Name: In the Belly of Jonah
ISBN: 9781608320509

Sandra Brannan

Includes a preview of the author's upcoming thriller, 'Lot's return to Sodom.'

In the Belly of Jonah

Paige Green

Rating: 4/5

Genre: Thriller

Recommended Age: 18+ (violence, gore, slight sexual content)

Pages: 252

Author Website

Amazon Link

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for free courtesy of the author for my review. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Synopsis: In the Belly of Jonah is a fast-paced mystery with a likable protagonist and an intricately woven narrative brimming with bizarre yet believable twists. The first in a series, the book expertly lays the groundwork for Liv Bergen, amateur sleuth, and her love interest, FBI Agent Streeter Pierce. Liv becomes involved in the investigation of the murder of Jill Brannigan, a summer intern at the limestone mine Liv manages near Fort Collins, Colorado (a breathtaking setting that unwittingly becomes an accessory to crime). In doing so, she inadvertently puts her friends, her family, and herself at risk of being swallowed in the belly of a madman bloated with perverse appetites for women, surrealistic art, and renown.

As the gripping plot of In the Belly of Jonah unfolds, Liv Bergen takes her place alongside the best female crime-solvers as a woman with smarts, self-confidence, and intuitive savvy.

Another relief from the multitude of YA Fantasies and YA Sci-Fi and it was well received. I adored this thriller and it really made me rediscover the love I have for this genre. I thought the characters were well developed and the plot was intriguing. I also thought the pacing was really well done and I thought the evil villain was pretty unique. All in all this was an excellent thriller.

However, I did guess the villain within the first few pages of the book and I thought there was some cliché insta-love. Those were my only complaints with this book though!

Verdict: If you like mysteries and don’t mind knowing the villain, then this book is for you!

Jessica Nottingham

In the Belly of Jonah is quite the gruesome mystery, and not exactly for the faint of heart. Liv Bergen is hit close to her heart when one of her temporary workers is murdered in a very odd way. Deemed "the de Milo murderer", this serial killer is all about artistic presentation of their victim. If you can call it art. Liv dives in head on, and gets herself in deeper than she meant to.

Let me talk a little bit about Liv Bergen. As a female protagonist, Liv is by far one of my favorite characters of all time. She is strong, opinionated, but still kind. Liv is the type of woman who will be straight up with you about what she knows and doesn't know. Not abrasive, but still able to stand up for herself. The type of person that I'd want to hang out with on a daily basis. Liv is the essence of what all us "strong women" out there want to be, and I love her for it! I was also very appreciative of the fact that Sandra Brannan took this whole first book to build Liv up as a woman, before putting her into a romantic relationship. That edge is there, but it isn't fleshed out yet. I'm sure it will be in the next book!

Of course In the Belly of Jonah also features a stunning murder mystery. As I mentioned above, the murders are grisly and a bit odd in nature. If you are a fan of CSI, there is a lot of very technical parts in here that you will enjoy as well. The reader is allowed to see into the inner workings of the murderer, as the point of view switches between them and Liv. What is created is a paradigm that your brain will be completely absorbed in. I was so caught up in trying to figure out who the voice of the murderer was portraying, that the book literally flew by. It took me until the last 50 pages before the pieces finally fell into place for me. I was so very impressed. 

A rip-roaring mystery of the finest kind, I highly recommend In the Belly of Jonah to any you out there who enjoy this genre. Heck, actually I'm sure you'd love this book even if you're not a big mystery fan. Liv is amazing, the story is extremely well-written, you'll be hooked!

In the Belly of Jonah

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