A Slow Burn: A Novel

Written by Mary E DeMuth

Narrated by Renee Raudman

Burying her grief, Emory Chance is determined to find her daughter Daisy’s murderer—a man she saw in a flicker of a vision. But when the investigation hits every dead end, her despair escalates. Not even the kindness of her persistent suitor Hixon can soften her heart towards the community of friends that long for her healing. And as the questions surrounding Daisy continue to mount, and Emory’s safety is shattered by the tattooed man’s dark pursuit, she can’t shake the sickening fear that her own choices contributed to Daisy’s disappearance. Will she ever experience the peace her heart longs for? A gripping suspense novel, A Slow Burn is about courageous love, the burden of regret, and the bonds that never break. It is about the beauty and pain of telling the truth and letting God take over. Most of all, it is about the strength of forgiveness and what remains when shame no longer has power. Mary DeMuth’s distinctive new voice in Christian fiction will keep readers enthralled as they ask soul-searching questions in this second book of the Defiance, Texas Trilogy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Release date: Oct 27, 2009
• ISBN: 9780310772958

Mary E DeMuth

Mary DeMuth is the author of several southern novels, including A Slow Burn, Life in Defiance, and the Christy award finalists, Watching the Tree Limbs and Daisy Chain.  She’s also written four parenting books and a memoir, Thin Places. She’s passionate about the written word, teaching, and mentoring writers. Mary lives in Texas with her husband, Patrick, and their three children.

Reviews for A Slow Burn

[misslynn_1944 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A Slow Burn , book two in the Defiance Texas Trilogy, is a story of love, hate , redemption, forgiveness, and hope. When I first started the book I was thinking I was going to read a inspirational suspense mystery. The paths of the story line took a different twist then what I was expecting. I have not had the privledge of reading the first book in the trilogy Daisy Chain and the character Emory Chance. As the trilogy continues Emory’d daughter Daisy has disappeared after going to visit with a friend Jed Pepper. After her daughter is found murdered, the investigation seems to come to a dead end. From this part on we learn more about Emory. A woman who has never known love, a mother who hated her and now a woman who feels the same about her daughter. A woman who is addicted to drugs and as hard as she tries the dealer keeps supplying her. Emery is set on a course of destruction into a world of pain, loneliness and despair.When Hixon Jones, the neighborhood handy man receives a divine intervention from God to marry Emory and bring her out of the depths of sin, it seems he has a battle on his hands. Can he bring Emory back to the mainstream of life, even after she abuses his feelings for her.This then is not your usual Christian fiction. This book is the hard core of a woman on drugs and of sexual immorality, a woman’s pain and redemption, A woman’s lack of faith. We wonder why a person gets on drugs and why they can’t get off. Sometimes it takes hitting rock bottom before one sees the light.. Although Daisy’s killer has not been found yet at the conclusion, the ending has a different twist. If one has read Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers then I feel you will enjoy this book. Usually I can read a book in a couple of days, but this one took longer. Not because of length, but it’s was a book that I read slower to absorb the deep down feelings of the characters throughout the book. Reviewed for ReadersFavorite.com

[ldrumm16 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I loved this story just as much as I loved the first, Daisy Chain. Even greater character development, more suspense...I'm dying for the third book in this trilogy to be released! I plowed through this book in two days. I didn't want to stop reading it and I didn't want it to end.

[wearylibrarian · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

In book 1 we met Daisy and Jed, two children who seemed older than their years. Daisy had her life planned-she was going to marry Jed and have a family. Then Daisy went missing. Book two is the continuation of the hunt for Daisy and her discovery, and how the discovery effects the characters in the book. I didn't like it as much as I did the first book, but it is much better than the third book of the series.

[sheiladeeth_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I read an un-put-down-able book last night, and the strange thing is, I’m not even sure if I was meant to have picked it up yet. It’s called “A Slow Burn,” by Mary E. DeMuth, and according to the publisher’s website (Zondervan) it doesn’t come out until October. But Mary was kind enough to allow me to be an “influencer,” so I received my copy early, and once I’d opened it—well, like I said—I couldn’t put it down.The story and characters drew me in right from the start. The protagonist, Emory Chance, is waiting for the police to knock at her door with the worst kind of news. A single mom, and not the most friendly of people, she’s left to identify her daughter’s body and organize a funeral, while creditors demand payment, the landlord threatens to throw her out and neighbors stare.With past and present colliding in her emotions, Emory bounces between Angus’s offer of drugs and Hixom’s promise of prayer. The writing style, with beautiful, powerful prose, anchors the reader with stunning descriptions of place and memory, seamlessly weaving the tale together.The book cover, with its fiery red sky and moody shadows, is a perfect fit. And the author draws the balance of light and dark, hope and despair, belief and denial quite beautifully. From Catholic burial to disapproving preacher to laughter to messages from God, the reader is pulled through the gamut of faith and finds it strong and powerful in the strangest places.I closed the book feeling uplifted and enthralled. The novel is part of a trilogy, but its story comes to a satisfying conclusion. I’ll look forward to reading parts 1 and 3, and I’m sure they’ll be wonderful. But this book, A Slow Burn by Mary E. DeMuth, is a wonderful read on its own.

[lajoyceshrom · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Second novel in a trilogy , 'A Slow Burn' is a definite must read. The characters are depicted so well with their artful flair of description. Mary DeMuth, author, has certainly outdone herself in this real life drama about a drug addict that sees nothing but ending her life due to past failures. The novel gives a reader hope in a hard fast world where life solutions cannot be met by oneself. A story of love and faith by Hixon only increases the intensity of this well written novel that will stay with you for days to come. A third novel should bring all ends tied up.