Exposure (32 page)

And now some serious thank-yous are in order. First, my thanks to Gary and Beth Hoenicke, the true owners of Tastebuds, for allowing me to feature their brick-oven pizzas and old-fashioned soda fountain. If you’re in the Wilmore area, you simply must stop by and order one of each. Tell them Kaycee sent you.

Thanks also to Wilmore Police Chief Steve Boven and Officer Mike Bandy for granting me interviews about how their department would handle some rather odd scenarios and for showing me around the station. Any deviation from their procedures was intentional fictionalizing on my part. My special gratitude to Officer Bandy, who enthusiastically told me not one but
four
possible scenarios for making the final pages of the epilogue work.

To sweet-faced little Merrick Kasper of Ohio, thanks for allowing me to keep your picture before me as inspiration for Hannah. And my gratitude to Merrick’s mom, Dana, who allowed this strange woman with an even stranger request to photograph her daughter. May you both be blessed.

Many thanks to Sue Brower, my Zondervan editor, and my agent, Lee Hough of Alive Communications, for all you did for this story. And I can’t leave out Bob Hudson, whose careful copy editing tightened details. Rachelle Gardner has freelanced with Zondervan to edit my last three novels, and she’s been fabulous to work with. Rachelle, thanks for your insights.
Exposure
is a better story because of you.

Most of all, my heartfelt gratitude to you, my readers, for strapping into that seatbelt one more time and rocketing through this ride with me. May you face and conquer your fears through God’s power.

Brandilyn Collins, Bestselling Author

“Ever hear the dead knocking?”

Novelist Darell Brooke lived for his title as King of Suspense — until an auto accident left him unable to concentrate. Two years later, reclusive and bitter, he wants one thing: to plot a new novel and regain his reputation.

Kaitlan Sering, his twenty-two-year-old granddaughter, once lived for drugs. After she stole from Darell, he cut her off. Now she’s rebuilding her life. But in Kaitlan’s town two women have been murdered, and she is about to discover a third. She’s even more shocked to realize the culprit is her boyfriend, Craig, the police chief’s son.

Desperate, Kaitlan flees to her estranged grandfather. For over forty years, Darell Brooke has lived suspense. Surely he’ll devise a plan to trap the cunning Craig.

But can Darell’s muddled mind do it? And — if he tries — with what motivation? For Kaitlan’s plight may be the stunning answer to the elusive plot he seeks . . .

Softcover: 978-0-310-27642-5

Pick up a copy today at your favorite bookstore!

Lean style and absorbing plot . . . Brandilyn Collins is a master of suspense.

CBA Retailers & Resources
, for
Dark Pursuit

Moves from fast to fierce.

TitleTrakk
, for
Dark Pursuit

Classic Collins: fast paced, interesting characters, tension and “seatbelt suspense.”

Bookreporter.com
, for
Dark Pursuit

The suspense and mystery . . . reveal a wonderful message of purpose and honor that will resonate with readers after the perfect ending. If you aren’t reading Brandilyn Collins you are truly missing out on some of the best suspense storytelling around.

The Christian Manifesto
, for
Dark Pursuit

A deliciously scary, completely engrossing read. The characters are multi faceted and interesting. Fast paced, and full of twists and turns … my heart was racing.

CBN.com
, for
Dark Pursuit

A harrowing hostage drama . . . essential reading.

Library Journal
, for
Amber Morn

The queen of seatbelt suspense delivers as promised. Her short sentences and strong word choices create a “here and now” reading experience like no other.

TitleTrakk.com
, for
Amber Morn

Heart-pounding . . . the satisfying and meaningful ending comes as a relief after the breakneck pace of the story.

RT Bookreviews
, for
Amber Morn

High octane suspense . . . a powerful ensemble performance.

BookshelfReview.com
, for
Amber Morn

One of the Best Books of 2007 . . . Top Christian suspense of the year.

Library Journal
, for
Crimson Eve

The excitement starts on page one and doesn’t stop until the shocking end . . . fast-paced and thrilling.

Romantic Times
, for
Crimson Eve

The action starts with a bang . . . and the pace doesn’t let up until this fabulous racehorse of a story crosses the finish line.

Christian Retailing
, for
Crimson Eve

An unparalleled cat and mouse game wrought with mystery and surprise.

TitleTrakk.com
, for
Crimson Eve

A chilling mystery. Not one to be read alone at night.

RT BOOKclub
, for
Coral Moon

Thrilling . . . one of those rare books you hurry through, almost breathlessly, to find out what happens.

Spokane Living
, for
Coral Moon

A fascinating tale laced with supernatural chills and gut-wrenching suspense.

Christian Library Journal
, for
Coral Moon

Fast-paced . . . interesting details of police procedure and crime-scene investigation . . . beautifully developed [characters] . . .

Publishers Weekly
, for
Violet Dawn

A sympathetic heroine . . . effective flashbacks . . . Collins knows how to weave faith into a rich tale.

Library Journal
, for
Violet Dawn

Collins expertly melds flashbacks with present-day events to provide a smooth yet deliciously intense flow . . . quirky townsfolk will help drive the next books in the series.

RT BOOKclub
, for
Violet Dawn

Skillfully written . . . Imaginative style and exquisite suspense.

1340mag.com
, for
Violet Dawn

A master storyteller . . . Collins deftly finesses the accelerator on this knuckle-chomping ride.

RT BOOKclub
, for
Web of Lies

Fast-paced . . . mentally challenging and genuinely entertaining.

Christian Book Previews
, for
Web of Lies

Collins’ polished plotting sparkles . . . unique word twists on the psychotic serial killer mentality. Lock your doors, pull your shades — and read this book at noon.

RT BOOKclub
, Top Pick, for
Dead of Night

This one is up there in the stratosphere . . . Collins has it in her to give an author like Patricia Cornwell a run for her money.

Faithfulreader.com
, for
Dead of Night

Spine-tingling, hair-raising, edge-of-the-seat suspense.

Wordsmith Review
, for
Dead of Night

Collins keeps the reader gasping and guessing . . . artistic prose paints vivid pictures . . . High marks for original plotting and superb pacing.

RT BOOKClub
, for
Stain of Guilt

A sinister, tense story with twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Wordsmith Shoppe
, for
Stain of Guilt

An abundance of real-life faith as well as real-life fear, betrayal and evil. This one kept me gripped from beginning to end.

Contemporary Christian Music
magazine, for
Brink of Death

Collins’ deft hand for suspense brings on the shivers.

RT BOOKclub
, for
Brink of Death

Gripping . . . thrills from page one.

christianbookpreviews.com
, for
Brink of Death

Compelling . . . plenty of intrigue and false trails.

Publisher’s Weekly
, for
Dread Champion

Finely crafted . . . vivid . . . another masterpiece that keeps the reader utterly engrossed.

RT BOOKclub
, for
Dread Champion

Riveting mystery and courtroom drama.

Library Journal
, for
Dread Champion

The cleverly complex plot, realistic courtroom drama, well-sketched secondary characters, and strong pacing make this book a fascinating read.

dancingword.com
, for
Dread Champion

Chilling . . . a confusing, twisting trail that keeps pages turning.

Publisher’s Weekly
, for
Eyes of Elisha

A thriller that keeps the reader guessing until the end.

Library Journal
, for
Eyes of Elisha

Unique and intriguing . . . filled with more turns than a winding mountain highway.

RT BOOKclub
, for
Eyes of Elisha

One of the top ten Christian novels of 2001.

christianbook.com
, for
Eyes of Elisha

Captivating . . . an imaginative plot, rounded characters, and workmanlike prose.

Moody Magazine
, for
Eyes of Elisha

ALSO BY BRANDILYN COLLINS

Dark Pursuit

The Rayne Tour Series

1 | Always Watching

Kanner Lake Series

1 | Violet Dawn

2 | Coral Moon

3 | Crimson Eve

4 | Amber Morn

Hidden Faces Series

1 | Brink of Death

2 | Stain of Guilt

3 | Dead of Night

4 | Web of Lies

Chelsea Adams Series

1 | Eyes of Elisha

2 | Dread Champion

Bradleyville Series

1 | Cast a Road before Me

2 | Color the Sidewalk for Me

3 | Capture the Wind for Me

Founded in 1931, Grand Rapids, Michigan-based Zondervan, a division of HarperCollins
Publishers
, is the leading international Christian communications company, producing best-selling Bibles, books, newmedia products, a growing line of gift products and award-winning children’s products. The world’s largest Bible publisher, Zondervan(www.zondervan.com) holds exclusive publishing rights to the
New International Version of the Bible
and has distributed more than 150 million copies worldwide. It is also one of the top Christian publishers in the world, selling its award-winning books through Christian retailers, general market bookstores, mass merchandisers, specialty retailers, and the Internet. Zondervan has received a total of 68 Gold Medallion awards for its books, more than any other publisher.