Portrait of Vengeance
by Carrie Stuart Parks
Pub Date 08 Aug 2017
Thomas Nelson--FICTION,Thomas Nelson
Christian| General Fiction \(Adult\)


Thomas Nelson-Fiction and Netgalley sent me a copy of Portrait of Vengeance to review:


An unsolved case. It's a tempest of memories. Time's running out-and the future's at stake.
The pain of her past has been boxed up well by Gwen Marcey. In investigating the case of a missing child in Lapwai, Idaho, she keeps finding details that seem eerily similar to her childhood traumas. There's no such thing as a coincidence for her. So what's going on?


No one knows the past like the Nez Perce of Lapwai. Gwen finds herself unwelcome in some places, making her investigation harder. There's a lot of questions, but no answers-and the clock is ticking for a missing little girl. Meanwhile, Gwen's ex-husband is threatening to take sole custody.


She's in a desperate race for the truth as her past and present collide. She'll only have a future if she tells the truth.


I give Portrait of Vengeance five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

Portrait of Vengeance is Parks's best novel yet. The deep character development and personal struggles that Gwen Marcey go through in this novel are fascinating. The flashbacks, questioning, and exploring of her past is intriguing and keeps readers guessing, along with Gwen, to the very end. Parks does a wonderful job in creating mystery, leaving clues without giving anything away. Portrait of Vengeance is an intense novel that takes readers through the struggles one woman faces to come to terms with her past as a way of saving the future.

well written and atmospheric with a nice plot and characters. i enjoyed the book from start to finish and would recommend it!

Portrait of Vengeance is the fourth book in the Gwen Mercey series. It was really good, but my favorite of the series was the previous book, When Death Draws Near. I liked how we got to learn a lot more about Gwen's past in this book -- there were so many unexpected things revealed!

The suspense was great, as usual. I started the book and was drawn into the story right away. I didn't like the way the book ended (unless another book is planned? Then it is okay. ;)). I felt like I got left with some unanswered questions and I'm wondering how things are going to end up with Gwen. I really need a fifth story. lol

All in all, I really enjoyed Portrait of Vengeance and recommend the series if you like suspense. I do wish the ending would have had a bit more closure, but other than that is was an excellent read.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 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.*

Carrie Stuart Parks is an amazing author & storyteller.....Love her work...Don't miss this one. It's a page turner. Five Stars!!!

A missing child. And the past echoes - which actually might not be just echoes. This might be very personal for Gwen Marcey - as the circumstances are the same as what has happened to her.

Yay for another winner! This series consistently delivers all what I covet in my thrillers - a real, raw heroine, a heart-wrenching mystery with time to solve it running fast and the true personal issues.
And this time the conflict is the closest to the Gwen´s heart yet - her very personal history, hidden in her heart and never told to anybody. But the time is now to tell - and to review what she has thought was true. Might the real truth be different from the perceived one?

Gwen is relatable as always! And this time also her sidekick Beth has entered my heart, too (I usually find her sweetness being a bit overbearing, but this time Beth fight as well - and I have learnt to appreciate her true friendship to Gwen).

This time we don´t explore the religious issues, but not the less attractive topic - an American Indian history, as the case of missing child happens in Lapwai, Idaho - the Nez Perce tribal area.
(Actually, what is British royalty to the American reader, is Wild west and the American Indian motives to the European reader - a sentimental, romanticized topic.).
There is a lot of pain and anger in the hearts of the native Americans Gwen meets (and I am sure that their complaints are warranted. It is not easy to be member of the minority).
So the issue of forgiveness is in the air. Will you forgive the ones who had hurt you? Or who are constantly hurting you (like Gwen´s egoistical ex-husband Robert)?

I could not turn the pages fast enough!

And a very personal point - I am fully and wholeheartedly in the team Seth.

I've been wanting to try out the Gwen Marcey series for a while so when I got the chance to read this, book four in the series, did I not hesitate.

First I want to say that I was curious to see how this, a book labeled Christian mystery, would be like. I mean that's not often I come across a mystery book that is defined as a Christian one. And, as far as I can tell, after reading this book is it worked out OK. Not too preachy, just the mentioning of God now and then. Second, I was intrigued to discover that Gewn Marcey has had a double mastectomy. This is the first time I've come across that in a novel (I think) and I quite liked it because that's something that so many women have to do and I like reading books where the main character goes through situations that can happen to anyone.

