Book Review: The Counselor by Curtis Taylor

Book Description:

Travis Call, a financial counselor and a counselor in a bishopric, faces life in prison when his wife’s body is found in a shallow grave. He pleads his innocence, but many don’t believe him. With his best friend, Ross Keller, he begins the search for the real killer, only to find that true evil may be closer than he suspects. The Counselor establishes a new series in Latter-Day Saint fiction.

Andrea's Review:

It's been awhile since I've read a mystery, and I welcomed the change in genre. This is my first book by Curtis Taylor (that I know of), and it was an enjoyable read. The length was a little daunting, but it didn't take long to get sucked into the story. 

I really liked the main character. He was quite vulnerable, and not just because he was a suspect in his wife's murder. A single father trying to raise three-year-old twins definitely has his hands full (even with lots of help and support from the live in nanny). He also suffered from a debilitating illness that caused him many issues. But, with all his ups and downs the reader was shown over and over again that Travis Call had a good heart, and wanted to see justice done.

I was kept guessing for quite a bit of the story-I really do enjoy when a mystery keeps me guessing. I would gladly read the second book in this series.

Rorie's Review:

This story doesn't gradually ease into the heavy stuff, it throws it at you right at the very beginning. There are still a ton of questions, most of which aren't answered until the climax at the end of the book, but the author definitely keeps you guessing throughout. I did actually figure out who did it probably about halfway through the story, but with every new revelation, I would doubt my choice for awhile. 

I could have done without the very visual description given each time Travis puked though. That was a visual a really didn't need in my head. 

This story is kind of long, coming in right at 400 pages, but because it was so captivating, I was able to finish it in just a few days. This is my first time reading something from this author, but it won't be my last.

More About Aspen Books: 

Over its illustrious history, Aspen Books and its sister company, Gold Leaf Press, have published over 100 authors, including Pulitzer-prize winner Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, and New York Times best-selling authors Orson Scott Card and Betty J. Eadie. It has sold millions of copies in nearly 40 languages. Now, after a decade of dormancy, the celebrated publisher of such well-known bestsellers as “Embraced by the Light,” “The Burning Within,” and “The Touch of the Master’s Hand,” has been reconstituted and is publishing new works.

Aspen Books is being relaunched by Curtis Taylor, one of the original founders. The imprint is committed to publishing works from new and well-known authors for the general market as well as titles specifically for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Since its relaunch, Aspen Books has published three new works: “The Counselor” and “A Grand Conspiracy” both by #1 New York Times best-selling author, Curtis Taylor, and the popular family game, Missionary: Impossible.

Title: The Counselor

Author: Curtis Tyalor

Publisher: Aspen Books

Published: October 2020

ISBN: 1952669014

Source: We received copies from the publisher. All opinions expressed are our own.  

Purchase: Amazon (aff)