Fallout, by Carrie Stuart Parks, is an intricately plotted story revolving around a young artist, Samantha Williams. On what becomes a very bad day, Samantha is teaching her after school art camp when a huge SUV comes plowing into her portable classroom. With quick action, Samantha gets her students to safety as well as saving herself. The building is destroyed, the car’s driver dead, and the passenger injured. In addition, Samantha’s car is destroyed and her purse with ID are missing.

Samantha is taken to be checked out along with the SUVs passenger. With her purse lost in the rubble, and no way to get to her apartment, or in it, Samantha accepts the offer of a bystander who is pulled into the afternoon drama to stay with her with no local inns and now way to pay. During the night there is an intruder where they are staying. The only sign of the intrusion is that Samantha’s empty purse is left behind. The following day the injured passenger, Dr. Dustin Van Seters, and his employer, Dr. Brun of Clan Firinn, a facility to help those dealing with addiction and PTSD issues, offer Samantha and her new friend, Mary, lodging at their facility so they can all work together to unravel the evolving mystery.
This is such a well written mystery of revenge, unlikely victims, and Cold War sins. I was captured by the prologue and had trouble putting this book down until the dramatic climax! I very much enjoyed this book and I do recommend it!

I'll admit that I was really confused in the beginning of Fallout. It takes off running without any context as to what is going on. But as I kept reading, I realized I needed to trust the author. I was sucked into the story and wanted to know what was going to happen next. I enjoyed putting together the clues with Samantha. She was an interesting character. I loved her Sneetch moments. There is nothing wrong with having a lot of "useless" information. You never know when it will come in handy. I definitely recommend this one. It was an enjoyable mystery.

Ughh I hate to do it, but this is a rare two-star book for me. I started this book and immediately couldn’t get into it, so I set it aside, read a different one, then came back to this one. I really wish I hadn’t wasted my time - this should have been a DNF from the beginning, but I was rating it for Goodreads and felt obligated to finish it. I think this publisher has gotten me before - I read a synopsis for what sounds like a decent thriller, then when I start reading, it turns out to be Christian fiction.

I have no problem with Christian fiction, if that’s your thing, but when I read thrillers, I want them to be gritty! I like gore, horror, cursing, sex … this literally reminds me of something I might have read in the 8th grade. If a car runs into a school, I want someone to get revenge, not pray (at least, in a book).

The writing was so sophomoric, it also feels like something written in 8th grade. Disaster after disaster strikes, and the women involved speak like kids, with their weird sayings and “Sneetches thoughts” (don’t ask). Our main character, Samantha, is always peeved that she has to drink soda when there’s no water, calls murderers “creeps” and is constantly quoting the Bible when she’s trying to solve Nancy Drew-type mysteries.

Okay so I think you get the point. If you’re a super religious type who has a teenage daughter that likes thrillers, then this is the book for you guys. If you are looking for a true thrill with dynamic writing, this is NOT the book for you. I’m sorry to do it, but it was that bad. Two stars.

(Thank you to Thomas Nelson Fiction, Carrie Stuart Parks, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.)

After a difficult childhood, Samantha Williams craves simplicity: jigsaw puzzles, lectures at the library, and the students she adores in her role as an elementary school art teacher in the dusty farming community of LaCrosse, Washington.

But when an SUV crashes into the building where she teaches, her entire world is upended. Samantha manages to keep the children safe, but her car isn’t so lucky. Oddly, her purse—with her driver’s license, credit cards, and other identification—is missing from the wreckage.

After authorities discover that the driver in the accident was shot seconds before the crash, Samantha quickly becomes entangled in increasingly strange events that have her constantly looking over her shoulder.

Samantha has long tried to forget the tragedy of her past, but the twisting connections she discovers between the murdered driver, a deadly secret government project, and an abandoned town can't be ignored. Those involved are determined to keep these secrets buried, and they’ll use any means necessary to stop Samantha’s search for truth.

My review. This book kept me reading when I should have been going to bed. It appears someone wants Samantha dead and she has no idea why. As investigation gears up, it seems that other deaths have occurred and they all seem to be related to a government secret and her murdered parents. It took me a bit to get all the characters straightened out. But once I did, it fell into place.

I recommend this book to all who want an action filled book.

I was given this book by Thomas Nelson Publishing via NetGally in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.

