5-STAR REVIEW: WATER GRAVE by Mitchell S. Karnes

The Detective Abbey Rhodes Mysteries: Book 1
Publication Date: January 29, 2025

When a young pastor is found dead at the bottom of his baptistery, detective Abbey Rhodes must search in the one place she swore never to return…the church.

Fledgling Homicide detective Abbey Rhodes investigates the murder of a young East Nashville pastor found dead in the bottom of his own church baptistery. Paired with Sam Tidwell, an apathetic, aging detective just biding his time until retirement, Abbey must convince her partner the obvious suspect is not the real murderer. Then, she must overcome her own deep prejudice against churches and a dark secret that anchors her to a painful past. As Abbey and Sam discover the pastor’s plans to eliminate the church’s corruptive elements and implement a new vision, they realize their list of suspects multiplies and includes church leaders whom the young pastor considered friends. The case of the Water Grave triggers painful memories and pushes Abbey to her breaking point.

As a new homicide detective, the last case Abbey Rhodes wants is one that forces her back within the walls of a church.

However, the murder of a local pastor comes with memories she thought she’d left behind when she shed her old identity.

Author Mitchell S. Karnes kicks off a new series in Water Grave. Abbey comes across as an effective investigator even though a church murder throws her off kilter. Readers learn more about her backstory as the plot deepens.

With her partner zeroing in on an obvious suspect, Abbey opts for her own investigation into the death of Pastor Mark Ripley. The suspense mounts as questions pop up. Was it because he stirred things up by making changes? Was it a member of the congregation? Or was it something even darker?

Abbey must confront the negative impressions she has of God and Christians in order to overcome the baggage from her past and identify clues. The author puts several characters in her path to help with this process.

Water Grave emphasizes the importance of owning the truth before it owns you.

MITCHELL S. KARNES is a husband, father of seven, and grandfather of ten. Mitchell uses his experience and insights as a minister, counselor, and educator to write and speak on challenging issues and concerns with an ever-growing audience. He has published six novels, three short stories, a one-act play, and numerous Bible study lessons.

Through two separate battles against Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, God has given Mitchell a new perspective on life that challenges him to create stories to entertain audiences and call them to action. Mitchell’s mission is to reach and reconcile those disillusioned with God and His church and to inspire the church to live out the love of Christ Jesus in a broken and hurting world.