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Reviewed by Delene Vrey for Readers' Favorite
The Creation of Marla Adams: Just When You Thought It Was Safe by Patrick Hanford is a hardcore murder mystery. Someone in Hildebrandt, Texas is killing townsfolk. Each murder is as horrific as the last and the only tangible lead points to the new priest in town. Marla Adams is the daughter of the chief of police and is married to Crosby Adams, a fellow police officer. As Marla and her colleagues investigate the murders, everyone becomes a suspect. They range from her brother Logan, doing stakeouts late at night, to her husband who is fighting addiction and possibly hiding something much more serious. Even her father with his mental issues becomes a suspect to Marla as she is pushed into a place of authority she did not want. When a lead finally turns up and Marla has an idea of what is going on, family secrets are brought to light and she has to fight for her life against a murderer driven by greed and with evil in his heart.
The Creation of Marla Adams by Patrick Hanford is a gripping murder mystery. Hanford has a gift for telling a story that flows easily and you cannot stop reading. He describes the characters in such a colorful way that makes them seem authentic in their closeness and individual flaws. The plot is intricate and will keep you guessing to the end. Hanford successfully intertwines the symbolism of the church into the motivation of the murderer. Some of the relevant themes in this novel are the interaction of siblings and sibling rivalry, addiction and the dangers that it has, as well as mental illness. The title of the novel foreshadows the drama that Marla encounters, how she is broken by circumstances and a new Marla Adams is created.
