Review – Shadows in the Mirror

Multi-published author Linda Hall pens her first Romantic Suspense title, Shadows in the Mirror where we join Marylee Simson after she’s moved back to what she thinks is her home town of Burlington to learn more about her past.

As a young child, Marylee’s parents died in a mysterious car accident and she relocated to Portland, Or with her Aunt Rose who had until the day she died, remained secretive about the details of the accident. So secretive and worried that someone might be after Marylee, that she warned her never to return to Burlington, no matter what.

Needing to discover who she really is, Marylee ignores Aunt Rose’s advice and moves to Burlington where she takes over the local craft shop. With only one clue in her possession, a photo of her parents, she also begins her search for the truth behind their death and clues to her heritage. Marylee starts her search by showing the picture to local residents setting off a chain reaction that ends with Marylee’s very life in danger. Still, Marylee persists and gains the help of photographer Evan Baxter who she reluctantly falls for along the journey of discovery.

A huge fan of Linda Hall’s work, I was uncertain why she would want to branch out in her writing when I’d already enjoyed all of her published novels. I said to myself when the book arrived, “Why, Linda? Why change a good thing?” Still, I put aside my skepticism over her change and read the book as I would any other of her works.

And I’m glad I did. In Shadows in the Mirror, Hall has done an excellent job or marrying her skills in character development and suspenseful plots with a strong romance element. Shadows in the Mirror provided me with a fast moving, yet intriguing mystery to keep me reading until the very last page and yet provided just the right amount of romance to satisfy the Romantic Suspense reader but not overpower the work for others.

So, I say to Linda, it’s okay if you chose to change, even without asking me, LOL, and I say to the readers, if you love Romantic Suspense, with the October release of Shadows in the Mirror you have cause to celebrate, as another strong Romantic Suspense author has been added to the must read list.