Virtue Falls: A Novel (The Virtue Falls Series Book 1)

Elizabeth Benner is a socially inept, but brilliant geologist, who witnessed her mother’s murder 23 years before when she was six years old. Her father was convicted of the crime and served hard time for it. Elizabeth blocked that day, can’t remember, so she doesn’t know the truth. All she knows is that she’s been a social pariah all her life because of what happened.Garik Jacobson is Elizabeth’s ex-husband, and an FBI agent on a forced leave because he lost his temper and beat up a child abuser. Not only has Garik messed up his job, but he’s also blown his marriage to the woman he will always love. There’s nothing left for him to live for.When an earthquake along with its ensuing tsunami hit their hometown, lives are forever changed. In the aftermath, while the town is cut off from civilization, murder comes to Virtue Falls. Elizabeth and Garik must solve the mystery of what really happened to her mother years before to stop it from happening again and again now. There’s plenty of danger, intrigue, and also, a lovely romance between these two. Great secondary characters. Rainbow is a favorite of mine. Another favorite, Kateri, survives the tsunami – barely, and her story is to come. Obsession Falls is next on my list to read. Looking forward to it!

The story itself was well crafted, though the dialogue sometimes felt a little "Harlequin romance" and unrealistic, and too many characters (with storylines that weren't relevant). No spoilers, so no detail...the suspense portion of the book was good, the father/daughter storyline the most interesting IMO. Other characters were more of a distraction than part of the plot. Perhaps they will be flushed out in future books (the ones that can anyway). Not my favorite book by Christina Dodd, could have easily been improved with a better editing job.

This is my first book by Christina Dodd, and I thought it was great. I liked the characters, I liked the atmosphere. Elizabeth Banner seen something terrible when she was a young child, her father was punished. Her mother paid the ultimate price. I loved the way the author drew me into the mystery surrounding her mother and her father. Elizabeth has protected herself for so long she really doesn't know how to deal with people, she marries , her marriage fails. This story is multilayered, there are ups and downs, secrets and knowledge. I thought the end of the story was perfect, however did not want the story to end. This novel has it all, family, drama, love, mystery, forgiveness, and redemption. Its a perfect afternoon read, curled up with a warm blanket and a couple dogs on your feet. (less)

If Christina Dodd writes it, I will always read it! I loved this first book in her new series. I would think when an author decides to create a series based in a fixed setting that one of the most difficult challenges is how to quickly hook a reader into believing in the fictional community & the cast of characters. By publishing a prequel novella (The Listener) Ms. Dodd was able to vividly create parts of the town and some of the secondary characters important to the full novel (Virtue Falls). This allows the reader to quickly drop back into the town of Virtue Falls & familiar territory. I liked Rainbow & the Diner as a central fixture to the series. The Inn has many secrets which should be fascinating to uncover in future books. There are many stories to be set here. And as I said, if Christina Dodd writes it, I will always read it! And I am looking forward to more visits to Virtue Falls!

After I read The Listener I was looking forward to reading Virtue Falls. I have been a fan of Dodds for a long time so I gladly bought the ebook this morning. Nine hours later with a break for lunch I'm done. Imagine fist in the air and a cry with lots of melodrama "DAMMIT!" it's finished and I am gonna have to WAIT for the next installment of Virtue Falls.My gage of a good, no - make that a great book, is if I could see the the story like I'm watching a movie and not reading each individual word. Virtue Falls is a great book-movie. I did not want to skip pages to get to the "good parts already", each page was a "good part". I'm not that great at describing how this character grew, or how the author did this or that, but what I can say is Read The Book! Action and laughter throughout the story.I always complain to people that I read too fast. The ending came too soon for me because I want the next story in the series NOW. Belaboring the point that authors don't write as fast as I read helps no one but myself get rid of my sorrows. I will re-read this book maybe five or six time by next year when the next book comes out. Thanks Christina for a great book-movie. Don't write too fast to satisfy my reading habits/addictions. The time you spent writing this story was well worth it for me.

This is my first Christina Dodd book. I was pleasantly surprised . The mystery and suspense of the story was perfect. The romance was good but, to me, it lacked a little passion. But still a great story that I'd recommend and I will be reading the next in the series.

Well written, gripping story. New twists and turns throughout. Certainly very good value as it was long but at the same time compelling. Made me want to read the next book in the series as soon as I reached the final page..

Losing a night's sleep because I cannot get a story out of my mind does not happen often, but Virtual Falls kept running thru my mind all night. The story was so very well crafted and delilvered characters so full developed that I truly felt that Elizabeth, Garick and Charles were people I knew and cared about. This story had has it all drama, suspense, romance and yes a few light harded moments. Truly one of the best books I have read this year and I average 7 to 10 books a week.Thank you for a wonderful story and a sleepless night

First book I have read by Christina Dodd, gripping storyline and well rounded characters

Book arrived within time scale. Great writer.

I'm really excited to get into a book like this. It has excitement and great characters and suspense. I had no idea who the killer was. I loved the setting too! Overall fantastic book:)

Very, very good book. So full of suspense that at some points I had to stop reading to bring my stress level down before starting again. That said, the last chapter is not fully comprehensible.