Frozen Footprints by Therese Heckenkamp

Frozen Footprints by Therese Heckenkamp
Series: Book 1 of 3
Publisher: Ivory Tower Press on November 14, 2015

REVIEW BY GWEN M. PLANO

Charlene and Maxwell Perigard are eighteen-year-old twins. Their parents are deceased and the two live with their very wealthy, oil baron grandfather. The story begins with the disappearance of Max.

This isn’t the first time that Max has vanished. Being the rebellious twin, he’d argue with his controlling grandfather and leave. But this time, it’s different. Charlene knows something is terribly wrong. She feels it, experiences it, and grows frightened for his safety.

A ransom note arrives, threatening Max’s life. The grandfather believes this is a stunt, contrived by Max, to secure a large sum of money. He refuses to cooperate in any way. Charlene decides to search for her brother by herself. This decision marks the book’s nosedive into horror.

“. . . and under his wings thou shalt trust. His truth shall compass thee with a shield: thou shalt not be afraid of the terror of the night.”

The terror of the night.

Yes, I thought, that’s what this is. Never-ending terror of the night.

THERESE HECKENKAMP, FROZEN FOOTPRINTS

Frozen Footprints is an engaging, terror-ridden suspense novel. I must confess that I put the novel down many times. It simply was too frightening – for me.

I commend Heckenkamp for her ability to evoke antipathy and other strong emotions. Violence abounds in this book, and she uses it effectively.

This is an explicitly Christian novel, and I found the struggle with faith to be palpably real, especially with the backdrop of the grizzly threat.

If you enjoy books that grab at your heart as you read, this book is for you. It’s well-written, and the characters are believable and well-developed.

Overall, I rate Frozen Footprints 4.5 fish!

composite image of four and a half drawn fish from the British Museum on unsplash
I purchased the paperback version of Frozen Footprints through Amazon.

52 thoughts on “Frozen Footprints by Therese Heckenkamp”

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    1. It was a timely but difficult read for me, Paula, because it involved a hostage situation. I thought of the hostages in the Middle East. In the worst of circumstances, they, like the characters, struggle with their faith and depend on it. 😊

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    1. Thanks so much, Miriam. On Amazon, it is listed as a Christian Mystery & Suspense Romance. But with terror (and horror), I’d call it a psychological thriller. Heckenkamp is a talented writer, and she builds tension and fear very effectively. Many readers love her work, but this one was difficult for me. 😊

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        1. There’s a solid Christian element, Miriam. The protagonist turns to prayer and her faith when death seems imminent. Those scenes were powerful. ❤️

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    1. A good read it is, Nigel. If you take the leap and read it, I hope you’ll let me know what you think. I confess that I get scared easily. 😊

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  5. Thanks, Gwen! I grabbed a copy and noticed the reviewers highlighted the lack of closure in book one. The next in the series, After the Thaw, garnered better ratings, and the third, Escaping Illusions, even higher. I’m always on the lookout for the best of what successful writers already figured out, especially for Amazon’s Christian Mystery and Suspense category.

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    1. Thank you for adding the updates to the series, Grant. Heckenkamp is a wonderful writer, so I’m not surprised. I think you’ll find Frozen Footsteps to be captivating. It definitely gets high marks in suspense. 😊

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      1. I’m looking forward to diving into the stories. I noticed she went Kindle alone for her third book. So far the most recent book’s sales lag compared to the first two books in the series. The latest book has been out only 64 days, so time will tell if forgoing Kindle Unlimited influences future sales, a key consideration when authors have a large group of Unlimited readers and switch their pricing strategy.

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    1. Yep, you’re right, Pat. I didn’t want to reveal the core drama but rather invite readers. It’s a delicate balance between the two, as you know so well. Thank you for pointing this out. 😊

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    1. I think you would too, Joan. If you do read it, please let me know what you think. Heckenkamp is a strong writer, so strong that I could barely turn the pages as the tension mounted. 😊

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  9. Whoa, Gwen, this is not what I expected. I guess by the cover I expected a contemplative read or a loss-and-grief read. Frozen Footprints sounds perfect for those who like heart-racing suspense. Excellent review!

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    1. You’re on target with heart-racing suspense, Vera. I would have listed the genre as a psychological thriller. BTW, the cover is why I bought the book. It’s extraordinary. Thank you for adding to the conversation. 😊

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  10. This sounds like a fantastic page-turner, Gwen. Of course, you know me, I scare easily and have enough difficultly sleeping as it is. If it scared you, I’m afraid the reaction I would have. LOL! Thanks for the terrific review. xo

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    1. You made me smile, Jill. I think this isn’t the best book for you. As I mentioned, I put it down several times – and walked away. Some of the scenes are chilling. Sending hugs . . . 🤗

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    1. I love cozies as well, Jacqui, and this book is definitely not a cozy read. Thank you for stopping by and saying hello. 😊

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    1. Thank you, Jan. There are sections of the book that were difficult, but the faith dimensions were powerful. It was a complicated read – for me. 😊

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  14. Hmm…I’m really torn on this one, Gwen. It sounds so good, but I’m worried that it might be too terrifying, especially with the violence you mentioned. Thanks for the thoughtful review. I will look into this one more on Amazon.

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    1. That would be a good step, Mae. Frozen Footsteps is very well written, but it’s intense. Other readers might have a different perspective that could help you decide. 😊

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    1. Thank you very much, Jacquie. I chose this book because it’s listed as Christian Mystery & Suspense Romance. From my perspective, it’s a Psychological Thriller, sans romance. The faith element emerges as the young woman faces the real possibility of death. This read taught me the importance of properly listing the genres of the books we write. 😊

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  16. I can’t begin to imagine being is such a situation, myself. The Middle East situation coming so soon on the back of what is happening in the Ukraine. Why are humans so cruel to each other when we all have far more than we need to live a fulfilled life. Much peace and happiness to you and yours.

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    1. I very much agree with you, Paula. And like you, I can’t understand the cruelty. My heart breaks for the people. ❤️

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    1. Thank you, Diana. You know me well. If I had known the book included horror, I wouldn’t have chosen it to read. Amazon lists it as Christian Mystery & Suspense Romance, but it’s more accurately a Psychological Thriller. That said, I learned a lot. 😊

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    1. Thank you, KKC-Ink. I totally understand your concern, because I share it. The faith dimension in Frozen Footprints is alluring, but there’s no denying the scariness.

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