Virtue Falls: A Novel (The Virtue Falls Series)

I have read every Christina Dodd book and enjoyed them all. This one was no exception. Great setting, twists, and amazing characters make for a GREAT book!!! I was on the edge of my seat the whole book.

I enjoyed Virtual Falls and can't wait until book 2 comes out. In this book you will meet a lot of quirky characters. This book will keep you in suspense and doesn't give up the killer until the end.

Too much unnecessary dialogue, not enough information about the area. Some of the situations unbelievable, like a suicidal man putting down the gun and running out the door the minute he sees a TV news article that may affect someone he loves. And what did the Native American ending really have to do with the story?

I usually look forward to reading one of her books but this one was very different...she is a great story teller but totally stepped out of her norm I think, I was looking for Steamy, Hot, Romantic...she hit on some notes but fell flat this time...

This novel by Christina Dodd is overflowing with wonderful characters, exciting details and murder and mayhem. I loved it!

The story starts with a murder that I at first questioned it's connection to the story. But, eventually it becomes a very important clue.
Virtue Falls is a small town on the Washington coast, usually crowded with tourists. Ms. Dodd introduces some of the landmarks and colorful characters. Elizabeth Banner is a geologist widely known, unfortunately, for her family history. Her father, Charles, a renowned scientist, was convicted of murdering and mutilating her mother Misty, with a pair of scissors while Elizabeth, then age four, was in the house. She was severely traumatized and did not speak for over a year. That episode is locked away somewhere in her mind and she doesn't remember details at all. After twenty-three years, suffering from repeated abuse and beatings in prison, Charles has been released to a care facility in Virtue Falls, suffering from Alzheimer's. Elizabeth is back in Virtue Falls to try and reconnect somehow, if possible, with her Dad and study an area rich with geological finds. She hasn't been back since the murder.

Garik Jacobsen, Elizabeth's ex-husband is a FBI agent on disciplinary leave. He is despondent about what happened to put him on leave, trying to understand what he didi wrong with his marriage and close to ending his life in despair.

In the middle of an ordinary day, the ground starts rolling, and an earthquake reading an 8 on the Richter Scale rocks this small town. Devastation is everywhere, but Elizabeth rushes without concern for her own safety to the cliff to watch for the inevitable Tsunami. She is able to video it and knows this is a once in a lifetime happening. Virtue Falls is without power, water, or food and the after shocks are tearing down what little is left. Garik races from Las Vegas to be with Elizabeth and they are staying at the Virtue Falls Resort, owned by his foster mom.

Beware, once you start this novel, it's difficult to put down! You learn a lot about earthquake/tsunamis, meet a lot of people who might have murderous intentions and enjoy a very sexy second chance romance. It's very hard to put into words the impact of this story. I can only recommend you read and enjoy it.

I received this eBook from the publisher and NetGalley for an honest review.
Pat Fordyce

I usually look forward to reading one of her books but this one was very different...she is a great story teller but totally stepped out of her norm I think, I was looking for Steamy, Hot, Romantic...she hit on some notes but fell flat this time...

This novel by Christina Dodd is overflowing with wonderful characters, exciting details and murder and mayhem. I loved it!

The story starts with a murder that I at first questioned it's connection to the story. But, eventually it becomes a very important clue.
Virtue Falls is a small town on the Washington coast, usually crowded with tourists. Ms. Dodd introduces some of the landmarks and colorful characters. Elizabeth Banner is a geologist widely known, unfortunately, for her family history. Her father, Charles, a renowned scientist, was convicted of murdering and mutilating her mother Misty, with a pair of scissors while Elizabeth, then age four, was in the house. She was severely traumatized and did not speak for over a year. That episode is locked away somewhere in her mind and she doesn't remember details at all. After twenty-three years, suffering from repeated abuse and beatings in prison, Charles has been released to a care facility in Virtue Falls, suffering from Alzheimer's. Elizabeth is back in Virtue Falls to try and reconnect somehow, if possible, with her Dad and study an area rich with geological finds. She hasn't been back since the murder.

Garik Jacobsen, Elizabeth's ex-husband is a FBI agent on disciplinary leave. He is despondent about what happened to put him on leave, trying to understand what he didi wrong with his marriage and close to ending his life in despair.

In the middle of an ordinary day, the ground starts rolling, and an earthquake reading an 8 on the Richter Scale rocks this small town. Devastation is everywhere, but Elizabeth rushes without concern for her own safety to the cliff to watch for the inevitable Tsunami. She is able to video it and knows this is a once in a lifetime happening. Virtue Falls is without power, water, or food and the after shocks are tearing down what little is left. Garik races from Las Vegas to be with Elizabeth and they are staying at the Virtue Falls Resort, owned by his foster mom.

