Selena De La Cruz has a problem. Just before All Souls' Day someone entered the names of nine people in her church's Book of the Dead, seeking prayers for their souls. The problem? All nine are still alive. Until they start getting murdered . . . one by one . . . in the precise order their names were entered in the Book of the Dead . . . and always right after a local visionary sees a mysterious woman known as The Blue Lady. Is she the Virgin Mary warning the next victim? Lady Death, the Aztec goddess, come to claim another soul? Or someone less mystical, but deadly nonetheless? Selena doesn't know but had better find out: only a few souls on that list have not yet been murdered, and the last name on it is . . . Selena De La Cruz.
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"VIPER strikes fast and sinks its teeth in you." Tony Perona, author of Second Advent
"The cultural underpinnings that color Viper are rich, diverse and well researched, and its action and dialogue will have you instantly connecting with Selena De La Cruz." Lisa Hendey, CatholicMom.com
"Desjarlais handles the Hispanic aspect of the novel so expertly that I truly felt I knew Selena. Top notch mystery with great characters." CatholicFiction.net
"A don't miss it page turner that blends ancient Aztec mysticism, Catholic Mariology, and a good old-fashioned whodunit." Mike Manno, author of Murder Most Holy
"VIPER delivers not just mystery and mayhem, but clashes of all sizes and shapes -- between traditional and modern Hispanic cultures, Catholic and Aztec religions, male and female partners in law enforcement, visionaries and skeptics, romantic and hard-nosed lovers. Read it!" Rae Stabosz, Pauline Media blogger
"This book isn't just smart; it's also fast and edgy and laced with murderous tension. Read VIPER, and then do like I'm doing and go get BLEEDER, the first mystery novel by Desjarlais. Or better yet, do it the other way around. But don't miss these books!" Tina Whittle, author of The Dangerous Edge of Things
About the Author
A former producer with Wisconsin Public Radio, John Desjarlais teaches journalism and English at Kishwaukee College in northern Illinois.
A former producer with Wisconsin Public Radio, John Desjarlais teaches journalism and English at Kishwaukee College in northern Illinois. His first novel, The Throne of Tara (Crossway 1990, 2000), was a Christianity Today Readers Choice Award nominee, and his medieval thriller, Relics (Thomas Nelson 1993, 2009) was a Doubleday Book Club Selection. Bleeder and Viper (Sophia Institute Press 2009 and 2011) are the first two entries in a contemporary mystery series. His work has appeared in periodicals such as Student Leadership Journal, U Magazine, The Critic, On Being, Student Soul, Apocalypse, The Upper Room, The New Pantagruel, Dappled Things, The Karitos Review and The Rockford Review. He took Honorable Mention in the 1997 Writers Digest Competition (essay), 2nd Place in Fiction in the 2004 Phidian Art Society of Illinois Contest and 1st Place in 2006. He holds an MA in Media from Columbia University and an MA in Writing from Illinois State University. A member of The Catholic Writers Guild, The Academy of American Poets and Mystery Writers of America, he is listed in Contemporary Authors, Who's Who in Entertainment, and Who's Who Among America's Teachers.
Sometimes being found is easier than you want it to be. Selena De La Cruz, is finding that out the hard way. A change in careers, from the police force to an insurance agent, with a fascination for working on cars,and expensive shoes she hoped she would be invisible. But aiding in some issues in her local congregation, lands her picture in the paper, and also her formerco-worker in her life again, with bad news. People are being murdered,thugs, and drug dealers. There seems to be a list left in a book at her church, and her name is the last name on the list. She has to avoid being murdered, and help solve who is murdering these other people. "The Snake" a former drug dealer that she helped to bust is the prime suspect, but can it be proven before Selena finds herself in the news as the last victim killed on the list? A book steeped in Catholicism, and the traditions of the Catholic church, and the Hispanic culture, this book will definitely catch your attention. A sequel to The Bleeder, it is also a book that stands alone. There are references from the storyline of the first book, but you didn't have to read it to get this book.
