The Deeper Shadow

by A.M. Adair

How do you win a war when the worst battle is being waged inside your own mind? Pulled from the brink of death, CIA operative Elle Anderson now faces the fight of her life. Physically and emotionally battered, she struggles to recover from her capture by terrorists, but still has a job to do, and the clock is ticking. If she fails, we lose. The terrorist responsible for her torture is alive, and the network is regaining strength. It’s time to finish what she started. Rejoining her team despite reluctance from her medics, Elle moves to take control of her operation. Suffering from the impacts of post-traumatic stress, old enemies and new begin to test her in ways she never thought possible. Traveling to Africa, she sets her sights on the next target—a charismatic and deadly arms dealer, financier and facilitator of terrorists. To beat him, she must immerse herself in his world. But when tested, will Elle remember whose side she’s on? Elle moved through the narrow hallway of the old tanker. Her target following behind, evaluating her every move. He could put a bullet in her head at any time. It made her skin crawl, knowing there was a direct threat, but she wasn’t going to stop. For the first time since her kidnapping, she felt alive. Deeper into the shadows she goes, as the deadly game continues….

Genres: Fiction

318 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 17, 2020

About the author

A.M. Adair retired from active duty as a Chief Warrant Officer of the United States Navy with over 21 years in the Intelligence Community specializing in counterintelligence and human intelligence. She has been to numerous countries, including multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Her experiences have been unique and provided her imagination with a wealth of material to draw from to give her stories life. A lifelong fan of the genre, she is an associate member of International Thriller Writers.

Shadow Game was her debut novel and the first book in the Elle Anderson series. Her second novel, The Deeper Shadow, was a Distinguished Favorite in the thriller category at the 2021 NYC Big Book Awards. In 2023, her third novel, Shadow War, won in the Action/Adventure category of the Independent Press Awards and was a finalist for the 2023 Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Award. Her 4th novel, A New Game, also won the Independent Press Award in 2024 for Action/Adventure and is a Top Pick for the 2024 Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Award.

She lives in Tennessee with her husband Jake, her daughter Arya, and son Finn.”

Reviews

[Steven Jr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A.M. Adair's second entry in the Elle Anderson Series, The Deeper Shadow, is a page turner.

Picking up where Shadow Game: The End Justifies The Means left off, Elle Anderson struggles to be cleared for field work. Once she is cleared, she picks up working the ISIS target deck she'd developed and whittled away at in Iraq. Her travels take her to the Horn of Africa, shifting her from cammies to the high life to take on the next target. Things develop rapidly, and a previously unseen adversary emerges from the shadows, shaking Elle to her core.

The action and intrigue are in top form. I definitely enjoyed seeing Elle in her element, working undercover and tenaciously pursuing the objective. The denouement was packed with twists (the final one which I did not see coming at all).

My only complaints, I can't find a non-spoilery way to list them, so they'll be marked. Read at your own risk.
-I think with the months away from each other, Elle and Julian should have had a bit more buildup before escalating their relationship, but in the grand scheme of the plot, I see why it went down the way it did to set up for more interpersonal drama.
-On the other hand, I am just a former grunt, but I have a hard time suspending disbelief with Red Shirt being criminally insubordinate and threatening as long as he was without getting the boot. It's a Title 50 job, Elle has final say, and Red Shirt gave her cause to boot him back in Iraq. I was glad to see him perish, but the whole time, I was going, "Just fire him already, Elle!" But, that is simultaneously a testament to A.M. Adair's characterization, as one has to be invested in the characters to start shouting suggestions to them.

All in all, the stage is set for a conclusion and I'm dying to find out how Elle is going to emerge on the other side, if she does at all. Recommended reading for action fans!

[SteVen Hendricks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book Review - Author A.M. Adair’s second installment, “The Deeper Shadow” of CIA black ops operator Elle Anderson sort of caught me off guard. I really liked the first book, “The Shadow Game” but did struggle a little with this second one. It wasn’t what I expected but I did finish the book and truly understand and respect Adair’s intentions of the storyline. This was a spy-espionage thriller with a psychological twist to it. In this intense and sometimes dramatic thriller, protagonist Elle Anderson is now struggling with PTSD, physically and emotionally battered from her capture by terrorists, but still has a job to do in the meanwhile. The terrorist responsible for her torture is still alive and active in their evil doing. Despite reluctance from her medics, Anderson sets out to finish what started and only to experience that things start to get more complicated. Suffering from the impacts of post-traumatic stress, the operation begins to test Anderson in ways she never thought possible, thus the ‘deeper shadow.’ Adair tells a well necessary story about the effects of PTSD while still doing a highly intense and stressful job. I’m sure military and agency personnel that have experience in this subject matter can surely relate. I personally have never served but witness the effects of it upon my biological father’s return from the theater. This is still a good espionage thriller to read and I won’t allow my personal inexperience nor knowledge of its subject matter let me say otherwise. I’ll read Adair’s next Elle Anderson novel, “Shadow War” upon its release.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

This second installment of the Elle Anderson series lives up to the standard set with book one. I did read the paperback version, though Goodreads doesn't want to believe it exists. I enjoyed the fast pace of the action, and the "look inside" Elle's mind while trying to cope with the fallout of book one. It will be intriguing to see how the puzzle pieces fit together in book three and what Elle's support network might look like following the events at the end of this book. Looking forward to the see how this series concludes.

[D.S. Wall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elle Anderson is even more kick-butt than she was in Shadow Game. Her non-stop, international action makes for a great, hard to put down thriller.

[Nohemibook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Este es el segundo libro de la serie y continuamos acompañando a Elle en su aventura, esta vez tiene que lidiar con su trastorno de estrés postraumático, los doctores y su jefe no están seguros de que Elle este lista para volver al trabajo pero con el apoyo de su psiquiatra quien cree en que puede superar sus traumas volviendo al campo le autorizan el volver a su equipo quienes están felices de verla, sin dudarlo se sumergen en la siguiente difícil misión.

Su misión, adentrarse en el continente africano donde fingiendo ser mercenarios adinerados tienen que encontrar a su objetivo, pero Elle esta adentrándose demasiado en este mundo y se ve empujada en varias direcciones haciendo que no puedas predecir hacia que lado se inclinara y tiene varios giros en la trama que harán que no puedas predecir el final.

Sin duda un libro lleno de acción, espías, mucho espionaje, muy intenso y con un giro psicológico muy interesante, si te gustan este estilo de libros que ademas incluye una heroína fuerte que es capaz de derrotar a unos cuantos soldados ella sola seguro te encantara.

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This is the second book in the series and we continue to accompany Elle on her adventure, this time she has to deal with her post-traumatic stress disorder, the doctors and her boss are not sure that Elle is ready to go back to work but with the support from her psychiatrist who believes that she can overcome her traumas by returning to the field, they authorize her to return to her team who are happy to see her, without hesitation they plunge into the next difficult mission.

Their mission, to enter the African continent where pretending to be wealthy mercenaries they have to find their target, but Elle is going too far into this world and pushed in various directions making you unable to predict which side she will lean towards and has several plot twists that will make you unable to predict the ending.

Undoubtedly a book full of action, spies, a lot of espionage, very intense and with a very interesting psychological twist, if you like this style of books that also includes a strong heroine who is capable of defeating a few soldiers by herself, you will surely love it .

[Susan Amper · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Deeper Shadow is Book 2 of the Elle Anderson series. I did not read Book 1, but this entry into the series can stand on its own. We learn that CIA operative Elle Anderson was kidnapped during the action in Book 1, and here she is suffering from both the physical and mental traumas that resulted.

She wants to continue her mission with her team to root out a cabal of terrorists, but her boss and doctors have doubts. Her PTSD is a serious issue, but a psychiatrist, who knows whereof he speaks, manages to get through to Elle explaining the danger of returning to Africa while also encouraging her to work through her traumas. He is a staunch supporter and the main reason she gets back to work. Her team is happy to see her, with the exception of one idiot soldier. I guess every book needs a second-tier villain from which the reader can measure the actual villain.

To win this particular war, Elle and her team must immerse themselves in his rich world. They pose as wealthy mercenaries as a way to bet inside the group. She does get inside, but she starts to get a little too involved and is pulled in differing directions that have her team concerned and Elle spiraling down in mental health.

The story has lots of action; however, the scenes of Elle and team as Richie-riches were repeated too often, and I thought this was a bit overdone.

If you are a fan of action and heroines who kick butt, this could be the book for you.

[Sneha Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book two of the series. The protagonist of the story Elle Anderson is trying to get back to her mission while she is recovering from the traumatic consequences of it.
Okay so .. if you liked the premise of story, you'll love the book for sure. I loved it too. The mc is so well developed. Elle is everything I was expecting her to be and a lot more. She is strong , resilient , bold and at times weak and vulnerable too. The writing will have you feeling everything that she is going through ... Vulnerability, pain , frustration , helplessness. I loved everything about this book the plot, the characters , the writing.. ( honestly, idk why but I was expecting this book to have page fillers - boring lengthy plot addlines which contribute next to nothing to the story except to take away it's essence maybe but I'm so glad this wasn't the case here. ) The ending of book 2 has me excited for the next part in the series already...

[Cátia Rato · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 2nd book of the Elle Anderson series only confirms my suspicions while reading the 1st one: Adair is an excellent storyteller.
After the eventful end of the 1st book, Elle is left with some tough choices to make. Recovering from certain death isn't an easy feat. Having to deal with everyone second-guessing you at every turn while having the chance to go free is certainly challenging. But all these hardships mean nothing when Elle finds out there are higher forces in play.
Another book that leaves you wanting more. Not only that: you won't be able to put this one down until you see through it.
A magnificent debut series, for sure.
Can the third book come out now? :)

[Siboniso Mncwabe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Above the belt knockout punch skilful and gracefully delivered. Certainly one of the best reads. Clear and smooth, I was almost drawn into the romance and sympathised with the target. This book is definitely not for the soft hearted.
Elle gets the job done and almost seems heartless but still maintains that heartwarming grace about her.
Almost losing her life, she handled PTSD instead giving her the edge for her next mission. Internal and external threats she soldiers on. Systematic and not reactive - facing up to a gang of delusional, bloodthirsty psychopaths is no mean feat. 👌🏽

[Caribbean Didi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very well-written sequel that keeps you captivated to keep reading it till the end, and guess what is the next step while you are not reading.
Thank you A.M. Adair for the very adventurous book and well-formed characters and speech.
Very thrilling and full of puzzles that are not kept un answered which is really satisfying.
I really recommend reading Book 1 and Book2 together, hoping to see this on TV series one day.

[gizelle ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elle Anderson is back on her adventures. The second book picks up on Elle's PTSD three months after she was held captive. The book is very fast paced. As Elle starts working in Iraq, a lot of action awaited her. The book is as interesting as the first as its filled with the mystery and intrigue of how an undercover job works. We got to see a more in depth side of Elle. The book's well-written and recommend for those interested in action books and adventure.

[Abibliofob · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Deeper Shadow by A.M. Adair is the second book about Elle Anderson and it's just as good as the first one. There was some things that bothered me in the story but not more than other books in this genre, I will shortly get the third book and see what happens next with Ele since she seems to be up against some bad people. I always enjoy the fact that I can still find new authors who writes good stories and find some new twists on the secret agent character.

[Mercedez Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fit for a TV series!!

I chose another 5 star because this is one of the best, well written thrillers, that revolve around a female CIA agent I have ever read.

Its juicy. It has all the cop type vibes, military energy and its a b*ad*ss thriller.

Cant wait for book 3. What an ending!! I'm left in my seat, wanting more!

[Kevin B Chill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elle Anderson continues on her list but it doesn’t get any easier. She has to get her team, her mission, and herself back together. Just like in the first book, Shadow Game, we see Elle not only in the action but also planning and after action. This books leaves me wanting more of Elle and her team.

[Aisha Gali · Rating 4 out of 5]

okay!!! the build of intensity my GOD! it started really slow because of the too much detailing but picked up when number 7 arrived. i loved his part; too bad he had to die.
Elle is one strong woman (although she can be annoying) and the team? superb.
the action is unmatched and worthy.
wished it had more dialogue though.
looking forward to SHADOW WAR.
let’s go.

[Cameron McClellan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow the second book in the series was as excellent as the first. A.M. Adair did an incredible job with Elle Anderson. I can’t wait to read the final book in the series

[Mark Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

The outstanding follow up to Shadow Game does not disappoint. Elle and company continue their mission of disbanding Daesh, after recovering and some counseling due to the events that transpired in Shadow Game. One again the great action sequence , character dialog and intrigue keep you on the edge of your seat in anticipation. Moving on to part three now, Shadow War promises to up the stakes even more.

[Richard Maverick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Action packed from start to finish. Highly recommend

[Raina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cliffhanger Extraordinaire.

Amazing follow up to her first book in the Elle Anderson series. Great character development of Elle, showing her sharp and soft edges. We can talk about PTSD without it crippling us. Cannot wait for the series finale, and would love to see a TV show or movie. A women's perspective on women in action is refreshing and a rarity.

[Artie O’Brien · Rating 5 out of 5]

A.M. Adair once again showcases their literary prowess with 'The Deeper Shadow' Book 2, offering readers an exhilarating experience filled with action, intrigue, and masterful character interactions. A must-read for fans of the series and those seeking a compelling story with well-developed protagonists. A.M. Adair