Back Cover: Informed by the real-life fallout of the U.S. economy and devastation caused by multiple hurricanes along the southern coast, In the Shadow of Evil tells a modern day story involving the exposure of a building rebound scam. Amidst the layers of unethical practices, supply shortages, and excess murders, a top Louisiana homicide detective loses his heart to a charitable contractor while uncovering a secret about his tragic past.
Review: I read Deliver Us From Evil and loved the action, adventure, humor and spiritual thread in it. I anxiously awaited the review copy of In the Shadow of Evil.
Layla is a female contractor following in her father’s foot steps after his untimely death. Layla has been nominated for a building award she’s worked hard to achieve. Tragedy strikes the House of Hope home she entered into the contest. The shadow of evil clouds her chances of winning the award when the house burns to the ground. Crazy thing about the fire is the body they discover among the ashes. The CSI team scrambles to disclose the body’s identity and glean for clues that will uncover the murderer!
Detective Maddox and his partner arrive at the burned house and see a body. Because of Maddox’s experience and the clues he discovers in the rubble, he suspects arson, and is convinced Layla set the fire. He’s certain he’ll find the proof he needs to expose a building rebound scam he knows is operating in this city. Layla’s case adds one more piece to the puzzle to help uncover unethical practices to creatively fulfill the supply shortage and reveal the mastermind behind the scheme.
Layla doesn’t like how slow the detectives are going to “prove her innocence”. She definitely feels they’ve stamped her guilty already. So, she sets out to play detective herself. Things start to heat up as she pokes around. Another house is set on fire and she’s the suspect again. Could she let go and let God work on her behalf?
This is an intriguing story set in the Louisiana, Bayou based on the real-life fallout of the U.S. economy plus devastation caused by multiple hurricanes along the southern coast. I enjoyed the tough, yet tender Layla and the emotionally wounded, chauvinistic Detective Maddox. I liked how this author showed God working in their lives for His glory and their good, when they let Him! I liked the believable characters and the spiritual struggle they went though on their way to giving and accepting forgiveness; of course I liked the drama, mystery and suspense as well. I’m looking forward to the next action adventure story from Robin Caroll.
