Deadly Proof by Rachel Dylan

Deadly Proof by Rachel Dylan ISBN-13: 9780764219801 Paperback: 320 pages Publisher: Bethany House Released: Sept. 5, 2017

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from NetGalley:
In the biggest case of her career, attorney Kate Sullivan is tapped as lead counsel to take on Mason Pharmaceutical because of a corporate cover-up related to its newest drug. After a whistleblower dies, Kate knows the stakes are much higher than her other lawsuits.

Former Army Ranger turned private investigator Landon James is still haunted by mistakes made while serving overseas. Trying to forget the past, he is hired by Kate to look into the whistleblower's allegation and soon suspects that the company may be engaging in a dangerous game for profit. He also soon finds himself falling for this passionate and earnest young lawyer.

Determined not to make the same mistakes, he's intent on keeping Kate safe, but as the case deepens, it appears someone is willing to risk everything--even murder--to keep the case from going to trial.


My Review:
Deadly Proof is a Christian legal suspense novel. There was some romance as well, but that consisted of a few scenes where they told each other about painful events in their pasts. While there was some danger to Kate, Landon and Kate believed that the bad guys were just trying to scare her. Due to the threat not apparently being deadly, it added some suspense, but not a lot. The other two viewpoint characters underwent more obvious pressure as they were dealing with high stakes and being pressured into legal wrongdoing. Most of the suspense came from developments in the case--trying to prevent information from getting out on one side and trying to find proof of what they suspect on the other.

While I liked the main characters, I didn't feel engaged by Kate and Landon at an emotional level. Too much of the character development involved being told what the person was like, not actually seeing it. For example, we're told that Kate struggled with depression and also pride, but we never see that struggle. But we do see that Kate is a nice balance of tough but kind, independent but willing to accept advice and help from others. Still, I felt more emotionally engaged by the other two viewpoint characters.

Landon felt guilty about a war experience and felt that God didn't care about him. The Christian element was prayer for help plus Kate helping Landon heal and come back to God. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this novel.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


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