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Dangerous Shadows
Shaken from an assault in the library parking lot at Hilltop College in Western North Carolina, crime reporter Emily Hanover contacts her ex-fiancé, private investigator Nick Lancaster. When the college hires Nick to recover quartz and ancient maps stolen from the library, Nick insists there’s a connection between the theft and Emily’s attack.
As Nick and Emily face danger from an elusive stalker, their romance rekindles. Nick’s sidekick, Hucklesford, spots two suspects, so he and Nick go undercover. While Nick’s surveillance points to illegal gambling and murder, Hucklesford’s investigation leads him to the college cross-country team.
Can Nick and Hucklesford, along with Emily, connect the stalker, theft, college student, and gambler’s murder to solve this baffling mystery? Will Nick and Emily find true love?
As Nick and Emily face danger from an elusive stalker, their romance rekindles. Nick’s sidekick, Hucklesford, spots two suspects, so he and Nick go undercover. While Nick’s surveillance points to illegal gambling and murder, Hucklesford’s investigation leads him to the college cross-country team.
Can Nick and Hucklesford, along with Emily, connect the stalker, theft, college student, and gambler’s murder to solve this baffling mystery? Will Nick and Emily find true love?
216 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 3, 2025
7 people are currently reading
4 people want to read
About the author
Gail Pallotta
15 books204 followersBest-selling, award-winning author Gail Pallotta’s a wife, Mom, swimmer and bargain shopper who loves God, beach sunsets and getting together with friends and family. A former regional writer of the year for American Christian Writers Association, she is a 2013 Grace Awards Finalist, a Reader's Favorite 2017 Book Award Winner and a TopShelf 2020 Book Awards Finalist. She received a Top Author Certificate for Hidden Danger, Christian Romantic Suspense (Discipleship Series Book 1), her latest book. Her teen novel, Stopped Cold, stayed on the Amazon Best Seller list for Christian Teen and Young Adult Mysteries and Thrillers for one month. Hair Calamities and Hot Cash has been on the Amazon Best Seller list for Contemporary Christian Fiction (Books) twice. Cooking up a Mystery has been on the Amazon Best Seller list in Christian Suspense, Cozy Culinary Mystery and Christian Mystery and Suspense.
She's a Western North Carolina native whose grandfather planted churches in the far reaches of the mountains. She set Hidden Danger there because she knows the area well and believed the hills and caves would make a good backdrop for mystery and suspense.
Gail loves to connect with readers. Visit her website at https://gailpallotta.com; her blog at gailpallotta.blogspot.com; Facebook at https://www.Facebook.com/AuthorsandMore.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 3, 2025
Another relatable Christian mystery, with romatic undertones, by Gail Pallotta. A must read for all ages.
January 14, 2026
The story grabbed my attention right away with the opening scene in the library parking lot, and I felt pulled into Emily’s fear and uncertainty immediately. The setting in the North Carolina mountains added a nice atmosphere, and the suspense built steadily as the mystery unfolded. I liked Emily as a main character — she felt real and relatable — and Nick made a strong, steady partner both in the investigation and emotionally.
The mystery had enough twists to keep me guessing without becoming confusing. I liked how the stolen items, the stalker, and the undercover investigation all connected in the end. Hucklesford was a fun addition and added some light moments to balance the tension — he made me smile more than once when things were getting intense. There were a couple moments where I told myself, “Okay, just one more chapter,” and suddenly it was much later than I planned.
I also appreciated how faith was woven into the story in a sincere way. It added depth to the characters and their decisions without overpowering the plot. Overall, this was an entertaining, clean suspense read with strong characters, a solid mystery, and a hopeful message. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys Christian suspense and romantic mystery stories.
The mystery had enough twists to keep me guessing without becoming confusing. I liked how the stolen items, the stalker, and the undercover investigation all connected in the end. Hucklesford was a fun addition and added some light moments to balance the tension — he made me smile more than once when things were getting intense. There were a couple moments where I told myself, “Okay, just one more chapter,” and suddenly it was much later than I planned.
I also appreciated how faith was woven into the story in a sincere way. It added depth to the characters and their decisions without overpowering the plot. Overall, this was an entertaining, clean suspense read with strong characters, a solid mystery, and a hopeful message. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys Christian suspense and romantic mystery stories.
