From Library Journal
Another winner from Blackstock. It is the week of Mardi Gras in the Louisiana town of Newpointe, and the whole town is celebrating. Then horrible news arrives: Martha Dwyer, the wife of a firefighter, has been found murdered, shot through the head, her body set on fire. The townspeople's shock soon turns to horror when yet another firefighter's wife is found murdered in a similar fashion. By the time a third wife is attacked, it has become clear that a serial killer is at work. Firefighter Mark Branning is terrified, especially since he and his wife are estranged. Realizing that Allie may be the next victim, Mark convinces his reluctant wife to leave town with him. Unfortunately, this action does not stop the killer. This tense and exciting thriller is more than a fabulous read; it has an underlying message about the place of religion within a marriage. Highly recommended.Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.


Book Description
Book one in best-selling author Terri Blackstock's brand-new series Newpointe 911, in which the firemen of Newpointe, LA, face personal and terrifying trial: Someone is murdering their wives, one by one.


From the Publisher
A dark shadow of fear has fallen over sunny Newpointe, Louisiana. First one, then another of the town firemen's wives has been murdered, a third has barely escaped an attempt on her life, and what at first seemed incredible appears to be only too true: A serial killer is stalking this sleepy little community near the Mississippi border. For fireman Mark Branning, the murders are a dash of icy water, waking him up to how much he really cares about his own wife, Allie. Their bad marriage had faded into an uneasy separation. Now, with a madman on the loose, Allie's life could be in danger--and marital problems or not, Mark is determined to protect her. The danger is much closer than either of them had realized. A terrifying encounter makes it clear that Allie is at the top of the killer's list. Her life could end violently at the hands of a cunning and relentless psychopath . . . unless Mark and Allie can find out who the criminal is and bring that person to justice. A suspenseful, superbly woven tapestry of fear, faith, and close-knit, small-town relationships, Private Justice pits an estranged couple against an enemy greater than their own marital struggles. Mark and Allie must resolve their differences, trusting God in a way they never have before, or suffer lethal consequences . . . and they don't have much time to make the choice. Private Justice is book one in the Newpointe 911 mystery series by award-winning novelist Terri Blackstock. Written in the style of Mary Higgins Clark, Newpointe 911 offers fast-paced suspense and action, seasoned with romance and tempered by insights into the nature of relationships, redemption, and the human heart.


From the Author
Terri Blackstock is the author of the best-selling suspense series, The Sun Coast Chronicles; and of the Second Chances romantic suspense series. An award-winning author, her books have sold over 3.5 million copies over the last eleven years


From the Back Cover
A dark shadow of fear has fallen over Newpointe, Louisiana. First one, then another of the town firemen’s wives has been murdered, a third has barely escaped an attempt on her life. Incredible as it seems, a serial killer is stalking this sleepy little southern community. And Mark Branning's wife may be next on the list. Mark is determined to protect her. But keeping Allie alive won't be easy -- not with their own marriage already dying a bitter death. Unless they renew their commitment to each other and to God, someone else may settle their problems . . . Permanently. And time to decide is running out. Private Justice is book one in the Newpointe 911 mystery series by award-winning novelist Terri Blackstock. Newpointe 911 offers taut, superbly crafted novels of faith, fear, and close-knit, small-town relationships, seasoned with romance and tempered by insights into the nature of relationships, redemption, and the human heart. Look for book two, Shadow of Doubt, coming soon to your favorite Christian bookstore.


About the Author
She has appeared on national television programs such as "The 700 Club" and "Home Life" and has been a guest on numerous radio programs nationwide.


Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Chapter Two
The babys vibrato cries grew hoarse, but the level of urgency in his tone seemed to heighten as Reese Carter banged once again on Martha Broussards door. Should he go around back? Maybe Martha was hanging laundry or working in the yard with one of those carry-around stereos with those despicable headphones that young people seemed to love these days. That wasnt like her, though. Martha wasnt that young, and she wasnt that irresponsible.
The smell of smoke grew stronger, and finally his fear that something was terribly wrong overcame his reluctance. He tested the knob, found it unlocked, and pushed the door open.
Feeling as if he were intruding in a place where he had no right to be, he stepped hesitantly inside. Martha? Is anyone here?
The babys hoarse voice choked out louder and more desperately, so he headed down the hall to the babys room.
Martha wasnt there. The babys face was crimson and wet, and his eyes were swollen from the tears. It had been a long time since Reese had picked up a baby, and again he worried that Martha would think he was intruding, but something was obviously wrong. He leaned over the crib and lifted the baby out.
Tommy had been crying too hard to stop, so his pattern changed from screams to hiccup sobs as the old man rocked him. Martha? Reese called again.
He carried the baby back down the hall and peered into the living room. There was no sign of her, but a packed diaper bag lay on the floor, some of its contents spilled out. He stepped toward it, peering from the living room into the kitchen. Martha?
It was then that he saw the splatters on the blue carpet, the brownish-red spray that was easy to miss at first, then the darker red blotches. He caught his breath.
His heart began to pound painfully against his chest. The baby still cried, and Reese held him tighter as he followed the drops across the carpet and into the kitchen, toward the back door that stood open. His mind raced with possibilities. Maybe she had fallen and hit her head, then gotten up, confused, and wandered outside, where she had passed out in the yard.
He stepped carefully around the blood and pushed open the screen door.
The yard was filling with smoke, and he doubted that it was coming from someone burning tree limbs. He turned back into the kitchen and, with trembling hands, set the baby in the swing and locked the seat belt. As Reese stumbled outside, the baby began to wail again, but he couldnt go back. There was an old storage building at the back of the Broussard yard, and flames were shooting out of the roof.
The door to the structure was partially open, and thick smoke poured out. Coughing, he kicked the door open and tried to see inside. Between the lawn mower and a bicycle, he could barely make out the shape of a womans legs.
Martha! Stomping out the flames over the threshold, he stepped in, reached for her feet, and pulled her out. It wasnt until she was out of the reach of the flames, lying on the grass, that he was able to see her face.
Martha Broussard had a bullet hole through her forehead.
Reese fell back in horror, then turned and ran, tripping on the step as he rushed into the house for the telephone. The baby kept screaming as he grabbed the phone and dialed.
911, may I help you?
He tried to speak, but the words choked in his throat. Uh . . . yes . . . please, help. Martha . . . Martha Broussard . . . has been shot . . . and theres fire.
Clutching the telephone in his shaking hands, Reese gradually became aware of the raucous strains of When the Saints Come Marching In mingling with the screams of the baby whose mother lay dead.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

A dark shadow of fear has fallen over Newpointe, Louisiana. First one, then another of the town firemen's wives has been murdered, a third has barely escaped an attempt on her life. Incredible as it seems, a serial killer is stalking this sleepy little southern community. And Mark Branning's wife may be next on the list. Mark is determined to protect her. But keeping Allie alive won't be easy -- not with their own marriage already dying a bitter death. Unless they renew their commitment to each other and to God, someone else may settle their problems . . . Permanently. And time to decide is running out. Private Justice is book one in the Newpointe 911 mystery series by award-winning novelist Terri Blackstock. Newpointe 911 offers taut, superbly crafted novels of faith, fear, and close-knit, small-town relationships, seasoned with romance and tempered by insights into the nature of relationships, redemption, and the human heart. Look for book two, Shadow of Doubt, coming soon to your favorite Christian bookstore.

Author Biography: Terri Blackstock is the bestselling author of the Newpointe 911 and Sun coast Chronicles suspense series and other books, including Cape Refuge, Emerald Windows, Seaside, and her novels with Beverly LaHaye.

FROM THE CRITICS

Library Journal