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Secrets of Shadow Falls #1
Killing Me Softly
FIRST YOU DRINK, THEN YOU DIE.
The Nightcap Strangler, who terrorized the town of Shadow Falls sixteen years ago, has finally been executed. Case closed. Until Bryan Kendall's lover is murdered in the notorious killer's unique style and the rookie cop stands accused. Has someone committed the perfect copycat crime...or was the wrong man put to death?
A continent away, Dawn Jones hears that her first love has been accused of murder and knows that only she can help him. But to do so, she'll have to face the very fears that drove them apart.
Together they'll work to uncover secrets someone's willing to kill to keep, and renew a love as dangerous as it is inevitable. And their best lead is the girl found dead in Bryan's bed, reeking of whiskey poured down her throat before her killer squeezed it shut.
A killer who thinks that Dawn, too, could use one last drink...
The Nightcap Strangler, who terrorized the town of Shadow Falls sixteen years ago, has finally been executed. Case closed. Until Bryan Kendall's lover is murdered in the notorious killer's unique style and the rookie cop stands accused. Has someone committed the perfect copycat crime...or was the wrong man put to death?
A continent away, Dawn Jones hears that her first love has been accused of murder and knows that only she can help him. But to do so, she'll have to face the very fears that drove them apart.
Together they'll work to uncover secrets someone's willing to kill to keep, and renew a love as dangerous as it is inevitable. And their best lead is the girl found dead in Bryan's bed, reeking of whiskey poured down her throat before her killer squeezed it shut.
A killer who thinks that Dawn, too, could use one last drink...
376 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 22, 2010
About the author
Maggie Shayne
272 books2,541 followersI live in the teeny, tiny town of Taylor, NY, (Alliteration Alert!) though my mailing address is Cincinnatus, my telephone exchange is Truxton and I pay taxes and vote in Cuyler. All of these are at least in the same rural county in the southern hills of New York State; Cortland County. There are more cattle than people here. The nearest “big” cities are Syracuse and Binghamton and they are an hour away, in different directions, and not really all that big by most standards, though they both seem humongous to me. I look out my window to see rolling, green, thickly forested hills, wildflower laden meadows and wide open blue, blue skies. My road is barely paved. The nearest neighboring place is a 700 acre dairy farm.
My house is a big, century old farmhouse. I moved in here after my divorce in 2006. Just a little over a year later, the house, which I had named, SERENITY, burned. It was 99% gutted, and I lost my two dogs, Sally, an 11-year-old great Dane, and Wrinkles, my 14-year-old, blind bulldog. This was the culmination of my Dark Night of the soul, which had seemed to hit me all at once in 2006-2007. My mother died that year, after a 14 month battle with pancreatic cancer. She was only 60. The youngest of my five daughters had left home that same year, and while that’s not a tragedy at all, it felt like one to me. Then came the divorce. And finally there was the fire--it seemed my darkest night wasn’t quite finished with me after all. I had lost almost everything before that point, and as I poked through the wet ashes and soot the next day, I realized that I had now been stripped all the way to the bone.
No better time to start over. (And no, I didn’t come to that realization that day--there were a few days of wallowing in pity first, particularly the day after the fire, when I hit a deer and smashed up my car, which I was practically living in!)
That’s when I started to laugh. Just sat on the side of the road as the deer bounded, uninjured and carefree, out of sight, and laughed. It was just too ridiculous at that point, to do anything else!
And from there, I picked myself up, and brushed myself off, and said, okay, there’s only one way to go from here. Forward. And that’s what I did. There I was at the age of harrurmphemmph, living in my one, mostly undamaged remaining room, with a dorm-sized mini-fridge, a futon, a TV, my cat (nine lives!) and a laptop. And not much else. (Though thank goodness the room that survived the fire, was a room that had its own attached bathroom!)
Since then I have rebuilt my beloved home, which really has become my haven, my “Serenity.” I share it now with my fiancé, Lance, and we have accumulated quite the little family together. “Little” being a relative term. We have a pair of English Mastiffs, Dozer and Daisy, who weigh 203 pounds and 208 pounds respectively, and a little pudgy English Bulldog named Niblet, who is bigger than both of them, inside her mind. We also have the aforementioned cat, Glorificus (“Glory” for short,) who adores her canine pups and keeps them firmly in line. And we've acquired a pair of stray cats as well, a mother and son, Luna (Lulu for short) and Butters aka Buddy. Lulu showed up pregnant during a lunar eclipse, had a litter, and vanished again. We found homes for all the kittens except one. Butters. We got him fixed and kept him. A few months later, Lulu returned, again expecting. This litter was born on the "Monster Moon." Again, all the kittens were spayed and neutered and placed in homes, and this time we got Lulu to the vet in time to spay her before the cycle could repeat.
Glory is not amused.
She has a story of her own, my old Glory cat, having been with me before the Dark Times descended, she went through it all with me, moved with me, survived the fire, and remains with me still. She's tolerating the newcomers. Barely.
My partner is an artist, a mechanic, a welder and an inventor, and the rumors are true, he is much younger than I
My house is a big, century old farmhouse. I moved in here after my divorce in 2006. Just a little over a year later, the house, which I had named, SERENITY, burned. It was 99% gutted, and I lost my two dogs, Sally, an 11-year-old great Dane, and Wrinkles, my 14-year-old, blind bulldog. This was the culmination of my Dark Night of the soul, which had seemed to hit me all at once in 2006-2007. My mother died that year, after a 14 month battle with pancreatic cancer. She was only 60. The youngest of my five daughters had left home that same year, and while that’s not a tragedy at all, it felt like one to me. Then came the divorce. And finally there was the fire--it seemed my darkest night wasn’t quite finished with me after all. I had lost almost everything before that point, and as I poked through the wet ashes and soot the next day, I realized that I had now been stripped all the way to the bone.
