The Shaking: Olivia Callahan Suspense

by Kerry Peresta

The tremors began at dawn—violent, betraying shudders that stole her consciousness. This time, the seizure left blood on the garage floor, a bemused realization that alcohol was not her friend, and an ultimatum from fiancée Sergeant Hunter Rehab or we call off the engagement. His voice, steady as a sniper’s breath, named the facility—Woodlawn Acres Wellness Center. Safe. Discreet. But deep down, private investigator Olivia Callahan suspected the slick brochure he’d given her masked the stench of corruption.

She wondered at the cautious steps in the night. Forced over-medicating. Mysterious meetings with the small-town mayor and his meek wife. Then her best friend, Callie, hit her with the news of her husband’s parole and his ultimatums regarding their “I’ll be Daddy again,” he’d texted. “Even if I have to bury you to do it.”

Desperate to leave the rehab facility to help Callie and return to her firm, Watchdog Investigations, she checks the daily onslaught of pills, spitting them into a worn, hollowed-out paperback, nodding through daily therapy sessions, mapping the facility at night, and unearthing clues in locked closets with a stolen keycard. Then, one afternoon, the glint of a syringe. The orderlies with dead eyes called it “stabilization.” Now, she’s positive the forces arrayed against her are unwavering in their resolve to preserve their secrets. In a chilling moment of clarity, she realizes that this time, her indomitable will and the ever-valiant Hunter Faraday might not be enough to save her.

344 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 26, 2025

About the author

Kerry Peresta is a former advertising account executive and copywriter-turned-suspense novelist, whose sharp wit and Southern roots fuel page-turning stories. After decades of crafting punchy headlines and persuasive campaigns, she traded the corporate world for full time writing and the salty air of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Kerry is the author Olivia Callahan Suspense, a five-book series; and standalone thriller Back Before Dawn, all released by Level Best Books. With the fifth installment of her series releasing August, 2025, she continues to prove that danger can be as close as the neighbor next door. Her humor column, “The Lighter Side,” appeared weekly in the Pierre Daily Journal from 2009-11; and her articles, stories, and interviews have also appeared in Local Life Magazine, Lady Lowcountry Magazine, Island Events Magazine, and Bluffton Breeze. Her short story, “The Day the Migraine Died,” appeared in Rock, Roll & Ruin, an anthology by Triangle Sisters in Crime, 2022, and she helped create the mystery podcast “Guns, Knives & Lipstick,” which had a run of three years. Kerry is a member of Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers, Mystery Writers of America, South Carolina Writers Association, and Island Writers Network. She and her husband enjoy the laid-back, refreshing vibe of the Lowcountry, and live on Hilton Head Island. They enjoy long walks on the beach, their three cats, an ever-expanding flock of grandkids, and the occasional road trip. Discover more at kerryperesta.com.

Reviews

[Ashley Kanazawich · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book five of the Olivia Callahan Suspense series, and as someone who has read and loved all four of the others, when the Kerry Peresta herself asked if I wanted to review The Shaking, I of course said yes!

Returning to the characters I’ve come to know and love was like coming home to good friends. I was immediately pulled in and emotionally invested, just like every other time.

The Shaking is just as suspenseful as the rest, full of shady characters, surprising twists, and tangled secrets. But in my opinion, this one had even more emotional pull. Olivia has been through so much. Each book has challenged her in ways that would cause any strong, independent woman to break. She’s had the rug pulled out from under her, betrayed by people she deeply loved and trusted, and forced to rebuild her life from the ground up.

Except… with all that challenge also comes pain. And when pain is ignored, it doesn’t disappear, it festers. Instead of facing it, Olivia numbs herself with glass after glass of wine until her friends begin to worry. Watching her struggle was heartbreaking, but it also made her seem deeply human, real and relatable in all the right ways.

The mystery in this story runs deep. The tangled web that Olivia and her investigative team uncover is gut-wrenching. With each layer revealed, the crimes become more heartbreaking, more personal, and more impossible to turn away from.

As with every book in this series, The Shaking explores relationships, broken trust, and inner strength. People are often not who they seem, and when the truth comes out, you have to have enough of yourself intact to withstand it. Olivia may be reckless and stubborn at times, but she also embodies incredible tenacity and resilience, something every reader can take inspiration from.

[Wall-to-wall books - wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

MY THOUGHTS -
The Shaking is the 5th book in the series and the 5th one that I personally have read. I love this fantastic series and have grown to love these characters and feel like they are family.

So, when I say... this book had me in a panic and my heart was breaking for Olivia, it was like it was happening to one of my own. I never felt so close to Olivia as I did in this book!

There are a few different stories going on at the same time. Never a dull moment. Just when one is ending another picks up. It felt like real life to me. When do we ever have just one thing going on? I don't know about your life, but NEVER in my life.

This book kinda hit home with me. :-( It reminded me a bit of some things in my past that I have struggled with. So I felt like I was right there going through all of it with them.

To me, this one is by far the best one in the series! Yes, it could kind of be read as a stand alone. But I wouldn't really recommend it. I would say at the very least read the first book. There is a lot of background history that you will want to know. Kerry does a great job of trying to catch you up. But there is nothing like reading it all for yourself.

I highly recommend this whole series!

Thank you so much Kerry Peresta for sending me an e-copy for my honest review.

[Kathie Bennet · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Shaking. Olivia Callahan Suspense by Kerry Peresta is a tense psychological thriller that places its protagonist inside a controlled environment where nothing feels fully trustworthy. Olivia Callahan, a private investigator struggling with health challenges, is sent to a wellness facility that quickly begins to reveal unsettling secrets beneath its polished exterior.

What stands out is the atmosphere. The sense of confinement and uncertainty is strong, and the story builds tension through Olivia’s growing suspicions about the people around her and the systems meant to help her. The narrative leans heavily into psychological suspense, with shifting perceptions and mounting paranoia.

Overall, it’s a gripping thriller for readers who enjoy dark, character driven suspense set in closed, high control environments with a strong investigative lead.

[Cindy Goyette · Rating 5 out of 5]

The gang’s back for Book 5 of the Olivia Callahan Suspense series. Feisty heroine Olivia Callahan is far from perfect, and she knows it. As she struggles to learn and grown, things are imploding at her PI business. She’s ready for help and friends—especially level-headed Sargeant Hunter Faraday, and her adorable dog, Marlow—are more than up for the job. Seemingly unrelated storylines come together flawlessly. But don’t catch your breath just yet. When you think it’s over, Presta drops another bomb. A solid page-turner that will keep you up at night.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

With its cast of intriguing characters, The Shaking grabbed me from the first chapter and didn’t let go until well after the last page. Peresta is a mastermind when it comes to plot lines, and I happily journeyed through her pages, loving every twist and turn. The last book in a series, The Shaking gives these characters the sendoff they deserve, as their creator just gets better and better.

[Diane Gorman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Kerry Peresta writing style is always very descriptive and this is true in her writing of "The Shaking". This book is the last in the Olivia Callahan series and once again you feel as if you are right there with Olivia ... but ... wondering what could be happening next. The ending has some parts you may expect, and then other parts you did not see coming!! If you like psychological suspense you won't be disappointed with this book or any of the books in the Olivia Callahan series. Absolutely captivating read(s) from beginning to end.

[James Mallory · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kerry Peresta has landed another winner with The Shaking. It’s a suspenseful tale where protagonist Olivia Callahan navigates her personal challenges while solving a case that has caught her attention. The Shaking seamlessly weaves together the subplots that are challenging Olivia and her crew.

[AMAO · Rating 5 out of 5]

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