Whisper Creek by Allison Brennan

WHISPER CREEK by Allison Brennan (North of Nowhere) is a thriller whose relentless pace will keep readers enthralled. Set in rural Texas during a dangerous rainstorm, this novel relates the story of Ellie McKenna and her four children (high schoolers Jake and Avery, plus tween Lyla and eight-year-old Bobby) who are trying to hold onto the family farm after the recent death of Ellie’s husband, John. It is a daunting task made much more difficult by threats and sabotage from a corporate entity intent on taking over the farm. Mother Nature’s hailstorms and rain add even more obstacles like washed out or flooded roadways, disrupted communications, and power outages. Adding to Ellie’s worries are a heavily pregnant neighbor, her elderly grandmother, and a series of local robberies, one of which resulted in the serious wounding of a neighbor. Danger increases hourly as the storm continues and those criminals threaten both Ellie’s ranch and her family. This stand-alone mystery is full of twists and highly recommended for its action-packed adventure.