Happy Pub Day to Lay Your Body Down!

When I saw rural town and cult-like church in the synopsis, I knew I had to pick this one up. It started slow for me, but when it picked up I was thoroughly intrigued. I had an idea of who the killer was, but the twists and turns that led to the ending were so good.

Del fled her small hometown, her parents, and her cultish church that runs everything straight out of high school. She never imagined returning home, but when an ominous call from an ex comes through, and then his mysterious death days later, Del finds herself returning home to find out how he died. She knows what they’ve labeled as an accident can’t possibly be true and she needs to know the truth. Del comes off as quite immature/naive and typically that annoys me, but I think it worked for the story given her upbringing.

This was my first by Amy Suiter Clark but I look forward to reading more. Thanks to William Morrow, the author and Thriller Book Lover Promotions for my gifted copy. Lay Your Body Down is out today.

Lay Your Body Down follows the story of Del Walker, a young woman who left a conservative and patriarchal church cult in her small hometown of Minnesota. When her former boyfriend and a past member is killed during a freak hunting incident, she goes back to revisit her past and try to find out what actually happened.

I love any story that explores the social dynamics and psychology of a cult, and this one did not disappoint. It is a slow-burn mystery which causes you to distrust just about every character, as any good thriller should.

I'd recommend this for any thriller fans or others who are intrigued by cults.

Thank you William Morrow for the ARC!

Culty churches, family drama, a mysterious death…sign me up.
Del Walker left her town for a number of reasons, coming back only for the funeral of a former boyfriend. When she returns, she realizes the church has grown in size and influence, and she is pretty sure the death was murder.

Thank you to NetGalley for this amazing suspense novel!
I'm usually not big on books regarding religion or cults but this one was intriguing and fast-paced.
The story revolves around a woman named Del who fled her toxic small town with a cult-like church. Del returns home for a funeral and discovers how much the church has evolved and grown since she left.
It is sometimes disturbing how much churches can become dangerous and cult-like. The influence is insane and haunting.
The book was quick and exciting. It kept you off-kilter because at times it felt confusing who was the villain. It was a compelling book. I highly recommend it and can't wait to read more by this author!

This is a new to me author, but will definitely want to read more by her.

This book had a very Duggar-esque feel to me, and I was immediately sucked in.

Delilah - now Del - grew up in a very strict, almost cultlike church run by Pastor Rick. She left home for college and never looked back. She is somewhat estranged from her family and really has no friends there to speak of.

When she finds out her ex-boyfriend, and likely the love of her life, is killed in a "hunting accident" she decides to return home for the funeral. Immediately suspicious, she launches her own investigation into his death, which could come at a cost as high as her own life.

Del's widow, Eve, is also Del's former best friend and there is tension there. Eve was strict in the Noble Wife thinking and even had a blog regarding the same. The story is told through Del and also through Eve's blog posts, which I found very different.

Many thanks Netgalley, William Morrow and Thriller Book Lovers Promotions for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley, Thriller Book Lovers Promotions, William Morrow Books and Amy Suiter Clarke for my copy!

This book is powerful and addicting. I was a little nervous to start with it being a church cult but I was sucked in immediately. I loved hearing about the church in the past and present through Del(lilah)’s POV and Eve’s blog. It is so crazy to see how much power this church and specific people among the church held. The story played out nicely. I had an inkling about a twist in the book and it felt good to be right! I really enjoyed Suiter Clarke’s writing style and can’t wait for more from her!

What a wild ride this was! I was expecting a storyline like Girl,11 but this was completely opposite. Small town secrets mixed in with a cult like pastor at the local church and murder. Alternating chapters between Eve’s blog posts and our main character Del this will have you guessing who did it right up until the very end!

