Faithful Unto Death

Everything looks perfect in Sugar Land, Texas. But it’s not.

No one knows that better than Walker “Bear” Wells, a former college football player now serving as a minister in this upscale Texas town, where famous athletes mix with ranchers and the local parish priest wants to arm wrestle. It’s a beautiful master-planned community, but people can’t be held to neighborhood restrictions, and Bear deals daily with emotional and spiritual problems, in both his flock and his own family.

But never murder. Not until a man is found dead on the nearby golf course, his skull crushed.

Bear has no interest in playing detective. His job is praying for the dead, not searching for their killers. But every time he turns around, another facet of the investigation tangles with his own life…like the fact that the murdered man’s son—and a main suspect—is currently dating his own rebellious teenage daughter.

He made a promise to do the right thing. But keep­ing promises may be what led to murder..."Packs a considerable punch. ... Readers will look forward to seeing more of Bear, with his formidable intellect, tart sense of humor, and resolute sense of justice." — Publishers Weekly

“Praise be! A new series with a soul, a heart, and a down-home Texas twang. Preacher Bear Wells is an entirely original sleuth and author Stephanie Jaye Evans is that real rarity: a debut writer with dead-on dialogue, winning characters, and—mirabile dictu! —nimble plotting.”   — Susan Wittig Albert, national bestselling author of the China Bayles mysteries

“Warmhearted and clever.” — M.C. Beaton, author of the Agatha Raisin Mysteries

“Stephanie Jaye Evans' marvelous debut sets the traditional village cozy smack-dab in the middle of today's suburban planned community. Evans' gift for colorful characters enlivens Faithful Unto Death, while her assured writing propels it forward. I love her reluctant clerical sleuth, the Reverend Walker ‘Bear’ Wells. Bring on the next Sugar Land mystery!”  — Julia Spencer-Fleming, New York Times bestselling author of One Was a SoldierStephanie Jaye Evans is the daughter of a trailblazing Church of Christ minister and the great-granddaughter of a circuit-riding preacher. She and her husband live in Sugar Land, Texas, and have seven grown children and two badly behaved pugs. This is her first book.