Review: Deadly Proof

Deadly Proof by Rachel Dylan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was pretty good. I especially liked how Dylan kept on track with minimal head hopping. We get the viewpoint of the three main characters. Kate Sullivan, her old-time friend from law school, and her private detective who is a former Army Ranger. Really good character development in all three of them.

You are drawn into the story from the very first page, and each page is a turner. However, there is a bit of wordiness, and quite a bit of rehashing points. I don't like that at all because it feels like padding to me, and this is why the book gets 4 stars instead of 5 from me. While some of the padding is interesting, the rehashing is just annoying. Why do authors who get up from there writing have to go back and rehash motives and previous stuff already handled just to explain why a character thinks something or does something? It's like the author is reminding himself/herself what had happened to get the story flowing again after a break. Readers don't take long breaks, so we don't forget from one chapter to the next. Argh!! (Those readers who buy the already published work might not see these things. Don't know because I read the first upload from Netgalley, it wasn't even an ARC.)

Besides those problems, the premise is right in line with John Grissom's best, only this one is steamed with faith and some faith problems especially with Landon (Kate's PI), which are very well interwoven in the story. Another thing done very well is great transitions from one POV to another. You aren't jerked out of the story trying to figure out where you are or whose head you are in. Congrats on that Dylan!

*Received this book from publisher and Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. Special note to publisher--if you'd just take a little time to edit before upload to Netgalley, it would make our reading life so much easier!!! I'm willing to forgive a few mistakes here and there for indie published work, but come on Bethany, you are a professional! Give us a break!

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