The Garden Girls Review

Author: Jessica R. Patch

Publisher: Love Inspired Trade

Release Date: April 23, 2024

Many thanks to The Big Thrill and the author for an arc.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Review published in The Big Thrill Magazine

Review:

THE GARDEN GIRLS by Author Jessica R. Patch is an intense, intricately woven suspense thriller with subtle Christian overtones. FBI agent Tiberius Granger and his team from the Special Crimes Unit return in a frenzied race against time and the fury of Mother Nature to apprehend a serial killer dubbed ‘The Artist’ for the elaborate flower tattoos he inks on victim's bodies that match the kind of flowers in their name. When the investigation brings Ty face-to-face with Bexley Hemmingway, a ghost from his past life in a religious cult, his world tilts off-axis as he struggles to bridle long suppressed anger, confusion, and hurt. For now, he sets aside personal issues to search for Bexley's missing sister who's believed to be the latest kidnap victim of ‘The Artist.' Can they find her in time?

Author Jessica R. Patch renders a dark, complex psychological thriller with a strong emphasis on the healing power of love and faith in THE GARDEN GIRLS. Her gift for crafting damaged characters with dark, deeply rooted pasts capable of earning readers' empathy is evident. A frenzied pace is driven by the fury of an approaching hurricane, the urgency to catch a killer before he strikes again, and Ty's personal inner conflict over his faith and trust in God as well as his battle to block the deluge of emotions overwhelming him over the return of Bexley. The intricately woven narrative is unique, dark, and emotionally raw and draining for both characters and readers. Patch skillfully interweaves complex themes in THE GARDEN GIRLS via main characters navigating life after escaping a religious cult that altered their future. The perfect blend of psychological thriller with a Christian perspective, this book is for readers who enjoy deeply emotional, intense thrillers that highlight the redemptive power of love, forgiveness, and faith.

Synopsis:

On a remote Outer Banks island, a serial killer collects his prized specimens. And to stop him, an FBI agent must confront his own twisted past. FBI agent Tiberius Granger has seen his share of darkness. But a new case sets him on edge. It’s not just the macabre way both victims—found posed in front of lighthouses—are tattooed with flowers that match their names. There’s also the unsettling connection to the woman Ty once loved and to the shadowy cult they both risked everything to escape.  Bexley Hemmingway’s sister has gone missing, and she’ll do anything to find her—including teaming up with Ty. That may prove a mistake, and not just because Ty doesn’t know he’s the father of her teenaged son. It seems the killer is taunting Ty, drawing everyone close to him into deeper danger.As the slashing winds and rain of a deadly hurricane approach the coast of North Carolina, the search leads Ty and Bex to an island that hides a grisly secret. But in his quest for the truth, Ty has ignored the fact that this time, he’s not just the hunter. Every move has been orchestrated by a killer into a perfect storm of terror, and they will need all their skills to survive…