No better time to start over. (And no, I didn’t come to that realization that day--there were a few days of wallowing in pity first, particularly the day after the fire, when I hit a deer and smashed up my car, which I was practically living in!)
That’s when I started to laugh. Just sat on the side of the road as the deer bounded, uninjured and carefree, out of sight, and laughed. It was just too ridiculous at that point, to do anything else!
And from there, I picked myself up, and brushed myself off, and said, okay, there’s only one way to go from here. Forward. And that’s what I did. There I was at the age of harrurmphemmph, living in my one, mostly undamaged remaining room, with a dorm-sized mini-fridge, a futon, a TV, my cat (nine lives!) and a laptop. And not much else. (Though thank goodness the room that survived the fire, was a room that had its own attached bathroom!)
Since then I have rebuilt my beloved home, which really has become my haven, my “Serenity.” I share it now with my fiancé, Lance, and we have accumulated quite the little family together. “Little” being a relative term. We have a pair of English Mastiffs, Dozer and Daisy, who weigh 203 pounds and 208 pounds respectively, and a little pudgy English Bulldog named Niblet, who is bigger than both of them, inside her mind. We also have the aforementioned cat, Glorificus (“Glory” for short,) who adores her canine pups and keeps them firmly in line. And we've acquired a pair of stray cats as well, a mother and son, Luna (Lulu for short) and Butters aka Buddy. Lulu showed up pregnant during a lunar eclipse, had a litter, and vanished again. We found homes for all the kittens except one. Butters. We got him fixed and kept him. A few months later, Lulu returned, again expecting. This litter was born on the "Monster Moon." Again, all the kittens were spayed and neutered and placed in homes, and this time we got Lulu to the vet in time to spay her before the cycle could repeat.
Glory is not amused.
She has a story of her own, my old Glory cat, having been with me before the Dark Times descended, she went through it all with me, moved with me, survived the fire, and remains with me still. She's tolerating the newcomers. Barely.
My partner is an artist, a mechanic, a welder and an inventor, and the rumors are true, he is much younger than I
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews
January 7, 2020
RTC...
October 12, 2010
Good story, slowly solving the mystery of a serial killer while on the run from police and the killer.
STORY BRIEF:
Dawn’s father was psychic. Somehow when he died five years ago his gifts were passed to Dawn. She began seeing and talking to ghosts, and she couldn’t make it stop. So she ran away from Vermont and made a new life for herself in California. She left her teenage sweetheart Bryan. Since then she has been taking tranquilizers and alcohol to stop the ghosts. Bryan became a cop. Nick, another cop, became famous 15 years ago when he caught the nightcap strangler, a serial killer. Bryan has been asked to prepare a presentation about Nick for an awards ceremony. It’s a secret, and no one is to know that Nick will be honored. So Bryan secretly takes the serial killer police files to study them for his presentation. The serial killer is still out there. An innocent man went to jail. The killer is aware of Bryan taking the files and is worried that he might be caught. So the killer kills Bryan’s friend Bette and frames Bryan. Dawn hears about this and comes back to town. She hopes to use her psychic gift to help find the killer.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
This book was labeled romantic suspense, but it’s mostly mystery suspense. There’s just enough romance to put it within the genre, but I would have liked more relationship development. We don’t see that because the relationship developed years ago when they were teens. Now they are separated, and it’s mostly about working together to solve the mystery.
I would have liked more explanation about the psychic gift being transferred to Dawn at her father’s death. I expected to see more happen with this gift, but it hardly came into play at all. That’s ok with me, it’s just why pay so much attention to it at the beginning of the book if you’re not going to use it? I also wanted to know more about Sara’s baby. It was mentioned several times but never answered. Again, that’s ok, but it would have been nice to get an answer.
Regarding the story, it didn’t grab me emotionally. I didn’t get the feeling of “oh, this is good.” It felt more like slowly uncovering clues about a serial killer. It was a little unbelievable that Bryan and Dawn could go around interviewing people without being captured. The police were hunting for Bryan to arrest him. But again, I accept it for the sake of the story. It was an ok story. No serious problems, but nothing special enough to set it apart from others. There was an interesting collection of characters in a cabin at one point. I was intrigued with their interactions as they suspected each other. The ending was well done with suspense and action.
OTHER REVIEWERS:
I noticed some other reviewers say they “knew who the killer was” early in the book which was a problem for them. My reaction was different. First, I had a suspicion, but I didn’t “know” for sure. Second, I don’t think it’s a problem to know who the bad guy is. I’ve read a number of good stories where I know the villain early on. It can be good to be in the minds of both the good guys and the bad guys and watch their interactions. It’s just a different type of story. I wouldn’t fault the author over that. In fact I was pleased with myself that I suspected someone. I felt smart. I don’t often figure those things out.
DATA:
Story length: 370 pages. Swearing language: strong, including religious swear words. Sexual language: moderate. Number of sex scenes: one, five pages long. Setting: current day Vermont. Copyright: 2010. Genre: mystery suspense with some romance.
DISCLOSURE:
This book was provided to me free of charge through the Amazon Vine Program in return for my writing a review.