Ms. Parks has delivered another edge of your seat page turner. I loved this romantic suspense. Definitely couldn’t put this book down. I highly recommend this book.

I found this to be an intriguing read. It kept me very involved until the end. There are a number of twists and turns, and it is action packed. It is not high octane for those who like their stories in that way, but I happen to like both types! There are bursts of high-octane action and then periods of slow burn! At times, it does move a little slow, but I was okay with that! Samantha was a great character, I thought. I lot of things were happening to her that she didn't understand. The opening scene would frighten anyone! However, when it became apparent that things were happening to her, specifically, she had to go back to her past in her memory and try to figure out why. She didn't have all the answers, but I loved how she tried to put together the pieces that she did have. I enjoyed the other characters also. I found it interesting that she latched onto Mary so quickly when they just met in the parking lot after "the accident" but their personalities couldn't be more different! I did like Dutch a lot too. The romance aspect is very, very light so don't expect much in that area. All in all, I found this book intriguing and interesting. Who is after Sam and what does the Hanford nuclear plant have to do with anything? I recommend this book!

Samantha's past is complicated and shrouded in mystery. And her life becomes more so when an SUV crashes into the school where where she teaches. She makes for a quirky character who guards her secrets and keeps to herself. For the most part, the story is told from Sam's point of view, with occasional switches to another character's viewpoint - I found the transitions were confusing in a few places. Set against the historical backdrop of a nuclear facility during the Cold War created a counterpoint between Sam's quirkiness and some serious and intesting subject matter. The action was paced nicely, accelerating significantly in the second half of the book to keep those pages turning. Overall, an enjoyable read.

This is another good inspirational novel of suspense from Parks. While previous novels have featured forensic artists, this one is a bit different. The heroine is an artist but teaches kids. While she does get the opportunity to do some forensic work, it is not the thrust of the plot. The novel started with a suspenseful scene but I felt it took a while for the plot to develop to the point I was engaged. There is plenty of action that follows and it wasn't until nearly the end the reason for it all became clear.

For me, the strength of the novel was the setting of eastern Washington, near the Hanford Nuclear Facility. Living in nearby Idaho, Parks has done a great job describing the small towns, the Palouse, the Snake River, and more.

I love it when an author is reliable in presenting the historical facts woven into the story. Such is the case with Parks. She notes in an Afterward, virtually all she wrote about the Hanford Nuclear Facility is accurate. Readers not only get an interesting mystery but some history about actions during the Cold War.

This is a good novel for readers who like an unusual setting and a plot originating in government actions during the Cold War. The characters are developed well, with a number of quirky or rather unusual ones needing healing from past trauma. There is a good faith message included and just a hint of romance. I have read all of Parks' novels, have liked them and will be looking for her next one.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

It was an interesting premise but I struggled to connect with the characters and though there was a  lot going on, I didn’t care what happened to them. Some of the details seemed inconsistent. For example, Sam is portrayed as a deep introvert except with her students. She refuses to sleep unless the doors are secured. Yet, she goes off with a strange woman she met at the scene of an accident, gets into a car with strange men and her objections were minimal at best.
It was also very convenient that whenever Sam needed help, there was always a kind soul who had no agenda to help.

Some threads were not resolved because while we know who the men that were chasing Sam were and why, their involvement was wrapped up in an almost dismissive manner. It was like, these evil men were stalking you but since they weren't the ones trying to kill you there will be no penalties.

Readers will be reminded that God is always with us. Sometimes He uses angels to take care of His people.

I received an advanced reader's copy from the publisher through NetGalley; a positive review was not required.

A mystery with a heavy Christian theme.

Samantha Williams is living a quiet life when everything is upended after a car crashes into the school where she is working. When her identification disappears along with her purse and all those other important pieces of documentation, she’s left with no where to go until she is offered a place to stay at Clan Firinn along with a woman she met at the accident site. There she meets a hunky PhD, Dustin “Dutch” Van Seters and there is an instant mutual attraction. Before she can focus on romance, however, Samantha needs to figure out if the target is really her and why.

I just was not able to really get into this book and nearly put it aside. The characters seemed banal and insipid and I never felt that the actions of Samantha were believable. The plot was a bit thin and all the connections so hard to find convincing. I should have passed as it just didn’t have what I was looking for in a suspense thriller.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for this e-book ARC to read and review. I see that others liked it a lot more than I did.

Parks is a master at suspense. In Fallout, Samantha Williams finds herself in the midst of all kinds of trouble. She has no idea why bad things are happening to her and all around her but knows she’s got to figure it out to get her life back. There is danger at every turn and an increasing sense of urgency.

I liked how Sam blurted out “sneetches,” crazy quotes that came to mind when she got nervous. I appreciated her quirkiness and enjoyed watching her bloom and overcoming fears. There wasn’t a lot of depth to the development of her relationship with Dutch but that wasn’t the main focus of the book.

There were a couple surprises and twists. There were several potential villains so it was fun to try to figure out who was ultimately behind all the villainy. It was a great read and hard to put down. I’d recommend it.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson for providing me with an e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoy Carrie Stuart Park's style of writing. Her knowledge of forensics always adds an interesting element, and her stories tend to be as unique as they are entertaining. As such, I couldn't wait to read her latest.

From the start, I was drawn into the action, and initially found myself really thinking I was going to enjoy the main character Samantha... perhaps because like her I enjoy simple things like jigsaw puzzles and famous quotes myself. Still, somehow along the way, I found that I lost that connection. There were a lot of pieces to the puzzle that was this story, so I'm not sure if it was trying to keep it all straight or what happened, but there was certainly a disconnect for me. Still, I found the story intriguing enough to read on and I did find the overall story to be quite interesting. It did move at a slightly slower pace than many others in the suspense genre, but it worked well for this story. I do think if I could have kept that initial connection with Samantha, I would have gotten even more enjoyment, but I still found it to be a good read!

If you enjoy Christian suspense with just a hint of romance, this is certainly one worth checking out.

**I received a complimentary copy for consideration. All thoughts are my own.

This story started out a little slow for me, but about 25% into the story really picked up and I was hooked!

Samantha was a very interesting heroine. She had wonderful quirks and spunks. There were so many layers to her story and I was surprised once everything was revealed.

Dutch had his own issues he was working through while trying to solve the mystery around them. He was a terrific leading man with his humbleness and strength of character.

Even though it was a slow start, the story had my attention. The author gave enough misdirection to keep me guessing. I hadn't figured out exactly who the culprit was until the reveal. It then all made sense.

Really good story and I hope the author does more with the Clan Firinn.

If you've read Carrie Stuart Parks before you should enjoy this one. If you are new to this author, but enjoy authors like Terri Blackstock or Dani Pettrey you should enjoy this one.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author, but was under no obligation to provide a review. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Carrie Stuart Parks writes great books with interesting storylines and characters. Her experience as a forensic artist makes for rich backdrop. Fallout is no exception. Samantha Williams is teaching an art class to young children at the local school in rural Washington when a car plows through the portable building. Only Sam's quick thinking saved the children and herself. Thus begins a long path to solving a mystery of why it happened and who was the target. We aren't given much information about Sam's background, but it unravels slowly. She lives small with few possessions, and all are destroyed quickly. Her own car was involved, and her apartment was flooded on purpose. Again, why? She is led to depend on strangers.
Dr. Dutch Van Seters is an anthropologist who needs Sam's artistic help drawing reconstructed faces for skulls of bodies found. He was a passenger in the car that crashed into the portable and the driver was shot and killed. Something strange is going on. It soon becomes clear that many victims are involved in this plot to exact payment. But for what and by whom? This is a multilayered mystery with surprises, unforeseen connections, danger, and suspense threaded with faith. Highly recommended for mystery lovers.
I received a complimentary copy from Thomas Nelson and NetGalley. All thoughts are mine only.

This book started out strong, grabbed my interest, made me curious, kept me reading until I had the first inkling that it might not be a genre I would normally choose to read. This happened when the main character sent up a quick prayer and then it happened a few more times making me more sure that though this was a well written story...it was not for me. As I often do, I read the end and again there was more bible verses and bible focus that cemented in my mind that this book was not for me so at page 90, I closed the book and decided to move on to read another book instead.

I believe that this book is probably going to be a hit and receive high star ratings from a number of readers. That said, within the pages I did read I made a note that Samantha might be TSTL. Why? She made some questionable choices regarding a stranger that showed up...actually...this happened more than one time with more than one unknown person she met. I felt that she seemed to head out with blind trust that definitely had not been earned.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

Samantha Williams likes her life exactly the way it is. While teaching an elementary school art class, an SUV crashes into the building & her room. She manages to save the children. Her car is totaled; her purse is missing. And … the SUV’s driver is dead — shot.

