You can't go wrong by reading a book by Patricia Bradley! She is an awesome writer and this book proves that, too! Dani has no memory of when she was a young child and is shocked to learn that perhaps she has a living relative, who is also a potter! The bad news is that she
may have witnessed the murder of her parents and even seen the murderer! Mark is a K-9 officer who is called upon to keep her alive as multiple deadly incidents happen all around her and those around her. I will not spoil the ending, but you will like it!
I appreciate reading this book as an advanced copy from the publisher. The thoughts expressed are my own.

I enjoyed this book. I loved the concept of the main character having PTSD amnesia. I enjoyed the way we got to understand more and more throughout the book as memories returned. This book was full of suspense and kept me interested the entire story.

2.5 stars I received a copy of this from NetGalley. Thanks! I haven't read a great deal from Patricia Bradley. This was a solid effort but I had a harder time wanting to keep reading this one. I didn't love the main character that much and I didn't love some of the other characters that much either. I think that took this one down a notch in my estimation. I did guess the mystery and the killer in just after half way through but it was interesting to find how they come to the answer and the motive. I liked it. I didn't love it. It doesn't make me want to pick up the first in the series.

This is book 2 in Pearl River series, Even though it is a stand alone book, you would miss a good read and a little of the history in some of the sub characters and town. However you do not need to read book one to know what is going on in this one. I love the story line and the characters in this book. It is full of mystery, romance, some surprises and more. I loved Mark Lassiter and Dani Bennett. There is so much going on with them, I love their chemistry. Dani is in for so much surprise and only wishes she could remember her past. I can not wait for the next book in this series and was thrilled we continue to hear from Alexis and Nathan from book one. This series would make a great movie or series. I was given a copy of this novel for my honest opinion.

Fatal Witness by Patricia Bradley is the second book in the Pearl River series and a definite must read if you love inspirational romantic suspense books.
Twenty-five years ago Danielle Bennett witnessed the brutal murder of her parents and in order to keep her safe her uncle raised her with a different name and a new life, but when Dani leaves Montana to teach a class those around her start getting hurt and she will do everything she can to remember details from not only that horrible day, but secrets that have been hidden for years.
Mae Richards has been looking for her granddaughter since the night her parents were killed and she went missing, but has gotten nowhere until she enlists the help of K-9 officer Mark Lassiter of Pearl Springs, Tennessee.
Mark helps to keep Dani safe when someone wants to silence her when she sets out to find out the truth from so long ago.
I really enjoyed this story and look forward to reading more books in this series in the future.

I was given an ARC from the author/publisher. All conclusions are mine and mine alone.

Fatal Witness by Patricia Bradley – Interesting Plot, But the Story Got Bogged Down


I enjoy suspense and mystery novels and was excited to read Patricia Bradley’s newest book Fatal Witness, the second book in the Pearl River Novel series. A cold case, family secrets, a repressed memory, and a family seeking justice makes for an interesting mystery.

At age nine, Danielle witnessed her parents’ murders and was whisked away by her uncle Keith. It has been twenty-five years and Dani has no memory of the events that changed her life. Her uncle has protected and insulated her from all possible danger. While she has no memory of her family, she inherited the natural artistic talents of her grandmother Mae. The subject of a recent magazine article, Dani has been invited to attend an artist workshop in Cincinnati. Though Dani has no memory of her early life, her grandmother has never forgotten her, nor stopped looking for her. Seeing the article in the pottery magazine, Mae is certain that Dani may be her long-lost granddaughter.

I found the storyline intriguing. I liked Dani and was curious about her uncle Keith and how he would react to Dani venturing out on her own. I liked her grandmother Mae who was willing to press law enforcement to investigate this cold case and find her granddaughter. Law enforcement officers in the remote area of Tennessee were stretched thin and had a lot of area to cover. But Mark Lassiter with his K-9 companion Gem, along with Alex Stone and her team would do what they could investigate this cold case and protect those in danger.

Once Dani is back in Tennessee, things heat up and it appears the murderer will stop at nothing to protect their secrets. At this point in the story, it seemed to get bogged down. I struggled with the last half of the story. There were a lot of characters and potential suspects to weed through. There were some strategic errors made by law enforcement several times. Some risks and decisions that were made were not logical. As a former military sharp shooter, I found it interesting that Mark allowed himself to be distracted.