STORY BRIEF:
Dawn’s father was psychic. Somehow when he died five years ago his gifts were passed to Dawn. She began seeing and talking to ghosts, and she couldn’t make it stop. So she ran away from Vermont and made a new life for herself in California. She left her teenage sweetheart Bryan. Since then she has been taking tranquilizers and alcohol to stop the ghosts. Bryan became a cop. Nick, another cop, became famous 15 years ago when he caught the nightcap strangler, a serial killer. Bryan has been asked to prepare a presentation about Nick for an awards ceremony. It’s a secret, and no one is to know that Nick will be honored. So Bryan secretly takes the serial killer police files to study them for his presentation. The serial killer is still out there. An innocent man went to jail. The killer is aware of Bryan taking the files and is worried that he might be caught. So the killer kills Bryan’s friend Bette and frames Bryan. Dawn hears about this and comes back to town. She hopes to use her psychic gift to help find the killer.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
This book was labeled romantic suspense, but it’s mostly mystery suspense. There’s just enough romance to put it within the genre, but I would have liked more relationship development. We don’t see that because the relationship developed years ago when they were teens. Now they are separated, and it’s mostly about working together to solve the mystery.
I would have liked more explanation about the psychic gift being transferred to Dawn at her father’s death. I expected to see more happen with this gift, but it hardly came into play at all. That’s ok with me, it’s just why pay so much attention to it at the beginning of the book if you’re not going to use it? I also wanted to know more about Sara’s baby. It was mentioned several times but never answered. Again, that’s ok, but it would have been nice to get an answer.
Regarding the story, it didn’t grab me emotionally. I didn’t get the feeling of “oh, this is good.” It felt more like slowly uncovering clues about a serial killer. It was a little unbelievable that Bryan and Dawn could go around interviewing people without being captured. The police were hunting for Bryan to arrest him. But again, I accept it for the sake of the story. It was an ok story. No serious problems, but nothing special enough to set it apart from others. There was an interesting collection of characters in a cabin at one point. I was intrigued with their interactions as they suspected each other. The ending was well done with suspense and action.
OTHER REVIEWERS:
I noticed some other reviewers say they “knew who the killer was” early in the book which was a problem for them. My reaction was different. First, I had a suspicion, but I didn’t “know” for sure. Second, I don’t think it’s a problem to know who the bad guy is. I’ve read a number of good stories where I know the villain early on. It can be good to be in the minds of both the good guys and the bad guys and watch their interactions. It’s just a different type of story. I wouldn’t fault the author over that. In fact I was pleased with myself that I suspected someone. I felt smart. I don’t often figure those things out.
DATA:
Story length: 370 pages. Swearing language: strong, including religious swear words. Sexual language: moderate. Number of sex scenes: one, five pages long. Setting: current day Vermont. Copyright: 2010. Genre: mystery suspense with some romance.
DISCLOSURE:
This book was provided to me free of charge through the Amazon Vine Program in return for my writing a review.
May 17, 2010
Wow, I simply loved this book and let me tell you that says something because, I’m one that loves my books with quite a bit of steamy romance in them, but this one didn’t give me that, nope. I know your saying so what kept me reading? Well it was because the story was so freaking amazing I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure out who was killing these women and why and then the story turned again to where you suspected someone else OMG, it was just an amazing ride one I wont never forget. I am not giving out to much in this review, I hate to spoil a great mystery. If you like a touch of romance and paranormal with your mystery, a killer that makes you shiver all over while you reading how he/she is killing these women, add this book to your list. You also get to meet a few men and women that were just wonderful to read, plus you also get to read them again in the next book. I just love reading one character in one book and get to read their story in the next, you just seem to get to really know the character that way.
Very few spoilers
This story is about a serial killer that has been dormant for 16 years for some reason, (that I not telling) he/she comes back and starts killing again but this time the killer is after Dawn that’s all the killer kills is women that looks like Dawn. Dawn left her first love Bryan 5 years ago after she started seeing dead people. She didn’t say a word to Bryan she just left. Well when Bryan, a cop finds a dead woman he has been having a romance with in his bed he finds himself the main suspect. Dawn’s mother calls her to come home and help Bryan but she doesn’t want to she doesn’t want to see the dead or Bryan again because she knows she is still in love with him. This is one wild ride, while they are fighting feelings for each other they are running for their lives while the killer is still killing and making it look like Bryan is doing the murders.
Very few spoilers
This story is about a serial killer that has been dormant for 16 years for some reason, (that I not telling) he/she comes back and starts killing again but this time the killer is after Dawn that’s all the killer kills is women that looks like Dawn. Dawn left her first love Bryan 5 years ago after she started seeing dead people. She didn’t say a word to Bryan she just left. Well when Bryan, a cop finds a dead woman he has been having a romance with in his bed he finds himself the main suspect. Dawn’s mother calls her to come home and help Bryan but she doesn’t want to she doesn’t want to see the dead or Bryan again because she knows she is still in love with him. This is one wild ride, while they are fighting feelings for each other they are running for their lives while the killer is still killing and making it look like Bryan is doing the murders.
November 16, 2011
★★★✩✩ Guessed the killer almost instantly. Which is a good thing, in a way, as it made total sense and wasn't some contrived convoluted unrealistic twist. I like this writer and will read more in the series.
January 30, 2011
Book #12 of 2011
I wanted this to be a better book than it was. The writing was fairly decent and the characters were likeable enough, but it was just rather obvious to me who the bad guy was. Right from the start. And, I suppose that I could believe that the characters wouldn't suspect this individual, and if it hadn't been so obvious as a reader who it was, it would have been a better book. I mean, these kind of suspense books work a certain way, right? At some point, the reader is introduced to the bad guy. It’s never someone completely random. Anyway, I don't know what else to say without giving it away...
Other things that annoyed me... Bryan and Dawn decide to play amateur sleuths. Well, he's a cop (not a detective, a cop), so I guess the argument could be made that he's not exactly an amateur, but she is. And he's on the run from the law, so he's not really a professional at that point anyway. In fact, one of the reasons that she even came back (she'd run away from him 5 years prior) was because they used to be really good at playing amateur detective. Why not leave it to the real detectives anyway?
And then there was the whole thing about her leaving. That was OK in and of itself, except the two of them brought it up or thought about it every. other. minute. UGH!
And she left because she could see ghosts. And she didn't want to, so she left to run away from the gift/curse. Again, OK as a story set up... but then she apparently can't see ghosts anymore anyway. So it’s this whole bit part of the story that in the end doesn't seem all that important.
Overall, just an OK book.
I wanted this to be a better book than it was. The writing was fairly decent and the characters were likeable enough, but it was just rather obvious to me who the bad guy was. Right from the start. And, I suppose that I could believe that the characters wouldn't suspect this individual, and if it hadn't been so obvious as a reader who it was, it would have been a better book. I mean, these kind of suspense books work a certain way, right? At some point, the reader is introduced to the bad guy. It’s never someone completely random. Anyway, I don't know what else to say without giving it away...
Other things that annoyed me... Bryan and Dawn decide to play amateur sleuths. Well, he's a cop (not a detective, a cop), so I guess the argument could be made that he's not exactly an amateur, but she is. And he's on the run from the law, so he's not really a professional at that point anyway. In fact, one of the reasons that she even came back (she'd run away from him 5 years prior) was because they used to be really good at playing amateur detective. Why not leave it to the real detectives anyway?
And then there was the whole thing about her leaving. That was OK in and of itself, except the two of them brought it up or thought about it every. other. minute. UGH!
And she left because she could see ghosts. And she didn't want to, so she left to run away from the gift/curse. Again, OK as a story set up... but then she apparently can't see ghosts anymore anyway. So it’s this whole bit part of the story that in the end doesn't seem all that important.
Overall, just an OK book.
July 6, 2010
After a rather long wait, it was great to finally get to read Dawn's story. I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, but Shayne delivered a story that I enjoyed.
Series Note:
I think it would be pertinent to give some background info here. This trilogy, and particularly this first book, connect to Shayne's "Mordecai Young" romantic suspense trilogy.
It's been quite a while since I read that initial series so my details may be a little off - in the MY series, Dawn Jones is a 18-ish young woman who finally meets her birth mother, who'd been believed dead and in hiding for years, and learns that her birth father was a psychic, crazy former cult leader and now murderer. Dawn helps try to track down Mordecai and is there when he dies. Mordecai, in his dying moments, passes on his ability to talk to dead people to Dawn. Dawn freaks out, unable to handle her new psychic ability. And at the end of the third book of the MY trilogy, she runs away, driving off in her jeep, leaving behind Bryan Kendall, the boy she loves. Which obviously left many of us readers waiting and wondering what happened to Dawn.
Is it necessary to read the MY trilogy to read this one? Hard to say. I think maybe you could skip it, but you'd probably get more out of this book if you knew all the history.
Summary:
Five years have passed since Dawn left her life behind, running from her psychic ability to talk to dead people. She's built a life for herself in California and with medication and booze managed to keep the dead from talking to her. But then comes a phone call telling her that her first and only love, Bryan Kendall, is in serious trouble.
Bryan is now a rookie cop in Shadow Falls, Vermont, and after a party one night he wakes up to find his semi-girlfriend dead - murdered - in his bed. He is on the verge of being arrested when Dawn returns home, throwing his world even more off kilter.
Dawn knows Bryan could never have murdered anybody. But the case is disturbing as the method matches that of a serial killer from sixteen years ago. Dawn vows to help clear Bryan, but in the process, she and Bryan must deal with their shared past, and the fact that the killer now has his sights set on Dawn.
Review:
First off, I want to say thank you to author Maggie Shayne who - unlike some authors who shall remain nameless (*cough*suzannebrockmanjoanjohnston*cough*) - gave readers exactly what they wanted in this book: the return of Dawn and the reunion of her any Bryan. If I had to deal with another book where the author decided to be "different" or whatever, I was not going to be a happy camper. But Shayne stuck with what readers wanted and I just wanted to say Thanks for that!
Anyway, I've been waiting so long to read Dawn's story. I read the Mordecai Young series back in 2005/2006, and even though it wasn't a very favorite series of mine (hated the 2nd book), I liked it enough, and the character of Dawn really stuck with me. When I'd finished the 3rd book with Dawn driving off in her jeep, I really wanted to know what happened to her. Over the years, I've popped by Shayne's website every few months hoping for news on a book for Dawn. Shayne said she really wanted to write her book, but her publisher was pushing her to focus on her PNR stuff. So the continuation got pushed aside for five years or so. I was very happy when she finally announced that she would have a new romantic suspense trilogy and that the first book would feature Dawn.
So what did I think of this book? I liked it, quite a bit. Solid 4-stars leaning toward 4.5. Maybe 4.25 then, LOL. It was great to get to read about Dawn again, to see her have to face the things she's been running away from for 5 years. And I loved that she reunited with Bryan. It's been so long since I read the previous book that I don't remember a lot of the details of their initial relationship, but I liked them together and was happy Shayne stuck with them. There's great chemistry between these two.
The romance in the book is pretty good. Dawn and Bryan spend pretty much the whole book together and are continuously battling their feelings for each other and their past hurts. I kinda wanted them to work through it quicker but oh well. What can ya do? But it was really obvious these two loved each other deeply.
As for the suspense element. Creepy story. Not quite a creepy as a Karen Rose book, but it was along those lines. Serial killer romantic suspense books always tend to be rather freaky/creepy. I thought Shayne did a good job with the storyline, keeping it interesting and moving things along.
