Blood in the Low Country by Paul Attaway is a mesmerizing debut novel with unforgettable characters. Monty Atkins is on his way to success, having established a burgeoning and well-respected law practice. He and his college sweetheart, Rose, are on the path to their second home. Rose is dedicated to the service of the church, spending her time in chairing committees and looking after their two boys, Eli and Walker. But everything they have built is threatened when they find themselves enmeshed in a murder case. There are forces bent on destroying their life and as the hunt for the killer continues, Monty faces battles at different fronts, including a businessman who will stop at nothing to destroy him. But secrets from Rose’s past are also catching up on them. Can they navigate the dangerous waters and come out unscathed? Every passing minute presents a new danger!

For a debut novelist, Paul Attaway establishes himself as a great storyteller, crafting a tale that is a spellbinding thriller and a story with characters that readers will adore. The author builds characters that are relatable, believable, and sturdy, infusing them with humanity and allowing their religious beliefs to form the basis of their characters and background. I never saw the twists coming and I couldn’t help but be drawn by the strength of the conflict. The setting is exceptionally written and readers will adore the social and cultural elements that are woven into the fabric of the setting. Blood in the Low Country is fast-paced and conflict-driven. Paul Attaway is an engaging writer who is entertaining and who has the unique gift for writing scenes that are realistic and focused, characters that are sophisticated, and plot elements that are twisty and captivating. Fans of thrillers will enjoy the author’s approach to character and plot and the originality of the story. The emotional dissection and the originality in the plot are amongst the novel’s strong points, but the atmospheric writing and the terrific descriptions got me grounded.