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A Bec Whitfield Mystery #2
Shadows on the Shore
When four backpackers go missing near Dunk Island in North Queensland, Detective Bec Whitfield is thrust into a chilling search mission. The natural beauty masks a dark reality, and as the days pass, one body is discovered, but the others remain missing, and suspicions of foul play rise.
As Bec digs deeper, she uncovers a disturbing connection—each of the missing women has a connection to a well-known resident of the small town. With the community in turmoil, the man becomes the target of relentless social media persecution.
In Shadows on the Shore, a seemingly peaceful paradise becomes the setting for a deadly game of secrets, vengeance, and the fragile line between truth and rumour.
Will Bec uncover the real killer before the community’s relentless pursuit of justice leads to more bloodshed?
As Bec digs deeper, she uncovers a disturbing connection—each of the missing women has a connection to a well-known resident of the small town. With the community in turmoil, the man becomes the target of relentless social media persecution.
In Shadows on the Shore, a seemingly peaceful paradise becomes the setting for a deadly game of secrets, vengeance, and the fragile line between truth and rumour.
Will Bec uncover the real killer before the community’s relentless pursuit of justice leads to more bloodshed?
335 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 17, 2025
About the author
Annie Seaton
207 books708 followersAnnie Seaton lives near the beach on the mid-north coast of New South Wales. She is fulfilling her lifelong dream of writing and has been delighted to discover that readers love reading her stories as much as she loves writing them. Her career and studies spanned the education sector for most of her working life until she took up a full-time writing career. Each winter, Annie and her husband leave the beach to roam the remote areas of Australia for story ideas and research.
Readers can contact Annie through her website annieseaton.net or find her on Facebook and Instagram.
Readers can contact Annie through her website annieseaton.net or find her on Facebook and Instagram.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 17, 2026
Shadows on the Shore by Annie Seaton
Synopsis /
When four backpackers go missing near Dunk Island in North Queensland, Detective Bec Whitfield is thrust into a chilling search mission. The natural beauty masks a dark reality, and as the days pass, one body is discovered, but the others remain missing, and suspicions of foul play rise. As Bec digs deeper, she uncovers a disturbing connection—each of the missing women has a connection to a well-known resident of the small town. With the community in turmoil, the man becomes the target of relentless social media persecution.
In Shadows on the Shore, a seemingly peaceful paradise becomes the setting for a deadly game of secrets, vengeance, and the fragile line between truth and rumour. Will Bec uncover the real killer before the community’s relentless pursuit of justice leads to more bloodshed?
My Thoughts /
Four backpackers. One pulchritudinous, and yet wholly treacherous Island.
Shadows on the Shore, the second book in Annie Seaton's atmospheric eco-crime thriller series featuring Bec Whitfield, is set on the stunning tropical getaway of Dunk Island.
While the palm fronds gently sway to and fro in the gentle warming sea breeze, and tourists are sipping colourful fruity concoctions from coconuts, the sounds of holidaymakers laughing and enjoying themselves filter up from the sandy beach; an unsuspecting tourist – out on the water with a fishing charter group – is about to make a gruesome catch.
After starting her career in Bowen River, policewoman Bec Whitfield accepts a transfer (and a promotion) to start work as a detective based out of the Mission Beach Police Station. Operating from this station puts her directly in charge of the coastal and island territories nearby, making her the primary investigator when a group of four backpackers goes missing on neighbouring Dunk Island. What starts out as a simple search mission quickly turns into a murder investigation as bodies begin to wash ashore, and suspicions of foul play begin to spread throughout the community.
If you have read this author's work before you will know, that like many of her previous novels, Seaton treats the Australian landscape as a living, breathing character. The lush, humid, and rain-soaked backdrop of Dunk Island provides a stark, beautiful contrast to the harsh reality of these crimes. The natural hazards of the tropical wet season amplify the procedural hurdles our protagonist is facing, creating a lingering sense of dread that weighs like an anchor throughout the entire book.
Seaton masterfully structures the plot to mimic the tropical environment—heavy, unpredictable, and increasingly dangerous. While quick and relentless pacing lean heavily into a classic game of cat and mouse. And as for Detective Bec Whitfield? Well, she needs to navigate her way through the mob mentality - untangling a web of conflicting stories, hidden personal motives, and town secrets.
Highly Recommended.
Synopsis /
When four backpackers go missing near Dunk Island in North Queensland, Detective Bec Whitfield is thrust into a chilling search mission. The natural beauty masks a dark reality, and as the days pass, one body is discovered, but the others remain missing, and suspicions of foul play rise. As Bec digs deeper, she uncovers a disturbing connection—each of the missing women has a connection to a well-known resident of the small town. With the community in turmoil, the man becomes the target of relentless social media persecution.
In Shadows on the Shore, a seemingly peaceful paradise becomes the setting for a deadly game of secrets, vengeance, and the fragile line between truth and rumour. Will Bec uncover the real killer before the community’s relentless pursuit of justice leads to more bloodshed?
My Thoughts /
Four backpackers. One pulchritudinous, and yet wholly treacherous Island.
Shadows on the Shore, the second book in Annie Seaton's atmospheric eco-crime thriller series featuring Bec Whitfield, is set on the stunning tropical getaway of Dunk Island.
While the palm fronds gently sway to and fro in the gentle warming sea breeze, and tourists are sipping colourful fruity concoctions from coconuts, the sounds of holidaymakers laughing and enjoying themselves filter up from the sandy beach; an unsuspecting tourist – out on the water with a fishing charter group – is about to make a gruesome catch.
