Carolina Reckoning is a "Christian Mystery", set in present-day North Carolina. The story opens with Alison, the protagonist, finding a picture of her husband, Frank, and another woman taken during one of his trips out of town; he is a pilot who travels extensively and is commonly regarded as an adulterer, but she had never had the actual proof of his liaisons. While she waits on the couch so she can confront him immediately upon his return, she falls asleep only to be awakened by local police informing her that Frank has been murdered. The plot takes Alison on a journey to seek the truth about her husband and his murder, which becomes a journey into her own self and what she wants for her family.
I received a free copy of this book through Goodreads First Reads, in exchange for an honest review. After reading the first 100 pages or so, I have to admit that I was a little afraid of what this review would look like. The novel started out with a "bang" (literally), but immediately began throwing in character transformations, even before we got to know the characters. I found the beginning a little "disjointed" and unbelievable; I'll spare details to prevent spoilers. I am so glad I kept reading, however, because the pace of the book suddenly picked up, and quickly became a "page turner". I started getting invested in the characters, the intriguing mystery, and where this story may be leading. In the end, I was quite satisfied. Not only did I get a great mystery, but a great story about the journey into oneself and what it takes to find your own strength, independent of others. I look forward to reading Lisa Carter's next book, Beneath a Navajo Moon.
Rating: 80
Bottom Line: Not a literary masterpiece, but a good, clean mystery with a great story! A great summer read!
