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    Distortion
    Distortion
    Distortion
    Audiobook8 hours

    Distortion

    Written by Terri Blackstock

    Narrated by Nan Gurley

    4.5/5

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    About this audiobook

    New York Times bestseller Blackstock delivers a gripping suspense about the deadly consequences of a husband’s lies.

    When Juliet Cole’s husband of fifteen years is murdered before her eyes, she thinks it was a random shooting. Devastated and traumatized, she answers hours of questioning, then returns home to break the tragic news to her sons. But a threatening voicemail escalates this from a random shooting to a planned, deliberate attack.

    Juliet realizes that she and her children are in danger too—unless she meets the killers’ demands. But as she and her sisters untangle the clues, her husband’s dark secrets come to light. The more she learns, the more her life is dismantled. Was her husband an innocent victim or a hardened criminal?

    • Full-length suspense novel
    • Includes discussion questions for book clubs
    • Part of the Moonlighters series
      • Book One: Truth Stained Lies
      • Book Two: Distortion
      • Book Three: Twisted Innocence
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherZondervan
    Release dateMar 11, 2014
    ISBN9780310289388
    Author

    Terri Blackstock

    Terri Blackstock has sold over seven million books worldwide and is a New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author. She is the award-winning author of Intervention, Vicious Cycle, and Downfall, as well as such series as Cape Refuge, Newpointe 911, the SunCoast Chronicles, and the Restoration Series. Visit her website at www.terriblackstock.com; Facebook: tblackstock; Twitter: @terriblackstock.  

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    Reviews for Distortion

    4.5/5

    104 ratings17 reviews

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    • 5/5
      This book is a gripping page turner! Excellent series.
    • 5/5
      Blackstock at her best. It kept me at the edge of my seat until the end. loved it!
    • 5/5
      I enjoyed the first book in the series but this was even better. Twists in the plot keep you engaged.
    • 5/5
      Some errors like a guy who had a thoracic surgery and intubated communicating through writing, and somewhat disturbing story about how evil the world can be, but I like that she weaves positive messages about forgiveness and love into the story.
    • 3/5
      Strong Christian worldview. But not a very plausible story. I listen to the audio version and it was over melodramatic. But it is clean and it does have a good message
    • 5/5
      I
    • 4/5
      Distortion by Terri Blackstock is a highly recommended faith based thriller.

      After Juliet Cole witnesses the murder of her husband, it becomes clear that after 15 years of marriage she really didn't know him. Bob Cole was a successful doctor but what else and who else was he involved with and how is his secret life going to affect grieving Juliet and her two sons, 12 year old Zach and 9 year old Abe. Juliet turns to her two sisters, Holly and Cathy, as well as her brother Jay, and PI Michael Hogan to investigate what Bob was really doing and why he was murdered.

      The plot is action packed and based right on today's headlines. While Blackstock is well known as a successful Christian writer, truth be told, she's simply a good writer. She knows how to execute a plot full of action and intrigue and how to carry that plot on to the end. Her Christian values insure readers that while there might be some harsh, cruel actions taking place (sin happens), there won't be swearing or gratuitous sex scenes. That is refreshing. The characters will struggle but will turn to their faith.

      “Lord,” she said through her teeth, “I believe Romans 8:28 is true. But I can’t imagine how all of this is going to work for good, because all I see is tragedy and heartache, and shock after shock. We need some real miracles here.”

      Distortion continues the story found in Truth Stained Lies. Sometimes a continued story doesn't put the reader at a disadvantage but that isn't the case here. The two stories really are tied together and it might behoove readers to read the first before this second book. There are also some incredible coincidences/backstory that strained my acceptance. I know bad things happen to good people and often seemingly all at once but consider the following excerpt:

      "How strange that three of four of these siblings had lost their loved ones to murder. It was too much of a coincidence, but he couldn’t make the crimes fit together. His own brother Joe, who’d been engaged to Cathy, had been murdered by a drug dealer he’d been investigating. Leonard Miller had been acquitted by his jury, even though there were eyewitnesses. Jay’s wife’s murder had been completely unrelated to Joe’s. And Bob’s seemed unrelated to both of them. A guy driving up in a parking lot and gunning him down. A threat by telephone. Michael’s training as a police detective had honed his instincts, but they weren’t guiding him now. He had to focus on facts. He just didn’t have enough of them. (page 34)

      Another fact worth noting is that the story will be continued because it doesn't wrap up at the end. You might want to consider the series aspect of this book and decide if a series is what you are looking to invest your time in or if a stand-alone novel would be a better choice.

      Disclosure: My Kindle edition was courtesy of Zondervan via Netgalley for review purposes.
    • 2/5
      If you have followed by blog for a while, you know that Christian Fiction is not my favorite genre. I find it either in-your-face with doctrine, full of sugary-sweet-too-good-to-be-true characters, or headed too far in the other direction. This is where Distortion falls.

