• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Bio
  • Bookshelf
    • Audio
    • Complete List of Chautona’s Books
    • The Rockland Chronicles
      • The Vintage Wren
      • The Aggie Series
      • The Hartfield Mysteries
      • Sight Unseen Series
        • Sight Unseen Series Archives
      • The Agency Files
      • Christmas Fiction
    • Legacy of the Vines
    • Meddlin’ Madeline
      • Madeline Blog Archive
    • Ballads from the Hearth
      • Ballads from the Hearth Blog Archive
    • Legends of the Vengeance
    • Journey of Dreams
    • Wynnewood
    • Webster’s Bakery
    • The Not-So-Fairy Tales
    • Heart of Warwickshire
  • Start HERE
    • If You Like…
    • Characters
    • Suggested Reading Order
    • Free Books
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Podcast
    • Podcast Guest Information
    • Podcast Interview FAQ
  • Merch Shop
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • Bonus
  • New & Coming
Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

I’m Thrilled to Share this Historical Mystery and Its Brilliant Author

by Chautona Havig · Leave a Comment

Mystery lovers will want to grab this mystery by debut fiction (but not nonfiction!) author, Patricia Raybon. Riveting! via @chautonahavig

Weaving a cold case, the KKK, and a love of Sherlock Holmes in 1920s Denver, Patricia Raybon has burst onto the Christian fiction scene to rave reviews and accolades.

We chat about how bestselling author, Patricia Raybon, got started in writing fiction after seven devotional books. Patricia shares her favorite mystery authors after discussing how life influences story and how story instructs about life.

Patricia Raybon

Note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.

I’m Thrilled to Share this Historical Mystery and Its Brilliant Author

Nothing delights me more than a good mystery–one that keeps me on my toes and especially one that teaches me something.  Well, even before I begin this one, I’ve learned something from Patricia Raybon.  Who could have imagined that 1/3 of the men in 1920s Denver were members of the KKK?

Ugh.

Former faculty at the University of Colorado at Boulder, Patricia Raybon is the perfect person to write about a young Black theologian at a small college in 1920s Chicago. Add to that her personal love of Sherlock Holmes and other classic and Golden Age mysteries, and how could Patricia not have written a brilliant book?

I was thrilled to discover that this is not just a stand-alone mystery but a (so far… crossing fingers and sending up prayers) three-book series. THREE Books!  (I’m begging Tyndale for five. Just sayin’…)

Furthermore, it’s available on audio. For those who are picky about their narrators, keep listening past the opening of the sample. Trust me. It gets better. That’s how I’m reading it.  Squee!

Patricia Raybon has also written an article on content in fiction such as language and smut.  Much like the one I wrote a while back.

Patricia Raybon All that Is SecretAll That Is Secret by Patricia Raybon

From award-winning author Patricia Raybon comes a compelling new historical mystery series, a riveting puzzle confronting the hidden secrets of class, race, family, and love.

Can an amateur detective solve the cold case mystery of her lost father’s murder?

In the winter of 1923, Professor Annalee Spain—a daring but overworked theologian at a small Chicago Bible college—receives a cryptic telegram calling her home to Denver to solve the mystery of the murder of her beloved but estranged father.

For a young Black woman, searching for answers in a city ruled by the KKK could mean real danger. Still, with her literary hero Sherlock Holmes as inspiration, Annalee launches her hunt for clues, attracting two surprising allies: Eddie, a relentless young white boy searching for his missing father, and Jack, a handsome Black pastor who loves nightclub dancing and rides in his sporty car, awakening Annalee’s heart to the surprising highs and lows of romantic love.

With their help, Annalee follows clues that land her among Denver’s powerful elite. But when their sleuthing unravels sinister motives and deep secrets, Annalee confronts the dangerous truths and beliefs that could make her a victim too.

You can find out more about Patricia on her WEBSITE.

Like to listen on the go? You can find Because Fiction Podcast at:

  • Apple 
  • Castbox 
  • Google Play
  • Libsyn 
  • RSS
  • Spotify
  • Stitcher
  • Amazon
  • and more!

 

Share
Pin
Post
Email
Share
Pin
Post
Email

Filed Under: Because Fiction Podcast

Previous Post: « What Does My Dream Island Vacation Have to Do with a New Book?
Next Post: What Happens When You Mix Fascinating History & Mystery? Great Books! »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Or, you can subscribe without commenting.

Primary Sidebar

The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast

Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episod 560: A Chat witih Melanie Dobson
byChautona Havig

No one does split-time like Melanie Dobson, and boy has she got a fabulous one for us now! Listen in to what she shares about her latest, The Lost Story of Via Belle.

note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.

I love hearing about authors’ research, but actually getting to see Grace Livingston Hill’s WRITING ROOM? WHAT?

The Lost Story of Via Belle by Melanie Dobson

Searching for a story to adapt for film, an aspiring screenwriter becomes captivated by a bestselling classic novel and the mysterious disappearance of the woman who wrote it.

1940. Via Belle’s sweet romance novels made readers believe in happily ever after. But Via’s reality was much more complicated. While her first husband was alive, her creativity thrived in a beautiful stone estate situated above a pristine lake and moonflower garden. After his tragic death and a whirlwind second marriage shrouded in secrets, Via vanished from public life, leaving behind a shadow of scandal . . . and her final story.

2006. Screenwriter Harper Rayne is desperate for a breakthrough, if only she can find the right story to tell. But when she digs into the life of her late mother’s favorite novelist, she never expects it to become personal. Drawn to the quaint Pennsylvania town where both her mother and Via once lived, Harper discovers more than a mystery to solve—she finds echoes of her own longing for love, healing, and home. As long-buried secrets come to light, Harper must decide if she’ll protect the past or rewrite this particular ending.

Described as a “powerhouse in dual-timeline Christian fiction” (Library Journal), Melanie Dobson delivers another rich, atmospheric novel about the legacy of sacrificial love and the redemptive power of truth.

  • Standalone dual-timeline historical mystery filled with drama, faith, and intrigue
  • Clean, suspenseful historical fiction, perfect for fans of Susan Meissner, Lisa Wingate, or Patti Callahan Henry
  • Includes discussion questions for book groups

You can learn more about Melanie Dobson on her WEBSITE. Also follow her on GoodReads and BookBub.

Like to listen on the go? You can find Because Fiction Podcast at:

  • Apple
  • Castbox
  • Google Play
  • Libsyn
  • RSS
  • Spotify
  • Amazon
  • YouTube
  • and more!
Episod 560: A Chat witih Melanie Dobson
Episod 560: A Chat witih Melanie Dobson
July 13, 2026
Chautona Havig
Episode 559: A Chat with Lisa Phillips
July 11, 2026
Chautona Havig
Episode 558: A Chat with Felicia Hurd
July 6, 2026
Chautona Havig
Episode 557: A Chat with Laura DeNooyer
July 4, 2026
Chautona Havig
Episode 556: A Chat with Sharon Wilharm
June 29, 2026
Chautona Havig
Episode 555: A Chat with Jil Koller
June 27, 2026
Chautona Havig
Episode 554: A Chat with Gloriaea
June 22, 2026
Chautona Havig
Episode 553: A Chat with Chris Underwood
June 20, 2026
Chautona Havig
Episode 552: A Chat with Laura Ashwood
June 17, 2026
Chautona Havig
Episode 551: A Chat wth Kayla E. Green
June 15, 2026
Chautona Havig
Search Results placeholder

Love Audio Books?

audio book ad

Featured Books

Take Cover

Take Cover

CrossWords

CrossWords

Be My Inspiration

Be My Inspiration

Upcoming Posts

Sorry - nothing planned yet!

Or just subscribe to the newsletter

Recent Blog Posts

  • So, There Was That Time I Forgot What I Knew…
  • “Be Careful Little Mouth What You Say” Ain’t No Lie
  • Why Romance Is a Hairy Proposition (or is that proposal?)

