The Shadow Killer

Charlie D #3

by Gail Bowen

It's Father's Day weekend—a tough time for Charlie D, host of a late-night radio call-in show that offers supportive advice to troubled listeners. For years Charlie has been alienated from his father—a retired politician who was always too busy for his son when Charlie was growing up. The trouble is, his dad has chosen this weekend to attempt to reconcile with his son. Charlie is not keen to forgive. But Charlie's personal issues suddenly seem mundane when an email arrives from a young listener that outlines his very specific plans to kill not just his father but his entire family. The deeply troubled boy could be anywhere, and Charlie has just two hours to discover his identity and stop him from murder.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Canada, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook, Ebooks

112 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2011

About the author

Gail Dianne Bowen (née Bartholomew) is a Canadian playwright and writer of mystery novels. Born in Toronto, Ontario, Bowen was educated at the University of Toronto, the University of Waterloo and the University of Saskatchewan. She subsequently taught English in Saskatchewan, and is currently a professor of English at First Nations University of Canada. Bowen's mystery novels feature Joanne Kilbourn, a widowed mother, political analyst and university professor who finds herself occasionally involved in criminal investigations in various parts of Saskatchewan. Many have been adapted as Canadian television movies by Shaftesbury Films.

Series:
* Joanne Kilbourn Mystery

Awards:
Arthur Ellis Award
◊ Best Novel (1995): A Colder Kind of Death

Reviews

[Wendell Hennan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like many I suspect, my relationship with my father was not ideal. Charlie D is doing a show on fathers day and his Dad is waiting across the street to have coffee after the show, which Charlie has no interest in. A caller, a young boy is planning to kill his family to protect his mother and sister and himself from his father. A gripping rapid read, well written and while others found the ending a disappointment, I was teary eyed as Charlie and his father Howard bridge some of the gap between them.

[Reader_Shark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very short book (60 pages). Character is Charlie Dowhaniuk who is a radio talk show host. It is father's day and he himself doesn't have a good relationship with his own father. A young caller is going to kill his family and Charles tries to thwart this, when his own father walks into the radio station and tell him that he knows the family. They do thwart the murder and go for coffee to start again.

[Sophie Rose Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story was one that hooked me pretty quickly and had me sitting on the edge of my seat in suspense. Unfortunately for such an enthralling plot the ending was very anticlimactic.

Random complaint about a non-important side detail- Why are they all trying to act like it’s perfectly fine for a man over 80 to be marrying a woman in her 20’s, and making a villain out of the mans son for having an issue with it?! Gross.

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audio. Short story. Very Enjoyable.

[Melody · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read for teens

[Gayle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great short story from this author

[Tia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the best out of the series but still pretty good. I think this opens up more on who Charlie D is as a character, but doesn't focus on the mystery as much.

[Aundraya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Predictable, but a good quick read.

[Whitney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great quick read. It may be small but it's definitely action packed. I love these characters!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This 3rd in the Charlie D series was especially good because his dad shows up & I like him from Bowen’s other series.

[Harmony O’Neal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good short story

[Gaele · Rating 4 out of 5]

AudioBook Review:
Stars: Overall: 4 Narration: 5 Story: 4

My least favorite of the three storylines, the mystery is still engaging and fast paced, but I found the ending was anti-climactic and a bit disappointing. Charlie is again hosting an hour show, this time it is for Father’s Day. As these stories tend to work with a theme, today we are dealing with the father-son relationship.

Charlie’s own relationship with his father is fractured, and his own personal insights into the topic are slowly coming forward, until he gets an email with a specific plan: the author is planning to kill his family, and Charlie and Nova need to do what they can to get help and stop the event.

Daniel Maté again manages to infuse the tension and emotion that highlight the host’s thoughts as he works to relate to the troubled listeners. As always, he makes some good and some not so great decisions on his way to sorting out the problem: but the intentions from Charlie are always to help. This does go a long way to not finding him removed and difficult, as he so often claims to be.

With a race to the solution and resolution, this story proceeds quickly with little to no respite in the action- readers have to read / listen on – because you are invested. Perhaps in the actual storyline, or just in Charlie – but the desire to know what happens next is there. While it wasn’t my favorite that was simply the topic: I was as determined to know if the murders were stopped before they could happen.

I received an audiobook copy of the title from the publisher via AudioBook Jukebox for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

[Andrea Corley · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a more in depth review, please visit my blog, Chorley Chronicals!!

I must say that this was probably my least favorite of all of the Charlie D short stories, but even though it was my least favorite, it still didn't make me dislike it. I think that each story has helped develop Charlie's character.

Gail Bowen seems to have a knack for writing short stories! I have said it before and I will probably say it at least one more time, but she has mastered the length of story for a short story! Too often, short stories are either way too short and don't divulge enough, or they are way too long and divulge way too much, but she seems to have the perfect recipe!

I was able to quickly listen to this and move on to finish the series with the easy listening from the narrator, Daniel Maté! His voice has left a lasting impression on me and even though I read these a couple months ago, I can still hear his voice ringing through, clear as day!!

Overall, it was a quick easy read and I didn't mind finishing at all!

[Drew Bergeron · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book a guy gets on the radio and he threatens to blow up his families house. I liked this book because it told what the guy was going through and the guy on the radio helped him out. Another thing I like about this is that he made him calm and the guy helped by trying to work it out saying everything would be ok. They met at the end to talk and to meet what was going on in his life. One thing i did not like about this book is that i wish it was longer. I would recommend this book to people who like mystery books.

[Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this Hi-Lo book aloud to adults and it was a good time. There are enough characters to be able to use a few dynamic voices, but not too many to become confusing. The story was a bit dark, it was about a caller to a radio show threatening to kill his family. I kept asking my audience if it was too dark for them, but they are adults and were ok with it. I appreciated that by the end of the book the caller/would-be killer is revealed to be a troubled teen who then actually gets mental health help. It was a responsible and hopeful ending.

[David W. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part of the Rapid Reads series. Read it in two hours.
Good story but still have to admit being unhappy it was so short.
I have been working hard to read the books in order - scouring book stores etc.
When I finally got Love you to death, One fine Day, and the Shadow Killer they were a disappointment because they were so short
Had I known beforehand it would have been better
think that my feelings impacted the rating but...

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am loving these rapid reads. Short story again different author than the last couple and I really like it. This one is Charlie D who is a radio personality. He is not close to his father and as it is Father's day weekend that is the talk on his radio show. Now as he listens he starts receiving notes about one listener who is trying to kill his family. Quite a ride on this one.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute little read to help pass some time. It defiantly caught my interest and i would like to read the other books that Gail has written.

[Rhonda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick read. It kept my interest from beginning to end. An interesting exploration of the father/son relationship and a mystery solved to boot.

[Jeannette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very weak ending but still a quick read as promised.

[Lola · Rating 5 out of 5]

I only read this book because od the title.I enjoyed the book.Although I don't think the book shouldn't be called The Shadow Killer.

[Marla · Rating 4 out of 5]

great short story.

[Vincent Hedendahl]

Its a mystery i guess?