By Crystal Caudill

Wow! This book was an absolute gem!

Cincinnati is rocked with the shocking murders of criminals who, through connections, had escaped punishment. But what made these deaths so sensational is that they were predicted by the pen of the mysterious dime novelist, E. A. Dupin. With the city in an uproar, Officer Abraham Hall is tasked with finding the anonymous author and bringing an end to the vigilante-style justice. But what he soon discovers is more shocking than the current crime wave: E. A. Dupin is actually Miss Lydia Pelton, and she is just as horrified as he is at the dark turn her fictional characters have taken. Who is the person behind the murders? What is justice? And how will Abraham protect Lydia when her characters turn on her?

Pros: I had forgotten how witty Crystal Caudill is as an author. I laughed so hard and also nearly died of second-hand embarrassment from some of the characters’ antics. Finally, a historical Christian rom-com with depth to it! Though the plot has the potential to go dark, the author perfectly walked the tightrope of realism and light. The romance wasn’t overdone, either.

The characters were excellent, the mystery was intriguing, it was historically accurate (as far as I can tell), deep themes of justice and ethics were explored, and it takes a deep dive into the crazy mind of a writer. I am still laughing at some of the descriptions and inner monologues. 

Cons: My only real disappointment was that I guessed the bad guy right away. The red herrings were great and the layers of camouflage were deep, but it wasn’t enough to fool me.

Bottom Line: I HIGHLY recommend this book to lovers of Christian historical fiction and Christian mysteries. This is one author you don’t want to miss!