“Collision of Lies” by Tom Threadgill was certainly an action-packed novel of intrigue and suspense. This story begins with a closed case in which a school bus and a train crashed causing seventeen children, the driver and the two engineers were killed. It was designated as a tragic accident. Three years after the accident a San Antonio police received a plea from a woman whose son was killed on that bus. She positively believed that her son was alive and had texted her saying, “Mom, help me.” One detective took her story to heart and delved into the cold case, trying to determine if the tragedy was truly an accident.

I was totally engrossed in both the characters and the storyline of the novel as the detective called in markers and enticed other members of the department to look into the case again. No one could determine what else could have happened. When DNA testing disclosed that mistakes had been made in the identification of the dead, the case took on a greater interest. This also held my undivided interest until the reason for the “non-accident” was presented. I truly enjoy mysteries and police procedurals, but this sort of transformed into a sci-fi story. I could not accept the reason that people were killed and kidnapped and that deterred me from giving this novel five stars. Yes, I was totally engrossed, but I still couldn’t wrap my head around the solving of the crime and the end of the story. I will indeed read more of Mr. Threadgill’s novels unless I find the same scenario in his other writings.

I have not read anything by Tom Threadgill until I got my hands-on Collision of Lies. Oh, my goodness, this book had me hooked from the page one. I could not put it down until I was finished with the very last page. It is an action-packed thrill of a ride. It is full of mystery and suspense with lots of twists that I did not see coming. I loved this book!
I am giving Collision of Lies five plus stars. I would love to catch up with the other books by Tom Threadgill in the future. Readers who enjoy a fast paced suspense filled book.
I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.

"Power and money. Everybody wants them. But if you've already got them, there's something far more important."

Collision of Lies by Tom Threadgill will keep you on the edge of your seat, reading at a breakneck speed and hungry for more. The author has certainly mastered the ability of duality in this high-tense drama. Collision of Lies is humorous and serious, slow and fast, expertly mixing the mundane with the thrilling until everything swirls together into a story that is both haunting and exciting. Local cop drama plus international intrigue equals one incredible story.

Detective Amara Alvarez, with the San Antonio Police Department, Property Crimes Division, is ready to transfer to homicide, and the waiting is excruciating. A chance encounter at her favorite diner one morning sets off a chain of events that will test her detective abilities and her resolve to do whatever necessary to unearth the truth on a case that was solved and closed with absolutely no hint at anything more sinister than a suicidal bus driver. Nothing about Collision of Lies is ordinary or stale. The plot is unique, the characters are painted with an extremely colorful brush (including a pet iguana named Larry), and the twists and surprises will keep you riveted. No dramatic irony here because the reader finds out everything bit by bit right along with the main characters.

Even though the clues take their sweet time drifting in, the plot remains thoroughly engaging and fast paced, with a sense of urgency and bewilderment building to a fever pitch. What exactly happened on that fateful day three years ago in Cotulla, Texas, when a freight train slammed into a school bus full of children?

Tom Threadgill delivers a story so outlandish and so intricate that you can't help but fall headlong into it and come up believing that it could all really happen, and on an international stage no less. If that sounds cryptic, then good. Racing through the pages to discover the truth alongside Detective Alvarez and all the others must be experienced and fully appreciated firsthand. The entertainment level is off the charts in Collision of Lies, and great news! This is just book one.

I received a free copy of this book from Lone Star Book Blog Tours in exchange for my honest review.

This year is churning out remarkable reading experiences, and this latest read is by far one of my favorites!

With an opening chapter that grabs hold of you and doesn't let go until its very contemplative ending, this book will take you on a ride unlike any other. It's hard for me to believe that my reflections on this story will adequately give it the justice it so deeply deserves. There is so much to unpack, but as with any thriller or mystery, it's best to go into it with as little information as possible in order to feel the complete impact this book has to offer. However, with every ounce of bias I have, let's just say that I was blown away!

"I feel like this whole thing is right there on the fringes. Like some great conspiracy that's got just enough semi-facts to make it plausible, but not enough to make it believable."

Masterfully told, this intricate plot posits the idea that perhaps the most tragic accident the town of Cotulla ever experienced may have in fact been a lie. Three years after those catastrophic events, a victim's family receives an unknown text simply stating "Help me, Mom." What initially begins as a quiet, internal examination into a potentially bad prank gradually unleashes a torrent of law enforcement expertise to unveil an extensive cover up. With immense compassion and the right amount of curiosity, detective Amara Alvarez solidifies her footprint among other great female investigators in the suspense genre. This story is smart, perceptive, riveting, fast paced, and incredibly hard to put down. Short, suspense filled chapters keep the pace moving at breakneck speed and the pages flying!

Readers follow Amara in this spectacular view of the criminal investigation as well as bearing witness in her pursuit towards becoming a homicide detective, a vastly different line of work than her current assignment in property crimes. All along the way, we see how committed she is to her profession and the proficiency she displays that will continue to make her successful. This opportunity to watch the case unfold alongside Amara is captivating to read and will tug at every emotion. There is a sneak peek into the next book of the series, which I CANNOT wait for now! Especially to see more of the ME, Dr. Pritchard, an eccentric individual with an affinity for explaining idioms and developing creative methods to enjoy annoyingly messy snacks. Every character has a personality, and it will be hard not to enjoy every minute of their company.

Though the book is published by a Christian fiction publisher, the story will have you reevaluating any preconceived notions you might have had about that label. In an author interview for a previous post on the blog tour, which you can check out HERE, the author states that while his faith dictates how he will write, it doesn't include a heavy dose of religion: "I'm writing to entertain, not convert, and trying to be true to what I believe." In his hands, the author's deft storytelling has crafted a narrative to rival the more mainstream bestsellers without graphic language, sex, or violence.

This book delivers thrilling suspense and action that keeps coming to the very end and should not be missed!

5 stars
I have never read anything from author Tom Threadgill before so I did not know what to expect with this book. I was so surprised! Holy buckets this is a good book. I loved the quirky, true to life characters, the plotline was brillant and the writing was spot on. I was instantly drawn into this book from the very first page and barely set the book down until I was finished. Clear your calendar when you start this book because you will absolutely not be able to put it down. I will most definitely be reading more of Threadgill’s books.
I so highly recommend this book and I cannot wait for the next one in the series!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. The views given are my own.

Every once in a while, all the elements come together and turn an interesting plot into a great story. Such is the case with Collision of Lies. I was very quickly hooked, and I much enjoyed turning the pages. I could have finished the book several days earlier, but I dragged it out because the story was so enjoyable.

This book is classified as contemporary christian suspense. I can agree with contemporary and suspense, but I didn’t really feel any christian aspect. It certainly wasn’t anti-christian, but I don’t remember reading anything that would push it into that genre. Maybe I just missed it.

Christian or not, Collision of Lies is the best suspense story I’ve read in quite a while. Let me tell you why.

**Why I Liked Collision of Lies so Much**

Although the story centers around the detectives of a big city police department, I wouldn’t call it a cop story. I like cop stories, but this one had more to it. The story wasn’t about the detectives (and the FBI), yet they were the vehicle that kept the story moving along.

I thought the mix of characters was very good! It is so easy to stereotype detectives and FBI agents in novels, but Threadgill did a commendable job of avoiding that. In a sense, he made the ordinary extraordinary.

For example, detective Amara Alvarez, our protagonist, does commendable work in a somewhat boring job. She’s divorced. Yes, I know this is borderline stereotypical, but the author adds more so the character doesn’t fall into that bucket. Amara has a large family and has dinner with them every Sunday at her mama’s house. But she wants more. She gets more, but in a very roundabout way. Further, she’s the only detective I’ve seen in a story who has a pet iguana at home. If that isn’t unusual enough, even the iguana has a pretty cool personality.

Similarly, Threadgill employs similar devices with the other characters to keep everything original and fresh. I’d dig into it more, but I’d rather you just enjoy it for yourself.

