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Detective Madison Harper #1
Shadow Falls
You thought your little girl was safe at summer camp. You were wrong…
The little girl drags her eyes open, realizing she’s starting to fade. She tries calling out—“Daddy?”—using all her remaining strength. But she’s too late and her voice just isn’t loud enough…
When Detective Madison Harper arrives at a remote summer camp in Shadow Falls, northern California, her heart breaks for Jenny, the sweet little girl last seen splashing in the lake with her friends before she vanished. Peering into the silent cabins filled with rows of neatly made beds, Madison knows this idyllic place is hiding a terrible secret.
The girl’s parents are distraught, and the local police have no leads—they desperately need Madison’s help. She’ll do whatever it takes to crack this case, because it’s the only way back to the son she lost to the care system years ago when she was framed for a crime she didn’t commit.
But with the camp staff keeping tight-lipped and her new partner on the edge of a breakdown, Madison can’t find any truth to her instinct that there is more to Jenny’s perfect parents than meets the eye. Until she discovers a disturbing family portrait Jenny drew at the local library. Was this angelic girl more troubled than anybody knew? Was she in danger from those she trusted most?
One thing is certain, if Madison doesn't find the answers soon, the lives of more innocent children will be at risk…
An absolutely unputdownable crime thriller that will keep you up all night! Perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Robert Dugoni and Melinda Leigh. Previously titled Find My Child.
The little girl drags her eyes open, realizing she’s starting to fade. She tries calling out—“Daddy?”—using all her remaining strength. But she’s too late and her voice just isn’t loud enough…
When Detective Madison Harper arrives at a remote summer camp in Shadow Falls, northern California, her heart breaks for Jenny, the sweet little girl last seen splashing in the lake with her friends before she vanished. Peering into the silent cabins filled with rows of neatly made beds, Madison knows this idyllic place is hiding a terrible secret.
The girl’s parents are distraught, and the local police have no leads—they desperately need Madison’s help. She’ll do whatever it takes to crack this case, because it’s the only way back to the son she lost to the care system years ago when she was framed for a crime she didn’t commit.
But with the camp staff keeping tight-lipped and her new partner on the edge of a breakdown, Madison can’t find any truth to her instinct that there is more to Jenny’s perfect parents than meets the eye. Until she discovers a disturbing family portrait Jenny drew at the local library. Was this angelic girl more troubled than anybody knew? Was she in danger from those she trusted most?
One thing is certain, if Madison doesn't find the answers soon, the lives of more innocent children will be at risk…
An absolutely unputdownable crime thriller that will keep you up all night! Perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Robert Dugoni and Melinda Leigh. Previously titled Find My Child.
364 pages, ebook
First published January 21, 2021
5365 people are currently reading
4762 people want to read
About the author
Wendy Dranfield
21 books625 followersWendy is the author of the Detective Madison Harper series. Her novels and short stories have been shortlisted and longlisted for various writing competitions and awards, including the International Thriller Writer Awards.
Please note; as Wendy writes crime fiction, including police procedurals and psychological thrillers, her books contain plots, characters and actions dealing with a variety of crimes, including physical and psychological.
Wendy does not use social media, so if you find an account pretending to be her on any platform, it’s 100% fake! Visit her website for the most accurate and up-to-date information about her books: wendydranfield.co.uk
The final book in the Det. Madison Harper series will be out in May 2026.
Please note; as Wendy writes crime fiction, including police procedurals and psychological thrillers, her books contain plots, characters and actions dealing with a variety of crimes, including physical and psychological.
Wendy does not use social media, so if you find an account pretending to be her on any platform, it’s 100% fake! Visit her website for the most accurate and up-to-date information about her books: wendydranfield.co.uk
The final book in the Det. Madison Harper series will be out in May 2026.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 420 reviews
November 28, 2020
This is the first installment in Wendy Dranfield's Detective Madison Harper series. I enjoyed this book. It was a solid detective story, with plenty of twists and turns. Props to the author for creating such unique backstories for the main characters. Madison is a former police officer who was framed for a crime she didn't commit. After serving a few years in prison, she is finally out and is determined to find out who framed her. She tracks down Nate, a private investigator who was also framed for a crime he didn't commit and served seventeen years before his conviction was overturned. Nate reluctantly agrees to help Madison but first, they team up to solve the disappearance of a twelve-year-old girl named Jennifer. What they find is shocking and twisted.
There were so many lies and secrets revealed in the last few chapters that it left my head spinning. I never saw any of the twists coming and was shocked when the horrific truth behind Jennifer's disappearance was revealed. If you're a fan of detective stories /police procedurals, then this new series should definitely be on your list. I enjoyed the characters of Nate and Madison and look forward to the next book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
There were so many lies and secrets revealed in the last few chapters that it left my head spinning. I never saw any of the twists coming and was shocked when the horrific truth behind Jennifer's disappearance was revealed. If you're a fan of detective stories /police procedurals, then this new series should definitely be on your list. I enjoyed the characters of Nate and Madison and look forward to the next book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 17, 2022
This is the first offering in the detective Madison Harper series and it has a ‘bonkers’ plot. Madison Harper has been recently released from prison after doing time for killing a fellow officer. She links up with ex-priest Nate Monroe, who was previously on death row for killing his fiancé before being exonerated. Nate is working as an unlicensed private detective and Madison convinces him to let her work with him. What she really wants is Nate to help her regain her place on the police force by finding the real killer of the officer. Nate’s current case has to be solved first however.
It seems that Jenny Lucas has disappeared from Camp Fearless and Jenny’s grandmother, Esme, is not happy with the local police department’s efforts to find her granddaughter. She hires Nate to aid in the search.
This psychological thriller has twists and turns aplenty—some that defy believability. To say much more would reveal spoilers. Nate Monroe and Madison Harper are engaging characters however, and Dranfield will undoubtedly have the two featured in a number of future offerings.
It seems that Jenny Lucas has disappeared from Camp Fearless and Jenny’s grandmother, Esme, is not happy with the local police department’s efforts to find her granddaughter. She hires Nate to aid in the search.
This psychological thriller has twists and turns aplenty—some that defy believability. To say much more would reveal spoilers. Nate Monroe and Madison Harper are engaging characters however, and Dranfield will undoubtedly have the two featured in a number of future offerings.
January 25, 2021
Shadow Falls, previously known as Find My Child, is the first instalment in the Detective Madison Harper series, set in Northern California. It's 2019 and in Malibu, California, ex-police officer Madison Harper is staying at a dive motel which is serving as a halfway house for those just released from prison; she's been there seven months after serving six years of a ten-year sentence for voluntary manslaughter. A recently released convicted cop murderer who was doing time in her hometown of Colorado, Madison is just managing to scrape enough money together to survive working at Big Bob's Diner. Nathaniel "Nate" Monroe has been out of prison for two years now after spending seventeen years on death row for the murder of his fiancée Stacey Connor in Austin, Texas, after new evidence came to light which exonerated him; he believes the town’s parish priest and Stacey's Uncle, Father Jack Connor killed her. He's currently trying to get back on his feet staying at the Majestic Hotel near Zuma Beach and has received compensation for his wrongful conviction. Both Madison and Nate share a common objective: to discover and prove who framed them and why as both are innocent of the crimes they were sent down for and Madison is desperate to clear her name and get her conviction overturned. Nate is an unlicensed private investigator (PI) and Madison decides to call him for help after reading about his case in the newspaper.
They meet at the Mango Bar where Madison tells him she believes her framing was an inside job. Initially, Nate has reservations about taking her case and when she begs him for a job he isn't sure. Eventually, he concedes and agrees to look into her case involving bent coppers in return for her help in any new cases that come in. Trusted associate and ex-convict Rex Hartley is responsible for putting plenty of business his way and he soon brings him a new case; twelve year old Jennifer Lucas has been missing for a fortnight after attending Camp Fearless, a summer camp in Shadow Falls situated in the Wildwood National Forest. Can they find the missing girl and bring her home as well as chasing the truth about both of their cases?; cases that stole a big part of their lives. This is a compulsive and intriguing procedural with two incredibly charismatic central characters whose backstories make up the majority of the book. It's fascinating going through step by step trying to find the evidence to prove who and why both Nate and Madison were callously framed. It's well plotted with lots of action and some startlingly good twists. It's difficult to shock me but I definitely was thrown and blindsided throughout the story. It's compelling and gripping and the reveals at the end really gave the book extra pizazz. Highly recommended.
They meet at the Mango Bar where Madison tells him she believes her framing was an inside job. Initially, Nate has reservations about taking her case and when she begs him for a job he isn't sure. Eventually, he concedes and agrees to look into her case involving bent coppers in return for her help in any new cases that come in. Trusted associate and ex-convict Rex Hartley is responsible for putting plenty of business his way and he soon brings him a new case; twelve year old Jennifer Lucas has been missing for a fortnight after attending Camp Fearless, a summer camp in Shadow Falls situated in the Wildwood National Forest. Can they find the missing girl and bring her home as well as chasing the truth about both of their cases?; cases that stole a big part of their lives. This is a compulsive and intriguing procedural with two incredibly charismatic central characters whose backstories make up the majority of the book. It's fascinating going through step by step trying to find the evidence to prove who and why both Nate and Madison were callously framed. It's well plotted with lots of action and some startlingly good twists. It's difficult to shock me but I definitely was thrown and blindsided throughout the story. It's compelling and gripping and the reveals at the end really gave the book extra pizazz. Highly recommended.
November 24, 2022
My Rating Style: 1⭐️ ticked no boxes, boring and SUPER AVERAGE!!
Rating updated after more thought this was definitely a one star for me 🙈
Shadows Falls is a small town built around the idillic summer camp that has kids arrive in droves. You take your little girl to summer camp and expect her to be looked after and kept safe… nothing could be further from the truth.
Twelve year old Jenny disappears without a trace and the best the police can come up with is that she ran away. Her parents are distraught … but there is something not right about the situation.
Former Detective Madison Harper teams up with Nate a private investigator to help find Jenny. Madison and Nate have something very unique in common… both have been to jail framed for crimes they did not commit. There are secrets that doesn’t help build their relationship to start with but Madison needs Nate to help her find out who framed her and get her life back. Nate is reluctant as he hates the police and would rather keep a low profile and help find Jenny.
On a trial run Madison and Nate work together on Jenny’s case which draws them into a tangled web… can they find out what happened to Jenny??
I really liked the sound of this one and was using it as a cozy mystery palette cleanser after some pretty ordinary books I dnf. I was delighted to learn there is a ‘detective’ dog in this and thought it might be a fun read. Unfortunately, this one disappointed me and I was too far gone to dnf so I laboured through it and it just got worse and worse.
I had read other reviews and knew the main case of Jenny’s disappearance doesn’t really kick off until about 30% - which was fine. Before we get to that we get to learn about Madison, her incarceration and what she is hoping to achieve now shes out. We also meet Nate who was exonerated off death row, has a massive distrust of the police and is actively trying to hunt down the man who framed him.
That was all fine and pretty interesting to me - scene setting and learning about the characters was fine by me. I learnt pretty early on I wasn’t a fan of Madison but she was tolerable (to start with), I liked Nate and thought these two might make a decent team. As we got into the case of Jenny and her disappearance though the goal posts just kept shifting.
More and more drama was introduced, more and more characters were appearing that seemingly had nothing much to do with anything, red herrings galore and honestly this was just doing TOO MUCH to shock and awe the audience. It left me flat, annoyed and bored. Madison was a jerk who just kept sulking which I would get if she was a teenage girl, but she’s a grown women, former detective and former prisoner - I expected her to have thicker skin and sulking… NAH!!!
The writing was average - it didn’t really keep me engaged I kept forgetting what I had read and having to go back each time I picked it up again and in the end I just couldn’t care less and wanted it to be over. I was happy with the detective dog Brody - but his part was downplayed and almost everyone hated him.. which I found annoying. More Brody please!!
The ending was WAAAAYYY TOO MUCH there were so many things happening it was on steroids and it wasn’t executed well. It became quite predictable and that would have been fine if I didn’t have the kitchen sink and more thrown at me to distract me from the boring, predictable ending.
If you are worried you wont be able to guess what happened or understand the ending - never fear this one is a play by play, spoonfed, hand holding session of reading it in a diary, a detailed video confession and a wrap up - I hate this style there is no space for the reader to think or guess or feel anything it is all spelt out for you. BORING
I won’t be reading anymore of this series I am completely uninspired and if asked I would not recommend this as a ‘good read’. I will leave it there as there isn’t much more to say without putting everyone to sleep. 🤷♀️
Rating updated after more thought this was definitely a one star for me 🙈
Shadows Falls is a small town built around the idillic summer camp that has kids arrive in droves. You take your little girl to summer camp and expect her to be looked after and kept safe… nothing could be further from the truth.
Twelve year old Jenny disappears without a trace and the best the police can come up with is that she ran away. Her parents are distraught … but there is something not right about the situation.
Former Detective Madison Harper teams up with Nate a private investigator to help find Jenny. Madison and Nate have something very unique in common… both have been to jail framed for crimes they did not commit. There are secrets that doesn’t help build their relationship to start with but Madison needs Nate to help her find out who framed her and get her life back. Nate is reluctant as he hates the police and would rather keep a low profile and help find Jenny.
On a trial run Madison and Nate work together on Jenny’s case which draws them into a tangled web… can they find out what happened to Jenny??
I really liked the sound of this one and was using it as a cozy mystery palette cleanser after some pretty ordinary books I dnf. I was delighted to learn there is a ‘detective’ dog in this and thought it might be a fun read. Unfortunately, this one disappointed me and I was too far gone to dnf so I laboured through it and it just got worse and worse.
I had read other reviews and knew the main case of Jenny’s disappearance doesn’t really kick off until about 30% - which was fine. Before we get to that we get to learn about Madison, her incarceration and what she is hoping to achieve now shes out. We also meet Nate who was exonerated off death row, has a massive distrust of the police and is actively trying to hunt down the man who framed him.
That was all fine and pretty interesting to me - scene setting and learning about the characters was fine by me. I learnt pretty early on I wasn’t a fan of Madison but she was tolerable (to start with), I liked Nate and thought these two might make a decent team. As we got into the case of Jenny and her disappearance though the goal posts just kept shifting.
More and more drama was introduced, more and more characters were appearing that seemingly had nothing much to do with anything, red herrings galore and honestly this was just doing TOO MUCH to shock and awe the audience. It left me flat, annoyed and bored. Madison was a jerk who just kept sulking which I would get if she was a teenage girl, but she’s a grown women, former detective and former prisoner - I expected her to have thicker skin and sulking… NAH!!!
