The Snow Maiden: a Suspense Thriller by Joseph P. Rogers is an exciting novel filled with interesting characters.
Sarah Angelique, a beauty queen in a Wisconsin town, becomes involved with a dangerous man named Wayne Kirchner whose criminal activities lead to murder.
Robert Alma, a private detective from Chicago, is hot on the trail of Wayne.
For her own secret reasons, Sarah marries Thomas Angelique, ensnaring him in a tangled web of intrigue.
Sarah makes several confessions at St. Faustina Church where she seeks absolution and advice from her parish priest to whom she tells her innermost secrets.
Sarah embarks on a spiritual journey in which she learns about forgiveness, mercy, and grace.
A kind young girl named Chloe, whose mysterious mystical gifts include precognition, plays an integral role in events that move steadily to a shocking, dramatic resolution.
Excerpt 1:
Amidst the swirling snow and bustling crowd in the town square, a blonde young girl with a cherubic face pulled her wagon along as she moved forward with the determination of a treasure seeker who had just spotted a pearl of great price.
“Slow down, child!” her grandmother called to her, hurrying along the street as she attempted to keep pace with the girl.
“Yes, Gram.” Chloe stopped long enough for her grandmother to catch up with her, then continued forward at a more moderate pace.
“Good girl.” Few children would have obeyed so quickly, the grandmother reflected. I’m actually glad to see that she can walk so fast. Perhaps she is not as ill as the doctors think that she is. Dear God, let her live. I shouldn’t outlive my granddaughter.
They stopped a few yards from the stage that was in front of St. Faustina Church.
It was almost sunset on New Year’s Day as five young women competing for the title of Snow Maiden stood on the stage. They were the five finalists out of twenty contestants.
“Such beautiful young ladies. In about ten years or so, you’ll be one of those contestants up on that stage.”
Chloe knew that she would not, but she did not want to upset her grandmother, so she said nothing.
“Which contestant do you want to win?” her grandmother asked her in a conspiratorial whisper.
“That one!” Chloe replied without hesitation, pointing at a 22-year-old blonde named Sarah Hamilton.
“I can see why you want her to win,” the grandmother said with a chuckle. “She looks like an older version of yourself.”
“No, that’s not why. I want her to win because she needs to win. And she will win because it is necessary.”
“Are you having another of your visions, dear?”
“No, Gram. I sometimes just know things.”
Her grandmother nodded. She had no doubt who was going to win the pageant.
However, none of the five nervous young women on the stage shared that certainty. While they awaited the judges’ decision, they spoke quietly amongst themselves.
Excerpt 2:
Robert’s reflections were abruptly interrupted by the sudden emergence of Wayne from the building. He was carrying the briefcase.
Robert placed a tip on the table, then went hurrying out the front door of the diner. He spotted Wayne walking casually down a side street.
Why does he have the briefcase with him? Perhaps he has found someone to purchase its contents and is now on the way to make the sale, Robert thought.
Wayne walked through a small park and then across some railroad tracks. Robert followed him, keeping a safe distance back in order to remain unnoticed.
However, Wayne never glanced back and seemed completely unconcerned that someone might follow him. He went into a wooded area on the opposite side of the train tracks.
That must be where he is meeting the buyer, Robert thought, quickening his step as he lost sight of Wayne who was now in the dark woods.
As Robert crossed the tracks and moved into the woods, he realized that it would be prudent to be cautious. He pulled his pistol from the shoulder holster beneath his jacket.
Where is he? Robert moved further into the woods, but he could not see Wayne anywhere. Seeing a small bridge up ahead, he headed in that direction.
“Looking for somebody?” Wayne said, stepping out from behind the tree that Robert had just walked past. “Drop your gun and turn around slowly.”
Robert mentally kicked himself for walking into a trap.
“I’m going to turn around, keeping the barrel of my gun lowered to the ground, but I’m not going to drop it until I see that you are armed. I don’t plan to give you my gun if you don’t have one.”
“Suit yourself.”
Robert made the slow turn and was sorry to see that Wayne had a Glock pistol aimed at his chest. He had not been bluffing.
The Snow Maiden: a Suspense Thriller by Joseph P. Rogers is an exciting novel filled with interesting characters. 
