This is a Christian romance and shows how a person deals with their past. This is the first in her Quantico Files series. This book has cult connections, FBI profilers, and past childhood trauma. I was surprised by the ending

I'm a huge fan of police procedurals, thrillers, etc. and this was the first time I've read a story with an FBI main character. How did I wait so long? I loved the story. Night Fall had that criminal minds vibe where they're chasing the bad guy and you're seeing a glimpse of his life and it was absolutely chilling.

I was really intrigued by the cult lifestyle, I always find something so out of the ordinary for me to be fascinating. There was also the perspective of how it effected our main characters life as well as the villain's and shone a light on the good and dark within us and how we choose to let those situations effect us and our lives.

My only real note was that there was a large religious undertone with I hadn't expected. This was my first read from Nancy Mehl and after a little goodreads research I believe most of her novels have that, which I understand now but personally was a bit off putting going in not knowing that and makes it a bit harder to pinpoint who I would recommend these books to.

I really enjoyed Nancy Mehl’s Kaely Quinn series, but this Night Fall fell a little flat for me. The identity of the killer was revealed at the beginning, and that contributed to my feeling that the story could have been wrapped up sooner. The cult he was part of seemed a little unrealistic to me; it felt disjointed and contrived at times.

The story's redeeming factor was the juxtaposition between Alex and the killer. They had some similarities in their upbringings, but they chose completely different paths. The spiritual elements emphasizing the choices we make that lead to either good or evil, light or darkness, were compelling - that is something Nancy Mehl does well. Although this wasn't my favorite of her books, it was a good introduction to Alex and Logan. I will still read the next book in the series to see where their story goes!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Night Fall by Nancy Mehl

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
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Story Notes

Nancy Mehl offers readers a suspenseful and riveting new series that has great characters and plot but may leave some readers struggling to connect.

I love suspense stories, especially those with lots of twists and thrilling little revelations. And I so wanted to love this book as it had a lot of both of those things. However, I just couldn't connect with the main character Alex. She was not my kind of gal in any way and I found her abrasive in the extreme. I also didn't really believe her conversion to Christianity as it wasn't completely developed enough for me. I just felt like I was missing something in her story the whole time I was reading and cannot put my finger on what it is exactly. Maybe it was that she really didn't deal with her past within the pages of the story or maybe it was her ongoing lack of faith in anyone at all but that part of the story fell flat with me. The rest of the story was really well done with a fabulously written creep and lots of cultic references. I loved the slow grind of the investigation and that you didn't get the answers you wanted until the very end. I had my suspicions about the culprit and they turned out to be right but not for anything being really told, just a feeling I had. So I will recommend the story for it's thriller aspects but cannot recommend the main character as one I will remember for any length of time. Hopefully the rest of the series presents better characters that I can connect with easier.

I received this temporary complimentary E-book from Bethany House Publishers via NetGalley in order to provide a fair and honest review. I will receive no fiscal compensation for this review and the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.

This is a fast paced story about Alex and Logan, two FBI profiling agents who are partners in a race against time to locate a cult member who is murdering people and is set to release a deadly virus that will kill millions of people. The investigation location is Wichita KS and Kansas City, MO. The characters are well developed and the plot is well thought out. It was a nailbiter.

Nancy Mehl never disappoints.

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion

“Nightfall” by Nancy Mehl was an excellent read! I loved the suspense in this book, although it was a little scary at times!

This book follows FBI agent, Alex Donovan. Alex had a very rough childhood. She joined the FBI to run from that childhood. Now, her childhood is coming back to haunt her as she, along with other agents, tries to solve the “Train Man” mystery.

I highly recommend this book if you enjoy good, clean, suspenseful novels.

I received this book from the publisher for my honest opinion.

I read this book in a day - I could not put it down. The characters were interesting and 3 dimensional which added to my enjoyment of the book. Since this is the first book in the series, it will be interesting to see if the author continues to develop these characters like I suspect she will.

This book was a great read. I will be rushing out to get the next book in the series. I got this one free in exchange for an honest review. This is one I'd be definitely happy spending my money on.

Nancy Mehl has quickly become one of my absolute favorite suspense writers. I love her focus on profiling and find it adds a new element to much of the suspense writing out there. In Night Fall, Mehl has written an intriguing story about BAU profiler Alex Donavan as she works to untangle her troubled past from the new case she's been handed. Night Fall also takes a unique approach because we find out who the perpetrator is from the beginning. While that took one element of suspense out of the story, I truly enjoyed getting to really see the perpetrator's process and thoughts as he committed his crimes. And truly, there was a twist at the end that I hadn't seen coming.

I would say this story has less action than most suspense stories, but it felt much more true to a criminal profiling job than we see on television or in most books. This is the first book I've read with COVID-19 in it, and I hadn't been prepared to read about that in this story. However, it doesn't come into play in such a way as to feel like it's taking over the story.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I read it in two days and I can't wait to read more about Alex Donavan!

Nancy Mehl is one of my favorite Christian Suspense Authors. Her newest novel Night Fall is the first book in the Quantico Files Series. From the very first page I was captivated and couldn't wait to see how it ended. The pace is steady with plenty of mystery. This one is a little different as you know who did it from the beginning, but there is still plenty of mystery.

I also love the message that this brings. It doesn't matter how you were raised, you can choose to rise above your circumstance or you can fall into the same pattern of those who raised you. It takes a brave and strong woman to be a better person in spite of her circumstances.

Alexandra (Alex) though she was free from her troubled upbringing. No one knows about her past and that is just the way she likes it. She is living out her childhood dream of working for the FBI. She has just become a member of the FBI's elite Behavioral Analysis Unit, when the Kansas and Missouri authorities contacts them about bodies found on freight trains traveling across the country--all killed in the same way.

Alex never expected to be forced into confronting her past in her new job, but she immediately recognizes the graffiti messages the killer is leaving on the train cars. When the BAU sends her to gather information about the messages from her aunt in Wichita, KS, Alex is haunted by the struggles she thought she'd left behind forever.

In a race against time to solve the case while battling her own weaknesses, Alex must face how far she'll go and what she's willing to risk to put a stop to the train killer.

***Thanks to Bethany House Publishing for providing me with a copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest opinion.

Chief of Police Jane Hardy plunges into the investigation of a house fire that claimed the life of a local woman as well as one of the firefighters. It’s clear the woman was murdered. But why? The unraveling of Jane’s personal life only makes the answers in the case more difficult to find.

Then Jane’s fifteen-year-old son is accused of a horrific crime, and she has to decide whether or not she can trust her ex, Reid, in the attempt to prove Will’s innocence—and whether she can trust Reid with her heart.

Three days of Jane’s past are missing from her memory, and that’s not all that has been stolen from her. As she works to find the woman’s murdered and clear her son’s name, finding out what happened in those three days could change everything.

A great conclusion to “The Pelican Harbor Series”. All of our questions have been answered. I would recommend that you read the first two books in this series before you read Three Missing Days.

Janes is still having trust issues. It seems to her everyone has lied to her. Her father, mother, and Reid. Who can she trust? The only bright spot in her life is her son, who she thought had died shortly after he was born fifteen years ago. Will gets arrested for murder and Jane and Reid have to figure out who is responsible or Will spend the rest of his life in prison or worse.

I highly recommend this book to all mystery fans. I was given this book by Thomas Nelson Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.

Okay, I’m presenting you with yet another opportunity to learn from my mistakes! 🤦🏽‍♀️ Do NOT under any circumstances read the first 8 chapters of this book late at night, alone, in the dark!! Unless of course you want to not be able to sleep!😂

That said, this book is not THAT creepy! It’s just that it starts with introducing you to the bad guy and his weird, disturbing, cultish upbringing. Once you get past the start, the creepy level calms down a bit. It’s slightly creepy, of course, since we’re dealing with a serial killer, but not too bad. I’d place it as very similar to her Kaely Quinn series if you’ve read those. If you haven’t, it’s creepier than your typical romantic suspense, but not as creepy as a Ted Dekker novel...

I loved the unique approach to a suspense storyline. She introduces us to the bad guy straight up and we meet the investigators second. Both we and the investigators know who the bad guy is from the get go - they just need to find him. One would think that might take the suspense out of the storyline - trust me, it does no such thing!! There are definitely still plenty of twists and turns & even some total blindsides for good measure!

I may have randomly guessed a couple of the big ones, but that I don’t think it was anything about the book or the writing that gave it away. It was just my overactive, well acquainted with suspense brain going ‘what if..?’ And turning out to be correct! 🤦🏽‍♀️😂 haha oops, totally accidentally destroyed a jaw-dropping twist for myself, but oh well... I still enjoyed finding out I was right! Lol!

I recommend for sure. You’ll definitely like this one if you enjoy romantic suspense, particularly if you enjoy the more psychological and/or lighter on romance end of romantic suspense.

A massive thank you @bethanyhousefiction and @netgalley for the ARC. I was only required to provide an honest review in return.

