Whispers of the Bayou (Paperback)

by Mindy Starns Clark (Author)
Key Phrases: Twin Oaks, Jimmy Smith, Uncle Willy (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

From the author of the popular Million Dollar Mysteries and Smart Chick Mysteries comes a new stand–alone novel full of hidden staircases, buried secrets, and the promise of hope found in knowing God.

Miranda Miller wasn’t looking for the news the day the letter came. But, trying to survive in troubled circumstances, she welcomes the chance to change her location for a period of time. The letter informs her that her grandparents’ estate is finally about to become hers. She immediately heads down to Louisiana and the old house by the bayou. There Miranda finds secrets that lead to life–changing revelations.

This suspenseful story reminiscent of old Gothic tales has a complex mystery and a vivid sense of the Deep South. It shows how God can take the darkest circumstances and use them to light a bright path leading to the future.

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (January 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0736918795
• ISBN-13: 978-0736918794
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #17,967 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #11 in	Books > Religion & Spirituality > Fiction > Mystery
  #44 in	Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Literature & Fiction > Mystery

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Faith filled mystery chock full of suspense and thrills, April 11, 2008

By	Christina Lockstein "http://christysbookblog.... (Oconto Falls, WI USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

Whispers of the Bayou by Mindy Starns Clark is full of twists and turns and family secrets. Miranda Miller's life is going according to plan, even if it isn't perfect, when she's suddenly attacked and then gets word that she needs to return to her family's plantation in Louisiana. The caretaker is dying, but he insists that he has something that he can only tell her in person. Miranda takes her daughter and falls into a twisted history of secrets and lies that may cost not only her life, but those she loves as well. For just a few hundred pages, Clark manages to pack an enormous amount of plot into this well-crafted thriller. Secret societies with mysterious secrets, long-long parents and lovers, murder and betrayal, this book has it all, but without sacrificing plausibility or character development. Miranda is a smart, interesting character who learns about faith and trusting others. Every time I turned the page another bomb was dropped; I couldn't put the book down.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Secrets of the Past, February 14, 2008

By	Mark Baker (Santa Clarita, CA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Miranda Miller thought she had her life together. She enjoys her job as an art restorer. She's married to a nice guy with a great 5 year old daughter. She's living life in the fast lane in New York City and loving it.

But all that changes on day. First, a man comes in with a painting he wants restored. Yet he seems more interested in a strange symbol on it then the painting itself. Then she is attacked while walking to meet her aunt for lunch. Yet the men leave her alone after examining her scalp.

As if that weren't strange enough, Miranda's Aunt Janet tells her that Willy Pedreaux wants to see her before he dies. Willy was the caretaker of Miranda's grandparent's estate in Louisiana. But Miranda hasn't been there since her mother died when Miranda was 5 years old. What secret could Willy possibly have to tell her? And will going back dredge up all kind of painful memories?

Mindy Starns Clark has quickly become a favorite author, so I was looking forward to reading this stand alone novel. It started out strong with plenty of questions, but then it stalled for about 100 pages or so. Fortunately, things picked up and the book became a race to the end. The characters were real right from page one, which helped me maintain my interest the whole way through. While a Christian novel, the Christianity wasn't as prevalent as normal. However, I found that plot thread believable and just right for this particular novel.

Overall, I did enjoy this novel. It is sure to please the author's many fans and anyone looking for a good mystery.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inventive and Intriguing, January 13, 2008

By	Coppertop (Ohio) - See all my reviews

I very much enjoyed this new offering from Mindy Starns Clark. Like her other books, this has a great suspense plot and offers some very interesting twists. The question of who "Cass" was definitely took me by surprise as well as all the family connections.

I would say that I don't think the Christian plot is as strong as it could be. I really felt it was more of an addition to already complete story than an integral part of the plot and that disappointed me. The same with the issues with her husband. You could see them working out in Miranda's head, but not having him present for the process really took away from it - as well as having them come to their Christian realizations separately.

The plot was great, but I did feel like it all sort of just "fell" together at the end. For the most part, it was believable and worked, but I would have liked to see more discovery over time - like with Miranda's family background.

I think this is a well-written book and definitely one that will grip your interest, but I think in Clark's switch from series to stand-alone fiction, she needs to work on spreading out the discovery more as she doesn't have more books to work it in, so needs to start earlier. Or she could just go back to series - I personally love series!