Faith was a small part of the story and a Bible verse was focused on in times of danger. I would like to have seen Mark’s faith more fully developed and part of the story.

I liked the storyline and characters in Fatal Witness, but found the story dragged in the last half of the novel.

I would to thank NetGalley and Revell Publishing for the opportunity to read Patricia Bradley’s book Fatal Witness. If you enjoy Patricia Bradley’s writing and like mysteries and intrigue, you may enjoy this book. I was provided with a complimentary copy of Fatal Witness. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.

Fascinating story from an author who is new to me (I think). Lots of red herrings, false trails, and tricks to lead the reader to the wrong culprit! I love it when I don’t immediately guess the right answers: that doesn’t seem to happen often.

The characters were well developed, though Mark seems a little too good to be true. The Christian aspects were presented deftly.

This is book two in a series. I’m definitely searching out Book One. That isn’t necessary to enjoy this novel, but this title is so good that I want to read the other one, also! I’m looking forward to Book Three!

This powerful novel contains so many elements that add to the intrigue and suspense. The rapid-paced mystery keeps readers guessing as they follow a young woman with no memory of her early childhood. When unexpectedly thrust into her past, it not only forces a cold case to reopen but puts her in danger because of what she may have witnessed. The intense drama draws you in and keeps you glued to the text until the twisted threads are all unraveled and the tale resolves. If you like clean thrillers, don’t miss this exciting addition. It can stand alone, but is part of a compelling series. I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley. #FatalWitness #NetGalley

I received a copy of this book.
Great Story and characters.
Full of action and plot twists.
Looking forward to reading more books by this author.

Fatal Witness
by Patricia Bradley
Pub Date 06 Feb 2024
Revell
Christian| Mystery & Thrillers| Romance


Revell and Netgalley have provided me with a copy of Fatal Witness for review:


Artist and potter Dani Bennett witnessed the brutal murder of her parents as a child. With no memory of the incident or her true identity, she was forced to take on a new name and a new life, hidden away in Montana for the past 25 years.For the past 25 years, she has been living under a new name and a new life in Montana, having no memory of the incident or her true identity.

Mae Richmond has spent the same amount of time searching for her granddaughter, who went missing the night her daughter and son-in-law were murdered. Convinced the woman she saw in a pottery magazine feature is the woman she's been searching for, she enlists the help of K-9 officer Mark Lassiter of Pearl Springs, Tennessee, who tracks Dani down.After seeing Dani in a pottery magazine feature, she enlists the help of K-9 officer Mark Lassiter of Pearl Springs, Tennessee, who tracks her down.



Dani sets out on a journey to uncover the secrets of her past and reclaim her true identity, skeptical but curious. There is, however, someone close to her who is determined to hide the truth about what happened all those years ago.


I give Fatal Witness five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

This was my first book by Bradley, and unfortunately, I think it will be my last. The plot, character, tension, and mystery were spectacular. I loved how so many suspicious people were around but the author didn't push the reader in any one direction. Also, the events laid out the clues and we were allowed to come to our own conclusions as to who might have had a part to play in Dani's parents' murders and why. I loved Dani's chemistry with Mark, and even though I haven't read book 1, I really appreciated Alex and Nathan too!

Some things were off for me, however. This is a Christian book, but the author has a character talk about evolution and do yoga when they're stressed. They also have the same character repeat a psalm for "peace." The one character that did believe in God (stronger?) talked about how God gives us peace but never ever mentioned how or why--which is Jesus's sacrifice on the cross for our sins. I was actually really disappointed because the themes could've gone so much deeper. At some point, I think one character turned to trusting God but it seemed to happen off-screen somewhere. Also, on the topic of salvation, the ending was rushed and undeserved. The killer, after spewing their crazed reasoning for killing Dani's parents, then asked for forgiveness--and Dani considered it. I love stories of redemption and forgiveness, but this was literally the last chapter, and it felt so shallow and unjustified, especially considering how it could have been built up more with paralleling Jesus's sacrifice for us.

In any case, the story and plot was great, but the theological aspect had me reeling. If that doesn't bother you, I can see how you'd definitely enjoy this fast-paced read, but I couldn't get over it.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This is book 2 in the Pearl River series. While Mark Lassiter and Alexis Stone (or Alex as she prefers) are characters in the first book "Counter Attack" and appear in this book--Mark as one of the MCs--, it can be read as a standalone.

