Thursday, August 12, 2021

WOMAN IN SHADOW by Carrie Stuart Parks, Reviewed by Rebecca Maney

"So . . . . It's really you who's been living in the shadows."

Sent to a remote area of Idaho to complete her personal restoration process, forensic linguist Darby Graham begins her covert investigation of suspicious incidents at the prestigious Mule Shoe Ranch by picking up two companions, of the canine variety. All the locals can tell her is that the dogs were abandoned by a resident hermit whom they had aptly dubbed the "Shadow Woman". Creatively saving the two pets from extermination by the local sheriff's deputy, Darby is immediately thankful for their companionable instincts, for her intel was correct; something is definitely "off" in Idaho.

Sheriff's Deputy Bram White is instantly intrigued; " . . . for the first time in a very long time, he wanted to get to know a woman. This woman." Could Darby think that he has anything to do with Roy Zaring's issues at the ranch , but then again, who does? The staff? The guests? The locals? There are way too many possibilities, leading Darby for one, to question whether or not she is mentally or physically capable of figuring it all out; after all, no one there knows her full story, nor does she want them to. Maybe teaming with Bram is not a bad idea. After all, he suggested it.

But there is Someone else more than capable of helping her, and He has made a promise that He fully intends to keep; "Be strong and courageous, Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go". Unfortunately, Darby is definitely going to need a hefty dose of divine intervention.

This story has a dizzying array of moving parts and multiple suspects, but don't despair. When your head swims and your heart is on the brink of breaking, remember that the truth will come out of the shadows and into the light, where it should have been all along. What a great story! 

*I purchased a copy and was under no obligation to provide a positive review. 4.5 stars

SEE PAULA'S REVIEW for the book tour!

BackCover Blurb:
Award-winning author Carrie Stuart Parks combines her expertise as a forensic artist with her talent for crafting a gripping story in this page-turning web of light and shadow.

A woman off the grid.

Darby Graham thinks she’s on a much-needed vacation in remote Idaho to relax. But before she even arrives at the ranch, an earthquake strikes. Then a barn on the edge of town is engulfed in flames and strange problems at the ranch begin to escalate, and Darby finds herself immersed in a chilling mystery.

A town on fire.

More fires erupt around town, and a serial arsonist sends taunting letters to the press after each. As a forensic linguist, this is Darby’s area of expertise . . . but the scars her work has caused her are also the reason she’s trying to escape her life.

A growing darkness.

As the shadows continue moving in, pieces of the town around her come into sharper focus. To make it out alive, Darby must decide if she can trust the one man who sees her clearly.
 
Thomas Nelson, Publisher, July 2021
Available in digital ebook, paperback, and audiobook:

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