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WHAT IF YOU CAN ENTER A MADMAN'S CRUEL MIND AS HE PLANS HIS VICIOUS CRIMES? WHAT IF YOU CAN SEE THE TERRIFIED FACE OF HIS PREY AS HE MOVES IN FOR THE KILL - BUT YOU CAN'T STOP HIS FRENZY ONCE HE STRIKES?
Psychic Cassie Neill helps the L.A. police catch killers - until she makes a terrible mistake and an innocent child dies. Cassie flees to a small North Carolina town, hoping that a quiet life will silence the voices that invade her unwilling mind. But Cassie's abilities know few boundaries. And she's become certain - as no one else can be - that a murderer is stalking Ryan's Bluff.
It's his fury that Cassie senses first, then his foul thoughts and perverse excitement. Yet she doesn't know who he is or where he will strike. The sheriff won't even listen to her - until the first body is found exactly where and how she predicted. Now a suspect herself, she races desperately to unmask the killer in the only way she knows: by entering his twisted mind. Her every step is loaded with fear and uncertainty... because if he senses her within him, he'll trap her there, so deep she'll never find her way out.
Psychic Cassie Neill helps the L.A. police catch killers - until she makes a terrible mistake and an innocent child dies. Cassie flees to a small North Carolina town, hoping that a quiet life will silence the voices that invade her unwilling mind. But Cassie's abilities know few boundaries. And she's become certain - as no one else can be - that a murderer is stalking Ryan's Bluff.
It's his fury that Cassie senses first, then his foul thoughts and perverse excitement. Yet she doesn't know who he is or where he will strike. The sheriff won't even listen to her - until the first body is found exactly where and how she predicted. Now a suspect herself, she races desperately to unmask the killer in the only way she knows: by entering his twisted mind. Her every step is loaded with fear and uncertainty... because if he senses her within him, he'll trap her there, so deep she'll never find her way out.
504 pages, Paperback
First published August 29, 2000
735 people are currently reading
9055 people want to read
About the author
Kay Hooper
107 books2,451 followersKay Hooper (aka Kay Robbins) was born in California, in an air force base hospital since her father was stationed there at the time. The family moved back to North Carolina shortly afterward, so she was raised and went to school there.
The oldest of three children, Kay has a brother two years younger and a sister seven years younger. Her father and brother are builders who own a highly respected construction company, and her mother worked for many years in personnel management before becoming Kay's personal assistant, a position she held until her untimely death in March 2002. Kay's sister Linda works as her Business Manager, Events Coordinator, and is playing a major role in the creation and operation of The Kay Hooper Foundation.
Kay graduated from East Rutherford High School and attended Isothermal Community College — where she quickly discovered that business classes did not in any way enthrall her. Switching to more involving courses such as history and literature, she also began to concentrate on writing, which had been a longtime interest. Very quickly hooked, she asked for a Christmas typewriter and began seriously working on her first novel. That book, a Regency romance titled Lady Thief, sold to Dell Publishing in 1980. She has since published more than 60 novels and four novellas.
Kay is single and lives in a very small town in North Carolina, not far from her father and siblings. Deigning to live with her are a flock of cats — Bonnie, Ginger, Oscar, Tuffy, Felix, Renny, and Isabel — of various personalities who all like sleeping on manuscripts and whatever research happens to be spread across Kay's desk. And living amongst the many felines are two cheerfully tolerant dogs, a shelter rescue, Bandit, who looks rather like a small sheepdog, and a Sheltie named Lizzie.
The oldest of three children, Kay has a brother two years younger and a sister seven years younger. Her father and brother are builders who own a highly respected construction company, and her mother worked for many years in personnel management before becoming Kay's personal assistant, a position she held until her untimely death in March 2002. Kay's sister Linda works as her Business Manager, Events Coordinator, and is playing a major role in the creation and operation of The Kay Hooper Foundation.
Kay graduated from East Rutherford High School and attended Isothermal Community College — where she quickly discovered that business classes did not in any way enthrall her. Switching to more involving courses such as history and literature, she also began to concentrate on writing, which had been a longtime interest. Very quickly hooked, she asked for a Christmas typewriter and began seriously working on her first novel. That book, a Regency romance titled Lady Thief, sold to Dell Publishing in 1980. She has since published more than 60 novels and four novellas.
Kay is single and lives in a very small town in North Carolina, not far from her father and siblings. Deigning to live with her are a flock of cats — Bonnie, Ginger, Oscar, Tuffy, Felix, Renny, and Isabel — of various personalities who all like sleeping on manuscripts and whatever research happens to be spread across Kay's desk. And living amongst the many felines are two cheerfully tolerant dogs, a shelter rescue, Bandit, who looks rather like a small sheepdog, and a Sheltie named Lizzie.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 567 reviews
January 18, 2026
I am having fun re-reading some of this and the related Bishop series from Kay Hooper. I remember when this series first came out. It was so totally different from what my usual reading was. I found it to be fresh and quite exciting... In re-reading I was glad to find, although not any more a new experience (and I have since found similar books), that I could still remember and re-live my excitement when I read this story for the first time almost twenty years ago. It holds up!
June 6, 2016
Stealing Shadows is the first in the Bishop Special Crimes Unit Series. This is where you first meet Bishop. Actually you don't really get to see much about him at all until the last third of the book.
Cassie Neill is a psychic. She is helping out the police as they seek out a serial killer. She helps them by getting into his mind and seeing through his eyes. She has the gift that has passed down in her family as long as she can remember.
Things go South in California, so she relocates to North Carolina when she inherits her Aunts home.