Overall, an interesting religious “cult” story- slower at times and not a lot happens overall but if you enjoy this kind of story I’d give it a try. 3.5-4 stars

5 stars

Wow, this book was a rollercoaster in the best way. In this dark psychological thriller, Del returns to her hometown where a conservative preacher has a stronghold not only on his congregation but on the entire community. I think the topics Amy Suiter Clarke is exploring here are essential to any conversation about religion and gender in the 21st century. A great pairing would be with the docuseries Shiny Happy People! I will be thinking about this book for a long time

What a wild ride! Delilah (Del) returns home to her childhood church to attend the funeral of Lars, the man that she always thought she would marry. Instead of her happily-ever-after, Del is pushed aside for her best friend, Eve, who writes a popular blog called the Noble Wife. Del is still reeling from their marriage and birth of a baby daughter when Lars dies days after leaving her an unanswered voicemail. Del returns home to the all-consuming church of the Messiah for his funeral convinced that something is amiss in the hunting accident that caused his death. Lars' death won't be the only one that occurs in this small town, and Del is convinced she is the only one who can bring them down, once and for all.

This was definitely timely for me, as I'd just finished watching Shiny Happy People: The Duggar story on Amazon. I've been working through my own feelings after growing up in an evangelical church which has teachings very similar to the ones talked about in this book. There were many times that passages gave me shivers and I found myself nodding along with some of the things that Del was taught and experienced. This is definitely a cult book, but I didn't feel it shamed religion or those that follow biblical teaching. Instead, it shows how power can be corrupted by those willing to twist words to make them fit their own agenda. I liked the twists and turns in this book, and while I was pretty sure I knew where it was headed, the last twist did get me. Overall, a really good read and I will definitely be reading more from this author.

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for an advanced reader copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.

"When it comes to being silent about a murder, politeness is a pathetic excuse. It's either deception or fear." - Amy Suiter Clarke

This novel was a true thriller all the way through! Del's family moved and quickly integrated into the local small town's church. Del never really felt she belonged and has horrible memories of her time there. When she left, she swore she'd never go back that is until she finds out on social media that her first love was murdered, but everyone is saying it was a horrible accident, the police included. Knowing she has to go back, Del is quickly pulled into being asked to look into what is all going in the now the enormous mega church and yet it is made clear she is not wanted back in town. Few believe the rumors that have always surrounded the Messiah and are loyal to the church and anyone within the church. So when Del takes it upon herself to get the bottom of Lar's murder and that means visiting her past and going up against one of the most powerful men in town, Pastor Rick Franklin and coming to term with her friend who committed the ultimate betrayal. The ending is like a plunge into cold water, as you try to understand what happened as you read it a second and third time. Thank you to the author and publisher for the free novel, and to Thriller Book Lovers Promotions for the tour invite. This review is of my own opinion and accord.

This is the sophomore book by Amy Suiter Clarke and I can't wait to go back and read Girl, 11. Lay Your Body Down was an addictive read, you could feel the bad coming and you know just like Del that nothing is what it seems with The Mess. i really enjoyed that its told in part by Del now, her diary from back then, and Eves blog. As with any church cult you just have no idea who you can trust and I love that in a book. It was really unsettling as things started to come out and you get to know whats happening to those at the church and the power that can be held there. The ending was a whorl wind of action and things all adding up!

Thank you to ThrillerBookLoversPromotions, William Morrow and neutrally for my #gifted copy

Delilah Walker (Del) fled her small rural Minnesota hometown and its oppressive conservative mega-church, hoping she’d never have to look back. When her college love, Lars, is killed in a supposed hunting accident, Del goes home for the funeral. Revisiting her roots and her religious trauma, she becomes convinced there’s more to Lars’s death than meets the eye. What’s more, she believes that the church is complicit in a cover-up and she’s going to get to the bottom of it.

I was captivated by Amy Suiter Clarke’s novel about a misogynistic religion that controlled women while enabling bad men. The Messiah Church is a cult of personality with Pastor Rick at its center, and it was terrifying to see how easily he was able to use scripture to control church members’ minds and hearts. While the novel is told mainly through Del’s perspective, entries from the “Noble Wife” blog show the insidious teachings the church used to coerce young women into submissiveness. This book is also highly entertaining from a thriller perspective, with plenty of twists and turns and no shortage of suspects to keep me guessing.

