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South Shores #1
Chasing Shadows
The dead still talk if you know how to listen...
Every case that Claire Britten cracks is a win, not only professionally but personally. The forensic psychologist has spent a lifetime fighting a neurological disorder, and her ability to conquer it is a testament to her razor-sharp intuition.
Nick Markwood is used to winning in the courtroom, so when his latest case is overthrown by Claire's expert testimony, he can't help being impressed by her skill. He needs her on the team of his passion project--investigating unusual cases involving mysterious deaths. Her condition doesn't deter him, and neither does the attraction that sparks between them...even if it should.
As they join forces to investigate a murder in St. Augustine, Florida, Claire is thrust into a situation far more dangerous than she'd anticipated, pushing her disorder to a breaking point. Just when she fears she can't trust her own mind, she discovers Nick's personal connection to the case--and wonders whether she can trust anyone at all.
Every case that Claire Britten cracks is a win, not only professionally but personally. The forensic psychologist has spent a lifetime fighting a neurological disorder, and her ability to conquer it is a testament to her razor-sharp intuition.
Nick Markwood is used to winning in the courtroom, so when his latest case is overthrown by Claire's expert testimony, he can't help being impressed by her skill. He needs her on the team of his passion project--investigating unusual cases involving mysterious deaths. Her condition doesn't deter him, and neither does the attraction that sparks between them...even if it should.
As they join forces to investigate a murder in St. Augustine, Florida, Claire is thrust into a situation far more dangerous than she'd anticipated, pushing her disorder to a breaking point. Just when she fears she can't trust her own mind, she discovers Nick's personal connection to the case--and wonders whether she can trust anyone at all.
446 pages, Hardcover
First published November 29, 2016
616 people are currently reading
2510 people want to read
About the author
Karen Harper
105 books1,500 followersA New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Karen Harper is a former college English instructor (The Ohio State University) and high school literature and writing teacher. A lifelong Ohioan, Karen and her husband Don divide their time between the midwest and the southeast, both locations she has used in her books. Besides her American settings, Karen loves the British Isles, where her Scottish and English roots run deep, and where she has set many of her historical Tudor-era mysteries and her historical novels about real and dynamic British women. Karen's books have been published in many foreign languages and she won the Mary Higgins Clark Award for 2005. Karen has given numerous talks to readers and writers across the county. Her most recent books include THE SOUTH SHORES TRILOGY (CHASING SHADOWS, DROWNING TIDES and FALLING DARKNESS.) Her latest historical is THE ROYAL NANNY. Please visit her website at www.KarenHarperAuthor and her fb page at www.facebook.com/KarenHarperAuthor
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 204 reviews
February 8, 2017
I read THE ROYAL NANNY by Karen Harper just a little while ago and I found it a fantastic book. So, naturally I was curious to see how her other books would be. Now, romantic suspense is normally not a genre I chose to read that very often, but, I hoped that Harper's writing skills would make CHASING SHADOWS a book worth reading. Unfortunately, I have to say that I was disappointed with the book.
READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!
READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!
October 17, 2016
The too much talking and not enough action just bummed me. I flipped through really fast so that I wouldn't bored myself and dozed off. The many names and characters introduced earlier on didn't help matter either. At 20% I was considering to DNF it. Who has time for this crappiness.
But I held on and managed to finish it amid all the crisis that had fallen one after another. And all in all just a meh suspense for me.
But I held on and managed to finish it amid all the crisis that had fallen one after another. And all in all just a meh suspense for me.
April 20, 2018
Rated 4.8 Most Excellent Suspenseful Stars!!
This would've gotten 5 Stars, but....there wasn't even one measly sex scene! However, I still absolutely loved it!
Karen Harper is a great story teller. I've read all 4 books of this series now and I still want more
She writes other genres also, but Romantic Suspense is my Favorite, as always.
This would've gotten 5 Stars, but....there wasn't even one measly sex scene! However, I still absolutely loved it!
Karen Harper is a great story teller. I've read all 4 books of this series now and I still want more
She writes other genres also, but Romantic Suspense is my Favorite, as always.
August 24, 2019
Claire Britten has just won a pivotal case. As a forensic psychologist, her word is highly valued. She squared off against Nick Markwood in the courtroom. Little does Claire realize that Nick will play a very important role in her immediate and long-term future. Upon leaving the courtroom, Claire faces a life and death situation. As Nick had a business proposition for her, he was able to get to her right away and all but saved her life.
When Nick outlines his proposal to Claire, she really would like to consider it. However, if she takes the case, she will have to be away from her four-year-old daughter for a bit. But, that is not what she really needs to convey to Nick. Claire has narcolepsy and catalepsy. She has fought these illnesses for years and has finally been able to manage them effectively.
Claire needs for Nick to understand and accept her limitations. Because she was not honest with her husband about these things, her marriage deteriorated and she is now divorced. Her ex, Jace, a co-pilot on an international airline, makes certain to continue to be a part of her life, much to her consternation.
As it stands, Claire takes Nick's job investigating a questionable suicide. The situation could possibly be murder and Nick is hoping that Claire can use her exceptional skills to investigate the situation, and this includes interviewing several people. Rather soon Claire discovers that Nick has a personal investment in the case. No doubt this will be quite stressful for Claire, and stress is the one thing that can set her symptoms off.
Chasing Shadows is the first book in the South Shores series. There are currently six books written and it is my hopes to read each and every one of them. This book has a great mystery, a creepy Gothic feel and plenty of twists and turns. Furthermore, Jace just won't go away, and that adds a different spin to this story. The book evolves into one of romantic suspense, especially as Claire becomes more and more aware of Nick's strong attraction to her.
I look forward to reading the next book in the series soon, Drowning Tides. I have to do this post-haste because this story ends with a terrifying cliffhanger. I am glad that I have the opportunity to read the second book immediately. I feel bad for readers in this series when it started, because the cliffhanger is a zinger!
When Nick outlines his proposal to Claire, she really would like to consider it. However, if she takes the case, she will have to be away from her four-year-old daughter for a bit. But, that is not what she really needs to convey to Nick. Claire has narcolepsy and catalepsy. She has fought these illnesses for years and has finally been able to manage them effectively.
Claire needs for Nick to understand and accept her limitations. Because she was not honest with her husband about these things, her marriage deteriorated and she is now divorced. Her ex, Jace, a co-pilot on an international airline, makes certain to continue to be a part of her life, much to her consternation.
As it stands, Claire takes Nick's job investigating a questionable suicide. The situation could possibly be murder and Nick is hoping that Claire can use her exceptional skills to investigate the situation, and this includes interviewing several people. Rather soon Claire discovers that Nick has a personal investment in the case. No doubt this will be quite stressful for Claire, and stress is the one thing that can set her symptoms off.
Chasing Shadows is the first book in the South Shores series. There are currently six books written and it is my hopes to read each and every one of them. This book has a great mystery, a creepy Gothic feel and plenty of twists and turns. Furthermore, Jace just won't go away, and that adds a different spin to this story. The book evolves into one of romantic suspense, especially as Claire becomes more and more aware of Nick's strong attraction to her.
I look forward to reading the next book in the series soon, Drowning Tides. I have to do this post-haste because this story ends with a terrifying cliffhanger. I am glad that I have the opportunity to read the second book immediately. I feel bad for readers in this series when it started, because the cliffhanger is a zinger!
November 30, 2016
A special thank you to MIRA and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Karen Harper returns following her Cold Creek Series with the introduction of a new series, CHASING SHADOWS (South Shores #1). What shadows are lurking from the past?
Claire Britten is a forensic psychologist living in Naples (South Florida) where she testifies in trials about missing or deceased suspects. When she ruins criminal attorney Nick Markwood’s case, he knows she’s perfect for his secret project to discover and defend dead people and convict those accused of killing them.
Set in Florida, the opening scene is in Naples, Florida with a guilty man going to prison instead of hiding out so he and his family could enjoy a three-million-dollar death settlement.
Claire, a "thirtysomething" single mom struggling with building a career and coping with a dreadful disease, was delighted with this high-profile victory. Her interviews and testimony had made all the difference in the trial.
Her current client, Lifeboat Insurance, small as it was had beaten out the opposing counsel, the large giant law firm of Markwood, Benton, and Chase.
Claire Fowler Britten is a forensic psychologist, which some would call a psychological autopsy—taking apart and studying a person’s life—often their motives and alibi.
She was a struggling one-woman Certified Fraud Examiner and Forensic Psychologist business called Clear Path. A consulting firm. Her ex-husband, Jace provided monthly child support for their daughter, Lexi.
As they were exiting the courtroom, there is a gunshot--Lead attorney for Sorento, Nick Markwood— the tall, fortyish, forceful good-looking man, from the other side now is coming to her aid. A fatal courthouse shooting. A man supposed dead for two years, now out of the grave and into prison for fraud. She had been shot by a killer. Was she the intended target, or just in the way?
Was she going to die along with the other man, Fred Myron? A shooter out for revenge from Sol Sorento’s family? The master murderer Clayton Ames had reeked of deceit and danger for years. Her boss was dead. Who was the intended victim?
Nick had already checked out Claire. He knew where she lived and of her younger sister, Darcy who took care of Clarie’s four- year- old daughter, Lexi. Her ex, Jason “Jace” Britten was an international airline co-pilot living in LA and sometimes Singapore, though he kept an apartment in Naples.
Jace could not understand why Claire insisted on this dangerous line of work. He felt she was just looking for trouble hanging around shady characters, frauds, and liars.
Claire’s illness. She is a narcoleptic. Mild cataplexy. She gets overly tired and has, to take naps and use stimulants like caffeine and chocolate. She has had the disease since the eighth grade, and as a kid, she had terrible nightmares and some thought she was haunted by ghosts. People thought she was lazy and she had her share of bullying.
Nick Marwood, senior partner of the opposing law firm had come to her side. She will be ok and now he is offering her an assignment. An important issue in St. Augustine. He needed her expertise.
An innocent woman, who is a friend of his. She will be indicted for murder if they do not move fast. Her mother is dead (accident, suicide, murder)? He wants to hire her as a consultant. They have to prove that her daughter did not commit the murder.
“Safe on the South Shores forevermore.”
Could she leave Southwest Florida and travel to Northwest – St. Augustine, Florida (St. John’s County) for a murder case which could be tricky and dangerous. However, Nick convinces her this is a victim, not a murderer. The money was good, at a rate of three hundred dollars a day. Nick is Jasmine’s lawyer. He needs Claire’s help. They need to make sure Jasmine and Shadowlawn are protected.
If she helped his South Shores company prove that Jasmine Montgomery Stanton did not murder her mother, Francine, there was a $10,000 bonus. She agrees. She also is introduced to Hector Munez, the South Shores geek genius and an array of other characters involved in the mystery.
Jace is furious, why should take his daughter and put her in further danger, while she had narcolepsy with mild cataplexy. Of course, he was a driven perfectionist. Claire only wants to build her business.
Claire had done her homework on Nick. Nick’s father Nicholas Markwood, Sr. had committed suicide when Nick was ten over a bad land deal that had swept him into debt and ruined his reputation and the reputation of the law firm. Nick had resurrected it later.
She made sure he was aware of her disease PWN (Persons with Narcolepsy) Often there could be brief, sudden immobility or paralysis that can occur on waking or dozing off, when emotional or not taking meds properly or on time. Often there is hallucinations and nightmares, or ghosts, when younger. Of course, Nick is aware of this and he has seen her in action in the courtroom under high stress. He has no doubt she can help him. Nick keeps the Shadowlawn ghosts to himself.
Soon Claire is mixed up with ghosts from Shadowlawn and Nick's past. Nick was hiding one of the real purposes of South Shores, a risk for him, and hopefully not for her.
Nick knew his dad had not shot himself. If it was the last thing Nick ever did, he would provide it and nail who killed him. He knew who that was, or thought so. He too was being stalked. But by his dad’s killer or by someone else he had let down. He had enemies. Most criminal lawyers did.
Claire soon becomes immersed with rampaging emotions, and Jace is jealous with her working relationship with Nick, showing up unannounced. Jace had a temper and Claire, the delicate strong woman still could push his buttons. He had to get her away from Markwood. He did not trust rich lawyers.
Her delicate appearance was deceptive. She was strong, great at psyching out people's lies and deceits and patching together the truth. She performed forensic autopsies where a person, living or dead, was dissected through their statements and deeds to ferret out guilt. Nick wished he could find a clear path for her and Lexi-and himself. Out of this looming catastrophe. He had caused this nightmare. Could he save her to lose her again?
From murder, danger, stalking, cryptic notes, hauntings, suicides, spirits, ghosts, revenge, danger, attacking, and old cat-and-mouse-games toying with his prey, a web of deceit – and now kidnapping. Was she a magnet for trouble?
Readers are left with a cliffhanger taking us into the second and third in the South Shores series. As usual, I am along for the ride, as in her previous series. There is always a dark past and secret to be uncovered.
Drowning Tides #2, and Falling Darkness #3.
As always, Harper adds a ghostly haunted twist to her adrenaline-fueled suspense thrillers, and this time the addition of St. Augustine, known for its ghosts was fitting. I am not a fan of paranormal or romance; however, do enjoy a good mystery and suspense.
On a personal note:
It was fun visiting parts of Florida and its familiar settings. Being and part-time Florida resident for years and full time for the last twelve years, have lived in St. John’s County (Ponte Vedra Beach), on A1A, just north of Vilona Beach and St. Augustine, (south of Jacksonville) working for a real estate developer, overseeing luxury coastal properties in St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra, Jacksonville, Amelia Island and Fernandina.
St. Augustine offers much history and some cool historic inns I have worked with as clients and some great antique shopping. (A little too touristy for my taste). I find anything north of South Florida is more like South Georgia. So much fun touring Florida, as I have also lived in Volusia County (Palm Coast, Ormond Beach); later Monroe County (Keys) and Palm Beach County (where I currently reside).
My favorite, of course, is South Florida, where I have lived and worked since 2006 (east and west). Working for a commercial real estate investment firm, have worked in Naples, Sarasota, Tampa area, as well as Miami, the Keys, Ft. Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach. I have made the trip so many times from east to west Florida and the Alligator Alley is the most boring drive ever! Had to laugh, as yes seen many alligators crossing.
I always have a good audio book when making the drive- I could also do it in my sleep. Love the Hyatt Bonita Springs and The Inn on Fifth, Naples! Have flown out of the (very) small airport in Naples many times with trips to Atlanta. Love Siesta Key as well.
If you are in Florida, you may want to visit the Kingsley Plantation (known for its ghosts) in North Jacksonville, (mentioned in the novel), a real site of a former estate that was named for an early owner, Zephaniah Kingsley, who spent 25 years there. It is located at the northern tip of Fort George Island at Fort George Inlet, and is part of the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve managed by the U.S. National Park Service.
A lot of history. Of course, fun to revisit all the movie references filmed on the St. John’s River!
Looking forward to the next in the series!
JDCMustReadBooks
Karen Harper returns following her Cold Creek Series with the introduction of a new series, CHASING SHADOWS (South Shores #1). What shadows are lurking from the past?
Claire Britten is a forensic psychologist living in Naples (South Florida) where she testifies in trials about missing or deceased suspects. When she ruins criminal attorney Nick Markwood’s case, he knows she’s perfect for his secret project to discover and defend dead people and convict those accused of killing them.
Set in Florida, the opening scene is in Naples, Florida with a guilty man going to prison instead of hiding out so he and his family could enjoy a three-million-dollar death settlement.
Claire, a "thirtysomething" single mom struggling with building a career and coping with a dreadful disease, was delighted with this high-profile victory. Her interviews and testimony had made all the difference in the trial.
Her current client, Lifeboat Insurance, small as it was had beaten out the opposing counsel, the large giant law firm of Markwood, Benton, and Chase.
Claire Fowler Britten is a forensic psychologist, which some would call a psychological autopsy—taking apart and studying a person’s life—often their motives and alibi.
She was a struggling one-woman Certified Fraud Examiner and Forensic Psychologist business called Clear Path. A consulting firm. Her ex-husband, Jace provided monthly child support for their daughter, Lexi.
As they were exiting the courtroom, there is a gunshot--Lead attorney for Sorento, Nick Markwood— the tall, fortyish, forceful good-looking man, from the other side now is coming to her aid. A fatal courthouse shooting. A man supposed dead for two years, now out of the grave and into prison for fraud. She had been shot by a killer. Was she the intended target, or just in the way?
Was she going to die along with the other man, Fred Myron? A shooter out for revenge from Sol Sorento’s family? The master murderer Clayton Ames had reeked of deceit and danger for years. Her boss was dead. Who was the intended victim?
Nick had already checked out Claire. He knew where she lived and of her younger sister, Darcy who took care of Clarie’s four- year- old daughter, Lexi. Her ex, Jason “Jace” Britten was an international airline co-pilot living in LA and sometimes Singapore, though he kept an apartment in Naples.
Jace could not understand why Claire insisted on this dangerous line of work. He felt she was just looking for trouble hanging around shady characters, frauds, and liars.
Claire’s illness. She is a narcoleptic. Mild cataplexy. She gets overly tired and has, to take naps and use stimulants like caffeine and chocolate. She has had the disease since the eighth grade, and as a kid, she had terrible nightmares and some thought she was haunted by ghosts. People thought she was lazy and she had her share of bullying.
Nick Marwood, senior partner of the opposing law firm had come to her side. She will be ok and now he is offering her an assignment. An important issue in St. Augustine. He needed her expertise.
An innocent woman, who is a friend of his. She will be indicted for murder if they do not move fast. Her mother is dead (accident, suicide, murder)? He wants to hire her as a consultant. They have to prove that her daughter did not commit the murder.
“Safe on the South Shores forevermore.”
Could she leave Southwest Florida and travel to Northwest – St. Augustine, Florida (St. John’s County) for a murder case which could be tricky and dangerous. However, Nick convinces her this is a victim, not a murderer. The money was good, at a rate of three hundred dollars a day. Nick is Jasmine’s lawyer. He needs Claire’s help. They need to make sure Jasmine and Shadowlawn are protected.
If she helped his South Shores company prove that Jasmine Montgomery Stanton did not murder her mother, Francine, there was a $10,000 bonus. She agrees. She also is introduced to Hector Munez, the South Shores geek genius and an array of other characters involved in the mystery.
Jace is furious, why should take his daughter and put her in further danger, while she had narcolepsy with mild cataplexy. Of course, he was a driven perfectionist. Claire only wants to build her business.
Claire had done her homework on Nick. Nick’s father Nicholas Markwood, Sr. had committed suicide when Nick was ten over a bad land deal that had swept him into debt and ruined his reputation and the reputation of the law firm. Nick had resurrected it later.
She made sure he was aware of her disease PWN (Persons with Narcolepsy) Often there could be brief, sudden immobility or paralysis that can occur on waking or dozing off, when emotional or not taking meds properly or on time. Often there is hallucinations and nightmares, or ghosts, when younger. Of course, Nick is aware of this and he has seen her in action in the courtroom under high stress. He has no doubt she can help him. Nick keeps the Shadowlawn ghosts to himself.
Soon Claire is mixed up with ghosts from Shadowlawn and Nick's past. Nick was hiding one of the real purposes of South Shores, a risk for him, and hopefully not for her.
Nick knew his dad had not shot himself. If it was the last thing Nick ever did, he would provide it and nail who killed him. He knew who that was, or thought so. He too was being stalked. But by his dad’s killer or by someone else he had let down. He had enemies. Most criminal lawyers did.
Claire soon becomes immersed with rampaging emotions, and Jace is jealous with her working relationship with Nick, showing up unannounced. Jace had a temper and Claire, the delicate strong woman still could push his buttons. He had to get her away from Markwood. He did not trust rich lawyers.
Her delicate appearance was deceptive. She was strong, great at psyching out people's lies and deceits and patching together the truth. She performed forensic autopsies where a person, living or dead, was dissected through their statements and deeds to ferret out guilt. Nick wished he could find a clear path for her and Lexi-and himself. Out of this looming catastrophe. He had caused this nightmare. Could he save her to lose her again?
From murder, danger, stalking, cryptic notes, hauntings, suicides, spirits, ghosts, revenge, danger, attacking, and old cat-and-mouse-games toying with his prey, a web of deceit – and now kidnapping. Was she a magnet for trouble?
Readers are left with a cliffhanger taking us into the second and third in the South Shores series. As usual, I am along for the ride, as in her previous series. There is always a dark past and secret to be uncovered.
Drowning Tides #2, and Falling Darkness #3.
As always, Harper adds a ghostly haunted twist to her adrenaline-fueled suspense thrillers, and this time the addition of St. Augustine, known for its ghosts was fitting. I am not a fan of paranormal or romance; however, do enjoy a good mystery and suspense.
On a personal note:
It was fun visiting parts of Florida and its familiar settings. Being and part-time Florida resident for years and full time for the last twelve years, have lived in St. John’s County (Ponte Vedra Beach), on A1A, just north of Vilona Beach and St. Augustine, (south of Jacksonville) working for a real estate developer, overseeing luxury coastal properties in St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra, Jacksonville, Amelia Island and Fernandina.
St. Augustine offers much history and some cool historic inns I have worked with as clients and some great antique shopping. (A little too touristy for my taste). I find anything north of South Florida is more like South Georgia. So much fun touring Florida, as I have also lived in Volusia County (Palm Coast, Ormond Beach); later Monroe County (Keys) and Palm Beach County (where I currently reside).
My favorite, of course, is South Florida, where I have lived and worked since 2006 (east and west). Working for a commercial real estate investment firm, have worked in Naples, Sarasota, Tampa area, as well as Miami, the Keys, Ft. Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach. I have made the trip so many times from east to west Florida and the Alligator Alley is the most boring drive ever! Had to laugh, as yes seen many alligators crossing.
I always have a good audio book when making the drive- I could also do it in my sleep. Love the Hyatt Bonita Springs and The Inn on Fifth, Naples! Have flown out of the (very) small airport in Naples many times with trips to Atlanta. Love Siesta Key as well.
If you are in Florida, you may want to visit the Kingsley Plantation (known for its ghosts) in North Jacksonville, (mentioned in the novel), a real site of a former estate that was named for an early owner, Zephaniah Kingsley, who spent 25 years there. It is located at the northern tip of Fort George Island at Fort George Inlet, and is part of the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve managed by the U.S. National Park Service.
A lot of history. Of course, fun to revisit all the movie references filmed on the St. John’s River!
Looking forward to the next in the series!
JDCMustReadBooks
December 17, 2016
Gah! A cliffhanger ending, serious cliffhanger ending and one involving harm to a child. I am NOT HAPPY!
The last 30% of the book had uneven pacing - lots and lots of action, a few twists, but it would be fast and intense, then seem to wrap up, then jump into a new twist all fast and intense, then seem to wrap, lather, rinse, repeat. Instead of being exciting and thrilling, it was annoying. Every time things seemed to be jumping forward or wrapping up, I'd look at the percentage left and wonder what the author would drag out next to fill in the time. Oh, but wait, the story ends at 95%! (the remainder is acknowledgements and a brief excerpt from the next book). And on a cliffhanger! Gaaaaaaaaah.
So, I liked the overall concept of South Shores, investigating suicides for resolution or to determine if they were actually murders. It did hit close to home as while I was finishing the book I found out that a teen from my church killed himself, still in shock over that. No one ever wants to believe that a loved one killed themselves and I do worry about how Harper will handle that. She did a sensitive job in this story but it would be easy to veer off course and mishandle that kind of story line.
The romance was fast and intense but believable and I love that they didn't jump right into bed together. They'll get there, I'm sure, but they're not rushing which is a nice change from so many romances these days. Claire's ex-husband though, wow. Arrogant, selfish, egotistical, and oh yeah, bit of a stalker. We see him taking some baby steps towards awareness of his behavior but he was not very likable. His attitude towards Claire's illness was contemptible also though I agreed with him that she shouldn't have kept it a secret for so long. It was interesting learning more about narcolepsy instead of just hearing it being treated as a joke. Oh, and speaking of learning things - I enjoyed learning about indigo production. So, bonus points to the book for teaching me and in a pleasant manner.
The mystery definitely kept me guessing; Harper had lots of twists and turns and red herrings. I should point out the cliffhanger that I've been complaining about is not from the main story line, which is resolved in this book, but a secondary one. I had thought that one would play out throughout the series, but maybe not.
The story also has a vaguely Gothic feel to it - grand estate, mysterious deaths, possible hauntings, a tragic love story - so if you like Gothic romances, this may be for you.
In all, "Chasing Shadows" didn't wow me but it's a promising start to a series. I'll read the next book, just because I have to know if the child will be okay.
The last 30% of the book had uneven pacing - lots and lots of action, a few twists, but it would be fast and intense, then seem to wrap up, then jump into a new twist all fast and intense, then seem to wrap, lather, rinse, repeat. Instead of being exciting and thrilling, it was annoying. Every time things seemed to be jumping forward or wrapping up, I'd look at the percentage left and wonder what the author would drag out next to fill in the time. Oh, but wait, the story ends at 95%! (the remainder is acknowledgements and a brief excerpt from the next book). And on a cliffhanger! Gaaaaaaaaah.
So, I liked the overall concept of South Shores, investigating suicides for resolution or to determine if they were actually murders. It did hit close to home as while I was finishing the book I found out that a teen from my church killed himself, still in shock over that. No one ever wants to believe that a loved one killed themselves and I do worry about how Harper will handle that. She did a sensitive job in this story but it would be easy to veer off course and mishandle that kind of story line.
The romance was fast and intense but believable and I love that they didn't jump right into bed together. They'll get there, I'm sure, but they're not rushing which is a nice change from so many romances these days. Claire's ex-husband though, wow. Arrogant, selfish, egotistical, and oh yeah, bit of a stalker. We see him taking some baby steps towards awareness of his behavior but he was not very likable. His attitude towards Claire's illness was contemptible also though I agreed with him that she shouldn't have kept it a secret for so long. It was interesting learning more about narcolepsy instead of just hearing it being treated as a joke. Oh, and speaking of learning things - I enjoyed learning about indigo production. So, bonus points to the book for teaching me and in a pleasant manner.
The mystery definitely kept me guessing; Harper had lots of twists and turns and red herrings. I should point out the cliffhanger that I've been complaining about is not from the main story line, which is resolved in this book, but a secondary one. I had thought that one would play out throughout the series, but maybe not.
The story also has a vaguely Gothic feel to it - grand estate, mysterious deaths, possible hauntings, a tragic love story - so if you like Gothic romances, this may be for you.
In all, "Chasing Shadows" didn't wow me but it's a promising start to a series. I'll read the next book, just because I have to know if the child will be okay.
October 5, 2016
Two thumbs up for originality. In the wide vastness of the book world its become harder to read something that's never been done before.
The main character Claire Britten is a Forensic psychologists which merges psychology and law. Their job includes objectively testifying in court to assess the mental state of criminals and victims. They may work with criminal and juvenile offenders, trial lawyers, crime victims and law enforcement agencies.
Claire also suffers from narcolepsy and cataplexy. What is that you ask - In cataplexy you have sudden loss of control over some of your muscles. There are other symptoms of narcolepsy including seeing, hearing or feeling something that is not really there (having hallucinations) as you are falling off to sleep or waking up from sleep.
After just finishing a big win in court Claire and the man who hired her are shot outside the courthouse. Clair survives but her client does not. The hotshot lawyer that she was testifying against, Nick Markwood comes to her afterward and wants her to help try and prove that a woman did not kill her mother. She is hesitant at first because this will take her out of town and she is the single mother of a little girl that is practically being raised by her sister as she had been trying to get her career off the ground since her husband divorced her.
The story then moves to southern Florida to a old family mansion that's rich in history and even possibly being haunted. It was fascinating to see what all a Forensic psychologists does and how they achieve getting the answers they need.
For the most part I liked the bones of the story but the writing was very choppy in places. Like pieces glued together. Along with that some of the characters were very hard to like. Claire's ex husband Jace being at the top of that list. He wasnt a bad guy but his thoughts and actions were very selfish – even though he does love his daughter and thinks he still loves his ex-wife. And Nick was hard at first to like too as he just steam rolled his way into Clair's life to get what he wanted even though she had just been shot. I also had no idea that this book ends on a huge cliff hanger with the next book not coming out till next year.
The main character Claire Britten is a Forensic psychologists which merges psychology and law. Their job includes objectively testifying in court to assess the mental state of criminals and victims. They may work with criminal and juvenile offenders, trial lawyers, crime victims and law enforcement agencies.
Claire also suffers from narcolepsy and cataplexy. What is that you ask - In cataplexy you have sudden loss of control over some of your muscles. There are other symptoms of narcolepsy including seeing, hearing or feeling something that is not really there (having hallucinations) as you are falling off to sleep or waking up from sleep.
After just finishing a big win in court Claire and the man who hired her are shot outside the courthouse. Clair survives but her client does not. The hotshot lawyer that she was testifying against, Nick Markwood comes to her afterward and wants her to help try and prove that a woman did not kill her mother. She is hesitant at first because this will take her out of town and she is the single mother of a little girl that is practically being raised by her sister as she had been trying to get her career off the ground since her husband divorced her.
The story then moves to southern Florida to a old family mansion that's rich in history and even possibly being haunted. It was fascinating to see what all a Forensic psychologists does and how they achieve getting the answers they need.
For the most part I liked the bones of the story but the writing was very choppy in places. Like pieces glued together. Along with that some of the characters were very hard to like. Claire's ex husband Jace being at the top of that list. He wasnt a bad guy but his thoughts and actions were very selfish – even though he does love his daughter and thinks he still loves his ex-wife. And Nick was hard at first to like too as he just steam rolled his way into Clair's life to get what he wanted even though she had just been shot. I also had no idea that this book ends on a huge cliff hanger with the next book not coming out till next year.
June 6, 2019
I wanted to like this book....I really did but I just couldn't do it. I started to speed read it. Too much detail with the main character's health issues. I couldn't connect with her. I didn't get pulled into the story line in the first chapter which is a huge thing for me. Usually if a story doesn't pull me in within the first few pages I don't read it, but as I won this book in a giveaway I wanted to keep going...wanted to but didn't finish it. This was just not my thing. Maybe the next book will be better. :(
**Goodreads win**
**Goodreads win**
November 22, 2020
Really enjoyed this first in a series!
February 7, 2017
A friggin cliffy?
Are you shitting me?
Are you shitting me?
September 20, 2019
Enjoyable plot but not much romance.
February 4, 2017
Reviewed by Gemini
I have read an endless amount of romantic suspense books and they generally follow the same script. In the case of Chasing Shadows, things are a little different. The heroine, Claire Britten suffers from a neurological condition that plays a major role in how she performs her job as a Certified Fraud Examiner and Forensic Psychologist. Claire has kept her condition a secret from virtually everyone that she knows except her sister. This secret ultimately led to the end of her marriage. Claire’s testimony in a high profile case garners the attention of a hot shot attorney named Nick Markwood who retains Claire’s services to help clear the name of an old flame that has been accused of killing her mother. However, Nick is also secretly trying to locate the man who he believes killed his father and made it look like a suicide. Nick has even created his own foundation that investigates suicides that may have actually been murder.
I liked almost everything about Chasing Shadows. The suspense was dominant throughout the entire book. It wasn’t until the very end that the murderer was revealed. And, I can’t say that it was easy to figure it out. There was a large list of possible suspects and Karen Harper did a great job of giving everyone a motive that was reasonable. More importantly, the suspects all had their own little quirks that made you believe that they were capable of killing someone. On the other hand, it was just as interesting to watch Nick and Claire grow closer together as they attempted to solve the murder while attempting to ward off attacks from possible outside sources that may be more related to Nick’s own crusade as opposed to this case. This created some life-threatening moments for both of them.
I felt as if Chasing Shadows was just as educational as it was suspenseful. I was intrigued to learn about how Claire’s condition was treated and how much it affected her personal and professional life. Kudos to the author for bringing attention to a very real affliction that doesn’t get talked about much. Be advised that the book does end in a cliffhanger so you will need to be committed to this series for the long haul.
**Received a copy from the publisher and voluntarily reviewed.**
I have read an endless amount of romantic suspense books and they generally follow the same script. In the case of Chasing Shadows, things are a little different. The heroine, Claire Britten suffers from a neurological condition that plays a major role in how she performs her job as a Certified Fraud Examiner and Forensic Psychologist. Claire has kept her condition a secret from virtually everyone that she knows except her sister. This secret ultimately led to the end of her marriage. Claire’s testimony in a high profile case garners the attention of a hot shot attorney named Nick Markwood who retains Claire’s services to help clear the name of an old flame that has been accused of killing her mother. However, Nick is also secretly trying to locate the man who he believes killed his father and made it look like a suicide. Nick has even created his own foundation that investigates suicides that may have actually been murder.
I liked almost everything about Chasing Shadows. The suspense was dominant throughout the entire book. It wasn’t until the very end that the murderer was revealed. And, I can’t say that it was easy to figure it out. There was a large list of possible suspects and Karen Harper did a great job of giving everyone a motive that was reasonable. More importantly, the suspects all had their own little quirks that made you believe that they were capable of killing someone. On the other hand, it was just as interesting to watch Nick and Claire grow closer together as they attempted to solve the murder while attempting to ward off attacks from possible outside sources that may be more related to Nick’s own crusade as opposed to this case. This created some life-threatening moments for both of them.
I felt as if Chasing Shadows was just as educational as it was suspenseful. I was intrigued to learn about how Claire’s condition was treated and how much it affected her personal and professional life. Kudos to the author for bringing attention to a very real affliction that doesn’t get talked about much. Be advised that the book does end in a cliffhanger so you will need to be committed to this series for the long haul.
**Received a copy from the publisher and voluntarily reviewed.**
January 3, 2017
I hadn't heard of a forensic psychologist before but it seems to be a rather interesting profession and Claire is an interesting character. She is a single mom who is starting up her own business and dealing with a rare disease that has the risk of derailing it all. Still she has plans for herself and her daughter.
Nick is a hot shot lawyer who really liked how Claire handled her last case even though it was against his client and now he wants to hire her. He has taken on a pro bono case where a woman is being accused of killing her mother though it could have been suicide. Now Nick knows them both and doesn't feel that either option is correct.
CHASING SHADOWS is one of the books that grab the reader right from the get go. The characters are wonderfully detailed and quirky, and the dialogue is witty. The danger keeps coming from unexpected angles. Definitely a page turner.
I found the conclusion to be both satisfying and terrifying as Claire and Nick wrap up one case just to have another jump into their laps. And this one is personal.
I do recommend CHASING SHADOWS to any of my readers who enjoy a well crafted romantic suspense. It is the first book of a new series and I am waiting impatiently for the second book.
*** I received this book at no charge from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions expressed within are my own.
Nick is a hot shot lawyer who really liked how Claire handled her last case even though it was against his client and now he wants to hire her. He has taken on a pro bono case where a woman is being accused of killing her mother though it could have been suicide. Now Nick knows them both and doesn't feel that either option is correct.
CHASING SHADOWS is one of the books that grab the reader right from the get go. The characters are wonderfully detailed and quirky, and the dialogue is witty. The danger keeps coming from unexpected angles. Definitely a page turner.
I found the conclusion to be both satisfying and terrifying as Claire and Nick wrap up one case just to have another jump into their laps. And this one is personal.
I do recommend CHASING SHADOWS to any of my readers who enjoy a well crafted romantic suspense. It is the first book of a new series and I am waiting impatiently for the second book.
*** I received this book at no charge from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions expressed within are my own.
November 3, 2016
To begin with - when I started this novel I was unaware that it was actually the first in a series (as the synopsis says nothing about this), so it was a big disappointment when the story resolved one issue and then still managed to end on a huge cliff-hanger that was unrelated to the original issue. That was not only a complete turn-off, but made the rest of the story feel cheapened. Like the author didn't believe enough in the story itself to make the reader want to continue, but rather like she had to trick them into continuing on.
There were also instances where I felt like this story just veered from believable to improbable. There were so many twists and turns, coupled with unnecessary drama and shady character actions that it sometimes felt confusing.
On the plus side, due to the shady characters and their odd actions, I was constantly guessing and second-guessing who the culprit would be, and despite everything I still managed to be surprised at who ultimately was guilty.
Overall, I am sure there are those who will enjoy this story, however at this time I am unsure as to whether or not I will continue on with this series.
DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.
January 7, 2017
I've been a Karen Harper fan for many years, but after spending 3 consecutive nights trying to get into this novel I gave up and did not finish it. The only reason I gave it 2 stars is that it's very well written, as are all of Ms. Harper's novels, but the incredibly slow pace of this one had me nodding off repeatedly, which is something I never do.
The basic plot sounded interesting and suspenseful--I was intrigued by the idea of forensic psychology , but the endless discussions about Claire's medical issues, her narcolepsy, her need for caffeine, naps, and keeping her emotions in neutral and her condition a secret simply became so repetitive as to be irritating and boring, and slowed the pace of this novel down to a crawl. Additionally, I've been to St. Augustine, and when I was there it was hot, muggy and the streets were absolutely fithy--the way Ms. Harper described it was nothing like my experience there--I'm hoping that's because they've cleaned up the city.
For the aforementioned reasons, at 35% of the way into Chasing Shadows, I simply couldn't continue reading this novel..
The basic plot sounded interesting and suspenseful--I was intrigued by the idea of forensic psychology , but the endless discussions about Claire's medical issues, her narcolepsy, her need for caffeine, naps, and keeping her emotions in neutral and her condition a secret simply became so repetitive as to be irritating and boring, and slowed the pace of this novel down to a crawl. Additionally, I've been to St. Augustine, and when I was there it was hot, muggy and the streets were absolutely fithy--the way Ms. Harper described it was nothing like my experience there--I'm hoping that's because they've cleaned up the city.
For the aforementioned reasons, at 35% of the way into Chasing Shadows, I simply couldn't continue reading this novel..
November 14, 2016
If you enjoy a story with non-stop action, this is surely the book for you, there is constantly something happening and you will never know who is the next victim.
Claire Britten has started her own forensic psychologist agency, and after winning a case, and riding a high, she is offered a job she cannot refuse. She doesn’t like leaving her precocious preschool daughter, but the money is very good and it will help her career, what she doesn’t expect is a bit of romance.
This story is going to keep you guess, and once you make up your mind, you are probably wrong. Will Claire be able to help Nick and be able to prove his client innocent, or will she be the catalyst to proving her guilty?
A book that constantly had me on my toes, and had my heart in my throat, and the action happens right up to the last page, and yes there is another book to come, but not fast enough.
I received this book through Net Galley and Harlequin Publishing, and was not required to give a positive review.
Claire Britten has started her own forensic psychologist agency, and after winning a case, and riding a high, she is offered a job she cannot refuse. She doesn’t like leaving her precocious preschool daughter, but the money is very good and it will help her career, what she doesn’t expect is a bit of romance.
This story is going to keep you guess, and once you make up your mind, you are probably wrong. Will Claire be able to help Nick and be able to prove his client innocent, or will she be the catalyst to proving her guilty?
A book that constantly had me on my toes, and had my heart in my throat, and the action happens right up to the last page, and yes there is another book to come, but not fast enough.
I received this book through Net Galley and Harlequin Publishing, and was not required to give a positive review.
September 24, 2016
Received an ARC through Goodreads & the publisher.
What really happened to Francine Montgomery is the question that Claire Britton and Nick Markwood are trying to figure out along with clearing Francine’s daughter,Jasmine’s, name. This book has the right amounts of mystery and romance to make for an awesome story. I could not give this a full 5 star rating due to the hatred I felt towards Jase, Claire’s ex-husband and grade A douchebag. I still really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the rest of the books in this series.
What really happened to Francine Montgomery is the question that Claire Britton and Nick Markwood are trying to figure out along with clearing Francine’s daughter,Jasmine’s, name. This book has the right amounts of mystery and romance to make for an awesome story. I could not give this a full 5 star rating due to the hatred I felt towards Jase, Claire’s ex-husband and grade A douchebag. I still really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the rest of the books in this series.
January 10, 2017
Had a hard time with this book. Found myself skipping pages and not really missing much.
November 4, 2021
OMG in so many ways this was RIDICULOUS. I think several elements of the plot were creative, but there is so much excess that any reader would need to abandon any level of believability and their comfort zones. Start with the protagonist Claire Britten, who the author has given a life- threatening illness: narcolepsy and cataplexy which can cause temporary immobility or paralysis, and which she has suffered with since childhood. It requires a rigid schedule of medication, naps, good sleep at night (needing after four hours a hefty second dose of a very strong med), emotional stability and minimal stress. She is a Certified Fraud Examiner and Forensic psychologist, who interviews persons, taking apart their lives, motives and alibis. She is also a Forensic Document Examiner. She owns her own business, Clear Path, that she is building mostly through word of mouth and Facebook. She is a single parent with a four year old, Lexi. Her ex is a jerk, who she did not tell about her illness before they were married. Oops?!? When he finds out he screams and yells and divorces her...she is not perfect. He also wants to continue to control her and isn't above using Lexi as leverage. He is a commercial airline pilot who sees his new life mostly in Singapore as a win. But he also still loves Claire and as the story progresses decides he wants her back, which creates problems. And he consistently misses Lexi.
When we first meet Claire she has just won a case for her client, Fred Myron, against Sol Sorento, who tried to collect an insurance payment from Myron's small insurance company, Lifeboat Insurance, by pretending he was dead. She beats wealthy, successful Nick Markwood, of Markwood, Benton and Chase. As she is exiting the courthouse, and as Nick is approaching her, shots are fired, Myron is killed and Claire is wounded in the arm, which Mick works to contain the bleeding. So begins the constant danger, tension, suspense, stress, confusion and fear of this melodramatic tale. It sometimes reads like a damsel in distress on the railroad tracks film.
With a lucrative contract with Markwood's low-profile charitable organization that represents individuals who have lost loved ones to suicide that may really be murder, she agrees to travel to St. Augustine to interview Jasmine Montgomery Stanton, regarding her relationship with her mother who died of an overdose of her meds. They had disagreed on the future of the plantation. There is a problem with restoration and maintenance costs, and Francine wanted to either gift it to the state, or sell it to a wealthy investor. (Her first attorney later tells them he didn't know the names of the investor, but he was in the Cayman Islands, which is a shocker for Nick wherer he believes his nemisis resides.) She is in the crosshairs of Sheriff Goodrich, who believes that she killed her mother. Francine Montgomery owned the massive, gorgeous and menacing pre-Civil War plantation, Shadowlawn Hall, more spectacular than Tara, that once grew indigo. In addition to Jasmine she will need to talk to Bronco Gates, groundskeeper and buster of alligators on the St. John River and Everglades pythons, Neil Costa, house manager, who has a museum on the property that shows memorabilia of the B-movie "Creature from the Black Lagoon", shot partly on the plantation, Win Jackson, artist and photographer of the plantation, who plans to write a book about Shadowlawn, Lola Moran, who Francine treated like a daughter and Jasmine, fired after her mother died. Lola owns a marionette shop, and makes life size puppets, the shop into which Francine had invested. Jasmine was jealous of their relationship. Lola has a twin sister, Cecilia.
As Claire continues her interview and research into the belongings of Francine, including a diary that she finds in boxes in the attic, she is confronted with the tales of the ghosts that haunt the plantation: Rosalynn, an ancestor, who when she finds herself pregnant by the overseer while her husband is at war, throws herself from the second floor gallery to her death. The overseer once the husband returns challenges him to a duel and when he kills the husband is hanged from the huge oak tree on the property. Various people have reported seeing the ghosts: only women see Rosalynn. During the process Claire smells the perfume that Jasmine wears, jasmine, her mother's personal concoction, throughout the house at odd times.
After being shot, as she and Nick are nearing St. Augustine, they are nearly run off a bridge by a person wearing a mask not unlike the face of Munch's "The Scream". She will later find out that Neil has a mask collection, and has one like that (that he did not reveal). In the course of the investigation she and Jasmine will find the body of Lola Moran, before she has a chance to interview her. She is found hanging among the marionettes. Next Jace is attacked and knocked out when he follows her to Shadowlawn. After she and Nick go to see Francine's first attorney, who tells of the new will Francine was in the process of making, they are run off the road into a ditch, cool thinking getting them out of the car before the water envelops the car. When she is interviewing Bronco, he who is supposed to be a gentle giant, goes off and abducts her on his airboat. There is a considerable portion of story that recounts their conversation which is confusing and weird. Talked into returning to the plantation by Claire and Nick who accidently finds them on the river (Nick has called in all the law enforcement and paid for a helicopter), they are confronted by the sheriff and other officers. At the point they are ready to take Bronco in, shots are fired at the entire group, shooting out the Sheriff's car windshield. It is Cecilia, Lola's twin. And once again Claire is thrown to the ground and shielded by Nick. She is convinced to stay at the plantation for the night, once she has found her purse with her meds. However, someone has fiddled with her meds. She awakes in the night to take her second dose. It tastes different, as had the meal she had eaten. She begins to wander, hallucinating, disoriented. Heck, Nick's tech guy and assistant, who was sleeping outside her room is found on the stairs, bloody, then is gone when she returns. She is then abducted, confused by the voice and circumstances. S/he takes her to the museum, ties her up and gags her, locks her in. In the meantime Nick has returned, and Jasmine finds that Heck and Claire are missing.
Claire is again taken by the abductor, who she finally realizes is Win Jackson. He was supposed to be a consultant/advisor for the plantation in the event of Francine's death. He has also realized that Claire will soon find out from the diary that he and Francine had come to a parting of the ways. Their relationship had not been genuine of his part, which Lola had discovered. He takes Claire to the River to drown her. As he releases her feet and hands, she plans to kick him. Fortunately the ghosts show up to lend a hand. (Had to get that paranormal element in at the end. Maybe now everyone will believe.) And then Nick captures Win and Jasmine pulls Claire from the River.
Are those enough life threatening situations for one novel?!? Mind you Nick has revealed during this time he has a criminal after him. The man who he believes set his father up to fail and then murdered disguising it as a suicide, Clayton Ames, who is elusive and very dangerous, is probably hanging around making life difficult. For instance, often there are drones above, and Jace received several photographs of Claire in dangerous situations. There is a note with it warning not to trust Nick and to get Claire away from him.
BUT that is not all. As Claire returns home to Lexi, and Nick brings Happy Meals for their enjoyment, Jace has decided to change his assignments and fly closer to home, intending to get Claire back. He shows up just after Lexi has run outside and been swept away. Kidnapped. A drone lands on the lawn with a note telling them in order to get Lacy back Nick and Claire need to travel to Grand Cayman Island, using the tickets provided, which look to have been arranged by Nick. Jace is of course livid, but agrees to stay hidden as he follows them. We are left with Lexi on the cliff, and the necessary of finding the next book, if we want to know what happens. I HATE SERIES, TV OR BOOK, THAT HAVE A RECURRING SERIAL KILLER OR CRIMINAL THAT GETS AWAY OR ESCAPES TO APPEAR TIME AND AGAIN. (Remember "The Fugitive", or any number of book series?) Totally frustrating. I decided to look up the teasers provided for the next installments. Sure enough, they get out of one scrap (or maybe more) only to run into the next one in book three and so on.
As I said in the beginning...RIDICULOUS. Not only is it overkill, but by the time she gets to the end of the second book, Claire should be dead from her inability to control her illness. Just RIDICULOUS.
When we first meet Claire she has just won a case for her client, Fred Myron, against Sol Sorento, who tried to collect an insurance payment from Myron's small insurance company, Lifeboat Insurance, by pretending he was dead. She beats wealthy, successful Nick Markwood, of Markwood, Benton and Chase. As she is exiting the courthouse, and as Nick is approaching her, shots are fired, Myron is killed and Claire is wounded in the arm, which Mick works to contain the bleeding. So begins the constant danger, tension, suspense, stress, confusion and fear of this melodramatic tale. It sometimes reads like a damsel in distress on the railroad tracks film.
With a lucrative contract with Markwood's low-profile charitable organization that represents individuals who have lost loved ones to suicide that may really be murder, she agrees to travel to St. Augustine to interview Jasmine Montgomery Stanton, regarding her relationship with her mother who died of an overdose of her meds. They had disagreed on the future of the plantation. There is a problem with restoration and maintenance costs, and Francine wanted to either gift it to the state, or sell it to a wealthy investor. (Her first attorney later tells them he didn't know the names of the investor, but he was in the Cayman Islands, which is a shocker for Nick wherer he believes his nemisis resides.) She is in the crosshairs of Sheriff Goodrich, who believes that she killed her mother. Francine Montgomery owned the massive, gorgeous and menacing pre-Civil War plantation, Shadowlawn Hall, more spectacular than Tara, that once grew indigo. In addition to Jasmine she will need to talk to Bronco Gates, groundskeeper and buster of alligators on the St. John River and Everglades pythons, Neil Costa, house manager, who has a museum on the property that shows memorabilia of the B-movie "Creature from the Black Lagoon", shot partly on the plantation, Win Jackson, artist and photographer of the plantation, who plans to write a book about Shadowlawn, Lola Moran, who Francine treated like a daughter and Jasmine, fired after her mother died. Lola owns a marionette shop, and makes life size puppets, the shop into which Francine had invested. Jasmine was jealous of their relationship. Lola has a twin sister, Cecilia.
As Claire continues her interview and research into the belongings of Francine, including a diary that she finds in boxes in the attic, she is confronted with the tales of the ghosts that haunt the plantation: Rosalynn, an ancestor, who when she finds herself pregnant by the overseer while her husband is at war, throws herself from the second floor gallery to her death. The overseer once the husband returns challenges him to a duel and when he kills the husband is hanged from the huge oak tree on the property. Various people have reported seeing the ghosts: only women see Rosalynn. During the process Claire smells the perfume that Jasmine wears, jasmine, her mother's personal concoction, throughout the house at odd times.
After being shot, as she and Nick are nearing St. Augustine, they are nearly run off a bridge by a person wearing a mask not unlike the face of Munch's "The Scream". She will later find out that Neil has a mask collection, and has one like that (that he did not reveal). In the course of the investigation she and Jasmine will find the body of Lola Moran, before she has a chance to interview her. She is found hanging among the marionettes. Next Jace is attacked and knocked out when he follows her to Shadowlawn. After she and Nick go to see Francine's first attorney, who tells of the new will Francine was in the process of making, they are run off the road into a ditch, cool thinking getting them out of the car before the water envelops the car. When she is interviewing Bronco, he who is supposed to be a gentle giant, goes off and abducts her on his airboat. There is a considerable portion of story that recounts their conversation which is confusing and weird. Talked into returning to the plantation by Claire and Nick who accidently finds them on the river (Nick has called in all the law enforcement and paid for a helicopter), they are confronted by the sheriff and other officers. At the point they are ready to take Bronco in, shots are fired at the entire group, shooting out the Sheriff's car windshield. It is Cecilia, Lola's twin. And once again Claire is thrown to the ground and shielded by Nick. She is convinced to stay at the plantation for the night, once she has found her purse with her meds. However, someone has fiddled with her meds. She awakes in the night to take her second dose. It tastes different, as had the meal she had eaten. She begins to wander, hallucinating, disoriented. Heck, Nick's tech guy and assistant, who was sleeping outside her room is found on the stairs, bloody, then is gone when she returns. She is then abducted, confused by the voice and circumstances. S/he takes her to the museum, ties her up and gags her, locks her in. In the meantime Nick has returned, and Jasmine finds that Heck and Claire are missing.
Claire is again taken by the abductor, who she finally realizes is Win Jackson. He was supposed to be a consultant/advisor for the plantation in the event of Francine's death. He has also realized that Claire will soon find out from the diary that he and Francine had come to a parting of the ways. Their relationship had not been genuine of his part, which Lola had discovered. He takes Claire to the River to drown her. As he releases her feet and hands, she plans to kick him. Fortunately the ghosts show up to lend a hand. (Had to get that paranormal element in at the end. Maybe now everyone will believe.) And then Nick captures Win and Jasmine pulls Claire from the River.
Are those enough life threatening situations for one novel?!? Mind you Nick has revealed during this time he has a criminal after him. The man who he believes set his father up to fail and then murdered disguising it as a suicide, Clayton Ames, who is elusive and very dangerous, is probably hanging around making life difficult. For instance, often there are drones above, and Jace received several photographs of Claire in dangerous situations. There is a note with it warning not to trust Nick and to get Claire away from him.
BUT that is not all. As Claire returns home to Lexi, and Nick brings Happy Meals for their enjoyment, Jace has decided to change his assignments and fly closer to home, intending to get Claire back. He shows up just after Lexi has run outside and been swept away. Kidnapped. A drone lands on the lawn with a note telling them in order to get Lacy back Nick and Claire need to travel to Grand Cayman Island, using the tickets provided, which look to have been arranged by Nick. Jace is of course livid, but agrees to stay hidden as he follows them. We are left with Lexi on the cliff, and the necessary of finding the next book, if we want to know what happens. I HATE SERIES, TV OR BOOK, THAT HAVE A RECURRING SERIAL KILLER OR CRIMINAL THAT GETS AWAY OR ESCAPES TO APPEAR TIME AND AGAIN. (Remember "The Fugitive", or any number of book series?) Totally frustrating. I decided to look up the teasers provided for the next installments. Sure enough, they get out of one scrap (or maybe more) only to run into the next one in book three and so on.
As I said in the beginning...RIDICULOUS. Not only is it overkill, but by the time she gets to the end of the second book, Claire should be dead from her inability to control her illness. Just RIDICULOUS.
February 10, 2018
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
This read like a game of Clue or a murder mystery dinner. There's an eclectic mix of characters who all could've done it, each seems to have a motive, and throughout the story I suspected each of them. I enjoyed the suspense elements and connected with the characters. The writing was a bit heavy at times. I felt like the story over-all was a little too long and could've been more succinct. I hate the otherworldly/ghost nonsense, but it was all speculation, and never really worked into the story as fact. I was surprised by how clean it was - a little more detail than my usual Christian fiction, but nothing remotely explicit. And only mild swearing. I finished the book late last night and already visited my library this morning to get the second one, thanks to that cliff-hanger! Karen Harper is a new-t0-me author, but I think I'll continue to explore her writing.
This read like a game of Clue or a murder mystery dinner. There's an eclectic mix of characters who all could've done it, each seems to have a motive, and throughout the story I suspected each of them. I enjoyed the suspense elements and connected with the characters. The writing was a bit heavy at times. I felt like the story over-all was a little too long and could've been more succinct. I hate the otherworldly/ghost nonsense, but it was all speculation, and never really worked into the story as fact. I was surprised by how clean it was - a little more detail than my usual Christian fiction, but nothing remotely explicit. And only mild swearing. I finished the book late last night and already visited my library this morning to get the second one, thanks to that cliff-hanger! Karen Harper is a new-t0-me author, but I think I'll continue to explore her writing.
September 6, 2020
This book is about Claire, a forensic psychologist that testified in court after reconstructing murder investigations by the way the person on trial acts, and thinks. She does this for the victim as well. The high end lawyer she beat is so impressed he wants the woman on his team. She is divorced and has a young daughter. Her ex husband regrets pushing them away, and cheating on her. Nick Norwood who heads up several law offices, and programs is happy to have her aboard, but didn’t count on his nemesis, he has chased for years, would come after her in anyway. This was an awesome thriller. The mad puppet master needs stopped, but seems to have his fingers in everything. It ended as a cliffhanger. My least favorite ending. That is why it is not a five. We should want to grab your next book in the series, and not be forced to. I don’t like using helpless people as part of the ending on a hook. Glad my library has it.
September 1, 2023
I DID LEARN ALOT ABOUT A LITTLE-KNOWN DISEASE, I'D HEARD OF IT BUT I NEVER KNEW ABOUT ALL OF HOW IT EFFECTS OR ALL THE MEDICINE YOU HAVE TO TAKE. I'M AMAZED AT HOW CLARICE FUNCTIONS. I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND HOW SMART THEY WERE SOMETIMES AND THEN HOW DUMB THEY WERE AT OTHER TIMES. I MEAN THEY WERE SO STUPID, I WANTED TO SHAKE THEM. I REALLY DIDN'T CARE FOR THE ENDING IT WAS SO UNEXPECTED AND IT MEANS YOU HAVE TO GET THE NEXT BOOK TO FIND OUT HOW IT ACTUALLY ENDS. ;D
June 23, 2017
Ive got to get this off my chest. I am so annoyed that this book ends on a cliff hanger. From what i understand the next book does too. I was undecided as to whether I would continue to read this book.
Now I feel I have to, as I want to find out what happens to her daughter.
I guess some people would say. All authors will want you to read the next one. Yes they will, but when I found out she did it for the second book. It annoyed me.
Anyway onto the story. Claire is a forensic psychologist, she is testifying in case against criminal attorney Nick. He is so impressed with her testimony. That he asks her to work on case he is involved in. A innocent woman could go down for killing her mother. Claire has a secret she needs to tell Nick before they can proceed. She suffers with Narcolepsy, he is very understanding of this and passes the test with flying colours. Nick also has a secret one he doesn't share with Claire. His father was killed by a very rich man. Now this man is after Nick.
Shadowlawn is a magnificent house with the odd ghost in the mix. The characters that live and work their, have there own secrets. Claire has a big job on her hands.
Too be honest I could have done without the idiot ex husband in the mix. I found the book dragged in a few places.
Now I feel I have to, as I want to find out what happens to her daughter.
I guess some people would say. All authors will want you to read the next one. Yes they will, but when I found out she did it for the second book. It annoyed me.
Anyway onto the story. Claire is a forensic psychologist, she is testifying in case against criminal attorney Nick. He is so impressed with her testimony. That he asks her to work on case he is involved in. A innocent woman could go down for killing her mother. Claire has a secret she needs to tell Nick before they can proceed. She suffers with Narcolepsy, he is very understanding of this and passes the test with flying colours. Nick also has a secret one he doesn't share with Claire. His father was killed by a very rich man. Now this man is after Nick.
Shadowlawn is a magnificent house with the odd ghost in the mix. The characters that live and work their, have there own secrets. Claire has a big job on her hands.
Too be honest I could have done without the idiot ex husband in the mix. I found the book dragged in a few places.
June 7, 2020
Cliffhanger ending! Glad the next book is already published!
January 6, 2025
Very good read, liked the plot and characters and the setting. !st in a series. Already reading 2nd book.
January 4, 2020
Was really disappointed in this one. Started out with a shooting and than fell flat. Seemed to me that the author spent more time on the relationship between Claire and her ex-husband Jace and the man she is working for Nick than the plot. Just seemed to drag and had to force myself to read.
October 7, 2016
This is the Nancy Drew adult Nancy Drew fans have been waiting for. Claire Britten is a forensic psychologist who will figure out who or why someone killed, killed themselves or went missing. She listens to words, facial movements and action of the living to find out what happened to the dead. Nothing more than a slip of the word and Claire will solve the case. The only difference is she has a lifetime fighting a neurological disorder that cause issues in her personally life. Nothing stands in her way. The author wrote Claire to be strong female character who takes charge, follows when needs to and cares for those around her. Claire is human, caring, normal person readers will connect with.
There are moments where I feel the author forget what happened at the beginning of the book with Claire but it doesn't stop readers from enjoying the book. This is really my only complaint.
The story follows every string that Claire pulls to find the murders. We follow Claire and we jump to the same ideas of who the murder is as well. The mystery is front and center with a little romance that is perfect for southern mystery, haunted houses and women and men who want to keep life as it was years ago.
I felt like a little girl reading Nancy Drew for the first time. Reading every word wondering who could be the killer. Throw in a handsome Lawyers a cute little girl and this book is made for Women who grew up with Nancy.
Karen Harper as a gift to be able to build a story in waves that is careful crafted keeping reader wondering who the killer is or is it a ghost from the past.
I am excited to read the next book in the series. There is a cliff hangers that will have readers excited for the next book.
Received this book from Netgalley for my Honest Thoughts
There are moments where I feel the author forget what happened at the beginning of the book with Claire but it doesn't stop readers from enjoying the book. This is really my only complaint.
The story follows every string that Claire pulls to find the murders. We follow Claire and we jump to the same ideas of who the murder is as well. The mystery is front and center with a little romance that is perfect for southern mystery, haunted houses and women and men who want to keep life as it was years ago.
I felt like a little girl reading Nancy Drew for the first time. Reading every word wondering who could be the killer. Throw in a handsome Lawyers a cute little girl and this book is made for Women who grew up with Nancy.
Karen Harper as a gift to be able to build a story in waves that is careful crafted keeping reader wondering who the killer is or is it a ghost from the past.
I am excited to read the next book in the series. There is a cliff hangers that will have readers excited for the next book.
Received this book from Netgalley for my Honest Thoughts
February 14, 2017
Chasing Shadows: A South Shores Novel is by Karen Harper. It is a thriller.
Claire Britten is a forensic psychologist who has spent a lifetime fighting narcolepsy. She kept her disease a secret from her husband and from everyone else until she realized what harm that can do to a relationship. Her ex-husband is still angry over not knowing her “secret” for so many years. He keeps in touch with Claire so he can see their daughter, Lexi, when he is in town. Claire had kept that door open for Lexi’s sake, although she has constantly asked him to call before coming over. She is trying to get on with her life and get her business off the ground.
Nick Markwood, a lawyer who is used to winning, had just lost a case because of Claire’s expert testimony. Now he approaches her to hire her to work for him in determining whether or not a friend of his committed suicide or if she was murdered. Can Claire keep her personal feelings and those of her ex-husband out of the case? Can Nick forget his time with Jasmine long enough to be objective? Can Nick’s past be coming back to haunt them?
It is really an exciting book. The characters are so unique they are sometimes funny and yet they are so unusual you have to watch them carefully.
Claire Britten is a forensic psychologist who has spent a lifetime fighting narcolepsy. She kept her disease a secret from her husband and from everyone else until she realized what harm that can do to a relationship. Her ex-husband is still angry over not knowing her “secret” for so many years. He keeps in touch with Claire so he can see their daughter, Lexi, when he is in town. Claire had kept that door open for Lexi’s sake, although she has constantly asked him to call before coming over. She is trying to get on with her life and get her business off the ground.
Nick Markwood, a lawyer who is used to winning, had just lost a case because of Claire’s expert testimony. Now he approaches her to hire her to work for him in determining whether or not a friend of his committed suicide or if she was murdered. Can Claire keep her personal feelings and those of her ex-husband out of the case? Can Nick forget his time with Jasmine long enough to be objective? Can Nick’s past be coming back to haunt them?
It is really an exciting book. The characters are so unique they are sometimes funny and yet they are so unusual you have to watch them carefully.
October 26, 2016
Forensic psychologist Claire Britten studies and analyzes someone's life to see who might be responsible for foul play of a deceased person. Claire deals with narcolepsy in her own life. Attorney Nick Markwood knows how good Claire is at her job and he hires her to interview people surrounding a friend's death. The two of them travel to a mansion in St Augustine, Florida where Jasmine is accused of her mother's murder because they disagreed on the fate of the property.
I thought the book started out strong with an original concept. I never heard of narcolepsy or any of its treatments. Then the book started to slow down. I read lots of book series but I'm not too fond of cliffhangers that are not related to the plot that just ended. However, I've read several of Harper's books and will continue to do so.
I received an ARC in a free giveaway from Goodreads.
I thought the book started out strong with an original concept. I never heard of narcolepsy or any of its treatments. Then the book started to slow down. I read lots of book series but I'm not too fond of cliffhangers that are not related to the plot that just ended. However, I've read several of Harper's books and will continue to do so.
I received an ARC in a free giveaway from Goodreads.
March 18, 2019
I was not a 'happy camper' when I finished this book late last night because of the ending! I read many books that are in a series but there is always a 'finished' conclusion which leaves one satisfied but this novel ended with a kidnapping which won't be solved in this book but in book #2. Whether I will bother to search out the upcoming #2 remains to be seen.
The story itself was exciting, interesting because of Claire Britten's profession as a forensic psychologist and her medical condition i.e. narcolepsy and cataplexy and the budding romance between her and attorney Nick Markwood. It's a fast-paced novel set in Naples and St Augustine, Florida with some very unique characters. But the ending really did annoy me!
The story itself was exciting, interesting because of Claire Britten's profession as a forensic psychologist and her medical condition i.e. narcolepsy and cataplexy and the budding romance between her and attorney Nick Markwood. It's a fast-paced novel set in Naples and St Augustine, Florida with some very unique characters. But the ending really did annoy me!
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