My Soul to Keep (African Immortals #1)

Summary:

When Jessica marries David, he is everything she wants in a family man: brilliant, attentive, ever youthful. Yet she still feels something about him is just out of reach. Soon, as people close to Jessica begin to meet violent, mysterious deaths, David makes an unimaginable confession: More than 400 years ago, he and other members of an Ethiopian sect traded their humanity so they would never die, a secret he must protect at any cost. Now, his immortal brethren have decided David must return and leave his family in Miami. Instead, David vows to invoke a forbidden ritual to keep Jessica and his daughter with him forever. Harrowing, engrossing and skillfully rendered, “My Soul to Keep” traps Jessica between the desperation of immortals who want to rob her of her life and a husband who wants to rob her of her soul. With deft plotting and an unforgettable climax, this tour de force reminiscent of early Anne Rice will win Due a new legion of fans.  (Summary and cover courtesy of goodreads.com)

Review:

This was the kind of horror thriller that I picked up a few times, but had to put down because there was just enough sinister tension that I wanted to be sure I was going to be able to sleep that night.  Due has created multi-dimensional smart characters that keep up with what’s going on and aren’t easily fooled.  I loved Jessica’s spunky can-do attitude and resistance to being told what to do.  Her strong roots in family and faith keep her consistently on track in life and at odds with David’s plans, which would have been an interesting situation even ignoring David’s secret.

Once we introduce David’s resolve to “know what’s best” and keep his family together, the book accelerates and I finished the second half in one night.  I am certainly interested in continuing the series and seeing what happens!

Warning: Contains repeated violence and sexual content.

Rating: 4 stars!

Who should read it? Thriller fans looking for something a little different.

Want to read the whole series?

• The Living Blood (African Immortals #2)

• Blood Colony (African Immortals #3)

• My Soul to Take (African Immortals #4)