Bound in Shallows by Stephanie Black

Bound in Shallows by Stephanie Black ISBN-13: 9781524415242 Paperback: 320 pages Publisher: Covenant Communications Released: November 2nd 2020

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
It’s the week before her wedding, and Natalie Marsh doesn’t have a moment to spare. But when a potential donor requests a meeting regarding Natalie’s mental health clinic, the soon-to-be-bride makes time for the conversation—especially since that donor is tied to a tragedy in the life of Natalie’s fiancé, Gideon: eight years ago, Gideon’s roommate Travis died of a drug overdose. Now Travis’s mother wants to honor his memory by helping others avoid the same fate. It is a noble request that soon turns into a nightmare.

As wedding celebrations ensue, old friends renew acquaintances. But what begins as a party of wedding guests becomes a cast of suspects when the discovery of a bloodstained knife puts them all under the spotlight. Things are taking a deadly turn, leading Natalie and Gideon to a horrifying realization: all those years ago, Travis didn’t overdose—he was murdered. And his killer is willing to take deadly action to silence anyone who suspects the truth.


My Review:
Bound in Shallows is a suspense/mystery novel. This book is the fourth in a series, but it works as a standalone. Not only does Natalie have to deal with solving a murder while preparing for her wedding, but a potential donor threatens to drastically change her clinic or get Natalie fired if she refuses to cooperate. Talk about stress!

Natalie and Gideon were kind, honest, engaging characters, and I cared about what happened to them. They asked good questions and passed on any clues or information to the police even when that information might make them look guilty. There were enough clues that I was able to guess whodunit, but it was also possible that a second character could have done it so I wasn't sure until nearly the end.

There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this suspenseful mystery.


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.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.