Synopsis
Waiting for Jacob features private detective and math tutor Rachel Joy. She loves solving problems, but when she begins searching for a friend’s missing daughter, she finds herself torn between her convictions and the advice from the people around her. It doesn’t help when a quirky musician inserts himself into her life and questions her ideals.
My Thoughts
Waiting for Jacob is more than a cozy mystery with a romantic subplot. It’s an incredible, thought-provoking novel about a single woman navigating her relationships with married friends, blind dates, and, most importantly, God. Mia’s disappearance serves as not only a challenge but a vehicle for Rachel’s transformation. The case puts her at odds with most of her friends. Without that support, she’s forced to confront her convictions.
But the mystery is not the only thing Rachel faces. She finds herself substituting as a Sunday school teacher, which leads to several humorous interactions. Then there’s a man dubbed the “Genealogy Troll,” and for me, her interactions with him brought out the best in her by the time the story ended. My favorite scenes, though, were her interactions with the quirky musician who gets under her skin. Their wit and banter kept me laughing, and I loved seeing him challenge her. Not only does he force her to face hard truths about her motives, he also challenges the romantic ideal she formed around the Biblical patriarch Jacob. These scenes were what made me fall in love in the novel.
I’d be remiss, though, if I didn’t mention the way Cole Smith addresses the opioid crisis. While several moments in the novel can be described as light-hearted, there were several well-placed scenes exploring the damaging effects of drug use on the family. Smith weaves these scenes in so well, they’re not jarring or disjointed. They become an important part of the narrative and Rachel’s journey.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves novels that feature mystery, romance, and spiritual growth.
More Information
If you want to check out Waiting for Jacob yourself, click on the book cover to purchase it from Amazon. It’s also available on Kindle Unlimited.
You can also follow Cole Smith on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, or check out her website.
And if you love novels with a bit of mystery, check out my review of Echoes Among the Stones by Jaime Jo Wright. If you love thought-provoking novels, check out my review Just Read: Still Waters by Lindsey P. Brackett.
Note: I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to post a positive review.
