Title: Before She Dies
Author: Mary Burton
First published January 31, 2012
416 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9781420110210 (ISBN10: 1420110217)
Rating: 4.15
Overview
Mary Burton delivers yet another spine-chilling romantic suspense in “Before She Dies”. A killer, fixated on the supernatural, takes the role of judge, jury, and executioner.
He holds his victims underwater, purifying them of their sins, before impaling them to the ground to expose them as witches. Defense attorney Charlotte Wellington has kept her sister’s murder and her carnival past a secret, but her past catches up with her as the killer’s body count rises.
Detective Daniel Rokov joins her in a terrifyingly personal mission to catch the murderer before he strikes again. Burton’s expert storytelling will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.
About the Author
Meet Mary Burton, an accomplished author whose latest novel, NEAR YOU, is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat. Mary loves the art of suspense and takes pride in getting to know her characters.
She enjoys staying up-to-date with law enforcement and forensic procedure, taking morning walks, baking, and spending time with her tiny dachshunds.
Mary has a knack for hunting down serial killers, as evidenced by her bestselling novels. Critics have compared her work to that of Lisa Jackson and Lisa Gardner, and likened her writing to that of James Patterson.
As a seasoned writer, Mary has consistently been featured in Amazon’s top ten author rankings for romantic suspense, thrillers, and mysteries. Her novels, including 2020’s NEVER LOOK BACK and BURN YOU TWICE, have earned a spot on the Kindle eBooks Store Bestseller List.
Mary’s novels CUT AND RUN and YOU’RE NOT SAFE were even nominated for the Romance Writers of America’s RITA Award for Romantic Suspense.
Mary is a Richmond native and has authored forty-five published novels and five novellas under both Mary Burton and Mary Ellen Taylor. She is a proud member of several writing organizations, including International Thriller Writers, Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, Novelists Inc., and Romance Writers of America.
Mary is known for her ability to interconnect multiple suspense stories through characters and/or place.
Editoral Review
In “Before She Dies,” Mary Burton delivers an intense, gripping thriller filled with twist and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page. First published on January 31, 2012, Burtons novel is a tantalizing, fast-paced story that follows the life of Virginia State Trooper, Tracy Crosswhite, as she investigates a brutal murder in the small town of Cedar Grove.
Burton is an award-winning romance and suspense novelist with over 20 years of experience. With a reputation for delivering intriguing stories that capture the reader’s attention from beginning to end, she is known for her fast-paced style, beautiful descriptions, and attention to detail.
Her works have won myriad awards and have been translated into different languages. “Before She Dies” is a suspense-filled whodunit that follows the investigation of Crosswhite, whose sister Sarah was murdered years ago.
When a similar murder occurs in Cedar Grove, Crosswhite sees the chance to unravel the mystery behind her sister’s death, and brings all the resources of the Virginia State Police to bear upon the case. As she delves deeper, she uncovers unsavory secrets about the town and the victim, culminating in a shocking outcome.
Though the novel falls under the thriller and suspense genre, there is a romantic side story that helps to flesh out the protagonist and add depth to the narrative. Burton’s writing style is engaging and easy to follow, with a good balance of exposition and dialogue.
The book has an excellent pace and character development. The author takes the time to explore the motivations and backstory of the main players, helping the reader to understand their actions and decisions.
The setting is also beautifully described, allowing you to visualize the small town of Cedar Grove and its creepy woods where the murders took place. One of the book’s strengths is how much it keeps you guessing.
Burton artfully sets traps and clues along the way but does not let you in on what is really happening until the climax of the story. There are plenty of suspects and red herrings to keep you second-guessing yourself, which makes the story all the more entertaining.
Another advantage of the novel is how accurately Burton captures the challenges of being a police officer while developing the strikingly real characters. There are very few downsides to the book.
Perhaps only the romance side story could benefit from more explicit development. Otherwise, Burton’s superb storytelling and skillful suspense-building will keep most readers turning pages right up to the shocking conclusion.
“Before She Dies” is a must-read thriller, and one of the best in the mystery/suspense genre. It will appeal to readers who love elements of romance and who crave a well-executed murder mystery.
I would give this book an A-, and wholly recommend it to anyone looking for a deeply engaging tale of suspense.
