Shadows of Doubt (A Series of Shadows – 1)
(Excerpt from Goodreads) Humans sit comfortably at the summit of the food chain; rarely does any other animal get the advantage. But other people? Now there’s something to fear. In Mell Corcoran’s thrilling crime novel debut, Shadows of Doubt, women are being hunted, tortured, killed and their assailant leaves the same clue on each of them but it has no scientific explanation. Detective Lou Donovan must figure out this killer’s signature because he’s escalating and no one knows where he will strike next.
When the first victim appears in Shadows of Doubt, neither Lou nor her partner wants the case but it’s dropped in their laps. As soon as they make some progress, however, the case is taken from them and the explanation is weak at best. Lou won’t let go and tries to work below the radar but she’s foiled at every turn. It’s as if someone is watching her and knows her every move.
Shadows of Doubt is an exciting ride. It has everything a good crime book needs: a fiery detective with a blood hound’s sense, dark figures with dark pasts, twists, turns, and action. And then there’s the tall, gorgeous man. Lou and this mysterious stranger keep crossing paths and his presence disarms her. What she doesn’t know is that her effect on him is the same and therein lies the rub. If he can’t think straight, Lou will die.
My Review
5 stars
Women that won’t be missed are being found around LA tortured, marked, and drained of blood. Lou Donovan and her partner Vinny DeLuca get assigned the case. But just when they are making headway the case is taken from them and given to LAPD because of jurisdiction issues. But Lou cannot just walk away. She keeps investigating but finds herself stopped at all leads. But then she stumbles into a secret group that knows more about the killings and what is really happening. Lou is given the opportunity to become part of this group for information. She cannot just walk away from this case but this group may be her death in the end.
I was completely blown away by this story. Lou is a great, strong female character. She fights to find the killer and can’t just walk away. And although the group can answer her questions she doesn’t know if she really feels comfortable being part of it.
There is a lot of action going on and a ton of misleading clues. Then you find out this book has a great paranormal twist and things just get ramped up. I couldn’t put this book down and was surprised by the ending. This is a great paranormal thriller, definitely one I recommend checking out.
To purchase Shadows of Doubt make sure to visit Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Goodreads.
I received Shadows of Doubt from Mill City Press and Hillcrest Media Group in exchange for an honest review.
Shadows of Deceit (A Series of Shadows – 2)
(Excerpt from Goodreads) Three bodies. No clues. No heads.
It takes more than a near-death experience to keep Detective Lou Donovan off the job. Three decapitated bodies are discovered in the empty house of a high-profile Colombian coffee mogul putting a drug cartel at the top of the suspect list. Or is that the perpetrator’s intent?
Lou and her team find themselves dancing on the edge of an international incident where every twist and turn uncovers a tangled web of murderous lies. When the absence of evidence is their strongest lead, Lou must find a way to solve the case while navigating a minefield that threatens to expose the people she has come to love.
A unique mix of mystery, crime and a touch of romance, Shadows of Deceit will have readers anxiously turning the pages to discover the truth behind the endless maze of bloodlust and greed. “Shadows of Deceit” is the second installment in the thrilling “Series of Shadows.”
My Review
5 stars
Lou is out recovering. In the meantime, Vinny is getting ready to work a desk job since his wife is expecting a baby. But he is not going to let just anyone work with Lou. No one seems like a match until he Dillion walks in. Vinny takes Dillion to a triple homicide where the bodies are found in a mansion. When Lou hears about the murders and the lack of clues she jumps in. Using her role as Principate for the Sanguinostri, Lou looks into the murders. Are they really part of the Columbian drug cartel or is there more to this case?
Lou can’t help but run toward a mysterious murder that seems to have a serious lack of clues. Being Principate she uses that role to help fill in the cracks of this case. Dillion seems way to perfect for the role I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. Of course there is a chance for romance between Lou and Dillion but I’m glad that was not really part of the story. I think it would have taken away from it.
This is the second book in the series. Although you can read this I recommend checking out Shadows of Doubt first. That way you have more background. This is another great story from Mell Corcoran. I’m really excited to see what is going to happen in the next book, Shadows May Fall.
To purchase Shadows of Deceit make sure to visit Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Goodreads.
I received Shadows of Doubt from Mill City Press and Hillcrest Media Group in exchange for an honest review.
Shadows May Fall (A Series of Shadows – 3)
(Excerpt from Godoreads) Barely catching her breath after wrapping up a string of complex murders, homicide detective Lou Donovan finds herself on the hunt for a new killer with some seriously twisted methods. The ghastly slaughters turn even veteran cops several shades of green, and it’s up to Lou and her new partner to follow their instincts down their dark and deadly path.
As if tracking down a murderer wasn’t enough, Lou finds herself in the middle of a delicate balancing act. Her new and unfamiliar role among one of the world’s most powerful, clandestine organizations has her second-guessing her own instincts. It’s made all the more difficult due to Lou’s refusal to face her inexplicable longing for the new man that looms at the center of her universe.
The third installment in the Series of Shadows saga, Shadows May Fall, follows the series’ beloved detective as she faces new challenges, both professional and personal. Will Lou sort out her tangled life, or will her unresolved emotions result in tragedy?”
My Review
5 stars
A new killer is out there bashing in people’s heads and it’s up to Lou and Dillion to find the killer. Lou also has to hunt down the traitors in the smuggling operation. But if that is not enough on her plate, it is clear that there is something happening between Max and Lou. The question is where is this going to lead and how is it going to affect her serial killer case.
This books starts out with a bang and a woman that commits suicide over her selfish husband’s obsession with the Clippers. From there we move to a guy that had ties to the porn industry with his head bashed in. I instantly wanted to know what was happening and what the killer was up to.
Clearly Max and Lou have feelings for each other yet they still don’t know what they want/where they stand with each other. I was glad to see Caroline was back, I loved her and wish I had a friend just like her. And the ending, it left me guessing up until the end. There are several twists and turns and I had no idea where this book was going to end.
This is an amazing series, I recommend you go out and get your copy today, you won’t be disappointed. But I would read them in order; I think you will get more out of it.
To purchase Shadows May Fall make sure to visit Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Goodreads.
I received Shadows of Doubt from Mill City Press and Hillcrest Media Group in exchange for an honest review.
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