Thrilling, gripping, and entertaining, the novel Private Justice, written by Terri Blackstock, kept me reading all night, way past my bedtime.

The whodunit story weaves a serial killer murder mystery in with a couple's estrangement. Separated due to a misunderstanding she believes he had an affair and he refuses to acknowledge that his actions were wrong fireman Mark Benning and his wife Allie must redefine their relationship while a serial killer stalks and murders fire wives. Blackstock mixes the Bennings' relationship with Christ into the storyline, along with the relationship of their friends and neighbors (including a combination priest-and-firefighter). The overall story comes of as intriguing without being preachy, entertaining and gripping without being gory all in all, a riveting read.

The best part of the mystery was the way Blackstone gives credence to two possible suspects. I initially felt she was being too heavy-handed until I reached the end and realized just how subtle she was. The addition of a third suspect was both realistic and heartrending, and his confrontation with the police literally broke my heart. Reading through, I felt the only thing that stood out as obvious in the story was the relationship with the suspect to the victims; I felt that the proximity revealed itself as obvious within the first five chapters and was surprised it took the police so long to determine it.

I also appreciated the realistic portrayal of the characters. I felt that the back-and-forth strain between Mark and Allie caught both of their emotions and reactions perfectly, even though I wanted to throttle them. In the end, it takes an act of supreme sacrifice for them to realize that their spouse loves them. I enjoyed the peek into the lives of the firefighters.

The only thing I have problems with is the shifting narrator, but that is a matter of personal taste. Blackstock consistently managed this without problems; it is always clear whose mind we are in at each point in the story.

Overall, the novel was enjoyable. It grabbed my attention from the first few pages and kept me riveted throughout. The conclusion was enjoyable and credible, and I can easily guess where the next book in the sequel is heading. Speaking of sequel, I need to investigate the matter further. Terri Blackstock has been added to my favorite author list. If this novel is any indication of her writing, she manages to write Christian literature in a gripping way I've yet to read, and a way I will enjoy experiencing over and over again.

Nola Redd

Freelance writer Nola Redd loves to write both fiction and nonfiction. She maintains a blog especially for small business owners and encourages you to drop by. She is also available if you need anyone to assist with your business writing.