Building The Suspense

Deadly Deceit by Natalie Walters is a thrilling contemporary Christian suspense. It is the second book in the Harbored Secrets series but can be read as a stand-alone.

Everyone has a past, we cannot change it but neither must we let it rule us. “So tired of hiding the secret… he was chained to his past.” Secrets can be burdensome. They weigh us down. We need to share them and live in the light. But what happens when someone threatens to reveal your secret? Secrets go hand in hand with guilt. We were never meant to live under a cloud of guilt but in freedom. When we are hurt, we may retreat into ourselves, building a wall to protect our hearts. That is not freedom, that is a prison. The bricks around our heart need to be demolished. We need to learn to trust.

There is the theme of fathers. Some let us down. We may project our image of and feelings towards our father onto other male figures and even God. God is our loving Father. He will never leave us nor forsake us. “She hoped… when she prayed, God would listen.” God always hears and answers our prayers but not always in the way we want.

Forgiveness is a major theme. If we do not forgive, we risk imprisoning ourselves in bitterness. “Forgiveness can release us from bitterness. It’s what God wants.” To forgive is freeing to us as the chains of bitterness fall.

There are crimes to be solved. The reader sees the darker side of humanity. We are called to be the light and spread the hope we have found in Jesus. “Finding light in the darkness of humanity.”

The characters were realistic and well drawn, being easy to empathise with.

I loved Deadly Deceit. It was my first book by Natalie Walters but I am looking forward to reading many more. I think it would make a fabulous movie.

I want to leave you with this powerful quote on forgiveness:

“Forgiving someone is not saying what they did to you is okay. Forgiving is saying you will no longer allow what they did to you to control your life.”

I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

JULIA WILSON