Favored is a gripping Southern murder mystery that explores the dark sides of humanity while delving into the power of forgiveness and redemption.

Suspenseful, Redemptive, Heartfelt

Traumatic memory loss is a condition that strikes unexpectedly, altering the lives of those who experience it. For Colleen, the central figure of Favored, waking up with no recollection of who she is or how she ended up a victim of violence creates a haunting disconnection from her life. This amnesia mirrors real cases where trauma blocks the brain’s ability to retrieve painful memories as a survival mechanism, shielding individuals from reliving the worst moments of their existence. However, in the small town of Zacchary, South Carolina, Colleen’s condition isn’t just her own struggle; it sends ripples through the community, creating an urgent need for justice. The sentiment surrounding her crime is one of outrage and disbelief, but beneath it lingers the question of whether forgiveness and redemption are possible when so much has been lost.

As the story unfolds, the town’s quiet facade is shattered by the investigation into Colleen’s case. Through vivid depictions of the town’s colourful inhabitants—like the steadfast Sheriff Boyd Custer and the rough-edged tracker LeRoy Hasgrove—Shuler invites readers into a world filled with suspicion, secrets, and unexpected acts of bravery. The plot’s twists and turns lead to moments of intense revelation, where characters confront not only the horror of the crime but their own capacities for understanding and compassion. Shuler’s ability to intertwine mystery with deep human emotion makes Favored more than just a thrilling whodunit; it becomes an exploration of what happens to a town’s soul in the aftermath of unspeakable tragedy.

Despite its heavy themes, the book balances the darker aspects of the story with an undercurrent of hope. The eventual path to forgiveness is a slow, deliberate process that some may find implausible, yet it is also one of the most poignant elements of the novel. Shuler illustrates that forgiveness is not a straightforward act, but rather something divine and transformative, capable of healing wounds that would otherwise fester. The redemption that emerges by the end of Favored is as powerful as the crime itself, leaving readers with the sense that even in the most painful of circumstances, renewal is possible.

Favored feels like unravelling a knot in the darkness—each strand pulled tight with suspense and emotion until, at last, light floods in, revealing the intricate pattern of grace and redemption that was there all along.

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