However, Gwen's upbringing is definitely not normal and in this book, Gwen will learn more things about her past that will chock her. She's been running from the past for so many years, but now she finally can confront her demons. There was a moment went I thought that Gwen leaped to a conclusion without any proofs while she searched for information about her past. I mean sure, things can seem to be true, but I thought she would at least be a bit more skeptic and not take it at face value. However, I did find most of the book very interesting and I was pleasantly surprised by the ending. The funny thing is that I figured out who the killer was, and was a bit disappointed about that, but then Carrie Stuart Parks twisted the story and I must say that was a nice touch.

A great book and I look forward to reading the rest of the books in the series!

What an incredibly suspenseful book from Carrie Stuart Parks! I’ve only read the very first Gwen Marcey novel (A Cry From the Dust) but I’ve loved her writing since reading that book awhile ago. Anyone who enjoys action-packed suspense mystery with a very well-layered and detailed plot would love this book.

Ms. Parks’ writing is intense and fast-paced. It is written in first person past tense narrative, which isn’t necessarily my favorite but I forgot about my dislike of this kind of narrative as the story unfolded. I totally became engrossed in the story from page one of the book. The dialogue is fantastic and carries the plot along at a fast clip. The setting of the northwest corner of the country is fascinating since I’ve never visited that area of our vast land. My knowledge of the injustices our Native Americans suffered is limited, so I learned quite a bit of history as well through the book. The thread of faith, hope, and prayer, though not overt, was definitely present throughout the book, especially near the end. I loved that the story actually had two plots intertwined and the conclusion of the book explained both mysteries that Gwen had been unearthing.

The characters are fantastic. I didn't particularly like Gwen at the beginning. Though she is bullied by her ex-husband, Gwen really does come across as a selfish, self-absorbed woman who is irresponsible and unfocused. She has issues with her job, her daughter, and her boyfriend, and doesn’t seem to know what she wants out of life. At the end, though, Gwen does emerge more mature. She learns to extend forgiveness, grace, and mercy. She learns from her past and gives herself time and thought to figure out who she really is and what she really wants. Gwen has a wicked sense of humor, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Her best friend Beth is an awesome side-kick and clearly more level-headed and likable.

I knew from reading her first book that the villain will be someone who is a minor character that’s been given some spotlight. I kept a mental list of the minor characters to try and figure out who’d done it.....man, was I totally wrong. The plot took many twists and turns and rollercoaster rides to bring me to the conclusion and I was absolutely blown away.

Now I must go and catch up on the other two Gwen Marcey books that I’ve missed!

I was given a review copy of this book by Thomas Nelson via NetGalley. I was not required to write a favorable review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.

It was pretty fun to read this book and find my name in it. The murder happens here in Idaho so it was cool to read about a place I am not familiar with. Ms. Parks knows her field and brings it right into the book with clarity. The suspense keeps you on the edge of your seat. A great read!

A Portrait of Vengeance is the fourth Gwen Marcey novel, following When Death Draws Near, The Bones Will Speak, and A Cry from the Dust. Each novel centres on a crime or series of related crimes, with an underlying thread about Gwen’s relationship with her teenage daughter (not good) and her ex-husband (even less good).

But Portrait of Vengeance was unique in that it gave some of Gwen’s own personal history. This gave an insight into the person she has become, and showed us what she has overcome–not just the breast cancer and divorce we learned about in the earlier novels, but something of her childhood and upbringing.

As Gwen investigates the disappearance of a native American child from a small town in Idaho, she finds details which are similar to her own childhood memories. Is the person behind this disappearance the same person who destroyed her childhood? And what happens when the memories don’t make sense.

I don’t want to say too much, because it’s impossible without giving away spoilers. If you’ve read the previous Gwen Marcey novels, you’ll want to read this—it’s the best yet in terms of both the characters and the suspense. If you haven’t read any Gwen Marcey novels yet, and you enjoy Christian thrillers from authors such as Colleen Coble, then you’ll want to read this—but you might want to start with When Death Draws Near.

Recommended for those who enjoy fast-paced thrillers with great characters. Thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

This was very suspenseful and Miss Parks spun an extravagant and twisting tale. Full of great characters, it was a great read, especially for a rainy day in.

Portrait of Vengeance by Carrie Stuart Parks is the latest book in the Gwen Marcey series. In this book, forensic artist Gwen asks to be assigned to a case that is eerily similar to one she survived as a child. Gwen discovers a pattern of murders where a child goes missing and the murder itself is done with a hatchet. Soon, the mystery deepens and she finds herself in serious danger as the killer turns his sigts on her. This was the first book that I read in this series, but I was able to pick it up and was drawn in immediately. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys mysteries and thrillers. It was way too exciting at times and hard to predict. I can’t wait to read other books by this author! I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

The first few pages pulled me in right away. The scene was horrific and it made my skin crawl. From that moment on, I was completely immersed in the characters and where the story would lead them. The author teases the readers a bit with the opening by giving a glimpse into the dark world of unbelievable terror. I loved the details and couldn’t stop reading.

Gwen fascinated me right away. She had survived something horrible in her childhood but seemed pretty stable and very focused on her new job. Having a specialty with the police department is quite an achievement, but not everyone is impressed with her. Did anyone wonder why she was so quick to volunteer for a case that involved the disappearance of a child? The similarities of the case and her childhood have piqued her interest. Will she be able to handle this case, or will it cause her to have nightmares? I loved the way the author described Gwen’s job as a forensic artist. As she listens to the witness, she is able to draw an image that eerily resembles the suspect.

Her determination was uncanny and I loved her strong ability to continue on as her memories began to open up wounds that could hurt her. The tension runs high throughout the book and Gwen finds herself in danger . Is she getting to close to the truth? I really enjoyed the story and loved how Gwen stood strong on her faith. I know that is what helped her keep moving forward in finding out the truth.

This is a story that oozes with intrigue and twists that capture the writing of an exceptional author. I love her writing style and how she takes a character to the limits of danger without overdoing it. Gwen is a character that I can relate to on a personal level. Having been through something traumatic myself, I appreciate how her character was written with strength and survival. I’m glad she keeps it together and doesn’t play victim. This is one book that you must read if you love suspense and excellent characters.

I received a copy of this book from The Fiction Guild. The review is my own opinion.

It’s been a while since a book has caught my interest so much that I have stayed up way past my bedtime to read one more chapter. Then just one more. The author threw one curve ball after another, and yet, by the end, all the pieces fit neatly together. This is one of those books that won’t leave you shaking your head because the ending doesn’t fit.

The characters grow throughout the book; the character development was very good. The only thing that really bothered me was Gwen’s willingness to overlook how her boyfriend Blake treated her. She is a strong female lead, and it seems to me that she shouldn’t settle for someone who sulks and walks out if he doesn’t get his way. In the end, he does apologize, but it seems like he would be one of those men who do mean things and think everything is fine with just an apology.

I also liked that the book had some thoughts from the Bible that came up at appropriate times. How wonderful it was to find a book that wasn’t filled with cursing and sex!

I didn’t read the first three books in the series; although, I enjoyed this one so much, I would have liked to. It does work as a standalone. I highly recommend this book!

Carrie Stuart Parks gives outsiders a fascinating introduction to a forgotten corner of northern Idaho and Nez Pierce Indian Tribal life in Book Four of the Gwen Macey series. Like the author herself, heroine Gwen is a forensic artist with years of experience in reconstructing crime scenes and drawing composites of bad guys and their victims.

That strong grasp and deep knowledge of the central character's skills and thought processes gives the whole series a sharp, fresh, reality that keeps the reader turning the pages.

When the story opens Gwen's life is challenging on all fronts. The turbulence includes recovering from a double mastectomy, handling divorce and the contested custody of her teenage daughter, and uncertainty about her job security..

When Gwen is sent to Lapwai, center of government for the Nez Pierce, after the parents of a four year old are found butchered in their home, and their child gone missing, she is assailed by personal self doubt and emotional insecurity prompted by a sense of personal failure over the collapse of her marriage.

It soon becomes clear the case sets off a tsunami of nightmarish recollections from her own childhood, and the story unfolds at a fast pace from there, with multiple other deaths, several attacks on Gwen's life, and the resurfacing of still-smouldering grievances from the 1970s and the activities of the American Independence Movement (AIM) all part of a tumultuous story line.

In a postscript Carrie Stuart Parks explains that she wrote the book at the suggestion of her husband Rick, who was fascinated with the Nez Pierce and had some connection with the (real life) prosecution case against Leonard Peltier, a native American activist convicted of gunning down two FBI officers in the 1970s whose case has been taken up by Amnesty International.

In common with other books in the Gwen Macey series, this sense of past history is a key element in the story that develops, giving it a dimension beyond that of a straight suspense read. The other element is, of course, the Christian sub text, which is present but never obstructs or bogs down the fast pace of the story telling.

