Unintended Detour by D.L. Wood

Unintended Detour by D.L. Wood
Series: The Unintended Series
Publisher: Silverglass Press on October 21, 2021

REVIEW BY STACI TROILO

Unintended Detour is the final installment of D.L. Wood’s Unintended trilogy. This Christian thriller combines elements of mystery, suspense, and family drama to create a dynamic novel that kept me captivated from the first word to the last.

This story picks up a couple of years after book two. (You do not need the history from the first two to follow along, but I always think a reader gets more from a work when a series is read in order.)

Chloe, the protagonist, and Jack are gifted a vacation at a luxury property that’s about to open. Jack’s father, a hotelier, has set the whole thing up for their second anniversary. The timing is perfect for the happy couple, who “need” the time to relax. We don’t know what the problem is at the beginning, but we know there’s an issue.

In addition to the personal situation affecting the couple, Jack (who is a writer, among other things) is struggling with his book and will use this time away to wrangle it into submission.

You know what they say about the best laid plans…

They arrive to a police presence and discover the property has been plagued by a series of escalating mishaps that went from possibly accidental to definitely sabotage. Before the soft open, someone is killed. Tensions escalate. Suspects come and go. More attacks occur.

Throughout it all, Chloe tries to help her in-laws by taking over for an out-of-commission employee who was putting together a gallery exhibit for the property… a display with photos, correspondences, and memorabilia related to the first owners of Stonehall Estate. Past and present start to intertwine as she researches the property’s founding family and the history that destroyed them while spawning ghost stories and lost-treasure legends that kept the estate relevant through the current day.

The mystery (or should I say “mysteries” as the historical timeline, though receiving less page space, is equally relevant in this novel) unfolds at a steady pace, escalating to a high-stakes conclusion. The character arcs develop satisfactorily, while relationships (particularly with one notable side character) blossom. Chloe’s faith carries her through her problems, and while the Christian message is notable, it does not beat readers over the head.

… sometimes, for things to be done the right way, waiting was required, no matter how difficult. Right now, God was asking her to wait, and the best thing she could do was to be okay with that.

D.L. Wood, Unintended Detour

Unintended Detour was my favorite of the series. These books can each stand alone, but I read them sequentially and appreciated the Easter eggs I found as I progressed. With regard to this specific work, I really enjoyed the ending. Even though I saw it coming, it was the perfect wrap-up for both the book and the trilogy. An easy 4.5 fish.

_{I read Unintended Detour through Kindle Unlimited.}