The writing was average - it didn’t really keep me engaged I kept forgetting what I had read and having to go back each time I picked it up again and in the end I just couldn’t care less and wanted it to be over. I was happy with the detective dog Brody - but his part was downplayed and almost everyone hated him.. which I found annoying. More Brody please!!
The ending was WAAAAYYY TOO MUCH there were so many things happening it was on steroids and it wasn’t executed well. It became quite predictable and that would have been fine if I didn’t have the kitchen sink and more thrown at me to distract me from the boring, predictable ending.
If you are worried you wont be able to guess what happened or understand the ending - never fear this one is a play by play, spoonfed, hand holding session of reading it in a diary, a detailed video confession and a wrap up - I hate this style there is no space for the reader to think or guess or feel anything it is all spelt out for you. BORING
I won’t be reading anymore of this series I am completely uninspired and if asked I would not recommend this as a ‘good read’. I will leave it there as there isn’t much more to say without putting everyone to sleep. 🤷♀️
November 30, 2020
Happy to see this is a first in its series by this author and she’s already working on book #2. Fast paced, action packed from the very page! Really enjoyed it and looking forward to more with Nate and Madison. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review.
July 14, 2021
5 Stars and I give very few perfect 5 star ratings!
Madison is a former police officer and private investigator. Nate Monroe is now a PI. Both have something in common in that they both were framed for crimes they didn’t commit and sent to prison. After 17 years, Nate was found innocent as there was no proof that he killed his fiancée, Stacy. Story is mostly present day but does go back to the time Nate was in prison. Additional we learn more about Madison’s situation.
Madison believe Nate can help her so is willing to help him in his investigation of finding a missing 12 year old girl, Jenny who went missing while attending summer camp. Nate is hired by Jenny’s grandmother as she believes the police in the small mountain village just aren’t prepared so do proper investigating.
When Nate and Madison arrive at the camp we are already thinking the worst but are hopeful of finding the child. It appears there are a lot of secrets going on and yes the local police seem to be overlooking things that seem to be something logical to check.
Wow Wow! Such a Great read. I read a lot of psychological thriller so have an expectation of twists and turns. I try to figure out what is really going and JUST love when there are surprises!
This is ~ Awesome!
There is so much going on in the last part of the story, I not only was on the edge of my seat but I was getting whiplash from reading so fast!! In fact, I had to reread parts this morning
My first Wendy Dranfield and I will read another!!!
Want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for this early release. This file has been made available to me before publication in an early form for professional review purposes only. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for January 25, 2021
Madison is a former police officer and private investigator. Nate Monroe is now a PI. Both have something in common in that they both were framed for crimes they didn’t commit and sent to prison. After 17 years, Nate was found innocent as there was no proof that he killed his fiancée, Stacy. Story is mostly present day but does go back to the time Nate was in prison. Additional we learn more about Madison’s situation.
Madison believe Nate can help her so is willing to help him in his investigation of finding a missing 12 year old girl, Jenny who went missing while attending summer camp. Nate is hired by Jenny’s grandmother as she believes the police in the small mountain village just aren’t prepared so do proper investigating.
When Nate and Madison arrive at the camp we are already thinking the worst but are hopeful of finding the child. It appears there are a lot of secrets going on and yes the local police seem to be overlooking things that seem to be something logical to check.
Wow Wow! Such a Great read. I read a lot of psychological thriller so have an expectation of twists and turns. I try to figure out what is really going and JUST love when there are surprises!
This is ~ Awesome!
There is so much going on in the last part of the story, I not only was on the edge of my seat but I was getting whiplash from reading so fast!! In fact, I had to reread parts this morning
My first Wendy Dranfield and I will read another!!!
Want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for this early release. This file has been made available to me before publication in an early form for professional review purposes only. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for January 25, 2021
May 15, 2022
Interesting start to this series. I found it hard to sink into this book at first, as it concentrated a lot on the two main characters, Detective Madison Harper and private investigator, Nate Monroe at the start. Both have interesting back stories and the author took time in explaining these, but I felt impatient for the main plot to kick in.
Eventually Madison and Nate join forces on one of Nate’s cases when a young girl goes missing at a remote summer camp in Shadow Falls, Northern California. As parents remove their children from the camp, they are able to stay in one of the cabins by the lake, deep in the vast forest.
The local police seem to have no leads and its down to this mismatched investors (plus a random ex-police dog, Brody, who roams the camp) to uncover the truth. 3.5⭐️.
Eventually Madison and Nate join forces on one of Nate’s cases when a young girl goes missing at a remote summer camp in Shadow Falls, Northern California. As parents remove their children from the camp, they are able to stay in one of the cabins by the lake, deep in the vast forest.
The local police seem to have no leads and its down to this mismatched investors (plus a random ex-police dog, Brody, who roams the camp) to uncover the truth. 3.5⭐️.
January 12, 2026
Příběh byl supr, jen pro rodiče malých dětí to může být náročnější čtení.
Nicméně poslouchala jsem jako audioknihu a nesedla mi narátorka, některé věty říkala na můj vkus až moc žoviálně bez ohledu na jejich význam. Ještě zkusím jeden díl v audio podobě a pak kdyžtak přejdu na e-knihu nebo papír.
Nicméně poslouchala jsem jako audioknihu a nesedla mi narátorka, některé věty říkala na můj vkus až moc žoviálně bez ohledu na jejich význam. Ještě zkusím jeden díl v audio podobě a pak kdyžtak přejdu na e-knihu nebo papír.
January 25, 2021
Wow Wow Wow! Thrilling from start to finish. An outstanding read. I am so glad this is the first of a series as I was bereft when the book finished. It so completely transported me. If you don't read this one you are missing out!
January 27, 2021
A young girl Jennifer missing from the camp and a Detective determined to find her, despite meeting with roadblocks in the form of non-cooperative people. Having read many of author Wendy Dranfield books, I knew I would get some fun reading down.
The cop, Detective Madison was most unusual. She had spent years in prison, being falsely accused, and her partner, in this case, was PI Nate, another person who had seen how unjust charges could warp you. It just took him seventeen years to get his freedom back. The author sure had striking main characters, who had seen both sides of the law and were still committed to finding out the truth.
The story of this disappearance kept a steady pace, moving fast in the last few pages, when the twists caught my attention, most unexpected. The missing child arc had been my favorite for quite some time, and the author made it most interesting with the suspense and mystery in the writing. Secrets. Secrets. Secrets. The race against time was on when the child left some clues in the library.
The ending ripped me apart and left me shocked when I read the truth. Book 1 of the series, I felt it was a very good beginning to rocking new murder investigations. GRIPPING AND ENTERTAINING.
The cop, Detective Madison was most unusual. She had spent years in prison, being falsely accused, and her partner, in this case, was PI Nate, another person who had seen how unjust charges could warp you. It just took him seventeen years to get his freedom back. The author sure had striking main characters, who had seen both sides of the law and were still committed to finding out the truth.
The story of this disappearance kept a steady pace, moving fast in the last few pages, when the twists caught my attention, most unexpected. The missing child arc had been my favorite for quite some time, and the author made it most interesting with the suspense and mystery in the writing. Secrets. Secrets. Secrets. The race against time was on when the child left some clues in the library.
The ending ripped me apart and left me shocked when I read the truth. Book 1 of the series, I felt it was a very good beginning to rocking new murder investigations. GRIPPING AND ENTERTAINING.
December 8, 2020
I was a bit skeptical when I began this book. Both main characters are former felons, although wrongfully convicted. Both grew on me as the story developed. In fact, I liked their unorthodox approach as the law had failed both. Toward the end, my stomach twisted with all,the heinous revelations. Diabolical minds lurked in the shadows. My Favorite character is Brody, the dog. I liked him instantly. He is smart, concise, and patient for the humans to figure out what he already knows. I have to read the next book to see what happens next. Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the advance read.
March 3, 2021
Finally! A seriously great crime fiction novel that does not sugar coat the US legal system. Thank you Wendy Dranfield!!!
I first read about Shadow Falls, the first in the Madison Harper series, on Zooloo's Book Diary blog. It sounded so intriguing and different from the norm that I had to give it a try. I am SO glad that I did. Madison Harper is a former detective who is on early parole for manslaughter of a fellow cop. She insists that she was set up and is determined to prove her innocence. To help her, she enlists the aide of Nate, also a recently released prisoner who was wrongfully convicted of murder and was on death row in Texas -three months out from his death sentence. Now this is a great combination right here. Seriously! When writers come up with flawed characters this is not the norm but they are so, well, I won't say perfect together but they are great. However, their perspectives are so incredibly spot-on for what we are experiencing in today's US society that I was shocked with its accuracy. All politics aside, though, the real mystery in this first book is a missing child that Nate has been hired to find. Madison's answers have to wait until this child is found and what a crazy, mixed up world this poor child has fallen into. Don't ever send your child to summer camp!!!
To say that I loved this book is an understatement. Not only did a read it in one sitting, I immediately downloaded book two and read it!! Now what!? I want MORE!!!!! Thank you Zoe for another terrific review and putting me onto another great read and author!!
I first read about Shadow Falls, the first in the Madison Harper series, on Zooloo's Book Diary blog. It sounded so intriguing and different from the norm that I had to give it a try. I am SO glad that I did. Madison Harper is a former detective who is on early parole for manslaughter of a fellow cop. She insists that she was set up and is determined to prove her innocence. To help her, she enlists the aide of Nate, also a recently released prisoner who was wrongfully convicted of murder and was on death row in Texas -three months out from his death sentence. Now this is a great combination right here. Seriously! When writers come up with flawed characters this is not the norm but they are so, well, I won't say perfect together but they are great. However, their perspectives are so incredibly spot-on for what we are experiencing in today's US society that I was shocked with its accuracy. All politics aside, though, the real mystery in this first book is a missing child that Nate has been hired to find. Madison's answers have to wait until this child is found and what a crazy, mixed up world this poor child has fallen into. Don't ever send your child to summer camp!!!
To say that I loved this book is an understatement. Not only did a read it in one sitting, I immediately downloaded book two and read it!! Now what!? I want MORE!!!!! Thank you Zoe for another terrific review and putting me onto another great read and author!!
February 19, 2021
OMG Wendy what have you done to me. This was dark and twisty and just something else!! Frigging hell my mind and emotions are all over the place. What a powerhouse start to a new series. I need to catch my breath!!
Wendy is one of my favourite authors and I don’t even need to read the blurb. She knows I am the biggest fan of Dean in her other series, well a close first behind her of course. But I think that I will be clawing my way to the top with this series. Nate and Madison are an entirely new ball game.
Nate, sentenced to death row but got released after 17 years. But with one woman dead and another missing how long until his past catches up to him.
We then have Madison, who was a Detective but framed for a murder she didn’t commit. She lost her son and ex-girlfriend and she is out seeking the truth. Although, I think that we might get some answers in the next book.
These explosive characters are so flawed. Flawed in a way that I am enamoured with them but also slightly wary of the darkness that is within them. Nate has a dark side that I reckon we will see one day and that day all hell will rain down.
Back to the story, it has left me speechless. Boy, I didn’t expect it. It was such a terrifying look at what could go wrong. Past, present are intertwined. Nates past to being incarcerated, the case of the missing girl at Camp Fearless and a psychiatrist reading an unknown diary. A woman is struggling big time.
What I love is that this book focuses on one case, one disappearance. Just one. There is no senseless murder spree, we have a missing girl and we need to find her because things are dire. I mean they really were. Of course, we have our red herrings and I still liked one of them for it. However, when you learn the truth, I felt cold inside, I felt my eyes well up at the complete misjustice of it all. No one should have to suffer like this. It was dark and harrowing and it had me flicking the pages on the kindle so quickly as I needed to know how it would all end.
The dynamic of Nate and Madison is fascinating to watch. One who has had his faith rocked, his world is about to combust but he is still there trying to do what is right. The other, not use to being on the wrong side of the law, struggling to find her place as she struggles with whom to trust. From the opening pages, I was hooked as I craved to learn more about what makes them tick. What happened in this case and in their past and where they would go from here.
The short answer well its a dark and shadowy path, one I think both might miss the line completely, you know that one you should never cross.
As I said I am a huge fan of Wendy’s and I have always loved her writing. It is easy to lose yourself in, it’s conversational and it’s inclusive. We can see the scene through the other characters, we see what they see when they see it and sometimes being blinkered we are missing what was right in front of us!!!
It was shocking and riveting and nothing less than pure adrenaline and excitement. Not sure how I will cope with book 2!!!
Wendy is one of my favourite authors and I don’t even need to read the blurb. She knows I am the biggest fan of Dean in her other series, well a close first behind her of course. But I think that I will be clawing my way to the top with this series. Nate and Madison are an entirely new ball game.
Nate, sentenced to death row but got released after 17 years. But with one woman dead and another missing how long until his past catches up to him.
We then have Madison, who was a Detective but framed for a murder she didn’t commit. She lost her son and ex-girlfriend and she is out seeking the truth. Although, I think that we might get some answers in the next book.
These explosive characters are so flawed. Flawed in a way that I am enamoured with them but also slightly wary of the darkness that is within them. Nate has a dark side that I reckon we will see one day and that day all hell will rain down.
Back to the story, it has left me speechless. Boy, I didn’t expect it. It was such a terrifying look at what could go wrong. Past, present are intertwined. Nates past to being incarcerated, the case of the missing girl at Camp Fearless and a psychiatrist reading an unknown diary. A woman is struggling big time.
What I love is that this book focuses on one case, one disappearance. Just one. There is no senseless murder spree, we have a missing girl and we need to find her because things are dire. I mean they really were. Of course, we have our red herrings and I still liked one of them for it. However, when you learn the truth, I felt cold inside, I felt my eyes well up at the complete misjustice of it all. No one should have to suffer like this. It was dark and harrowing and it had me flicking the pages on the kindle so quickly as I needed to know how it would all end.
The dynamic of Nate and Madison is fascinating to watch. One who has had his faith rocked, his world is about to combust but he is still there trying to do what is right. The other, not use to being on the wrong side of the law, struggling to find her place as she struggles with whom to trust. From the opening pages, I was hooked as I craved to learn more about what makes them tick. What happened in this case and in their past and where they would go from here.
The short answer well its a dark and shadowy path, one I think both might miss the line completely, you know that one you should never cross.
As I said I am a huge fan of Wendy’s and I have always loved her writing. It is easy to lose yourself in, it’s conversational and it’s inclusive. We can see the scene through the other characters, we see what they see when they see it and sometimes being blinkered we are missing what was right in front of us!!!
It was shocking and riveting and nothing less than pure adrenaline and excitement. Not sure how I will cope with book 2!!!
January 28, 2021
What a terrific start to a new series, this introduces ex Detective Madison Harper and PI Nathaniel Monroe/Nate. Both are ex convicts and Nate was previously training to become a priest before being wrongly sent to death row for the murder of his fiancée, who he had chosen over priesthood.
Knowing they were both framed they are on a mission of revenge as they also pool their combined skills to solve the case of twelve year old Jenny who has disappeared while at summer camp. Three stories and three cases to solve but not once confusing and I’m easily confuddled.
The main characters are two very broken but strong individuals who can now see crime and justice from both sides. It also shows how certain individuals can use religion as a get free from jail card, while being rotten to the core. Whereas the good who genuinely have faith but find love are seen as being tempted by the devil and are jailed even though innocent.
Hired by Jenny’s grandmother they travel to the family home and meet what seems a perfectly ordinary family, a distraught mother and a father burying his head in the sand assuming she’s just run away and will be back. Something however just doesn’t seem right.
These aren’t spoilers as it all comes out fairly early on, the rest of the book has a very skilled multi layered plot with some nice twists and unexpected surprises. I loved both Madison and Nate equally and the dynamic of their partnership worked perfectly. Good vs Evil is always a winner for me and this has it in spades. Already looking forward to the next book and a new series to be addicted to.
Knowing they were both framed they are on a mission of revenge as they also pool their combined skills to solve the case of twelve year old Jenny who has disappeared while at summer camp. Three stories and three cases to solve but not once confusing and I’m easily confuddled.
The main characters are two very broken but strong individuals who can now see crime and justice from both sides. It also shows how certain individuals can use religion as a get free from jail card, while being rotten to the core. Whereas the good who genuinely have faith but find love are seen as being tempted by the devil and are jailed even though innocent.
Hired by Jenny’s grandmother they travel to the family home and meet what seems a perfectly ordinary family, a distraught mother and a father burying his head in the sand assuming she’s just run away and will be back. Something however just doesn’t seem right.
These aren’t spoilers as it all comes out fairly early on, the rest of the book has a very skilled multi layered plot with some nice twists and unexpected surprises. I loved both Madison and Nate equally and the dynamic of their partnership worked perfectly. Good vs Evil is always a winner for me and this has it in spades. Already looking forward to the next book and a new series to be addicted to.
February 4, 2021
Shadow falls is centred around the disappearance of Jennifer Lucas, who goes missing from a summer camp. Her grandmother hires PI Nate Monroe to help find her as after a fortnight the small towns local police force haven't come up with any creditable leads . Nate finds himself with a partner to help him as ex detective Madison Harper needs his help and offers to work for him to pay her fees. The disappearance of Jenny gets stranger as each day passes and both Nate and Maidson suspect there is more to this than a simple missing child.
This is my first time reading wendy Dranfield and it won't be the last I am completely hooked by this series already and this is only book one. The excitement of hearing book two will follow shortly is unbearable I want to read it now. This crime thriller is written extremely well, we have several different points of view regarding Jenny's disappearance but they are structured in a way that reads extremely well. We also have a side story running parallel of someones therapist.
I know the series is called the detective Maiden Harper series, but for me PI Nate stole the show. I found his character so down to earth and a little comical at times I could picture him perfectly. Plus his side story with the dog Brody is so adorable it shouldn't be allowed. Nate is a troubled man after spending 17 years on death row for being wrongfully sentenced for murdering his girlfriend. He is now obsessed with solving other peoples problems whilst making sure to keep his agenda of complete redemption. I am excited to see where his story goes and I can feel its going to be a few more books until I find out.
Maidsln says she was set up for the murder of her partner and she unlike Nate, who knows the killer , appears to have suspicions which we aren't privy to. There is something slightly untrustworthy about Maidsln but that doesn't make her any less likeable. She clearly has her own agenda as well I just don't know why she is using Nate to complete it, book two may point us in the right direction.
The fact this is a crime mystery but we aren't with police rather private investigators I think is genius. Crime books can get a bit clinical where as this book doesn't have to follow the same structure. I liked that even though we aren't reading about police we still get to know part of their investigation as we go along.
The story mystery itself is rather interesting. If you read a lot of this genre you may find yourself making outrageous guesses throughout the book and I guarantee you one of them will be correct. I honestly thought by the latter part of the novel that nothing I thought made sense. But it is tied together so neatly there's no room for confusion. There are several twist along the way and although I guessed two of them I still gasped at the last few chapters. It is remarkable how reading this novel I got so committed in the outcome. I flew through this book over several hours as I couldn't put it down.
Crime mystery is subjective and for me this was a home run. Not only will I be struggling to contain my excitement for the next in the series I think its time I read more of wendy Dranfield'w work. I think this type of book is everything I desire crime, mysterious and even a bit of thriller. Plus Brody the dog is about the best character pet I've ever had the pleasure of reading about. Such great writing and amazing characters Esme being a favourite side character.
I would highly recommend this book it's a great way to get lost in a world that might be more messed up than ours at the moment. Both protagonist are great and I hope that PI Nate manages to stay on throughput this series. The book description isn't great and honestly I wouldn't of read this book from that alone, but trust me when I say do much has been missed there and its much better than the description give it credit for , happy to rate 5 stars especially after that last chapter what a great seaway, slightly predictable, to the next book.
Thank you to Netgalley the publishers and Wendy Dronfield fir the advanced digital copy in exchange for my fair and honest review. You may have earlier copies of shadow falls that is called find my child.
This is my first time reading wendy Dranfield and it won't be the last I am completely hooked by this series already and this is only book one. The excitement of hearing book two will follow shortly is unbearable I want to read it now. This crime thriller is written extremely well, we have several different points of view regarding Jenny's disappearance but they are structured in a way that reads extremely well. We also have a side story running parallel of someones therapist.
I know the series is called the detective Maiden Harper series, but for me PI Nate stole the show. I found his character so down to earth and a little comical at times I could picture him perfectly. Plus his side story with the dog Brody is so adorable it shouldn't be allowed. Nate is a troubled man after spending 17 years on death row for being wrongfully sentenced for murdering his girlfriend. He is now obsessed with solving other peoples problems whilst making sure to keep his agenda of complete redemption. I am excited to see where his story goes and I can feel its going to be a few more books until I find out.
Maidsln says she was set up for the murder of her partner and she unlike Nate, who knows the killer , appears to have suspicions which we aren't privy to. There is something slightly untrustworthy about Maidsln but that doesn't make her any less likeable. She clearly has her own agenda as well I just don't know why she is using Nate to complete it, book two may point us in the right direction.
The fact this is a crime mystery but we aren't with police rather private investigators I think is genius. Crime books can get a bit clinical where as this book doesn't have to follow the same structure. I liked that even though we aren't reading about police we still get to know part of their investigation as we go along.
The story mystery itself is rather interesting. If you read a lot of this genre you may find yourself making outrageous guesses throughout the book and I guarantee you one of them will be correct. I honestly thought by the latter part of the novel that nothing I thought made sense. But it is tied together so neatly there's no room for confusion. There are several twist along the way and although I guessed two of them I still gasped at the last few chapters. It is remarkable how reading this novel I got so committed in the outcome. I flew through this book over several hours as I couldn't put it down.
Crime mystery is subjective and for me this was a home run. Not only will I be struggling to contain my excitement for the next in the series I think its time I read more of wendy Dranfield'w work. I think this type of book is everything I desire crime, mysterious and even a bit of thriller. Plus Brody the dog is about the best character pet I've ever had the pleasure of reading about. Such great writing and amazing characters Esme being a favourite side character.
I would highly recommend this book it's a great way to get lost in a world that might be more messed up than ours at the moment. Both protagonist are great and I hope that PI Nate manages to stay on throughput this series. The book description isn't great and honestly I wouldn't of read this book from that alone, but trust me when I say do much has been missed there and its much better than the description give it credit for , happy to rate 5 stars especially after that last chapter what a great seaway, slightly predictable, to the next book.
Thank you to Netgalley the publishers and Wendy Dronfield fir the advanced digital copy in exchange for my fair and honest review. You may have earlier copies of shadow falls that is called find my child.
February 2, 2025
Wow, this book was absolutely addictive from the start! It was so easy to get into, and I never saw the plot twists or the ending coming. The pacing was great—never slow—and each twist was revealed at just the right moment. I also really enjoyed the two main characters; their depth and backstories made them even more compelling. Plus, I love a good animal companion! I highly recommend this series if you’re looking for a twisty but not overly dark mystery detective series. I can’t wait to speed through the rest of the books!
August 16, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
October 4, 2022
I am always keen to check out a new crime series with a strong female lead (for in between D.I. Kim Stone and Josie Quinn of course) and this one did not disappoint!
Madison Harper investigates a missing girl case after Jenny disappears from summer camp in Shadow Falls. Harper has to investigate Jenny's case in a novel way for her, and it's the only way she can see will get her closer to finding her son who she lost to the system after she was framed for a crime she says she didn't commit.
This one captured my attention, was well written and thrilling! It is full of mystery and suspense, part of which relates to Harper's history that will no doubt unfold through a couple more books.
I'm looking forward to getting into book 2 and finding some answers to the unresolved side stories!
Madison Harper investigates a missing girl case after Jenny disappears from summer camp in Shadow Falls. Harper has to investigate Jenny's case in a novel way for her, and it's the only way she can see will get her closer to finding her son who she lost to the system after she was framed for a crime she says she didn't commit.
This one captured my attention, was well written and thrilling! It is full of mystery and suspense, part of which relates to Harper's history that will no doubt unfold through a couple more books.
I'm looking forward to getting into book 2 and finding some answers to the unresolved side stories!
January 26, 2021
Shadow Falls
is the first instalment in the Detective Madison Harper series set in Northern California. Ex-police officer Madison Harper is staying at a motel which is serving as a halfway house for those just released from prison. she's been there seven months after serving six years of a ten-year sentence for voluntary manslaughter.
A recently released convicted cop murderer who was previously doing time in her hometown of Colorado, Madison is just managing to make ends meet working at Big Bob's Diner. Nathaniel (Nate) Monroe is a PI who has been out of prison for two years following the murder of his fiancée Stacey Connor in Texas. New evidence came to light which exonerated him and he believes Stacey's uncle, Father Jack Connor killed her. He's currently trying to get back on his feet and is staying at a hotel near Madison. Both Madison and Nate need to find out who framed them as both are innocent of their crimes and Madison is desperate to get her conviction overturned. Madison decides to call Nate for help after reading about his situation. Nate is initially reluctant to take on Madison's case but agrees in return for her help with any new jobs he takes on.
Twelve-year old-Jennifer Lucas has gone missing from Camp Fearless, a summer camp in Shadow Falls situated in the Wildwood National Forest. Nate and Madison set out to learn the truth about their own cases as well as find the missing girl.
Shadow Falls is my first novel by Wendy Dranfield and I loved learning more about both of the charismatic main characters. An intriguing and compelling procedural, I found myself reading late into the night. With plenty of action, it was cleverly plotted and I was caught out by the misdirection on a few occasions. The author's gritty and razor-sharp style meant I was never bored and the final revelations gave the story a last-minute boost. I can't wait to read the second instalment, Cry for Help and in the meantime, I may well make a start on Wendy Dranfield's 'Dean Matheson' series. Very highly recommended.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel, at my request, from Bookouture via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
A recently released convicted cop murderer who was previously doing time in her hometown of Colorado, Madison is just managing to make ends meet working at Big Bob's Diner. Nathaniel (Nate) Monroe is a PI who has been out of prison for two years following the murder of his fiancée Stacey Connor in Texas. New evidence came to light which exonerated him and he believes Stacey's uncle, Father Jack Connor killed her. He's currently trying to get back on his feet and is staying at a hotel near Madison. Both Madison and Nate need to find out who framed them as both are innocent of their crimes and Madison is desperate to get her conviction overturned. Madison decides to call Nate for help after reading about his situation. Nate is initially reluctant to take on Madison's case but agrees in return for her help with any new jobs he takes on.
Twelve-year old-Jennifer Lucas has gone missing from Camp Fearless, a summer camp in Shadow Falls situated in the Wildwood National Forest. Nate and Madison set out to learn the truth about their own cases as well as find the missing girl.
Shadow Falls is my first novel by Wendy Dranfield and I loved learning more about both of the charismatic main characters. An intriguing and compelling procedural, I found myself reading late into the night. With plenty of action, it was cleverly plotted and I was caught out by the misdirection on a few occasions. The author's gritty and razor-sharp style meant I was never bored and the final revelations gave the story a last-minute boost. I can't wait to read the second instalment, Cry for Help and in the meantime, I may well make a start on Wendy Dranfield's 'Dean Matheson' series. Very highly recommended.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel, at my request, from Bookouture via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
July 12, 2023
Book one in the Madison Harper series and I inhaled it in one sitting! We meet Madison and PI Nate as they are investigating the case of a missing 12 year old girl from a summer camp.
Lots of background to the characters and subplots that makes me eager to read book two to find out more
Lots of background to the characters and subplots that makes me eager to read book two to find out more
November 18, 2020
‘Find My Child’ is the first book of the series about Detective Madison Harper and…. Wow, what an excellent start ! It was suspenseful, fast paced and absolutely thrilling to read.
In this story, we follow Madison and Nate, a former cop and and a private investigator, who go on a search of a missing girl, Jennifer. The plot seems basic at first but the complexity of both the characters and the investigation makes it unpredictable and brillant.
I LOVED IT, I think it’s beautifully written, from page one I was sucked into the author’s writing, and it gripped me all the way through.
This is the first time I have read anything by this author and clearly it won’t be the last !
I can’t wait for the next one and I highly recommend this book !
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.
In this story, we follow Madison and Nate, a former cop and and a private investigator, who go on a search of a missing girl, Jennifer. The plot seems basic at first but the complexity of both the characters and the investigation makes it unpredictable and brillant.
I LOVED IT, I think it’s beautifully written, from page one I was sucked into the author’s writing, and it gripped me all the way through.
This is the first time I have read anything by this author and clearly it won’t be the last !
I can’t wait for the next one and I highly recommend this book !
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.
April 10, 2024
Great..now I’m hooked and there are seven books!
June 18, 2021
I almost didn't read this immediately because it's written in present tense--not my favorite, especially for fiction. But it had an interesting premise, so I tried it. The author maintains the present tense pretty well (although she uses for both the current story and for flashbacks) until about 1/3 in. Then present and past get used often; before I decided to skim, I saw some of what she was trying to do, but it didn't work for me. In addition, the author used "is" in almost every verb construction. "She is feeling" instead of "she feels." This construction is often used sentence after sentence, making the whole sound like a high school student's fan fiction. (There are some terrific fan fiction authors out there who are better than many published writers, too.) Some well-considered active verbs would have been a pleasant addition.
The author is British and uses British words and phrasing for a story in America about Americans. I have to also wonder where she got her ideas about Texas, because they're a bit.... Well, let's say she's unfamiliar with Texas and doesn't seem to like what little she's heard or read. There's also a significant distrust of law enforcement, even though one of the main characters (the series title character is a former police detective). Now that can be a useful tool for certain novels, characters, and plot, but not for Madison, IMO.
Speaking of her, I'm not thrilled with the character; she's not that likeable and seems a little unformed. Sometimes she acts and thinks in ways that are inconsistent with her supposed character. Nate is more likeable, but still a bit problematic for me. Again, part of it is inconsistency (both times, I'm not speaking of the fact that humans can be inconsistent, but of the way the character comes across to the reader). Sometimes Nate acts more like a former cop than Madison does; other times, he's remarkable uninformed for a PI and former inmate.
I finished the book by skimming because I wanted to know what happened to the little girl. There were a number of surprises, but in the end, felt unfulfilling. There were good things, especially some plots moments; hence, the 2-star rating. Overall, however, I found it lacking. Even though I'd like to know what happened with Madison being framed for murder (and the book ends with a cliffhanger on that plot, although the missing girl is resolved), but not enough to wade through more of this author's books.
The author is British and uses British words and phrasing for a story in America about Americans. I have to also wonder where she got her ideas about Texas, because they're a bit.... Well, let's say she's unfamiliar with Texas and doesn't seem to like what little she's heard or read. There's also a significant distrust of law enforcement, even though one of the main characters (the series title character is a former police detective). Now that can be a useful tool for certain novels, characters, and plot, but not for Madison, IMO.
Speaking of her, I'm not thrilled with the character; she's not that likeable and seems a little unformed. Sometimes she acts and thinks in ways that are inconsistent with her supposed character. Nate is more likeable, but still a bit problematic for me. Again, part of it is inconsistency (both times, I'm not speaking of the fact that humans can be inconsistent, but of the way the character comes across to the reader). Sometimes Nate acts more like a former cop than Madison does; other times, he's remarkable uninformed for a PI and former inmate.
I finished the book by skimming because I wanted to know what happened to the little girl. There were a number of surprises, but in the end, felt unfulfilling. There were good things, especially some plots moments; hence, the 2-star rating. Overall, however, I found it lacking. Even though I'd like to know what happened with Madison being framed for murder (and the book ends with a cliffhanger on that plot, although the missing girl is resolved), but not enough to wade through more of this author's books.
January 21, 2021
It's been a long time since I read a book set in the US, but the blurb of this book and the beautiful cover enticed me enough to give it a go. I'm now glad I did so as I really enjoyed this book.
Madison Harper is an ex-detective just released from prison. She had been framed by someone for a murder she didn't commit. Now that she's out with no place to live and no money she wants to find out who did this to her and she wants to clear her name. Someone stole six years of her life and has taken her son away from her. In order to do this she approaches a private investigator, Nate Monroe, to help her in her quest. Like Madison, Nate is a damaged soul, an ex-convict who has spent seventeen years on death-row for the murder of his fiancee. But Nate is innocent, he was framed too for this murder but was eventually released after new evidence proved his innocence. He knows who's behind this and is determined to find the person responsible for destroying his once-happy life. So both Madison and Nate are on a mission.
At first Nate is reluctant to help Madison. He doesn't like bent-cops. But then hearing and believing her story, he agrees to take her on as his employee. She will help him with his investigations and at the same time he would look into her case.
Their first case together is that of a missing nine-year-old girl who has disappeared while on Summer camp in a remote area of Northern California. There are a couple of suspicious individuals at the camp, but with no evidence and no body it will be very difficult for Nate and Madison to find any clues. The local police does not appreciate their interference and is reluctant to help. It's as though they too have something to hide. One thing is sure, something fishy is going on at the mysterious camp. What happened to Jenny? Is she lost? Did she drown in the lake? Or has she been kidnapped? Is she still alive or buried in the surrounding woods? Will Nate and Madison find the truth?
Well this book brought together two very interesting characters, each dragging a heavy baggage behind. Both Nate and Madison have suffered enormously at the hands of unscrupulous individuals who have ruined their lives. I loved these characters and their determination to seek the truth. In this book we don't have just one main character as we usually have in crime stories but two. Even though Madison is mentioned on the cover, Nate carries equal weight in the plot.
It felt as though this was not just one book, but three in one. We have the main missing person story, and then both Nate's and Madison's back stories. The author sometimes switches from the main plot to either Nate's past in prison or Madison's earlier life. We also have some chapters from the pov of a psychologist. I couldn't understand this character's significance, but then towards the end everything made sense.
The plot is well-written, entertaining, fast-paced and at times tense. We have a number of unexpected twists and turns and red herrings that keep the reader on their toes. I found myself desperately wanting to find out what happened to Jenny. The author leaves us clueless till the unexpected ending. The book ends with a massive cliffhanger, making the reader want to go straight to book 2 - Cry for Help, which is exactly what I've done.
I enjoyed reading this book and have no qualms in recommending it. With thanks to Bookouture for an ARC copy of 'Shadow Falls' through Netgalley.
Madison Harper is an ex-detective just released from prison. She had been framed by someone for a murder she didn't commit. Now that she's out with no place to live and no money she wants to find out who did this to her and she wants to clear her name. Someone stole six years of her life and has taken her son away from her. In order to do this she approaches a private investigator, Nate Monroe, to help her in her quest. Like Madison, Nate is a damaged soul, an ex-convict who has spent seventeen years on death-row for the murder of his fiancee. But Nate is innocent, he was framed too for this murder but was eventually released after new evidence proved his innocence. He knows who's behind this and is determined to find the person responsible for destroying his once-happy life. So both Madison and Nate are on a mission.
At first Nate is reluctant to help Madison. He doesn't like bent-cops. But then hearing and believing her story, he agrees to take her on as his employee. She will help him with his investigations and at the same time he would look into her case.
Their first case together is that of a missing nine-year-old girl who has disappeared while on Summer camp in a remote area of Northern California. There are a couple of suspicious individuals at the camp, but with no evidence and no body it will be very difficult for Nate and Madison to find any clues. The local police does not appreciate their interference and is reluctant to help. It's as though they too have something to hide. One thing is sure, something fishy is going on at the mysterious camp. What happened to Jenny? Is she lost? Did she drown in the lake? Or has she been kidnapped? Is she still alive or buried in the surrounding woods? Will Nate and Madison find the truth?
Well this book brought together two very interesting characters, each dragging a heavy baggage behind. Both Nate and Madison have suffered enormously at the hands of unscrupulous individuals who have ruined their lives. I loved these characters and their determination to seek the truth. In this book we don't have just one main character as we usually have in crime stories but two. Even though Madison is mentioned on the cover, Nate carries equal weight in the plot.
It felt as though this was not just one book, but three in one. We have the main missing person story, and then both Nate's and Madison's back stories. The author sometimes switches from the main plot to either Nate's past in prison or Madison's earlier life. We also have some chapters from the pov of a psychologist. I couldn't understand this character's significance, but then towards the end everything made sense.
The plot is well-written, entertaining, fast-paced and at times tense. We have a number of unexpected twists and turns and red herrings that keep the reader on their toes. I found myself desperately wanting to find out what happened to Jenny. The author leaves us clueless till the unexpected ending. The book ends with a massive cliffhanger, making the reader want to go straight to book 2 - Cry for Help, which is exactly what I've done.
I enjoyed reading this book and have no qualms in recommending it. With thanks to Bookouture for an ARC copy of 'Shadow Falls' through Netgalley.
January 30, 2021
Nate Monroe and Madison Harper were both framed for crimes they didn’t commit. Madison served her time; Nate was exonerated, but both of them are still hungry for revenge and to bring to justice those who wronged them. Now they’ve teamed up as PIs, working together to find Jenny, a little girl who’s gone missing from her summer camp.
There’s an inbuilt conflict here as Madison is a former cop and Nate doesn’t trust cops (for good reason). Honestly, I thought Madison still having faith in the police when she knows she was probably framed by someone in her own department was naive, but her skills do come in very handy in their PI work, and it’s not long before Nate starts to see that. Nate’s own backstory as an almost-priest doesn’t really come into play much here - he could have gained someone’s trust by asking to pray with them, for example - but as this is obviously the first in the series, I’ll definitely be interested to see where it goes next.
Some chapters written from the point of view of a psychiatrist reading a patient’s journals are sprinkled throughout, and for a long time it seems that they don’t have any relevance to the case. It’s not until late in the book that it’s revealed the patient is a major player we’ve been reading about all along. Honestly, I think these could have been cut; they didn’t add anything significant to the story we didn’t find out elsewhere, and it was more satisfying to read about Madison and Nate uncovering the truth than the psychiatrist, who seemed more concerned about her own future career than anything else.
With that said, this is SUCH a good story. There are some genuinely fascinating twists and turns, I really liked both Madison and Nate and I’m fascinated to know more of both their backstories and hope they both find justice - and I hope Nate figures out how to handle Brody, the ex-cadaver dog he ‘accidentally’ acquired during the story properly!
Five stars for a really great read, and I’ll be looking out for the next in the series.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this title via NetGalley.
There’s an inbuilt conflict here as Madison is a former cop and Nate doesn’t trust cops (for good reason). Honestly, I thought Madison still having faith in the police when she knows she was probably framed by someone in her own department was naive, but her skills do come in very handy in their PI work, and it’s not long before Nate starts to see that. Nate’s own backstory as an almost-priest doesn’t really come into play much here - he could have gained someone’s trust by asking to pray with them, for example - but as this is obviously the first in the series, I’ll definitely be interested to see where it goes next.
Some chapters written from the point of view of a psychiatrist reading a patient’s journals are sprinkled throughout, and for a long time it seems that they don’t have any relevance to the case. It’s not until late in the book that it’s revealed the patient is a major player we’ve been reading about all along. Honestly, I think these could have been cut; they didn’t add anything significant to the story we didn’t find out elsewhere, and it was more satisfying to read about Madison and Nate uncovering the truth than the psychiatrist, who seemed more concerned about her own future career than anything else.
With that said, this is SUCH a good story. There are some genuinely fascinating twists and turns, I really liked both Madison and Nate and I’m fascinated to know more of both their backstories and hope they both find justice - and I hope Nate figures out how to handle Brody, the ex-cadaver dog he ‘accidentally’ acquired during the story properly!
Five stars for a really great read, and I’ll be looking out for the next in the series.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this title via NetGalley.
January 25, 2021
Madison Harper is about to ask for help. A former cop, she was recently released from prison, after serving time for murder. She reaches out to Nate Monroe, an unlicensed private investigator, hoping that he will take her case. Madison claims she is innocent, and when Nate shows little interest in her plight, she manages to convince him to hire her. Nate doesn’t like cops, ex or otherwise, since he was sent to death row for a crime he didn’t commit. There is a lot to learn about Nate and Madison, and every chapter will provide a little more insight.
Nate is hired to find Jenny, a girl who vanished from her remote summer camp. This will be Madison’s first case with him, and though they both want to find Jenny, they have very different investigative styles. There were a ton of twists and turns and when all the secrets and lies were revealed, well call me surprised.
Shadow Falls is the first book in this new series and I am looking forward to seeing what the author has planned.
Nate is hired to find Jenny, a girl who vanished from her remote summer camp. This will be Madison’s first case with him, and though they both want to find Jenny, they have very different investigative styles. There were a ton of twists and turns and when all the secrets and lies were revealed, well call me surprised.
Shadow Falls is the first book in this new series and I am looking forward to seeing what the author has planned.
January 23, 2021
This is a brilliant start to a new series and it has so much potential due to Madison and Nate’s past experiences.
Both of them were wrongly convicted of crimes they did not commit and now, both out of prison their paths cross and Madison asks Nate for his help.
Nate has set up a private investigation business and Madison persuades him to let her work for him as she’s an ex cop.
Their first case is that of a missing girl from summer camp. Her grandmother asks them to help find her as the Police are getting nowhere.
When they meet the girl’s parents they have a feeling something is not right, but it takes a while to get to the bottom of it.
I loved Brody, the camp dog who is left to his own devices, until he takes a shine to Nate.
This is a great crime thriller and I loved the way the story came together at the end.
I’ll definitely be reading more books in this series.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
Both of them were wrongly convicted of crimes they did not commit and now, both out of prison their paths cross and Madison asks Nate for his help.
Nate has set up a private investigation business and Madison persuades him to let her work for him as she’s an ex cop.
Their first case is that of a missing girl from summer camp. Her grandmother asks them to help find her as the Police are getting nowhere.
When they meet the girl’s parents they have a feeling something is not right, but it takes a while to get to the bottom of it.
I loved Brody, the camp dog who is left to his own devices, until he takes a shine to Nate.
This is a great crime thriller and I loved the way the story came together at the end.
I’ll definitely be reading more books in this series.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
July 1, 2023
A very interesting and entertaining read. I like Madison and Nate’s character and backstory. What interested me most is when their ex cop and ex con experiences crashed. Anyway this is a breath of fresh air; 2 people send to prison for a crime they did not commit. One is an ex cop, one is a novice priest. Both have bad experiences with injustice and crooked cops but still as an ex cop Madison still have trust in police while Nate really hate them. Seriously, it’s a breath of fresh air when their opposite crashes. And the missing girl’s case is twisty and sad and heart broken and unlike many cases before them….very hard to judge. I’m ready for book 2 !
July 8, 2021
This is an excellent crime thriller that I really enjoyed. Madison Harper teams up with a private investigator named Nate to look into the disappearance of a young girl from summer camp. Before the case is resolved, they will learn that nothing is the way it seems. Madison and Harper have unusual backstories and each are trying to find out who had been out to get them in the past. The girl's disappearance is resolved, but not Madison and Nate's individual situations. I will definitely be reading the next book to find out what happens next for them.
February 4, 2021
Amazing. Can't wait for the next one; Cry For Help.
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