Mundie Moms

Saturday, February 2, 2013

Book Review - Shadowlands by Kate Brian

Written by: Kate Brian (twitter)
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Release Date: January 13, 2013
Source: ARC provided by publisher
Buy: amazon | IndieBound | Barnes and Noble
Add to TBR: goodreads

Synopsis: Rory Miller had one chance to fight back and she took it. Rory survived … and the serial killer who attacked her escaped. Now that the infamous Steven Nell is on the loose, Rory must enter the witness protection with her father and sister, Darcy, leaving their friends and family without so much as a goodbye.

Starting over in a new town with only each other is unimaginable for Rory and Darcy. They were inseparable as children, but now they can barely stand each other. As the sisters settle in to Juniper Landing, a picturesque vacation island, it seems like their new home may be just the fresh start they need. They fall in with a group of beautiful, carefree teens and spend their days surfing, partying on the beach, and hiking into endless sunsets. But just as they’re starting to feel safe again, one of their new friends goes missing. Is it a coincidence? Or is the nightmare beginning all over again?


I came across Kate Brian when I read her holiday story, Ex-mas over winter break. And truthfully, I kept flashing back to it as I remembered parts of it that I loved. It was supposed to be a fluffy read, but it was well executed and the character building was really well done.

So I was excited when I received Shadowlands for review. And Kate does it again -- whoa, Rory has an unbelievable spirit. I don't read a lot of psychological thriller plots and the point-of-view of the killer sent chills down my spine every single time I read him. Creeeeeeeeepy. He brought out the mama bear in me. He was believable because of who he was in the community and in Rory's life. He was also believable because of his tics -- those tell tale signals that only someone attacked by him or obsessed with finding him would know.

And Rory, oh boy, Rory was his sole survivor. Her getting away from him set into place a chain of events, and this is where I began to question things. Rory was clearly having post traumatic stress flashbacks or were they premonitions of what could happen? I have to admit to being confused (and okay, a little scared but in a good way); it was the kind of confusion I like. The kind that makes me question every single decision, thought, action Rory made once she and her family were placed in a safe house.

I won't post any spoilers, but I will say that the story takes on a few head-scratching twists and by the time you get to the AHA! moment, you will flip back a few chapters to see where you missed a clue. It's there, trust me.

Kate Brian writes characters who will never, ever give up and she places them within a plot that will leave you wondering what just happened there. I adore stories like that. I encourage you to pick up Shadowlands when you're in the mood for a tense mystery. Stories like this are perfect for our gloomy winter days and long, cold winter nights.


Labels