Downfall

Downfall
Terri Blackstock
(Zondervan)
ISBN: 978-0310250685
February 2012/304 pages/$14.99

Emily Covington has turned her life around after a drug addiction, but her family still has trouble trusting her. Though Emily has committed herself to a year-long treatment program and has been sober for almost a year beyond that, even her mother walks on eggshells around her, fearing she’ll relapse. After her behavior during her drug years, Emily realizes she has a lot to prove.

When police discover a homemade bomb under Emily’s car, and she then learns the wife of one of her friends was murdered that same morning, she knows things are deadly serious.

But who wants Emily dead? And why?

A conversation she had with two men, an Alfred Hitchcock movie, and a plan for a double murder all conspire for one explosive ride ... and Emily is the only one who can identify the killer and save the life of the next potential victim.

As she frantically works to solve this ever more complicated puzzle, Emily finds herself playing right into the killer’s hands.



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Terri Blackstock (www.terriblackstock.com) has sold over six million books worldwide and is a New York Times bestselling author. She is the award-winning author of Intervention and Vicious Cycle, as well as such series as Cape Refuge, Newpointe 911, the SunCoast Chronicles, and the Restoration Series. Visit her website for more information, and like her Facebook page.

MY THOUGHTS:

I was captivated by Intervention (reviewed here) and Vicious Cycle (reviewed here), so I jumped at the chance to review this final book in the series. In a word: Wow! Terri Blackstock once again kept me riveted to the page into the wee hours. She has seamlessly showed the perspective of the story from various angles: Emily's struggles, her mother's roller coaster of emotions, Lance's experiences, and Homicide Detective Kent Harlan's professional and personal commitment. She even pulls back the killer's mask just enough to allow a glimpse into his/her mind without revealing who it is until the proper time. This is a chilling picture of the consequences of drug addiction and the seemingly harmless ways that it often begins. Terri's experiences that led to the writing of this series (explained in my review of the first book) give this novel a raw authenticity that can't be attained by mere research, and I often forgot I was reading fiction. I didn't just read this book; I experienced it. Although aimed for adults, this should be required reading for older teens. My girl is eagerly waiting for me to pass this book along to her as soon as my review is written!

STOP THE DOWNFALL Sweepstakes

In Downfall, the latest novel from New York Times bestselling author Terri Blackstock, Emily Covington has committed herself to recovery from addiction, but can she recover from the attempt on her life with the killer still on the run?

To celebrate this explosive conclusion to the Intervention Series, Zondervan and Terri Blackstock are pleased to announce the STOP THE DOWNFALL Sweepstakes.

Enter to win a $500 prize for yourself…plus another $500 for an addiction-based Christian ministry or church outreach of your choice!

Click here for more information and to enter!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Zondervan and Shelton Interactive as part of their Blogger Review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”