What does the Bible really say about women serving in positions of leadership in the church? It’s one of the church’s most debated and divisive topics. Many Christians read Scripture in light of preconceived conclusions, rather than engaging in a patient and thorough study of what the Bible actually says.
From Genesis to Junia offers something rare: an honest journey through Scripture that begins with questions rather than answers. With theological rigor and a pastor’s heart, Preston Sprinkle opens the Bible with fresh eyes and invites us along as he examines key passages from Genesis to Revelation―weighing historical context, interacting with a variety of scholarly perspectives, and holding familiar views up to Scripture. This informative and spiritually profound book provides:
A respectful challenge to both complementarian and egalitarian assumptions
Insightful analysis of texts such as 1 Corinthians 11, Romans 16, and 1 Timothy 2
A model for navigating controversial topics in the church
This open-hearted approach to a complex issue offers a healthy example for dialoguing about tough theological questions. Readers will walk away not with superficial answers but with biblical confidence, deeper understanding, and a gracious posture for engaging with others.
My Review:
Sprinkle
took years to do an in depth and comprehensive study on what the
Bible says about women and their place in the church. He lays out his
extensive studies on the major passages, starting at Genesis. He goes
into detail on critical passages, looking at the original languages
and what other scholars have written. I like his exploration of what
a leader is like and how one acts according to Jesus. I like his
complete examination of Phoebe and what it means if she was, in fact,
the carrier of Paul's letter, something most scholars agree on.
Some
of his work may get a little scholarly but he tells readers at the
end how he pared down this work to make it as accessible as possible
to the general Christian reader. I think he has done an amazing job.
I highly recommend this book. And no, I am not going to tell you his
conclusion because I want you read the book and find out for yourself.
My
rating: 5/5 stars.
About the Author:
Preston Sprinkle (PhD) is a biblical scholar, international speaker, podcaster, and New York Times–bestselling author who’s written over a dozen books including Exiles, Does the Bible Support Same-Sex Marriage? and From Genesis to Junia: An Honest Search for What the Bible Really Says About Women in Leadership. Preston currently serves as the president of the Center for Faith, Sexuality & Gender. He’s also the president of Theology in the Raw ministries, which includes the popular Theology in the Raw podcast and the annual Exiles in Babylon conference.
David C Cook, 304 pages.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.
(My
star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it,
1-I hate it.)
Genre: Christian Living / Self-Help / Faith-Based Healing
Release Date: September 15, 2025
When life hits hard, you have two choices: stay stuck in the pain or learn how to reframe it. The Power of the Reframe is a healing guide for women who are ready to release the weight of the past, renew their minds, and step into a new future with God at the center. Blending biblical truth, real-life wisdom, and practical exercises, this book helps you: Recognize the patterns holding you back. Reframe your story through God’s Word and affirmations. Rebuild a new perspective rooted in faith, ownership, and hope. This is not about ignoring your pain—it’s about transforming it into purpose. With journal prompts, heart-check exercises, and encouragement for every step of the healing journey, The Power of the Reframe shows you how to take your broken pieces and build something whole.
Bundy
helps us know how to change our perspective. We can choose to see
differently. “You can't rewrite history. But you can rewire how you
carry it.” (19) She helps us see the role of Scripture. We are
encouraged to check the condition of our heart. She also writes about
releasing guilt, renewing our mind, choosing joy, and experiencing
grief.
This
book is not a fix. It is a foundation for the work we need to do and
includes much wisdom. Bundy gives lots of bullet point like
information, trusting we will then do the work suggested. An
accompanying workbook and healing journal provide the questions and
space to do that work.
My
rating: 4/5 stars.
About the Author
J.J. Bundy (Jasmine Shegog) is the founder of The Reframe Collective, LLC, a healing-centered brand that equips women and children to break cycles, renew their minds, and build generational wholeness. A mother, writer, and former teacher, Jasmine draws on her own journey through grief, emotional healing, and faith to create resources that make complex emotional and spiritual truths simple and life-changing. Through books, workbooks, and retreats, she helps others reframe their pain into purpose. She also writes children’s books under the pen name J.J. Shegog.
More from J.J.
The Power of the Reframe because I know what it feels like to be stuck in the weight of your past, unsure how to move forward. For years, I wrestled with grief, emotional pain, and cycles I couldn’t seem to break. But through God’s Word and the practice of reframing, I discovered that the same moments that once felt like breaking points could actually become turning points.
This book is my heart on paper—a guide for anyone ready to renew their mind, take ownership of their healing, and step into God’s purpose with freedom. It’s filled with encouragement, biblical truth, and practical exercises that will help you not just survive what you’ve walked through, but actually be transformed by it.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review. The rest of the copy of this post was provided by Celebrate Lit.
(My
star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it,
1-I hate it.)
It’s the night of November 4, 2008. America’s first Black president has just been elected. And fifty-three-year-old Hollis Montrose—a Black ex–police officer from the suburbs of Chicago—has become the latest victim of a brutal attack. As the result of a traffic stop gone wrong, Hollis is shot ten times in cold blood, by four white men who could have been his colleagues back in his police days.
Beau Lee Cooper was born serious, as if on an urgent mission with little time to waste. Raised in the tumultuous world of 1970s Texas, he always dreamed of becoming a lawyer and fighting for what’s right, ever since he was a little boy reading To Kill a Mockingbird. And now, ten years into running his own law firm with his best friend and partner in crime, Nelson “Nellie” Rivers, and his suave right-hand-man, Brent “Cape” Capers, he feels he’s finally making a difference. When Beau Lee learns about Hollis’s situation, he’s determined to help.
Miraculously, Hollis survives the encounter, but the Chicago police department has already spun the narrative in its favor, and Hollis is given a wrongful prison sentence with an unreasonable bail. What really happened that night the car was pulled over? Was it random or was Hollis targeted? Beau Lee knows he’s treading in dangerous waters, and finding evidence of the truth will be his biggest challenge yet, but with troubling powers at play, one innocent man’s life hangs in the balance.
My Review:
Crump
uses fiction to help readers like me experience a world I know
nothing about. While this is a good legal thriller, it also shows the
injustice some experience. It was eye opening for this reader. I
trust Crump's novel is a fair representation of something I know
nothing about. It is emotion packed and well written but may have
trigger situations for some readers.
The Company named it Operation Ajax. MI6 labeled it Boot. History would call it a coup.
Walker calls it the beginning of the end.
1953. The Company is orchestrating the overthrow of Iran’s elected leader—an operation cloaked in propaganda and alliances. In Rome, Walker is stationed with Leslie, former M16 and now Company agent, and tasked to coordinate efforts between the US and UK. But when resources on the ground become a liability, Walker is forced to make a difficult decision—one that threatens to unravel what’s left of his conscience.
As the coup’s first attempt crumbles and Washington grows desperate, old loyalties shift. Allen Dulles wants results. Kim Roosevelt wants glory. Darbyshire feels left out. And Walker begins to suspect he’s not there to help win the Cold War, but to prove he can stomach it.
From Missouri to Rome to the Catskills to Tehran, EYES TO DECEIT explores postwar American idealism—and the spies who find themselves too loyal, too late, to walk away clean.
"A remarkable, fly-on-the-wall story of Cold War realpolitik, Gabriel Valjan’s EYES TO DECEIT careens from Rockefeller Center to a Catskill resort to Rome and Tehran, giving readers a front-row seat to the plotting of the 1953 CIA and MI6 overthrow of the Iranian government. With noteworthy cameos from the famous, the powerful, and the ruthless, EYES TO DECEIT is intelligent, high-stakes intrigue at its best." ~ James W. Ziskin, Author of the Anthony, Barry, and Macavity award-winning Ellie Stone mysteries
"The burdens of history and secrecy weigh heavily, gracing this excellent historical espionage novel with a gritty, nuanced, and ominous sensibility where betrayal is always possible. Even that of your own soul." ~ James R. Benn, author of the Billy Boyle WWII mystery series
My Review:
Valjan
takes readers to the post WW II time of national instability for Iran
and the efforts of US diplomats and agents to manipulate the future
of that country. Many of the characters in this novel are historical
figures and we learn some about their character and personal lives.
We are aware of the decisions needed to be made and the moral
struggles some experienced.
Valjan
is concise in his writing style. Dialogue and action move right along
and there were times I would have liked a little more background
information, filling in the details to understand what was going on.
Readers who like literary works will enjoy this one.
My
rating: 4/5 stars.
You can read my review of a previous book in this series, The Naming Game.
Book Details:
Genre: Literary Noir, Historical Fiction, Classic Spy Fiction Published by: Level Best Books Publication Date: November 4, 2025 Number of Pages: 212 pages, Paperback ISBN: 9798898200510, Paperback Series:The Company Files, Book 4 Book Links:Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads
Tania moved fast, her shoes clicked sharply on the floor. She fished a five-dollar bill from her clutch and approached a housekeeper in the hallway.
“A roll of toilet paper, and in a discreet bag, please.”
The woman hesitated, but Tania’s eyes were steady, unblinking. She slid the bill into the woman’s shoulder strap with practiced ease.
“Take it,” Tania said softly. “In case someone accuses you of theft.”
The woman nodded.
Ruth led the way. Tania followed, her mind already ahead, calculating the next move. In the bathroom, she locked the door and leaned against the wall. She heard Judith’s groans.
“It’s me, Judy.”
“Tania?” Her voice was barely a whisper.
The air was thick with sweat and nausea, sharp like unchanged hospital linens. Tania handed Ruth the roll of paper and a small perfume atomizer.
“Tell her it’s from London. She’ll like it.”
Ruth nodded and slipped into the stall.
Tania stepped back into the hallway, then stopped. A girl sick and humiliated in a stall behind her. She caught her reflection in a wall sconce—lipstick fine, hair in place, eyes clear.
Decide now.
This wasn’t strategy. She wasn’t gaining leverage. And still, her feet moved.
When she returned, Judith was pale, shaken, but upright. Tania offered her the drink.
“Peppermint helps nausea,” she said.
Judith studied her. “I don’t know what kind of game you’re playing.”
“There’s no game,” Tania said. “You have to believe me.”
Judith hesitated. “You and your uncle seem awfully interested in my father.”
Tania unwrapped a mint. “It’s a secret,” she said. “Just not the kind you think.”
She leaned in. “The government wants something your father owns or controls. Sheldon’s the go-between.”
Judith stared at her. “That sounds shady.”
“It might be.”
Judith exhaled. “They spiked my drink. Esther and those girls. Laxatives.”
Tania nodded. “Brutal.”
Silence settled between them.
Tania met her eyes.
“Want revenge?”
Judith smiled.
And didn’t say no.
***
Excerpt from Eyes to Deceit: The Company Files by Gabriel Valjan. Copyright 2025 by Gabriel Valjan. Reproduced with permission from Gabriel Valjan. All rights reserved.
Author Bio:
Gabriel Valjan is the author of The Company Files, and the Shane Cleary Mysteries with Level Best Books. He has been nominated for the Agatha, Anthony, Derringer, and Silver Falchion awards. He received the 2021 Macavity Award for Best Short Story, and the Shamus Award for Best PI in 2023. Gabriel is a member of the Historical Novel Society, ITW, MWA, and Sisters in Crime. He lives in Boston and answers to a tuxedo cat named Munchkin.
June, 1960. Rough weather at sea leaves a group of strangers stranded on the idyllic Greek island of Utakos, all guests of the only local hotel. Nothing could prepare them for what happens next: Edith Mander, a quiet British tourist, is found dead inside a beach cabana. What appears at first glance to be a clear suicide reveals possible signs of foul play to Ormond Basil, an out-of-work but still well-known actor who in his glory days portrayed the most celebrated detective of all time. Accustomed to seeing him display Sherlock Holmes’ amazing powers of deduction on the big screen, the other guests believe that the actor is the best equipped to uncover the truth.
But when a second body is discovered, there is not a doubt in Basil’s mind: a murderer walks among them. What’s more, the killer is staging each crime as a performance, leaving complex clues that bear an eerie resemblance to those found in the pages of Conan Doyle stories. This is a criminal who knows every trick in the book and is playing a deadly literary game. As the storm rages, Basil must become the genius detective he has only pretended to be.
I
grew up reading Agatha Christie and I liked the similar style of plot
and writing for this book. A locked room mystery is always fun and
there are two to solve here. And then there is another murder. Place
all of the people, suspects, victims and investigator on the same
isolated island and you have a kind of double salute to Agatha
Christie. The idea of a Holmes actor being tasked with solving the
mysteries is fun. We get to see how much he has learned from studying
for and then playing the part. Those who are familiar with the books
and movies featuring Holmes will appreciate all the references to
them here. Unfortunately, the denouement revealed many facts readers
had no way of knowing, precluding solving the mystery.
Being
a translation, I felt it read very well. I don't know if that shows
the skill of the author or the translator. This is an enjoyable
mystery for readers who like ones set in an interesting literary
historical time.
The Bible is a story of divine love, full of mercy, justice, and grace.
In The Book of Love, acclaimed author and psychologist Richard Beck offers a bold and compassionate reimagining of how we read the Bible. Drawing from personal experience, theological insight, and psychological depth, Beck challenges the fear-based, legalistic interpretations that have long dominated many Christian traditions. Instead, he invites us to approach Scripture through the lens of love--God's love for humanity and our call to love one another.
The book journeys from Beck's own faith journey to a sweeping exploration of the Hebrew Scriptures, the Gospels, and the writings of the early church. Along the way, Beck addresses pressing questions about biblical violence, human dignity, suffering, and salvation. He weaves together stories of historical figures like Dorothy Day and Maximilian Kolbe with theological reflections on figures such as Augustine and George MacDonald, all while grounding his insights in the radical teachings of Jesus.
The Bible is not a rulebook or a weapon, but a story of divine love that calls us to mercy, justice, and grace. The Book of Love is both a critique of harmful religious interpretations and a hopeful vision for a more loving, inclusive, and transformative faith.
My Review:
How
Christians know God's character is from the Bible. Beck suggests we
allow the Bible to unsettle and challenge us rather than confirm what
we already believe. He wants us to see the Bible as a book of love.
We need to have a secure attachment with God, believing he loves us
no matter what. To read the Bible well, “We have no theological or
doctrinal right to set limits on the loving-kindness of God.” (loc
1081/3345) We are to follow Jesus' example, “Choose mercy over
sacrifice.” (loc 1639/3345) We choose love over the letter of the
law. We see Revelation as psychological encouragement for early
Christians rather than a blueprint for end times.
Beck
is honest about the “unloving” parts of the Bible. While he by no
means answers all of my questions, he has certainly given me lots of
food for thought. This would be an interesting book to discuss in a
reading group or Bible class.
This book releases May 19, 2026. My rating: 4/5 stars.
About the Author:
Richard Beck (PhD) is an award-winning author, speaker, and blogger. Richard is Professor of Psychology and the Senior Fellow of the Saunders Center of Joy and Flourishing at Abilene Christian University.
Broadleaf Books, 270 pages.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.
(My
star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it,
1-I hate it.)
Caroline Fraser grew up in the shadow of Ted Bundy, the most notorious serial murderer of women in American history, surrounded by his hunting grounds and mountain body dumps, in the brooding landscape of the Pacific Northwest. But in the 1970s and ’80s, Bundy was just one perpetrator amid an uncanny explosion of serial rape and murder across the region. Why so many? Why so weirdly and nightmarishly gruesome? Why the senseless rise and then sudden fall of an epidemic of serial killing?
As Murderland indelibly maps the lives and careers of Bundy and his infamous peers in mayhem—the Green River Killer, the I-5 Killer, the Night Stalker, the Hillside Strangler, even Charles Manson—Fraser’s Northwestern death trip begins to uncover a deeper mystery and an overlapping pattern of environmental destruction. At ground zero in Ted Bundy’s Tacoma stood one of the most poisonous lead, copper, and arsenic smelters in the world, but it was hardly unique in the West. As Fraser’s investigation inexorably proceeds, evidence mounts that the plumes of these smelters not only sickened and blighted millions of lives but also warped young minds, including some who grew up to become serial killers.
A propulsive nonfiction thriller, Murderland transcends true-crime voyeurism and noir mythology, taking readers on a profound quest into the dark heart of the real American berserk.
My Review:
This
book is true crime on steroids. A native and lifelong resident in the
Pacific Northwest, this book interested me but I had no idea of its
breadth. So many serial murderers, so many gruesome deaths. This book
is not for the weak of heart nor sensitive conscience. The primary
interest, however, is Fraser's theory for the large number of serial
murderers during the time she covers. She sprinkles in other deaths,
such as from the initial design of the floating bridge connecting
Mercer Island to Seattle. She also adds some personal information
from time to time. Fraser's writing style is such that I found this a
compelling read, even though the subject covered is so gruesome.
About the Author:
Caroline Fraser is the author of the Pulitzer-Prize winning biography, "Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder", which also won a National Book Critics Circle award for biography, a Heartland Prize from the Chicago Tribune, and BIO's Plutarch Award. Her first book, "God's Perfect Child: Living and Dying in the Christian Science Church," is now available in a 20th-Anniversary Edition with a new afterword. God's Perfect Child was selected as a New York Times Book Review Notable Book and a Los Angeles Times Book Review Best Book. Her work has appeared in The Guardian, The New Yorker, The Atlantic Monthly, The New York Review of Books, and Outside magazine, among others. She lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Julie Walker thought she knew her life: three teenagers, a husband, and her job at the Ottawa library. But when a stranger confronts her with a shocking claim about her late father, everything she believed about her family is thrown into question.
At first she struggles to know what to believe. But once the truth is revealed, a series of unsettling incidents escalate into real danger: her family has become the target of someone with resources she cannot match and few limits to what they might do. Drawn into a web of menace and betrayal, and uncertain who to trust, Julie must find the strength to confront an enemy she doesn’t fully understand.
Layered with dread and emotion, THAT OTHER FAMILY is a domestic thriller about fractured loyalties and one mother’s fight to keep her family safe.
Praise for That Other Family:
"Lis Angus has written a nail-biting cat-and-mouse crime thriller that has you suspecting everyone, trusting no one, and rooting for a woman desperately trying to protect her family from the sinister consequences of long-buried secrets. You won’t put it down until you’ve made it through the heart-pounding finale." ~ Katie Tallo, international bestselling author of Dark August (Gus Monet mystery trilogy)
"Lis Angus provides a tale of secrets, betrayal, and sharply drawn characters that had me gasping at the final twist. A great, fast-paced mystery." ~ Amy Tector, author of the Dominion Archives Mysteries
"Taut and riveting from the first page, this is a domestic thriller with real emotional stakes. What begins as a shocking family revelation becomes a harrowing fight for survival. With its layered characters and relentless tension, That Other Family will hold you in its grip to the very end. This is a great second novel from author Lis Angus. Those who liked her first book, Not Your Child, will love That Other Family." ~ Mike Martin, award-winning author of the Sgt. Windflower Mystery series
"From Lis Angus, author of the gripping and fast-paced debut, Not Your Child, comes her eagerly anticipated second novel. That Other Family is another page turner, a story of betrayal and buried secrets — and a mother who will risk everything to protect her family." ~ J. Woollcott, Daphne du Maurier award-winning author of A Nice Place to Die and Blood Relations
"Lis Angus weaves another thrilling tale of family deception that crosses borders, wrecks lives, and calls to mind the question of what it truly means to be a family. That Other Family is tightly paced and intriguing until it's exciting end!" ~ Michelle Hillen Klump, author of A Dash of Death and Murder Served Neat
That Other Family Trailer:
My Review:
The
first half of the novel is a slow build. About half way through the
threat materializes and the psychological suspense increases. There is a
good red herring that leads to a twist and suspense near the end.
I
was a little unsure about the plot, one man having two families, but
Angus made it reasonable and deftly had it lead to suspense. The
villain was not entirely a surprise but leading up to the final
reveal was good. I really liked Julie's twins and how they
thoughtfully helped their mother when she was in danger.
This
is a good mystery for readers who like an unusual plot, likable
characters and a suspenseful resolution at the end.
The woman slid three photos to me across the table, her manicured nails immaculate. “I know you don’t want to believe me. But you need to look at these.”
I was already on my feet, having told her—Frances Boyle, she said her name was—that we had nothing further to discuss. She had no business coming to me with this preposterous story, and certainly not here at the library where I worked. Her manner suggested she wasn’t used to people saying “no” to her, but I wanted her gone.
Yet I couldn’t help glancing at the faded snapshots she’d spread in front of me. All showed the same grouping: a couple, seemingly in their forties, and two teenagers, a boy and a girl.
“That’s my family,” she said, a rasp deepening her voice. “My parents with my brother and me. That was the year before Papa died.”