I was pretty sure fairly early on who the bad guy was. I'm not sure if that's just because I read a lot of romantic suspense and am good at reading between the lines or if Shayne made it a little too obvious. I did think there were some times when wording was a little to obviously meant to make a character look good to make readers think a certain way about a character and throw them off track. So maybe there could have been some adjustment there. But it didn't ruin the story for me that I had figured it out.
Another thing I enjoyed about the book was Olivia's situation. I was fascinated by that storyline and look forward to reading more about her in the next book in this trilogy.
What didn't I like about this book? Hmmm...nothing really jumps out at me. I wouldn't have minded a little more about Dawn's past being mentioned...I don't think you hear once how her adoptive mother is doing. And there was a time or two when police procedural stuff seemed off. But other than that, I had no major complaints.
For those of you who read the Mordecai Young series, this is a must read to know what happens with Dawn and Bryan. But it's also a good romantic suspense book to read. Can't wait for the next in the trilogy!
Series Note:
I think it would be pertinent to give some background info here. This trilogy, and particularly this first book, connect to Shayne's "Mordecai Young" romantic suspense trilogy.
It's been quite a while since I read that initial series so my details may be a little off - in the MY series, Dawn Jones is a 18-ish young woman who finally meets her birth mother, who'd been believed dead and in hiding for years, and learns that her birth father was a psychic, crazy former cult leader and now murderer. Dawn helps try to track down Mordecai and is there when he dies. Mordecai, in his dying moments, passes on his ability to talk to dead people to Dawn. Dawn freaks out, unable to handle her new psychic ability. And at the end of the third book of the MY trilogy, she runs away, driving off in her jeep, leaving behind Bryan Kendall, the boy she loves. Which obviously left many of us readers waiting and wondering what happened to Dawn.
Is it necessary to read the MY trilogy to read this one? Hard to say. I think maybe you could skip it, but you'd probably get more out of this book if you knew all the history.
Summary:
Five years have passed since Dawn left her life behind, running from her psychic ability to talk to dead people. She's built a life for herself in California and with medication and booze managed to keep the dead from talking to her. But then comes a phone call telling her that her first and only love, Bryan Kendall, is in serious trouble.
Bryan is now a rookie cop in Shadow Falls, Vermont, and after a party one night he wakes up to find his semi-girlfriend dead - murdered - in his bed. He is on the verge of being arrested when Dawn returns home, throwing his world even more off kilter.
Dawn knows Bryan could never have murdered anybody. But the case is disturbing as the method matches that of a serial killer from sixteen years ago. Dawn vows to help clear Bryan, but in the process, she and Bryan must deal with their shared past, and the fact that the killer now has his sights set on Dawn.
Review:
First off, I want to say thank you to author Maggie Shayne who - unlike some authors who shall remain nameless (*cough*suzannebrockmanjoanjohnston*cough*) - gave readers exactly what they wanted in this book: the return of Dawn and the reunion of her any Bryan. If I had to deal with another book where the author decided to be "different" or whatever, I was not going to be a happy camper. But Shayne stuck with what readers wanted and I just wanted to say Thanks for that!
Anyway, I've been waiting so long to read Dawn's story. I read the Mordecai Young series back in 2005/2006, and even though it wasn't a very favorite series of mine (hated the 2nd book), I liked it enough, and the character of Dawn really stuck with me. When I'd finished the 3rd book with Dawn driving off in her jeep, I really wanted to know what happened to her. Over the years, I've popped by Shayne's website every few months hoping for news on a book for Dawn. Shayne said she really wanted to write her book, but her publisher was pushing her to focus on her PNR stuff. So the continuation got pushed aside for five years or so. I was very happy when she finally announced that she would have a new romantic suspense trilogy and that the first book would feature Dawn.
So what did I think of this book? I liked it, quite a bit. Solid 4-stars leaning toward 4.5. Maybe 4.25 then, LOL. It was great to get to read about Dawn again, to see her have to face the things she's been running away from for 5 years. And I loved that she reunited with Bryan. It's been so long since I read the previous book that I don't remember a lot of the details of their initial relationship, but I liked them together and was happy Shayne stuck with them. There's great chemistry between these two.
The romance in the book is pretty good. Dawn and Bryan spend pretty much the whole book together and are continuously battling their feelings for each other and their past hurts. I kinda wanted them to work through it quicker but oh well. What can ya do? But it was really obvious these two loved each other deeply.
As for the suspense element. Creepy story. Not quite a creepy as a Karen Rose book, but it was along those lines. Serial killer romantic suspense books always tend to be rather freaky/creepy. I thought Shayne did a good job with the storyline, keeping it interesting and moving things along.
I was pretty sure fairly early on who the bad guy was. I'm not sure if that's just because I read a lot of romantic suspense and am good at reading between the lines or if Shayne made it a little too obvious. I did think there were some times when wording was a little to obviously meant to make a character look good to make readers think a certain way about a character and throw them off track. So maybe there could have been some adjustment there. But it didn't ruin the story for me that I had figured it out.
Another thing I enjoyed about the book was Olivia's situation. I was fascinated by that storyline and look forward to reading more about her in the next book in this trilogy.
What didn't I like about this book? Hmmm...nothing really jumps out at me. I wouldn't have minded a little more about Dawn's past being mentioned...I don't think you hear once how her adoptive mother is doing. And there was a time or two when police procedural stuff seemed off. But other than that, I had no major complaints.
For those of you who read the Mordecai Young series, this is a must read to know what happens with Dawn and Bryan. But it's also a good romantic suspense book to read. Can't wait for the next in the trilogy!
