In an Instant

by Tracy Wainwright

The Clock is Ticking...
Julie Montgomery left for work but never arrived. Her husband, Luke, reports her disappearance, but Officer Terrence Cooper isn't convinced anything's amiss. As he looks into the case, he discovers that not only are Luke Montgomery's fears warranted, but that Julie had been hiding a dark secret.

Julie vanished in an instant. By the time Terrence unravels the truth, will it be too late to get her back?

Genres: Mystery

286 pages, Paperback

Published April 12, 2022

About the author

Tracy is a multi-published author, having self-published more than a dozen books and has one traditionally published novel. She's always working on a story and is currently under contract for a 9-book series. She has also been published in multiple local and national magazines. Tracy works in her writing around being a wife and homeschooling mom, church ministries, and speaking. She loves Jesus, other people, both the written and spoken word, and encouraging people. #encouragementbytracy

Reviews

[Maureen Timerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author gives us a story that is filled with so much past hurts and pain, and yet there are blessing here!
This book is full of suspense, and yet full of hope, God is in charge, and we have the present meeting the past, some good and some very bad.
We travel through this story and at first, we think we know the perpetrator, but be careful, all is not as it appears, and more facts come to light.
Will this young newly married couple be reunited? You will have to read through this fast pace book for answers!
I received this book through the Publisher Pelican, and was not required to give a positive review.

[Mommafaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn’t put it down

A captivating story about love, suspense, forgiveness, strength and a God that promises he’s always with us. I appreciated the suspense and wholesomeness of this book.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Missing, the Only Thing Known!

PLEASE READ THIS REVIEW ON MY BLOG: http://bookreadingtic.com/2019/11/03/... THANK YOU!

Luke Montgomery is convinced his wife, Julie, is the victim of foul play despite being missing just two hours. More to calm the frantic husband, than believing Julie is gone, Officer Terrence Cooper agrees to look into things. Not only is Julie unable to be found, she seems to have vanished without a clue.

Julie’s mom reluctantly admits she and her daughter changed their names and have been living in hiding for years. They were terrified of her abusive ex-husband, Stuart. When Terrence tracks him down, he finds Stuart has made a new life for himself, with a wife who believes he is wonderful. Coincidentally, he is on a trip to a remote area that makes finding or communicating with him, difficult.

Is Stuart the one responsible for taking Julie? Or could it be someone else? Terrence does lots of investigating to find Julie, but nothing turns up—has she left on her own, or is something more sinister involved?

This fast-moving thriller keeps you on the edge of your seat wondering what will happen next. Luke is bombarded with fear over what must be happening to Julie, while shocked over secrets that are uncovered. Emotions are pulled taught, and the feeling of helplessness is over-whelming as Luke and Julie’s mom lean on their faith in God. This amazing 5-star story is well-written and will be enjoyed by those who like clean, suspenseful tales—I recommend it.

Pelican Book Group has provided bookreadingtic with a complimentary copy of In an Instant, for purpose of review. I have not been compensated in any other manner. All opinions expressed are my own, and I was not required, or influenced, to give anything but an honest appraisal. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in lush fall east coast rural America, Wainwright’s Christian suspense shows how all things must work together in order to save a missing woman.

At the start, a young husband’s report of his bride’s disappearance seems uncomplicated at best, suspicious at worst. Luke knows only that although his wife’s car arrived at work, she didn’t show up at her historical interpretation position in the Colonial Williamsburg historical complex. Since it’s only been a couple of hours, Officer Cooper has nothing but gut instinct to go on when he agrees to check things out. As he gets deeper into the troubling situation, he begins to unravel a secret of despair that Luke’s wife, Julie, and mother-in-law are desperate to keep in the past.

Our past not only haunts us, it returns upon occasion to remind us that we are all imperfect creatures and secrets hurt and betray. When Julie decides to stomp the ugliness of her youth into the ground and share her newfound normalcy with joyous abandon when she marries Luke, her past rises up in an attempt to regain control of her life. Officer Cooper, a loner on the force, learns he must use the expertise of those around him, even if he doesn’t respect their intent or beliefs. Julie’s mother and husband must rely on the only course of action they have to help Julie, which is deep prayer, and the prayers of friends. Julie and Luke both understand that in desperate situations, they do the best they can and then rely on the One who is truly in control.

A few clever distractions briefly hide the depth of the crime, and overall good dialog and characters keep the reader turning pages. Those who love their crime stories interwoven with Christian prayer and moments of Christian gathering to soften the moments of violence will find much to appreciate in Wainwright’s newest book.

