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Shadows #1
Shadows in the Mirror
"Never go back to Burlington!" Those were the dying words of the secretive aunt who'd raised orphaned Marylee Simson. Yet to discover who she was, Marylee had to go back, sure the Lord would look out for her. But learning anything about her past was proving impossible. Why were there no records of the accident that claimed her parents' lives? No records of her parents, period? And who was trying to stop her from fi nding out? Someone whose threats were escalating. Someone close to her, such as Evan Baxter, the handsome photographer she'd entrusted with the one clue she had.
Kindle Edition
First published February 28, 2014
41 people are currently reading
127 people want to read
About the author
Linda Hall
91 books122 followersI write mystery novels and short stories. So far I have 20 in print - with more coming. My newest mystery series begins with Night Watch and introduces my new series character, boat captain Em Ridge.
Other series include the Corporal Roger Sheppard mysteries, The Teri Blake-Addison PI thrillers and the Fog Point mysteries, as well as a number of romantic suspense novels and short stories.
For information about sales, new releases, contests, plus a 'free' short story, I'd love for you to sign up for my newsletter: writerhall.com/newsletter
I grew up near the coast in New Jersey, and it was there that my love of the ocean was nurtured. I married a Canadian and have lived in Canada ever since - well, actually, I have lived in three countries: the U.S., Canada and for a short stint - Taiwan.
I hope you enjoy my books.
Other series include the Corporal Roger Sheppard mysteries, The Teri Blake-Addison PI thrillers and the Fog Point mysteries, as well as a number of romantic suspense novels and short stories.
For information about sales, new releases, contests, plus a 'free' short story, I'd love for you to sign up for my newsletter: writerhall.com/newsletter
I grew up near the coast in New Jersey, and it was there that my love of the ocean was nurtured. I married a Canadian and have lived in Canada ever since - well, actually, I have lived in three countries: the U.S., Canada and for a short stint - Taiwan.
I hope you enjoy my books.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
June 15, 2021
After Marylee Simson’s parents died in a car accident when she was three-years-old, her Aunt Rose took her from Burlington, Vermont to Portland, Oregon to raise her. Now that Marylee is an adult and her aunt has passed-away, Marylee is returning to Burlington despite her aunt’s warnings to never go back since there is evil there. Once there, Marylee tries to look into her past and finds that things aren’t adding up and she may have been living a life filled with lies. Evan Baxter is a photographer who offers to help her look for answers. She is attracted to him, but his motives in helping her seem questionable.
This was a good read, although I wasn’t always as caught up in the story as I’d have liked to have been. It did manage to keep me interested enough to see how everything would turn out in the end. This was a bit different for a Love Inspired Suspense book, in that the story was told in the first person point-of-view (Marylee’s) which is rare for these books.
This was a good read, although I wasn’t always as caught up in the story as I’d have liked to have been. It did manage to keep me interested enough to see how everything would turn out in the end. This was a bit different for a Love Inspired Suspense book, in that the story was told in the first person point-of-view (Marylee’s) which is rare for these books.
October 26, 2013
Before Shadows in the Mirror, I had only read one other book by Linda Hall (On Thin Ice) which I liked.
The story had an interesting plot. Marylee's parents died when she was just three, and she was raised by her aunt and didn't know anything about what happened, who she was, or why her aunt had begged her not to go back to Burlington.
Some things that happened in Shadows in the Mirror just didn't seem very realistic. For instance, Marylee is worried about someone following and wanting to harm her; yet, she decides to go look for evidence by herself in the rain. I find it hard to believe someone would do that if they actually thought someone was after them.
Another thing I didn't care for was that Marylee said she didn't trust Evan and that she wasn't interested in dating him; yet, every time he asked her out she accepted and even let him kiss her, all the while still being suspicious of him.
Also, the timeline was messy. In chapter one it says twenty-three years later, but further on in the book she says it's been twenty-eight years since the death of her parents.
Overall, Shadows in the Mirror was an okay read. I didn't hate it, but I never really got fully into the story.
My rating 2.5 stars
The story had an interesting plot. Marylee's parents died when she was just three, and she was raised by her aunt and didn't know anything about what happened, who she was, or why her aunt had begged her not to go back to Burlington.
Some things that happened in Shadows in the Mirror just didn't seem very realistic. For instance, Marylee is worried about someone following and wanting to harm her; yet, she decides to go look for evidence by herself in the rain. I find it hard to believe someone would do that if they actually thought someone was after them.
Another thing I didn't care for was that Marylee said she didn't trust Evan and that she wasn't interested in dating him; yet, every time he asked her out she accepted and even let him kiss her, all the while still being suspicious of him.
Also, the timeline was messy. In chapter one it says twenty-three years later, but further on in the book she says it's been twenty-eight years since the death of her parents.
Overall, Shadows in the Mirror was an okay read. I didn't hate it, but I never really got fully into the story.
My rating 2.5 stars
September 26, 2014
It was a good read. I found the characters a little naive, but a good story line. Rather tragic. I felt the aunt did her an injustice by not telling her the truth when she became an adult, but sometimes people just don't realize that children grow up and aren't children anymore. Phsyc 101 tells you don't tell your child not to do something you forbid them from doing or in this case promise to never return to Vermont. Curiosity got the best of her and she did exactly that. If her aunt really wanted to protect her, then she should have told her the truth.
March 7, 2018
This author writes in about the same genre that I do. This book took a prologue and a couple of chapters to pull me into the story, but about the second or third chapter, I was hooked. If it wasn’t so late last night, I would have read the book from the beginning and finished it in one sitting. This book kept me guessing to the very end. I also like her writing style, she keeps me hooked, and her writing flows effortlessly.
January 28, 2020
Read this book in two evenings. I have always enjoyed reading books by Linda Hall. She is very engaging. Really enjoyed the book and how you see MaryLee come to a full understanding of her past and still not allow hare and bitterness to capture her and instead allowing forgiveness for the person who took her family from her. Worth reading. I look forward to book two in the series.
February 22, 2023
🇨🇦 CANADIAN AUTHOR 🇨🇦
I own many Linda Hall paperback books and I read them years prior to beginning my Goodreads account in 2017. I just added them all to Goodreads in 2023 because I’ve been doing an inventory of all the books I own.
I do not have specific dates read—or even which years I read them in. I know that I loved them all. I strongly recommend her books.
I own many Linda Hall paperback books and I read them years prior to beginning my Goodreads account in 2017. I just added them all to Goodreads in 2023 because I’ve been doing an inventory of all the books I own.
I do not have specific dates read—or even which years I read them in. I know that I loved them all. I strongly recommend her books.
August 13, 2025
Very Interesting story
This was a book that held my interest from the first page to the last. Nicely paced story of intrigue and suspense. Strong characters, interesting plot. A bit of romance, and a bit of murder.
This was a book that held my interest from the first page to the last. Nicely paced story of intrigue and suspense. Strong characters, interesting plot. A bit of romance, and a bit of murder.
August 10, 2025
can’t put it down
Every book Linda Hall has written has been excellent and this one is no exception. Suspense, mystery, and some romance. Highly recommend!
Every book Linda Hall has written has been excellent and this one is no exception. Suspense, mystery, and some romance. Highly recommend!
September 12, 2025
The storyline was interesting but a whole lot more violence than I like.
July 25, 2015
Shadows
Book 1
It is rare that a LIS books is written in the first person, but I love finding myself really enjoying them. I think the romance is a bit more intriguing - maybe because it's taken completely from the woman's perspective, and we get to imagine what the man is thinking/doing/feeling. The love interest in this book is a winker at the beginning. I loved following the progress of Evan Baxter and Marylee.
The suspense follows Marylee's trying to understand who she is and what happened to her parents. As we read the story, I become more and more intrigued. The mystery is there and though we have a pretty good idea who it is from obvious clues, we wonder why. All the questions are answered in the end.
I expected a bit more interaction from Evan. He was there when it mattered in the end, but at times I felt his missing...
Book 1
It is rare that a LIS books is written in the first person, but I love finding myself really enjoying them. I think the romance is a bit more intriguing - maybe because it's taken completely from the woman's perspective, and we get to imagine what the man is thinking/doing/feeling. The love interest in this book is a winker at the beginning. I loved following the progress of Evan Baxter and Marylee.
The suspense follows Marylee's trying to understand who she is and what happened to her parents. As we read the story, I become more and more intrigued. The mystery is there and though we have a pretty good idea who it is from obvious clues, we wonder why. All the questions are answered in the end.
I expected a bit more interaction from Evan. He was there when it mattered in the end, but at times I felt his missing...
September 28, 2014
Marylee Simson was raised by her aunt after the death of her parents. The deaths occurred in Burlington, Vt and her Aunt Rose told her never to go back there. After her aunt's death Marylee does go to Burlington and tries to find out about her family. She opens a crafts store and begins to look for information with little result until she sees the one picture she owns of her parents but with different names. With the help of photographer, Evan Styles, she begins to trace these people and finds possible connections between them and Evan and some of her customers, particularly Martin Smythe. Average inspirational suspense romance.
February 25, 2009
Excellent read. Linda Hall is a very good author and her books are done sort of locally, in Maine and Vermont. (I live in NH and have been to both states.)
There wasn't a lot of fluff in this story and there was nothing boring. Definitely a quick read.
Marylee discovers some strange things about her past. She isn't even sure who she really is. The more she tries to discover the truth, the more oddities she uncovers. Can she trust a particular friend or is he/she in on it as well?
There wasn't a lot of fluff in this story and there was nothing boring. Definitely a quick read.
Marylee discovers some strange things about her past. She isn't even sure who she really is. The more she tries to discover the truth, the more oddities she uncovers. Can she trust a particular friend or is he/she in on it as well?
October 29, 2014
This was SO GOOD!! Linda Hall is fantastic! I can't wait until I get more of her books. I did feel a little frustrated that her Aunt didn't just tell her the truth when she grew up and that Marylee didn't just come out and ask Evan certain questions but I guess it wouldn't be a suspense book or as creepy without that.
October 21, 2010
First in this series. Good suspense. Enjoyed reading the story.
March 22, 2012
This was a good book. I am always leery with Christian Fiction. Some can be full of fluff. I have found the mystery Christian fiction is pretty good.
April 20, 2015
A great story line. Held my interest. No gore. Clean. Good character development. Suspenseful without gruesome that keeps you up at night. Touching romance. Highly recommend.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews