EYES OF ELISHA

Collins, a general market crime author turned CBA novelist, pens a chilling tale of suspense that makes a worthy contribution to the sparse genre of Christian mystery fiction. Chelsea Adams has the gift of visions, often falling into a trancelike spiritual state where she sees events that elude others. When Chelsea has dinner with Gavil Harrison, a candidate for vice-president of sales at her husband Paul's up-and-coming software company, she is horrified by her "vision" that Harrison has murdered a young female jogger. Sgt. Dan Reiger is a Christian willing to take a chance on believing in Chelsea's visions as he tracks down the killer. But will Chelsea's next vision damage her credibility and change the course of the investigation? Collins does a fine job of laying a confusing, twisting trail, sowing seeds of doubt about the various suspects and teasing the reader with just enough information to keep the pages turning. There's a rather conservative undertone of marital submission (Paul forbids Chelsea to go to church and she meekly acquiesces), as well as occasional overwriting ("the underbrush seemed taken aback at the sudden sound, rustling its disapproval"), but these are minor lapses in a solid narrative. To her credit, Collins leaves some loose ends dangling: Paul doesn't become a Christian at the end of the book, although he is supportive of Chelsea's faith. CBA readers looking for mystery novels with a spiritual thread will enjoy this. (Oct.)