What do you think?
Rate this book
The Touch of a Shadow
Just as Esther Charlemagne has discovered happiness with her partner and now husband, Aiden ‘Mac’ McManus, a grisly killer from a murder case which the couple worked five years earlier, in 1959, returns to threaten her. For their own protection, the FBI flies Esther and Mac, together with others involved in the case to a remote safe house and Esther is forced to face what happened on that fateful day, five years ago. Although it’s the last thing she wants to do, she finds herself recalling every detail of the case, as the US Attorney deposes each witness and, knowing that the murderer has unlimited resources and has vowed to kill his beloved Esther, Mac decides leave his wife in the safe hands of the FBI and to find the killer before he has a chance to reach her.
422 pages, Paperback
First published March 30, 2015
6 people want to read
About the author
Cheri Vause
12 books31 followersChéri Vausé is not your usual
Mystery Thriller Author.
As an author of the
Noir Mystery Thriller,
and an occasional walk into the
Gothic,
Horror,
SF,
Romance,
and
Literary
genres, Chéri Vausé loves to tell a dark tale. Why? She believes that everyone begins their life in darkness, but are born into the light. The most valuable lessons or character traits are gained through life changing events, and it's the same with stories we remember, that we relate to for the rest of our lives. It's the contrast between the light and the darkness that gives her stories a punch, and that she includes a little touch of the mystical, imparting an important idea.
She decided to embark on a new career in writing novels rather late in life, but feels that her age and experience give her stories more depth, more realism. After teaching theology for more than twenty-five years, writing mysteries just seemed to be a natural fit, an exciting new direction. Her lifelong love of books made her realize she wasn't just a one genre person. So, she turned her dining room table into a desk, and now, she serves up murder on a noir dish and psychological terror on an icy platter, and thrills within a crime, instead of meals. Another dimension may open up on that table, and there might be a ghost lurking around the bookcase opening up a book of poetry to read while they wait for her to recognize them. An idea is woven into the fabric of every story, it purls like a golden thread and can't be missed, otherwise it would just be an "empty tale" she says. It is her sincere desire to give every reader a chance to think about what she wrote long after the last page is turned, to learn something about themselves, about the world, about what is important.
To see her book trailers and learn more about the Crime author, go to her Book site NOIR THRILLERS BOOKS
To purchase any of her works, all are available for order at any book store, or you can go online at most online book stores to order. If you have an Amazon account, or are a subscriber to Kindle Unlimited, check out her books on Chéri Vausé's Author Page
Chéri lives on a small ranch in Central Texas with her husband and two dogs, Scully, a Coydog (half coyote and half beagle), and Mulder, a Great Pyrénées who volunteered to be their dog, along with three ducks: Samantha, Mr. Fowley, and Krycek.
She decided to embark on a new career in writing novels rather late in life, but feels that her age and experience give her stories more depth, more realism. After teaching theology for more than twenty-five years, writing mysteries just seemed to be a natural fit, an exciting new direction. Her lifelong love of books made her realize she wasn't just a one genre person. So, she turned her dining room table into a desk, and now, she serves up murder on a noir dish and psychological terror on an icy platter, and thrills within a crime, instead of meals. Another dimension may open up on that table, and there might be a ghost lurking around the bookcase opening up a book of poetry to read while they wait for her to recognize them. An idea is woven into the fabric of every story, it purls like a golden thread and can't be missed, otherwise it would just be an "empty tale" she says. It is her sincere desire to give every reader a chance to think about what she wrote long after the last page is turned, to learn something about themselves, about the world, about what is important.
"It's the theologian in me. I believe stories should have meaning, that they should have a piece of your soul embedded in its language, and it should be written with your blood, your heart, otherwise they're a waste of a reader's valuable time, and you've learned nothing. To give them less than your best is not only cheating them of their hard earned dollar, but you fail as an author and cheat yourself. A writer writes to change themselves, then change the world."~ Chéri Vausé
To see her book trailers and learn more about the Crime author, go to her Book site NOIR THRILLERS BOOKS
To purchase any of her works, all are available for order at any book store, or you can go online at most online book stores to order. If you have an Amazon account, or are a subscriber to Kindle Unlimited, check out her books on Chéri Vausé's Author Page
Chéri lives on a small ranch in Central Texas with her husband and two dogs, Scully, a Coydog (half coyote and half beagle), and Mulder, a Great Pyrénées who volunteered to be their dog, along with three ducks: Samantha, Mr. Fowley, and Krycek.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 8, 2015
I can't really rate this book because I wrote it, but I gave it the five stars my reviewer gave it.
This story picks up where The Night Shadow left off. Esther Charlemagne and husband, Aiden "Mac" McManus, have settled into Esther's brownstone in Manhattan. Of course, something is going to upset it. This is a psychological mystery that propels the couple to face a case they worked together in 1959. With his wife Esther secure in a safe house, Mac decides to leave his wife in the safe hands of the FBI and find the killer himself.
Much of the story is Esther remembering how they worked the case, and with each grisly discovery they find the people involved are not who they expected would be privy to such evil, and even encourage murder to further their financial means.
There is an interesting discussion about the Fed and how Congress has given up its power to print money, and raise and lower interest rates to an entity that is not answerable to anyone.
An exciting read and filled with psychological insights, and sixties lack of morality rubbing against a World War II sense of propriety.
This story picks up where The Night Shadow left off. Esther Charlemagne and husband, Aiden "Mac" McManus, have settled into Esther's brownstone in Manhattan. Of course, something is going to upset it. This is a psychological mystery that propels the couple to face a case they worked together in 1959. With his wife Esther secure in a safe house, Mac decides to leave his wife in the safe hands of the FBI and find the killer himself.
Much of the story is Esther remembering how they worked the case, and with each grisly discovery they find the people involved are not who they expected would be privy to such evil, and even encourage murder to further their financial means.
There is an interesting discussion about the Fed and how Congress has given up its power to print money, and raise and lower interest rates to an entity that is not answerable to anyone.
An exciting read and filled with psychological insights, and sixties lack of morality rubbing against a World War II sense of propriety.
March 30, 2015
As I opened the second book I've read from this author with great expectations ...
No disappointment here... This book started out with a bang.
I was delighted to find an old friend in a character I had admired in the previous book!
I was also thrilled to find out the whole story that was only hinted at in the first book!
Awesome...
Every author has their own unique way of writing, if they are true writers... And this author is one of them.
She has a way of being intriguing enough to keep a person reading... And elusive enough to keep us guessing.
And thats why her books are worth reading!
No disappointment here... This book started out with a bang.
I was delighted to find an old friend in a character I had admired in the previous book!
I was also thrilled to find out the whole story that was only hinted at in the first book!
Awesome...
Every author has their own unique way of writing, if they are true writers... And this author is one of them.
She has a way of being intriguing enough to keep a person reading... And elusive enough to keep us guessing.
And thats why her books are worth reading!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews