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A Flash of Shadow
The Hunter Comes to Dogleg Island
A notorious serial killer, come home to die. A young woman found hanging from a tree. A missing billionaire. In the quiet coastal community of Dogleg Island, nothing is as it should be. And for Police Chief Aggie Malone and her extraordinarily perceptive canine assistant Flash, time is running out.
When Acting Sheriff Ryan Grady apprehends a suspect attempting to rob his father’s bait shop, he has no idea that the man he has taken into custody will eventually confess to over one hundred murders… nor is he particularly interested in the notoriety a high-profile criminal like Patrick Henry Jessup brings to his home town. Absorbed in the anticipation of his impending fatherhood and forced to take on a job he did not seek, Grady wants nothing more than to be rid of Jessup and all he represents.
Florida Department of Law Enforcement Investigator Jim Clark is anxious to take over the case, hoping to gain clarity into the shadows of his own past. But as the interviews with Jessup unfold both Grady and Clark find themselves reluctantly drawn into the world of the hunter, and are shaken to find they have more in common with him than they ever would have believed.
On Dogleg Island, Police Chief Aggie Malone Grady, struggling to navigate the challenges of fast-approaching motherhood while training a new police officer, discovers a chilling connection between two apparently unrelated crimes. As Aggie, Flash and new recruit Saunders weave together the strands of a mystery that will lead them to a killer, they also find themselves navigating the shadows of the human soul… a terrain that proves more treacherous than they ever could have imagined.
A Flash of Shadow is a gripping tale of survival, loyalty, and redemption. Donna Ball masterfully weaves a story that will keep readers on the edge of their seats, turning pages late into the night.
When Acting Sheriff Ryan Grady apprehends a suspect attempting to rob his father’s bait shop, he has no idea that the man he has taken into custody will eventually confess to over one hundred murders… nor is he particularly interested in the notoriety a high-profile criminal like Patrick Henry Jessup brings to his home town. Absorbed in the anticipation of his impending fatherhood and forced to take on a job he did not seek, Grady wants nothing more than to be rid of Jessup and all he represents.
Florida Department of Law Enforcement Investigator Jim Clark is anxious to take over the case, hoping to gain clarity into the shadows of his own past. But as the interviews with Jessup unfold both Grady and Clark find themselves reluctantly drawn into the world of the hunter, and are shaken to find they have more in common with him than they ever would have believed.
On Dogleg Island, Police Chief Aggie Malone Grady, struggling to navigate the challenges of fast-approaching motherhood while training a new police officer, discovers a chilling connection between two apparently unrelated crimes. As Aggie, Flash and new recruit Saunders weave together the strands of a mystery that will lead them to a killer, they also find themselves navigating the shadows of the human soul… a terrain that proves more treacherous than they ever could have imagined.
A Flash of Shadow is a gripping tale of survival, loyalty, and redemption. Donna Ball masterfully weaves a story that will keep readers on the edge of their seats, turning pages late into the night.
330 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 25, 2025
44 people are currently reading
47 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 8, 2026
Lots of suspense with the best all-around K-9 since Lassie!
A Flash of Shadow, book 7 of Donna Ball's Dogleg Island Mystery series, is actually the end of a trilogy, The Saga of a Hunter. The trilogy crosses over two other popular Donna Ball series; starting with the Raine Stockton Dog Mystery series, book # 16, Dead Man's Trail. You then pick up the trail of this prolific serial killer in Undeafeatable, book # 3 in Donna's new series about Mercy, Georgia, Buck Lawson, the Blood River series. The killer is moving South with the seasons and when he reaches Florida and Dogleg Island, Donna Ball throws you an exciting twist. While you could I guess read A Flash of Shadow as a stand-alone novel, I found it to be more exciting because I had read the other two books. Donna does a very good job of explaining who's who as the story progresses. However, it was delightful to see the characters from the other books coming together on Dogleg Island. Donna Ball does a masterful job of weaving all the plot lines and characters from the previous books into one suspenseful story.
As usual, though, the dogs in Donna's novels always end up stealing the show. The wonder dog, Flash, is no exception. From the beginning of the series, when Flash was just a curious puppy, to A Flash of Shadow where Flash has grown into an amazing emotional support, and a skillful police dog, he has been the fur hero of Dogleg Island. Donna Ball has infused so much personality into Flash's character, he now gives Lassie a run for his money as the best dog companion in the world.
Donna always keeps me on the edge of my seat with some of the best action-packed, mystery, and suspense, I have ever had the pleasure to read. She has a talent for carefully laying out the clues, building the suspense until suddenly, Donna tosses in a massive plot twist, that leaves me scratching my head trying to figure out what I missed! That is especially the case with Flash of Shadow. Many threats are converging on the island at the same time, and I became so engrossed with the story, I lost track of my own reality and began to think like I was one of the law enforcement people struggling to keep the Island and people safe.
That ability to completely draw her readers out of their armchairs and propel them into the pages of her novel, is one of the reasons, Donna Ball is one of my one-click authors. If you like a good mystery adventure, especially one involving a very special canine, you will love A Flash of Shadow!
A Flash of Shadow, book 7 of Donna Ball's Dogleg Island Mystery series, is actually the end of a trilogy, The Saga of a Hunter. The trilogy crosses over two other popular Donna Ball series; starting with the Raine Stockton Dog Mystery series, book # 16, Dead Man's Trail. You then pick up the trail of this prolific serial killer in Undeafeatable, book # 3 in Donna's new series about Mercy, Georgia, Buck Lawson, the Blood River series. The killer is moving South with the seasons and when he reaches Florida and Dogleg Island, Donna Ball throws you an exciting twist. While you could I guess read A Flash of Shadow as a stand-alone novel, I found it to be more exciting because I had read the other two books. Donna does a very good job of explaining who's who as the story progresses. However, it was delightful to see the characters from the other books coming together on Dogleg Island. Donna Ball does a masterful job of weaving all the plot lines and characters from the previous books into one suspenseful story.
As usual, though, the dogs in Donna's novels always end up stealing the show. The wonder dog, Flash, is no exception. From the beginning of the series, when Flash was just a curious puppy, to A Flash of Shadow where Flash has grown into an amazing emotional support, and a skillful police dog, he has been the fur hero of Dogleg Island. Donna Ball has infused so much personality into Flash's character, he now gives Lassie a run for his money as the best dog companion in the world.
Donna always keeps me on the edge of my seat with some of the best action-packed, mystery, and suspense, I have ever had the pleasure to read. She has a talent for carefully laying out the clues, building the suspense until suddenly, Donna tosses in a massive plot twist, that leaves me scratching my head trying to figure out what I missed! That is especially the case with Flash of Shadow. Many threats are converging on the island at the same time, and I became so engrossed with the story, I lost track of my own reality and began to think like I was one of the law enforcement people struggling to keep the Island and people safe.
That ability to completely draw her readers out of their armchairs and propel them into the pages of her novel, is one of the reasons, Donna Ball is one of my one-click authors. If you like a good mystery adventure, especially one involving a very special canine, you will love A Flash of Shadow!
October 24, 2025
What an awesome read. I hope we see more like this in the very near future. This was a page turner with so many surprises and twists and turns. I highly recommend the entire series, as well as the other series she has written with Raine Stockton and Buck Lawson. I would LOVE for Flash and Cisco to meet.
I have not read a series yet from Ms. Ball that I didn’t like but I am fan of Raine, Buck and Flash, so I hope there are more to come.Thank you Donna
I have not read a series yet from Ms. Ball that I didn’t like but I am fan of Raine, Buck and Flash, so I hope there are more to come.Thank you Donna
October 4, 2025
What a great series. It brought together several stories from different series.
The bad guy was brought to justice. The best lil dog in all of fiction is becoming a brother. Very prejudice, I have a female version of Flash and the similarities between them is fun to compare.
Hopefully the Flash series continues without a prolonged wait.
The bad guy was brought to justice. The best lil dog in all of fiction is becoming a brother. Very prejudice, I have a female version of Flash and the similarities between them is fun to compare.
Hopefully the Flash series continues without a prolonged wait.
October 19, 2025
Great storytelling, as always
Donna Ball has always wielded a great story and this book is nothing short of what I’ve come to expect from her. Well written characters, great plot twists and a wonderful dog. I loved the crossover of the three series. It was masterfully crafted.
Donna Ball has always wielded a great story and this book is nothing short of what I’ve come to expect from her. Well written characters, great plot twists and a wonderful dog. I loved the crossover of the three series. It was masterfully crafted.
October 8, 2025
good but frustrating
I absolutely love Flash, Grady, and Aggie (and family). My frustration comes from the author leaving you without closure and taking so LONG to write a follow up book.
I absolutely love Flash, Grady, and Aggie (and family). My frustration comes from the author leaving you without closure and taking so LONG to write a follow up book.
October 1, 2025
Great author! I’ve read all the books in The Dogleg Island Mystery Series (Flash), The Raine Stockton Dog Mystery Series and The Blood River Mystery Series (Buck Lawson).
October 11, 2025
Love this series. This one has cross over from her other series which was fun.
October 19, 2025
I loved this book. It’s like coming home to good friends. Aggie faces two murderers on Dogleg Island and as usual Flash is right there by her side sharing his always spot on insight. I highly recommend this series as well as her other series. Donna Ball never disappoints me.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews