The Avenger has struck again! Once again, a woman had been murdered and in the blunt words of the police officer calling, he affirms it is the same M.O. as had been used in the previous killing. Homicide Detective Troy Evans of the Columbus Police immediately knows this modus operandi - the woman had been killed, then her body is arranged in a cross like position with a Bible left on her chest. Why is this happening? What is the significance?

As news of the "Bible Butcher" makes the headlines, Lead Detective Troy Evans is under heavy pressure to find the killer before another woman gets hurt and killed. He has set his sights on the pompous Reverend Eric Freeman of the unusual Tabernacle of Jesus Church as being the murderer, but even he can see that the profile is just not fitting for him. Is the profile right or not?

Meanwhile, Troy's beloved wife Natalie, normally very understanding of the demands of his job is getting a little testy as she has to pick up more of the demands on the home front, especially in caring for Nate, their almost three year old son. How much more of this can she take?

After the successful publication of her first three novels, Yolonda Tonette Sanders has launched WAGES OF SIN as the first mystery in her new Protective Detective Series. Sanders has a very easy to read style that quickly pulls you into the plot and then captives your attention with a fast moving and exciting storyline peppered with clues that lead to a surprising ending.

One of Sanders' talents is her character development. With a quick sketching, each character, both main and secondary, is easily visualized and springs to life. Sanders is also very effective in describing the tensions between people as Troy works with his team and interviews people in the search for the serial killer. The work situation is offset by the issues on the home front and one can quickly get caught up in the juggling act that both Troy and Natalie do to support each other; yet, at the same time, nicely mirrors how misunderstandings and small resentments can arise.

The story highlights the truth that in relationships, people tend to remember anger and pain from hurtful and negative incidents with a far stronger intensity that the joy and thankfulness gained from love and kindnesses. The story also gives a strong message of how love can be eroded and the power of hope and forgiveness. Issues of faith and belief in God are a key focus in the novel and Biblical verses are frequently quoted throughout the story as well as being reflected in the title. WAGES OF SIN is a promising start to this new series and I look forward to the next mystery! Fans who like police procedural and mystery books are sure to find WAGES OF SIN a very satisfying read!

Book Summary

In the first novel in a juicy and thrilling mystery series, homicide detective Troy Evans desperately hunts down a serial killer.

Troy Evans believes in God, but he’s seen enough evil on his job to shake his faith. Nonetheless, his loyalty to his family never wavers, and he would do anything to protect them—one of the reasons he is a workaholic.

Natalie loves her family, but she’s becoming increasingly frustrated with Troy’s job. His schedule is often hectic and unpredictable, and she’s also helping her best friend deal with some serious issues— and struggling to come clean about a secret she’s hiding from Troy.

While Natalie deals with her issues, Troy spends the majority of his time searching for a serial killer who abducted and murdered several women without rhyme or reason. Desperate to stop the murderer before more women die, he works diligently, but the killer always seems to be one step ahead of him. Then Troy comes to the awful realization that he and the killer have something in common—something that instantly sets him on a mission to end the terror…or die trying.