Waking Hours (East Salem) by Lis Wiehl (2011-10-03)

Dani is a forensic psychologist in the small town of East Salem when a gruesome murder of a teen girl shocks the community. She teams up with ex-football star Tommy who she crushed on in high school.

It kept my attention but still took me a couple of weeks to read and I didn't exactly have any trouble putting it down. The writing style was a bit graceless but okay and you get the feeling the author wasn't that comfortable with the supernatural elements of her own story. The characters' reactions to the occurances are off. Like something strange occurs and they believe the answer is paranormal too easily when there could be another logical answer(she's a forensic psychologist after all) and then alternitively when it's clear that something supernatural is definitely happening she refuses to buy it. Also, the paranormal bits are tacked on to the murder mystery and in the end are arbitrary and don't seem to have anything to do with the resolution. It did seem like maybe it was setting it up to play a more integral part in the future books in the series though.

Even though Tommy is smart and studying to be a PI, Dani doesn't know that when she agrees to partner with him to solve the crime and it seems very unlikely and pointless that a forensic psychologist who works for the district attorney would do that. And the "romance" that develops between the two is pretty much non-existent. The characters don't have a personality and they can't muster up any real passion for each other either.

It definitely wasn't bad, but I don't think I'll seek out the coming books in the series as they're released. And it could just be that this kind of crime drama isn't my cup of tea.

East Salem is a cozy little town where something unspeakable has happened. A high school girl is found dead, murdered in a remote part of the local park. Everything about her death is strange and doesn't seem to make any sense. Dani is a forensic psychiatrist working on the case and it's getting to her, keeping her up at all hours of the night.

Dani and her new assistant Tommy need to sort through the clues and get into the mind of the killer in order to solve this case. The problem is, there seems to be something supernatural going on as well...and it's hard to rid a town of an evil that can't be seen.

This was one of the few books I've read that literally made me hold my breath. I loved it! It's a real psychological mystery/thriller with supernatural elements. It was gripping, realistic, and...creepy. There are a lot of things going on in this story, but all the elements blend together real well, especially at the end. There's some real danger and some supernatural danger as well and I think that's what really made the story captivating. It's not your everyday mystery novel, that's for sure.

There are Christian themes and talk about faith and God. It was very well done. There's a sense that some characters are wrestling with faith in the supernatural, but it all meshes with the plot. I can't wait for the next book in this series, there IS a next book, isn't there? cliffhanger! Seriously, if you haven't read it yet, what are you waiting for?

* Thanks to the publisher Thomas Nelson and BookSneeze.com for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Waking Hours is so amazing! I absolutely love mysteries and then when you add a supernatural element such as this one I just cannot resist.

This is the fourth book I have read by Lis Wiehl and I must admit I wasn't sure how this one was going to be considering this one has a supernatural element whereas the other books of Lis' didn't. I didn't have to worry though as I feel this one is far better than the other three books. I feel like the supernatural element just added this whole extra layer that made it all the more interesting.

As far as characters go, I really liked Dani. I felt that she was interesting and realistic. A lot of the time I tend to ignore characters as I focus on the mystery and other aspects but in this book I noticed Dani and loved reading about her.

I started this book just thinking, I'd read a quick chapter and then get on with other things, however, this did not happen. I started the book and felt so compelled to continue reading because I just HAD to know who the murderer was and what was up with the weird events surrounding Dani and Tommy.

I did have some ideas about the murderer's identity and I was a little surprised at the end to be honest and well, as someone who reads mysteries all the time this doesn't always happen.

Overall, I feel I could gush about Waking Hours for a really long time. However, all I want to say at this point is that if you love mystery and love supernatural elements then you will absolutely love this one!

I received an advanced reading e-book copy of Waking Hours by Lisa Wiehl and Pete Nelson published by Thomas Nelson from [...] .

The main characters are Tommy Gunderson, a former NFL linebacker, and Dani Harris, a forensic psychologist who is working her first case for the DA. Her case is a dozy! A local teenage girl is found gruesomely murdered at a rich boy's "passage" party and not one of the involved teenagers can recall what happened. With the assistance of Tommy, her high school crush, and now a PI in training, Dani must discover who is ultimately behind the killing.

