Fatal Fortune

Shadows of Deception #1

by Clara Lewis

When Glen Foster died of cardiac arrest in his lavish estate, Detective Kirk Martin found himself in a lethal labyrinth of secrets and lies. Glen left behind a large fortune and a mystery that turned deadly as Martin investigated the mansion's staff and uncovered foreign chemicals. He loses more than just his judgment when an innocent life is claimed.

Martin's world spirals into chaos. He drowns himself in guilt and alcohol. When he sought refuge at a friend's house, he embarked on a dangerous mission driven by a desire to uncover the truth. Could Glen's young widow be the mastermind, or is someone more evil pulling the strings?

Prepare to lose yourself in Clara Lewis's Shadows of Deception series, where each twist and turn will leave you questioning everything you know about crime scenarios. Fatal Fortune takes you on a high-stakes game of truth and deception, where the cost of failure is not just a career but life itself.

Shadows of Deception is a 6 books
Book 1 - Fatal Fortune
Book 2 - Perilous Pursuit
Book 3 - Shadow Play
Book 4 - Lethal Legacy
Book 5 - Sinister Secrets
Book 6 - Deception Shadows

67 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 17, 2023

About the author

Author Clara Lewis has always been an avid fan of mysteries. As a child, she devoured the “Nancy Drew” and “Hardy Boys” series’s, which inspired her desire to write her own mystery thrillers. Though Clara’s journey took her in several different directions, she eventually published her debut series early in 2021.

Besides spending her time creating vast worlds and convoluted mysteries for her readers to divulge in, Lewis spends her time at her home in Portland, Oregon. As a mother and wife, she wears many hats, and can often be found baking and crocheting.

Lewis always had a passion for creating, and she wants nothing more than to provide the same thrills she loves to her readers. She loves to read (and smell) books just as much as she loves to write them! She has several projects in the works, and can’t wait to share them with her audience.

Connect with her at her:

Official website: https://claralewis.com

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/authorclaral...

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorclara...

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/clara...

Reviews

[Bonnye Reed · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a complimentary electronic copy of this cozy novel from author William Lobb, Thank you, sir, for sharing this work with me. I have read Clara Lewis mysteries in the past and found them good reading. This cozy was a bit simplistic, with awkward transitions and little in the way of background on the island, and with the first of a series I found that odd. In any case, I was not impressed, by either the prose or the tale. Sorry.

Reviewed only on Goodreads and AmazonSmile on September 7, 2023.

[Cornel Diaconu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Detective Martin is quick on the premises of a death, of mr Foster, wealthy man, known as a philantropist but also as pretty quiet.
Detective seem to favor the chef as main culprit, because the dead body contained traced of potassium chloride, which apparently only the chef could provide. But, after arrest the chef also dies, and later it seems as due to very similar causes.
From well established and respected detective, Martin is now viewed as responsible for chef's death, amd needs to hide from the public...
And continue his investigation under cover.

Sounds confusing ? You bet.
But the good roots are there, and I hope the story will develop in a better way with next episodes in the series.
P.S. There is even a typographical mistake: the epilogue simply copies the last paragraphs of previous chapter, the length of about 2 pages or so; and it's unclear what is the point of this short epilogue.

[Eirlys · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not one of her best books

An intriguing mystery murder book. I liked the characters, but felt that they were not fully fleshed out. The book needed more editing, with pronouns being used wrongly attributed.

[Sharmani Jayaram · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Glen Foster died at his lavish estate his gardener Clay Jackson finds his body. Detective Kirk Martin had more than he had bargained for. Glen had left behind a large fortune and a deadly mystery. There are many secrets and lies in the case. He looses his judgement when a innocent life of Ivan the chef is claimed. Who was the mastermind behind this? There were clues in the kitchen of having poison administered to Mr. Foster .Was the second wife responsible for his death? Were the deaths connected ? These were some of the questions detective Kirk had to deal with . When Amelia the widows trusted aide dies too at the Foster mansion things get completed. A gripping read which had you on the edge of your seat. I am on the ARC team and leave a honest review. I recommend this book to other readers.

[Sheri Corriero · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detective Kirk Martin is investigating the death of Mr. Foster, a rather well off man. He was found in bed deceased, by the gardener. Detective Martin starts his investigation with the house staff. There’s a personal valet, chef and gardener. Autopsy finds a chemical in his system. Search of the house finds it in the salt shaker and chef Ivan is arrested for murder. We find out the Ivan’s daughter, Amelia, was secretly married to Mr. Foster. Why would Ivan kill his son-in-law? We never find out because Ivan is found dead in his cell. Detective Martin is suspended but continues his investigation ‘under the radar’. Then there’s another suspicious death at the house. What secrets are hiding in the house? I am looking forward to finding out. I received an ARC copy from the author and this is my honest review.

[Lise · Rating 2 out of 5]

The sudden death of a wealthy philanthropist has the community up in arms. When Detective Kirk Martin is unable to make a satisfactory arrest, he is forced into hiding. Working in the shadows, will Martin be able to uncover the truth?

The answer to my question is: I will never know. My copy ended abruptly with a couple of the previous pages repeated. This is just as well as I found the dialogue stilted and the action lacking.

[Margaret Hejmanowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have never read anything by Clara Lewis before, OMG this was fantastic. This is a new series. As Mr. Glen Foster is found dead in his bed at King Mansion; his chef Ivan is arrested. Latter Ivan is found dead in jail. Did they have the right killer? Love the plot, great setting, and strong intense interesting characters.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book 1 and once again I have found a book that goes just so far and then you need to get another book and another. I like the way this author writes but hate that the story only goes so far and then you need to get another book to take it a little further and then another book. I my never know who the killer in this story is but I can live with that.

[Bev · Rating 3 out of 5]

Murder keeps happening at the King mansion. But who and why? This is the beginning of a series that ends in a cliff hanger. Plus a very short story to start with. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this story.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very short book which started with a death in the mansion. When the detectives get theory they try to unravel who would murder Mr. Foster. The book continues with some twists and turns. I look forward to seeing where it takes the detectives and Foster family.

[Gwen Hight · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fatal Fortune

This is the first book in this series in which a wealthy man dies in his bed and his chef is arrested and dies in jail The question is who is the murderer?? A good read and a continuation

[DeeDeeWReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can already tell this is going to be a GOOD series. I don't know how Clara comes up with her ideas, but this one is great. I am still sitting here having read it going, 'what?', 'huh?'..... hmmmm You will be kept on your toes for sure!

Happy reading!

[Carla · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do love a good who-done-it murder mystery. While I'm not surprised this ended in a bit of a cliffhanger, I'm disappointed that the epilogue was pretty much the exact same thing as the previous chapter. Could have been a formatting issue though.

[Tom Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this introduction to the series. Good characters that I feel will make this an exciting read.
I received this arc for free and I wanted to leave an honest review.

[Karin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who killed Mr. Foster and how and why??? And now Maya??? I enjoyed this story as far as it went and recommended the book.

[Denzel Struchen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Teaser

Opening chapter of what could be a good book. Noted editing missed several errors.
Tired of the new group of authors who want to go for money by releasing snippets

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wealthy man dies, then it appears he was murdered. The chief suspect is murdered while in jail.

[Joyce A Robinson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Why is this mystery not solved? What a waste of time reading this!!!

[marcia potts · Rating 1 out of 5]

This reminds me of.a book from gradschool

Oh, my goodness, I suffer through the childishness of this book and what do you know,not a killer in sight!!

[Terri Montgomery · Rating 1 out of 5]

??????

What happened to the ending? Did I miss something? I am perplexed. The story just stopped with no resolution. ?

[Rita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fatal Fortune BK 1”

I absolutely love this book. I read and watch quite a bit of crime books and movies. !! I already have the next book in the series!! Just can’t get enough!!

[Tg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clara Lewis has done it again with Fatal Fortune kicking off her new series, Shadows of Deception, with spunk, spirit, and a whole lotta mystery. This new book grips you from the very start and catapults you head first into the mystery. It’s a book that will leave you waiting on the edge of your seat in anticipation of the second book in the series.

[Terry M · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good start to the series. What starts out as a natural death, turns out to be so much more, throwing Detective Martin into a world of confusion, deception and failure. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.