The Scarlet Pen

The Scarlet Pen, by Jennifer Uhlarik, is part of the True Colors True Crime series, a group of fictional novels based on American crime. Having read most of the books in this series, I looked forward to reading The Scarlet Pen and was not disappointed. I was drawn into the story quickly as in the first few pages Emma and Stephen pledge their love for each other, and the tension of their romance begins. Set in the Midwest during the late 1870s, the book tells the horrifying story of a serial killer. Uhlarik is a wonderful storyteller as her writing is strong and descriptive. She has blended suspense, romance, and faith in the narrative to make a story that keeps the pages turning. Uhlarik created her characters to be believable, relatable, and people that I would like to have known as friends (well, the good guys anyway!) Emma, spunky and loyal. Stephen, a charmer with big dreams. And Clay, an honorable lawman with a haunting past and strong faith in God. As these three interact and sometimes clash, their story pulls on the reader’s emotions, shock, horror, sorrow, hope, and compassion. I enjoyed the book, and I look forward to reading more from this author. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing. A favorable review was not required, and the opinions are my own. This review is part of a CelebrateLit blog tour.