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Diamond Files Mystery #1
Girl in the Shadows
Abby Silver is a temp secretary with a super memory. When she's assigned to work with an unusual detective, Abby discovers she likes investigative work. No, she loves it. Within a week, she's helping her boss (and his trusty beagle, Chewie) chase down a murder suspect. Literally. Hijinx ensue!
171 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 23, 2016
936 people are currently reading
628 people want to read
About the author
Angela Pepper
60 books593 followersUSA Today Bestselling author Angela Pepper lives with her family in the rainy Pacific Northwest, surrounded by spoiled kitties, deer, raccoons, and the biggest woodpeckers you've ever seen.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 147 reviews
February 2, 2016
This was the first of a new series and I know I am going to love it. What can I say? I loved both Derek Diamond and Abby Silver. Derek is a middle aged detective that has been hired to investigate a murder. He needs an assistant for the week and ends up with Abby Silver. She is with the local temp agency.
This murder of Brock Kensington has the police working hard looking for clues. But Derek was working even harder to get ahead of them. From the beginning he knew this murder was not a random robbery gone wrong.
Derek Diamond's personality is very charming in a no filter kind of manner. He is very abrupt in the way he deals with Abby. But it is endearing to me and she seems to be able to let it roll off her shoulders. Abby has some insecurities that allow her to accept little nicknames and generalities made by Derek. It was quite fun to read about their interactions. They really work well together with their hidden talents secret weapons, Like Chewie., Derek's beagle.
These really fun and intelligent characters along with a juicy murder investigation was just the perfect book to start the day. I am itching to see what Derek Diamond does next book!
This murder of Brock Kensington has the police working hard looking for clues. But Derek was working even harder to get ahead of them. From the beginning he knew this murder was not a random robbery gone wrong.
Derek Diamond's personality is very charming in a no filter kind of manner. He is very abrupt in the way he deals with Abby. But it is endearing to me and she seems to be able to let it roll off her shoulders. Abby has some insecurities that allow her to accept little nicknames and generalities made by Derek. It was quite fun to read about their interactions. They really work well together with their hidden talents secret weapons, Like Chewie., Derek's beagle.
These really fun and intelligent characters along with a juicy murder investigation was just the perfect book to start the day. I am itching to see what Derek Diamond does next book!
March 13, 2020
Fun and funny with a spunky young woman with Asbergers syndrome, a beginning-Alzheimer’s gentleman, and a smarter-than-them-both dog (they had me at the pup). Case was interesting and unusual, script was clean and intelligently written (especially for the genre). It’s a YA but holds the interest of readers of any age. Highly recommended for the adventure and a smile. Well narrated by Tiffany Williams.
December 20, 2017
My actual rating is probably 3.5 stars.
To begin with I feel like I need to tell you this is not a novel. I don't know why I should need to tell you this, I feel like when you buy a thing to read it should be clearly indicated that you are buying a short story, novella or novel, but for some odd reason this book is the exception to that expectation; it is, in fact, a short novella with a whole other novel attached after it (not in this series, not about these characters, not a cozy mystery so possibly not a novel you even want to be reading).
Unfortunately the fact that I thought I had bought a novel when I hadn't turned out to be extremely distracting. I kept reading and asking myself," wait, is the story almost over? But it says I'm only 30% in?? Oh never mind there's more..." Only to repeat it the whole inner dialogue a few pages later.
Here's the thing, these characters are worthy of a novel, and they are fleshed out with novel sized personal arcs, this easily could have been a novel (and based on the disappointment I felt when it just abruptly stopped it probably should have been). Or even a short story/novella collection where we followed the characters through their personal stories but with changing mystery investigation (this also would have given us a great chance to see the variety in Diamond's work). I suppose the best thing I can say about the length of the book is that at least the author knew when she didn't have a novel length plot and didn't simply try to extend it beyond it's capacity to force it into a novel.
I know harping on about the length of the book is not actually a helpful review, but the thing is the end of this story was such a disappointment because the writing itself was so good. I loved the characters; they were unique and made interesting decisions in their lives, they felt real and relatable and I wanted to know and see more of them. The mystery itself was well written and I was surprised to find that Pepper did a great job of distraction and misdirection without any projection of the killer early on in the story (though I'm interested to know if she can maintain that for a whole novel). And honestly, if there was a second book, a full novel, available I'd start reading it right now because I enjoyed this short book that much.
I just wish it wasn't so damn short.
To begin with I feel like I need to tell you this is not a novel. I don't know why I should need to tell you this, I feel like when you buy a thing to read it should be clearly indicated that you are buying a short story, novella or novel, but for some odd reason this book is the exception to that expectation; it is, in fact, a short novella with a whole other novel attached after it (not in this series, not about these characters, not a cozy mystery so possibly not a novel you even want to be reading).
Unfortunately the fact that I thought I had bought a novel when I hadn't turned out to be extremely distracting. I kept reading and asking myself," wait, is the story almost over? But it says I'm only 30% in?? Oh never mind there's more..." Only to repeat it the whole inner dialogue a few pages later.
Here's the thing, these characters are worthy of a novel, and they are fleshed out with novel sized personal arcs, this easily could have been a novel (and based on the disappointment I felt when it just abruptly stopped it probably should have been). Or even a short story/novella collection where we followed the characters through their personal stories but with changing mystery investigation (this also would have given us a great chance to see the variety in Diamond's work). I suppose the best thing I can say about the length of the book is that at least the author knew when she didn't have a novel length plot and didn't simply try to extend it beyond it's capacity to force it into a novel.
I know harping on about the length of the book is not actually a helpful review, but the thing is the end of this story was such a disappointment because the writing itself was so good. I loved the characters; they were unique and made interesting decisions in their lives, they felt real and relatable and I wanted to know and see more of them. The mystery itself was well written and I was surprised to find that Pepper did a great job of distraction and misdirection without any projection of the killer early on in the story (though I'm interested to know if she can maintain that for a whole novel). And honestly, if there was a second book, a full novel, available I'd start reading it right now because I enjoyed this short book that much.
I just wish it wasn't so damn short.
August 29, 2022
4 stars - English audiobook
Quote: Coco the callgirl. Her shoe size is no 5 1/2. That's for sure!
YOUNG QUIRKY INVESTIGATOR that's what you can name her.
Abby Silver is a temp secretary with a super memory. When she's assigned to work with an unusual detective, Abby discovers she likes investigative work.
Do it takes a while to get at the point she admits it. First she is a little shy.
Now she loves it. Within a week, she's helping her boss, and his trusty beagle, Chewie, chase down a murder suspect. Literally. Hatsjoe in Dutch! Bless you, or not!
Great who-done it cozy mystery. In love with Chewie. What a lovely dog. The best detective and friend.
Quote: Coco the callgirl. Her shoe size is no 5 1/2. That's for sure!
YOUNG QUIRKY INVESTIGATOR that's what you can name her.
Abby Silver is a temp secretary with a super memory. When she's assigned to work with an unusual detective, Abby discovers she likes investigative work.
Do it takes a while to get at the point she admits it. First she is a little shy.
Now she loves it. Within a week, she's helping her boss, and his trusty beagle, Chewie, chase down a murder suspect. Literally. Hatsjoe in Dutch! Bless you, or not!
Great who-done it cozy mystery. In love with Chewie. What a lovely dog. The best detective and friend.
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December 3, 2017💝 FREE on Amazon today (12/03/2017)! 💝
January 13, 2018
Night time 'insomnia' read.
An okay story but it really needed more depth. The main characters were shallow and 'thin' and the minor characters were vague and inconsistent.
An okay story but it really needed more depth. The main characters were shallow and 'thin' and the minor characters were vague and inconsistent.