[Quentin Oaklands · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really enjoyable read, from the beginning, through the mystery of what happened to Julie, the characters and the story keep you reading. Terrence was a good investigator, willing to think differently. The revelations came regularly through the story, and it was good to see how people can change. Overcoming the past for the characters in the story and reaching out to help find Julie kept the twists and turns happening.
I received a free copy of the book fro Pelican Book Group; all opinions are my own.

[P Beaver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!! This book was fabulous! It held my attention from start to finish. I couldn’t finish it fast enough and now I’m sad it’s over. A powerful message of God’s faithfulness, provision, and restoration.

[Susan Sloan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This modern-day mystery sucked me in right away, and I love that it was set in Colonial Williamsburg, which I’ve visited a couple of times. The questions started popping up as soon as Officer Terrance heard Luke’s report of his missing wife. When every avenue of research leads to a dead end, Terrance is stymied. How could someone kidnap a woman and leave absolutely no evidence?

I won’t spoil it for you, but I was impressed with the dedication of this fictional policeman to find answers and hope it’s typical of most detectives. The author did a great job of keeping me engaged in the action all the way through.

[Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is one of the best I've listened to for a while. The story is riveting; the characters are warm and friendly and supportive of Luke and Julie in every way. It was interesting to watch Officer Cooper as his story progressed. And the best thing of all it was written with no crude language or inappropriate content. I would gladly recommend this book to anyone who likes a good, clean mystery--including my teen granddaughter. I can't think of anything I didn't like about this book!

I requested this audiobook from Audiobooks Unleashed and have voluntarily left this review.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a Christian mystery. Although I didn't mind a "clean" mystery, Christian stories like this just aren't my preference. All the prayers and sermons just aren't my style of reading. The plot was simple, as was the ending. Since it was obvious what happened to Julie, some of the mystery was gone. Basic and simple story.

[Ellen White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Young couple she leaves for work but doesn’t return home. One questions why, is it the past that one had hidden or couln’t except. A good mystery to wonder who or why with good narration. Given Audio for my voluntary review

[Lari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. Captivating

[Gayle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely love this book. It is my favorite that she has written.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good police procedural. Really enjoyed the main character, Officer Terrence. Heavily Christian forward.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

GREAT BOOK! I loved how well written it was and the suspense throughout the book, even after we found out who was the prime suspect.

[ChrissiesPurpleLibrary · Rating 3 out of 5]

"When your world is falling apart , when it's hard to trust, and faith is maintained, that's how we know if we truly trust God."

The clock was ticking and Julie vanished in the middle of a normal day. What secrets did she hide and were they worth keeping from her newly wedded husband? Overall, I appreciated the faith elements and themes within this story. Tracy's Wainwright conveyed a much needed story for those who have overcome great tragedy and trauma. The mystery was introspective and the relationship dynamics conveyed realism and trust. Although I am not a romance reader, I would classify this as romantic suspense. Albeit there were some highly emotional and intense scenes. I think a lot readers will enjoy this type of story. Although I would have enjoyed more of a winter setting, I loved that this story was set in the surrounding Coastal Virginia / Williamsburg area. It was fun to recognize different landmarks on page.

TW/CW: domestic abuse violence, kidnapping, grief

[Cheri Swalwell]

In an Instant by Tracy Wainwright was a great book. I loved the character depth, the thriller aspect of a Christian fiction novel and the way it kept me hooked. I picked it up because of the theme on the back and kept reading because of the plot and the way it drew me in. She is a new author to me and it won’t be the last of her books that I will read. I look forward to more.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by the author. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.

[Vickie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book that starts with a kidnapping of a young wife and daughter. In an instant, she disappears from the life of everyone who loves her. If not for the courage and persistence of veteran detective Terrence Cooper, then Julie Montgomery might not live. The Christian faith of all of the main characters is a source of strength for each of them and a major part of the story. I enjoyed seeing how Luke Montgomery matured during the course of the novel. I also really liked Detective Cooper because he was a real thinker who knew who his source of strength was. I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy Christian fiction with a lot of suspense.

Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I own a copy of this book on my IBooks App. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own.

[Cat Brennan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Faith in God's Love

I've known Tracy for a few years and as an aspiring writer, I've learned so much from her. This story is so very real...it is NOT a fairy tale, but an honest story about real people, living real lives, and walking out their faith when the EVIL one presents harsh challenges. This story blessed me and I encourage you to read it.

[Clare Revell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. One of those stories that keeps you reading far later than you ought because you really need to know what happens next. Then wakes you early wondering how they are doing. With plenty of twists that I didn't see coming, this book is not to be missed.