She has been seeing and hearing things that make her positive someone is about to be killed. She goes to a former Judge in the town that is highly respected as a relation to the town founders. when she meets him she offers her services. She also contacts the sheriff with the same information and he is not impressed with her. When the girls body is located, she is initially a suspect. She begins a life and death struggle to race a serial killer before he can continue killing.
This book had me anxiously waiting for what was going to happen next. the beauty of the words would sometimes make me forget that we are talking about a cold blooded killer and the chase for him. When Kay Hooper describes things like she does. such as Cassie's eyes, you just see them, vividly in your mind.
It is also pretty intense when you read what is going on in Cassie's mind as she connects to the murderer's mind. It is really an intense book.
The characters are so well formed. When they talk to one another it is like sitting in on an investigation.
The suspense was ripe and delicious. The characters were down to earth, flawed and yet special in their own right. I did not exactly know how it was all going to work out until the very end of the book. I was holding my breath and hoping for an acceptable outcome.
A great book!
Cassie Neill is a psychic. She is helping out the police as they seek out a serial killer. She helps them by getting into his mind and seeing through his eyes. She has the gift that has passed down in her family as long as she can remember.
Things go South in California, so she relocates to North Carolina when she inherits her Aunts home.
She has been seeing and hearing things that make her positive someone is about to be killed. She goes to a former Judge in the town that is highly respected as a relation to the town founders. when she meets him she offers her services. She also contacts the sheriff with the same information and he is not impressed with her. When the girls body is located, she is initially a suspect. She begins a life and death struggle to race a serial killer before he can continue killing.
This book had me anxiously waiting for what was going to happen next. the beauty of the words would sometimes make me forget that we are talking about a cold blooded killer and the chase for him. When Kay Hooper describes things like she does. such as Cassie's eyes, you just see them, vividly in your mind.
It is also pretty intense when you read what is going on in Cassie's mind as she connects to the murderer's mind. It is really an intense book.
The characters are so well formed. When they talk to one another it is like sitting in on an investigation.
The suspense was ripe and delicious. The characters were down to earth, flawed and yet special in their own right. I did not exactly know how it was all going to work out until the very end of the book. I was holding my breath and hoping for an acceptable outcome.
A great book!
September 11, 2018
Stealing Shadows is book one in the Bishop/Special Crimes Unit series by Kay Hooper. Cassie moved to Ryan's Bluff, North Carolina after a case in Los Angeles failed to look for a quieter life. Ryan's Bluff did not provide what Cassie graved for because it was housing a murder and no one would listen to Cassie. However, this change when bodies start to turn up. The readers of "Stealing Shadows" will go on a rollercoaster ride with Cassie to find the killer.
"Stealing Shadows" is a fantastic introduction to the Bishop/Special Crimes Unit series and an enjoyable book to read. "Stealing Shadows" is well written and researched by Kay Hooper. The reason I like this series is that it is different from other detectives stories. The portrayal of the characters by Kay Hooper and the way they entwine with each other I loved. "Stealing Shadows" is well written and researched by Kay Hooper in a way that engages me with the plot from the first page.
The readers of "Stealing Shadows" will start to understand the role of psychics in law enforcement investigations. Also, the readers of "Stealing Shadows" will learn about living in a small community.
I recommend this book.
"Stealing Shadows" is a fantastic introduction to the Bishop/Special Crimes Unit series and an enjoyable book to read. "Stealing Shadows" is well written and researched by Kay Hooper. The reason I like this series is that it is different from other detectives stories. The portrayal of the characters by Kay Hooper and the way they entwine with each other I loved. "Stealing Shadows" is well written and researched by Kay Hooper in a way that engages me with the plot from the first page.
The readers of "Stealing Shadows" will start to understand the role of psychics in law enforcement investigations. Also, the readers of "Stealing Shadows" will learn about living in a small community.
I recommend this book.
June 6, 2018
No one supports violence but more people read about it than me. I do understand that when you're into a compassionate, well-written story, you wince past awful elements and are invested in a happy outcome. I already loved one of Kay Hooper's solo novels featuring a spirit, “The Haunting Of Josie”; spirit mysteries being my top favourite kind. Thus the completionist in me sifted out the rest of her work, including the unclearly-identified introduction to her long series: “Stealing Shadows”, 2000. As a fan of one novel, I am reading something I would not have selected.
It was more violent and disturbing than I want to see. The ability to appreciate the story she has written and its redeeming, relieving conclusion, is another exception of mine, like Patricia Cornwell. Cassie is an unusual clairvoyant and telepath in a lineage of psychics. I know all three of these words belong to real abilities but even though this novel's presentation of them is not how I think they work; letting Kay weave her tale gives us interesting workings. One frustrating thing is that most of Cassie's connections tap into insufficient information to let police stop murderers and mainly led to corpse locations. It was emotionally, spiritually, mentally, and physically hard on her to connect with depraved minds and not glean enough from the experience, early enough to prevent crimes.
What earned this novel four stars is that we acquaint Cassie's new townsfolk, new love, and even a new dog, enough to root desperately for her to succeed on their behalves. I doubt I'd read just a crime thriller but the unusual abilities of this character's mind, lent that unusual interest that Phyllis A. Whitney described, in her fiction-writing tutorials. I dislike the famous Noah Bishop and liked relegating him to the background.
It was more violent and disturbing than I want to see. The ability to appreciate the story she has written and its redeeming, relieving conclusion, is another exception of mine, like Patricia Cornwell. Cassie is an unusual clairvoyant and telepath in a lineage of psychics. I know all three of these words belong to real abilities but even though this novel's presentation of them is not how I think they work; letting Kay weave her tale gives us interesting workings. One frustrating thing is that most of Cassie's connections tap into insufficient information to let police stop murderers and mainly led to corpse locations. It was emotionally, spiritually, mentally, and physically hard on her to connect with depraved minds and not glean enough from the experience, early enough to prevent crimes.
What earned this novel four stars is that we acquaint Cassie's new townsfolk, new love, and even a new dog, enough to root desperately for her to succeed on their behalves. I doubt I'd read just a crime thriller but the unusual abilities of this character's mind, lent that unusual interest that Phyllis A. Whitney described, in her fiction-writing tutorials. I dislike the famous Noah Bishop and liked relegating him to the background.
February 13, 2024
I am not a paranormal reader, but I've had this series on my to read for a long time and when a Goodreads Friend wanted to do it as a Buddy Read, I thought I would join in. This book is quite the ride, bumpy and twisty, but a fun ride. I have to say that up to the point where Bishop made his appearance in town, I wasn't inspired by the book, I skimmed a lot to get to this point, but things pick up from here, about halfway into the book. But I have got to say, in spite of all that, I did enjoy the read.
Cassie Neill is a psychic, from a long line of female psychics. She is in her thirties and for 10 years she has used her gift helping the Los Angeles police. Until an operation goes wrong and a child is killed. He aunt dies and leaves her a property in Ryan's Bluff, NC. She took that as a sign to move and lay low and decide if she wants to continue using her gift in that way. For a few months, she has peace and anonymity. Then women disappear and she is again drawn into the mind of a monster.
Judge Ben Ryan is the county prosecutor after having served on the bench and deciding he preferred working to put the baddies away. He is contacted by Cassie Neill that she has "seen" the death of a young woman. Ben is a skeptic until she "sees" the body and the police find the woman exactly where Cassie said she would be. Ben is drawn to Cassie and soon they are both deep into the search for another monster.
Cassie Neill is a psychic, from a long line of female psychics. She is in her thirties and for 10 years she has used her gift helping the Los Angeles police. Until an operation goes wrong and a child is killed. He aunt dies and leaves her a property in Ryan's Bluff, NC. She took that as a sign to move and lay low and decide if she wants to continue using her gift in that way. For a few months, she has peace and anonymity. Then women disappear and she is again drawn into the mind of a monster.
Judge Ben Ryan is the county prosecutor after having served on the bench and deciding he preferred working to put the baddies away. He is contacted by Cassie Neill that she has "seen" the death of a young woman. Ben is a skeptic until she "sees" the body and the police find the woman exactly where Cassie said she would be. Ben is drawn to Cassie and soon they are both deep into the search for another monster.
September 26, 2010
No one is smart enough to solve the mystery until some lucky psychic visions at the end. The relationship didn’t draw me in.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
This is primarily a mystery. There is a developing relationship, but it’s not romantic. She has her visions and is tired most of the time. He is emotionally distant. All of a sudden they have sex. There was no personality, chemistry, interesting interaction or romance. I wasn’t emotionally drawn in.
The mystery was not that good. Cassie has psychic connections to killers and to victims. But for most of the story, her visions don’t help catch or prevent anything. She is in the mind of the killer while he kills, but she can’t tell the police enough so they can stop or catch the killer. However, she is always able to tell them where the body is afterwards. I was frustrated with all these partial visions that never worked. In one case, they gave Cassie the victim’s glove, and Cassie was able to tell where the body was. Why didn’t the sheriff give the glove to Cassie as soon as he knew who was missing? Cassie couldn’t see through the killer’s mind, but she could have used the glove to see the location sooner and maybe something else through the victim’s mind. I prefer mysteries with someone doing smart and clever things to catch a killer. No one did anything smart here. They just waited for Cassie to have more informative and more timely visions toward the end of the book. Characters and dialogue were ordinary.
STORY BRIEF:
Cassie is a psychic in California who helps police catch serial killers. She can enter others’ minds and describe what they are thinking, feeling and seeing. Her visions take a lot of energy and make her tired. Cassie’s Aunt Alex dies and leaves her North Carolina home to Cassie. Cassie moves there and hopes to have a break from killers. Unfortunately someone starts killing women in the area. Cassie tells Sheriff Matt about her visions, but he doesn’t believe her. So Cassie goes to Ben the local judge and tells him. After further incidents, Matt starts paying attention to her. Cassie and Ben become attracted to each other.
DATA:
Story length: 356 pages. Swearing language: strong, including religious swear words. Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: 2. Total number of sex scene pages: 2. Setting: 1998-99 California and North Carolina. Copyright: 2000. Genre: mystery suspense with minimal romance.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
This is primarily a mystery. There is a developing relationship, but it’s not romantic. She has her visions and is tired most of the time. He is emotionally distant. All of a sudden they have sex. There was no personality, chemistry, interesting interaction or romance. I wasn’t emotionally drawn in.
The mystery was not that good. Cassie has psychic connections to killers and to victims. But for most of the story, her visions don’t help catch or prevent anything. She is in the mind of the killer while he kills, but she can’t tell the police enough so they can stop or catch the killer. However, she is always able to tell them where the body is afterwards. I was frustrated with all these partial visions that never worked. In one case, they gave Cassie the victim’s glove, and Cassie was able to tell where the body was. Why didn’t the sheriff give the glove to Cassie as soon as he knew who was missing? Cassie couldn’t see through the killer’s mind, but she could have used the glove to see the location sooner and maybe something else through the victim’s mind. I prefer mysteries with someone doing smart and clever things to catch a killer. No one did anything smart here. They just waited for Cassie to have more informative and more timely visions toward the end of the book. Characters and dialogue were ordinary.
