I’m grateful to Lone Star Lit for first introducing me to DiAnn Mills and her amazing suspense novels, and I was quick to jump on a chance to read her newest release Fatal Strike when offered! This book did not disappoint! Read on to find out what I thought of it AND be sure to enter the giveaway at the end for a chance to win your own copy of the book and a Starbucks gift card from the coffee-loving author!

I have been provided a copy of the book for review purposes. All opinions are my own. #sponsored

FATAL STRIKE
by
DiANN MILLS

Genre: Romantic Suspense / Clean Romance / Christian
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Date of Publication: September 3, 2019
Number of Pages: 400

Scroll down for giveaway!

There’s a killer on the loose in Galveston, targeting law enforcement officials and using a fatal injection of snake venom to take them down. Authorities have reasons to believe the Veneno gang is behind the hits, and FBI Agents Leah Riesel and Jon Colbert team up to track down those responsible. Their best lead is an eyewitness who identifies a young man dumping the third body on a church doorstep. But their suspect has gone into hiding, and those closest to him are reluctant to reveal anything that might help investigators find him.

As Leah and Jon check connections among the victims and dig deeper into motives, they discover appearances may be deceiving. Someone is desperate to keep their secrets hidden, and Leah and Jon must face their greatest fears in order to stop the next fatal strike.

PURCHASE LINKS

Amazon ◆ Barnes & Noble  ◆  Books-A-Million
 Indiebound ◆ Christianbook.com  ◆  Google Play
  Apple iBooks  ◆   Kobo  ◆ Murder by the Book ◆  Tyndale 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I’m not even sure where to start with this suspenseful thriller! Fatal Strike is an excellent example of DiAnn Mills’ fast-paced plots, which are chock full of twists and turns. This is a tightly-written tale – the dialogue is crisp and every scene is purposeful.

The storyline is complex, taking on gang violence (with a really creative method of murder) and illegal drugs. The book hurtles along at a fast pace with all of Mills’ trademark misdirection and twists. I think the biggest difference in this book was the layers of misdirection – it felt like everyone has a secret or something to hide, and no one was quite who they seemed.

The main characters, too, are real and complex – smart and professional, but carrying their own baggage. Leah’s total fear of snakes – in light of a case that involves rattlesnake venom – quickly humanizes her in a situation where she could easily fall into a stereotypical hard-nosed FBI agent. The glimpses of her own relationship with her parents dovetails nicely with the complexity of emotions felt by Silvia Ortega, mother of one of the suspects.

In FBI snipers Jon and Leah, we have two Type-A, take-charge alphas learning to work together, and so it is fascinating watching both their working relationship and their romance develop. While their chemistry and the underlying tension it creates is an interesting addition to the storyline, however, it is not the focal point. (Confession: while the book opens with a sniper situation, we don’t see that all that much of this aspect of their work later in the book, and I would have loved to see more of it and how it affects their lives. This doesn’t detract from the book – it’s just a selfish wish.)

The story uses a multiple third-person point of view. While we view most of the plot from the perspective of Leah, there are chapters that give us a view of the thoughts of Silvia Ortega, the mother of one of the suspects. This adds a layered and emotional nuance to the novel that I wasn’t expecting.

This book falls into the Christian category, but the treatment here is more philosophical and spiritual than preachy. Father Gabriel’s steadfast convictions and faith in his work are at odds at times with the work the FBI agents are trying to do, but he is unwavering. He is a fascinating and complicated character.

This was a hard-to-put-down and enjoyable read. If you like layered, suspenseful police procedurals with a touch of romance, this is the book for you!

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She weaves memorable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels. DiAnn believes every breath of life is someone’s story, so why not capture those moments and create a thrilling adventure? 

Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol Award contests. 

DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. She is the director of the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference, Mountainside Marketing Retreat, and the Mountainside Novelist Retreat with social media specialist Edie Melson where she continues her passion of helping other writers be successful. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country. 

DiAnn has been termed a coffee snob and roasts her own coffee beans. She’s an avid reader, loves to cook, and believes her grandchildren are the smartest kids in the universe. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas. She’s very active online and loves to connect with readers.

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GIVEAWAY!

FOUR WINNERS: Personalized Hard Copies of Fatal Strike
+ $25 Starbucks Gift Cards
September 3-13, 2019
(US Only)

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