Review: The Real Enemy
March 31st, 2009 | 
Author: ABOUT THE BOOK
Brill Jessup just became the first female police chief in Sophie Trace, Tennessee, and is riding on the credentials of a stellar eighteen-year career on the Memphis police force. She may be a pro at finding clues, but she tends to ignore the obvious in her personal life. And she would rather work than deal with the bitterness she feels about her husband Kurt’s infidelity.
Kurt is weighed down by her unrelenting anger as he struggles to let God redeem the stupidest mistake he ever made. He is genuinely contrite and making every effort to show his commitment to Brill. But she hides behind her badge and her bitterness, deciding that moving her family away from Memphis is the only change she needs to make. So why can’t Brill get over this anger?
Before she ever has time to unpack her boxes, people start disappearing. Lots of them. Seven people in seven days. To complicate matters, a local legend has many residents believing that the cause is unearthly─tied to the “red shadows,” or spirits of the departed Cherokee who once inhabited the land.
While Brill draws on all of her experience and instinct to solve the case, she must confront an enemy that threatens everything she holds dear─one that cannot be stopped with a badge and a gun. She is forced to confront the real enemy.
If you would like to read the first chapter of The Real Enemy, go HERE.
My Thoughts
How neat of a name is “Brill Jessup”? Brill isn’t the heroine’s real name, just a nickname, but I love it! The story wouldn’t have been the same with a Mary Jessup or a Lori Jessup. Brill is the perfect name for the heroine of this story. 
The Real Enemy is one of those books that is hard to put down. I had to read it over a couple of days because of my schedule, and that really bothered me. I wanted to know what happened next!
Part of the intrigue came from some foreshadowing (hints at what’s to come). I knew that certain characters were important, but no details were given as to why until much later in the story. Also even the seemingly little scenes and details end up being important. I liked how the author, Kathy Herman, ties it all together in the end making the reader say, “Oh, that’s how that connected to that which connected to that.”
Besides being skillfully written, The Real Enemy effectively deals with a painful topic – overcoming bitterness and offering forgiveness for a spouse’s infidelity. Watching Kurt try to win Brill’s heart again is a sweet tale. He shows her compassion, love, and care, all while she throws it back in his face. To me, Kurt’s actions are a picture of Christ’s love for us. It doesn’t matter if we mock Him or turn a cold shoulder, He still loves us the same and tries to woo us back to Him.
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