Book Review: You Don’t Know Me

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Title: You Don’t Know Me
Author: Susan May Warren
Publisher: Tyndale House
Date: September 2012
ISBN: 978-1414334844
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Reviewed by: Holly Wolfe

Grab your favorite quilt and a cup of Wild Moose Mocha and snuggle in for another excellent book in Susan May Warren’s charming fictional town of Deep Haven, Minnesota. You Don’t Know Me features Annalise Decker, a supermom and wife with a perfect life: Her husband is running for mayor, she makes cookies from scratch, attends the kids’ sporting events, and supports all the community activities. She lives an idyllic life in this quaint northern town on the edge of Lake Superior.

But it’s all a lie. An invention Annalise created twenty years ago when she entered the FBI’s witness security program, a necessity after testifying against Luis Garcia, a very dangerous criminal. Now he’s out of prison and bent on revenge. Frank, her placing agent, shows up to warn her that Garcia has vowed to destroy her family-the family that knows nothing about her past life as Deidre O’Reilly. Can she trust them with her secrets? Or does she need to run to keep them safe?

It’s a strong plot and Warren ups the tension at every turn. She’s a master at weaving the theme into every thread of the story. Can we believe in Grace? Can we really accept that God knows everything about us, all our embarrassing little secrets…and loves us anyway? Can we trust each other and trust that God will give us his best?

Warren uses a great blend of descriptors and sentences that rack up double duty, carrying the action and evoking intense emotion. Her word choices are exquisite, adding depth to the story in a seemingly effortless manner. It’s easy to know and love the characters, and Deep Haven feels like home. The secondary characters are quite charming and add a perfect touch. The romance between Annalise’s mother-in-law, Helen, and FBI agent Frank is poignant and amplifies the overall suspense.

Though this is the fifth Deep Haven novel by Susie May Warren, each one is easily read as a stand alone.

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