December 19, 2010
Originally reviewed at smexybooks-http://www.smexybooks.com/2010/08/rev...
Olivia Dupree has been hiding in Shadow Falls for 16 years. Never getting to close to anyone. When a man is brought to the hospital with a gunshot and her business card is in his pocket, Olivia assumes it is Aaron Westhaven, a recluse author she had invited to speak at her university. Only, Aaron doesn't remember who he is or why he is there.
When Olivia is the victim of a break in, Aaron comes to the rescue and her past is suddenly brought to light. As Aaron's feelings begin to deepen for Olivia; he is also regaining his memories. Soon is becomes clear that Aaron wasn't sent to save Olivia. He was sent to kill her.
In Kill Me Again Ms. Shayne takes us back to Shadow Falls and tells us Olivia's story. We first met Olivia Dupree in Killing Me Softly. Olivia Dupree is a quiet self isolated English Professor with a huge secret. She ran away from an abusive relationship and faked her own death 16 years ago.Now is seems her ex lover has found her and wants her dead.
Aaron Westhaven has no idea who is is or why he is in the Shadow Falls hospital. All he has is Olivia Dupree's business card. When Olivia is called to help identify him she is at a loss. She has never met Aaron Westhaven; only knows him through his books. When Olivia is attacked in her home, Aaron rushs into save her. From there the two decide to take fate in to their
own hands and find out who he is and who wants Olivia dead.
A suspenseful romance, you figure out early on what the mystery is while the rest of the story flushes out the suspense and romance between Aaron and Olivia. For me the story was rather bland till the last 100 pages.There is no substance or structure to it.
The majority of it is watching Aaron and Olivia interact. I really had a hard time connecting with either of these characters. Olivia is a mess of contradictions. She has spent 16 years hiding. She flows under the radar by maintaining low social and no emotional relationships. But once she hits the road with Aaron her personality becomes bi polar. She is attracted to him and propositions him after knowing him two days but in the next breathe talks of how she doesn't trust men at all.
Aaron is the strong silent type and seems to know he is not an writer but knows nothing beyond that. He has flashbacks to his old life and is horrified by it.His character is a bit more believable. He reacts as a person with amnesia would. While he is attracted to Olivia he has the sense to know he needs to figure out who he is and where he fits in to this whole scenario.
As we progress towards the finale, the story picks up pace but becomes jumbled with it's multi layered twists and turns.
Overall the story felt forced and lacked Ms Shayne's usual style and flair.
Olivia Dupree has been hiding in Shadow Falls for 16 years. Never getting to close to anyone. When a man is brought to the hospital with a gunshot and her business card is in his pocket, Olivia assumes it is Aaron Westhaven, a recluse author she had invited to speak at her university. Only, Aaron doesn't remember who he is or why he is there.
When Olivia is the victim of a break in, Aaron comes to the rescue and her past is suddenly brought to light. As Aaron's feelings begin to deepen for Olivia; he is also regaining his memories. Soon is becomes clear that Aaron wasn't sent to save Olivia. He was sent to kill her.
In Kill Me Again Ms. Shayne takes us back to Shadow Falls and tells us Olivia's story. We first met Olivia Dupree in Killing Me Softly. Olivia Dupree is a quiet self isolated English Professor with a huge secret. She ran away from an abusive relationship and faked her own death 16 years ago.Now is seems her ex lover has found her and wants her dead.
Aaron Westhaven has no idea who is is or why he is in the Shadow Falls hospital. All he has is Olivia Dupree's business card. When Olivia is called to help identify him she is at a loss. She has never met Aaron Westhaven; only knows him through his books. When Olivia is attacked in her home, Aaron rushs into save her. From there the two decide to take fate in to their
own hands and find out who he is and who wants Olivia dead.
A suspenseful romance, you figure out early on what the mystery is while the rest of the story flushes out the suspense and romance between Aaron and Olivia. For me the story was rather bland till the last 100 pages.There is no substance or structure to it.
The majority of it is watching Aaron and Olivia interact. I really had a hard time connecting with either of these characters. Olivia is a mess of contradictions. She has spent 16 years hiding. She flows under the radar by maintaining low social and no emotional relationships. But once she hits the road with Aaron her personality becomes bi polar. She is attracted to him and propositions him after knowing him two days but in the next breathe talks of how she doesn't trust men at all.
Aaron is the strong silent type and seems to know he is not an writer but knows nothing beyond that. He has flashbacks to his old life and is horrified by it.His character is a bit more believable. He reacts as a person with amnesia would. While he is attracted to Olivia he has the sense to know he needs to figure out who he is and where he fits in to this whole scenario.
As we progress towards the finale, the story picks up pace but becomes jumbled with it's multi layered twists and turns.
Overall the story felt forced and lacked Ms Shayne's usual style and flair.
July 13, 2010
It’s not often that I get out of my cozy comfort zone of reading Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance books, but there are time when i am really glad I did and this definitely one of those times.
Killing me Softly is a straight out Whodunit book with a Romance and a bit of supernatural thrown in for good measure. All those ingredients make a great, fast paced and thrilling ride that I am really glad I decided to join.
Dawn escaped Shadow Falls 5 years ago, when her insane father died and passed his so-called gift of being able to talking to the dead on to her. Haunted by ghosts, Dawn decided to leave everything behind and move cross country, leaving behind the boy she loved. Now she is drawn back to her hometown when that same boy she left behind needs her the most, and she can’t say no.
Bryan was heart broken when the girl he had given his heart to left without a word 5 years before. Now he is a rookie cop and his life has just turned upside down. After a party at his house, he wakes up to find his lover murdered in his bed and now he is the main suspect of being a copy-cat killer, bringing back memories of a serial-killer that was supposed to have been shut down 16 years before.
