Fallout by Carrie Stuart Parks

Samantha Williams is a part-time art teacher whose life is interrupted by events rooted in her childhood that she can’t remember. As she investigates, and struggles to thwart those trying to kill her, she finds disjointed puzzle pieces to the mystery. Can she stay alive long enough to solve the puzzle?

Carrie Stuart Parks has created another novel set at Clan Firin, a place where first responders can come to heal from PTSD. This novel reveals the beginning of the organization.

Samantha is a character that readers can relate to and admire for her tenacity and resourcefulness. I wouldn’t mind reading another book about her.

The plot is well-paced and kept me engaged and had some twists that I didn’t see coming. It was creative and fits well within the genre of Christian fiction.

I enjoyed this book and received a copy from the publisher in return for this, my honest review.

I've read a few CSP books in the past and quite enjoyed them. I did enjoy a lot about this book, especially the historical aspect and the connections to the Cold War. I also loved the artist aspect to it, which I enjoyed in this author's previous books. I had a lot of fun with all the book quotes thrown into the novel. The plot wasn't half bad, either. What really threw me off was the writing style and the characters. I felt that the writing was very abrupt and choppy and emotionless. It became pretty jarring and kept taking me out of the story. The characters suffered from similar issues, especially with their dialogue. Finally, I was very interested in getting deeper into Sam's backstory, which I felt was pretty glossed over. I wanted to know more about what made her the way she was. All in all, I thought the book had a very solid backbone, but the writing wasn't up to this author's usual standards, and it seriously hindered my enjoyment of the book.

Samantha Williams craves the simple life after a very rough childhood. She loves teaching art at the elementary school, but life becomes twisted again when an SUV crashes into the temporary trailer where art classes are held and Samantha loses her job. When she is offered a job as a forensic artist to make a face from a recently found skull on a construction site, little does she know what lies ahead for her.

As usual, Carie Stuart Parks puts together a Christian suspense novel that keeps you guessing from start to finish. Sam and Dutch worked so well together and protected one another as they tried to solve the convoluted puzzle involved in this story. The ending was a definite surprise and one I didn't expect whatsoever.

Another great novel from Carrie Stuart Parks!

Intriguing and clever romantic suspense. A challenging puzzle to assemble. Difficult to decide if the characters are good or bad. Kept me guessing. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley.

WOW!! What a ride!! This book grabs you on the first page and doesn't let go. Its full of twists and turns and the suspense will keep you on the edge of your seat. I loved this book and highly recommend it.
I received a complimentary copy from Thomas Nelson--FICTION via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Fallout is a thriller with secret plots and many twists, but everything is tied together.

Samantha is an art teacher at a local school when the unthinkable happens. A SUV crashes into the school and a body is discovered. After having teaching her students what to do in an emergency she is grateful that all the children in her class are safe. But her car is wrapped around a tree. Her purse is inside and unable to be retrieved. Mary, looking for her missing husband offers to let Samantha stay with her at a B and B until she can find another place to stay.

Meanwhile, Mary is oddly friendly and appears to want to keep Samantha close to her. Strange things occur the first night. Someone breaks in and leaves Samantha's empty purse for her to find. They end up staying at Clan Firinn, a local retreat where people go to get their lives back on track. Dutch and Dr. Brun make them welcome as they also are involved unbeknownst to Samantha.

It becomes clear to Samantha that everything is tied to her, only she is not sure how or why, or what to believe that she has been told of the past. Samantha will have to face her fears to find the truth in order to be free.

This is a fast paced story with mega twists and turns but nothing seems to tied together until the big reveal. The characters are well developed and not clear as to friend or foe which makes for an interesting plot.

Fallout is another intriguing suspense novel by Carrie Stuart Parks.
I love suspense, and Carrie Stuart Park's stories rank pretty high on my list of 'must read suspense' novels. I really enjoyed this story, but it isn't a new favorite.
Samantha is the main character, and the story opens with a car ramming into the portable classroom in which she teaches art. Everything goes downhill from there.
It isn't obvious right away that Samantha is in fact the targeted person. Things point to other people being a target. But why? And who is behind these terrible attacks?
There are bones of dead bodies being moved around, and then discovered. Shooting. Murders.
Samantha has no idea what it all means.
Until...she starts allowing herself to bring back memories of her childhood. Memories that she has buried in the back recesses of her mind, for a very long time.

I enjoyed the suspense, I never knew what to expect next.

What I didn't like quite as much was the fact that I found it a bit hard to wrap my mind around what all exactly was going on. There is a lot of action. And there is lots of history and backstory brought in, as a way to explain what all is going on.

This story was meticulously planned out and carefully written, it is very detailed and has lots of action. I recommend it for anyone who loves a good suspense novel.
Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

Fallout is my third Carrie Stuart Parks novel. Let me start this by saying that everyone has different tastes in books. With this third book, I think it is safe to say Carrie Stuart Parks’ novels do not align with mine. There is nothing wrong with Fallout. It has an entertaining story with a compelling plot, and Parks takes her readers on quite a journey from the first page until the last. I enjoyed it well enough, but something fell flat for me. Ultimately, it comes down to the fact I like fast-paced thrillers. While Fallout by Carrie Stuart Parks features high stakes, it does not have the nail-biting excitement I look for.

After I finished Fallout, I tried to think of novels to which to compare it. Parks does not write like Susan May Warren or Lynette Eason. There is no history between the main characters. Is there a romance? Yes, in a way. Parks focuses on the crimes. The mysteries. Fallout would have been fine without the relationship, unlike some of the other romantic suspense novels I have read. In fact, I might have enjoyed Fallout more without it. I was not expecting or hoping for a romance when I read the summary. Parks introduces a relationship. No profession of love, just…a start.

With Fallout, Parks is less romantic suspense and more…Agatha Christie or Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Or a game of Clue, with multiple suspects and hints that may (or may not) lead to the right conclusion. The pieces come together slowly, like a precarious card tower or a line of dominoes. Everything builds until the final chapter. You think you may have figured something out, but Parks takes out one of those cards, and you have to start your card tower again. Until the novel’s finale. The clues snap together…and the antagonist’s world comes crashing down. The first domino falls. The “Aha!” moment arrives, and everything makes sense.

This may be some people’s style, but there is a reason I have only read one Agatha Christie novel. There is action in Fallout. A lot of it. But Parks uses the action to progress the story, carefully placed and written out, rather than using it to fill plot holes that may exist. Carrie Stuart Parks is a talented author whose prowess and expertise shine in Fallout. Her storytelling is just not what I like—and that is okay. If you read Fallout, you will enjoy it. I don’t doubt it!

I really liked this one. The twist was good and the reading was smooth. I really enjoyed the writing and I will be looking at other books from this author.

Samantha Williams has what she perceives to be a boring life. She teaches art at an elementary school and does nothing more exciting in her spare time than jigsaw puzzles. When an SUV plows into her classroom, her life gets very much more complicated.
The characters were three-dimensional, layered, and flawed, and I found it easy to relate to them. I liked how this one only had a light romance element, It worked great in the story.
The historical component added to the mystery were amazing especial the historical details about the Hanford Nuclear Facility. I can see the author put a lot effort in researching every detail.
A terrific suspenseful novel, full of action-packed scenes. I loved every moment of it! 5/5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you NetGalley, Carrie Stuart Parks, and Thomas Nelson for providing me with a copy of this novel.

Carrie Stuart Parks is a master at suspenseful story-telling, keeping you in the dark on what's actually happening until everything is revealed towards the end. This story was no different. This book follows art teacher, Samantha (Sam) Williams as a tragic accident has her losing her job, home and car in one fell swoop. With no option but to accept the help of strangers, Sam seeks answers to what is happening around her and seemingly to her in a past that she's tried to forget.

This book had all the things going for it - a suspenseful, page-turning plot, quirky main characters, dogs (as always), shrouding in real-life history of a nuclear weapons facility and mysterious happenings. The characters were quirky enough in this one that it took me awhile to connect with them, which is why this one is a 4 star rating instead of 5, but once Sam's past is explained, her quirkiness makes more sense. All of our characters are dealing with past trauma, which amplifies their responses to events surrounding them. There was also a small romance element to this story, but it was overshadowed by the suspense, which is exactly how I like my romantic suspense. There was a subtle, but present, faith thread as well. All in all, this was a great story that I'd recommend to fans of inspirational suspense and romantic suspense. Special thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-copy of this novel. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

Samantha is trying to figure out her past and its connection to the town of LaCrosse, Washington where she ends up. Sometimes I had trouble following the story and putting the pieces together. I also had trouble when the first person narrative went from Samantha to her friend Dutch without warning. (I figure this might be solved with proper spacing when the final copy is released for publication.) It seemed to take awhile to develop the story and I felt a bit bogged down somewhere in the middle. Overall, the story was an interesting take on several facets of the word “Fallout”.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Huge thank you to NetGalley, Carrie Stuart Parks, and Thomas Nelson for providing me with a copy of this publication, in exchange for my honest review.
I enjoyed this. Was a bit of a slow burn and was interesting and had twists and turns. I will read more from this author.

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Carrie Stuart Parks, and Thomas Nelson for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

Always a fan of Carrie Stuart Parks and her writing, I was pleased to receive an ARC of this latest novel. Parks always brings her background in forensic art to the novels, tapping into what, for me, has been a unique approach to crime and investigation. That being said, she is keen to collect other breadcrumbs and scatter them throughout, giving the reader an exiting experience as they comb their way through the story.

LaCrosse, Washington is known for little and Samantha Williams likes it that way, An art teacher at the local school, Samantha becomes a hero when an SUV careens into the school and many are hurt. Having been in her own vehicle at the time, Samantha must come to terms with what happened, though is stymied when she cannot produce any proof of her identity to authorities, as it has been removed from her purse.

Confused and relying on others, Samantha must try to piece together what’s happened and who is trying to keep her from herself. Some of these answers begin to emerge when a reporter begins asking questions and digging deeper into Samantha’s past. Samantha soon realises that there are other odd goings-on in the area, including sets of remains that were long thought buried. Is there someone trying to stir up trouble? Samantha finds herself at the heart of it all, without any answers to offer.

At a local recovery house, Clan Firinn, some others are also trying to set things straight. There appear to be a number of mysteries all tied to an old government nuclear facility close to LaCrosse and no one is quite sure what to make of it. It’s this that triggers Samantha and memories of her past, not always good. The fallout is a spiralling like no other, as the truth emerges for all to see. What secrets await Samantha on her journey and how could learning about her past be the key to understanding the present happenings? Parks offers an intriguing piece that never stops evolving.

I remember discovering the works of Carrie Stuart Parks and being instantly pulled in by the world of forensic art. It was a branch of investigation I had never considered and appeared to have ways of really stirring up the pot. Since then, Parks has evolved her stories into one-offs that pack just as much punch, but focus on other perspectives as well, including a peppering of biblical references. Parks uses her strong writing abilities to pull the reader into the middle of the story and forces them to confront whatever the narrative is spinning. This works well, as she has a depth to her characters, which adds flavour to the story and keeps the reader feeling connected to whatever is going on.

One essential to a successful story for me would have to be a clear and developing narrative. Parks offers this as she concocts what she needs to keep things progressing throughout. The story moves and has many moments where it can gain needed momentum, be that through the introduction of a new character, plot twist, or even revelation that was once deemed inconsequential. Parks has had success in crafting her stories with these ingredients and continues to do so throughout this piece. However, there were times that I felt a disconnect to the story or its progression. I was not as affixed to events as I would have liked or even expected. The investigation into the accident that opens the novel, Samantha’s past, or even how Clan Firinn fit into the larger story; all of this proved hit and miss for me. This, in turn, created a sense of confusion or lack of excitement as I flipped pages. I saw a gem in some of the foundational narrative, but did not feel the impact as strongly as I might have liked. While I have seen this book marketed as Christian fiction, that should not deter readers. It does have some biblical references, but I would not consider it fuelling the progression or flavouring of the piece. Perhaps it is my mind space at the moment that has me feeling lukewarm, which is entirely possible. I have much respect for Carrie Stuart Parks and would encourage others to red this, as well as her other books, to come to their own conclusions.

Kudos, Madam Parks, for another well-plotted novel. I hope others see some of the strong aspects I did while reading.

Secrets of the past haunt the unsuspecting in the present as a thriller story unfolds with adrenaline laced page flipping well into the night. This is a book that is impossible to put down until you reach the heart pounding finale, with all the questions finally answered and put to rest. It starts with a horrific car crash in the first pages, leading Sam to question who the driver was and why the "accident" happened at her school. She has a past she can't remember, or even wants to. But every question that arises points to a link to her hazy past. In order to catch a killer and save herself, Sam must wash away the mist and finally find out what happened in her childhood. Or she and her new friends could be the next victims. Dutch was in the car but has no more ideas about what happened and why than Sam. The victim was a friend and he wants answers as much as Sam. Can he help her find these answers before it's too late? When they join forces to find these answers, they soon find themselves in over their heads trying to find out what is going on before the killer strikes again. Each page flips faster than the last with the suspense building with each new problem that arises. The characters bond together a story that starts in the past and ends with a look into the future.
Carrie Stuart Parks mixes high octane suspense with moments of truly human quips that bring about a story that keeps the reader hooked until the story is finished. With wit, insight, and intrigue Carrie Stuart Parks has produced one of her best books yet. I can't wait for her next book, my fingers are already wanting to flip the first page! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This story started out with a bang! Literally... as, first, a mysterious man in a black coat and balaclava is carefully carrying a bomb to the designated spot. Then, at the beginning of the next chapter, a black Suburban smashed into the side of a school classroom where Samantha teaches. Samantha is left homeless, carless and walletless and is thrown into a mystery which somehow involves her past.

I admit to being confused a few times at the plot, but, overall, it held my attention. While I received a complimentary copy of this book, opinions expressed in this review are completely my own, and I'm grateful to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the opportunity.

This read starts and ends with action, first a car rams a school building, and ends with gun shots, what is going on, and will answers come soon enough?

This author is a master at writing action packed suspense, and this one did not disappoint! You begin to wonder why a young woman, orphaned as a young child and now working as a teacher is being targeted?

As the cast of characters grows you wonder whom is involved, and my mind guessed, but was I right? I kept page turning as more and more danger roared it's head. The reason is very deep, and very scary, and yet, it sure felt very real!

I have read several of this author's books, and this sure won't be the last! Great read!

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

This book isn’t as gripping as her other books. I still enjoyed it but I didn’t feel as invested in it as I normally do with her books.

Twists and turns in this new mystery based on true events will have readers eagerly turning pages. Sam, traumatized by childhood events has flashes of pass events that will cause her to question reality. I loved that Sam had a strong faith but didn't care for the Sneetches. For someone who had trouble trusting people, I found it odd that she trusted Mary so much. Interesting story.

Samantha Williams is a resourceful introvert; orphaned at a young age she has learned what she likes and (subconsciously) what helps her feel safe. When a series of tragic events all seem to peripherally involve her to some degree, she realizes her world is systematically being turned upside down. Sam is determined to find out who or what is behind it - and exactly why is she being targeted?

The author reveals, piece by piece, a history that may -or may not- be colliding with Sam’s present day. The Clan Firinn organization (from previous books, although this is a standalone) has a large role as well. We are not sure who is friend or foe - and the answers just may surprise you.

I thought this book was very interesting. The timeline and setting are less common (for most books I read anyways!), the story is rooted in true events, and a number of the characters have somewhat unusual pasts. I have enjoyed all of Carrie Stuart Parks’ books and am glad to recommend them.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers and NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.