Faith Readers Review: Gone to Ground

I let it slip by. I guess I’ve been busy. Whatever. Point is, I haven’t posted our book club’s review of Gone to Ground by Brandilyn Collins. Brandilyn writes Seatbelt Suspense and she’s one of my favorite authors in Christian writing.

Vacations, night school and various other obligations kept many of our ladies from attending, but they did read the book. We kicked off conversation with brownies–an assortment. Turtle, chocolate chip, white icing and brownie bites. It was only fitting since Cherrie May, one of the southern characters ate them with the victim before the police found her dead! Dun, dun, dun!

We chose this book and by us, I mean the ladies. I choose the genre and give about 5 selections, then I sit back and watch them duke it out on which one to read. Kidding. They don’t duke it out…much. And when the picks all seem good to the ladies, they just download the others on their Kindles anyway!

Here’s a few things that were said: NO SPOILER ALERTS!!!


“I liked that she set it in Mississippi. I think she portrayed a small southern town well.” (Uh, we live in MS near Memphis)


“I thought using three women in first person was a little confusing at first.”


“I did too, but then once I figured out who was who, it didn’t bother me anymore.”


“I thought the twists were great and I had no idea who the killer was!”


“Me either!”


“I did.” (that was me btw)


“I thought the way she unfolded everything was well done. I hate books that at the end, the killer tells how he did everything. Who would do that? I mean a sprinkle of something maybe, but to basically tell the whole thing, uh, that’s the author not able to write a good story.” (Take notes, writers. Readers want organic story, not the villain telling it all at the end.)


“I didn’t care for the written dialect. I could figure out how she talked after the author described her. That just irritated me.”


“I loved her descriptions and I was into the story from page one.”


 “I let my mom read it and she devoured it in a night.” 


“I’d like to read more of her books.” 


Rating: 1-5 stars. 4!


Here’s a peek at Gone to Ground:

Brandilyn Collins website
Amaryllis, Mississippi is a scrappy little town of strong backbone and southern hospitality. A brick-paved Main Street, a park, and a legendary ghost in the local cemetery are all part of its heritage. Everybody knows everybody in Amaryllis, and gossip wafts on the breeze. Its people are friendly, its families tight. On the surface Amaryllis seems much like the flower for which it’s named–bright and fragrant. But the Amaryllis flower is poison. 

In the past three
years five unsolved murders have occurred within the town. All the victims were
women, and all were killed in similar fashion in their own homes. And just two
nights ago—a sixth murder.
Clearly a killer
lives among the good citizens of Amaryllis. And now three terrified women are
sure they know who he is—someone they love. None is aware of the others’
suspicions. And each must make the heartrending choice to bring the killer
down. But each woman suspects a different man. 



Our next genre was Medical Thrillers and the ladies chose, Code Triage by Candace Calvert. (I’ve finished it already!)


I talked about my crazy dog the other day at Lisa Jordan’s blog. Due to what happened, we had her groomed. I asked the people to cut her like a Schnauzer. OMG. I came home and my husband said, “Hey, what’s with the old Japanese Kung fu do?” 


“What?” 


Yeah…this is what they did to my dog! But I didn’t take her back and demand they fix her because after what she did to me, she has the grandpa beard coming. Punishment.

Before
After LOL!!!!
Everybody Wang Chung
tonight! Oh wait,
they can’t because…
Everybody was Kung
Fu Fighting!

Go read the story…you’ll understand! 



Do you read suspense? Why or why not? Also, what do you think of my dog? LOL! 




31 thoughts on “Faith Readers Review: Gone to Ground

  1. LOL!!! I literally have tears streaming down my face at the picture of your dog. Literally! (Said like Rob Lowe on Parks and Rec)

    Love the cover of that book. And I'm with your friends who get annoyed when the villain spills all at the end of books. Happy that doesn't happen in Gone to Ground!

     
     
    1. Everything Melissa said. (and yay for P&R references!)

       
       
    2. LOL! She's such a little freak! My DH just started watching that on Netflix. I kept hearing him cackle. I need to get in on that!

       
       
    3. Erynn,
      Thanks for coming by today! Welcome! I look forward to getting to know you!

       
       
  2. I am still laughing. Seriously. But yeah, that dog deserved it…HAHA! Who grooms like that?

    I LOVE suspense. I haven't read this one yet. I might struggle w/ the whole first person thing, but I'm definitely adding it to the pile. Great review. Have a great weekend!

     
     
    1. I know!! And they nicked her. I used to not like first person, but after reading a few, especially Christa Allan, I like it. I don't write in it though.

       
       
  3. THAT IS HILARIOUS!!!!

    I do like suspense and Brandilyn Collins is wonderful! Will need to check that one out!

     
     
    1. I know. I snorted when I saw the rat. Yeah, you'll like this one I think!

       
       
  4. Good genres, you guys are choosing. I love it. Still need to read this one, but eager. And isn't Candace AWESOME?? Love her books!

    ROFLOL! I'm sitting here and thinking "oh your dog is so cute!" Then I scroll down. Instant laughter. Oh poor pooch! Too funny!!

     
     
    1. I do enjoy Candace's books, plus she's so pretty and elegant looking. 🙂 Not that that has anything to do with her writing. Just sayin. Ha!

       
       
  5. I love suspense! As long as it's suspenseful, that is. I hate being able to see a plot twist a mile away!

    LOL at that photo of your dog – literally!

     
     
    1. I know, I heard you! LOL

       
       
  6. Sounds like you have a blast with your book club! And the brownies? Amazing. Thanks for the review. I see we have something else in common – shaved pets. But what is with leaving fur/hair when the rest of the pet looks so well-groomed? Our groomer did that too! Hmmmm…must be a groomer thing! Have a great weekend.

     
     
    1. I adore my book club. I really do! What's up with our groomers?

       
       
  7. Oh. My. Goodness. That picture of your dog…it's just…priceless.

    And I loved Gone to Ground. I totally guessed the killer too. I have a talent for that, I think. Almost always can guess who it is… 😉

     
     
    1. LOL! Every time I see her I either laugh or roll my eyes, or maybe do a Karate chop like Mr. Ferley from Three's Company. Oh please say you know what THAT is!!!

       
       
    2. Um….

       
       
  8. LOLOL….that is too funny! I love it!

     
     
    1. LOL! I thought it'd be a good Friday laugh. The mutt!

       
       
  9. Cute puppy! I like suspense, especially when the characters are strong and proactive. I'm a fan of the old-fashioned hardboiled detective stories too.

     
     
    1. Oh me too! Love those stories!

       
       
  10. Bwah haaa haaa!! Your dog is HILARIOUS!! You gotta keep the Kung Fu look going. Except, of course, unless it snows. Then you could get him a ninja sweater. LOL!!

     
     
    1. Isn't she a riot! Looking, mostly she's neurotic and annoying. Ha!
      Ninja sweater. Now that's awe-SOME!:)

       
       
  11. One of the finest before and afters I've every seen. Made my day. New character for Kung-fu Panda?

    What I like about Jessica: She makes even the most mundane seem like such an adventure.

    Thanks for the laughs.

    Becky

     
     
    1. A perfect Kung-fu Panda character! LOL You are so welcome for the laughs. I get one every time I see her ugly mugg, ahem…beard!

       
       
  12. Clearly you did not know "schnauser" is the Low GErman word for "shave it butt ugly BALD but leave an Amish beard so it looks like Mr Miyagi on speed".

     
     
  13. Hung Poo Fighting.

     
     
    1. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! I'm telling that one to my hubby too! That's awesome!

       
       
  14. I don't know who I feel more sorry for – the dog or you guys who have to look at the poor thing! 🙂

    I love how you share what people say at the book club – that tells me way more about a book than anything else could and it makes me feel like I'm right there with you! I don't read suspense because I don't like being stressed out! 🙂

     
     
  15. I love reading suspense! Brandilyn is one of my TBR authors.

     
     
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