I really enjoyed this very skilful interweaving of the key threads - Gwen's personal story, the case she is working on, and the wider social and historical setting - into the final work.

Gwen is a fallible, sometimes infuriating, but very real protagonist, plagued with the self doubt and questioning we all sometimes engage in, and the relationship with her best friend Beth provides a good foil to her negative self talk. I especially enjoyed the rapid fire dialogue these two engage in, as well as Beth's quirky habit of "vocabulary expansion" and the crazily detailed ways Gwen describes colors, her artist's eye discerning the many permutations of "blue" or "green."

All this to say Portrait of Vengeance is a strong addition to the Gwen Macey series, Offering enthralling suspense, a frantic stretch of story lines, and a compelling narrative. Do one or two of the final resolutions challenge belief? Yes, maybe, but in the interests of "no spoilers" I'll leave you to decide that for yourself. Getting there will be an entertaining and thought provoking ride into modern story telling.

OH. MY. GOSH! This series keeps getting better and better with each book! I love Gwen! I love her never give up spirit, her love of her family and friends and her passion for justice.

One of the reasons I like Gwen is her life isn’t simple. She is struggling to maintain a job, she is a breast cancer survivor, she is dealing with a jerk of an ex-husband, it’s not pretty. Like real life.

This story answers a lot of questions for Gwen and her past. I found myself crying for her and with her. And I also cheered for her at the end of the book.

This series has been so good. With the answer Gwen gets in this story it will be interesting to see where the author takes the series. I can hardly wait for the next one!

Disclaimer: I did receive a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, I was not required to give a review and the opinions here are my own.

Portrait of Vengeance is intense, abundant in serious mysteries and thrills, aggressive in it's way how it gets you so enthralled in the story. This book is so alarmingly enjoyable in how the author takes you to such depths and you enjoy it. You find yourself feeling yet once again fortunate to be in the mind of Gwen because her mind is amazing and how she figures things out, and how she see things and picks up things - it is so incredible - and sometimes you want to scream out to her - no - don[['t go there Gwen - don't think that you're right - get out - but you are spellbound and have to read on to see what happens to her especially here where there are too many coincidences to her past (that you finally get to find out) - as to this case - so what is going on and that jerk of an ex-husband)while all this is happening wants to take her life away (her daughter) - you will not believe what happens - extraordinary - unreal.

Another exciting Gwen Marcey story from Carrie Stuart Parks!
Character and action are top-of-the-line!
Suspenseful, action-packed, nail-biting mystery!

Ever since I received her very first novel, Carrie Stuart Parks is one of my not to be missed authors. I absolutely love her character Gwen Marcey, a broken but tenacious woman who struggles daily to deal with everything life has dealt her. Somehow she manages to keep going and excels at her job as a forensic artist.

I am fascinated with the details of Gwen’s occupation and the author’s own experiences in the field bring authenticity to the books. “Portrait of Vengeance” is an intense read in which Gwen’s mysterious past clashes with her current case. The similarities are overwhelming and bring forth long buried memories for Gwen. Life threatening events and a police department that obviously is not trilled with her presence only make her work harder to solve her case.

I am hooked on Parks’ Gwen Marcey novels and hope that she will continue the series indefinitely. It’s also fun to see Gwen show up in cameo roles in another favorite author’s books.

This is the 4th book in the Gwen Marcey series and I think it’s my favorite. As a forensic artist for The Interagency Major Crimes Unit, Gwen is drawn to a case that is close to where her parents were murdered. She soon begins to wonder if perhaps the case is connected to what happened to her when she was a teen. The case unfolds steadily. The danger and action keep ramping up. There are BIG twists that are quite surprising. I felt like I was on the case too, trying to solve it before anyone else died.
Gwen is a great character. She is funny. She is real. She struggles to get things right in her relationships. She has conversations in her head with her ex-husband. She is a cancer survivor fighting to keep her daughter and her job. Her friend Beth, who probably watches too many cop shows, loves to get involved in her cases, as does her dog, Winston.
The fact that the author is a forensic artist lends such credibility and realism to the details of the book. Learning about how crime scene sketches are done was fascinating. There is a lot more to forensic art than I ever knew about. It made for a very interesting read.
Thank you to Thomas Nelson for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. I was not required to leave a positive review. All opinions are my own.
Gwen Marcey Series:
Book 1: A Cry From the Dust
Book 2: The Bones Will Speak
Book 3: When Death Draws Near
Book 4: Portrait of Vengeance