No Coincidence in These Hills

Murder in the Appalachians

Written by Susan Furlong

Published by Love Inspired Suspense | Harlequin

Release Date: 04.01.25

Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

5 Stars!

Reading this felt like running barefoot through the mountains with danger on your heels and prayer on your lips. My heart was in my throat half the time, and the other half I was whispering, “Lord, be near.”

From the opening chapter, I could feel the danger pressing in like fog through the holler. There’s something about suspense set in the mountains that feels closer. The silence is louder. The shadows are longer. And the lies? They settle like dust on everything.

But what carried more weight than the fear was the quiet truth beneath it all—not found in a clue or a chase, but whispered to the soul by the One who sees the whole path.

This quote: “You don’t think it was just a coincidence – do ya? – that Logan happened to be at that very spot, in the middle of the woods … inches from where you were laying, hurt and afraid? … God put him there at that moment for a reason.” Love that! Because I’ve lived that over and over again. Not the bullets or the chase, but the moments where you realize: That was the Lord. Somehow, Susan Furlong managed to bottle that exact kind of holy moment and plant it in the middle of a life-or-death storyline. That’s rare and wonderful!

Logan? He’s not flashy. He’s not polished. He’s real. He’s steady. And when he thought: “His father had taught him not to worry about what others thought, only what God thought,” That’s not the kind of truth you forget—it’s the kind that follows you into real life.

I love a good mystery. I love heart-pounding suspense. But what I treasure is when those things are anchored in God’s presence. And this story? It never let me forget Who was in control—even when the ground felt shaky beneath their feet.

Murder in the Appalachians reminded me that no matter how dangerous the path, God goes before you, walks with you, and never leaves you behind.

This book had pulse-pounding moments and it also had prayer-soaked ones. And that balance? That’s what made it unforgettable..

I received a digital ARC of this book from the publisher, Harlequin – Love Inspired Suspense, and Net Galley. I am not required to write a positive review nor paid to do so. This is my honest and unbiased review. My thoughts and opinions expressed in this book review are my own. My review focuses on the writing and story’s content, ensuring transparency and reliability.