This book was provided for review purposes by Suspense Zone, 256 pages, 4 stars.
This book was provided for review purposes only and no payment was received for this review.
This book has an intriguing plot, a perfect balance between mystery and faith and very strong characters. Desjarlais weaves faith into the plot without distoring faith or overpowering nor watering down the conflict at hand. Just when you think you got it figured out, something happens that forces you to turn that page. The Viper is a believable and scary character a good match for the main character (and my favorite): Selena de la Cruz. I identified with her honesty, her spunk, her doubts, her faith, her daring attitude, and needless to say her love of cars and fine shoes! Desjarlais shows us both the strength and humanity of Selena, against the dark world of the Viper. It's Latina vs Viper all the way... who will win? and how? You can only find out when you read it!
This was a tense murder mystery novel that kept me reading. A real page turner on who will die next with a main character as the last person on the list. Will she find the culprit before it is too late?
Viper is the sequel to Bleeder, which featured Reed Stubblefield's story, but it functions well enough as a stand-alone thriller. Selena loves sexy shoes, working on cars, and Reed, although his Anglo heritage makes her worry about introducing him to the family. Abruptly, her past as a Special Agent in the DEA comes back to haunt her when she learns that La Serpiente is back. Her name's been found on a list where the only way off is when you are killed.
Viper immerses the reader in Hispanic culture as Selena deals with family problems as well as the more thrilling ones that threaten her life. The Catholic culture is less obvious although it is still important to Selena's life and to solving the mystery. Luckily for readers, Desjarlais navigates both well.
Viper is enjoyable although I found Selena's immersion in her culture made the story a bit one-dimensional. I'd have liked seeing her interact with others from outside the Hispanic or DEA community. That said, I found Viper an enjoyable thriller and am hoping there will be a third book where we get to see Selena and Reed together.
VIPER is John Desjarlais's sequel to BLEEDER. Having enjoyed the first novel so much, I snatched up the second as soon as I saw it in the bookstore. I was not disappointed.
John Desjarlais has the uncanny ability to at once take you on a seat-belt-tightening suspenseful ride of your life, immerse you in another culture, and have you live in his character's skins--whether they're Aristotelian professors or Latina maidens--and all at the same time.
His story-line is fast moving and never predictable...like the twists and turns of a country road at high speeds. Be warned, though, if you pick up VIPER, you need to carve out nice niche of time to finish it because--once you fall into the Viper's lair--you won't be able to crawl out.
In the book of Genesis, it is written "I will make you enemies of each other: You, serpent, and the woman. She will crush your head and you will strike at her heels." (Genesis 3:15) That quote serves as the inspiration for John Desjarlais' latest work of Catholic fiction, "Viper," a compelling mystery that will keep readers in suspense.
Selena De La Cruz, a woman with a fondness for expensive footwear, is an insurance agent trying to forget her past as a drug enforcement agent. When her name shows up on a short list of people to be murdered, she is forced to face her demons - both literally and figuratively. Meanwhile, Jacinta, a young Latina, has been seeing visions in a cemetery of a "Blue Lady" many believe to be Our Lady of Guadalupe. "The Blue Lady calls for prayer and repentance, and then announces judgment upon those who are victimizing her children and bringing shame upon her people." The individuals on the hit list have been killed one by one within forty-eight hours of when the visions occur.
A man known only as "The Snake" is the primary suspect. All of the targets, including Selena when she was working undercover, have had dealings with him. His calling card is the snake venom left in his victims.
"Viper" is rooted in Latin culture and religion. Selena is a woman trying to live in two worlds and not finding a home in either one. This is a classic who-done-it, but it is also a story of Selena's evolution as a woman. Desjarlais has woven a highly-readable tale that mystery lovers or fans of Catholic fiction will greatly enjoy.
