Payback (The Secret Life Samantha McGregor, Book 4)

More than just another teen novel, Carlson includes Scripture throughout the storylines to encourage her readers to seek the truth from God's Word. The main character Samantha herself wrestles with doubt about her gift, and learns she must draw continue to rely on God as she works to solve each case. Carlson also includes discussion guides with thought-provoking questions aimed to spark meaningful dialogue, and some resources for those wanting to know more about hearing God's voice. Bravo to Melody Carlson for giving us a fiction series that goes beyond today's typical teen fare.

Review by Gigi Hoffman Finally, the fourth and final book in Melody Carlson's The Secret Life of Samantha McGregor series is available! In Payback, Samantha faces her toughest challenges yet. Sam has a dream of a brutal massacre at a high school. Because she's in high school and is the only one who can recognize the students in her dream, Detective Ebony Hamilton has Samantha go undercover to discover the shooter. As more details arise, she must uncover if the massacre is related to a terrorist threat. Samantha also deals with major family issues. Zach is back in rehab and their mom has a new boyfriend. Sam feels pushed aside, plus she's getting weird vibes about her mom's boyfriend, like he's after her money and not her heart. Sam's assumptions turn out to be true; in fact, her mom's boyfriend is not at all who he says he is. If that weren't enough, Samantha keeps having visions about a kid getting bullied. Who is he? How can Samantha help him? Samantha finds herself with more questions than answers and uncertain about what to do. She must put total faith and trust in God to keep her life safe, as well as the lives of many people around her. This book is gripping; I stayed up all night to read it. Samantha seems like such a real person, someone I'd love to be friends with. This book wraps everything up, but that didn't keep me from wishing for a fifth book. I could keep hanging out with Samantha and being a part of her life. I highly recommend this!

The final Samantha McGregor book has a rich plot that keeps you reading through all the twists and turns. Samantha gets visons from God, and in this book it is about a school shooting, and it is a bit goary. All in all though this is a truly amazing book.

Detective Ebony Hamilton has learned to listen when Samantha McGregor has a vision. Sam's latest vision concerns a shooting at a high school. PayBack sheds light on several issues students face, including bullies. I like this book. It is well written, and the characters are real to life. While this book was written for students, adults will enjoy it too.

I love the Samantha McGregor series because it is a different kind of teen fiction. The stories are always centered around real teen issues that many people fail to see in every day life. I enjoyed this story very much. My favorite book will always be the first, but the entire series is amazing. I am truly sad that this is the final book in the series, it makes me wonder what Melody Carlson is going to come out with next. Read these books! you wont be sorry.