Review--SEEING RED

Review For:
Seeing Red, by Susan Crandall
ISBN: 0446178578
Publisher: Forever (Hachette Book Group)

Author Susan Crandall lived in Chicago and worked as a dental hygienist before pursuing her writing career. This title, Seeing Red, follows other titles: Pitch Black, A Kiss in Winter, On Blue Falls Pond, Promises to Keep, Magnolia Sky, The Road Home, and Back Roads. She resides in Indiana with her husband and two children.
Fifteen years ago, Ellis Greene was the only witness to the horrendous kidnapping and murder of her beloved cousin, a crime that still had her small town cautious and stumped. The man who she testified against and helped to convict is now out on parole and damned determined to get his revenge. Ellis was tired of living her life in terror, fearful to go out into the night or even form an attachment to anyone. She was lonely, guilt-stricken, and worse- scared senseless that her cousin’s killer was going to come after her. When her childhood friend, Nate Vance, left town shortly before the trial, the small South Carolina community began to suspect that he played a part in the murder. So, he stayed away to keep her safe. Emerging from the shadows, Nate returns to the only person who believed him then, to protect the woman capturing his heart now. No longer the teenager of all knees and elbows, Ellis has grown into a beautiful and strong young woman. As two friends become reunited, startling secrets begin to unfold making everyone wonder what really happened that night fifteen years ago. And was the truth worth seeking if another girl would die?
First of all, I want to give the author a massive amount of credit for truly understanding what it is like to be a victim and able to portray that so the reader can feel that devastation, fear, and torment that they face. It doesn’t end with a conviction and in some cases it never really goes away. That understanding gave these characters life in a realistic manner not often seen and had you relating to each word you read. The book was hard to put down and I didn’t find any areas where I lost interest. The suspense was fast-paced and the romance was irresistible. The little bits of point-of-view change were clever, giving you just enough to bite. I found the secondary characters very intriguing, as well. Bravo for understanding the Carolinas and a southern mindset, too.
Seeing Red, by Susan Crandall, is a complex, compelling, and well-written book. Most definitely an author to keep your eye out for.

Kelly Moran,
Author and Reviewer