Saving Grace (What Doesn’t Kill You, #1): A Katie Romantic Mystery Read online


Accolades

  2011 Winner of the Houston Writers Guild Novel Contest

  2010 Winner of the Writers League of Texas Manuscript Contest

  2012 Winner of the Houston Writers Guild Ghost Story Contest

  2012 USA Best Book Winner, Nonfiction

  2013 USA Best Book Award Winner, Nonfiction

  2014 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Quarter-finalist

  2014 USA Best Book Award Winner, Fiction

  The Katie & Annalise Series, including Saving Grace

  “An exciting tale . . . twisting investigative and legal subplots . . . a character seeking redemption…an exhilarating mystery with a touch of voodoo.” – Midwest Book Review Bookwatch

  “A lively romantic mystery.” – Kirkus Reviews

  “A riveting drama . . . exciting read, highly recommended.” – Small Press Bookwatch

  “Katie is the first character I have absolutely fallen in love with since Stephanie Plum!”– Stephanie Swindell, Bookstore Owner

  “Engaging storyline…taut suspense.” – MBR Bookwatch

  The Emily Series

  “Grabs you by the throat from the get-go for a suspenseful, rollicking ride.” — Ken Oder, author of The Closing

  “Full of heart, humor, vivid characters, and suspense. Hutchins has done it again!” – Gay Yellen, author of The Body Business

  “Hutchins is a master of tension.” – R.L. Nolen, author of Deadly Thyme

  “Intriguing mystery . . . captivating romance.” – Patricia Flaherty Pagan, author of Trail Ways Pilgrims

  “In my book . . . the makings of a great novel: cheating husbands, murder, and hot cowboys.” — Melissa Algood, contributing author, Eclectically Criminal

  The Michele Series

  “Immediately hooked." – Terry Sykes-Bradshaw, author of Sibling Revelry

  "Spellbinding." – Jo Bryan, Dry Creek Book Club

  "Fast-paced mystery." – Deb Krenzer, Book Reviewer

  "Can't put it down." – Cathy Bader, Reader

  "Full of real characters and powerful emotions."  Rhonda Erb, Editor

  ~~~

  Saving Grace

  By Pamela Fagan Hutchins

  ~~~

  For Eric, of course

  ~~~

  An excerpt of Saving Grace, under the working title Leaving Annalise, won the 2010 Writers League of Texas Manuscript Award, in the Romance Category. That’s pretty darn cool, especially since it’s not a Romance, although it contains some. Another excerpt won top “Ghost Story” from the Houston Writers Guild in 2012.

  ~~~

  Saving Grace

  By Pamela Fagan Hutchins

  Copyright © 2012 Pamela Fagan Hutchins

  ~~~

  Acknowledgements

  Huge thanks to my editor Meghan Pinson, who managed to keep my ego intact without sacrificing her editorial integrity. Thanks of generous proportions to my critique partners, without whose encouragement and honesty I would not be publishing this book. The biggest thanks go to my Cruzans: husband Eric, friend Natalie, and house Annaly. They are the ones who inspired me to dream up stories in the islands. Eric gets an extra helping of thanks for plotting, critiquing, editing, listening, holding, encouraging, supporting, browbeating, and miscellaneous other roles, some of which aren’t appropriate for publication.

  Thanks also to princess of the universe Heidi Dorey for fantastic cover art. Heartfelt appreciation to Alayah for good eyes and a spirit of adventure.

  ~~~

  Saving Grace is a complete work of fiction. Period. Any resemblance to actual persons, events, or places is just good luck.

  ~~~

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-one

  Chapter Twenty-two

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Chapter Twenty-four

  Chapter Twenty-five

  Chapter Twenty-six

  Chapter Twenty-seven

  Chapter Twenty-eight

  Chapter Twenty-nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-one

  Chapter Thirty-two

  Chapter Thirty-three

  Chapter Thirty-four

  Chapter Thirty-five

  Chapter Thirty-six

  Chapter Thirty-seven

  Chapter Thirty-eight

  Chapter Thirty-nine

  Chapter Forty

  Chapter Forty-one

  Chapter Forty-two

  Chapter Forty-three

  Chapter Forty-four

  Chapter Forty-five

  Chapter Forty-six

  Chapter Forty-seven

  Chapter Forty-eight