The Survivor (33 page)

Dear Reader,

Thank you for reading
The Survivor.

Using a solved cold case from Houston’s FBI records as the basis for my story was incredibly difficult. My character Amy’s experience happened to a real little girl who survived a horrible attack in much the same way. Thanks to her memory of the attacker and a sketch that was given to an artist, the man was arrested years later.

Writing the first section of
The Survivor
left me emotionally drained. I thought of the real little girl, of the long night she waited in a field to die, and how she worried about her mother. Even now, her courage fills me with emotion. God had a plan for her life, just as He has for each of us.

I touched on many issues in this book as I strove to write realistic family dynamics in the midst of tragedy. Our lives are all about relationships and the people placed on our paths. We are to love and not smother, give and not take, sacrifice and not demand. I hope you look at your loved ones with more thankfulness and joy. Treasure them. Keep them in your prayers, and always let them know you love them.

DiAnn Mills

1. Horrible tragedies either draw families closer together or tear them apart. Jonathan Yeat grieved, yet he had his sons to consider. Did he make good choices?

2. Dr. Amy Garrett was highly respected. Unfortunately, she walked in fear. Have you ever known anyone who needed help but didn’t know how to get it?

3. Tigo wanted something seemingly beyond his reach—his relationship with Kariss restored. How would you have counseled him?

4. Jonathan Yeat believed in giving back to the community, but he lacked leadership in his home. What Bible hero had the same issue? What could Jonathan have learned from this hero?

5. Sometimes when those in ministry fall, others can be unforgiving. Pastor Taylor Yeat made a mistake. How would you feel if you were a member of his church?

6. Kariss sensed that God wanted her to write Amy’s story. She discounted the danger until it was too late. How would you have advised her when the story idea was presented?

7. What characteristics did Kariss and Tigo share? What characteristics were different?

8. Kariss had a difficult time keeping her word when it came to staying inside her condo for protection. Do you agree with her rationale?

9. Tigo had kept a part of his past secret from Kariss. How do you feel about keeping secrets from someone you love?

10. Curt Yeat ignored his own needs because his family lived in turmoil over Ian’s rebellion. Have you or anyone you know ever been in a family situation such as this?

11. Have you ever considered being a special agent for the FBI? Why or why not?

12. Do you think Kariss and Tigo will spend a happily-ever-after life after saying “I do”?

Amy Wallace; Beth Patch; Eriko N. Valk, PhD; Evelyn Gutierrez; Julie Garmon; Karl Harroff; Lena Flores; Mona Hodgson; Shauna Dunlap, FBI Houston media coordinator; Shonda Savage; Tama Westman; Tanner Holley; Tom Morrisey; and Victor Moreno.

Award-winning author DiAnn Mills combines an adventuresome spirit with unforgettable characters to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels. DiAnn’s first book was published in 1998. She currently has more than fifty books published. Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists and have won placements through the American Christian Fiction Writer’s Carol Awards and Inspirational Reader’s Choice awards. DiAnn won Christy Awards in 2010 and 2011.

www.AuthorTracker.com for exclusive information on your favorite HarperCollins author.

“I was chasing the pages, flipping them as fast as I could while holding my breath to find out what Kariss and Tigo would get caught up in next.
The Chase
is an edge-of-your seat fun read everyone will enjoy.”

—D
EBBIE
M
ACOMBER,
#1
N
EW

Y
ORK
T
IMES
BEST-SELLING AUTHOR

“DiAnn Mills is not only one of our best writing mentors, but she also proves her reputation with meticulously researched thrillers like
The Chase.
Another breathless winner for her many fans.”

—J
ERRY
B. J
ENKINS, NOVELIST AND OWNER

OF THE
C
HRISTIAN
W
RITERS GUILD

“DiAnn Mills’s books never fail to delight.
The Chase
is one more winner. A spunky heroine, a sexy hero, authentic research, and a heart-wrenching, action-packed plot. Don’t miss it!”

—K
AREN
Y
OUNG,

AUTHOR OF
L
IE FOR
M
E

“The Chase is a riveting tale of a cold-case turned hot—sizzling hot with police drama, dynamic characters, and a story that will capture your heart. DiAnn Mills shows again why she’s one of the best storytellers around. Highly recommended!”

—M
ARK
M
YNHEIR, FORMER

HOMICIDE DETECTIVE AND AUTHOR

OF
T
HE
C
ORRUPTIBLE.

Previous Books in the Crime Scene: Houston Series

The Chase

Also by DiAnn Mills

A Woman Called Sage

The Fire in Ember

N
OTE TO READER:
S
OME DRAMATIC LICENSE

HAS BEEN TAKEN REGARDING
FBI
PROCEDURES.

A
NY ERRORS IN ACCURACY ARE THE AUTHOR’S.

ZONDERVAN

The Survivor
Copyright © 2013 DiAnn Mills

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this ebook on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of Zondervan.

EPub Edition © FEBRUARY 2013 ISBN: 978-0-310-33323-4

Requests for information should be addressed to:
Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Mills, DiAnn.

The survivor / DiAnn Mills.

         p. cm.– (Crime scene–Houston ; bk. 2)

ISBN 978-0-310-33322-7 (softcover)

1. Houston (Tex.)–Fiction. 2. Christian fiction. 3. Suspense fiction. I.

Title.

PS3613.I567S87 2012

813’.6–dc23                           2012034765

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