      There is a lot going on in this book. Centered on four siblings, with a Danielle-Steel-type series of tragedies in their past, it is over-the-top. In the first book of the series, combined with the action from this one, their Christian-deacon father ran off with his secretary, Holly is unmarried and pregnant (not to mention that she drives a cab for a living), Cathy's fiancé was murdered and she is now dating his brother, Jay's wife was murdered and he is a single dad to their 5-year-old son, and (finally) Juliet's husband is gunned down in the first chapter of this book.

      See? Too, too, too much. Wow.

      And the characters are irritating. Sure, they are real people with real problems, but they are caricatures. Holly is pregnant so she can't help her siblings when she is moving to a better neighborhood, but she can run through the woods at night to track a killer.

      Juliet is reeling from the fact that her husband was not at all the man she thought he was, but the main thing on her mind seems to be how she can find it in her heart to forgive him, giving her young sons a good Christian example.

      Jay is relegated to babysitter for all of the kids while the others run off to "help" the police and FBI solve their case. Why not put Holly there, since she can't lift a box?

      You see where I am going with this. If you love the genre, you will probably like this. It's fast-paced and full of action. It's just not my thing.

      Not recommended.
    • 4/5
      This is the second book in the Moonlighter series. I didn't think the author did as well as some in covering the background from the first book necessary to understand some of the relationships. (If you haven't read the first book, you might have some confusion while reading this one.)

      The suspense was well done and kept me turning the pages to see what happened next. I like that the Cramer family again pulled together to get one of their own through a tragedy. Though each reacts differently when tragedy strikes, they are able to support each other.