I really enjoyed Killing me Softly, Maggie Shayne has really raised the stakes in this novel, with the hero being persecuted by a crime he didn’t commit and the heroine being target by a serial killer and all that just makes it such a great story to read.
I have to admit that I guessed the killer from the get go and even though that was supposed to ruin it all for me, it didn’t. I think that feat. is more about me and my Agatha Christie addiction than about Maggie’s writing.There was so much to root for and so many anguish and to be resolved between Dawn and Bryan, that I could not put down the book.
I really enjoyed the fact that when Maggie gave us the killers POV she did so in first person, which made it the more creepy, while she very carefully kept his identity a secret.
All in all, Killing Me Softly is a great mix of Thriller and Romance. I totally recommend it to anyone that enjoys a good mystery. I am really happy I did request this book on NetGalley and even happier that I got the next two books in the series as well. I can’t wait to dig into those!
Killing me Softly is a straight out Whodunit book with a Romance and a bit of supernatural thrown in for good measure. All those ingredients make a great, fast paced and thrilling ride that I am really glad I decided to join.
Dawn escaped Shadow Falls 5 years ago, when her insane father died and passed his so-called gift of being able to talking to the dead on to her. Haunted by ghosts, Dawn decided to leave everything behind and move cross country, leaving behind the boy she loved. Now she is drawn back to her hometown when that same boy she left behind needs her the most, and she can’t say no.
Bryan was heart broken when the girl he had given his heart to left without a word 5 years before. Now he is a rookie cop and his life has just turned upside down. After a party at his house, he wakes up to find his lover murdered in his bed and now he is the main suspect of being a copy-cat killer, bringing back memories of a serial-killer that was supposed to have been shut down 16 years before.
I really enjoyed Killing me Softly, Maggie Shayne has really raised the stakes in this novel, with the hero being persecuted by a crime he didn’t commit and the heroine being target by a serial killer and all that just makes it such a great story to read.
I have to admit that I guessed the killer from the get go and even though that was supposed to ruin it all for me, it didn’t. I think that feat. is more about me and my Agatha Christie addiction than about Maggie’s writing.There was so much to root for and so many anguish and to be resolved between Dawn and Bryan, that I could not put down the book.
I really enjoyed the fact that when Maggie gave us the killers POV she did so in first person, which made it the more creepy, while she very carefully kept his identity a secret.
All in all, Killing Me Softly is a great mix of Thriller and Romance. I totally recommend it to anyone that enjoys a good mystery. I am really happy I did request this book on NetGalley and even happier that I got the next two books in the series as well. I can’t wait to dig into those!
April 10, 2016
This is the first book that I have read by Maggie Shayne, and I really liked the story. It had drama and mystery and kept me glued to the pages.
Dawn was not a favorite character for me because she appeared to be self absorbed. Sure she had some issues, and although she had a supporting family, she chose to run from them and her problems. There was so much talk of her ghost whispering skills and I was disappointed that I didn't get to see them in action.
Bryan I immediately liked. He was a good guy and it was obvious that he wasn't the killer. His relationship with Dawn was strained, but I thought they made an excellent investigation team. Their constant efforts to clear Bryan's name also helped put their relationship back on track and provided a great HEA.
I was very surprised to find out who the killer was. Maggie Shayne did an excellent job on making me think I knew what was about to happen, but I really didn't.
Dawn was not a favorite character for me because she appeared to be self absorbed. Sure she had some issues, and although she had a supporting family, she chose to run from them and her problems. There was so much talk of her ghost whispering skills and I was disappointed that I didn't get to see them in action.
Bryan I immediately liked. He was a good guy and it was obvious that he wasn't the killer. His relationship with Dawn was strained, but I thought they made an excellent investigation team. Their constant efforts to clear Bryan's name also helped put their relationship back on track and provided a great HEA.
I was very surprised to find out who the killer was. Maggie Shayne did an excellent job on making me think I knew what was about to happen, but I really didn't.
February 23, 2016
More like 3.5 stars. I found the story interesting and the fact that she wove a realistic relationship in, I give her kudos. I hate when an author makes characters fall "in love" and get engaged in a matter of days. The serial killer aspect was not generic either.
March 18, 2021
Not a Killer Romance
A rookie cop is framed for a series of murders that mimic that of a serial killer who terrorized a Vermont town. The problem? The man believed to have been the killer died in prison. Is it a copycat or something worse? The cop's first love, a beautiful mechanic with mediumistic abilities returns to help hi clear his name. But the killer has more lethal plans for both of them.
The serial killer portion of the story is actually pretty good. Unfortunately the rookie and his lady loves are annoying and the romance is sappy and stupid. Speaking of stupid the local police are dumber the sieves. Decent ending but the main characters made it difficult to engage.
A rookie cop is framed for a series of murders that mimic that of a serial killer who terrorized a Vermont town. The problem? The man believed to have been the killer died in prison. Is it a copycat or something worse? The cop's first love, a beautiful mechanic with mediumistic abilities returns to help hi clear his name. But the killer has more lethal plans for both of them.
The serial killer portion of the story is actually pretty good. Unfortunately the rookie and his lady loves are annoying and the romance is sappy and stupid. Speaking of stupid the local police are dumber the sieves. Decent ending but the main characters made it difficult to engage.
September 23, 2018
Although they were each other's first love, Dawn and Bryan haven't spoken since she ran away from her psychic gift. Dawn is convinced to return home when Bryan, who is now a cop, becomes a person of interest in the murder of his female friend.
While Bryan has mixed feelings about Dawn's return, he is definitely not happy that she looks like all the other victims of a long- dormant, but now active serial killer.
