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River's Shadow : An addictive psychological thriller with a twist
A heart-pounding FBI thriller where the hunter becomes the hunted.
Ten-year-old Sarah Truby disappears without a trace in Charlottesville, Virginia—and the case hits far too close to home for FBI Agent River Collins. Twenty years ago, she was the one who vanished. She survived. Her captor was never caught.
When River learns Sarah had been chatting online with a man posing as her friend, and she realizes this isn’t just one missing child. It’s the gateway into a predator’s network.
The deeper River digs, the more she’s forced to confront the horrors of her own past… and the terrifying possibility that the man who took her is still out there.
Every second counts. Every wrong move could cost Sarah her life—and put River in the crosshairs of the very evil she’s been running from.
Perfect for fans of Mary Stone and Elle Gray, River’s Shadow is a gripping page-turner from bestselling, award-winning author Kate Gable.
Once you start, you won’t be able to stop.
Ten-year-old Sarah Truby disappears without a trace in Charlottesville, Virginia—and the case hits far too close to home for FBI Agent River Collins. Twenty years ago, she was the one who vanished. She survived. Her captor was never caught.
When River learns Sarah had been chatting online with a man posing as her friend, and she realizes this isn’t just one missing child. It’s the gateway into a predator’s network.
The deeper River digs, the more she’s forced to confront the horrors of her own past… and the terrifying possibility that the man who took her is still out there.
Every second counts. Every wrong move could cost Sarah her life—and put River in the crosshairs of the very evil she’s been running from.
Perfect for fans of Mary Stone and Elle Gray, River’s Shadow is a gripping page-turner from bestselling, award-winning author Kate Gable.
Once you start, you won’t be able to stop.
292 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 31, 2025
56 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
About the author
Kate Gable
39 books427 followersKate Gable loves a good mystery that is full of suspense. She grew up devouring psychological thrillers and crime novels as well as movies, tv shows and true crime.
Her favorite stories are the ones that are centered on families with lots of secrets and lies as well as many twists and turns. Her novels have elements of psychological suspense, thriller, mystery and romance.
Kate Gable lives in Southern California with her husband, son, a dog and a cat. She has spent more than twenty years in this area and finds inspiration from its cities, canyons, deserts, and small mountain towns.
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Her favorite stories are the ones that are centered on families with lots of secrets and lies as well as many twists and turns. Her novels have elements of psychological suspense, thriller, mystery and romance.
Kate Gable lives in Southern California with her husband, son, a dog and a cat. She has spent more than twenty years in this area and finds inspiration from its cities, canyons, deserts, and small mountain towns.
Want to read a FREE Book?
https://www.subscribepage.com/kategab...
Check out her books here:
www.kategable.com
Join my Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/83385...
Write her here:
Kate@kategable.com
Bonus Points: Follow me on BookBub and Goodreads!
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
September 9, 2025
I have to write that this second book in this series featuring FBI agent River Collins has been the best so far in my opinion. The reader finds out more of River’s past as well as more of her quirks about life. This book was filled with shocking revelations and how in depth human trafficking can be. My emotions ran high while reading this book. Survivors of trauma are a different type of person. Hyper vigilance and distrust run deep within this type of person. As a survivor, I could relate to River, I found her so strong yet vulnerable. The part where she finally opened up to Aiden brought me to tears. The author gets how difficult it is to let people in for fear of losing them or them disappearing when things get tough. The twist was finding out how her past intertwined with this current case. I am eagerly awaiting the next book!
September 10, 2025
RIVER’S SHADOW (River Collins: FBI Mystery Thriller 2) by Kate Gable
4 stars
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date august 9, 2025
Ten-year-old Sarah Earhart disappears without a trace in Charlottesville, Virginia—and the case hits far too close to home for FBI Agent River Collins. Twenty years ago, she was the one who vanished. She survived. Her captor was never caught.
When River learns Sarah had been chatting online with a man posing as her friend, and she realizes this isn’t just one missing child. It’s the gateway into a predator’s network.
The deeper River digs, the more she’s forced to confront the horrors of her own past… and the terrifying possibility that the man who took her is still out there.
Every second counts. Every wrong move could cost Sarah her life—and put River in the crosshairs of the very evil she’s been running from.
Perfect for fans of Mary Stone and Elle Gray, River’s Shadow is a gripping page-turner from bestselling, award-winning author Kate Gable.
Once you start, you won’t be able to stop.
•••••••
REVIEW: RIVER’S SHADOW is the second instalment in Kate Gable’s contemporary, adult RIVER COLLINS FBI mystery thriller series focusing on thirty four year old, FBI Agent Rebecca ‘River’ Collins.
NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.
Told from dual first person perspectives (River and Sarah) RIVER’S SHADOW follows the search for a missing seven year old girl, a case with many similarities to River’s own. Twenty years earlier, our heroine was abducted and held for two years before her escape, and with most recent missing child brings with it memories from the past. Meanwhile, River’s relationship with Aiden, a neurosurgeon at the local hospital, is entering a phase of that is hindered by River’s obsession with the case. As River digs deeper, her spiral into the past, comes full circle as she confronts the memories that continue to haunt.
Meanwhile, River’s sister Leslie is struggling with her own relationship, married to a man who is often checked out but River is about to discover the real reason, and our heroine is caught between a secret or the lies her sister wants to believe.
The world building, is once again, familiar to fans of Kate Gable. The similarities to her previous series and story lines are numerous ; the premises are familiar including struggling familial relationships, and a backstory of abduction and betrayal, and a hard-nosed heroine, whose job affects her friendships, relationships, and the family from whom she keeps her distance.
RIVER’S SHADOW is a story of secrets and lies, power and control, obsession and madness, family and love. The fast paced, character driven premise is edgy and dramatic, a cat and mouse game of suspense and chills; the characters are desperate and determined; the romance is subtle.
Copy supplied for review
4 stars
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date august 9, 2025
Ten-year-old Sarah Earhart disappears without a trace in Charlottesville, Virginia—and the case hits far too close to home for FBI Agent River Collins. Twenty years ago, she was the one who vanished. She survived. Her captor was never caught.
When River learns Sarah had been chatting online with a man posing as her friend, and she realizes this isn’t just one missing child. It’s the gateway into a predator’s network.
The deeper River digs, the more she’s forced to confront the horrors of her own past… and the terrifying possibility that the man who took her is still out there.
Every second counts. Every wrong move could cost Sarah her life—and put River in the crosshairs of the very evil she’s been running from.
Perfect for fans of Mary Stone and Elle Gray, River’s Shadow is a gripping page-turner from bestselling, award-winning author Kate Gable.
Once you start, you won’t be able to stop.
•••••••
REVIEW: RIVER’S SHADOW is the second instalment in Kate Gable’s contemporary, adult RIVER COLLINS FBI mystery thriller series focusing on thirty four year old, FBI Agent Rebecca ‘River’ Collins.
NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.
Told from dual first person perspectives (River and Sarah) RIVER’S SHADOW follows the search for a missing seven year old girl, a case with many similarities to River’s own. Twenty years earlier, our heroine was abducted and held for two years before her escape, and with most recent missing child brings with it memories from the past. Meanwhile, River’s relationship with Aiden, a neurosurgeon at the local hospital, is entering a phase of that is hindered by River’s obsession with the case. As River digs deeper, her spiral into the past, comes full circle as she confronts the memories that continue to haunt.
Meanwhile, River’s sister Leslie is struggling with her own relationship, married to a man who is often checked out but River is about to discover the real reason, and our heroine is caught between a secret or the lies her sister wants to believe.
The world building, is once again, familiar to fans of Kate Gable. The similarities to her previous series and story lines are numerous ; the premises are familiar including struggling familial relationships, and a backstory of abduction and betrayal, and a hard-nosed heroine, whose job affects her friendships, relationships, and the family from whom she keeps her distance.
RIVER’S SHADOW is a story of secrets and lies, power and control, obsession and madness, family and love. The fast paced, character driven premise is edgy and dramatic, a cat and mouse game of suspense and chills; the characters are desperate and determined; the romance is subtle.
