In The Shadow: A Shalan Adventure

by Joe Stephens

Local high school student Jenn Bezaleel is missing and the police are at a loss. It’s like she vanished without a trace and no one knows anything. So they call in Harry Shalan, who, at the urging of his extremely pregnant wife, Dee, takes the case. But when Harry starts looking into Jenn’s disappearance, he uncovers some dark family secrets, leading him to conclude that, assuming he can find her, the last place this girl needs to be is back with her mother and stepfather. Just as Harry begins to make progress on the case, however, tragedy strikes that threatens to tear Harry and Dee apart forever. Will they find Jenn Bezaleel? If so, where will she go? Can Harry and Dee survive their heartbreaking loss? The answers are… In The Shadow.

243 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 26, 2015

About the author

Joe Stephens is a retired English teacher who now substitutes occasionally and works with the youth at his church. He's the author of the Shalan Adventures, which are no longer in print. Under the name JD Stephens, he is the author of the Sam and Meg Stone Mysteries, the first of which will become available on November 1, 2025.

He is married to the woman of his dreams, Sarah. They have one daughter, Lauren, and a son-in-law, Brodie.

Reviews

[Christine Lowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the Shadow

I like Harry and Dee Shalan. They are the couple everyone wants to be. Their love for each other is palpable. If your relationship is just okay theirs will be torture to observe.

Harry and Dee are a team. They are both private investigators although with Dee being pregnant Harry's encouraging her to take it easy. Harry has no problem saying no to people but when Dee asks his only answer is yes. Their friend Otis Campbell tells them about a missing girl he needs help finding. Harry says no because they're in the middle of moving. Dee tells Harry to go ahead and help because the girl is only sixteen. Harry will do anything to keep her happy so he's off to interview the girl's mom.

There are some difficult subjects in this book. Even though they are dealt with appropriately, I cried. Keep the kleenex nearby.

This is a good, solid story that held my interest right to the end. As usual, the characters are well developed and believable. Joe Stephens writing is improving with each book. Hope I don't have to wait too long for the next one.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a gripping story which dealt with some extremely difficult subjects, though the interlinking of what was happening to the protagonists was very neatly done as the story progresses. Very sad things happen to the adult main characters, Harry and Dee, but their faith takes them forward out of the abyss of traumatic situations. The reader finds young Jennifer’s shadowed past isn’t over. Potentially extremely serious harm is awaiting her but Harry is a stalwart at her side, his vow to keep her safe one he will not lay aside. The main characters are all easy to like but I also took a shine to Otis the policeman friend of Harry and Dee. Whether or not you have the same religious conviction as Harry and Dee, it’s good that the book highlights the kindness they extend to Jennifer, who is essentially a vulnerable stranger to them. The dire deeds of the ending became almost unbearable to read, and the new reader to the story needs to be prepared for some shocks at the end.