After starting her career in Bowen River, policewoman Bec Whitfield accepts a transfer (and a promotion) to start work as a detective based out of the Mission Beach Police Station. Operating from this station puts her directly in charge of the coastal and island territories nearby, making her the primary investigator when a group of four backpackers goes missing on neighbouring Dunk Island. What starts out as a simple search mission quickly turns into a murder investigation as bodies begin to wash ashore, and suspicions of foul play begin to spread throughout the community.
If you have read this author's work before you will know, that like many of her previous novels, Seaton treats the Australian landscape as a living, breathing character. The lush, humid, and rain-soaked backdrop of Dunk Island provides a stark, beautiful contrast to the harsh reality of these crimes. The natural hazards of the tropical wet season amplify the procedural hurdles our protagonist is facing, creating a lingering sense of dread that weighs like an anchor throughout the entire book.
Seaton masterfully structures the plot to mimic the tropical environment—heavy, unpredictable, and increasingly dangerous. While quick and relentless pacing lean heavily into a classic game of cat and mouse. And as for Detective Bec Whitfield? Well, she needs to navigate her way through the mob mentality - untangling a web of conflicting stories, hidden personal motives, and town secrets.
Highly Recommended.
July 19, 2026
Book two in this series, book four is just about to be released and I am catching up and loving it, Bec is such a great character and this one had me turning the pages when four back packers go missing around The Whitsunday’s and Bec is thrown head first into the case as she starts her new position as detective in the small seaside town.
DI Todd Davenport arrives to help Bec with the investigation, when a catamaran is found on Dunk Island and then a body is discovered in the water, is this one of the missing woman? As they dig deeper into what they have already uncovered they find that the three woman have a small connection with a local who often takes backpackers on as crew on his yacht is this local who seems to have a bad reputation part of the reason they are missing or is it something else entirely and will they find out the truth on what has happened before there are any more bodies?
I loved this one, the setting is just the best and Bec is fabulous she has a lot going on at the moment her new position and the feeling she has for her boss Todd Davenport will anything come of that and starting a new position is not always easy especially when she walks into a police statin that has been sloppily run for many years, how will things work out for Bec I look forward to book three. I do highly recommend this one and the series to anyone who loves a good mystery set in a fabulous setting and with fabulous characters.
DI Todd Davenport arrives to help Bec with the investigation, when a catamaran is found on Dunk Island and then a body is discovered in the water, is this one of the missing woman? As they dig deeper into what they have already uncovered they find that the three woman have a small connection with a local who often takes backpackers on as crew on his yacht is this local who seems to have a bad reputation part of the reason they are missing or is it something else entirely and will they find out the truth on what has happened before there are any more bodies?
I loved this one, the setting is just the best and Bec is fabulous she has a lot going on at the moment her new position and the feeling she has for her boss Todd Davenport will anything come of that and starting a new position is not always easy especially when she walks into a police statin that has been sloppily run for many years, how will things work out for Bec I look forward to book three. I do highly recommend this one and the series to anyone who loves a good mystery set in a fabulous setting and with fabulous characters.
January 9, 2026
Big thanks to Annie for gifting us a copy to read and review.
Detective Bec Whitfield is back with a new case to investigate and solve.
The introduction of a new law enforcement protagonist and new series of books gives readers the familiarity and something to look forward too.
Shadows On The Shore is the second book.
Four people go missing in the tropical surroundings.
Detective Bec is straight onto the investigation with a team of investigators.
One turns up dead.
As she examines and questions further Bec begins to find more secrets, trouble and the webs get more tangled.
Bec also has little time to explore new romance.
Let the games of cat and mouse begin……
I’m a loyal fan of Annie’s books.
I enjoy the mystery, suspense, intrigue, action and drama that each book brings.
I did feel like there was less Bec in this one.
It’s destination fiction with crime vibes and a bunch of interesting characters set amongst the sunny weather.
Overall a thumbs up.
Detective Bec Whitfield is back with a new case to investigate and solve.
The introduction of a new law enforcement protagonist and new series of books gives readers the familiarity and something to look forward too.
Shadows On The Shore is the second book.
Four people go missing in the tropical surroundings.
Detective Bec is straight onto the investigation with a team of investigators.
One turns up dead.
As she examines and questions further Bec begins to find more secrets, trouble and the webs get more tangled.
Bec also has little time to explore new romance.
Let the games of cat and mouse begin……
I’m a loyal fan of Annie’s books.
I enjoy the mystery, suspense, intrigue, action and drama that each book brings.
I did feel like there was less Bec in this one.
It’s destination fiction with crime vibes and a bunch of interesting characters set amongst the sunny weather.
Overall a thumbs up.
August 20, 2025
in review
Another great read from Annie, look forward to final in series. Plus this book had twists that kept you turning the page and end didn’t see coming. The travels up Queensland coast if haven’t been there had you wanting to. I enjoy Annie’s books especially books in series.
Another great read from Annie, look forward to final in series. Plus this book had twists that kept you turning the page and end didn’t see coming. The travels up Queensland coast if haven’t been there had you wanting to. I enjoy Annie’s books especially books in series.
June 21, 2025
shadows on the shore
Another great read from Annie, kept me enthralled all the way through. Didn't see the twist until the end. A great who dunnit story along with glimpses of life on Qlds beautiful coastline. Worth the read
Another great read from Annie, kept me enthralled all the way through. Didn't see the twist until the end. A great who dunnit story along with glimpses of life on Qlds beautiful coastline. Worth the read
March 22, 2026
Book 2 continues to impress as with all Annie Seaton books. Loved it.
June 13, 2026
Loving this series.
Read
August 9, 2026This is a brilliant book with an interesting story. The characters snd the description of the scenery are wonderful.
Well worth reading.
Well worth reading.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews