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Matt Latham #1
Shadow Lives
Kharkiv, Ukraine, 2019: Ongoing clashes between Ukrainian nationalists and pro-Russian activists make this city a deadly destination.
However, Matt Latham - Australian foreign correspondent and reluctant spy for ASIS (Australia's secret service) - isn't too picky with the work he accepts, as long as the money is right. When offered a lucrative assignment to interview a reclusive Russian billionaire in Kharkiv, he jumps at the chance. But an explosion at the club where they were to meet leaves Matt hospitalised and his interpreter, Katya Fomina, dead.
Was it just another random act of violence in this strife-torn region?
Released from hospital, Latham travels to Katya's Ukrainian village to meet her parents and pay his last respects. There, he learns of his interpreter's fruitless search for her missing younger sister, Nadiya, and discovers that Katya led a double life.
Picking up the threads of Katya's investigation, Latham becomes a man on a mission. And his search for Nadiya will propel him across Europe and ever deeper into a murky world of double agents, illegal arms shipments, drug running and human trafficking.
Shadow Lives tells a tale of loss, betrayal, and revenge.
Of a flawed man's attempt to help a broken family and, in the process, set a small corner of the world to rights ... Will it also help him break free of the shadows shrouding his own life?
However, Matt Latham - Australian foreign correspondent and reluctant spy for ASIS (Australia's secret service) - isn't too picky with the work he accepts, as long as the money is right. When offered a lucrative assignment to interview a reclusive Russian billionaire in Kharkiv, he jumps at the chance. But an explosion at the club where they were to meet leaves Matt hospitalised and his interpreter, Katya Fomina, dead.
Was it just another random act of violence in this strife-torn region?
Released from hospital, Latham travels to Katya's Ukrainian village to meet her parents and pay his last respects. There, he learns of his interpreter's fruitless search for her missing younger sister, Nadiya, and discovers that Katya led a double life.
Picking up the threads of Katya's investigation, Latham becomes a man on a mission. And his search for Nadiya will propel him across Europe and ever deeper into a murky world of double agents, illegal arms shipments, drug running and human trafficking.
Shadow Lives tells a tale of loss, betrayal, and revenge.
Of a flawed man's attempt to help a broken family and, in the process, set a small corner of the world to rights ... Will it also help him break free of the shadows shrouding his own life?
325 pages, Paperback
Published July 30, 2024
About the author
Neil A. White
6 books5 followersNeil A. White was born in Melbourne and educated in his native Australia and the United States. He and his wife make their home in Dallas, TX. He is the author of Closure - an historical fiction/murder mystery, Turn a Blind Eye - a contemporary political/financial thriller, and a number of award-winning short stories. His latest novel, Something for Bebe - a Young Adult thriller - was released January 2021.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 21, 2025
Australian investigative journalist Matt Latham had arrived in Kharkiv from London, prepared to interview a Russian billionaire who had fingers in many pies. He was accompanied by an interpreter, Katya Fomina, a beautiful young woman whose family lived in Ukraine. When they approached the Club where the interview was to take place, Matt stopped to take a call, while Katya went on. With shocking suddenness, the club exploded, knocking Matt unconscious, while many were killed, including Katya. Matt was in hospital in an induced coma for days, but when he was finally released, he was angry.
Learning from Katya's parents that she'd been searching for her younger sister, Nadiya, who'd been abducted by traffickers, Matt decided to continue Katya's quest. As he dug deeply into Nadiya's story, his mission took him across Europe. Would he ever find her? Was she still alive? The world was filled with danger, and Matt was embroiled in it...
Shadow Lives by Aussie author Neil A. White is a fast paced, electric thriller which I really enjoyed. Matt gets himself into all sorts of scrapes, trying to help people; his investigative skills are second to none. He's a flawed character, but an extremely likeable one. Highly recommended.
Learning from Katya's parents that she'd been searching for her younger sister, Nadiya, who'd been abducted by traffickers, Matt decided to continue Katya's quest. As he dug deeply into Nadiya's story, his mission took him across Europe. Would he ever find her? Was she still alive? The world was filled with danger, and Matt was embroiled in it...
Shadow Lives by Aussie author Neil A. White is a fast paced, electric thriller which I really enjoyed. Matt gets himself into all sorts of scrapes, trying to help people; his investigative skills are second to none. He's a flawed character, but an extremely likeable one. Highly recommended.
October 1, 2024
Shadow Lives is an unforgettable and moving story. I was completely enamoured with Matt by the end of the book. His growth from a man who only thought of himself to someone who risked his life for a woman he didn't even know was so realistic and well plotted.
Addicted to prescription drugs and having an open contempt for authority Matt has no trouble getting himself into, and out of, life or death situations. This makes for a suspenseful and action packed story.
Foreign Correspondent Matt Latham is in Ukraine to interview Russian Billionaire philanthropist Arkady Voronin. A bomb goes off as he is about to enter the club in which the interview was to take place killing his interpreter Katya Formina and causing Matt to end up in hospital with memory loss.
Feeling responsible for Katya's death Matt visits her parents and finds out Katya has been searching for her sister who left home two years ago for a modelling job. Matt decides he will find Nadiya and bring her home.
What starts out as an exclusive interview with a Russian Billionaire soon turns into a story of spys, human trafficking, rape, abuse, political intrigue and corruption.
Shadow Lives is at times hard to read, especially the chapters on the trafficked teenage girls.
Fans of noir fiction will love this flawed protagonist. Matt Latham is both frustrating and endearing in equal measures.
I found Shadow Lives to be gripping, tension filled and highly engaging.
Addicted to prescription drugs and having an open contempt for authority Matt has no trouble getting himself into, and out of, life or death situations. This makes for a suspenseful and action packed story.
Foreign Correspondent Matt Latham is in Ukraine to interview Russian Billionaire philanthropist Arkady Voronin. A bomb goes off as he is about to enter the club in which the interview was to take place killing his interpreter Katya Formina and causing Matt to end up in hospital with memory loss.
Feeling responsible for Katya's death Matt visits her parents and finds out Katya has been searching for her sister who left home two years ago for a modelling job. Matt decides he will find Nadiya and bring her home.
What starts out as an exclusive interview with a Russian Billionaire soon turns into a story of spys, human trafficking, rape, abuse, political intrigue and corruption.
Shadow Lives is at times hard to read, especially the chapters on the trafficked teenage girls.
Fans of noir fiction will love this flawed protagonist. Matt Latham is both frustrating and endearing in equal measures.
I found Shadow Lives to be gripping, tension filled and highly engaging.
August 15, 2025
One sister murdered. The other missing. Can a flawed man find the answers buried within a web of intrigue?
Kharkiv, Ukraine, 2019. Ongoing clashes between Ukrainian nationalists and pro-Russian activists make this city a deadly destination.
However, Matt Latham - Australian foreign correspondent and reluctant spy for ASIS (Australia's Secret Service) - isn't too picky with the work he accepts, as long as the money is right. When offered a lucrative assignment to interview a reclusive Russian billionaire in Kharkiv, he jumps at the chance. But an explosion at the club where they were to meet leaves Matt hospitalised and his interpreter, Katya Fomina, dead.
Was it just another random act of violence in this strife-torn region?
Released from hospital, Latham travels to Katya's Ukrainian village to meet her parents and pay his last respects. There, he learns of his interpreter's fruitless search for her missing younger sister, Nadiya, and discovers that Katya led a double life.
picking up the threads of Katya's investigation, Latham becomes a man on a mission. And his search for Nadiya will propel him across Europe and ever deeper into the murky world of double agents, illegal arms shipments, drug running and human trafficking.
Shadow Lives tells a tale of loss, betrayal, and revenge. Of a flawed man's attempt to help a broken family and, in the process, set a small corner of the world to rights...Will it also help him break free of the shadows shrouding his own life?
**************
Kharkiv, Ukraine, 2019. Ongoing clashes between Ukrainian nationalists and pro-Russian activists make this city a deadly destination.
However, Matt Latham - Australian foreign correspondent and reluctant spy for ASIS (Australia's Secret Service) - isn't too picky with the work he accepts, as long as the money is right. When offered a lucrative assignment to interview a reclusive Russian billionaire in Kharkiv, he jumps at the chance. But an explosion at the club where they were to meet leaves Matt hospitalised and his interpreter, Katya Fomina, dead.
Was it just another random act of violence in this strife-torn region?
Released from hospital, Latham travels to Katya's Ukrainian village to meet her parents and pay his last respects. There, he learns of his interpreter's fruitless search for her missing younger sister, Nadiya, and discovers that Katya led a double life.
picking up the threads of Katya's investigation, Latham becomes a man on a mission. And his search for Nadiya will propel him across Europe and ever deeper into the murky world of double agents, illegal arms shipments, drug running and human trafficking.
Shadow Lives tells a tale of loss, betrayal, and revenge. Of a flawed man's attempt to help a broken family and, in the process, set a small corner of the world to rights...Will it also help him break free of the shadows shrouding his own life?
**************
August 13, 2024
3.5 stars rounded to 4
It's been a while since I picked up a spy thriller. This one was set in Ukraine in 2019 during clashes between nationalists and pro-Russian activists.