As unusual events begin to happen, Samantha becomes more scared. Secrets swirl — the murdered SUV driver, memories of a childhood tragedy, an unusual PTSD project. Someone is determined to keep secrets buried and Samantha along with them.

My review …
Twisting, swirling plots, sub-plots. Characters you immediately suspect then appear to be okay. Murky events. If painted, it would be very dark with grays, deep purple, streaks of lightning, with movement going in multiple directions, but in the upper right-hand corner a blue sky.

“Fallout” by Carrie Stuart Parks kept me engaged from the very beginning. A stand-alone novel of suspense interwoven with multiple situations. And that is a problem for this reviewer. I can’t think of a way to highlight a part of the book without giving something away. Hmmm — I was surprised by something that happened at the end. Oh, Fonzie! Isn’t that a great name for a dog!

Weaknesses …
“Too”. Just too many twists. When I read the untitled notes at the end of the book, I could see how this talented author could bring so many things to be part of the plots and subplots. Ms. Parks is a forensic artist and an instructor.

Samantha’s change from a young woman who led a very quiet, simple life into a brave, extremely knowledgeable person was not quite believable. It was too sudden of a change for this reviewer.

I wish the author had included the Scottish Gaelic for the name of the PTSD complex. The name made no sense until I read the end notes.

Recommendation … Yes. I do recommend the book because the mystery or rather mysteries keep the reader guessing and wondering throughout. And isn’t that what a mystery is supposed to do? “Fallout” rates a solid 3.5 stars rounded to 4 stars for sites using only whole numbers.

I received a complimentary e-ARC copy of “Fallout” via NetGalley from the publisher, Thomas Nelson–FICTION. A positive review was not required; the opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Rating: 3.5 stars
#Fallout #NetGalley #CarrieStuartParks

This was a fun ride of a book. Samantha Williams just wants simplicity in her life. Unfortunately after a car crashes into her classroom, her life kinda implodes. As she learns about the wreck and the mystery surrounding it, her life is now in danger and she must stay ahead of things to stay alive.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson Publishers and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily! Whew! This one started out on an even pace, but once the pace picked up, it was full throttle ahead! I always have to snag anything written by Carrie Stuart Parks as she literally has a "way with words", and this one did not disappoint me either. Samantha had a mysterious air about her from the beginning chapter, but you do not truly understand where this air of mystery is coming from until later in the book. You just realize there is something different about her. Samantha was a very likable character, and I felt as if I knew her by the time I finished this book. She had this odd way of reacting to stress by quoting children's books. It seemed to work for her, but it often embarrassed her. Hutch also has a mystery about him that you will soon realize comes from a loss in his past that he has worked through. Mary was a character that I could not quite figure out. She had a mystery about her as she searched for her lost husband, but she was at times aloof. Her pregnancy was the only thing that made her likable as she was often rude. All of the characters were mysterious which is what made this book so intriguing. The twists and turns were enough to give you whiplash. Who are the mysterious men in the black SUV?

I also like how Carrie Stuart Parks uses her talents as a forensic artist to provide depth in her stories. Since she obviously has firsthand knowledge of the use of forensic art when solving crimes, everything is very authentic. The use of forensic art is a fascinating subject to me. Abandoned towns, nuclear facilities, piles of bones turning up at odd places and mysterious men in a black SUV make this an intriguing, suspense-filled book. As it started winding down, I was flying through the pages to find out what is actually going on in this small town in Washington. The resolution of this mystery in the ending pages will leave your mouth agape. This is another winner for Mrs. Parks, which is no surprise to me!

Ooo, I kept hearing about this one and am so glad I read it! This is my first times reading a Parks book, and I loved it! Her writing style is so fresh and quickly pulled me in and I could NOT put this one down!

Samantha Williams’ carefully controlled life is upended when an SUV crashes into her classroom and forces her to confront the long-buried secrets of her past.
Murder, betrayal, and greed all combine to make Fallout a riveting read. With each page, the mystery deepens—right up until the surprising end! A rollercoaster ride that kept me guessing!

*Thank you to @netgalley and @TNZFiction for the complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.