Beware, once you start this novel, it's difficult to put down! You learn a lot about earthquake/tsunamis, meet a lot of people who might have murderous intentions and enjoy a very sexy second chance romance. It's very hard to put into words the impact of this story. I can only recommend you read and enjoy it.

I received this eBook from the publisher and NetGalley for an honest review.
Pat Fordyce

First, let me mention Christina Dodd’s short story introduction to VIRTUE FALLS titled THE LISTENER, where the unique citizens and tourists are welcomed at the Oceanview Café to eat, greet and gossip. I recommend buying THE LISTENER, (for a minimal price), as its subtle amazing story gives a glimpse into the wide variety of personalities, faults, and issues the reader encounters in VIRTUE FALLS.
VIRTUE FALLS starts with a story of horror in San Francisco, seemingly unconnected to the town two states away. Christina Dodd then proceeds from the Oceanview Café again, weaving a tapestry of characters in time, location, and personality so the reader has an idea of where everyone is before everything goes BOOM. Literally. I was reminded a bit of Dame Agatha by this.
I absolutely loved the steady abundance of crisis this story unfolded. In spite of the length of this book, there were very few moments of ease. Think Peyton Place meets The Poseidon Adventure meets Ted Bundy all in one place.
The format of the story, highlighting different characters and scenes instead of linear narration, kept my attention unlike many books I’ve read that bounce from place to place. This a major difference from Christina Dodd’s previous books.
Also unusual, the characters were ‘normal’ everyday people with ordinary every day jobs. No rich guys falling for poor independent damsels. No shifters, vampires, or fictionally factual things that go bump in the night. Yet--there were flashes of things beyond earthly understanding.
Though the main characters were overly beautiful/tall/handsome, they had issues all of us can identify with. The sex wasn’t other-worldly or kinky, it just reflected the passion between people who couldn’t make it the first time around.
There were no supernatural conspiracies threatening the world, as in many of Christina’s books, but real monsters all people on the west coast of the U.S. have in their closets and under their beds--earthquakes and tsunamis. Oh, with a dose or two of murder and mayhem to tie it all together.
I must say I was surprised at the lengthy romance part of the story as VIRTUE FALLS was touted as more straight suspense instead of romantic/suspense. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the heat, the chemistry, and the word crafting, but the troubling issues this couple had were overshadowed and too easily surmounted by chemistry to fit in with the tone of the suspense. And since the length of this book allowed far more character development than usual, their issues could have had more emphasis and better balance.
The lengthy descriptions gave me time to remember and care about the multitude of people introduced into the story, and are prevalent throughout. And at first I felt they could be tighter and less rambling. But after reading this book for the third time, I realized Christina Dodd was subtly weaving again, making connections without hitting the reader over the head.
These long descriptions also made me wonder which of these characters’ stories would be the focus of future adventures in Virtue Falls. Can Christina Dodd continue to keep this amazing amount of action and chaos going, or will future books be disappointingly shorter. Will she keep the balance of reality with a hint of the beyond without the supernatural overwhelming the suspense?
And the one thing that has been on my mind since reading THE LISTENER; whatever happened to Cornelia? She wasn’t in her regular place at the Oceanview Café. Will she be included in future VIRTUE FALLS sagas? I’ll be waiting on pins and needles to find out, and to see if the end of this book is the lead into the next. I hope so!

Two self absorbed people come together during a crisis, i.e. a major earthquake in their home town. The town is isolated because of the quake. She wants to continue with her geology work and finding out if daddy really killed her mother and he, the ex husband, wants to assist with the latter goal and get her back in the sack. How these two found each other in the first place I'll never know or understand. These dual quests are all consuming and not once did they lift one piece of rubble from the destroyed town or offer to help any residents with any assistance. Because they are self-absorbed of course!
I finished this book only because I had read past my 8 page deadline of it stinks at 8 pages so drop it or to continue reading past 8 pages means I was now invested in the outcome. Can't believe I didn't reconsider. This would probably make a movie on that lightweight channel that makes lightweight movies with self-absorbed characters who rarely notice anything other than what's under their noses.

