Still Life, Chesapeake Valor #2 by Dani Pettrey

Book description: 

Someone Is Out There. Watching Her. Waiting. 

Blacklisted in the photography business over a controversial shot, Avery Tate answered an ad for a crime-scene photographer. She expected to be laughed at, but crime-scene analyst Parker Mitchell hired her outright--and changed her life. But six months ago, when her feelings for Parker became too strong, she left his employ to sort out her heart.

Now, for the first time, Avery is facing the world that rejected her to attend the gallery opening of a photography exhibit for which her friend modeled. But the only image of her friend is a chilling photo of her posing as if dead--and the photographer insists he didn't take the shot. Worse, her friend can't be found, and so Avery immediately calls Parker for help.

As Avery, Parker, and their friends in law enforcement dig into the mystery, they find themselves face-to-face with a relentless and deadly threat.

My review:

   Dani Pettrey is still a fairly new author, this being only her second series. However, she quickly became one of my favorite authors when I wasn't very far into her Alaskan Courage series, which I highly recommend.

 This series is a lot different from her first series, but just as suspenseful, gripping, and as great of a read.

  It has been a year since I read the first book in the series, so it took me a awhile to get familiarized again with the main characters, who most of which were in the first book. The Alaskan Courage Series revolved around members of the same family, with each of the 5 books centering on a different family member. Chesapeake Valor revolves around a group of friends, all in some sort of law enforcement/crime solving. There is also the mystery of a missing friend that has gone on through both books so far, and I am guessing will continue throughout the whole series.

 Still Life centers on Parker Micthell, a crime scene analyst, and Avery Tate, a crime scene photographer. The plot was a bit morbid, centering on the photographing of a dead girl, but it did make for an interesting plot.

  My only complaint with the book was there were so many suspects that I found it a bit confusing, but maybe that was just me. I loved the characters, the plot, and suspense. Towards the end of the book, I found myself suspecting the person who did indeed turn out to be the guilty party, and enjoyed figuring it out before it was revealed.

 This was a book that was difficult to put down. Pettey did not disappoint, but delivered the kind of suspense and quality Christian fiction she has already become known for. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.


And for those into the show, you may find it of interest that Kenneth McNickle from the latest season of Survivor, is the cover model for this book.

About the author:

Dani Pettrey is a wife, home-schooling mom, and the acclaimed author of the Alaskan Courage romantic suspense series, which includes her bestselling novels Submerged, Shattered, Stranded, Silenced, and Sabotaged. Her books have been honored with the Daphne du Maurier award, two HOLT Medallions, two National Readers' Choice Awards, the Gail Wilson Award of Excellence, and Christian Retailing's Best Award, among others.

She feels blessed to write inspirational romantic suspense because it incorporates so many things she loves--the thrill of adventure, nail-biting suspense, the deepening of her characters' faith, and plenty of romance. She and her husband reside in Maryland, where they enjoy time with their two daughters, a son-in-law, and a super adorable grandson. You can find her online at danipettrey.com.


Still Live is available from Bethany House Publishing, part of the Baker Publishing Group.

Thanks to Bethany House for the review copy.