If Unspoken
by Dee Henderson were a film, it would be the best kidnapping/ransom/ faith-based crime thriller in theaters .
Charlotte Graham doesn’t talk about what happened to her when she was sixteen. Ever. She is content with her new identity and has no problem remaining single for the rest of her life. Leave it to her estranged grandfather to complicate things when he leaves her everything—billions of dollars’ worth of property, assets, and even old coins. The wealth and the responsibility that goes with her inheritance is more than Charlotte wants or cares to deal with.
Enter coin expert Bryce Bishop. At first their relationship is strictly business as Charlotte sells lot after lot of coins to Bryce. As their friendship grows, however, both of them begin to visualize a possible future together. Will they marry out of obligation to a stipulation in Charlotte’s grandfather’s will, or could there be more that the unlikely pair aren’t saying? Will Charlotte ever open up about her past? Will Bryce find a way to show Charlotte Christ’s love without scaring her away? And what about the unsolved mystery regarding the Baby Connor Kidnapping? Where does that fit into all of this?
Unspoken fills you with questions until the end and, as with any good crime novel, the answers won’t come unless you finish the book.
What I liked…
After the initial beginning hook within the first couple of pages, I felt Unspoken was moving along rather slowly. It seemed like Bryce and Charlotte would have the same conversation about coins and business over and over again. Once I got about a third of the way through, however, I found the purpose behind their seemingly uneventful encounters.
Charlotte has difficulty trusting others due to the scars from her past. I realized that the author couldn’t have Charlotte trusting and opening up to Bryce right off the bat because it would not have been believable. The truth is, I liked Unspoken because Dee Henderson did an excellent job of creating characters that are human. Characters that are jaded and distrusting. Characters that don’t understand, like all of us, why the Almighty would allow bad things to happen to innocent people, and why He would be willing to forgive the bad guys.
Bryce and Charlotte’s relationship forms over time. As they get to know each other, we learn a little about each of them. When they began to care for each other, I, the reader, rejoiced as if I knew them. I kept thinking, “Come on, Charlotte, just talk to him! You can trust him.” When I begin to have conversations in my head with the characters in a novel, that’s when I know the author has done her job correctly.
On top of creating believable characters with real goals, motivations, and plenty of conflict, Dee adds faith into the mix. Her characters ask real questions about forgiveness and love, questions that we all ask if we are honest with ourselves. The best part of Unspoken was how naturally Charlotte began to give control over to her Maker, baby step after baby step, until finally she had no other choice but to trust in Him. It wasn’t some miraculous transformation. There was no altar call or divine vision. Due to circumstances beyond her control, Charlotte simply had to make a choice—trust that her Maker is who He says He is and let Him do what He does best, or continue down the road of loneliness and heartbreak. I won’t give away the ending, but I will say that I was satisfied with the way Unspoken turned out.
Recommendation…
Do you like a good mystery with a little crime investigation on the side? If you answered YES then Unspoken by Dee Henderson is your kind of book. I recommend it to adults looking to be entertained while also learning a lesson in faith.
About the author…
Dee Henderson is the author of eighteen novels, including Jennifer: An O’Malley Love Story
*Author bio taken from Unspoken
You can learn more about Dee by visiting her website at DeeHenderson.com or by connecting with her on Facebook. Also check out the video trailer and other Unspoken extras at www.unspokennovel.com.
Do you think inspirational fiction and crime novels make a good pair? Why or why not? I always love hearing from you. Until then, happy reading!
Yours in Messiah Yeshua,
S
Disclosure:
I received Unspoken through the Bethany House Blogger Program. I was not asked to write a positive review. All views and opinions are solely and completely my own. I received no compensation other than a digital copy of the book featured in this post, which is mine to keep. This post also contains affiliate links. To learn more, please read my full policy.
Copyright © 2013 SaraElla.com
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