Against my will, my eyes were drawn to the man in the photos. “Papa,” she’d called him. He sure looked like Dad. My memories of him were vivid, though I was only eight when he died. That dark hair, cut short, with a white streak just off-center. Neat ears, firm chin, and warm smile. And those pointed eyebrows: unmistakable.
But I’d never seen the other people in those photos before.
Heat flared at the back of my neck, and the walls of the small meeting room felt like they were closing in on me. I shook my head, trying to clear it. I wished I’d thought to bring a bottle of water in with me.
Frances leaned forward, the gold chain around her neck glinting as she moved. “From your reaction, Julie, I’d say you recognize him.” Her gaze intensified. “Now do you believe me? Our father had two wives, two families. Yours and mine.”
This couldn’t be true. I gripped the edge of the table and took a deep breath, fighting to get my emotions under control. Who was this woman and what was her game? Inspecting her more closely, I guessed she was in her late forties, a little older than me. Well-groomed. Stocky but not fat. Wearing cropped pants and a short-sleeved silk blouse, a good choice for the hot weather we were having. Her clothes looked expensive, more Nieman Marcus than Walmart.
“Can you show me some ID?” I demanded. Maybe I should have asked for that earlier.
She smiled coolly and reached into her leather bag, pulling out a passport. The photo was definitely her, but with shorter hair. Her name: Frances Louisa Boyle. Date of birth: 1975.
“Wait a minute. Boyle?”
“That was Papa’s name—James Boyle.”
The tightness in my shoulders loosened. “So. That’s not my dad.”
“When he married your mom, he used the name James MacMillan.”
That was Dad’s name—but this was ridiculous. She was claiming not just that he’d had two families, but two names.
She sat back abruptly. “I can see you’re having trouble accepting it,” she said. “I understand. It’s hard to take in.” Her expression hardened. “I only found out after Mama died in February and I was going through her papers. I found some old letters tucked away, referring to his other family.” She raised her eyes to mine again. “Your family.” After a moment, she added, “I have a couple of the letters with me, if you want to see them. They’re in my safe at the hotel.”
My mouth tasted of something bitter, metallic. “What are you after?”
She clasped her hands together. “I had a private investigator locate your mother, your family. I came here to find out more.” Her gaze swept over me. “I thought it was best to come to you first, to see if you knew about it. Before I approach your mother.”
“You can’t be thinking of disturbing my mother with this!”
“I’m sorry, but that’s why I’m here. To find out what she knew, or knows, about what happened.”
If Frances confronted Mom with this story, it would devastate her. “Give me some time to think about this first.” There must be some way to check this woman’s claim. “Can I have copies of those photos?”
She pushed them toward me. “Those are for you.” She rose and pulled a card from her purse. “I realize you may need a bit of time to get used to the idea. Here’s my cell number. When you’re ready, give me a call.” She dropped the card on the table. “But don’t take too long. I can play tourist here in Ottawa for a couple of days, but then I’ll need to talk to your mother.” She straightened her shoulders and left.
I watched her cross the library’s open lobby, passing Tony at the info desk, heading toward the main entrance. I paced back and forth in the hallway, fuming. What she was claiming couldn’t be true.
But a coldness was rising in my stomach. Could Dad really have done this to Mom? To us?
#
Returning to my office, I closed the door and collapsed into my chair, my stomach churning. I dropped my head back against the headrest and stared blankly at the ceiling. Frances’s story kept echoing through my mind. It had to be nonsense…except for those photos. That guy did look like Dad.
When she asked for me by name at the front desk, I had hoped the interruption would be short. I hadn’t anticipated how shaken our conversation would leave me.
I needed to get back to work; I had to post next month's staff schedule soon. But after staring at my computer screen for a few minutes, I picked up my phone to call Caroline.
She and I had been friends since our university days in Toronto. I was studying library science and she was a psychology grad student. We met when we both moved into a shared student house near campus and clicked from the beginning. We’d stayed close friends ever since.
I came back to Ottawa after graduating. When she moved to Ottawa as well, joining the psychology staff at the Royal, our friendship grew. She had become my rock, the person I turned to first for advice.
“Do you have a few minutes?” I asked.
“I do. What’s up?”
I quickly recapped my meeting with Frances and the story she’d told.
“That’s quite the tale.” Caroline’s voice deepened. “But you don’t think it’s true?”
“I’m not sure.” I wanted to say no. But those photos had left me with doubts.
“Have you told Matt?”
My husband. “No. I haven’t had a chance.” I wasn’t even sure I wanted to tell him.
“Or your mom?”
My jaw clenched. “If Dad had another family, if he deceived Mom, I don’t see any need for her to know about it after all these years. She’d be heartsick.”
“But you say Frances wants to talk to your mom. How can you prevent that?”
“Maybe I can’t. But I wish I could find out first…”
“If it’s true?”
“Yeah.”
“There’s a foolproof way to check. A DNA comparison.”
Trust Caroline to have a scientific suggestion. “Yeah. But I don’t know if Frances would agree to be tested.”
“Why wouldn’t she? She’s the one who says you’re related.”
I sighed. “Testing takes time, and I don’t think Frances wants to wait.”
She paused. “Do you know about Ancestry.com?”
“…I’ve heard of it, but don’t really know—?”
“It’s a site where people upload their DNA, and check to see if they match with anyone. I keep hearing about people finding linkages there to relatives they didn’t know about.”
“So we could check that site to see if we’re related to Frances?”
A doubtful tone entered her voice. “Well, maybe not, if you’ve never sent in a sample. If you send one in now, it could take several weeks for results to show up. And you don’t even know whether anyone on Frances’ side has uploaded there. If not, there’d be nothing to match to.”
I grimaced, disappointed. “Doesn’t sound like DNA’s going to help us. In the short run, anyway.”
“Yeah, maybe not. So let’s look at this another way. Is Frances’ story plausible? Could that have happened?”
Frustrated tears were pressing behind my eyes. “I don’t think so. But I wish I remembered more about our family, how things were before Dad died. I was so young, and my memories are pretty thin.”
“How about your brother? Would he remember more?”
I sat up at the thought. “That’s a good idea.” Patrick was four years older than me, so his memories of our family life back then would be better than mine.
#
Calling Patrick was complicated by the fact that he lived in Canberra, where he moved when he married Melissa six years ago.
Checking my watch and doing a time conversion, I realized it was still the middle of the night in Australia. But if I called around 4 p.m. my time, it’d be 6 a.m. there. I didn’t know what shift he’d be working—he was a paramedic with the Capital Territory Ambulance Service. If he was on the day shift, he’d be up. I’d text to see if he was awake.
He replied with a yawning-face emoji, but I took that to mean I could call. He answered on the first ring, “Yeah.”
I cut our usual time-and-weather chitchat short. “Listen. A woman came to see me today with a weird story.” I blurted out Frances’ claim that Dad had had two families, ours and hers.
His reaction was immediate. “That’s ridiculous.”
Thank you. “I know, right? It’s just not possible.”
“Wait, let me put on some coffee.” A series of indistinct sounds came through the phone. Then he was back. “Tell me the whole thing. From the beginning.”
I ran through it all, starting with Frances showing up at the library, and ending with her dropping a card as she left.
“Ridiculous,” he repeated. He was silent for a moment. “You think it’s Dad in those photos?”
“I don’t know.” I breathed out. “It looks like him. But photos can be manipulated…”
“Can you send me copies?”
“Sure. Hold on. I’m sending them now.”
While he waited for the images to arrive, he asked, “Are you thinking it’s some kind of scam?”
“Well, what could she be after? It’s not like there’s any inheritance or anything…”
He gave a small cough. “What about Mom? Are you going to tell her?”
“No! Can you imagine her reaction?” I swallowed. “Even raising it…I don’t want to spoil her memories of Dad.”
“Hold on—the photos are coming through.”
***
Excerpt from That Other Family by Lis Angus. Copyright 2025 by Lis Angus. Reproduced with permission from Lis Angus. All rights reserved.
Author Bio:
Lis Angus is a Canadian suspense writer. Originally from Alberta, she has also lived in Germany and Toronto. Before turning to fiction, she worked with children and families in crisis, and later as a business writer, conference organizer, and policy advisor. Her debut novel, Not Your Child, was a finalist for the 2021 Daphne du Maurier Award and was published in 2022. That Other Family is her second novel. Lis is a member of Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers, Crime Writers of Canada, and Capital Crime Writers. She lives in a small town south of Ottawa with her husband.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Partners in Crime Book Tours. My comments are an independent and honest review. The rest of the copy of this post was provided by Partners in Crime Book Tours.
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