This book starts off in a hurry and never slows down. Not wanting to give away any of the twists throughout the book, I will say the supernatural tones are very spooky as they are subtle and not thrown in the reader's face at every turn. The characters are very well-developed, entertaining and likeable. The dialogue is entertaining, witty, and at times laugh-out-loud funny, yet stops before the characters become unbelievable and unlikeable. Tommy's Christian qualities are understated and yet obviously lead to his strong character. Dani and Tommy's high school crush, their developing respect and hint of romance, even their family and friend relationships are explored. The plot is intriguing and suspenseful, with unexpected twists that kept me on the edge and wondering how the book would turn out. I enjoyed the author's insight into how and why the mind fragments and the reader's discussion questions at the end of the book were very thought provoking.

I can't wait for the next installment in this trilogy and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a supernatural murder suspense novel.

WOW - oh WOW!!!! My first book by this author - and I must state that this is not they typed of book I would normally have chosen. I love the Christian Romantic Suspense novel, but have never read one with such EVIL and with Demons - but I literally could NOT put this book down and had to immediately get and read the other 2 in the series! Dani is a forensic scientist who is trying to find the killer of a young girl who died in a violent 'ritualistic' way - and she comes into contact with ex-foot ball player and former high school crush. They (eventually) work together to find the killer (s) and it's a true battle of God and his Angels against Satan and his Demons..............

Even if you have never read this type of book, it will grab you and keep you glued to your book (Kindle)~

Waking Hours by Lis Wiehl with Pete Nelson

The book starts with a high school girl being brutally murdered in East Salem, a small town in New York. Dani Harris, a forensic psychiatrist, is called in to assist in the investigation.

At the same time of the murder an elderly woman wanders onto the property of Tommy Gunderson, a former NFL linebacker. What is so strange about that is his property has a state of the art security system. The elderly woman is mumbling words in Latin and is holding a disemboweled frog. She ends up grabbing him around the throat.

Someone Tommy works with at his gym is implicated in the young girls murder and he finds himself working with Dani to try to solve the murder. Dani wakes up at exactly 2:13 am every night with dreams about her deceased parents. Is this connected to the murder? They both feel something dark and evil is going on in the town. Will they discover what it is before there is another murder?

I found the book to be a good mystery. I did find it a little too involved with the psychology explanations. Also, it was a little hard to follow in some places. As a Christian, I know there are demons. This book brings it out into the open with the evil that is happening in East Salem.

This book was given to me by booksneeze.com for an honest review. I was not required to give a positive review.

Was the ritualistic murder of a lonely high school girl in New York's tony Westchester County the work of a sinister band of teens, a supernatural force of evil, or a collaboration of both? The only thing certain when Waking Hours opens is the identity of the victim and the fact that eerie, downright creepy events quickly and continuously unfold that may or may not be connected to her death.

I had committed to provide a review of Lis Wiehl and Pete Nelson's first novel in the East Salem series by today, October 3. Because I was out of town when my copy arrived from the publisher, I had very little time to read the book.

NOT a problem. Waking Hours--a blend of suspense and supernatural stories, with a dash of romance--grabs the reader at once and doesn't let go until the very last word. Even then, it's quite clear more trouble--and adventure--is yet to come in future installments in the series. I say bring `em on. Both main characters, forensic psychiatrist Dani Harris and former football star Tommy Gunderson, are witty, intelligent, and fallible enough to feel real. Wiehl and Nelson have done their homework, and the psychological, forensic, and geographic details create scenes both visual and intense.

If you like to read before bedtime, you might want to keep a copy of People magazine or something similarly frivolous nearby to clear away the heebie jeebies before you turn out the lights. Recommended.

Thomas Nelson provided me with a review copy of this novel.

Twelve years after their high school graduation, Tommy and Dani are re-united to solve the murder of a local high school girl.(If you are not into gory details, you might want to leave this book alone.)

*shivers*

Soon after, supernatural connections are made and suddenly, the murder becomes something very different from what they expected.

