Try Fear

What hope is there when you finally meet the one who makes love alive for you only to lose her in what officials call a tragic accident, but you come to believe is murder? Can such a heart find healing? Can that heart hope again? The three books in this series (Try Dying, Try Darkness, Try Fear) provide a search for a hopeful resolution. Losing love to catastrophic circumstances devastates. Healing, if it is possible at all, grows slowly in a dying soul. Ty Buchanan's loss, grief, and fight to survive voices the dark corners of our own hearts where we nurse our wounds and remember again receiving them. Ty reminds us that even when all seems lost, not all is lost. Healing takes overcoming death, darkness, and fear. Ty leaves us singing a song of commitment. It is not what has happened that is decisive; tt is what happens next.

This is Book 3 of the Ty Buchanan series - an excellent read. Main character Ty is a defense lawyer, practicing in California - you never know what's going to happen to him next. Bell is fabulous at mixing a serious subject (like nailing a murderer) with a touch of humor throughout the pages. I highly recommend this series.

Reviewed by Leslie Granier for Reader Views (9/09) Attorney Ty Buchanan's latest client, Carl Richess, is rather interesting. Obviously intoxicated, Richess was arrested wearing only a Santa hat and a G-string while driving home from a party. However, this case of DUI evolves into something bigger when Carl is found dead. Ty and his sidekick Sister Mary Veritas seek the truth as to whether Carl's death is a suicide or a murder. There is a plethora of possible suspects which include Carl's brother, former lovers, and possibly even corrupt politicians trying to cover up their illegal activities. In the meantime, they also must investigate who is cyberstalking Sister Mary and if it is related to this case. The characters created by James Scott Bell are likable, although a bit quirky. Ty, the crafty and successful attorney, left a big law firm after he was accused of murder to take on the cases of others who believed they were wrongfully accused of crimes. As a result, he ended up living in a trailer behind St. Monica's Church where he enjoys the company of Sister Mary (maybe a little too much), the cut-throat, basketball playing nun. He also has feelings for Kimberly Pincus, the stunningly beautiful Deputy City Attorney. Added to this mix are a former philosophy professor turned coffee shop owner who sees a conspiracy behind everything and a guy who creates knockoff gadgets based on Apple products. With characters such as these, there is never a dull moment. Action abounds throughout this book. The chapters are fairly short which made it hard for me to put it down because I couldn't wait to see what would happen next. "Try Fear" will be enjoyed by all adults. The author methodically follows the death investigation, allowing the reader to attempt to piece the information together. There are some unexpected turns in the plot which will keep the reader guessing until the very end. "Try Fear" is the third novel featuring Ty Buchanan. There are references to occurrences from the previous two books but it is not necessary to have read them in order to follow what is happening. I like Ty and would like to see another story with him in the forefront.

Tyler Buchanan is a trial lawyer, a man still recovering from the loss of his beloved finance and a literary philosopher. He is well rounded and did his time in corporate law to have seen enough that nothing should shock him. But yes when he is asked to bail out Santa Claus in a G-String on Christmas Eve this charts new territory even for him. His client Carl Richess is determined to beat the conviction and right after Ty accomplishes that his client is found dead as a result of an apparent suicide. But everything is not as it seems and before the body is laid to rest Carl's brother Eric is arrested for the murder and the plot not only thickens it almost coagulates. Pleading his innocence and begging for Ty to take his case the problems start to arise as Eric is vague on his whereabouts during the time of the murder, he lies about witnesses and back tracks on facts - all things a lawyer do not want to work with but move on with the case is what Ty decides to do. While trying to find the witness that could resolve all of Eric's issues should be uncomplicated it is not. Trying to find a high priced escort is not as easy as it appeared to be at first and then when she does magically show up to verify all of Eric's facts Ty is even more suspicious. Helping Ty out with all of this is his investigator and right hand person Sister Mary Veritas. How did Ty wind up with a Catholic nun as his sidekick and moral compass when he isn't even Catholic, doesn't believe in the church's basic doctrine and butts heads with the head nun Sr. Hildegarde - well that proves to be its on interesting story all on its own. This case tests his legal mettle and emotional compass where Sr. Mary is concerned when a gunshot meant for him finds her instead. They have always danced around feelings that were best left unexplored but when she is hurt there is nothing he won't due to solve the case and work on what is best for both of them. But are his feelings for Sr. Mary clouding his judgment and affecting his ability to work the case, absolutely not. He will deal with everything including an eager Assistant DA that would love to have a "mentor". When the case is concluded and everything falls into place Tyler has an epiphany that shakes every fiber of his being. How did he miss so much when he picked up everything or so he thought. Is it possible to be so right about the wrong man? This book is a pleasant surprise to me because it is not one I would have considered reading because it falls under the inspirational category. Well shame on me because this is a wonderful read with a fresh set of perspectives on how two completely different people can work together and pull off a wonderful story and maintain diversity. The religious aspects do not impeded the story but enhance it from start to finish and while some may think a Catholic nun could bring nothing to the table - guess what you are wrong she brings so much just by being herself. Buy the entire set of

Another winner! A MUST read! This book kept me guessing and laughing throughout. I love the variety of characters and of course...Ty and Sister Mary. Hoping for book four...