Nancy Mehl has done it again, this is a riveting read, and once you start you won't want to put it down, not without answers.
We are given two examples of what happens to us as children, forms us into the adults we become, and it can go either way, good vs evil.
Our girl has chosen good and now a Behavior Analysis, you will cringe at what happened to her as a child, but she has now gifted her talents to the FBI. Now, the evil one has made this one even more personal, and most of mankind is counting on her and others to save them.
There was one person that I had suspicion about, but put in the back of my mind, so it was a wow, when they appeared on the side of the evil one.
As the murder count mounts, will Alex and the other agents succeed in thwarting the destruction that is planned, and will she begin trusting God? Answers come, and we hope they are what we are for good!
This book is part of a new series, and now I can't wait for the next read!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Bethany House, and was not required to give a positive review.

This is the first book in the author's Quantico Files series; it focuses on PTSD, cults, and even biological and spiritual warfare

Alex Donovan has finally realized her long-held dream of joining the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit when she is put on a case that throws her right back into a traumatic part of her past she is desperate to forget. However, her connection to the cult and subsequent insight into the inner workings of their suspect's mind are crucial to stopping him before hundreds of thousands - or even millions - of people die.

There are a few twists and turns, and the psychology is interesting. Although I did figure out part of the mystery early on, it didn't spoil anything. I am excited to read the next book in this series.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Night Fall by Nancy Mehl begins her Quantico Files, with gripping plots, complex characters, adrenalin pumping situations, and a fight for justice.  I have read other of Ms. Mehl's works and appreciate her intricate plots and complicated antagonists and protagonists. Night Fall brings the readers into a dark web of danger, death, and demons.  The book focuses in on members of the FBI's Behavior Analysis Unit (BAU) as they are tasked with a very unique and sinister killer, who has named himself the "train man."
Alexandra Donavan has fulfilled her childhood dream and is now a well-respected member of the FBI. Just as Alex joins the FBI's Behavior Analysis Unit, she is faced with a chilling case, which stirs up long-buried childhood memories. The sad fact of murders is not new to Alex in her line of work; however, what shocks Alex to her core is the messages left behind by the killer.  With each body found, Alex reads messages that are hauntingly familiar.  The messages left by the killer painted on the backs of freight trains are sinister and from a book that Alex's aunt read to her when she was young.  Alex had a rough childhood, being orphaned, placed in her mentally unstable aunt's home, but yet she overcame her tenuous start to become successful in the FBI and leave her past behind. When Alex's past collides with her work, she has to face her haunted past by going back to Wichita, Kansas to face her aunt. Hopefully Alex's aunt can help the FBI determine who is behind these awful murders as well as the killer's overall plan. Can Alex and her team win the race against time to solve this case? Will they be able to prevent more innocent lives from being taken?  Who is the person behind the evil train killer?  Can Alex face her past while simultaneously tracking down a eerily obsessed serial killer?One aspect of this work by Ms. Mehl that somewhat disappointed me was the many segments that dragged. I usually devour a book and am disappointed by how quickly I read it, but Night Fall was not as easy for me to read through as quickly. There were several times where I skipped through a paragraph or two of information and conferences/meetings the characters were attending because of how dry the section was. It could be that I just didn't connect with the plot until later on into the book.  Overall, though I did enjoy the book, but I didn't enjoy it as much as some of her other works. I do appreciate the great characters Ms. Mehl crafted with flaws, strengths, and interesting back stories. I also appreciated how Ms. Mehl grew her characters throughout the storyline, especially by giving Alex a Christian co-worker to challenge her opposition to the faith. I appreciated the honest way that Ms. Mehl approached faith amidst the world full of dangers and evils with Alex's story. This was a well written work full of suspense and intrigue.  I hope you have the chance to read and enjoy it!
Disclaimer: Bethany House Publisher graciously provided me with a copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions are my own and part of an unbiased review.

Nancy Mehl does it again!! Her murder mysteries are fantastic and I have read several of her books and series. She’s often uses Christians as the heroes so this book is no different from her others. I enjoy her play between light and dark, reminding us all that we’re in a spiritual war. I would recommend this book for all ages as it’s clean enough for younger readers. Amazing characters and plot development, I was never bored!