Twenty-three years ago Elizabeth Banner witnessed the murder of her mother, and her father was sent to jail for the crime. Now, Elizabeth is part of a geological team sent to Virtue Falls to continue the research her father had started while living in that area. While there, an earthquake strikes large enough to send a tsunami racing towards the town. Although injured from the quake, Elizabeth races to the cliffs to film the tsunami as it hits town. Garik Jacobsen, Elizabeth's ex husband and FBI Agent, races to Virtue Falls to make sure Elizabeth and his adopted mother are ok. Even though they are estranged, Elizabeth and Garik still have feelings for each other, and when someone begins to attack the citizens of Virtue Falls, they begin to investigate whether her father really killed her mother.

This was a fantastic psychological exploration of both Elizabeth and Garik's feelings for each other and their relationships to all of the suspects in that town. Elizabeth was an interesting character. Very bright and totally blunt, she lacks the social skills that a woman with her looks would normally have. When she visits her father at the rest home he is interred at, she is shocked to find that none of the workers believe that he killed her mother. She still has the feelings of a little girl abandoned, and only with Garik's help does she start to open up and care for her father, seeing past the lable of murderer she'd always connected with him. Garik uses the emergency as a reason for living again, connecting with his ex and overcoming past behaviors that may have contributed to his current unhappiness. I did find his wanting of Elizabeth at times baffling. Yes, she's gorgeous, but her lack of common sense was kind of annoying. However, I loved the way the pair who were separated at the beginning of the book, came full circle, solving all of their problems, and all while tracking down a stalker-murderer no less.

The mystery was great and the love story emotional. I enjoyed both of the main characters growth, with each other certainly, but most of all I loved how Elizabeth came to care for her father.

This is a romantic suspense that makes use of the tradition of pulling in the community-as-character, and as such is a sprawling novel with a large cast of characters.

I enjoyed this story quite a lot; I love big community as a literary device because a book is always richer when we get to see how the hero and heroine interact - not just with each other, but with all the people they live around too. Virtue Falls has the additional complication of a catastrophic earthquake (which was tensely articulated) creating chaos and crisis for its residents, ergo amplifying their existing quirks - and courage.

Of course there is a love story, and it comes in the form of Garik and Elizabeth, trying to rediscover each other, and themselves, after having divorced. Complicating things further is a historical murder mystery which draws another love story - that of Elizabeth's parents, Charles and Misty - to the forefront.

Easily the most poignant storyline in the novel, Charles & Misty's romance was May-December, an academic paired with a trailer queen dreaming of the silver screen, this couple endured adultery, insecurities, and the culmination of their union was Misty's gruesome murder...and Charles' inability to clearly recollect as, when we meet him present-day, he is suffering from Alzheimer's.

Beyond the mystery and romance we have, as stated, a plethora of supporting characters, some appalling (that would be YOU, Sheriff. And your dreadful mother), some delightful (Margaret uses my own oft-uttered expression "We're fooked" at one point), and others obnoxious (sorry, Rainbow. You irritate me). A thread of the supernatural is also present in Kateri's Frog God storyline, and we're left to wonder if Charles' visions of Misty are real, or a mere manifestation of his Alzheimer's.

Ultimately, Virtue Falls is a fun read and a great escape. Reminded me a lot of Nora Roberts 'big trilogies' where she pulls in a huge cast and uses multiple plotlines that make you feel as if you too live in the community amid the characters.
Looking forward to Obsession Falls
4 Stars

I had just read "Because I'm Watching" and enjoyed its quirkiness and somewhat bizarre characters so decided to read "Virtue Falls" which my library has in their holdings. I was disappointed in this one. Despite reviews said about it being a tight story, I felt that it rambled, took forever to get to the point, and by the time the denouement was reached I didn't much care. All and all it was sort of like a soap opera. The main characters were pleasant, lots of secondary characters but all in all it just seemed to go on and on. It really isn't a tight mystery and the reason given for all the ghastly murders was pop psychology.

I won this Advanced Readers' Edition in a Goodreads giveaway. It was the first novel written by Christina Dodd that I've read, & I absolutely LOVED it & am now a fan. As soon as I picked it up to start reading it I could not put it down. It is definitely THAT good & a MUST READ. I loved everything about this novel, the details about the scenery & what is taking place in that scene of the novel. I loved the romance between Elizabeth & Garik, the characters & their stories, & the mystery... especially the mystery.

In the beginning, I thought I was being introduced to too many characters, at first it was hard to keep track of them all. But as I continued reading I understood why there were so many. Every character that the reader is introduced to has their own story & background, & as you continue to read you realize the characters' lives entwine & they are connected to each other. & as the story goes on, one by one you are able to keep track of who's who & what their story is.

I love reading mystery novels... I like to get all the facts & evidence & try to piece together
who the suspect might be. There were many suspects, & as I read I was able to narrow down my list of who I thought it might be.

This novel was an excellent mystery, with just a bit of romance & a lot of thrill. As I read, I almost felt as if I was there, like I was seeing it all happen right before my eyes. The writing of this novel is excellent & I definitely recommend it.

Wow!! You know when I heard Christina Dodd was gonna try writing something different I thought to myself it won't matter because she's an amazing author as well as a serious best seller! And I know she must have been nervous but honestly there was no need! Virtual Falls was amazing!! Now don't worry there was still some great sex but not what she normally does but that's ok because the book was flawlessly written and a serious work of art for Christina! For someone who writes strictly romance and paranormal romance which yes has lots of naughty sex which is amazing and the writing is amazing as well but Christina Dodd you nailed it!! Your new venture into this genre was simply AMAZING! You had me and I'm sure everyone who's read this book so far second guessing themselves on who did it! Who was the killer?! My god it was such a mind twisting , hang on the edge of your seat suspense! Murder and mystery. Sex and lies. Deceit and betrayal. I mean WOW you just couldn't trust your own thoughts because as soon as I thought I knew what was what I turned the page and was awed again! And again and again! I seriously can't wait for the next book because there is so much more that needs to be told! Like Mike and his wife. The sheriff. Kateri....I'm still so shocked at the whole book!! It was just so full of twists and turns and unexpected shocks! It was EPIC!!!! This book is sure to rise to the top of the charts! Move over JD Robb and Catherine Coulter (though I love you both) there's a new girl in town and though she's always been around she's gonna give you a run for your money!! I know this review isn't as detailed as I could have made it but I don't want to be a spoiler because seriously you need to read it to believe it and when you get to the end you are gonna be like "what?! Nooooo!! Must...have...more!!! You are gonna be stalking Christina Dodd website waiting for book two!! 5 stars is not enough for this book! It was off the charts unbelievably amazing and a serious must read!! Christina Dodd YOU ROCKED THE PAGES GIRL!! Please keep doing it!!

I did read the Novella, The Listener, prior to reading Virtue Falls and must admit that it was a great little teaser to get you started and interested in Virtue Falls (stay tuned for a review of The Listener). I do have to admit that the length of this book is what kept me from jumping right to it, as I can get pre-book jitters, especially if it's a long title!

I felt that there were great, solid characters in this book, but I did feel like the story was a little more drawn out than it had to be. The premise of the story is wonderful though, a father that supposedly killed his wife, a daughter that was there but can't remember the murder...I mean, you can't go wrong with that! Throw in a little bit of my ex is still madly in love with me and is going to win me back and you've got a winning combination! I just think that winning combination could have been achieved a little quicker!

I must admit that the storyline wasn't that of your usual storyline. You have the quirky/nerdy Elizabeth, that lives for her work, who just isn't your every day, run of the mill, suspense character, and I think that was refreshing. She was studying earthquakes, which is another thing that you really don't read much about in mystery novels, so I think Christina Dodd is on to something in trying to keep with traditional mystery but with refreshing new details!

I hate when it comes down to actually rating a book, because I do feel like 3 stars is too low, however, I do feel like 4 stars was a little too much. I would probably settle for like, 3.75 stars, if that were possible! I liked that this story was different, that these characters were unique and different, I just wish the story weren't so lengthy. I think there were some parts that were overly descriptive, that could have been left out and wouldn't have taken away from the story at all!

With that being said, I will continue on with this series, as I'm interested to see where Dodd is going with it! I see that next in line, The Relative, is another novella, which is absolutely thrilling to me because I can breeze through those, so I look forward to seeing where this goes!

For a more in depth review, please visit my blog, Chorley Chronicals at http://chorleychronicals.blogspot.com

It reminded me of a Sandra Brown romantic suspense but with better romance. And the ending was good.

BUT I had a problem with three instances of stupidity. I was willing to go with it, but I was shaking my head. This might have been 5 stars without the stupidity - see Spoilers below.

CAUTION SPOILERS - Stupidity:
1. Innocent man sees a murder weapon in the middle of a pool of blood on the floor. He picks up the murder weapon and someone takes his picture while he is holding it.

2. Bad guy puts a forged note in heroine’s backpack. It says to meet hero in a secluded place at 3 pm today, signed by the hero. She is with hero after the note was put in her backpack. He had no reason to leave a note. After he drops her off at work, she sees the note and believes it was from him. So she goes to the secluded place. All this time she knows the killer is after her.

3. Bad guy is attacking female. Good guy arrives and pulls bad guy off and knocks bad guy unconscious (he thinks). Good guy should have tied the bad guy. But he doesn’t. Instead he goes to female to comfort her. Bad guy gets up and attacks good guy.

I received this book at the RT convention.

DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Story length: 437 pages. Swearing language: strong including religious swear words but not often used. Sexual language: strong. Number of sex scenes: two plus two referred to. Setting: current day mostly Virtue Falls, Washington. Copyright: 2014. Genre: romantic suspense.

Elizabeth Banner has lived under the cloud of being the child who witnessed her mother's vicious murder reportedly by her father who is serving a life sentence for the murder; I say reportedly because she has no memory of the killing or subsequent events immediately following the murder. In fact she did not speak for many years and as she matured her personality has become somewhat stunted having suffered abuse and bullying from the relatives who raised her and schoolmates, as well as the constant whispers from strangers, the public, and media once they are aware of her identity. Professionally she has become a noted geologist following in her father's footsteps and continuing his work. Virtue Falls is a well crafted tale of suspense, madness, forgiveness, and redemption with a plethora of delightfully colorful characters and wonderful plot twists around every corner including murder, earthquakes, and tsunamis; not to mention a hunky ex-husband on leave from the FBI who has his own life lessons to endure. This is not a quick read and comes in at a wonderfully meaty four hundred thirty-seven pages, but I enjoyed it so much I devoured it in a day and a half hating to put it down to complete other tasks. The ending is very satisfying and left me feeling sated with a smile on my face. As the title denotes, this book is Virtue Falls #1 and I look forward to following the saga of this town and revisiting the characters we met in this first installment, as well as anticipate new colorful characters and adventures. I would recommend this book to fans of adventure and suspense with a hint of romance. I received this book from the author with a request for my honest review without any compensation whatsoever, other than the joy of reading a new book.

I have mixed feelings about this book. There are things about it that I like a lot. The plot grabbed me and held onto me from the get-go, and Christina Dodd populates the story with a broad cast of original and extraordinarily well-developed characters. The suspense builds at a steady pace and the environment of a small town impacted by a major earthquake was fascinating.

That being said, the book begins to slow down about 2/3 of the way through. From that point on, the story drags and the characters seem to be marking time until the conclusion of the book. Virtue Falls would have benefited from some ruthless editing, particularly for this last third of the book... Additionally, as several other reviewers have pointed out, the ending does not live up to the promise of the rest of the book. The book's long, protracted buildup culminates in an abrupt and less than surprising way, with too many plot elements left unresolved. So while I enjoyed the book most of the way through, my ultimate takeaway is disappointment.

Virtue Falls just sadly reaffirmed why I quit reading Christina Dodd books. The book is over 500 pages in length and about 300 pages too long. This is sad because the story line has potential with good main characters, a mystery from 20 years past, and interesting side characters. But it just drags on. The ending was quite unsatisfactory -- not the ending to the main mystery, but a whole lot of things happen in a short period of time to the surrounding characters that never get resolved -- and they easily could have.

I will stick with the older Christine Dodds that were better paced and wrapped up ALL the story lines: The Darkness Chosen series, Thigh High, Danger in a Red Dress, Trouble in High Heels

'Riveting!!! ... Christina Dodd's 'Virtue Falls' holds you page after page. It's one of those fabulously frustrating books, you want to hurry along to find out "who dun it", and then "Wham" the book ends, too soon, leaving you wanting more. I love all of Christina's books, from contemporary to the paranormal. Christina has made the jump to suspense in fantastic style with a great MUST read first book in her new series.

Start out with her novella 'The Listener' to get some background on the town and the people then dive into Virtue Falls.

Elizabeth Banner: totally focused on her geological site in Virtue Falls, on the coast of Washington state, where she lived as a child. Known as "the girl who watched her father kill her mother with scissors", except the body was never found and Elizabeth really doesn't remember. Garik Jacobsen: Elizabeth's ex. He's confused, conflicted, suspended from his job in the FBI, and still in love with Elizabeth.

The big one hits, a huge quake followed by tsunamis and a number of aftershocks. Elizabeth is elated, just the type of thing her focus needs, she rushes out to see if she can watch the tsunami come in. She knows there will be one, or more ... and the type of event to worry Garik into dropping everything and rushing to Virtue Falls. Together they discover the one thing to bring everything into motion, her mother's body. With a town full of all sorts of different characters, from Rainbow Sun, who operates the local cafe; Sherriff Foster, who hates Garik and is just a bit 'off'. A celebrity artist and his wife, Brandon and Violet Hoff; Garik's foster mother Margaret Smith; Elizabeth's own father - now released from jail and in a nursing home nearby; and someone else ... someone who is determined Elizabeth not remember, ever.

The plot churns like the waters of the Tsunami. It takes you from suspecting one person then another, twisting and turning, it keeps you riveted to the pages … and then, I repeat, 'Wham” it's done, leaving you wanting more .. Can't wait for the next in the series.

There’s a serial killer in town. The book starts out with a murder then goes into the story of the main character, Elizabeth Banner and her ex-husband, Garik Jacobsen. Elizabeth is a smart woman who became a geologist like her father, who had been convicted of murdering his wife when Elizabeth was a small child. He has been released from prison to a nursing home in their hometown of Virtue Falls. Elizabeth moves back to Virtue Falls to see her father and to work on a project that he originally started. Garik is an FBI agent put on probation and comes back to Virtue Falls after the big earthquake.
I felt like the book started out good with the prologue but it slowed down a little in the beginning of Elizabeth and Garik’s story. Eventually it picked back up and became a really good book. There were several characters that could have been the murderer and it was hard to figure out how it would end. If you like a good suspenseful romance, then this is the book for you. I plan on recommending it to my friends and family. I think they will enjoy reading it.

I received a copy from the author for review.

Christina Dodd’s new book, Virtue Falls, is a suspenseful thriller that grasps you and holds you tight the entire rollercoaster ride through. Sorry-that sounds like a suck up, cover quote there. But, it’s the truth.
The first night I opened Virtue Falls I got through the first chapter and had to put it down-or else I knew I wouldn’t sleep! Both because I would have kept reading through the night but mostly because I was alone. In a big house. Alone. Did I mention I was by myself??? And frankly, I was freaked out!! And before I get comments, yes, I know. It’s just a book. What can I say? I’m a wimp and I scare easily.

This story, just like all Christina’s stories, swallows you into the book so hard you sometimes forget to breath or eat or... “Wait. Did you say something?” (I ask my daughter who’s been standing next to me for a while but I didn’t notice.) The storyline is believable and provoking so that you can’t put it down-you have to find out who-done-it. Seriously, when I wasn’t reading it I was thinking about the characters in the book-trying to piece things together to figure it out.
Not to be too picky, but there were several editing slips here and there-one or two and I wouldn’t mention it. This time there was more than that. But-no one is perfect all the time. ;)
But, overall, for me, there’s sadness at the ending. How else could it end but that her father didn’t do it? Of course, that then meant he’d suffered through hell in prison for 23 years-as an innocent man. The family was literally ripped apart by a madman-who we don’t know about until the end (I’m not going to give any spoilers, don’t worry).
And while Christina (I use her first name, like I know her ;) says this isn’t a romance novel, it sure felt like one the entire way through so that confused me some. It’s a longer read than her other stories, but I think it’s because she’s also threading in her next story with this one so that they connect. If you like her other stories, you’ll like this one too.
Overall, the storyline is great. Fast paced. Action packed. If you’re a fan, you’ll love it. If you’re not? What’s wrong with you??? Just kidding. If you’re not, give this one a try. I think she’ll win you over.

I purchased Virtue Falls by Christina Dodd via my audible.com account. I found the voice of the person reading to be easy to listen to and having enough of a range to differentiate between characters. I am thrilled that books are going to audio as I am experiencing a vision problem yet want to know what contemporary writers are up to.

Opening Virtue Falls with an earthquake and a tsunami is a brilliant move. I have been in two major earthquakes in Washington State and found Dodd’s writing of earthquakes believable as can be. I loved that the story’s protagonist, Elizabeth Banner, is so curious about these phenomena that she goes looking for the tsunami. These geological events add to the danger in the story, which is ultimately a thriller/murder mystery.

The story is told mainly from the perspective of the heroine and hero. I notice point of view more than anything else in a story. I wondered if Virtue Falls would have seemed so dangerous if ancillary characters had not been in danger, too. The danger in this story does not stop for anyone. which makes this a good thriller.

This is a fun book with a satisfying ending. It’s worth a read – go get it.

Fantastic and compelling! Once I started reading, I could not put this book down. I love how the story is solid and richly detailed without being over done. The characters and their backgrounds are vividly written. In the beginning, I wasn't sure if I was going to like Garik but he redeems himself quite nicely. This was by far, one of the best suspense books I've read so far this year with an ending I did not see coming. Lately, I've been in a slump where some books have not held my interest. So glad I read this one! Elizabeth Banner returns to Virtue Falls, Washington as an adult now where her father was convicted and put in jail for killing her mother when Elizabeth was a little girl. The town experiences one of the worst earthquakes yet and the aftershocks and tsunamis are even deadlier. Elizabeth's ex-husband Garik shows up to ensure she's ok and they both start to uncover secrets that may be better left alone. The second book in this series is sure to be awesome and I hope we will get to see more of Margaret and some of the other secondary characters in the next book.

Virture Falls has it all – romance, murder, earthquakes, tsunamis and a serial killer. I loved that it was 430+ pages which allowed for good character development and lots of twists and turns in the plot. There were times that I couldn’t put it down and other times that it was so intense that I had to close the book and walk away for awhile.
23 years before Elizabeth Banner witnessed the murder of her mother and her father was convicted of the crime. Her mother’s body was never found. An earthquake and tsunami uncover her mother’s remains and the killer is worried that the evidence will now convict him. Elizabeth’s ex-husband, an FBI agent, comes back to help keep her safe.
Elizabeth is not your typical heroine – she is very logical and tends to ignore her emotions. Her ex-husband, Garik, is hot headed and passionate. On the surface they seem totally wrong for each other and you can see why they divorced. I enjoyed watching their relationship change and deepen through the book. The murder investigation had so many twists that I hadn’t figured out who had done it until the last few chapters.
This was one of those books that you can really sink your teeth into and enjoy and it will stay with you long past reading the last chapter.

Christina Dodd's Virtue Falls is like a rich, delectable chocolate cake.

She started with her main ingredients. Elizabeth Banner, a respected geologist that has followed in her father's footsteps; Charles Banner, father of Elizabeth and husband of Misty Banner, the wife he was accused of brutally killing 23 years before in Virtue Falls; Garik Jacobsen, an FBI agent that is on forced leave and had once been married to Elizabeth Banner.

Added to this mix is Margaret Smith, age 91, an immigrant from Ireland that owns the Virtue Falls Resort; Sheriff Dennis Potter, a life-time resident of Virtue Falls, that has his own deep dark secrets; Bradley Huff, a renown artist in which his paintings have been inspired by Virtue Falls.

Mix in a major earthquake and tsunami, followed by the discovery of bones, and you have a story so full or twists and turns that it keeps you on the end of your seat until the last page is turned.

I can hardly wait for the sequel!!!

******Must Read****** I couldn't put the book down .....

Elizabeth returns to where she was born and where her mother was alleged murder by her father but the body was never found .She has no memory of the murder. She is working and her father is out of prison in care facility for Dementia. While there large earthquake hits and followed by tsunami which she gets to witness and record, causing the town to be cut off.

Her ex-husband has been relieved of duty from the FBI and is ready to end his life when he see on the news about the earthquake. He's worried about his family and his ex-wife who he can't let go of. He rushes to them to make sure they are alright.

The earthquake after shocks releases her mother body from the earth. The sheriff who this murder made a name for himself. With people being attacked and murder same way as her mother you wonder is the murder back. Many colorful people in the town who could have done it.

It leaves you guessing at all the turns.It wasn't who I thought did it. There is mystery and suspense and of course love finding it all over again.

I can't wait for the next book to see where the story continues.

I was disappointed in this book. The pace was awkward at times and the prose was amateurish at times. Not the quality I'm used to with other books by this author. I put it aside for a week or so because I found I didn't really care much about these folks. I did finish it, but had to push to do so.

Christina Dodd's venture into suspense novels is well worth the read. Ms. Dodd grabbed my attention with the first murder. At first the murder didn't seem to be connected to the main story, but that's how Ms. Dodd gets you hooked. The more I found out about the community of Virtue Falls and Misty Banner's murder the more I was drawn in. I love how the story invites you to become a part of the Virtue Falls community and to really understand what something like Misty's murder can do to a town immediately after and 23 years down the road. I felt an instant connection with Elizabeth and wanted to know more about her. I love how she became a strong, independent women despite her past.

In the story Elizabeth returns to Virtue Falls to continue her father's geological study and to get to know him better after he has been move to the Honor Mountain Memory Care Facility from the prison, for Alzheimer's. The journey to get to know her father is a very moving one in the story and very revealing. After the town goes through an earthquake Elizabeth's mother's body is found and new evidence re-opens the case. With the help of her father and Garik, her ex-husband, Elizabeth begins to discover the truth.

I love this book as it keeps you guessing at every turn who the murderer is and how the two murders in the book are connected. I can tell you I was not expecting the ending! I also loved getting to know all the different people in Virtue Falls, I would love to be able to visit and explore this town, if only it really existed! The second chance at romance between Garik and Elizabeth helps you feel even more connected and invested in them discovering the truth. I highly recommend that you read this novel. I can't wait for future stories in Virtue Falls.

Virtue Falls kept me guessing and turning pages long into the night. I, quite literally, could not put it down until the very end and even then I had to "wind down" before I could sleep. It kept me right on the edge to the very last page. The multiple perspectives of the earthquake was an excellent idea - it gave a depth to the experience that it would not have had otherwise. I really felt like I was in the middle of it. I also adored the cameo appearances of the DiLuca family. (And, if you haven't read her Bella Terra series, you absolutely must!) Just when you thought you had it, there was another twist. It was AMAZING. I cannot recommend it highly enough. Just read it. You won't be disappointed!! I love Christina Dodd, but she has really outdone herself with Virtue Falls.

I love Christina Dodd. Her writing is gripping and takes you on an amazing journey. Virtue Falls is her newest book and it had me hooked from page one, a thrilling ride of murder, mystery and love. I had been waiting for this book and it didn't disappoint. I couldn't put it down until I finished and now I'm longing for the next Virtue Falls story to see where Ms. Dodd will take us. In this first book, we're introduced to the town of Virtue Falls through the eyes of Elizabeth, who supposedly saw her father murder her mother twenty-three years earlier. She's returned to work on her father's geological study of earthquakes and tsunamis. After the unthinkable earthquake and tsunami hit and the town is cut off, a killer reemerges and it's up to Elizabeth and her ex-husband Garik to discover the truth. You will not be disappointed with this book. It has all the action, suspense and mystery we love from Ms. Dodd and includes some romance along the way. I highly recommend this book.

She may be tackling a new genre, but Christina Dodd has done it again. Virtue Falls is fun and intense and keeps you guessing through the last page. It may be longer than most of her other books, but it goes by quickly because you can't put it down.

Elizabeth Banner has lived under a stigma her entire life, being labeled not on what she has accomplished, but on the fact that she saw her father murder her mother with scissors when she was just a child. When she returns to Virtue Falls to continue her father's geological work the whispers from the small town residents are pervasive. Then disaster strikes and she's thrust into the most exciting and dangerous mystery of her life. And to help her through it, her ex-husband, Garik Jacobsen, rides into Virtue Falls like a knight in shining armor.

I do have one comment regarding Elizabeth. In the beginning, she is nearly clueless and unemotional. I'm not sure if she was meant to be that way before Garik came into the picture, but you see a lot less of that throughout the book. By the end, she is strong and confident, which I like. I'm just a bit confused as to why so much effort was put into determining her character in the beginning, for it to fall by the wayside.

All in all,I love the characters and their interaction. There are so many players, that you're not really sure who or what to believe. The end is surprising and the twists are shocking. I really enjoyed reading Virtue Falls and I can't wait for the next book in the series!

To be honest, when I heard Christina Dodd had decided to venture into a new genre, I was a little nervous. My first choice is usually a historical romance and I love hers! My next choice is contempary romance and I've been slightly let down in some recent books. When I'm in the mood for a mystery, it is usually along the lines of Mary Higgins Clark and I wondered if this could compare. Yes, it could! I am certainly glad that I decided to venture out, take a chance and read this. The book was smart and obviously written by an intellegent woman! It kept me guessing who the murderer was until the very end. It was never predictable. It was Intense and suspenseful but balanced with instances of humor. The romance was still there. The characters where well written and I enjoyed their flaws. Oh, I hate when smart characters make bad but real decisions! The description of the town and earthquake were vivid. I cannot wait for the next one!

Many readers know Ms. Dodd as a Romance novelist. Many know her as a Romantic Suspense novelist. Her first foray into a straight Suspense novel is Virtue Falls! I was hooked after the first chapter. Earthquakes, tsunami's, murder, and a quirky town with character. There are many interesting inhabitants of Virtue Falls, and I hope they will continue to be developed. This book was a great ride. There is romance included, that's part of the human condition, but it is not your typical Christina Dodd romantic suspense. This book is grittier. I can't wait until the next book highlighting the town of Virtue Falls and her residents.