By Crystal Caudill

Landkreis, Indiana is under the thumb of the notorious Thorne Family. Leaving terror and desolation in their wake, the Thornes, led by their half-crazed matriarch, Ma Thorne, have killed anyone who crossed them. And Lu Thorne is ready to cross them.

As her young son grows, Lu is desperate to spare him from the life of crime that ultimately killed his father and grandfather. With her list of sins as bad as the rest of the family’s, turning to the law would only result in her own arrest – if the Thornes let her live that long. 

When the long-lost Andrew Thorne returns to his family, Lu doesn’t trust him anymore than the rest of the Thornes. But there’s something different about him, and despite his rough exterior, he offers her hope and protection. Can the secrets in his past offer her freedom, or are they both doomed to go down, guns blazing, with the Thornes?

Pros: This is one of my favorite Crystal Caudill books. It has all the authentic, gritty elements of a Western, and enough page-turning suspense to keep you up late at night. Yet, despite the sordid characters and thematic elements, the writing was clean – even hope-filled. 

Just thinking about it makes me want to read the book again!

Cons: Why aren’t there more books like this out there? If I’m missing them, please let me know! Otherwise, I guess I’m just going to have to write them myself.

Bottom Line: A hope-filled, gritty Christian suspense novel with an 1800s crime family you’ll love to loathe!