Night Fall by Nancy Mehl begins with a suspense moment, then readers are thrown in the action as the officer, Alex, a behavioral analyst has to find the serial killer before it is too late. The suspense centers around The Book, a book filled with lies stating that all humans are either angels or demons. The killer believes he is the one to set the final battle in place, but he has to make five sacrifices before coming to the final sacrifice before releasing the battle. The suspense was top notch. I love stories that feature a hunt for a serial killer. However, with the plot in this story, I had one issue. I did not like knowing who the killer was. His name and viewpoints were announced pretty early on in the book. I would have liked it to be a mystery. More pronouns instead of showing us who the person was. It would have made a little more of a mystery. Instead it was a hunt to find the person. I’m surprised they did not find him earlier. They knew who he was. Yes, Mehl does try to explain why they could not capture him before time, but it just felt like a cheap trick. On the other hand, my favorite part of the novel is the spiritual journey for Alex. I enjoy how Mehl made her doubt any faith, which is understandable as readers dive into the story. The spiritual journey reads true, and I can’t wait to see the end result. Overall, Night Fall by Nancy Mehl is hunt for a serial killer novel with plenty of suspense and hunting for justice. Fans of DiAnn Mills and Colleen Coble might enjoy this novel too.

I received a complimentary copy of Night Fall by Nancy Mehl from Bethany House Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

NIGHT FALL by NANCY MEHL is a nail biting thriller which I guarantee you will not be able to put down! It is also a novel which clearly shows the truth of God's unchanging Word as opposed to the lies in The Book, which are followed by a cult called the Circle.
Alex Donovan was brought up by her eccentric aunt who is a member of the Circle and who used to read her chilling accounts of angels and demons from her copy of The Book. Alex is now a profiler for the FBI and this knowledge from her past helps in trying to prevent the Train Man, Adam Walker, from murdering any more victims and from letting loose a deadly virus.
Both Adam and Alex had stressful childhoods, but, in spite of a germ phobia and PTSD, Alex has made a success of her life. She is not sure what to think about God, though, and asks many questions of her Christian colleague Logan. Will she call on the Lord when she gets in over her head?
It is a great read with a strong plot and some interesting characters. I highly recommend Night Fall for anyone who enjoys this genre.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bethany House Publishers. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

As a novelist myself, I know just how much time, heart, and research goes into writing a novel like Night Fall by Nancy Mehl. It hurts me to negatively review books, but Night Fall disappointed me. I only really enjoyed the last twenty percent of the story. The rest left me wanting far, far more. I did not find this book “suspenseful,” despite the premise. A serial killer tagging train cars? The FBI’s famous and well-respected Behavioral Analysis Unit taking center stage? I couldn’t say “sign me up” fast enough when given the opportunity to read Night Fall. But it didn’t take long for me to set reading goals for the novel.

I read ten to fifteen percent of Night Fall per day; I could only stomach that much. Up until I forced myself through the final mile of the marathon to cross the finish line. I loved the TV show Criminal Minds. Netflix’s series Mindhunter drew me in within the first ten minutes. I’ve read John E. Douglas and Mark Olshaker’s book of the same title, and their November 2020 work, The Killer’s Shadow. Needless to say, behavioral analysis catches my attention. While Night Fall may have presented an accurate depiction of how the BAU operates, this doesn’t necessarily make for a good novel.

Meetings. Mehl strangles Night Fall’s readers with them. If it’s not an in-person meeting, the characters are on video chats, phone calls, or talking in vehicles, hotels, or conference rooms. I skipped paragraphs, hoping to find endings to the discussions. It was exhausting and boring, even with all the mumbo-jumbo about analyzing the killer’s psyche. Night Fall actually reminded me of a Criminal Minds episode. Readers witness glimpses of the killer’s real-time activities, and the authorities are a race against time before he kills again. Differences do exist—Mehl reveals the killer’s identity from the start, and Night Fall was not half as exciting. At least, not for me.

Meetings are boring. Period. I wanted the characters to do something, but this didn’t really happen until close to the end, and at that point, they broke FBI protocols and worried about keeping their jobs. Furthermore, I read Night Fall by Nancy Mehl expecting a romantic suspense novel. What occurred in Night Fall wasn’t romance. Attraction? Maybe. Even then, the “attraction” centered on mostly physical attributes. A past novel I critiqued, I said the romance overpowered everything else. Well, in Night Fall, everything else overshadowed the romance. To the point I wish it just hadn’t been there.

I’d be interested to see if the romance between Alex and Logan expands in later novels in The Quantico Files series but not interested enough to seek out further books...or any other Nancy Mehl books, for that matter. Night Fall does have positive qualities; it very creative and well researched. I loved the contrast between Alex and the serial killer. They shared similar backgrounds, yet one chose to pursue law and order, and the other turned into a psychopath. Overall, however, Night Fall by Nancy Mehl was a lackluster letdown.