Here’s something else I found unusual - in a good way. The crescendo to the climax actually starts at the end of the first chapter. (That’s the hook.) Most of the rest of the story is specific in getting us to that climax.

Lastly, I thought the ending was quite unusual for a story like this - if there are any other stories like this. I won’t say whether I considered it good or bad. If I piqued your curiosity, you can read the story and form your own opinion.

**Technically Speaking**

The book I read was not the final copy, so I will not comment on SPAG issues. (Even if I did, I wouldn’t really have anything to write about.)

The pacing was perfectly on point! As I said, the build to the climax starts very early, but the pacing keeps the action in check. This is one of those stories where you might want to skip a few pages ahead to see what happens, but you don’t because you don’t want to miss a thing!

The character arcs are plentiful and very believable. Even some of the minor characters had some pretty good arcs.

The best news, however, is that this is only book one of this series! Whoa! If Tom Threadgill can make the other books in this series just as good, it will easily become one of my favorites!

I very highly recommend this story!

This is the first book I've read by Tom Threadgill, and it won't be the last! Edge of your seat story.
Amara Alvarez is a detective in San Antoni having breakfast in a local diner listening to a couple having what seems to be an argument with the man getting loud and the woman crying. Customers were leaving, Amara most certainly was not having her usual relaxing time there. Imagine her surprise when the couple tells her the reason for their conversation, not really an argument. There had been a school bus crash into a train three years earlier where all children and the driver were killed. The mother received a text message, which she believes to be from her son who was on that school bus on that fateful day. Her husband is begging her to understand it is not possible as their child died three years earlier.
This conversation eventually leads to other things and opens up the investigation. What if? What if the children declared dead weren't on the bus at the time of the crash? What if? What if those bodies didn't belong to them? Whose bodies could they be? Why would anyone want to kidnap that many children? The possibilities are absolutely horrifying. How can they possibly go to the parents of all those children and reveal that their children may be alive, but they don't know where? This must be kept very quiet, for if the children weren't on that bus, and are still alive, the kidnappers may panic and put their lives in grievous danger.
This story had me from the beginning. If you enjoy Christian fiction with action, suspense, a bit of romance, this is a must read!
I was given a complimentary copy by the publisher, Revell and Netgalley. I was under no obligation to give a positive review.

Fantastic book!!! Wow, I really enjoyed this one. Not only was a female the lead in the story, she was believable and didn't make decisions based on her affection for a man. YES!!!

I loved that Alvarez was spunky, yet kind. She listened to her gut when everyone else may have shrugged off the hints that something was wrong. She was smart, able to put together overlooked facts, and didn't back down when she knew she was right, and something was fishy.

The author weaves a wonderfully sad story with compassion for the families affected, and shows a side to law enforcement that I hadn't seen before. Namely, the agencies working together in mutual respect (to a point). Of course there has to be a hierarchy of some kind.

He does a great job of making the actual case realistic, with Alvarez saying at least twice to herself: "This isn't the movies- doing that will probably not end well." I love that she wasn't willing to risk the entire operation to be the hero; that her goal all along was to serve the families of the kids and do the absolute best for them.

The other characters in the book were definitely likable, and I would love to read a continuing series based on this precinct and their experiences in solving cases. I especially want to know what happens with Wiley, and if anything comes of Alvarez's friendship with Starsky. (And why he got his nickname!)

This author is new tome and I will definitely be reading more of his books. Collision of Lies is a gripping suspense with an edge of your seat plot. Suspense fans will not want to miss this book. I received an arc from the publisher and this is my unbiased review.

One of the best thrillers I have read in a very long time. It’s hard to call a book unputdownable, but that perfectly describes Collision of Lies.

When detective Amara Alvarez overhears an argument between a couple on her day off, she feels compelled to see if she can help. She quickly discovers it is much more than a disagreement between a husband and wife. Their son was on a bus hit by a train three years ago. He and everyone onboard was killed and they have had to live with the loss for the past three years. That is until they received a text from someone claiming to be their son needing help. With these new clues, the authorities try to open the case without getting many others involved. If this was no accident, then whoever was behind it had to have help from people on the inside. Time is running out as Amara rushes to convince others of her theory and save the lives of as many as she can to reunite families with the ones they lost.

Tom Threadgill is a fresh new voice for me in suspense writing. Collision of Lies started with a bang only to pick up speed and not stop until the final pages. I loved so much about this book. The story was compelling, the characters were relatable and easy to like and cheer for, the pace was fantastic, and the overall plot was unique and exciting. I was surprised how well Threadgill wrote a female lead protagonist as he captured Amara beautifully. I felt like I was right there with her at the office or in the field trying to solve the crime. Her interactions with others played out seamlessly; it didn’t matter if she was having a family dinner or dealing with her boss at work. I believed every interaction and her behavior added up exactly how I pictured her in my mind. It is so hard in the age of movies, television, video games, apps and so forth to read something and be able to picture the scenes in your mind as vividly as I did here. Most of the time it is easier to watch something than read to get the mental image, but for those readers that love to see it play out in their minds, this book will be a welcome addition to their shelf. This is the first book I have read by Tom Threadgill but will for sure not be the last. I recommend this book to readers that love a great suspense read, but make sure you don’t have any plans for a few days because you will not want to put this one down.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Why have I never heard of this author before?!
What a thrilling read Collision of Lies turned out to be. From the first page to the very last, this author will have you wanting more and guessing what’s coming next. I loved everything about this novel and can’t wait to read more by Tom Threadgill.
The story tugged at my Mom heartstrings. A mother knows if her child is in danger or – alive, even if all evidence points to the contrary. A busload of children on their way to school. A tragic train accident and all 18 children and their driver killed on impact. It was an open and shut case.
Or was it?
This is the question that follows the reader through the entire story. Did those kids really die?
Hmm. One would think they did. In fact, the FBI, local police and every other law agency pulled into the investigation believed it to be true. So why, three years later does one mother believe her child never died in that accident and convinces a young deputy to reopen the case?
Go buy the book. You can find out yourself. But be sure to clear your schedule. You won’t want to put this one down once you start.
I received a copy of the book from the publisher through Net Galley. All opinions expressed are my own.

Tom Threadgill is a new-to-me author whose work I will be on the watch for in the future. Collision of Lies is a great suspense novel. Detective Amara Alvarez is anxious to transfer from the Property Crimes Unit to Homicide. She could never have foreseen how helping a distressed mother of a child who had died in a bus crash three years earlier could have advanced her efforts toward that goal. Nor could she have imagined the intricate and devious plot she in collaboration with a Texas Ranger and the FBI would have to unwind. Not to be cliché, but Collision of Lies truly is an edge of the seat read.

I would classify this book more as a clean suspense or mystery than as a Christian fiction novel, but either way, I would highly recommend it to mystery and suspense fans. The story is well-plotted, vital information is well paced and placed, and characters and dialogue are believable. I am grateful to have received a copy from Revell via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review, and received no monetary compensation.

Once you turn the pages on this one you are hooked. What a mind this author has, I can’t even imagine the scenario given here, and I don’t really want to! Horrible!
We are given a tough woman detective with the San Antonio police department, she is looking to move to homicide and I don’t she could have foreseen the case she ends up working on.
We get to see banter between these officers, and some chuckles, we eat and travel on stake out, and wonder if all will be there by the end of the story. We also get some very big surprises, so you will soon be page turning and hoping for the best.

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Revell, and was not required to give a positive review.

Hopefully the first in a new series

Detective Amara Alvarez works in the Property Crimes Division for the San Antonio Police Department. Her dream, though, is to be a Homicide detective.

By chance she meets with a grief-stricken couple who supposedly received an email from their son. The only problem is that their son was killed three years ago in a horrific freight train/school bus accident.

Amara is soon looking into this accident and finding out there might be more than meets the eye about what actually happened at that railroad crossing three years ago.

I loved this book. I loved the character of Amara and many of the supporting characters too especially her Property Crimes partner and also the quirky Medical Examiner. Oh, and she's got quite the unusual pet too.

