There’s
nothing as convicting as words that threaten your daughter’s life. You want
your kid back? Do just as I say. You do not know who I am. But I’ve studied
you, you and your family. I’ve been watching you. You’ve been using people.
Because you’re greedy. Now, it’s payback time. Terrifying for any parent, these
words are especially grim for Senator Bruce Grable, whose guilt may be the
reason his five-year-old daughter, Zoe, has disappeared. Or is it because of
his wife, whose words make her sound more the victim than their daughter? Or
their nanny, whose silence harbors her own secrets? One thing is for sure: The
words hold the clues to finding Zoe alive. And it’s up to Special Agent
Mackenzie Graham, a forensic psycholinguist, and FBI agent John Crowfeather to
decode the messages in time.
Have
you ever eaten something at a restaurant that’s touted as “for a limited time
only”? They’ve offered McRib sandwiches
at McDonalds on a limited basis, and the pretzel burger at Wendys has been for
a limited time. Isn’t it exciting when
you hear that one of these items are “back”?
Back in 2005, I picked up a book for the church library called “Bloody
Point”. I devoured it. I couldn’t wait until the author came out
with a new book……… It took 8 years for that to happen. Last year Linda White was back with her first
book in 8 years called “Seeds of Evidence” and she was just as exciting as
ever. Now, I have “Words of Conviction”
to pour through. This is one happy guy
right here J
Special
Agent MacKenzie (Kenzie) Graham has just finished taking down Senator Grable in
a sting to catch him taking bribes. A
successful win for the system and a chance to wind down from all of the intense
work is interrupted with the notification that the Senator’s daughter has just
been kidnapped. Kenzie must now work
side by side with Senator Grable as they track down the clues to where his
daughter may be and who may have kidnapped her.
Using her expertise in linguistics, Kenzie works on baiting the
kidnapper through an online bulletin board system. Late word from the family doctor that his
daughter has diabetes ratchets the situation up several notches. Who is behind this kidnapping and what do
they want? Can Kenzie read into the messages to convince the kidnapper to keep
the girl safe? Do they find the girl before her diabetes takes over? Put away
the dictionary and go BUY THIS BOOK!!!
To
say that this book is a great book is like saying the Eiffel Tower is a great
landmark. This book does what I enjoy
most in a great work of fiction, it teaches me at the same time that it
entertains me. I’ve always been
fascinated by words and word usage, guess that’s why I’ve always been a
voracious reader. In the character of Kenzie,
we see some of the inner workings of wordsmithing and how what we say really
can tell more than just what’s on the surface.
The characters in this book aren’t all Christians, but they have a
regular interaction with someone that is.
The story is very fast-paced, even considering that a lot of what the
book is about it the waiting game concerning a kidnapping. There is enough going on in the side stories
that tie everything together to keep it moving.
I will say that I didn’t really like Kenzie, she seemed a bit aloof, but
in the end I found out that her traits were a result of who she was and the
environment she was raised in, but that with the right motivation everyone can
overcome their past.
Is
this a "guy's book"? If you
consider a book concerning bribery stings, kidnappings, motorcycles and more to
be books that guys would enjoy, then yes, this is definitely a guy’s book. Throw in suspense and intrigue and murder, oh
my! You’ve got the makings of a great
work of Christian fiction.
Linda
was nice enough to sit down with us a minute and answer a couple of questions:
What
is your favorite bible verse and why?
Jeremiah
29:11—“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans for
welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (ESV)
Over thirty years ago, when I was just barely
a believer, I was in a really dark spot. Discouraged and disheartened, I
despaired of ever feeling happy again. Uncharacteristically one day I was
watching a TV evangelist, and he quoted that verse. That promise sounded so good to me! But I could
not have told you where Jeremiah was for the life of me, nor could I remember
the verse number! My huge, thin-page Laymen’s Parallel Bible lay nearby. I
walked over to it and flipped it open … straight to Jeremiah 29:11. I felt like
God was speaking to me and encouraging me. I’ve clung to Jeremiah 29:11 ever
since.
What
has been the most important thing you hope your readers will get from your
books and why?
My
mission statement is “spreading a passion for Christ through White-knuckle
fiction.” I want my readers to enjoy a great story in which they see the grace
of God infusing our fallen world. Why? Because that’s real life. We live in a
dark, dark world, but God is present, working out his purposes, and his glory
is evident if we just look for it.
Besides
writing, what are some of your favorite hobbies?
I
love the beach, and I also love training dogs. Right now, I have a Sheltie with
whom I working in Rally Obedience. She’s also almost a certified therapy dog.
What
advice would you give to a beginning writer?
Persist,
and keep your priorities straight. Persistence is key—it isn’t easy to break
into this industry. But don’t let publication become an idol: the goal is to
know Christ, and sometimes setbacks are a better way to do that. So “Seek first
the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to
you.” (Matthew 6:33 ESV)
Favorite
memory from childhood?
Walking
home from elementary school and embarrassing my older sister: I had read and
re-read Albert Payson Terhune’s books about his Sunnybank collies, and I wanted
to learn to whistle really loudly so I could call my collies some day. (Our dad
was allergic so we couldn’t have dogs.) Learning to whistle that way takes a
lot of blubbering and Karen was mortified! Today, she and I joke about it—and I
use that whistle to call my Sheltie!
Favorite
comfort food?
Oh,
goodness: Chocolate anything!
About The Author
Linda J. White writes "white-knuckle fiction," FBI
thrillers with a twist of faith (shaken, not stirred). Her goal in life is to
keep readers up all night turning pages. Born in Washington, D.C., her great
aunt dated J. Edgar Hoover. A national-award winning journalist, Linda lives in
rural Virginia now, near the FBI Academy where her husband worked for 27 years.
They have three grown kids, two grandkids, two cats, and a Sheltie who tries to
keep everyone moving in the same direction. When she's not writing, Linda loves
being with her family, at the beach, or doing something (anything) with dogs.
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