      I could identify with Juliet wanting to shield her children, but I don't think it was a wise choice in the case of her oldest. He ended up hearing things via eavesdropping and the internet. She might have avoided some of the turmoil if she'd chosen to share in an age-appropriate way rather than to withhold information.
    • 4/5
      Great stand alone, but wonderful second book in the Moonlighters series. Juliet was a victim of circumstances beyond her control, but with the help of her brothers and sisters solved the mystery. Twists and turns kept coming keeping it hard to put down book.
    • 4/5
      Distortion starts out a little confusing. Being part of a series, there are a number of people who need to be reintroduced, and I had trouble keeping them straight. Once I figured out who they were, I then had to remember their relationships as they were all related. I don’t think I can recommend this as a standalone book. If you have read the others in the series then you will be much more able to keep it straight. There is another facet to the story that is a little different. Usually the reader has little connection to the victim and their family. We usually grow close to the detective and other law enforcement as they investigate the case. Distortion is different in that the victim’s wife and family become the main characters and investigators. This can make dealing with the constant grief a little more difficult to take.I did enjoy the story overall and appreciate the matters of faith that are dealt with throughout the book. I especially found the ending of the book representative of a strong display of faith.
    • 5/5
      Wanting More!I just finished one of the best books I have ever read, Distortion. Distortion is the first book I have read by this author. I know it will not be the last.Terri Blackstock described the characters and scenes in this book with such detail that I was there! I went for a roller coaster ride of mystery, suspense, and horror. It was a page turning read for me because I love the unknown. I loved sitting on the edge of my seat wondering where this author was going with this story. She keeps you guessing until the end.Please pick up a copy of this book and enter into Juliet Cole’s nightmare of a life. Follow along as she tries to unravel the mystery of why her husband was murdered. It’s a wild ride. One you will not soon forget.
    • 5/5
      DistortionTerri BlackstockBook Summary: When Juliet Cole's husband of fifteen years is gunned down in a dark parking lot before her eyes, she thinks it was a random shooting. Devastated and traumatized, she answers hours of questioning. When she's finally allowed to return home to break the news to her boys, she hears a voicemail that takes the situation from a random shooting to a planned, deliberate attack. 'Mrs. Cole, we know you have access to the supply and the money. If you don't turn fifty million over to us and give us the codes, then you'll be burying more family members.' Suddenly, Juliet realizes that she and her children could be in danger. She teams up with her sisters and PI Michael Hogan to dig into the sham Bob has been living for years. The more she learns, the worse the betrayal. A drug trafficking history, a fortune in cash, and a secret family all emerge to turn Juliet's belief system on its head, and threaten the things she loves. Are she and her sisters skilled enough as sleuths to get to the truth?Review: This was a great suspense filled book that kept me at the edge of my seat. It was well crafted and exciting! I can not wait for the next book in the series. Juliet was fantastic. To find out what Bob did and all the secrets. It was very realistic as the story progressed. It was great that Cathy, Michael, Jay & Holly were back. Each character has grown. Holly has continued on with more growth from the last story to this one. Cathy and Michael are exploring their new relationship. They have added a few peripheral characters that have added to the mix well. Some are bad and some are good. The past creeps back up, with Leonard Miller. Leonard Miller comes with some bad people and that adds to the suspense. It was exciting to the end! This is why I always want to read a Terri Blackstock mystery!I would like to thank Net Galley and Zondervan Fiction for allowing me to read and review this book in return for a free copy and I was never asked to write a favorable review by anyone.
    • 5/5
      This was my first time reading a Terri Blackstock book and I absolutely loved it! It is a page-turner, for sure, with skillful storytelling that just draws you in. The first chapter opens with a somber scene as Juliet Cole's husband is murdered in a U-haul parking lot as she watches. Juliet and Bob had two sons, and she thought a good marriage, but Bob seemed to have another life which she knew nothing about. She had loved Bob, and if there were clues to his deception, she certainly didn't see them. She only saw the best in him. She and her family were entangled in grief and shock and all she could see ahead of her was heartache. There are many startling revelations, and Juliet takes many blows to her heart. She wanted to give up, but she had to go on for her two sons. Juliet's husband had a past life that had taken her to the lowest of the low, but she was determined to persevere because of her faith and hope. And the story unfolds ---The author spun a tale of mystery that was complicated, and it will keep you guessing, with a storyline that ended with a big crescendo of suspense. The characters were well drawn and likable and I liked the subtle spiritual aspect of the book. A lot of depth to this story - a great read! I highly recommend this book, written by an incredible author! 5 stars.I received a complimentary copy from BookSneeze in exchange for an honest review of this book. All opinions shared are my own.
    • 5/5
      I have read a lot of Ms Blackstock's books, and again she leaves me wanting more. This one keeps you page turning right from the beginning to the end. Your heart in your throat!Beginning with seeing your husband of 15 years murdered in front of you, a random act? We soon find a big tangled web. With two children to take care of Juliet Cole is in full Mom protective roll, and it is a good thing.There is a lot of family trust and love here, we find them all rallying around Juliet. Of course Juliet and her sisters Cathy, and Holly are not only family, but trained Private Investigators.There are so many surprises here, one after another, you will be shouting "No", and I did to no one!! How can such things happen, your world falls apart, and you never see it coming!Through out the book we see God's hand there, and know that their faith is what they rely on. With so much danger, and greed. No value on human life, and even for small babies. UGH!!If you love mystery and suspense, this book is for you, it is awesome!!I received this book through Litfuse Publicity Book Tours, and was not required to give a positive review.
    • 4/5
      Terri Blackstock is one of my favorite Christian Suspense authors. Her skills are beyond magnificent and each book is uniquely created. Everytime I sit down to read one of her books, I always expect to end up on the edge of my seat, biting my nails, turning the pages. The need to know what happens next is always powerful.This book, while second in her Moonlighter series, is fast pace and intense, and easily read as a stand alone. From the start with Juliet and Bob, Ms. Blackstock kept me hanging on to every word, every page turn like the story was about me. That’s amazing skills and something I look for with each suspense novel I read. The intensity of the ride with the lies, the realization of what was behind those lies, all of it took me on a ride I won’t soon forget!As with all Ms. Blackstock’s books, I highly recommend this one with 4.5 stars! She’s a whirlwind author who knows what to toss readers that keep them begging for more. The ending of this book has me doing just that…….begging for more in this series! I can’t wait to find out what’s up next!–I review for BookSneeze®**Disclaimer:This book has been provided to Reviews By Molly free of charge by Booklook in exchange for an honest review of this title. No money has been exchanged for this review. This review reflects the opinion of the individual reviewer and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of any other RBM reviewer or this blog’s owner, editor or administrator.
    • 4/5
      I was very excited to get the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Terri Blackstock’s latest suspense novel, Distortion. The second book in the Moonlighters series, it is on my book club’s discussion schedule this year. We read book 1, Truth Stained Lies, last year and have been eagerly waiting on book 2. Blackstock has been a favorite of our group since we began meeting over 11 years ago. She consistently delivers the unpredictable, page-turning, plot-twisting books that we love.Distortion features another of the Cramer siblings, Juliet, and her family. Murder and betrayal are again at the forefront of the action. Juliet’s husband’s murder rocks the foundation of her family, but it is the secret life and illegal drug business that he was involved in that has Juliet reeling. Bob was a prominent and well-respected doctor in Panama City, Florida. Can he really have been involved with drug transport and the very men that murdered his sister-in-law’s fiance?Blackstock portrays the illegal drug trade in all of its ugliness. It is surrounded by vicious crimes that impact everyone. Juliet begins her journey towards truth in a numb fog, but soon becomes a determined mama-bear, set on protecting her children and bringing her husband’s killers to justice. The characters from book 1 are also heavily involved, especially Michael, the ex-cop turned PI, who employs Juliet and her sisters. The action is non-stop and takes some turns you will never expect.Distortion is a great novel for all those who like fast-paced suspense. I am looking forward to more in this great series.Recommended.(Thanks to LitFuse and Zondervan for a review copy. The opinions expressed are mine alone.)