Waking Hours

Written by Lis Wiehl and Pete Nelson

Narrated by Devon O'Day

Welcome to East Salem. A deceptively sleepy town where ancient supernatural forces are being awakened.

A local high-school girl is found murdered in a park amid horse farms and the wealthy homes of northern Westchester County, New York. The shocking manner of her death intrigues forensic psychiatrist Dani Harris. All the suspects are teenagers who were at a party with the girl—yet none remembers what happened. Could one of them be a vicious killer? Or is something more sinister afoot—something tied to an ancient evil?

Across town, former NFL linebacker Tommy Gunderson finds his state-of-the-art security system has been breached by an elderly woman. Mumbling threats in Latin, she attacks him with an uncanny, preternatural strength. Before he has time to process the attack, someone close to him is implicated in the girl’s murder at the park. He agrees to help—and finds himself working with Dani, the only girl who could resist his charm years ago when they were in high school.

A heavy darkness is spreading. Yet a heavenly force is also at work.

Dani and Tommy suspect there’s more to the mystery than murder, more to their growing friendship than chance . . . and more to the evil they’re facing than a mere human killer.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson
• Release date: Oct 3, 2011
• ISBN: 9781401685300

Lis Wiehl

New York Times bestselling author Lis Wiehl is the former legal analyst for Fox News and the O’Reilly Factor and has appeared regularly on Your World with Neil Cavuto, Lou Dobbs Tonight, and the Imus morning shows. The former cohost of WOR radio's WOR Tonight with Joe Concha and Lis Wiehl, she has served as legal analyst and reporter for NBC News and NPR's All Things Considered, as a federal prosecutor in the United States Attorney's office, and as a tenured professor of law at the University of Washington. She appears frequently on CNN as a legal analyst.

Reviews for Waking Hours

[aneris-3 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I guess I can say it was an OK story if you like your supernatural stories oversimplified. I think the premise is actually quite interesting. It reminds me of the older horror films I watched as kid.

A teenage girl is killed and it looks like a ritualistic murder. The case brings together a forensic psychiatrist Dani Harris and her high school crush Tommy Gunderson, who is studying for his PI license. There are some supernatural things going on around them, but not a lot. They spend more time talking about who did what and why, which doesn't exactly makes this story better.
The murder itself is solved in this book, but the last couple of scenes leave an opening for more. It was well done. You got a cliffhanger that isn't really annoying.

For people who can't stand religious overtones, I'd suggest to skip this book. There are quite a few quotes from the Bible here. That's why it reminds me of tons of horror films I watched. I don't mind. I don't think I ever read anything shelved as Christian fiction till now.

My rating hasn't got anything to do with religion. It has more to do with the the guilty. Sure, there is a killer and, look, he isn't from around here. There were some things rich kids from the town did and they weren't punished at all because Dani decided 'that is something killer would want'. Since I don't mind the religious angle, I'll probably check the next book too.

For those interested - there is only one kiss in the whole book.

[carol420 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A High School girl is found murdered. Forensic psychiatrist, Dani Harris is determined to unravel the mystery. all of her suspects are teenage boys that attended the same party with the murdered girl but none can remember anything beyond drinking the "zombie" juice. It will take astute analysis and forensic skills to solve this crime, but the evil they are facing may just be more than human. I understand this to be the first of the East Salem series. It was a well done spooky story and really kept your interest.

[lesindy · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Remind me to look at goodreads before reading a book! This is Christian Fiction.

I have nothing against Christian fiction, but since I am not Christian I avoid CF. Very slow book, and the whole millionaire motorcycle riding ex-football star who is a damn-near virgin made me roll my eyes. I gave up.

[vintagebeckie · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Waking Hours is the first book in the East Salem series by Lis Wiehl and Pete Nelson. A bit of a departure from Wiehl’s other books, it is still a page-turning suspense novel. This time, however, the supernatural is a big factor in the action. This book definitely has a creepiness factor that is a good fit for those who like a little edge to their books.Dani Harris, a forensic psychiatrist, and Tommy Gunderson, former NFL player and now aspiring P.I., join forces in investigating the horrendous murder of a local teenager. Everything seems routine, until weird signs and occurrences and some very disturbing dreams disrupt their investigation. There is much more going on than a psychopathic killer. An unexplained malevolent force seems to be in play.I really enjoyed getting to know Dani and Tommy and loved their growing relationship. The two characters are great compliments to each other. I also liked the addition of the supernatural to the crime investigation, giving the story a higher stakes angle. There is much more going on in this small town, and I look forward to more to come in this series. I listened to the audiobook version and thought the narrator did a great job.All in all a good book for fans of edgier suspense novels.Recommended.

[tsingy_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Enjoyed the complexity. Lots of info included for additional books.

[hollyrae_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

First of all I have to say I enjoyed all of Lis Wiehls novels. she is a great author.Reading the back of this book got me pretty excited to read it and dive right in. I Love her writing style. I enjoyed the pace of the book and the suspense was right on. It takes you to the very end to really come to a conclusion of all that is going on. The character of Tommy was nice, He seems like a pretty easy going guy and the chemistry between his character and Dani really worked. You really got the feeling that they were old friends but still nervous to see each other after all this time. The actual story was enjoyable. I was pretty surprised to find out why all the weird stuff was happening to her at 2:13. so, all in all I give this a 4 out of 5.

[dearheart_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The town of East Salem is shocked over a ritualistic-appearing murder of a teenage girl, and become paranoid with the strange things that they've noticed since then. Former NFL linebacker Tommy Gunderson becomes involved when a kid he mentors at his fitness center is being brought in for questioning since his cell phone was found near the body. Dani Harris is the forensic psychiatrist working with the DA's office; the first time she's acting as lead in this role. Both Tommy and Dani knew each other from school but had been too afraid to let the other know they were interested.There is a supernatural element to the story--some of it is downright creepy. The murder gets solved but it's not until the end of the book that it's understood by Tommy and Dani that something evil is happening and they could be facing an end-of-the-world scenario. So in a sense, this book is the introduction and set-up for something much larger.The story does well in carrying its own weight as a third of the trilogy. We're given plenty of clues, twists and scary situations to make the book difficult to put down. Don't expect a hot and heavy romance in this book; they've just become reacquainted and are learning to be trusted friends. This is my first book by the author so I can't compare it to other books the author has written. I did get a little nervous when God and prayer were mentioned, but the story is more about faith than a religion and you'd don't get any sense of preaching from it. My only complaint is that the story felt a little choppy at times. For example, Tommy is talking to someone in one paragraph and travelling on his motorcycle in the next. But on the whole I enjoyed the story and I'll definitely be looking for the second book.Reviewed for Amazon Vine Voice

[starrreina · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

“Waking Hours” by Lis Wiehl with Pete Nelson:Drawing on her past experience as a federal prosecutor and on her current proficiency as a legal analyst for FOX News, Lis Wiehl, with Pete Nelson, brings the reader to the brink of uncertainty in her latest novel “Waking Hours.”Working for the district attorney as a forensic psychiatrist, Dani Harris attempts to uncover who killed Julie Leonard and why. Dani uses her education as a therapist and tries to get into the minds of the suspects, who are all teenagers. But there are obstacles in her way that Tommy Gunderson—previous football pro and a current local celebrity—is able to help with by using his status. Because of unresolved issues from when they were teenagers themselves, Dani is hesitant to work with him, but in order to gain access to places and people she cannot, she does.Dani and Tommy’s relationship begins to blossom, bringing back a feeling they both had at a school dance many years prior. But until Dani can attain a level of understanding of her own path in life, she concentrates on the case.It doesn’t take long during the investigation for Dani and Tommy to see that there is more to this murder than the death of a young girl, more than just one person killing another. It’s evil at its ‘best’ connoting a presence of the paranormal that doesn’t end when the killer is unveiled. This is a well written novel that will have its readers spellbound—and gasp audibly at the ending—then [not so patiently] wait for the second installment. This is one great book.

[myeclecticbooks_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book has all the makings of a great murder, mystery/thriller. It starts with a gruesome apparently ritualistic murder and then weaves in the supernatural elements so that they don’t overpower but rather complement the story.I loved the plot and the main characters although I do feel that there was a little something lacking in the development of those characters…or perhaps it was simply the matter of fact style of the storytelling itself. If you are looking for rich language and a lot of emotional depth…this book does not deliver. That said, I did find the story line very compelling and found the novel itself hard to put down. I even found myself having crazy dreams at night right along with the main character: Dani. The murder mystery was nicely wrapped up by the end…however the supernatural elements were still left unsolved…leading in to the second in the series….If you’re looking for a simple Murder mystery read with supernatural elements thrown in and don’t mind waiting for the next in the series to have those answered…then this book won’t disappoint.

[nlaclaire_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Former NFL linebacker Tommy Gunderson is awakened in the middle of the night by his alarm system. Upon investigation, he discovers an elderly woman on his property who exhibits superhuman strength and keeps repeating a Latin phrase to him. Just hours later, he receives a call from a young friend who has been implicated in a murder that happened near the time when he met the old woman. At the police station, he runs into forensic psychiatrist Dani Harris, who he went to school with and hasn’t seen since graduation. Dani is investigating the murder, a vicious killing of a high school girl that appears to be ritualistic. Strange things are happening in East Salem. Is it all a coincidence combined with the fear of a vicious killer or is something supernatural behind the murder and other events? Meanwhile, will the spark that Dani and Tommy felt in high school be reignited or will they continue to be left with the question, “What if?”Wow! That, in a word, was my reaction while reading Waking Hours (book #1 in The East Salem Trilogy) by Lis Wiehl with Pete Nelson. From the very first page right up until the last, I was on the edge of my seat. This is a fast-paced story with plenty of mystery, suspense, and supernatural elements, plus a touch of romance. While this is classified as a young adult book, and the story contains many elements for young adults, as a not-so-young adult I still found the story thoroughly enjoyable. I can’t wait for the trilogy to be continued!The manner in which the murder was committed is quite shocking, but the descriptions are not overly gory. There is a very strong Christian message and the book is very clean. The main characters are positive role models and there are positive supporting characters as well.I highly recommend this book for every teen or adult who likes mystery and suspense. Just be ready to check the door locks repeatedly and be scared out of your skin once or twice while reading.Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[amieg_7 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Historic East Salem may not be the sleepy little town it seems. Things are a bit off, especially when it comes to the supernatural. Forensic psychiatrist Dani Harris and former football star Tommy Gunderson form an uneasy alliance in order to solve the tragic murder of a local teenage girl. All of the evidence points to a group of teenagers, a group that doesn’t remember a thing about the night of the girl’s murder. Dani and Tommy begin to realize that there may be more to the murder than they realize and that perhaps, the evil involved may be more than human.Waking Hours is part mystery and part thriller with a dash of supernatural thrown in. This book successfully pulls the elements of a murder mystery and a supernatural thriller together and weaves a story so compelling and entertaining that I could not put it down. The plot moves at a quick pace, weaving mystery after mystery. It never gives too much away, only hinting at what is to come. The characters are smart and engaging, you really care what happens to them. Perhaps the best part of the characters in Waking Hours is how real they seem. They make mistakes, they doubt themselves, they suffer and they love. The hint of supernatural in the story was perfect, not overwhelming or silly. It was so believable that, at times, I found myself looking around to see if I was alone. There is nothing better than a story that seems so real you think you see shadows around every corner. And Waking Hours is that story. I highly recommend Waking Hours to everyone. It was a perfect read—perfectly scary, perfectly paced and perfectly entertaining. I was excited to discover that this is just the first of a trilogy. I anxiously await the next book!