Book Review of 'Lethal Standoff' by DiAnn Mills

Hello Bookworms!

Happy Fall Y'all! I can't believe September is already upon us! I've been hearing so many people say that the summer flew by, and I am in that boat. Where did the time go?? My head has been spinning and now we're in one of the busiest times of the year, so time is going to go any quicker. Slow down please!

Today I am featuring a novel that is full of thrills! I hope you enjoy my thoughts on this Romantic Suspense and don't forget to scroll to the bottom of this post and enter the amazing giveaway from JustRead Tours.

Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for Lethal Standoff by DiAnn Mills hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Lethal Standoff

Author: DiAnn Mills

Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers

Release Date: September 3, 2024

Genre: Romantic Suspense, Thriller

Justice can be elusive. Family secrets can be deadly. The stakes are high, and the clock is ticking in a volatile criminal case filled with unanswered questions. And Carrington Reed is running short on time to piece together clues that will solve the puzzle.

Hostage negotiator Carrington Reed is called to the scene when reports come in that fifteen hostages are being held by the Kendrix brothers in an abandoned house in south Texas. When she arrives on site, Carrington quickly learns that the brothers are armed and refuse to release their victims, a group of undocumented immigrants, until the local police identify their father’s murderer.

Working closely with Levi Ehrlich, a handsome investigative reporter who has covered some of Carrington’s negotiations in the past, she finds herself being undeniably drawn to him. Carrington digs deeper into the death of the Kendrixes’ father and begins to notice that some details surrounding his death aren’t adding up.

As Carrington investigates the brothers’ claims and tries to piece together their motive for taking innocent people captive, it soon becomes clear that they are trying to hide something and that revenge for their father’s death may not be what they’re really bargaining for after all. To protect the hostages and ensure the brothers don’t carry out the rest of their sinister plot, Carrington must get to the bottom of one family’s secret and the truth they’re trying so hard to hide before time runs out.

Award-winning author DiAnn Mills delivers pulse-pounding romantic suspense about secrets, betrayal, and finding a path to forgiveness.

Includes discussion guide for book groups.
A clean contemporary thriller from Christy Award-winning author DiAnn Mills
For fans of action-packed romantic suspense in the vein of Lynette Eason, Irene Hannon, and Dani Pettrey
From the popular author of Facing the Enemy

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook | Bookshop

My Review

This is the first DiAnn Mills novel that I’ve read and all I can say is wow!

This is not an easy read and though this is a clean suspense, it is actually quite involved and deals with some heavier subject matter. There is an intense hostage situation as well as other topics including immigrants, abuse, and other subjects that are tougher to tackle. I feel like the author really took care when handling these situations and appreciate that while she didn’t shy away from them, she also wasn’t explicit in her depictions and handled it all with the upmost respect.

I was seriously giving everyone a side eye from the word go, thinking each person could be the suspect, and the deeper I dove into the narrative the more twisted it became. Levi and Carrington, a journalist and negotiator respectively, complement one another so well. It hurt my heart what Levi had to go through with his family and sadly that is a sting that I know all too well. It is in these moments when prayer and your tribe are truly all you have to get you through and that was the one thing I really enjoyed about this novel. Carrington and Levi truly cared, and you could feel that.

As far as the story overall, there were parts that did drag a bit, but I truly felt like I was part of the investigation. The characters are complex, and I appreciated the faith aspect and learning more about Messianic Judaism. Though it wasn’t a shock who was behind everything when it was all revealed the why was shocking and sickening. Overall, it all ended on a happy note and for that I was grateful.

Lethal Standoff is an intense novel where things are not always what they seem, with twists and turns that shows a fight for justice, acceptance, and the power of love and community. It has complex characters, serious subject matter, and a plot that sadly is believable. If you’re a fan of suspense you will not be disappointed.

My Rating: ★★★★

Also Available

About the Author

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She weaves memorable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels with threads of romance. DiAnn believes every breath of life is someone's story, so why not capture those moments and create a thrilling adventure?

Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards, the Selah Award, and the Golden Scroll; and been finalists for the Inspirational Reader's Choice Award and the Carol Award.

DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers and an active member of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers, the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Mystery Writers of America, the Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild, and International Thriller Writers. DiAnn continues her passion of helping other writers be successful. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country.

DiAnn has been termed a coffee snob and roasts her own coffee beans. She's an avid reader, loves to cook, and believes her grandchildren are the smartest kids in the universe. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas. diannmills.com.

Connect with DiAnn by visiting diannmills.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a copy of Lethal Standoff and Facing the Enemy, as well as a Texas themed item!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight September 3, 2024 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on September 10, 2024. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

Enter Giveaway

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!