STORY BRIEF:
Cassie is a psychic in California who helps police catch serial killers. She can enter others’ minds and describe what they are thinking, feeling and seeing. Her visions take a lot of energy and make her tired. Cassie’s Aunt Alex dies and leaves her North Carolina home to Cassie. Cassie moves there and hopes to have a break from killers. Unfortunately someone starts killing women in the area. Cassie tells Sheriff Matt about her visions, but he doesn’t believe her. So Cassie goes to Ben the local judge and tells him. After further incidents, Matt starts paying attention to her. Cassie and Ben become attracted to each other.
DATA:
Story length: 356 pages. Swearing language: strong, including religious swear words. Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: 2. Total number of sex scene pages: 2. Setting: 1998-99 California and North Carolina. Copyright: 2000. Genre: mystery suspense with minimal romance.
July 26, 2018
Very intense, chilling read. 4.5 stars
July 28, 2017
I sometimes have a hard time reviewing a book especially if none of my friends have read it/reviewed it. This is one of those time.
Right.
Writing this is painful cause the words just won't flow and it feels like I'm literally wrenching them outta my head.
The book. Okay. So it took me a couple days to finish this. That, for me, is a huge sign that not everything is fine and dandy in reader land. It just didn't hook me in. I love suspense where the author leaves clues, not obvious ones mind you, just subtle hints that can lead a reader to the culprit before the H/h. That's my favourite part. Solving the mystery myself.
I know this was all involving psychics and everything but it was no fun cause before the big reveal there hadn't been any mention of the killer.
The one thing that I can say worked really well, was this, see I was reading this all night after midnight and this was like the last 75% of the book and it was so creepily well written I too felt like I was being watched. Not cool. Especially with psychic killers. So not cool.
Now the other thing that was so good. The romance. The better question would be, what romance?! This was published way back in 2000 for the first time so I get there weren't really sexy times but come on! Romance, some chemistry would not have been amiss. I swear there was more passion between Matt and Abby, our side characters than the leads.
I know this very much sounds like I hated it but I didn't. I'm also not sure whether I'll read the next book but I'm not saying No yet.
June 4, 2011
Cassie Neal thought she had finally found peace when she left Los Angeles and settled in Ryan's Bluff, North Carolina. A psychic who had worked with detectives to locate serial killers and that ilk, she was looking to put her gifts to rest and live out her life in solitude. Unfortunately, even small towns can bear the same sins as the big city when women are turning up murdered in Cassie's new home. She reaches out to the skeptical Sheriff to offer her help and then seeks the help of the town's prosecutor, Ben Ryan, when she's rejected. Cassie and Ben have an immediate connection but she is reluctant to follow through on it, feeling she's destined for tragedy.
This is a chilling story as you anticipate not only who the killer is but who will be the next victim. Hooper does an admirable job of drawing you into minor characters and having you invest in their outcome. I found myself dreading who the next victim might be as I was unwilling to give up on any of those I'd come to know in the story. The plot was complex while seemingly simple. There were enough clues for me to have a shot at solving the mystery and I came pretty close. The end of the story had an extremely interesting twist that could have been deduced.
My only criticism is that the romance meter was a little low but adequate. Ben was very attractive with the requisite amount of flaws and Cassie, of course, was appealing in a poignant way. But, it was difficult to make the emotional connection because it was written pretty dispassionately.
This was an excellent start to a promising series, which I plan to continue. It was high on mystery and suspense, keeping my pulse rate elevated through much of the story.
This is a chilling story as you anticipate not only who the killer is but who will be the next victim. Hooper does an admirable job of drawing you into minor characters and having you invest in their outcome. I found myself dreading who the next victim might be as I was unwilling to give up on any of those I'd come to know in the story. The plot was complex while seemingly simple. There were enough clues for me to have a shot at solving the mystery and I came pretty close. The end of the story had an extremely interesting twist that could have been deduced.
My only criticism is that the romance meter was a little low but adequate. Ben was very attractive with the requisite amount of flaws and Cassie, of course, was appealing in a poignant way. But, it was difficult to make the emotional connection because it was written pretty dispassionately.
This was an excellent start to a promising series, which I plan to continue. It was high on mystery and suspense, keeping my pulse rate elevated through much of the story.
July 9, 2024
Навіть перечитуючи книгу я не здогадалася хто вбивця... І тут зрозуміло що в мене біда з пам'яттю 🤣
У 2014 році в мене сталося одержимість детективами, я читала їх запоєм. На цю ж книгу першою наштовхнулася подруга, якій подобається все містичне. І порекомендувала її прочитати. Вона мені сподобалась 🙂
І я про неї не згадувала до сториз Ніки, їй потрібна була допомога з книгою для підбірки. І так в мене з'явилося бажання перечитати її 😅
В цій книзі розповідається історія дівчини яка володіє екстрасенсорними здібностями та вміє підключатися до розуму інших людей. В тому числі й до серійних вбивць... та іноді їх жертв. І після невдалої спроби допомогти ФБР піймати одного, вона вирішує переїхати в дім який їй залишала її тітка.
З цього і починається наша історія.
Книга веде розповідь від різних героїв.
І так, як книгу я читала не вперше, я думала, що відразу згадаю хто наш вбивця, але ні... там не все так просто.. І єдине що я згадала прочитав книгу, що її я все-таки читала 😂
І момент з іншої частини..
Якщо ви любите читати детективи, то рекомендую до прочитання. Її немає українською, але вона доволі легко читається англійською.
І якщо хтось наважиться читати, то запрошуючи до себе в особисті з вашими теоріями, мені це буде дуже цікаво почути))
У 2014 році в мене сталося одержимість детективами, я читала їх запоєм. На цю ж книгу першою наштовхнулася подруга, якій подобається все містичне. І порекомендувала її прочитати. Вона мені сподобалась 🙂
І я про неї не згадувала до сториз Ніки, їй потрібна була допомога з книгою для підбірки. І так в мене з'явилося бажання перечитати її 😅
В цій книзі розповідається історія дівчини яка володіє екстрасенсорними здібностями та вміє підключатися до розуму інших людей. В тому числі й до серійних вбивць... та іноді їх жертв. І після невдалої спроби допомогти ФБР піймати одного, вона вирішує переїхати в дім який їй залишала її тітка.
З цього і починається наша історія.
Книга веде розповідь від різних героїв.
І так, як книгу я читала не вперше, я думала, що відразу згадаю хто наш вбивця, але ні... там не все так просто.. І єдине що я згадала прочитав книгу, що її я все-таки читала 😂
І момент з іншої частини..
Якщо ви любите читати детективи, то рекомендую до прочитання. Її немає українською, але вона доволі легко читається англійською.
І якщо хтось наважиться читати, то запрошуючи до себе в особисті з вашими теоріями, мені це буде дуже цікаво почути))
January 22, 2024
This was the first book I've read by Kay Hooper, and it certainly won't be the last.
I really enjoyed this story!
The writing, characters, and story were great, and I was on the edge of my seat for most of the book (and I didn't figure out "Who done it" until the end... YAY!).
The author had me engaged the whole time. I was eager to find out "What would happen next", and eager to see if our 'leads' would solve the mystery in time.
I can't wait to read the next book in the series!
I really enjoyed this story!
The writing, characters, and story were great, and I was on the edge of my seat for most of the book (and I didn't figure out "Who done it" until the end... YAY!).
The author had me engaged the whole time. I was eager to find out "What would happen next", and eager to see if our 'leads' would solve the mystery in time.
I can't wait to read the next book in the series!
April 14, 2017
This first book in the Bishop - Special Crimes Unit series was awesome. I'd heard a bunch of people rave about this series but I was skeptical about starting a new ongoing detective. Much like Michael Connelly's, Harry Bosch, I really did fall in love with Bishop. We don't get introduced to Bishop until around the second half of the book, but the ending was the deal breaker. Bishop has a gift, oh boy!!! I can't wait to read more!! OH how I wish I'd have started this series sooner. Now I have to do a marathon for the next several weeks.
This story about the psychic was cool. Not overwhelmingly so or typical. It flowed just right. A great many characters and in a small town setting (which I LOVE). A few subtle twists and turns, some areas of suspense, and just the right amount of unique to grab me and pull me under. Okay, so I hugged the book once or twice, it was that good.
This story about the psychic was cool. Not overwhelmingly so or typical. It flowed just right. A great many characters and in a small town setting (which I LOVE). A few subtle twists and turns, some areas of suspense, and just the right amount of unique to grab me and pull me under. Okay, so I hugged the book once or twice, it was that good.
September 1, 2019
Cassie Neill is a psychic who can tap into the minds of killers and helps the police track them down. When she makes a mistake and comes close to burn out, she heads across the country to start over. Now, in a small town in North Carolina, Cassie once again picks up thoughts of a soon to be serial killer. She tries to warn the sheriff but he doesn't take her seriously, so she seeks out prosecutor Ben Ryan, who does believe her, but remains skeptical. When the murder happens as Cassie says it will, the sheriff and Ben start to take her seriously. A serial killer is on the loose in their small town and Cassie is doing what she can to help but this killer is savvy and too good at keeping his identity hidden. When Ben finds out that this killer might be able to track Cassie and that her life is in danger, he steps up to do what he can to protect the woman he's starting to fall for. Cassie feels the same, but her mind is filled with monsters and she sees danger in a relationship with Ben...but he's persistent.
So this classifies as romantic suspense - this one actually does have some mildly graphic sex in it, so it's still firmly in the romance category. Ben and Cassie (and Matt and Abby) are good couples with some great chemistry and their fall feels natural and believable. I didn't love Cassie and her hot and cold act (though she had good reason) and she felt a bit too masochistic to me overall. I did like how in the end, Ben and his "walls" are all resolved and what not . Where this book really shines, however, is in the suspense. Damn but there are some suspense writers who could take lessons from this author. I absolutely love how the reader not only doesn't know who the murderer is, but also is left in suspense about who the victim will be. The reader starts to see snippets of 3 different women's lives and knows that one of them is going be nabbed by the killer, but you don't know who...and it isn't until after he grabs her that you find out which one it was. And the author doesn't it again later on with the last 2 women. Awesome idea and execution. Even when the last one was nabbed, I had no idea who it was and actually fell for the red-herring and believed it was the other. Really. Some killer suspense.
Bishop is brought in here as a character and we don't learn much about him, but I have a feeling this is a drawn out character arc. I've read one other from this series (the 8th one I think) without realizing it was a series, so I'm starting from the beginning and I'm already hooked.
So this classifies as romantic suspense - this one actually does have some mildly graphic sex in it, so it's still firmly in the romance category. Ben and Cassie (and Matt and Abby) are good couples with some great chemistry and their fall feels natural and believable. I didn't love Cassie and her hot and cold act (though she had good reason) and she felt a bit too masochistic to me overall. I did like how in the end, Ben and his "walls" are all resolved and what not . Where this book really shines, however, is in the suspense. Damn but there are some suspense writers who could take lessons from this author. I absolutely love how the reader not only doesn't know who the murderer is, but also is left in suspense about who the victim will be. The reader starts to see snippets of 3 different women's lives and knows that one of them is going be nabbed by the killer, but you don't know who...and it isn't until after he grabs her that you find out which one it was. And the author doesn't it again later on with the last 2 women. Awesome idea and execution. Even when the last one was nabbed, I had no idea who it was and actually fell for the red-herring and believed it was the other. Really. Some killer suspense.
