Into the Fire

The second September CFBA Tour features Jordyn Redwood's debut medical thriller titled Proof and published by Kregel Publications. I received this novel free for an honest review.

Jordyn Redwood has put her medical experience to extracurricular use by helping authors answer those tough medical questions on her blog. I've inquired of her myself, and she's quick to reply giving her best answer from her two decades of nursing, specializing in critical and emergency care. This knowledge shows up in spades in Proof. I especially appreciate her lack of condescension to readers – and by that I mean she rattles off medical terms without explanation until specific and unusual situations or terms become necessary.

Dr. Lily Reeves keeps most of her medical associates at arm's length. Even her best friends, two doctors who are Christians, Dana and Kadin, can only get so close before she clamps down on her emotional investments. When the pregnant victim of a serial rapist enters the ER with life-threatening injuries, Kadin is there to deliver the infant. When Detective Nathan Long attempts to gain entrance to talk to the victim explaining she's his only witness against the rapist, Lilly gives him a firm denial because the woman is non-responsive and critical.

After the trauma in the ER, the story takes a detour to Detective Long's past, depicting the event which sent him from the FBI to the police force. Returning to present tense, he visits the crime scene of the latest rape victim. Using the same heinous methodology and with the same limited but specific description of the suspect, Detective Long's guilt over not publicly warning the community, along with his attraction to the victim, compel him forward against the developing odds against nailing the suspect.

I'm not going to give away any further plot elements to the story. Instead I will say that Proof shows the potential of Jordyn Redwood's writing. The strengths of Proof demonstrate her ability to develop a story and to keep upping the tension, keeping the reader on edge.

The first-novel weaknesses will most likely go unnoticed by those readers who enjoy a good medical mystery, but in fairness I'm going to give a few of them. The novel's plot is ambitious and at times veers off track to include the establishment of a Christian theme in contrast to Lilly's atheism. The elements included to point to the reality of faith feel a bit forced and injected like a needle into the arm of the story as a reminder. Kadin comes off as the namby-pamby Christian man as opposed to Nathan Long who comes off as the ultimate hero. Long's attraction to Lilly comes too fast and too obviously and feels like it's right out of a typical romance novel. Lilly isn't a very likable character, and in spite of her  traumatic experiences and determination, it's a bit hard to get on board with her. I cared about her but not enthusiastically. The male characters feel like a woman created them, but I want to reiterate most readers won't notice.

Jordyn has written an interesting novel, although those of us who are devout CSI watchers will recognize the antagonist's condition before anyone else, I suspect. Proof is a decent first effort and has gained a lot of positive attention. The cover is exquisite, the title is perfect, and I'm sure Jordyn's future novels will be better yet.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0825442389

Father, I pray your blessing over Jordyn for her generous spirit. Please give her more stories to tell and guide her in all she does. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.