As an animal lover, I loved seeing that there were two dogs included as MCs, one is Mark's police K-9, the other one is Dani's puli dog, or as others would call her...a mop dog.

But back to the actual story line and my review. I really liked Mark. He impressed me with his humility. He is a handsome guy and knows it. He turns heads wherever he goes. Yet, he doesn't let this fact get to his head. When women basically throw themselves at him, he remains this down-to-earth guy who politely pushes them back. Dani falls for him, too. But if you expect a steamy romance book, don't pick this book up. Mark focuses on his job and, unlike some, he realizes when his attraction to Dani impairs his judgment and focus on the job he is supposed to do. Maybe his former job as a soldier who deployed to Afghanistan has taught him that distraction can be fatal and he just can't shake that mindset, which is very helpful since Dani and Mark often end up in quite dangerous situations.

I felt that the end was a bit rushed considering that the list of potential suspects in the cold case of Dani's parents and the attack on Dani's grandma, as well as the attempts on Mark and Dani's life, is still long until about 98% of the book, even though suspicious characters seem to keep dropping like flies. In addition, this is not a book that wraps up all loose ends with a nice bow. There are still stories to be told, which is unsurprising since another book is coming in the series. I think we will see some of the characters from the first and this book again in the third book because...oh wait; I can't say more since that would spoil the first and part of this book. I guess you'll just have to take my word for it.

Thank you, Revell and Netgalley, for a complimentary copy of this book! The opinions in this review are entirely my own and unbiased.

This book had me from the start. The action was fast-paced and believable. I loved the characters and the setting. I was rooting for Dani, the heroine, and her hero. I wanted good to triumph and evil to be banished. I stayed up way too late reading this spellbinder.

While reading Fatal Witness I am reminded of why Patricia Bradley is one of my favorite authors. I also love reading about cold cases and the way that they are solved. She combines suspense, mystery and bone chilling, holding on to your seat excitement in her books and this one does not disappoint. This book revolves around the mystery of a nine year old child whose parents were murdered and her uncle, her daddy’s brother has raised her. She has no recollection of her parents or where she lived before and he is very careful not to reveal anything that happened to her parents or as to why they left and as to why they are living where they are now. He’s always been very protective of her, didn’t want any pictures of her out anywhere and never encouraged her to talk about her parents. This was very strange. She is very gifted in pottery/art and has her own studio. Someone did take a picture of her and put it in a magazine for sculptures and from that the mystery begins to be solved. She was recognized by the resemblance to her murdered mother by her grandmother who never gave up searching for her missing grand daughter. The name is not the same but she looks so much like her daughter that she feels sure that this is her…..Thus begins the search and the frightful experience this starts, for the killer is still out there… I received a complimentary copy of this book and all opinions and comments are my own.

Unfortunately, I did kind of figured out who the bad guy was fairly early on bu t it was still a fantastic romantic suspense. The pacing and action kept me enthralled and wondering how it was going to play out. The characters were lovable and part of me would have liked to see more of the grandma because I loved her character.

This story takes us back to Pearl Springs, this time concerning Mae Richmond's long lost granddaughter Danielle. Her daughter and son-in-law's murders have never been solved and she has not seen or heard from Danielle or Dani's uncle in twenty-five years. But Mae has never given up hope and when she finally gets evidence that she is alive and possibly found, she gets help from K-9 officer Mark Lassiter and Alex and Nathan from the previous book.

This story was like a puzzle as each piece was put together to show who the killer was and why. To say I was shocked at who it was, is an understatement. Poor Dani has suppressed her memories since she was only nine when the murders happened. She was raised by her overprotective, maybe somewhat manipulative uncle. While her grandmother Mae languished wondering what happened to her.

I liked seeing Alex and Nathan again from the previous book, the author expands on their story as well. I liked that the characters thought things through and really worked as a team to bring this cold case to a close.