I buy my stickers here! (affiliate)

Custom Stickers, Die Cut Stickers, Bumper Stickers - Sticker Mule
Forty years ago, she married someone else. He does Forty years ago, she married someone else. He doesn't know if she's even alive, but when her diary surfaces, Frank has to know what happened to the woman he never stopped loving.
Finding a Memory is available in print, on Kindle (and Kindle Unlimited), and audiobook. You can even listen to the audiobook FREE on YouTube by searching for Christa DelSorbo. https://amzn.to/44tpqwz #affiliate link
#ChristianFiction
#ChristianRomance
#SecondChanceRomance
#KindleFree
#KindleUnlimited
It's her last Christmas with her favorite person i It's her last Christmas with her favorite person in the world. All he wants for Christmas? A second-chance romance between Joanie and Jesus... oh, and Geoff. Simple, right? But how do you tell a man like Uncle Bud it can't be done? You don't. You trust Jesus and get to work. The first book in the Independence Islands: The Book Barrow, Christmas on Breakers Point is available in print, Kindle (and Kindle Unlimited), and audiobook (listen free on YouTube. Search Christa DelSorbo). https://amzn.to/3ReBgrr #affiliatelink
#ChristianFiction
#ChristianRomance
#ChristmasFiction
He's the world's most recent billionaire. She's ju He's the world's most recent billionaire. She's just glad he lives on the other side of the world. Their "paper marriage" makes both their lives easier. Until he shows up on her... um, that is HIS doorstep, injured and with his net worth significantly reduced. She doesn't trust men. He's sick to death of fawning women. And now they're stranded together in the family mansion alone. Mostly. There is the cat. Zyrtec.
Book two of the Independence Islands: The Book Barrow series, Dual Power of Convenience includes a contemporary marriage of convenience combined with a semi billionaire romance. Available in print, on Kindle (and Kindle Unlimited), as well as audio (which is also free on YouTube on Christa DelSorbo's channel). https://amzn.to/3SDXwvd #affiliatelink
#ChristFic
#ContemporaryChristianRomance
She just wants a chance to film helping restore th She just wants a chance to film helping restore the islands in the wake of a hurricane. He just wants to keep his job when the islanders find out they're going to be on TV. This loathe to love romance includes a found dog, a found family, and a bit of a mystery, too. Book four of the Independence Islands: The Book Barrow series, Flipping Hearts is available in print, on Kindle (and Kindle Unlimited), as well as audio (which is also free on YouTube on Christa DelSorbo's channel). https://amzn.to/3R6OcQ6 #Affiliatelink
#ChristFic
#ContemporaryChristianRomance
#KindleUnlimited
It's bad enough to discover that someone murdered It's bad enough to discover that someone murdered your wife, but it's even worse not to know if you killed her. Simon doesn't remember, and the police don't believe him when he says he couldn't have done it. "I just know" doesn't cut it.
Book three of the Sight Unseen Series, Ties That Blind throws Ella, Vikki, and Simon into a race to prove his innocence and discover just what happened to them before things become deadly. Check it out in print or Kindle/Kindle Unlimited : https://amzn.to/44qJEHc
#ChristFic
#ChristianRomanticSuspense
#KindleUnlimited
According to her license, Vikki Jeffries lives in According to her license, Vikki Jeffries lives in Arizona, so what's she doing in a hotel room in Rockland? Oh, and why doesn't she recognize herself? Getting home? Terrifying. But that's nothing compared to feeling like you're being watched and then realizing someone is out to get you.
Book two of the Sight Unseen Series, Will Not See shifts the series into romantic suspense as Vikki balances her new life with trying to stay alive. Check it out in print or Kindle/Kindle Unlimited : https://amzn.to/4f0t0V2
#ChristFic
#ChristianRomanticSuspense
#KindleUnlimited
Why are the men in her life always leaving? Her fa Why are the men in her life always leaving? Her father, Uncle Bud, her two-hour fiance, and now Benjamin looks ready to bolt. What's God doing here, and what secret is Benjamin holding onto? Book, Chapter, & Vows is available in print, on Kindle (and Kindle Unlimited), and audiobook. You can even listen to the audiobook FREE on YouTube by searching for Christa DelSorbo. https://amzn.to/44tpqwz #affiliate link
#ChristianWomensFiction
#ChristianRomanticWomensFiction
#KindleFree
#KindleUnlimited
  • Home
  • Bookshelf
  • New & Coming
  • Blog
  • News!
  • Disclosure & Policies
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2026 · Chautona Havig · All Rights Reserved · Coding by Gretchen Louise

Don't go before you grab your FREE short story collection!