Copy supplied for review
August 30, 2025
This is book two in The River Collins FBI Mystery Thriller series and omg it is definitely a must read and you will not be disappointed. River was abducted twenty years ago when she was twelve but the person was never caught and that is why she does the job of a FBI Agent while upholding the law and putting the culprits behind bars. When Sarah who is ten years old disappeared River is called to Charlottesville to find out what happened and also look for clues and even though it brings back dark memories of when River was taken and eat for two years before she managed to escape she is still determined to find Sarah and hopefully bring her home. When River finds out that Sarah had been messaging on line to a person who says that he is her friend River realised that now it is a race against time to find Sarah as quickly as possible without compromising her safety because River knows all about the evil in this world and the lure of the unknown that tries to beckon you to it’s side just for everything to go wrong. Now River is trying to find who as taken Sarah and hopefully get justice especially as the first 24hours are the most important time. River now had to face her demons while trying to save Sarah from the vicious clutches of the worst of humanity because the clues and patterns that are now emerging is something that River recognised because she lived it herself. Wow the twists and turns keep coming as River gets closer to the source of the kidnapping and even though it brings up her worst nightmares she is determined to keep going and find those responsible and eliminate them if possible. I loved how Aiden was there for River when she was the most vulnerable and even though she tried hard to push him away her wasn’t going nowhere because supporting her was his main concern. This book will pull you in while keeping you on the edge of your seat and also keeping your attention throughout because it is so addictive and I can’t wait to read the next book in this amazing series.
August 30, 2025
This is the second book in The River Collins FBI Mystery Thriller series, and it is definitely a must-read—you will not be disappointed. Twenty years ago, River was abducted at the age of twelve, and the perpetrator was never caught. This traumatic experience is what drives her to work as an FBI Agent, determined to uphold the law and put criminals behind bars.
When ten-year-old Sarah goes missing, River is called to Charlottesville to investigate. The case stirs painful memories of her own abduction and the two years she spent in captivity before escaping. Nonetheless, she is resolute in her mission to find Sarah and bring her home safely.
River discovers that Sarah had been communicating online with someone claiming to be her friend. This revelation heightens the urgency of the situation; River knows it is a race against time to locate Sarah without compromising her safety. She understands all too well the dangers lurking in the world and the seductive allure of the unknown that can lead to disaster.
As River works to uncover the identity of Sarah's abductor, she faces her own demons while racing to save the child from the clutches of humanity's worst. The clues and patterns emerging in the investigation resonate deeply with River, reminding her of her own past.
The twists and turns keep coming as River draws closer to the source of the kidnapping. Despite the resurgence of her deepest fears, she remains determined to find those responsible and seek justice, if possible. I admired how Aiden stood by River during her most vulnerable moments; despite her attempts to push him away, he was unwavering in his support.
This book will grip you from the start, keeping you on the edge of your seat with its addictive plot. You won't want to put it down, and I didn't. I can't wait to read the next instalment in this fantastic series!
When ten-year-old Sarah goes missing, River is called to Charlottesville to investigate. The case stirs painful memories of her own abduction and the two years she spent in captivity before escaping. Nonetheless, she is resolute in her mission to find Sarah and bring her home safely.
River discovers that Sarah had been communicating online with someone claiming to be her friend. This revelation heightens the urgency of the situation; River knows it is a race against time to locate Sarah without compromising her safety. She understands all too well the dangers lurking in the world and the seductive allure of the unknown that can lead to disaster.
As River works to uncover the identity of Sarah's abductor, she faces her own demons while racing to save the child from the clutches of humanity's worst. The clues and patterns emerging in the investigation resonate deeply with River, reminding her of her own past.
The twists and turns keep coming as River draws closer to the source of the kidnapping. Despite the resurgence of her deepest fears, she remains determined to find those responsible and seek justice, if possible. I admired how Aiden stood by River during her most vulnerable moments; despite her attempts to push him away, he was unwavering in his support.
This book will grip you from the start, keeping you on the edge of your seat with its addictive plot. You won't want to put it down, and I didn't. I can't wait to read the next instalment in this fantastic series!
September 5, 2025
Ten year old Sarah Truby vanished without a trace while walking home from school. FBI Agent River Collins needs to find her before the inevitable happens. What complicates this is that 20 years ago, River was the victim in a similar crime, but she managed to escape. This makes her the best....and the worst...person for the job. The best because she has first hand experience of what Sarah may be going through. The worst because this case dredges up her "damage" from such a traumatic situation.
Over the years, I've become a huge fan of Kate Gable. Her stories are well told, believable and draw you in from the first line. This story is no exception. The rollercoaster ride with twists, turns, drama, and suspense will keep you enthralled to the very end. Never miss a book by Kate Gable; you'd regret it.
Over the years, I've become a huge fan of Kate Gable. Her stories are well told, believable and draw you in from the first line. This story is no exception. The rollercoaster ride with twists, turns, drama, and suspense will keep you enthralled to the very end. Never miss a book by Kate Gable; you'd regret it.
August 31, 2025
This Book is an edge of your seat thriller that keeps you turning pages until the great ending. FBI Agent River Collins is tasked with finding ten year old Sarah Truby who disappeared without trace from Charlottesville, Virginia. The elements of this case hits River too close to home since it happened to her twenty years ago and she escaped but the kidnapper was never found. Can she work this case without getting the past mixed in or will she take her knowledge of what happened to her and use it to find little Sarah. The thrilling storyline keeps you glued to the pages as you get caught up in it. This book was definitely unputdownable! If you like a thrilling, psychological read, this is the one for you. I received an ARC of this book but the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.
September 7, 2025
River is given the case of a missing 12 year old girl. Memories come flooding back as this is exactly what happened to River 20 years before. Is he back ? Is he still watching River? Will River be able to cope dealing with this case or is it too close to home. This second book in Rivers series is great. You will be drawn into the case along with River as she works to bring back Sarah to her family safely.
August 31, 2025
A young child is taken by a predator and agent River Collins is in charge of the case. River was taken as a 12-year-old and held for 2 years when she escaped. The abduction brings horrible memories to the surface as her predator was never caught. A page turning thriller with a heart pounding conclusion.
August 31, 2025
Kate Gable has once again blown me away w/ the intriguing suspense and twists she pours into every one of her books. Agent River Collins is assigned a case similar to her own trauma when she was 12 year old and is racing against time to catch the perpetrator and save a young girl named Sarah before it's to late.
September 6, 2025
This page turner kept me turning the pages. The action was nonstop and the characters were relatable. River's past trauma makes her an excellent agent when it comes to missing children. She leaves no stone unturned as she searches until she can bring the children home. I would highly recommend it. I received a free copy of this book via the author and this is my honest review.
September 9, 2025
Such a great read and I'm loving everything about River. She's dealing with her past trauma while putting her entire self into this new case. The story gives us twists and turns, but what really pulls me in is the way we get the emotion. You can feel what River is going through, the pain, the wall she has built, and how that has made an impact on her entire life. The flow keeps the pages turning with moments of nail biting, and so much more. I'm all in with this series!
I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
December 5, 2025
I’m not sure if it was the copy I read on kindle but the editing didn’t stack up. They identify a suspect at the end of one chapter. They don’t know where he is. He didn’t come into work. He’s not answering his phone. The beginning of the next chapter they rock up at his office and ask to speak to him. Sure. He’s in his office. Huh?
The same phrases are repeated over and over. Just so odd.
The same phrases are repeated over and over. Just so odd.
August 30, 2025
Agent Collins has a new abduction case of a minor. There is a lot more than meets the eye. Lots of suspense, secrets in the fast-pace ,action packed thriller with a nail-biting finish which has you captivated to the finish. I received this ARC copy and recommend this book to other readers.
August 31, 2025
Really good story. it keeps you on the edge of your seat. It was hard to put down. had to find out if this new case has to do with what happened to River when she was 12. really well written. a must Read.
September 3, 2025
This is book two in the River Collins FBI series. River is in charge of the case of a ten year old girl. It brings back traumatic memories of her past when the same thing happened to her. This is a gripping psychological thriller that kept me riveted to the pages. An amazing story.
September 13, 2025
Absolutely loved this book! Fbi agent river Collins works cases involving children and this case hits to close to her own nightmare. can she bring the missing child home or will her past come back to haunt her?
August 30, 2025
So very good. I love the writing style. It kept me so immersed in the story. Everything she writes is amazing!
September 6, 2025
This was a awesome story about River and how her past comes to grips with what is happening now with a missing child with lots of suspense and action. Thank you for this great story.
November 16, 2025
Great series
I love this series. The main character is complex and multifaceted with an interesting back story that's compelling and riveting.
I love this series. The main character is complex and multifaceted with an interesting back story that's compelling and riveting.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews