I'm a fan of supernatural fiction--love to read (and write) the stuff. And I know just how difficult it is, especially in the CBA, to come up with a unique twist on the genre. After all, "supernatural fiction" in the CBA often means works centering around spiritual warfare, populated by angels and demons.

So it's a rare treat when someone comes up with a new spin on the old angels and demons idea. This is exactly what Kathryn Mackel's done with her new chiller "The Hidden." In a dark ravine on her father's horse ranch, Susan Rose, a child psychologist, finds a young man bound in chains--a young man who doesn't know who he is. Who is this young man called Jacob? And what will happen when Susan finds out?

I hate discussing plots in reviews, because you should discover the plot for yourself as the reader. Suffice to say Mackel fills the story with some nice twists and surprises as she explores the nature of love and forgiveness. But for me, "The Hidden" refers to more than the obvious young Jacob in chains, hidden in the darkness when Susan finds him. Even more interesting are the hidden secrets and motivations of the cast of characters. This is a book with a supernatural thread running through it, to be sure, but the heart of the conflict, and the heart of the story, is about Susan's fractured family.

Let's all hope Kathryn Mackel's next book hits the shelves soon.