Iced Tea Book Review: Summer of Suspense by C. R. Hedgcock

My dear "Lilies", hello and welcome to the first article of a new series I am calling "Refreshing Reviews"! I hope you enjoy this first installment as I take a look at a book of which I have grown quite fond of. Around two or three years ago I was first introduced to C. R. Hedgcock by a friend of mine at church who lent me the first book of the series, "The Baker Family Adventures". I read "Summer of Suspense" with much intrigue and many times I could feel the suspense building as tensions grew between characters. I now credit C. R. Hedgcock for first hooking me onto Christian Mystery and inspiring me to write my own mystery novel in which my faith is an anchoring part to the story.

"Summer of Suspense" begins with the Baker children learning of an upcoming visit from their cousin, Millie. The beginning of the visit is trying for the children, as Millie is the exact picture of a "rich, school-girl snob" and the Bakers have a hard time handling her, but when she goes missing, everything changes. With adventure and danger around every corner, trials to test and try patience, and a mystery waiting to be revealed, "Summer of Suspense" is a story of growth and faith, trusting God even in hard and scary times. You can learn much from the book and I thoroughly enjoy how Miss Hedgcock keeps her readers on the edge of their seats.

The way she is able to depict the adventure is as if she has experienced this wild story herself. I very much enjoy and respect how she has written it for an age-range of 8-12 years old, yet children above or below the age-range are intrigued by it as well, and perhaps even young adults would be fascinated by it. So, if you are looking for a clean, interesting read, with wonderful morals and Christian beliefs, "Summer of Suspense" would be a wonderful choice! (Really the whole Baker Series is, but of course you should start with the first book!)

I only have but one critique of the book. I find it to be more of a fantasized book, than just mere fiction. In the way things happen in the plot, it seems more like what I dreamt of when I was younger, after I had watched a "Sue Thomas F. B. Eye" show. Yet, without this aspect of exaggerated fiction, it would not be the same book. Perhaps it would be less intriguing and not as suitable for children to read, so with that, I do believe that it is best how it is, and I couldn't ask for a better book to read this summer.

Now, I close this first "Refreshing Reviews" article, urging you, dear "Lilies", to go find yourself a glass of iced tea and read "Summer of Suspense", while I go read the next book to review.

With much love and prayer,

-Jaycee ♡