Bishop is brought in here as a character and we don't learn much about him, but I have a feeling this is a drawn out character arc. I've read one other from this series (the 8th one I think) without realizing it was a series, so I'm starting from the beginning and I'm already hooked.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 6, 2024
Update: My second read is the audio book. The audio adds tension to an already tense story. The narrator is OK but not one of my favorites. It isn't the narrator's voice so much as the long breaks at various points. While listening, the pause breaks the natural flow of the story. I believe it is to emphasize the change in point of view or the change in the activity. For whatever reason, it is annoying.
Stealing Shadows is the first book in Kay Hooper’s Bishop/Special Crimes Unit. I thought I read this book before, however, looking at my bookshelf, I read one of the later books in the series. I didn’t realize it was a series at the time. I have several of Hooper’s standalone books and love her thrillers.
Cassie Neal is a woman with a special gift. A gift she attempts to put to rest when she moves to a small town in North Carolina after inheriting her aunt’s house. Cassie’s can get into the head of murderers. She has a history of working with the police to find the villain. Unfortunately, there are times when she doesn’t get it right before the killer strikes again.
That is what happened to Cassie in California. She misreads the killer. Escape is her solution. What criminal will move to a small town where everyone knows everyone else? Before long Cassie has a vision. She tries to warn the Sherriff who calks her up as a kook. Not to be deterred Cassie goes to plead her case to Ben Ryan the towns district attorney. Ben is the town’s hot, sexy, unattainable heartthrob. He also believes Cassie.
What I like best about this mystery is Cassie’s gift. Her ability to see the killer’s thoughts and through his eyes build tension and anxiety. The author makes me nervous. Who is going to die next? Will the police get there in time? Is there more than one killer? It is hard to know who to trust. There are a couple times that I questioned the main characters.
What doesn’t play out as nicely is the relationship between Cassie and Ben. They start out as friends. Cassie needs a friend and confidant. Ben has some issues that keep him from staying in a relationship for too long. For me, the friendship turned to more before I could believe it. I want to understand Ben more. His reasons for being non-committal in the past seem more like excuses for jumping from one woman to the next. I like him though I never feel like I know him.
My favorite character is an ancillary character, the sheriff, Matt Dunbar. There is something about his protective nature that touches me. He has the right amount of skepticism to not trust Cassie, but willing to do whatever is necessary to serve his community. His love story is more realistic to me.
Stealing Shadows is an excellent start to a series. Hooper takes more than half of the book to introduce Bishop. A novel technique since it is Bishop’s series. What I like about the way Bishop’s storyline is developed is that I have so many questions about him, but I don’t feel cheated or like the story is incomplete. I need to read the next book now to figure this man out. The ESP aspect of the story is handled believably which makes the story more enjoyable. I didn't give an eye-roll once. Bishop has some extrasensory skills that’s for sure. He is also looking for something. We don’t know what that is and I’m looking forward to finding out soon.
Stealing Shadows is the first book in Kay Hooper’s Bishop/Special Crimes Unit. I thought I read this book before, however, looking at my bookshelf, I read one of the later books in the series. I didn’t realize it was a series at the time. I have several of Hooper’s standalone books and love her thrillers.
Cassie Neal is a woman with a special gift. A gift she attempts to put to rest when she moves to a small town in North Carolina after inheriting her aunt’s house. Cassie’s can get into the head of murderers. She has a history of working with the police to find the villain. Unfortunately, there are times when she doesn’t get it right before the killer strikes again.
That is what happened to Cassie in California. She misreads the killer. Escape is her solution. What criminal will move to a small town where everyone knows everyone else? Before long Cassie has a vision. She tries to warn the Sherriff who calks her up as a kook. Not to be deterred Cassie goes to plead her case to Ben Ryan the towns district attorney. Ben is the town’s hot, sexy, unattainable heartthrob. He also believes Cassie.
What I like best about this mystery is Cassie’s gift. Her ability to see the killer’s thoughts and through his eyes build tension and anxiety. The author makes me nervous. Who is going to die next? Will the police get there in time? Is there more than one killer? It is hard to know who to trust. There are a couple times that I questioned the main characters.
What doesn’t play out as nicely is the relationship between Cassie and Ben. They start out as friends. Cassie needs a friend and confidant. Ben has some issues that keep him from staying in a relationship for too long. For me, the friendship turned to more before I could believe it. I want to understand Ben more. His reasons for being non-committal in the past seem more like excuses for jumping from one woman to the next. I like him though I never feel like I know him.
My favorite character is an ancillary character, the sheriff, Matt Dunbar. There is something about his protective nature that touches me. He has the right amount of skepticism to not trust Cassie, but willing to do whatever is necessary to serve his community. His love story is more realistic to me.
Stealing Shadows is an excellent start to a series. Hooper takes more than half of the book to introduce Bishop. A novel technique since it is Bishop’s series. What I like about the way Bishop’s storyline is developed is that I have so many questions about him, but I don’t feel cheated or like the story is incomplete. I need to read the next book now to figure this man out. The ESP aspect of the story is handled believably which makes the story more enjoyable. I didn't give an eye-roll once. Bishop has some extrasensory skills that’s for sure. He is also looking for something. We don’t know what that is and I’m looking forward to finding out soon.
April 8, 2020
4.5 stars
January 11, 2017
I'm very gentle on my books so I was staring at the spine of this book and trying to figure out if I could read the number of creases on the spine like tree rings. I really love this series.
Cassie Neill is a psychic and there's a serial killer in town. Was that appropriately dramatic? When she approaches the sheriff he dismisses her immediately. Still knowing that a murderer was going to strike she approaches the local D.A., Ben Ryan. Who is gorgeous and sexy ;)
When the murderer strikes and she tells them where to find the body, the hard-headed sheriff, the character that is really common in these books, suspects that she's involved somehow even though she weighs a hundred pounds soaking wet. Cassie's particular ability is to slip into the minds of the killers, or anybody really, based on making any kind of connection, like eye contact or touch. She touches the objects left behind by the killers to find out what they're thinking and doing despite the great toll this takes on her own mind and body.
Noah Bishop, the guy who gives the series it's title, makes only a brief appearance in this one so it doesn't entirely feel like books 3-infinity.
I always enjoy this book but it's the way that makes me feel like it's not connected to the others that really keeps me from loving it. It's cute, it's suspenseful, and I've read it at least 10 times.
Cassie Neill is a psychic and there's a serial killer in town. Was that appropriately dramatic? When she approaches the sheriff he dismisses her immediately. Still knowing that a murderer was going to strike she approaches the local D.A., Ben Ryan. Who is gorgeous and sexy ;)
When the murderer strikes and she tells them where to find the body, the hard-headed sheriff, the character that is really common in these books, suspects that she's involved somehow even though she weighs a hundred pounds soaking wet. Cassie's particular ability is to slip into the minds of the killers, or anybody really, based on making any kind of connection, like eye contact or touch. She touches the objects left behind by the killers to find out what they're thinking and doing despite the great toll this takes on her own mind and body.
Noah Bishop, the guy who gives the series it's title, makes only a brief appearance in this one so it doesn't entirely feel like books 3-infinity.
I always enjoy this book but it's the way that makes me feel like it's not connected to the others that really keeps me from loving it. It's cute, it's suspenseful, and I've read it at least 10 times.
April 11, 2022
For some inexplicable reason, i have a higher level of expectation when reading books with any paranormal elements. it’s like you have a cheat code so you should do better than you would were the paranormal elements absent. and you know what, miss Hooper delivered.
Reasons:
1. Set in a small town but maintained the suspense on a large scale.
2. The entire story didn’t take place in 4 days. a pet peeve i have started to nurture after noticing this trend in romantic suspense books.
3. the romance was “actually” believable because it was well-paced.
4. the writing, shoutout to the dialogue also, took me by surprise and was beautifully descriptive and introspective.
5. i actually listened to this non-stop without picking up another book.
6. it made me look forward to reading all the books in the series and other books by her, which is quite a feat.
7. a really nice and fitting epilogue. enough said.
Honestly would have given this 5 stars but i’m extra picky and found one of the twists too preposterous even though i’m open to believing almost anything with these books😂.
Reasons:
1. Set in a small town but maintained the suspense on a large scale.
2. The entire story didn’t take place in 4 days. a pet peeve i have started to nurture after noticing this trend in romantic suspense books.
3. the romance was “actually” believable because it was well-paced.
4. the writing, shoutout to the dialogue also, took me by surprise and was beautifully descriptive and introspective.
5. i actually listened to this non-stop without picking up another book.
6. it made me look forward to reading all the books in the series and other books by her, which is quite a feat.
7. a really nice and fitting epilogue. enough said.
Honestly would have given this 5 stars but i’m extra picky and found one of the twists too preposterous even though i’m open to believing almost anything with these books😂.
April 4, 2018
Interesting enough to want to know the outcome, but not enough to enjoy the reading.
January 17, 2020
I liked the writing voice and the characters but the psychic elements were taken to a level where it was really hard to suspend disbelief.
March 13, 2022
4.5 STARS
April 20, 2013
Warning Note: I never read the last page of a mystery.
What would be the point? This being mentioned, my review might not be to your tastes. I BELIEVE you can guess the basic concept of the book from what is found above or on the back of the book. Maybe you’ll even look at the other reviews on here & it will tell you what happens in the book. Personally, I think if you know what is going to happen in a book why bother reading it? It’s much like movie trailers sometimes. When I actually go to see a movie because the trailer was bloody amazing, I am sometimes saddened when the trailer actually showed the WHOLE movie. Point being, listen to River - “SPOILERS.” Do not read the blue diary!
So, my review won’t tell you the plot of the story, but it will show you the list I compiled as a guide while reading mysteries. And my answers. The rest is up to you.
Scale 1[why did I read this bloody thing]-5[OMBG! I love this book, it's a go to FAVORITE] what is your opinion on this book: 3.5, it's on the border between [I liked it] and [I really liked/loved this book].
Were there the usual suspects?: yes.
Did you figure out the killer before the big reveal? & If so, did this distract you from wanting to finish the book or was there enough in the book to keep you entertained?: yes & no - on the killer. I figured out a part of the puzzle, but not the complete. & To be honest, I actually did consider it a little dragging.
Was there an unexpected twist? & Was the twist shocking to you?: I guess there were 2 twists, but only 1 kind of surprised me.
Subplots, did they pull you in & keep you interested even if you DID figure out who the murderer was?: There are subplots, but they didn't really pull me in.
Was there a character [MAIN or otherwise] which captured your interest and made the book more interesting?: yes, Bishop & with him another twist if you read closely, but I only mention it because I read all three in the Shadow series.
Was the mystery sound/logical? & Did you have trouble following along?: I think it was quite easy to follow & made sense if you looked at the clues and plot development.
