When I received the invitation to review A Memory Worth Dying For from CelebrateLit, I had to try it. I mean, who doesn’t love a good mystery. And Joanie Bruce writes a good mystery! I hadn’t read her first book, so I started with Marked For Murder. When I figured out who it was right away… and still was kept on the edge of my seat second-guessing every single thing I thought I knew about the book, I knew I’d found a winner.
A Memory Worth Dying For was equally intriguing. It isn’t that Ms. Bruce writes a “can’t figure out who did what” mystery. No, she writes a book that you can figure out and then makes you doubt every who, what, where, and why there is–not to mention the how. Whodunnit? Nailed it. How? Why? Where? Yeah… not as easy. Not only that, but when you can’t figure all of it out, and enough red herrings enter the picture, your certainties morph into uncertainties. What are you left with? A fun read full of twists and turns.
A few caveats about the story Ms. Bruce tells…
Ms. Bruce writes overtly evangelistic fiction. As such, at times it does feel a bit preachy, but solid writing, good characterization, and interesting plot lines keep it from detracting too much from the story. I have a strong preference for faith gently interwoven and naturally revealed in ways that feel authentic rather than clumped sections of “this is truth.” I don’t always achieve it well myself, but it’s my preference.
There were elements that I found a bit cliche at times, but nothing so problematic that it jarred me completely from the story. Ms. Bruce is a natural teacher. I saw it in both books as she helped characters cook and understand other tasks (that I won’t share for fear of spoiling the story).
A couple of times those spots became a bit too detailed for me. If I want to know how to bake this or that, I usually prefer to look it up when I’m actually doing it. Small amounts, yes. It lends authenticity to moments and allows for alerting folks to dialogue changes in a natural way. But more than that becomes like watching an entire episode of “How to make xyz” on a TV show in a movie–where they show the whole recipe for the purpose of showing the recipe instead of understanding something about the one learning or teaching it. And that detracts a bit. Still, it was minor. It didn’t really bother me as much as made me notice it, and I know it bothers some people–the only reason I noted it.
And one that I came to terms with.
I will say that until I decided that love and hope blinded the main character, Marti, to reason, many of the decisions she makes are improbable and quite annoying. She is constantly in danger and yet remains in danger by her own choosing–while still terrified. Marti knows how to avoid this danger. Stay away from her ex-husband. Yet, while struggling with her faith after past horrific events, she remains in a place that increasingly becomes more dangerous.
The only explanation is her hope that her ex-husband will remember what they had and forgive her past mistakes. I’ve seen women do that very thing. Marti personifies those broken, wounded, hurting women who cling to the past while avoiding it at all costs. She fits the profile, but until you really see it, you want to shake her like the gal in the white nightgown going down into the dark, scary basement in every other horror movie.
My conclusion:
All in all, Joanie Bruce’s books were in the top ten books I’ve read so far this year–primarily because they kept me intrigued and didn’t irritate my overly-critical side. I’m not proud of that side. Still, I note it to temper what may appear an unfair reflection on other books I’ve reviewed this year.
Chautona, I love your reviews. You’re honest and think about things that bother people (even if they don’t bother *you*). Thank you for sharing books and authors with us!
I really try. I don’t want to leave a super negative impression, but if it crosses my radar, I want to share. This is what made going with Amazon’s “Love it, Like it, It’s Okay, Don’t like it, Hate it” system so cool. I can point out things that bother folks without feeling like I have to take away from their star rating.
Never read any of her books. Alas! She isn’t on Kindle Unlimited. (Sorry, if that sounds cheap. It’s just some of us have budgets – actually, Kindle Unlimited isn’t really cheap either.) But thank you for an introduction to a new author. I loved seeing her cheerful face in her author picture as well.
Looks like a really good book Thanks for sharing it on your blog during the tour
I haven’t read anything by her either, but this one looks good!! I love finding new authors.
I haven’t read anything by her but it sounds intriguing!
I already have an ebook copy of this book, and I intend to read it soon. Unfortunately, I haven’t read any of her books yet. But I love every blog I’ve read about this book. Thanks, Joanie and Chautona for a great interview!
No, I have not read any of Joanie Bruce’s books.
Thanks for the review! I have never read Joanie Bruce and would love to read one of her books!
Wow, Chautona, thank you for such a good review. I love the fact that you’re thorough and give both negative and positive comments. Negative feedback helps me learn and improve with every book I write, and that helps my readers enjoy the experience of reading a good suspense even more. So thank you for that. You’re so sweet for reading both books and commenting on both, and for that you earn my appreciation. So thank you for agreeing to review my books. I’m glad you enjoyed them, and I hope your readers do as well. Happy reading!
I was thinking about it during my workout, and one thing I really think you did well was turning what could have been inordinately improbable and made it plausible. I LOVE when authors do that. IT’s something I try to do often. That suspension of disbelief because life has thrown odd curve balls makes it possible. 🙂
Thank you, Chautona! That was wonderful coming from you. It made my day. Have a great day! 🙂
I have not read anything by this author. Sounds interesting though.
I have never heard of the author but it sounds like I might enjoy her books. =)
I’ve never heard of her, but the books sound interesting.
I’ve never heard of this author before, but both books sound like they are worth reading. Thanks for introducing me to a new author!
Tina