Bryan and Dawn have a very short amount of time to figure out who the killer is and their feelings for each other.
While Bryan has mixed feelings about Dawn's return, he is definitely not happy that she looks like all the other victims of a long- dormant, but now active serial killer.
Bryan and Dawn have a very short amount of time to figure out who the killer is and their feelings for each other.
March 22, 2021
Stayed on edge.
This is my first book by this author and I really enjoyed it. Dawn really hurt Bryan by leaving 5 years ago. But he needs her now, and she comes back. But can he trust her to not leave again? Who’s the serial killer and is Dawn targeted to be the next victim? Loved being shocked by who the killer was. Happy that they got their happy ever after. I recommend this book.
This is my first book by this author and I really enjoyed it. Dawn really hurt Bryan by leaving 5 years ago. But he needs her now, and she comes back. But can he trust her to not leave again? Who’s the serial killer and is Dawn targeted to be the next victim? Loved being shocked by who the killer was. Happy that they got their happy ever after. I recommend this book.
April 11, 2021
A couple of flaws in this book, the major one being I knew whodunit almost from the beginning. There were a few incidents that didn't make logical sense to me (I'm not going to mention them here to become a spoiler) on which the plot hung. So there's that. But I finished the book in spite of not totally loving it. Which means the author did a good enough job with the writing and the story to keep me reading to the end.
April 4, 2021
Overall good
I enjoyed this book, but it was a little drawn out. The sex scenes were strictly unnecessary. The plot was too convoluted and obvious. It has a romance novel ending but I think a more Odd Thomas ending would have been more fitting and made for better sequels. I did enjoy the characters and you gotta love a mastiff
I enjoyed this book, but it was a little drawn out. The sex scenes were strictly unnecessary. The plot was too convoluted and obvious. It has a romance novel ending but I think a more Odd Thomas ending would have been more fitting and made for better sequels. I did enjoy the characters and you gotta love a mastiff
May 1, 2021
Wow, what a waste of my time.
The serial killer was obvious from the blurb but I thought I might be wrong.
Nope.
So many idiots who could not work out what was right in front of them.
And that stupid ending, really dragged out.
You have a magnum .44 but you don’t shoot first. You let the killer get away so that we can have a near death experience.
But it was at least free.
The serial killer was obvious from the blurb but I thought I might be wrong.
Nope.
So many idiots who could not work out what was right in front of them.
And that stupid ending, really dragged out.
You have a magnum .44 but you don’t shoot first. You let the killer get away so that we can have a near death experience.
But it was at least free.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 21, 2021
Killing Me Softly
This was such a good mystery! I would give it 10 stars if I could. I had a couple of ideas about who the killer was but wasn't sure until the end. I had to stay up half the night to find out who it was.
This was such a good mystery! I would give it 10 stars if I could. I had a couple of ideas about who the killer was but wasn't sure until the end. I had to stay up half the night to find out who it was.
March 22, 2021
Loved it!!
I have been a long time reader of Maggie Shayne.
This author has always kept me reading late into the night or on my days off. The characters and storylines are well written.
I have been a long time reader of Maggie Shayne.
This author has always kept me reading late into the night or on my days off. The characters and storylines are well written.
April 6, 2021
Maggie Shayne created a very nice atmosphere of second chance romance and a purely sick serial killer suspense thriller all in one book.
Kept me going way after the killers identity became apparent to me early in the story as each new reveal was another step closer to Bryan and Dawn's HEA.
Kept me going way after the killers identity became apparent to me early in the story as each new reveal was another step closer to Bryan and Dawn's HEA.
April 7, 2021
Dawn And Bryan
Storyline is about a serial killer that starts killing again after 16 years of not killing. A wonderful storyline and characters, would have given 5 stars, but a little too much time spent on the romance guessing parts.
Storyline is about a serial killer that starts killing again after 16 years of not killing. A wonderful storyline and characters, would have given 5 stars, but a little too much time spent on the romance guessing parts.
December 9, 2017
Guessed that one from the beginning
June 6, 2019
Mystery, murder, it was ok.
September 24, 2019
Guessed who the killer was right away. It was suspenseful but it's just not for me.
July 5, 2020
Nancy
Woohoo great story. Fantastic characters. Suspense, intrigue and romance! Great mystery story. Best of all ! two more books in the series. Thanks
Woohoo great story. Fantastic characters. Suspense, intrigue and romance! Great mystery story. Best of all ! two more books in the series. Thanks
Want to read
March 19, 2021🎁 FREE on Amazon today (3/19/2021)! 🎁
March 21, 2021
Never disappoints
Love the old characters out into new book. Fast paced with twists and turns. Good read and I look forward to next book
Love the old characters out into new book. Fast paced with twists and turns. Good read and I look forward to next book
March 26, 2021
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Enjoyed book, however actually guessed who Nightcap was quite early on. Interesting concept and would probably read next book in series.
Enjoyed book, however actually guessed who Nightcap was quite early on. Interesting concept and would probably read next book in series.
April 16, 2021
Awesome
Awesome book. Kept me on the edge of my seat. Trying to figure out who did what. And than when you think you have it figured out.
Awesome book. Kept me on the edge of my seat. Trying to figure out who did what. And than when you think you have it figured out.
April 17, 2021
Good read!
Cute characters but a bit overdone - liked the psychic element and the location- looking forward to more Shadow Falls.
Cute characters but a bit overdone - liked the psychic element and the location- looking forward to more Shadow Falls.
April 21, 2021
Sadly I didn't love this book. Knew who the killer was far too early and there was too much angst between the main characters. It got really old, really quickly.
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