August 29, 2025
An immersive whodunnit
April 29, 2022
I thought that this book was good
December 12, 2017
This is fun brain candy. It's a cozy mystery that is fun escapism reading. The author writes well and there are no outstanding errors or annoying writing quirks that distract from the flow of the book like you find in some cozy mysteries. The only complain is that you know nothing about the detective the protagonist is working for, he's very mysterious and keeps his ideas even closer to his chest. I'd have liked a tad more character development in him but I imagine the author is saving that for another book.
July 17, 2018
Solid start to a long series of cozy mysteries.
September 9, 2023
I listened to the free audiobook on YouTube. I found the characters delightful, and the reader was very good at distinguishing between different characters with different voices. And there's a beagle!
August 24, 2025
3.5 stars.
This one caught my eye due to the fun cover - love a dog character!! I also love that it was a short cosy mystery - just what I felt like reading.
My verdict: light hearted entertainment
This one caught my eye due to the fun cover - love a dog character!! I also love that it was a short cosy mystery - just what I felt like reading.
My verdict: light hearted entertainment
December 5, 2017
Grabbed my attention from the get-go. I loved the detective and dog combo :)
Awesome cosy mystery!
Awesome cosy mystery!
July 12, 2016
Abby Silver is a bit lost in life. She feels like she doesn’t have a passion, her spoiled rich boy ex-boyfriend is a bit confused about their relationship status but things begin to fall into place a bit when her temp agency sends her to be the assistant to Derek Diamond, who is currently investigating a high profile murder.
Honestly, I’m not quite sure what happened here, this book seemed to lack the cleverness that Pepper’s Stormy Day series had. While it managed to maintain the lighthearted nature that I enjoyed reading in the Stormy Day series, it wasn’t particularly funny. Abby Silver’s character had me swaying back and forth as far as if I liked her or not, on the one hand I found her character to be rather real and relatable but in some instances she was annoying and behaved in ways that seemed a bit of out character for the personality set for her and more as if just to move the plot along. The dialogue was a bit stiff and didn’t feel like it flowed naturally for me either.
However, I’m not going to write off the series. Pepper has shown me her ability to turn things around before so perhaps as the series goes on the story and dialogue will improve. As I said, Abby’s character was quite relatable as someone in their mid 20’s who feels a bit lost in life and is trying to get stuff together she’s a great character. She - and the series- just needs a bit of polishing.
Honestly, I’m not quite sure what happened here, this book seemed to lack the cleverness that Pepper’s Stormy Day series had. While it managed to maintain the lighthearted nature that I enjoyed reading in the Stormy Day series, it wasn’t particularly funny. Abby Silver’s character had me swaying back and forth as far as if I liked her or not, on the one hand I found her character to be rather real and relatable but in some instances she was annoying and behaved in ways that seemed a bit of out character for the personality set for her and more as if just to move the plot along. The dialogue was a bit stiff and didn’t feel like it flowed naturally for me either.
However, I’m not going to write off the series. Pepper has shown me her ability to turn things around before so perhaps as the series goes on the story and dialogue will improve. As I said, Abby’s character was quite relatable as someone in their mid 20’s who feels a bit lost in life and is trying to get stuff together she’s a great character. She - and the series- just needs a bit of polishing.
July 9, 2016
Gripping!
Finally! A mystery writer who keeps you smiling through the entire book. If you like this book, try the Stormy Day series. It's so good that I'm anxiously awaiting the next one.
Finally! A mystery writer who keeps you smiling through the entire book. If you like this book, try the Stormy Day series. It's so good that I'm anxiously awaiting the next one.
December 27, 2017
This was a cute short story - not much meat - but light and a bit humorous. Abby is a temp who lands a one week job with a detective, Derek, working on an old case. The victim was found strangled with a belt in his own home All possible suspects appear to have iron clad alibis.
February 25, 2016
Good read
I liked this new series and look forward to more to come. This book is more just on the mystery side. Not a lot a suspense and thrillers, just a good clean mystery.
I liked this new series and look forward to more to come. This book is more just on the mystery side. Not a lot a suspense and thrillers, just a good clean mystery.
January 24, 2018
Two and a half stars. Quick read. Characters rather shallow, plot thin. Enjoyable, though.
June 29, 2018
Story seemed to be missing a lot: flow, padding out of the characters.
March 13, 2024
I've read several books by this author and enjoyed them all. But I think this one is my favorite so far.
The main character is a woman by the name of Abby. She doesn't have magical powers but she has a supercomputer (ie: a brain that remembers everything she sees, hears, does, or reads) in her head. She works at a temp agency and is sent to work for a detective and they are out to solve a murder. Abby is also a runner. She runs when she gets upset (that plays into the book's ending).
Abby also has a boyfriend (a rich, playboy narcissist) who is a character the reader will love to hate (at least I did almost immediately). The murder concerns a rich man and his family. Figuring out who killed the patriarch keeps the reader thinking they know who it is and then it isn't. It took me until the end of the book to finally get the killer right. :)
The characters are well -defined and plot and mystery is excellent. At this time I'm only seeing this book so I'm not sure if it is (or will be) a series. I hope it is a series because I'm intrigued.
The main character is a woman by the name of Abby. She doesn't have magical powers but she has a supercomputer (ie: a brain that remembers everything she sees, hears, does, or reads) in her head. She works at a temp agency and is sent to work for a detective and they are out to solve a murder. Abby is also a runner. She runs when she gets upset (that plays into the book's ending).
Abby also has a boyfriend (a rich, playboy narcissist) who is a character the reader will love to hate (at least I did almost immediately). The murder concerns a rich man and his family. Figuring out who killed the patriarch keeps the reader thinking they know who it is and then it isn't. It took me until the end of the book to finally get the killer right. :)
The characters are well -defined and plot and mystery is excellent. At this time I'm only seeing this book so I'm not sure if it is (or will be) a series. I hope it is a series because I'm intrigued.
June 10, 2020
Why?
This is an unusual and confusing story. Abby, Derek, and Chewie make a likable team, but I'm not sure why! Abby is blessed with an amazing brain and no motivation to take advantage of that fact. She's apparently so paralyzed by fear of making a wrong decision (no explanation given) that she just allows life to happen, AND she lacks character. Derek seems to be a well-respected detective, but he's beyond quirky and unfocused. Chewie is the only one living up to potential. The murderer and the motivation are surprising as is the reason for the cover-up; this could be because cozy mysteries usually attempt to engage the reader in the crimesolving process with clues and red herrings to follow, but this story does not. The conclusion shows growth for the characters and their future relationship...and just ends. AND THERE'S NO SEQUEL!
This is an unusual and confusing story. Abby, Derek, and Chewie make a likable team, but I'm not sure why! Abby is blessed with an amazing brain and no motivation to take advantage of that fact. She's apparently so paralyzed by fear of making a wrong decision (no explanation given) that she just allows life to happen, AND she lacks character. Derek seems to be a well-respected detective, but he's beyond quirky and unfocused. Chewie is the only one living up to potential. The murderer and the motivation are surprising as is the reason for the cover-up; this could be because cozy mysteries usually attempt to engage the reader in the crimesolving process with clues and red herrings to follow, but this story does not. The conclusion shows growth for the characters and their future relationship...and just ends. AND THERE'S NO SEQUEL!
August 19, 2022
Super cute, quick listen. Abby has no idea what she wants to do with her life. She's been working a series of temp jobs trying to find something that sparks her interest. An old man and his beagle side-kick were not supposed to be the answer but when she finds herself working as an assistant to an investigator suddenly Abby is intrigued. What was supposed to be a one week gig has suddenly lead Abby to a new purpose. But they are hot on the trail of a killer and when Abby finds herself in danger, will she make it past this week? Loved Abby, she was flawed but had lots of endearing qualities. Definitely intrigued to continue the series.
January 17, 2020
This is a fun, humorous cozy mystery. The lead female character displays moments of awkwardness everyone can relate to going through at some point in their life. The lead male starts out seeming a bit of a male chauvinist, but that is quickly dispelled endearing his character to you even with his many quirks. The story itself held enough little twists to leave you unsure until shortly before the reveal who 'did it', and then you find out that there is still more to it. I laughed heartily a number of times throughout this cozy mystery.
June 22, 2021
Not bad. At least the main character has flaws.
There's a lot of wrong Disability-related stuff though. The Rain Man references are problematic. Generalized eidetic memories are basically a myth and Rain Man isn't about someone with an eidetic memory anyway. What Abby experiences sounds more like hyperthymesia but that doesn't affect recall of non-autobiographical information.
And there is no official registry for service dogs in the US so it would be sad if Derek actually paid to register Chewie with one of those fake lists.
There's a lot of wrong Disability-related stuff though. The Rain Man references are problematic. Generalized eidetic memories are basically a myth and Rain Man isn't about someone with an eidetic memory anyway. What Abby experiences sounds more like hyperthymesia but that doesn't affect recall of non-autobiographical information.
And there is no official registry for service dogs in the US so it would be sad if Derek actually paid to register Chewie with one of those fake lists.
June 26, 2021
I enjoy Angela Pepper’s stories. They are well-written and have humor in them. This was a novella which I listened to. The narrator did a great job. This could have been developed into a full novel. The characters could easily be well-developed.
There isn’t as much humor as I amuse to hearing in the author’s book but I think that was due to the length of the book. Unfortunately, this series did not go beyond book one.
I would have been willing to wade into more stories with Derek and Abby.
There isn’t as much humor as I amuse to hearing in the author’s book but I think that was due to the length of the book. Unfortunately, this series did not go beyond book one.
I would have been willing to wade into more stories with Derek and Abby.
September 3, 2021
Diamond Files Mystery is the first story that develops into a terrific gateway into a series which I think will be quite entertaining. I like the odd detective trio (although I admit that I'm a sucker for a dog in a story). There’s Abbey a 25-year-old with nil experience as a detective and hired as an assistant for one week to help an insurance investigator with his reports. Derek is in his 60’s and has a quirky sense of humor. Lastly Derek's sidekick Chewie, an adorable Beagle. I’m looking forward to the next book and I hope it’s longer.
December 15, 2021
Girl in the shadows was a good PI story with a temp helping an insurance investigator, but I wish it was longer so I could have more time with Abby Silver, the temp with the incredible memory. This edition also included Wisteria Witches, a full length paranormal mystery that was okay - I found the protagonist a little irritating and the criminal was too obvious.
October 31, 2022
I wasn't expecting to enjoy this story as much as I did. Abby Silver and Derek Diamond really pulled me into the story.
Diamond is a PI working a murder investigation. Abby Silver is his temp for the week, at temp given some assignments on her own to gather information and otherwise is his second set of eyes and ears.
Through their gathering of evidence, and the use of a white board, these two are able to identify the killer and save their parent company millions of dollars in insurance payouts.
I'm looking forward to additional investigations by this pair.
Diamond is a PI working a murder investigation. Abby Silver is his temp for the week, at temp given some assignments on her own to gather information and otherwise is his second set of eyes and ears.
Through their gathering of evidence, and the use of a white board, these two are able to identify the killer and save their parent company millions of dollars in insurance payouts.
I'm looking forward to additional investigations by this pair.
December 19, 2017
This was pretty good. I really liked the way the author developed the two main characters. It was especially refreshing to have a female protagonist who was not your typical bumbling girlish crime fighter, as a lot of these kinds of mysteries have. The plot itself was nothing too surprising. I feel like the author could have given some more detail to the crime and those secondary characters, but I am definitely planning to read the next in the series.
May 15, 2018
Girl in the Shadows is only half the book. (Less than half, actually.) It's OK, but the real gem in here is the first volume of the Wisteria Witches series, where the main character is redheaded witch/librarian Zara Riddle, a single mother who finds herself possessed by the spirit of an eccentric elderly socialite (killed in her bathtub by a toaster!). It's such a quirky, enjoyable world. I expect to come back to the series again and again.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 147 reviews