Rules of Murder ~ A Book Review

   I love mysteries, I love the 30's, and I love to play Clue. So, take a murder mystery, set it in the 30's, slap a cover on it that reminds me of Clue, and I am more than likely going to give it a go! "Rules of Murder" was worth the go, if I do say so myself.

The Pros:
   "Rules of Murder" is a fast-paced murder mystery set in the 1930's. When his mothers house party goes very wrong, it is up to Drew Farthering, best friend Nick Dennison, and Madeline Parker, his step-fathers spunky American niece, to solve this mystery.
   This book is perfectly paced, never too slow, never too fast, and with a comical twist on the old black and white mystery movies. The mystery itself, is sometimes predictable, but not at all boring. The romance is clean and very sweet, with a nice Christian element. And the whole book just had a great 1930's feel to it.

The Cons:
   It is after all a murder mystery, and it got to me in a couple of places with sweaty palms, shallow breathing, and I might have covered my eyes once or twice. (Yes, I know, it's a book...) Also, there was one particularly gory passage towards the end, which caused me to put the book down for the rest of the day. So, I would not suggest this book for those that are younger.

In Conclusion:
   This is an excellently written story for mystery lovers, with a sweet Christian theme woven throughout. I can fully recommend it as a fun read for a rainy day!

*I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest review.

Looking Up

 

    I can't believe how long it has been since my last, real post! Although, in my defense, the events since then have been quite unexpected (in a very good way), and mixed with going back to school and work, have put a bit of a strain on my time. However, I am having a beautiful snow (ice?) day today, and am enjoying all of this extra time to not only meditate on and pray over Scripture, but share about it too!

    I have also been seeking to start my scripture memorization back up in the last couple of weeks, and this morning the verse I was meditating on was Psalm 34:1- I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

    I read an excellent devotional on this verse a few days ago, and was challenged about the praise-or lack thereof- in my life. The question posed to my heart was "How can I praise God, if I don't truly know Him and how worthy he is of it?" Any praise that stems from my own efforts, will fall so very short of the praise that my Savior deserves.

   And then I wondered, "How can I know and praise Him, if my gaze is so intensely focused on myself and my shortcomings, that I cannot see His beauty and grace?"

   It was as I was praying about this, that God brought to mind some verses in Colossians that I would never have connected on my own.

If then you were raised with Christ, 

seek those things which are above, 

where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.

Set your mind on things above, 

not on things on the earth.

For you died, and you life is hidden with Christ

in God.

-Colossians 3:1-3

   

   I am dead... Me, myself, and my flesh, are all dead! My life is no longer about this world, and about my sin- although that is a struggle I will have until heaven- but it is now about 'things which are above'. I have been poking around the ashes of my old self for too long, hoping and waiting for life to spring from them, when the fact is, that Christ is now my life! And because Christ holds and hides my life, I must look to Him to truly and fully live! 

   There is so much to praise and thank Him for when I at last look up, that I feel a bit like repeating the Psalmist: His praise shall continually be in my mouth.