Was there something that made this mystery/book memorable, wherein you can distinguish it from other books you have read?: Not when you first read it for me, but after I completed the series, I thought back to this one.
Would you read this book again?: Yes, when re-reading the series, I would.
Would you recommend it to other people?: mmmmm. Series, yes.
Is this part of a series? & if so, would you continue reading the other books in the series?: Yes.
Series Rating: 4 STARS; Also part of the Bishop/Special Crime Unit Series.
Is there anything else you would say about this book?: I like Kay Hooper's take on psychics & although these could be classified as romantic suspense, the romance part is only an 1/8 of the book I would say. The mystery and understanding, development of the characters, & the mind of the killer is prominent.
What would be the point? This being mentioned, my review might not be to your tastes. I BELIEVE you can guess the basic concept of the book from what is found above or on the back of the book. Maybe you’ll even look at the other reviews on here & it will tell you what happens in the book. Personally, I think if you know what is going to happen in a book why bother reading it? It’s much like movie trailers sometimes. When I actually go to see a movie because the trailer was bloody amazing, I am sometimes saddened when the trailer actually showed the WHOLE movie. Point being, listen to River - “SPOILERS.” Do not read the blue diary!
So, my review won’t tell you the plot of the story, but it will show you the list I compiled as a guide while reading mysteries. And my answers. The rest is up to you.
Scale 1[why did I read this bloody thing]-5[OMBG! I love this book, it's a go to FAVORITE] what is your opinion on this book: 3.5, it's on the border between [I liked it] and [I really liked/loved this book].
Were there the usual suspects?: yes.
Did you figure out the killer before the big reveal? & If so, did this distract you from wanting to finish the book or was there enough in the book to keep you entertained?: yes & no - on the killer. I figured out a part of the puzzle, but not the complete. & To be honest, I actually did consider it a little dragging.
Was there an unexpected twist? & Was the twist shocking to you?: I guess there were 2 twists, but only 1 kind of surprised me.
Subplots, did they pull you in & keep you interested even if you DID figure out who the murderer was?: There are subplots, but they didn't really pull me in.
Was there a character [MAIN or otherwise] which captured your interest and made the book more interesting?: yes, Bishop & with him another twist if you read closely, but I only mention it because I read all three in the Shadow series.
Was the mystery sound/logical? & Did you have trouble following along?: I think it was quite easy to follow & made sense if you looked at the clues and plot development.
Was there something that made this mystery/book memorable, wherein you can distinguish it from other books you have read?: Not when you first read it for me, but after I completed the series, I thought back to this one.
Would you read this book again?: Yes, when re-reading the series, I would.
Would you recommend it to other people?: mmmmm. Series, yes.
Is this part of a series? & if so, would you continue reading the other books in the series?: Yes.
Series Rating: 4 STARS; Also part of the Bishop/Special Crime Unit Series.Is there anything else you would say about this book?: I like Kay Hooper's take on psychics & although these could be classified as romantic suspense, the romance part is only an 1/8 of the book I would say. The mystery and understanding, development of the characters, & the mind of the killer is prominent.
May 3, 2018
The dialogue consisted mainly of someone asking a question and Cassie saying, "I don't know." Sometimes this response would be immediately followed up by an actual reply. Removing all of those "I don't know" responses would probably have cut down the book by an eighth. The characters were wooden and the plot cliche. Why did I finish this book? I don't know.
May 11, 2009
This is a the first book that I have read by Kay Hooper
This is the first book that really got me into the the paranormal books and I find that Kay hooper is not that obviously formalaic
the book is about Cassie a psychic who has helped the police with her ability till an error led to the death of a child and she left town.
However she can't get away from her ability and soon finds herself involved in a murder case after finding herself in the mind of a murderer
I thought it was nicely written and the talk of the psychic ability seemed plausible
This is the first book that really got me into the the paranormal books and I find that Kay hooper is not that obviously formalaic
the book is about Cassie a psychic who has helped the police with her ability till an error led to the death of a child and she left town.
However she can't get away from her ability and soon finds herself involved in a murder case after finding herself in the mind of a murderer
I thought it was nicely written and the talk of the psychic ability seemed plausible
February 7, 2018
This book was among the Romance Package of audible. I was a bit tired to listen to sweet romance books, and I have decided to listen to this one. This is on a little dark side, which I really appreciated this time!
I like the psychic aspect of this story. She can go into the mind of the murderer. I liked the scenes that involve her using this ability.
Romance aspect was not that strong in this book, which I liked. I happened to read the No. 6 book long time ago. I don't remember nothing at all... maybe I should read the series in order...
I like the psychic aspect of this story. She can go into the mind of the murderer. I liked the scenes that involve her using this ability.
Romance aspect was not that strong in this book, which I liked. I happened to read the No. 6 book long time ago. I don't remember nothing at all... maybe I should read the series in order...
June 23, 2015
4.5 Stars****1/2~~~I really enjoyed this:) So...you've got the "darkest evil serial killer angle", the "fragile, but strong, psycic", and the "very hot, but tormented, young-for-his-position, town Judge. Really, what's not to love?!? Well done on all fronts. I realize this is a "Bishop" book, but I didn't really care about him...other than the fact that he made the hero jealous;)
April 17, 2010
Cassie moves to a house left to her by an Aunt in a quiet town in North Carolina, but her telepathic abilities alert her to a serial killer, who begins to prey on local women. She falls in love, but has to worry about a beyond the grave warning from her Aunt about him. Good (scary) ending.
February 7, 2015
Have read this whole series. Paranormal and psychic invetigators. Awaiting her newest book.
January 9, 2025
Reading this series after 8 yrs! Hoping to finish all the newer books this year.
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