I hope we see more books about this strong female protagonist.

I received this book from Revell Books through Net Galley in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review.

Fascinating read. The story is more than digging into a cold case that the community thought was solved. Collision of Lies also delves into the lives of the police and detectives who put themselves in danger to solve the mysterious case. Threadgill does a great job developing the characters' personalities. I love the way Amara handles herself, even when she doubts. She's a true hero. The others who surround and support her give an interesting look into how the cops work together (or don't.) The twists and turns will leave the reader wondering, until the very end. If you enjoy suspense or police procedurals, you'll want to read Collision of Lies. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Three years ago a school bus collided with a freight train. The case has been closed for nearly that long. Like peeling an onion the story unravels layer by layer.

The main character, Amara Alvarez, is a divorced policewoman working property crimes that would rather be in Homicide. She is both realistic and hopeful in her role. The tale begins in a small diner in San Antonio when the grieving parents of one of the children on the school bus cross paths with Officer Alvarez. I was drawn in to the story immediately and invested until the end.

I especially adored Amara's co-worker Wylie. He was a well written and amusing character. I liked Starsky as well, but would have liked him to be a little more unique. Starsky seemed like a younger version of Wylie.

Completely engaging thriller. I look forward to finding this author's backlist.

Collision of Lies is a modern day thriller written by Tom Threadgill, and is book one in the Detective Amara Alvarez series.

Summary: It all started with one little text. Detective Amara Alvarez normally works Property Crimes for the San Antonio police department, but when a grieving mother asks for help tracking down the origin of a text, she reluctantly agrees to get involved.

That simple favor leads to a clue, and then another. Now curious, Detective Alvarez begins to research what will turn into the biggest mystery she has ever faced.

What really happened that day on the train tracks, and will she be able to discover the truth in time?

My Thoughts: This is one of the best books I have read in a long time. You avid readers will understand me-you know when you want to finish a book so badly to find out the answers to the mystery, and yet when you finish, you regret it’s over? Yep, this is one of those.

The author did a masterful job of drawing the reader into the book, and providing the tiniest clue-leaving you wondering how in the world the characters would be able to discover the answers. Then the clues unravel piece by piece to bring the story to life and solve the mystery.

The characters were written so well, that I could vividly see them in my head, and it was so fun reading about each of their little quirks, and how they interacted with each other. There are so many memorable characters (especially Detective Alvarez) and I cannot wait to read more in this series.

I guess to sum up, I will say that I enjoyed this book so much-the plot, characters, and writing style-that I literally went on Amazon and bought the author’s three previous books. I have never done something like that before in my life. I also gave this book five stars. I am a pretty picky reader, so that is as good a tribute as I can give an author.

I highly recommend this book, and especially if you like crime/police/mystery novels, this one will be right up your alley.

I would like to thank Revell for providing me with a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Well done book but a bit slow for me. I ended up actually skipping to the end to see what had actually happened to the school bus full of kids.

Three years ago a collision between a school bus and a freight train resulted in the death of all the children on the bus. Or did it. Detective Amara Alvarez has suspicions that one of the children might be alive. All of the children were identified used DNA. The further she digs the more unanswered questions she finds. This book is edge of your seat suspense that will make it hard for you to put down. There is also a brief appearance of a character from a previous book by this author. I have read all of this authors books and given them all 5* ratings. This one definitely deserves a 5* rating. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

This is my first book by this author. When I finished, I went online and bought three more books by him. Three years after a horrific accident, a woman approaches Amara and tells her she thinks her dead son is alive. It sounds too farfetched to be true. But Amara takes one step to satisfy her curiosity, then another, and another. I loved the intricate plot and her tenacity against all odds.
I enjoyed her relationships and banter with Starsky and Wylie and even her Iguana, Larry. I look forward to seeing how things develop in the next book.
This book is straight up mystery and suspense. There’s little romance and I didn’t miss it. There wasn’t as much explanation of what was really going on in the end as I would have liked but it was interesting.
If you like suspense, give this book a try. Thank you to Revell for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.