*covers eyes* if that were possible.

Grisley details are used to make the connection that only someone desperately evil could enact a murder of this kind forcing the two detectives to reevaluate everything they believe in. Suddenly, demonic forces are not so unreasonable.

Waking Hours is not as well-written as Ms. Wiehl's other books, but if you like supernatural tales, you'll enjoy the novel. The story really takes off about half-way in so you have to stay with it a little longer than most.

The characters are well written--their romance enjoyable. A bit difficult to portray in a demonic novel, but really well done.

Detective stories are my forte and crime-solving really gets me. The plot was interesting enough to keep me reading though I was turned off by the gross portrayals. However, I do understand their necessity. All in all it's good book. Not a great book, but it's tasty mind candy for a rainy day.

Reviewed by Louann Carroll, author of Gemini Rising, a sci-fi romance, the soon-to-be-released A Shadow of Time, a paranormal romance, and Journey's, The Adventure of Leaf, a children's book on death and dying.

In small town East Salem something frightening is coming to life. When a teenage girl is found brutally murdered, forensic psychologist Dani Harris is called in to unravel the mystery. With the help of her old high school crush, Tommy Gunderson, they set out to find out just who - or quite possibly, what - could have commited such a nasty crime.

I loved everything about this novel. From the author's voice, to her interesting characters and suspenseful plot, you are not left wanting for anything but for them to solve the murder. I also found it fascinating that, despite being very devout, Tommy never thought twice about considering a more paranormal culprit behind the murders. In a similar vein, even though Dani is a psychologist and lives her life based in the reality of the facts at hand, she is only a tiny bit reluctant to take things on faith and `go with her gut', so to speak. It was a nice and realistic view of how people of both faith and science can make room for things they normally wouldn't for a common cause.

This was my first novel by this author, but I can guarantee that this won't be my last. I'm hoping to read more about Dani and Tommy in the very near future.

Disclaimer: As per FTC regulations, I was offered a complimentary copy of the above novel from BookSneeze® in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Through her work with the District Attorney's office, forensic psychiatrist Dani Harris is thrown into a case involving a female youth who is brutally murdered. Dani's former childhood acquaintance, former pro-football star Tommy Gunderson, offers his help as an upstart private investigator. Soon the two of them are racing to uncover the truth of what happened, before someone else dies.

Waking Hours was a fantastic read, a very promising start to a new series taking place in East Salem. The supernatural suspense was chilling, the plot tightly woven, and the dialogue swift. The relationship developing between Tommy & Dani was highly entertaining, and some of their dialogue had some memorable lines that were very humorous. I thought that all of the characters as a whole were well-developed and believable, and I am very thankful to know that I can look forward to meeting these characters in future works. I have to say that this is my favourite Lis Wiehl book yet, and while I've never before had the pleasure of reading a book by Pete Nelson, it is clear he is a talented author. I honestly found the plot to be flawless, and I have been left craving for more.

Waking Hours will definitely appeal to readers who love mystery and supernatural suspense. I highly recommend this book, giving it 5 out of 5 stars.

This book has been provided courtesy of the publisher via the Booksneeze program and netgalley for the purposes of this unbiased review.

The book was well written and it held my interest as a psychological/murder mystery/paranormal novel. But if it had ended with the death and explanation of why who did what to whom, I'd have added a 4th & 5th star. Instead, I think maybe the authors thought that throwing in an angel, biblical references and "God's love," bringing the two story leads together in faith and revelation, would be great for A SERIES! Well, this old witch isn't going to pay almost $9.00 to get each of the next books because in my mind, the story has already been told too many times and done better.
Read Tyler Dilts or Stephen Leather or Alexandra Sokoloff if you like para-normal romance mysteries.

When a teen is brutally murdered in a small town, forensic psychologist Dani Harris is called in on the case. Working with an old friend and old love interest Tommy Gunderson, former NFL star, Dani finds herself working on more than just a murder mystery. Each morning, she is awakened at 2:13 a.m. by weird dreams and strange events. Is more going on than just a murder...something supernatural?

The murder investigation is a good storyline, but when you add a supernatural occurrences and a budding romance, you have a suspenseful thriller. The characters are intriguing, and as a football fan, I enjoyed the back story of Tommy's football career and why he walked away from it. The pace of the book is a little slow at first with several loose ends, which are finally tied together about halfway through.

My favorite part of the book was the angle of the forensic psychologist. Many times a murder mystery is told from the detective's point of view, but bringing in the psychology of a murderer as a part of the storyline made the novel more interesting and even thought-provoking at times.

Fans of mystery, especially ones without graphic details, will enjoy this book.

I look forward to reading the second book in the series.

I was given this book in exchange for my review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

"Waking Hours" is a supernatural thriller/mystery. When a gruesome murder takes places in East Salem, New York, forensic psychiatrist Dani Harris is called to assist the DA. Tommy Gunderson, an old friend from high school, formerly a pro-football player, now studying to become a private detective, is also drawn into the case when one of the teenage boys he mentors is called in for questioning.

Dani invites Tommy to be her assistant and the two go to work together in an "X-Files" kind of way. Tommy is a growing Christian who suspects there's a spiritual battle going on, not just a physical crime. Dani is all science. If you can't see it and prove it, it shouldn't be a concern.

Because of the gruesome nature of the murder and supernatural elements introduced at the beginning of the book, I at first thought I'd walked into a horror story. But it doesn't go that direction. The supernatural element is almost a side story--and will be continued in the next book. The mystery itself gets solved satisfactorily within the human realm.

I'm happy to recommend "Waking Hours" to you and will be watching for the next book in the East Salem series! Thank you, Thomas Nelson Publishers, for sending a complimentary copy of this book for my honest review.

In "Waking Hours" by Lis Wiehl we meet forensic psychiatrist Dani Harris. Dani is brought in on a case involving the death of a local high school girl, Julie. The awful way that she died leaves the town in an uproar. Dani has help with the case from her former classmate Tommy Gunderson. Tommy was a NFL player and after a tragic accident he quit playing and moved back to his hometown with the goal of becoming a private investigator. Dani and Tommy question several of Julie's classmates and discover that they were all involved in a passage party. The problem is none of them can remember what happened the night Julie died. Dani and Tommy know one of these kids knows the whole story behind her death and may have even been the one to kill her.

"Waking Hours" is the first book in the East Salem Trilogy. This is a very fast paced book full of suspense. This story has many twists and plots that will keep you guessing, and when you think you have everything figured out it will leave you with a cliffhanger. Lis Wiehl quickly became one of my favorite authors with her Triple Threat novels and she does not let her readers down with her new book. I received a complimentary copy of this book to review from Thomas Nelson.

Much like Frank Peretti, Lis Weihl delves into the supernatural and the power of evil. I have enjoyed previous books by this author and continued to enjoy this new book.

The story follows Dani, a psychiatrist who works for the DA, as she tries to solve a local murder. With the help of her friend, Tommy, she is able to solve the crime. Not only does she figure out who done it, but also she figures out why that person did it.

The storyline is much like an episode of a TV crime drama. The murder is solved in less than 2 weeks, and the characters never seem to have a night where they actually sleep. As the reader, it is interesting to follow the storyline as you try to solve the crime along with the characters of the book.

What I did not like about the book is the past history between Dani and Tommy. She was the overachieving nerd in high school, and he was the game winning jock. He had a crush on her and admitted to being intimidated by her. I found this part of the story a little far fetched.

Thomas Nelson has provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for this review which I freely give.

By Lis Wiehl with Pete Nelson
Published by Thomas Nelson

The story begins in a town called Salem. A teenage girl has been brutally murdered and a psychiatrist and old high school class mate that is wanting to be a private detective are on the case. The story keeps getting deeper as more evidence of spiritual battles take place. Is it her peers? Is it a psycho? Is it a demon? Is it all the above? You will just have to read it and find out.

I love detective stories so this was a great read for me. But it has a lot of detailed gore that might gross some people out. If you have a strong stomach and love detective stories give it a try. The writer's style makes it an easy read but challenges you to really think about the details.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com [...]book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 [...] : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Dani Harris is a forensic psychiatrist. In previous cases she's been the wing man to her boss, but not in this case. A homicide that has the sleepy town of East Salem scared. A group of teens have a party one night and one of them ends up dead in a grotesque fashion. The problem is the teens say they can't remember what happened on the night of the murder. Dani is reunited with the one person from High School she liked, Tommy Gunderson. Tommy was a Pro-Football player that walked away from the game after an accident. He is well known and pestered by the paparrazi frequently. Can these two solve the mystery surrounding this homicide?

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were very well developed and the storyline was easy to follow and interesting. It was a little creepy at times, but seemed to fit into the season of Halloween.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 [...]

Just ripped through Waking Hours, and I truly enjoyed the ride. I found myself drawn into the budding relationship between Dani Harris, forensic psychologist, and Tommy Gunderson, ex-football player, and their efforts to solve a gruesome murder and stay safe in the process. This book took me to a familiar setting, and turned the image of a secure suburb inside out. It scared me at times, confused me at times, and kept me glued to the page at all times. I will keep an eye out for the next installment, because in East Salem, "something wicked this way comes."

I thoroughly enjoyed the way t h e author combined a really good plot with Christian values. The plot kept me reading at times I should of quit but I had to see what was next. I looks o reward to.net the rest of the trilogy and plan to read more of his books. A must read if you like a good book.

A gruesome murder occurs in a small town. A group of teenagers are suspected, but cannot remember anything except they all were at a party with the victim. The investigation unmask the supernatural, angels, and possibly human sacrifice. It also brings Christian beliefs and values into the plot

Good twists. I felt compelled to keep reading. The set up for book two leaves me wondering what will happen next. I also enjoyed the relationship between the main characters.
Worth reading, and anxious for part two.

Mysteries relax me. After completing a project or two, I treat myself to a few chapters. Lis Wiehl's, Waking Hours, pulled me in. I like how she does her homework about detective work, court work, and psychiatry. This story even had a little romance.

by Jean Tracy, author of Character Building: Problem Stories for Family Discussions

I really enjoyed this book. I appreciate those authors who can write a crime novel and still keep it clean (i.e. no cursing and no sex). Another reviewer mentioned that they would rate it PG-13...I agree. The murder was well described...not gory or over-the-top, but enough so the reader understood the crime and what made it different than other murders. The addition of angels and demons has me intrigued...the authors are using the Bible as their reference, and not many Christian novels add in these sorts of characters. All in all, I will finish the series (I've already finished book 2).

Loved the characterization. Hooked by the mystery. I'm a little scared of sequels, sometimes they go tilt-a-whirl bonkers when there is room to do so. There is definitely room to do so. However, I liked the first book well enough to gamble on the next.

This story is well written, which is what I would expect from Lis Wiehl. The characters were well defined, and it was next to impossible to figure out the end, considering all the twists and turns .I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good murder mystery.

Waking Hours by Lis Wiehl was a well written story. It made you think about things that we don't see with our physical eyes. There is a spiritual world right along with our physical word, that we don't see and some do not like to think about. This book makes you look at possibilities some try to ignore. I love books that make you think outside the box.

The story line was easy to follow and I didn't want to put it down. The two main characters and the story line flow well with each other. One is a forensic psychologist, the other is a private investigator in training. The story doesn't completely end and it looks to be a trilogy. Check it out and see what you think!

Waking Hours was an incredible read! The book swept me into the story from page one and I could not put it down. I am ready to barrel through the rest of the trilogy and am counting down the days to the final book. Ms. Wiehl uses such fantastic writing to make the reader feel like they're witnessing the story. It was so good at times I felt like I was watching a movie. The suspense was intense and the story had my hands sweating and my heart pounding. Definitely on my top 10 list of best books ever!

Creepy storyline kept me on the edge of my seat. Great main characters. I really enjoyed this book even though I don't like books dealing with evil or things to do with the devil. However the authors bring in GOD, faith, good, and even angels to overcome that for me. Great book!