OnlineBookClub.org

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Snake Handler's Wife" by Sue Hinkin.]

"The Snake Handler's Wife" by Sue Hinkin is a fun crime thriller with elements of romance set in modern-day Southern California. At her Rancho de la Vega in the Santa Monica Mountains, Lucy Vega is on a tense video call with her boyfriend, Michael Burleson. Little does she know, her beloved horse Odin has been bitten by a rattler. The drama intensifies when, within days, a young blonde woman shows up on her doorstep. Jamie, Michael's youngest daughter, is a mystery. Soon, a cavalcade of suspense slowly and irrevocably disrupts Lucy's life as Jamie's world permeates hers.

"The Snake Handler's Wife" is a very enjoyable novel. I give it a rating of four out of five stars for several reasons. First, the plot is full of intrigue, action, and suspense that's written like a slow burn. This makes it hard to put the book down. When Mark Wenter, Jamie's husband, comes onto the scene, Lucy's own intrigue is stirred and the slow burn is stoked. All the characters are well-written, which is another reason why I give the book a high rating. The dialogue is believable, and so are the relationships. The friendship between Lucy and Bea Middleton, an investigative reporter, will be relatable to women. Lucy's dynamic with Dr. Heath Sinclair is sweet and realistic. I also like that "The Snake Handler's Wife" is easy to grasp on its own, even though it's part of a series. The theme of Christianity is intriguing, and will be enjoyable to readers who follow the Christian faith, as quite a few Bible verses are quoted. It does have passages that contain violence, which may dissuade readers, but objectively, they are well done. The only reason I give the book less than five stars is because there are editing mistakes.

The novel will appeal to readers who love a good crime thriller without a dip in excitement and plenty of romance. "The Snake Handler's Wife" is also a great choice for readers who love life on a ranch.

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The Snake Handler's Wife
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Good to hear that the story is packed with action and that it is also greatly realistic and believable. I hope that the author will consider having the book taken through another round of professional editing to get rid of the errors. Thanks for the review, @Leslie coccia.

I like the fact that the story is set in a ranch, in the mountains. The review does not give away any spoiler, which makes the book even more intriguing. The book being well-written and the characters well-developed, I hope it will be given another round of editing to make it even better.

The plot sounds really good. A thriller with romantic elements is my go-to. Thanks for the review. I'll be adding it to my TBR.

It's cool that the characters are well-written and relatable, especially Lucy's friendship with Bea. Too bad about the editing issues, but a four out of five stars is still solid! Sounds like a good pick if you're into a thrilling story with a side of romance and maybe even some faith elements.

This was a great review! I like how you described the book as a “slow burn”—those types of thrillers always keep me turning the pages. It’s also good to know that even though it’s part of a series, it can stand alone. The dynamic between Lucy and the other characters sounds compelling, especially her friendship with Bea. I appreciate your honesty about the editing errors—that’s something I always consider before picking up a book. Thanks for the thoughtful insight!