November 3, 2025
Dangerous Shadows, the third book in a Christian mystery series, is also compelling as a stand-alone novel. Author, Gail Pallotta, draws readers into an investigation connecting the acts of a stalker, a thief, a college student and a gambler’s murder in order to solve the many facets of this puzzling mystery. Emily Hanover, who is the victim of the stalker, contacts her ex-fiancé, private investigator Nick Lancaster to guide and support her in the investigation.
The novel grips you from the start. The narrative expertly balances the possibility of rekindled feelings, along with an immediate sense of urgency as the duo combine their efforts to identify those responsible for the crimes. Many twists and turns are involved, and this keeps readers guessing until the very end, ensuring the suspense is maintained throughout. Their faith is expressed as a meaningful component, guiding them through the many steps taken to solve this mystery.
Dangerous Shadows, is a must read for anyone who enjoys mysteries and romantic suspense, with a faith center mindset.
The novel grips you from the start. The narrative expertly balances the possibility of rekindled feelings, along with an immediate sense of urgency as the duo combine their efforts to identify those responsible for the crimes. Many twists and turns are involved, and this keeps readers guessing until the very end, ensuring the suspense is maintained throughout. Their faith is expressed as a meaningful component, guiding them through the many steps taken to solve this mystery.
Dangerous Shadows, is a must read for anyone who enjoys mysteries and romantic suspense, with a faith center mindset.
November 28, 2025
"Smart Sleuthing Clean Romance -- and a Faith-Filled Journey”
If the idea of an elusive stalker, a baffling college-town mystery, and a rekindled first love intrigues you, Dangerous Shadows belongs on your nightstand.
Dangerous Shadows pulls you in from the opening scene and never really lets go, weaving danger, romance, and faith into a story that feels both tense and heartfelt. The suspense keeps tightening as secrets come to light, but there are also quiet moments where the characters wrestle honestly with fear, forgiveness, and what it means to trust God when everything is on the line.
Fans of the Discipleship series will enjoy seeing familiar faces return, yet this book still works well as a standalone if you are meeting these characters for the first time. The romance stays clean while still offering plenty of chemistry and emotional pull, and the spiritual thread feels natural, never preachy, as it grows right out of the characters’ journeys.
If the idea of an elusive stalker, a baffling college-town mystery, and a rekindled first love intrigues you, Dangerous Shadows belongs on your nightstand.
Dangerous Shadows pulls you in from the opening scene and never really lets go, weaving danger, romance, and faith into a story that feels both tense and heartfelt. The suspense keeps tightening as secrets come to light, but there are also quiet moments where the characters wrestle honestly with fear, forgiveness, and what it means to trust God when everything is on the line.
Fans of the Discipleship series will enjoy seeing familiar faces return, yet this book still works well as a standalone if you are meeting these characters for the first time. The romance stays clean while still offering plenty of chemistry and emotional pull, and the spiritual thread feels natural, never preachy, as it grows right out of the characters’ journeys.
November 6, 2025
When Emily is stalked after leaving the library, she wonders what she could have done or seen at the library. She calls Nick out of habit, but their history makes connection complicated. Nick has opened his own investigative business, and he is ready to help Emily and rekindled their romance.
Nick discovers there is more going on at Hilltop College than meets the eye. Emily is right in the middle of all of the shenanigans. Can they figure out the link between quartz and stalkers?
Characters from past novels make an appearance in Pallotta's story and assist in solving the crime.
Another hometown suspense story from Pallotta to keep you guessing who did the crime.
Nick discovers there is more going on at Hilltop College than meets the eye. Emily is right in the middle of all of the shenanigans. Can they figure out the link between quartz and stalkers?
Characters from past novels make an appearance in Pallotta's story and assist in solving the crime.
Another hometown suspense story from Pallotta to keep you guessing who did the crime.
December 6, 2025
Dangerous Shadows is the third in author Gail Pallotta's Christian mystery series set in a small college town in North Carolina. In this installment a stalker is making life more than a little uncomfortable for news reporter Emily Hanover and her private investigator fiance Nick Lancaster. What did Emily inadvertently see while doing research at the college library that put her life in danger? You'll have to read the story to find out!
As always, Ms. Pallotta creates a perfect blend of romance, suspense and faith to deliver a captivating mystery that will keep you turning the pages until the end!
As always, Ms. Pallotta creates a perfect blend of romance, suspense and faith to deliver a captivating mystery that will keep you turning the pages until the end!
January 1, 2026
2.5 rounded to 3 stars. I couldn’t get into it. Didn’t enjoy the writing style. DNF. There doesn’t appear to be anything inherently wrong with it, it’s just not for me.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews