes with Tigo's more dangerous investigations. Moreover, her problems are unbelievable. Few agents and publishers would drop a bestselling author because they want to try something new. It is far more likely that they would capitalize on it.... That she would gain entre into the FBI because she helped garner public support for some cases years ago is just ridiculous. Every station would be delighted to carry FBI news briefings. That she would even need to embed herself is silly. She is writing fiction after all, the same ripped from the headlines type nonsense that is seen so often. A little research would have provided her with all she needed to now about police procedure. Moreover, her family angst added nothing.

The story was bogged down with too many characters, inane dialogue and tiresome subplots. The storyline was completely predictable and that made it even more of a yawn. Without compelling romance and riveting suspense, this book was a bore. Read more ›

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Read March 26, 2012

By Sally

Format:Paperback

The protagonist, Kariss Walker, is a best selling author who wants to change genres; she now wants to write a suspense novel. The reader learns a bit about the publishing business when Kariss's agent refuses to allow Kariss to veer from her successful path of writing fiction for women, and they part ways.

Kariss shadows a FBI agent, Santiago (Tigo) Harris, for research and ends up attracted to him. Tigo, working on tracking down criminals involved in a gun smuggling operation, does not like the extra task of babysitting this nosy lady. A bit of romance ensues leaving the reader looking forward to the next installment of Kariss and Tigo.

One negative: I stumbled each time I came across an error that editing should have corrected. Perhaps some sharper editing eyes could be employed for future works.

This is a good read; it even solves a real FBI cold case. I appreciate the delicate touch used to weave in the Christian faith. Discussion questions are included making this a good choice for a book club read.

Thank you to Bonnie at Christian Fiction Blog Alliance and Zondervan for my copy.