Fourteen miles east of Peachtree, Alabama, a secret is hidden. That secret’s name is Annabel Lee Truckson, and even she doesn’t know why her mysterious uncle has stowed her deep underground in a military-style bunker. He’s left her with a few German words, a barely-controlled guard dog, and a single command: “Don’t open that door for anybody, you got it? Not even me.”
Above ground, a former Army sniper called The Mute and an enigmatic “Dr. Smith” know about the girl. As the race begins to find her, the tension builds. Who wants to set her free? Why does the other want to keep her captive forever? Who will reach her first?
Private investigators Trudi Coffey and Samuel Hill need to piece together the clues and stay alive long enough to retrieve the girl–before it’s too late.
With its stunning writing and relentless pace, Annabel Lee will captivate readers from the first page.
Review
In Atlanta, Private investigator Trudi Coffey is visited by a mysterious Dr. Smith who is looking for a man. Dr. Smith thinks she knows where to find the target. Coffey knows her ex-husband, Sam Hill, probably does.
In Alabama, Annabel Lee is woken by her uncle and hidden in an underground bunker on their property. He gives her the only key and tells her not to open the door for anyone without the safe code. She doesn’t know how long she will be there.
Events from the past converge and the mystery of Dr. Smith’s identity and Annabel Lee’s survival are left in the hands of ex-spouses Coffey & Hill.
Annabel Lee is a fantastic book with continuous action and plot twists. Each chapter is told from the perspective of a different character. Sometimes sequences overlap, but for the most part, the chapters run chronologically. Nappa has done a wonderful job providing tidbits of information to the readers, while the characters might not yet know their connections. Although I did find aspects of the plot predictable, overall this novel keeps the reader guessing. Just when you think the characters are safe, more trouble ensues.
This novel is considered a Christian mystery. It is actually the first I have read of this genre. There are elements of Christianity and spiritual faith throughout, but it is a small aspect that any reader can enjoy the story without feeling preached to.
Fun fact: “Annabel Lee” is a poem written by Edgar Allen Poe. Nappa, a Poe fan, incorporates Poe’s poem into the novel in many clever ways. I enjoyed drawing the connections between the poem and this novel. I won’t spoil the connections for you, but look out for them while you read. It looks like the next Coffey & Hill novel is titled Raven, so I am excited to see how that Poe poem is intertwined with it (if at all).
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.