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There are currently 37 member reviews
for Beneath the Shadows
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Joe S. (Port Orange, FL)
An Enjoyable Read
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and, despite sounding like a cliche, I quite literally couldn't put it down. The book is well written with a very suspenseful plot and has an interesting cast of intriguing characters. I was impressed that this was the author's debut novel and look forward to more from her.
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Deanna W. (Port Jefferson, NY)
Would make a terrific TV movie
What happened to Grace's husband? He has disappeared "with out a trace". This novel has a great sense of place with a bit of old ghost stories and town folklore. The Yorkshire moors during a brutal, wild winter establish an extremely moody setting. It has pace, plot and is a satisfying escape.
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Sandra S. (Charlotte, NC)
Beneath the Shadows / Sara Foster
Loved the atmosphere and suspense. I made many guesses as to why Grace's husband disappeared and there were so many possible culprits; this book kept me guessing AND reading. In truth, I read it straight through. Would definitely read another book written by Sara Foster.
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Samantha H. (Golden, CO)
Enjoyable read, Keeps you guessing
Beneath the Shadows grabbed my interest from the start. It is easy to sympathize with the main character, Grace. The mystery and intrigue develops in a small community on the North Yorkshire moors. The plot is not predictable, and it is an enjoyable read. I only wish that some of the supporting characters had been fleshed out in more depth. We get to know the heroine, Grace, quite well, but the others barely make it to the surface.
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Becky M. (Crumpler, NC)
A good start
I've struggled with writing this review because I liked the story, I really did. I didn't figure out the ending which is always a good thing when it comes to mysteries. The setting proved to be a character in itself; that's a plus in my book. But the narrative lacked a sophistication I've come to expect in a British mystery. I'm sure experience is the key to improving this. Conversation seemed a little simplified and didn't flow in a way that felt normal or expected. The plot headed in the right direction but sometimes seemed filled with gaps--a little more exploration into personalities and details would have enhanced the read. Still, the basic premise was intriguing and I wanted to finish the book, so I lean on the positive side of a 3 for this debut novel.
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Theresa R. (Sierra Madre, CA)
Easy Read
I was excited about getting to review this book - it sounded very interesting. The book grabbed me from the beginning, making me want to continue reading to find out hat happened. The author was great at bringing the characters to life. I just thought that it started to drag a little bit toward the end, and then all of a sudden, the twist was there and then the book ended.
Overall, it was a decent book and I'd be interested to read another book by this author.
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Joyce K. (Conway, Arkansas)
Beneath the Shadows
The setting is the moors, a village hamlet and a young widow who has mysteriously lost her husband and found their baby abandoned on the doorstep of their home. The elements are there for a good mystery with the typical quirky neighbors one might find in a small English town. The story builds to a climax just pages before the book ends and we learn the truth of the husband's disappearance.
For me mysteries or mysteries/thrillers fall into two categories. One type has so many twists and turns that you are not sure that the writer will ever get to the truth; the second slowly unwinds and the pieces of the puzzle start to fit. I think that "Beneath the Shadows" falls into the later. I felt the book grabbed my attention in the last 50 pages or so.
There may be the inevitable comparison to Wuthering Heights or Rebecca and there are certainly elements of the story which remind me of both of those books. I don't feel the story captivated me like either of those books do.
For me it falls into the category of a quick easy read that perhaps needed more depth to the characters?
