Shadows of the Past: A Shady Pines Mystery Novel - Book 4

Shady Pines Mystery #4

by Jenny Elaine

"You have until Monday to find what's been taken. That's only seven days, so don't be mistaken."When Tori Barlow is suddenly kidnapped, the police are only given seven days to find her. Misty joins in on the frantic search for her best friend, therefore endangering her life in the process. When more women start to disappear and strange things begin to happen, the quiet town of Shady Pines becomes a place filled with suspicion and fear. As moments tick by and Misty draws closer to the truth, danger lurks around every corner. When her father suddenly shows up on her doorstep, she is faced with yet more turmoil. Will she finally find all the answers to the questions in her life? And more importantly, will they find Tori before it's too late?

Genres: Mystery

Audible Audio

First published October 4, 2023

About the author

Other than writing, I love to travel, spend time with my family (which includes my dog, Opie!), read a book, go on adventures, and eat boiled peanuts. If you've read my books, I truly hope you enjoyed them!

Reviews

[Sanderella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wowzers!! What a story!! I sat and read this book all afternoon!! My husband went to store and folded the laundry. I told him that he was on his own until I finished the book and found out who Misty's father was and I held my breath while she helped solve a few kidnappings!!
I certainly didn't expect who the bad guys were, especially the ring leader!!
Fantastic job, Mz Jenny Elaine!! 👸💜🎃

[Barbara Langlois · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful series

I can highly recommend this series. Light reading but with such flare. Loved all the details and how the story can together. Look forward to reading more by this author. Two thumbs way up.

[Lori Buck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good series! Many twists and turns throughout the story! I couldn’t put it down!

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[linda thielges · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read!

This is a story where turns are always happening. I like to figure out the ending as soon as possible. This book keep me from doing that! I could not stop reading and trying to guess the ending. What a surprisr.

[Cheryl Buras · Rating 5 out of 5]

AMAZING 4 BOOK READ!

Started with book 1 on a Saturday. By Monday night I had read the 4 book series! You will not be able to put any of these books down. They are written so well you often feel like you are in the story & can’t wait to find out what happens next amidst all the twists & turns. I hope eventually there is a book 4 & 5! Plenty of room for more stories in this series.

[Cynthia Stigall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this series. The 4 books was just enough!!!

[Sandra Daves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shady Pines Mystery

What a great time I have had reading these four books. Truly had trouble putting any of them down. I went immediately from one book to the next. Wonderful writing. I felt I was a part of Shady Pines.

[Trudy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keeping up with Misty!

Book 4 had everything that kept me on edge! Kidnappings, threats, suspense and a lot more - who is doing all these multiple crimes and why? I could not help but be suspicious of everyone. I physically took a few notes and in the end I still got it wrong! This story was just that good! Misty was taking dangerous chances that plucked my last nerve😵‍💫
I loved all 4 books in this Shady Pines series! Fast paced. I really finished reading a few days ago. In my opinion Jenny Elaine’s writings will grab your attention to the very end!🫶🏽✨

[Dorothy · Rating 5 out of 5]

great series

I enjoyed reading this series so much. Just wish went on longer. I’ll be reading more from this author very soon.

[Kathy Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is great.Just when you think you have it figured out,,everything changes & there's a new twist.!! Hard to stop once you start.Easy reads.

[Kathy Birkhead · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tori has received a text from Pops that he needs her help. When she gets to pops she finds him knocked out and bleeding. Someone chloroform’s her and kidnaps her. He leaves a poem note that she has 7 days to live.
Misty’s dog was shot with a tranquilizer and she is kidnapped with a hood over her head. She is put in the trunk of a car, but the car stops, there is a scuffle, and someone unlocks the trunk and is gone. She escapes and is picked up by Theo and taken home. When she gets there she finds out that Patrick came by to talk to her and found her dog. He took the dog to the vet. She gets her car and goes to the vet (Kira) and is told the dog has to spend the night. The tranquilizer was enough to kill him but Patrick got the dog to the vet in time.
Misty investigates some old buildings around town looking for Tori. Bryce finds Misty and goes with her. They are run off the road by another vehicle and stuck in a ditch, not far from Officer Dylan’s house. They barrow his truck to pull theirs out. They discover muddy combat boots in Dylan’s garage like the footprints found at Tori’s kidnapping scene. He was in the service so that would be normal, right? Patrick still wants to talk to Misty. He picks up her dog from the vet. Is PatRICK her father?
The sheriff accuses Dylan of taking a report home instead oh leaving it on his desk of the boot imprints from the kidnapping scene. Rookie cop Harris warns Misty to be careful.
Anna is working at the vets office when she is kidnapped. Another poem note is left. The poems indicate that Misty’s escape is why another girl has gone missing.
Adam is back in her life. She has to decide if she likes him or Bryce. Lexi is Adam’s sister who lives at home. Lexi decides to go for an early morning run. She gets kidnapped as well. She left a note for her mother that she was going for a run, but mom found her phone and keys on the front porch with another poem note.
Misty has stumbled across the asylum where they are being held. Tori is able to get a nail free and pick the lock on her door. She discovers Lexi is next to her and tries to pick her lock too. The kidnapper shows up and threatens to kill them. It is her Tori’s neighbor Hayden. Misty zaps Hayden with a stun gun and takes his keys to free Lexi and Anna. Officer Dylan shows up and says Hayden is dead. How did he die from a stun gun?!
Later Tori and Misty are together when she tells Tori that her father is Patrick. She also had a DNA test that proves it. Officers Harris shows up and ties Tori up and called Officer Dylan to come to Misty’s house. Harris is crazy in love with Misty and wants to run away with her. He was the mysterious stranger who opened the trunk for Misty. He had a deal with Julian and Hayden, (brothers) to kidnap the girls, as long as they left them alone for 7 days and Dylan got the blame. Then they could molest and kill the girls. He killed Julian and buried him in his back yard when Julian kidnapped Misty. He also strangled Hayden after Misty tasered him, but the cops showed up and he fled. He is going to take Tori and Dylan to Dylan’s house to stage a murder suicide. Dylan shows up and Harris has a gun on him and Tori. Dylan throws a screwdriver at Harris and knocks him out.
Patrick tells Misty that her mother came from Cuba to stay with her aunt. The rest of her family was to follow. Her aunt died and Elaina went into the foster system. When she was grown she looked for her family and couldn’t find them. She fell in love with Patrick and became pregnant, but Patrick didn’t know. She came looking for him and Patrick’s girlfriend told Elaina that they were engaged. He did not marry that girl but by the time she heard of him again she was married to Carson.
Misty chooses Bryce for her love interest. Adam is not happy at first but accepts it.
Patrick wants Misty to meet all of his family.
One big happy ending!

[Phyllis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished the Shady Pines Mystery series. I loved this whodunnit mystery!! I don't always read a series. This one grabbed me from the beginning. It takes place in a small town where multiple murders are happening. The protagonist is an amateur sleuth and is determined to get to the bottom of all the murders/crimes. Meanwhile she is there to learn about her past family history which is a mystery in itself. Each of the 4 books in the series end with a cliffhanger which, of course, made me want to keep going with the series. Lots of dangerous chances., threats, suspense , suspicion, kidnappings etc. Lots of characters to keep track of, so I had to take notes. So many twists and turns with a such a surprised ending. I was definitely satisfied with it. I highly recommend these Kindle Unlimited books and they also come in paperback.

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Misty is the like the person in horror movies; the one who goes into the basement/attic/woods alone. Everyone else knows better, but not her. Here's what the author wrote for Misty in Chapter 3: "The thought that it might not be the safest idea to go to the store by herself crossed her mind, but she pushed it away." and in Chapter 25: "She'd go there herself tonight when no one would be able to see her approaching. And if Sheriff Ward found out and arrested her, then so be it." In the same chapter the author also wrote: "She'd solved many mysteries over the years." In this series Misty helped solve three mysteries and suddenly in book four she's like Miss Marple.

[Tiff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely one of my new favorite book series! I started this series on a Saturday and finished all 4 by the following Wednesday! I couldn't put them down! If you love a good mystery in each book but one main mystery to find out at the end of the series this is the series for you! This author is definitely one of my current favorites and I can't wait for her to write more!

[Loucille Gambill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book

I've read the series ,its a good book just like the rest. The story keeps you interested and you want to read the complete set, very good

[Robyn Mosher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good ending to this series.