Carrie Stuart Parks: Portrait of Vengeance

By Kelly Bridgewater

An unsolved case. A tempest of memories. The future’s at stake—and time is running out . . .

Gwen Marcey has done a good job of keeping the pain of her past boxed up. But as she investigates the case of a missing child in Lapwai, Idaho, details keep surfacing that are eerily similar to her childhood traumas. She doesn’t believe in coincidences. So what’s going on here?

No one knows more about the impact of the past than the Nez Perce people of Lapwai. Gwen finds herself an unwelcome visitor to some, making her investigation even more difficult. The questions keep piling up, but answers are slow in coming—and the clock is ticking for a missing little girl. 

Meanwhile, her ex-husband back home is threatening to take sole custody of their daughter.

As Gwen’s past and present collide, she’s in a desperate race for the truth. Because only truth will ensure she still has a future.

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My Thoughts:

I became a fan of Carrie Stuart Parks writing when I read her first book A Cry from the Dust.As a debut author, she did a fantastic job drawing me into the lives and mysteries of Gwen Marcy. With each book after that, The Bones Will Speak and When Death Draws Near, Parks still captures my attention. When I found out that there would be more Gwen Marcy books than the typical three books, I was excited. With her latest addition to this series, Portrait of Vengeance, I really enjoyed this novel.

Like in her previous books, Parks uses her knowledge of forensic art to solve the crime put forth in the first chapter in the story. Her research flies off the page, allowing me to lose sleep as I fly through the pages. The writing is clear and concise. I had no problem visualizing the setting and followed along Gwen as she interviewed people and took a tour through the wilderness.

As for the continuing characterization of Gwen, Parks allows me to empathize with Gwen as she still struggles with her job, her ex-husband, and her daughter. This time the mystery centers around Gwen's past and made Gwen wonder if she was imaging the connection to the current crime she is working on. While this time, her daughter isn't a prominent struggle in her life; Gwen does receive a phone call from her ex-husband declaring he was taking full custody of their daughter. More internal and external struggles for Gwen.

As for the mystery, it was non-stop thrill ride. A thriller that kept me guessing. I figured out who the bad guy was sixty percent in, but I wanted Parks to prove me wrong or right, which is how I enjoy my stories. This novel keeps moving at a rapid pace and doesn't let up. I enjoy the connection between Gwen's past and the present mystery. Made it easier to stay engrossed in the story. I finished this book in less than one day. I couldn't put it down.

Portrait of Vengeance is an original novel with a reoccurring character that I have come to enjoy. Fans of Parks other works or Steven James' (my favorite thriller writer) should pick up this book. Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary copy of Portrait of Vengeance by Carrie Stuart Parks from Thomas Nelson Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Since I really enjoy mysteries, I enjoy when the stories are more than the standard three book series. Steven James' Patrick Bowers series is currently ten books long. Love that! Do you like when a series is pretty long? Why or Why not?