We are introduced to Matt Latham, a foreign correspondent and spy for the Australian secret service. During an assignment to interview a reclusive Russian billionaire in Kharkiv, an explosion kills Matt's interpreter, Katya, and leaves him badly injured. What Matt discovers is that Katya was actually investigating the disappearance of her younger sister. As he picks up where she left off he delves into a world of drug running, international espionage, illegal arms, human trafficking and sexual exploitation.
Matt himself is flawed and his own battle with addiction permeates his quest for answers and revenge. The plot was twisty and in typical spy thriller fashion, had its dose of double agents and moles. It was gut-wrenching in parts and the ending left us expecting a second book in this series.
Thank you to Echo Publishing for this copy which was published 30 July 2024.
It's been a while since I picked up a spy thriller. This one was set in Ukraine in 2019 during clashes between nationalists and pro-Russian activists.
We are introduced to Matt Latham, a foreign correspondent and spy for the Australian secret service. During an assignment to interview a reclusive Russian billionaire in Kharkiv, an explosion kills Matt's interpreter, Katya, and leaves him badly injured. What Matt discovers is that Katya was actually investigating the disappearance of her younger sister. As he picks up where she left off he delves into a world of drug running, international espionage, illegal arms, human trafficking and sexual exploitation.
Matt himself is flawed and his own battle with addiction permeates his quest for answers and revenge. The plot was twisty and in typical spy thriller fashion, had its dose of double agents and moles. It was gut-wrenching in parts and the ending left us expecting a second book in this series.
Thank you to Echo Publishing for this copy which was published 30 July 2024.
February 5, 2026
A spy thriller tale, Shadow Lives (2024) by Neil A. White is set in 2019 Ukraine. Matt Latham is an Australian Foreign Correspondent and part-time asset of ASIS (Australia's secret service). Matt is on his way to interview a reclusive Russian businessman when an explosion injures him and kills Kayla, his interpreter. Whilst still recovering, Matt visits Kayla’s parents and discovers her twin sister has disappeared. As Matt pursues leads, he criss-crosses Europe and discovers the dark world of double agents, betrayals and revenge. An enjoyable, nicely paced, spy thriller with a man on a mission to make right in the world, with a three stars read rating. The opinions herein are totally my own and freely given without obligation.
August 18, 2025
with a 1/2
“They(Russians) just like to fuck with people’s minds.”
Having read a review for # 2 in the series I decided to read #1 first to get the background on Matt Latham and his escapades.
Not a genre I often read but did find this a most engaging read; there is something very australian about ML's disdain for authority and the bullshit that he has to deal with as a part time spy.
The tragedy is the war in Ukraine shows no sign of ending inspite of the POTUS FELON's diatribe in Alaska.....wasn't he going to bring peace by the first weeekend of his second term???
“They(Russians) just like to fuck with people’s minds.”
Having read a review for # 2 in the series I decided to read #1 first to get the background on Matt Latham and his escapades.
Not a genre I often read but did find this a most engaging read; there is something very australian about ML's disdain for authority and the bullshit that he has to deal with as a part time spy.
The tragedy is the war in Ukraine shows no sign of ending inspite of the POTUS FELON's diatribe in Alaska.....wasn't he going to bring peace by the first weeekend of his second term???
July 25, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley for this Arc which is available 7/30/24.
I Struggled to finish this book. It plays off the current Ukraine/Russian conflict. Firstly I found that to be freaking distasteful. Then I just found the book fall flat. I found the characters boring and one dimensional. Lots of stereotypes rampant throughout.
I Struggled to finish this book. It plays off the current Ukraine/Russian conflict. Firstly I found that to be freaking distasteful. Then I just found the book fall flat. I found the characters boring and one dimensional. Lots of stereotypes rampant throughout.
September 8, 2024
I think I found this book a bit difficult to read because a lot of the character names, place names and organisation names were foreign and therefore it was difficult for me to remember who they were. I had to keep stopping to sort it all out and therefore my reading wasn’t fluent. Matt Latham is a journalist who also does some spy work. When about to interview a suspected arms dealer (amongst other things), Matt gets caught in a bombing. He survives, but his friend doesn’t and he decides to avenge her death. Thank you to Beauty and Lace for letting me read this book.
Did Not Finish
February 13, 2025DNF. Time of death 35%
Listening to our hero drooling over every half attractive woman was bad enough, but when the wife entered? I'm just like...
Yeah, nah.
When going for stereotypes, I always think it best to at least be even-handed with it.
Listening to our hero drooling over every half attractive woman was bad enough, but when the wife entered? I'm just like...
Yeah, nah.
When going for stereotypes, I always think it best to at least be even-handed with it.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews