Trace of Doubt – DiAnn Mills

Trace of Doubt by DiAnn Mills
Also by this author: Airborne, Fatal Strike, Deadly Encounter, High Treason, Deep Extraction, Where Tomorrow Leads, Long Walk Home, Trace of Doubt, Concrete Evidence, Facing the Enemy
Published by Tyndale on September 7, 2021
Genres: Fiction, Christian, Romance, Suspense
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five-stars

Bestselling and award-winning author DiAnn Mills delivers a heart-stopping story of dark secrets, desperate enemies, and dangerous lies.
Fifteen years ago, Shelby Pearce confessed to murdering her brother-in-law and was sent to prison. Now she's out on parole and looking for a fresh start in the small town of Valleysburg, Texas. But starting over won't be easy for an ex-con.
FBI Special Agent Denton McClure was a rookie fresh out of Quantico when he was first assigned the Pearce case. He's always believed Shelby embezzled five hundred thousand dollars from her brother-in-law's account. So he's going undercover to befriend Shelby, track down the missing money, and finally crack this case.
But as Denton gets closer to Shelby, he begins to have a trace of doubt about her guilt. Someone has Shelby in their crosshairs. It's up to Denton to stop them before they silence Shelby--and the truth--forever.

Gosh darn it, I love DiAnn Mills! Her work never fails to entertain and satisfy. Trace of Doubt is no exception. After spending fifteen years in prison, Shelby Pearce is ready to begin a new life, in a new town, with a new faith. She found Jesus while behind bars, and Shelby knows He’ll be right by her side as she starts her next journey. She prays it will be peaceful…but the threats come almost as soon as she enters Valleysburg. Someone wants her dead. But Shelby Pearce is a hard person to kill.

Denton McClure has believed in Shelby’s guilt since he was assigned to her case fifteen years ago. Now that she is out, he goes undercover to monitor her and send her back to jail. Maybe he will have to lie to her, but there was no way she had turned her life around. She was a murderer…and a thief, too, in his book. Denton seeks closure, and the only way he will get it is to get her confession.

But as time moves forward, he grows to know Shelby Pearce for who she really is. The threats increase, becoming more violent. Shelby claims a piece of his heart—whether he wants her to or not—and he cannot accept anything happening to her. Not on his watch. He and Shelby will learn the identity of the villain, and they have to do it before it is too late.

Trace of Doubt by DiAnn Mills is exciting. Filled with edge-of-your-seat moments, I flew through this book as if I were aboard a rocket to the moon. I had to know what happened next, because Mills does a very good job of surprising her readers. Mills’ characters are multi-faceted. That is something I appreciate so much about her work, because characters grow—especially Denton, which thrilled me. So many romantic suspense novels focus on the female character. The man is almost a “perfect” person, with few faults. Denton, however…goodness, he can have my heart any day!

I did not only enjoy Trace of Doubt by DiAnn Mills for the romance or the suspense, though both are wonderful! Mills portrays the goodness of God so clearly, and it floods my heart with such warmth. I have a smile on my face even thinking about it. Mills has such a way with words, and I cannot wait to read her next novel. I will not be able to click “pre-purchase” fast enough.

I am closing this review with a poem from Trace of Doubt. It is permanently tattooed on my heart—in the best way possible.

Why can’t I hold on to the
Forgiveness that makes me whole?
Ashes rise to steal my breath.
I choke from drowning fear.
Help me, Lord, to cling to You
In never-ending prayer.

five-stars