I was provided a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

Bradley knows how to write a gripping suspense novel that keeps you hooked until the very end! We are back in the town of Pearl Springs with all of its vibrant and rich characters. I loved the close knit community Bradley created and the bonds of friendship. The two dogs in the story, Lizi and Gem, pulled on my heartstrings and made it even more interesting. I had to look up a Puli so I could envision this amazing dog! The mystery surrounding Dani Collins kept me page turning, guessing, and second guessing every person who came into the picture. Fans of romantic suspense will love this book! With just the right amount of faith woven in, this story will have you guessing until the very end! I received a complimentary copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is the first book by Patricia Bradley that I have read and I really enjoyed it. I will definitely look into reading more books by her. I thought this was a great suspense that had lots of twist and turns and misdirections that kept me guessing till the end of the book. Just when I thought I had it figured out something would show up disproving my theory. I also liked the characters and how supportive they were as Dani worked to regain her memories. I liked that those who cared about her were patient and encouraging. I also loved Mae as a character and loved her spunk. I also loved that there was romance between Dani and Mark but it wasn’t the main focus of the story. I did like that as they got to know each other they were able to deal with their own individual relationship issues so they could try to have a relationship later. I look forward to reading more books by this author and to reading the other books in the series.

I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors.  A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.

"Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in you." Psalm 56:3

These words from Psalm 56:3 are often quoted in Fatal Witness and author Patricia Bradley couldn't have chosen a better verse for this riveting tale of murder, memory loss, and a killer's efforts to make sure that those lost memories are kept buried forever. There is heart-pounding danger and nail-biting suspense, along with fear and a need for trust! I was fully engaged from the very first pages of Fatal Witness!

While there are characters from the first book in the Pearl River series, the main focus of this story is Dani Bennett, her grandmother Mae, and K-9 officer Mark Lassiter. I adored the tender reunion between a granddaughter and grandmother who had been separated for twenty-five years, and I loved the special friendship that developed between Dani and her protector Mark. Bradley shares a poignant picture of their past hurts and insecurities while showcasing the strength that they find in their journeys to faith and trust. Mae Richmond's hope and determination are priceless---she has become one of my favorite book characters ever!

If you're looking for an intense thriller that you can't put down, grab a copy of Final Witness. I couldn't wait to learn the truth, but I didn't want it to end! Very deserving of being more than a 5-star read!!

I received a copy from the author and publisher. There was no obligation for a positive review.

4.5 stars

This latest suspense from Patricia Bradley grabbed my attention from the very first scene and kept me glued to the story until the end. A double murder, stolen diamonds, an artist without a past, an over-protective uncle who keeps her on a tight leash, a grandmother who will never cease trying to find her missing granddaughter, a handsome K-9 officer who takes a personal interest, and a small Tennessee town on edge as someone who walks among them wants to keep long-buried secrets from being exposed to the light. Ahhhhh!!! Did I mention that I couldn’t put it down? I devoured this book as quickly as possible even though I could have easily stayed in Pearl River with these characters indefinitely. But I needed to know how it would all play out and if my hunches were correct or way off base. (Turns out I was somewhere in between haha)

Before I talk about our hero & heroine I have to mention how much I adored Mae. She reminded me of a blend of my own grandmothers, and her feisty spirit just delighted me. I would – in a heartbeat – read a whole spinoff series (maybe a cozy mystery?) featuring her character. Dani is a character you’ll quickly care about and I was very invested in her story as she tries to put together the missing pieces of her childhood. Mark is super swoony and kind (I loved how he watched over Mae) and while he still wants to be chief deputy (the job that Alexis was given in Counter Attack) he seems to be content now with waiting for the right time. Their romance is sweet and I really enjoyed watching them fall in love. Not only do they complement each other nicely but they help shore up the broken layers in one another while ultimately resting in the One who can truly heal. And I would be seriously remiss if I didn’t gush over Gem & Lizi, the two endearing, smart, and protective dogs in this book. The side cast is a tapestry of varied personalities that may be friend or foe – that’s part of what must be sussed out – as well as some beloved familiar faces from book one.

Bottom Line: A decades-old mystery. A missing granddaughter. A determined (and delightfully sassy) grandma. A town full of suspects. A budding romance. Danger at every turn. Patricia Bradley delivers all this and more in Fatal Witness – an intense & entertaining journey from start to finish. I enjoyed all of the above, as well as the gentle faith thread which supports the plot and characters in a way that feels natural to both. The layered characters leapt off the page and into my heart (especially Mae), and I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book! Fans of Lynette Eason, Irene Hannon, and Terri Blackstock will love Patricia Bradley too – and this Pearl River series is a great time to start reading her books if you haven’t already!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)