The Shadow of Sylvia: A Dark Romance, Locked Room Mystery

by Leann Cotton

Sylvia, newly widowed at thirty years old, has spent all winter living alone in Chambers Estate on the hill above Hayse Haven following her husband’s murder. Although, she’s not always alone. As a social media influencer, Sylvia is used to the feeling of being watched. But the eyes watching her from the dark woods surrounding the estate belong to one new follower she didn’t expect.

As if juggling her complicated feelings for her no-longer-secret admirer and the role in her late husband’s company she inherited weren’t enough, Sylvia has also agreed to host Hayse Haven’s annual Bid-A-Date event at the estate. What starts as a charity event to benefit the town’s small businesses soon takes a turn for the worse and becomes a crime scene. With a snowstorm raging outside and a murderer in their midst, no one can leave.

As bodies begin piling up, Sylvia is left with a growing sense of uncertainty, wondering if the crime she and her friends are trying to solve is connected to her late husband’s murder or if her mystery man is the culprit.

Either way, is she next?

In this small town, dark romance, locked room mystery, no one is safe, and everyone is a suspect.

The Shadow of Sylvia is the second story in the Hayse Haven mystery series. While backstory will be provided, it is intended to be read after The Silence of Autumn.

This book contains mature content.

313 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 25, 2025

Reviews

[Angelia Tucker · Rating 4 out of 5]

both of these books were great. I love the fun adult Nancy Drew style mystery in the series matched with steamy romance. I like that leann wrote a morally gray staker in a cozy mystery, and even though he is supposed to be a villain, he is a very likable and charming person. I couldn't put this book down!