If you love cult thrillers or small-town suspense, especially with a side of cultural critique, Lay Your Body Down should be right up your alley! If you’ve been morbidly fascinated by tradwife culture or Shiny Happy People, this book ticks those boxes too. Many thanks to William Morrow and Scene of the Crime via NetGalley for providing me an advance copy of this book.

This is the total cult trope! I could not stop turning pages. Delilah left her town years ago to get away from the cult atmosphere and the pastor that was running the church. She comes back to town for the funeral of a past love. One thing to note is this story has many biblical references. There was also a blog that was intertwined between the chapters that was well done. Such a great mystery if you enjoy a cult trope. 4 stars, go grab a copy on June 27th. 4 star! Thank you to Netgalley and William Morrow for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is a book that will have your turning pages. It’s easy to read and captured my interest from the very beginning. It’s definitely a compelling read.

When I first started this book, I thought that it wasn’t for me, but I kept reading, and found myself completely engaged and enjoying myself. At times, the writing is beautifully poetic, but it can also get to the point. The characters are strong and distinct, all of them.

This book touches on several sensitive subjects, including: Women not being equal to men, women being second class citizens, completely subservient to, and under the control of, their husbands or other men in their lives. Suicide is implied; spousal abuse, both physical and psychological, is a topic, and there’s a great deal of manipulation. Men are drawn as being protectors of the weak women and everything is done to keep women weak and at home or at church. Concern is expressed about men being feminized by society and other churches than Messiah, and that feminization would mean that the men can’t protect their women and children. Women are disparaged and men are absolved of any wrong doing. Men are the lords and masters.

There is a good deal of Christian content in this book, but I wouldn’t call it a Christian book. Do be prepared for biblical references, and the message that only members of Messiah Church are right about religion. Outsiders cannot be right.

Lay Your Body Down starts out making you think it’s about the glory and reward of being a member of a large religious community. Slowly, it starts peeling back the layers to reveal how hypocritical the whole thing is, from the top all the way down to the lowest member. Be prepared for some delicious surprises as the mysteries unfold. I'll add that if I were Delilah, I'd run for the hills.

It may sound like this book won’t keep you involved and entertained, but I assure you that it will. It’s a great book with a strong message. I highly recommend it. I even pre-ordered a copy to send to a friend as a birthday gift.

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I thank all involved for their generosity, but it had no effect on this review. All opinions in this review reflect my true and honest reactions to reading this book.

From my blog: Always With a Book

This is the first book I’ve read by Amy Suiter Clarke but it will certainly not be the last. I had already heard great things about her debut novel, Girl, 11 and now I will be adding that to my reading list immediately!

I was immediately pulled into this story. I am so completely fascinated with books that delve into cults and religious fanaticism, which this one most certainly does. I just cannot fathom being so engrained into that type of life, yet reading this book, especially the blog entries that we get glimpses of throughout called “Noble Wife” really are quite eye-opening to what this life is all about.

This book was so hard to put down once I started reading it. I was captivated by how well the author was able to create a creepy, chilling story that instantly makes you feel for certain characters. I loved Del. She left not only the church, but and the area, and is now back because she just knows there is more to Lars’s death than what she’s been told. By being back, we come to learn about the past trauma that sent her fleeing in the first place. I also felt for Eve, who writes the blog entries for “Noble Wife.”

The thriller element of this book kept me engaged throughout. I loved how all the pieces came together. There were quite a few twists and turns and I found myself on edge as the book moved forward. While I was not completely shocked at who was ultimately behind everything, I was shocked at how it did all play out.

I loved this book and highly recommend! It’s such a layered story that kept me engaged and fully immersed from start to finish. If you like books about cults, religions or even small-town murders, definitely pick this one up!

Did you say cult trope? Heck yeah! One of my faves! In this book we have a religious cult where women are supposed to learn how to be a noble wife during teenage years. It is a very old idea, think 1950’s housewife. Del is brought back to her hometown for the death of her ex boyfriend. She thinks it wasn’t accidental and starts investigating people from the church.

It is told through Del’s diary entries, the Noble Wife Blog posts, and Delilah’s POV. I enjoyed the different formats. We explore how people can be manipulated by leaders, and herd mentality. There were enough twists to keep me guessing, which I can appreciate!

Thank you to @thrillerbookloverspromotions @williammorrowbooks for the #gifted copy of the book.

Delilah (Del) Walker left her hometown 6 years ago for college escaping the cult like church and pastor. The man she fell in love with, Lars, left her for Eve, who was Del’s best friend. Lars is killed in a hunting accident and Del is determined to return home to find out what happened. Upon returning home she is forced to deal with her past and all the people in her hometown. Are they all bad?

I flew through this book. The author did an excellent job creating a cult like story intertwining Eve’s blog on becoming a ‘Noble Wife’. It was twisty enough that it kept me guessing right up until the end.

I didn't grow up in a church but I did grow up in Utah and well that made this book relatable for me. I think my friends, who did grow up in the church, would feel this book fully. Elizabeth Smart came forward to talk about how purity culture damaged her. We also have the issue of Toxic Perfectionism here, which plays a huge part of Del's life in her small hometown.
It all comes down to patriarchy.
I loved this book, fully and completely. These are all things we need to talk about and a novel like this is a great way to introduce the subject.
My favorite scene is when Del and Esha are talking to board of elders and they're dismissing everything. I felt that entire scene in my bones. I love the support the sisters finally receive from their father at the end of that part.

I plan to recommend this one to everyone I know.

Something is rotten in the state of Minnesota. Del thought she'd left her small-town church—and its powerful preacher—behind for good. But when the man she once thought she'd marry is found dead, she's pulled back into it...and only now is she realizing just how deep the rot goes.

I've been reading a lot about conservative religion lately, to the extent that my s.o. heaves a tired sigh when I tell him about a new is-it-a-cult book. He looked mildly interested when I said I was reading a murder mystery—until I asked him to guess its themes. He thought for a second, and then his shoulders drooped and he sighed. "Is there a cult?"

So, uh, yes. That's where I went in. At the core of this story is Eve—Eve, one of Del's best friends when they were younger; Eve, who tempted Lars away from Delilah; Eve, who is partially responsible for the stratospheric rise of the local preacher. She's been writing a blog since her teenage years, one in which she writes passionately about the messages of purity and being a "Noble Wife" that the preacher spouts. The basic message is clear: if you are good and pure and perfect, your (future) husband will cherish you, and God will smile upon you. The messages that go unsaid, though...

Without getting into a lot of detail about the plot (keep the mystery a mystery and all), I'll say that I flew right though this. Clarke does an excellent job of dropping crumbs that you don't fully register until after the fact, and the creepy religion feels more accurate than you might think. If I'd read this five years ago, I might have thought the Noble Wife blog was over the top, but I've done something of a broad swim through the weirdness that is American Christian fundamentalism since then, and...folks? If you think it's unrealistic? There are popular, real-life social media accounts doing just about the exact same thing. (There are some places in which I wondered whether Clarke has been reading the same sources I have.)

I do wish there'd been a little more open discussion of forgiveness, or maybe more to the point forgiving and forgetting, and what that means. With some key exceptions, the vibe of the end of the book suggests that there will be quite a lot of water sent under the bridge, and relationships healed to an extent that I'm not sure is realistic—there's a lot of hurt to go around through the course of the book, and the events that precede it. And...I wonder how many of these relationships can really be built or rebuilt to full strength after all that. That said, "Lay Your Body Down" exceeded my expectations and hit at that perfect balance of murder mystery and critical look at conservative religion...even if my s.o. would have preferred that I brought more murder and less cult to the dinner table.

Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.