by: Karen Harper
Series: South Shores
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release Date: November 29, 2016
Publisher: MIRA
The dead still talk if you know how to listen…
Every case that Claire Britten cracks is a win, not only professionally but personally. The forensic psychologist has spent a lifetime fighting a neurological disorder, and her ability to conquer it is a testament to her razor-sharp intuition.
Nick Markwood is used to winning in the courtroom, so when his latest case is overthrown by Claire's expert testimony, he can't help being impressed by her skill. He needs her on the team of his passion project—investigating unusual cases involving mysterious deaths. Her condition doesn't deter him, and neither does the attraction that sparks between them…even if it should.
As they join forces to investigate a murder in St. Augustine, Florida, Claire is thrust into a situation far more dangerous than she'd anticipated, pushing her disorder to a breaking point. Just when she fears she can't trust her own mind, she discovers Nick's personal connection to the case—and wonders whether she can trust anyone at all.
REVIEW
I have read an endless amount of romantic suspense books and they generally follow the same script. In the case of Chasing Shadows, things are a little different. The heroine, Claire Britten suffers from a neurological condition that plays a major role in how she performs her job as a Certified Fraud Examiner and Forensic Psychologist. Claire has kept her condition a secret from virtually everyone that she knows except her sister. This secret ultimately led to the end of her marriage. Claire’s testimony in a high profile case garners the attention of a hot shot attorney named Nick Markwood who retains Claire’s services to help clear the name of an old flame that has been accused of killing her mother. However, Nick is also secretly trying to locate the man who he believes killed his father and made it look like a suicide. Nick has even created his own foundation that investigates suicides that may have actually been murder.
I liked almost everything about Chasing Shadows. The suspense was dominant throughout the entire book. It wasn’t until the very end that the murderer was revealed. And, I can’t say that it was easy to figure it out. There was a large list of possible suspects and Karen Harper did a great job of giving everyone a motive that was reasonable. More importantly, the suspects all had their own little quirks that made you believe that they were capable of killing someone. On the other hand, it was just as interesting to watch Nick and Claire grow closer together as they attempted to solve the murder while attempting to ward off attacks from possible outside sources that may be more related to Nick’s own crusade as opposed to this case. This created some life-threatening moments for both of them.
I felt as if Chasing Shadows was just as educational as it was suspenseful. I was intrigued to learn about how Claire’s condition was treated and how much it affected her personal and professional life. Kudos to the author for bringing attention to a very real affliction that doesn’t get talked about much. Be advised that the book does end in a cliffhanger so you will need to be committed to this series for the long haul.
**Received a copy from the publisher and voluntarily reviewed.**
Rating: 4
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I really enjoy this author. Been too long since I've read one of her books. She has the most fabulous covers too!
ReplyDeleteIt's my first time. I liked the book. I just wished there wasn't a cliffhanger.
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