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Night Shift #1
Shift Work
You'd think the werewolves would be the worst thing about the Night Shift; you'd be wrong.
All Officer Kit Marlow wanted was a cup of coffee and some downtime before his next night shift. Instead, he got a naked man in the elevator and an unaccounted-for dead girl in the morgue. He's going to need to deal with both before he can head for his bed.
Or anyone else's. Although not much chance of that.
Reluctantly partnered with the acerbic security consultant Cade Deacon—last seen naked in the elevator—Marlow delves into the dead girl's life. Between them, they uncover a new crime scene with the whiff of old corruption. A corruption that, five years ago, nearly took Marlow's life and ended his career.
Finding out who killed the dead girl on the slab might only be the start of this investigation. Oh, and it's the second night of the full moon. So 80% of the city, including Cade, will turn into werewolves in the middle of the case.
So, there's that.
All Officer Kit Marlow wanted was a cup of coffee and some downtime before his next night shift. Instead, he got a naked man in the elevator and an unaccounted-for dead girl in the morgue. He's going to need to deal with both before he can head for his bed.
Or anyone else's. Although not much chance of that.
Reluctantly partnered with the acerbic security consultant Cade Deacon—last seen naked in the elevator—Marlow delves into the dead girl's life. Between them, they uncover a new crime scene with the whiff of old corruption. A corruption that, five years ago, nearly took Marlow's life and ended his career.
Finding out who killed the dead girl on the slab might only be the start of this investigation. Oh, and it's the second night of the full moon. So 80% of the city, including Cade, will turn into werewolves in the middle of the case.
So, there's that.
117 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 19, 2021
65 people are currently reading
587 people want to read
About the author
T.A. Moore
45 books390 followersTA Moore is a Northern Irish writer of romantic suspense, urban fantasy, and contemporary romance novels. A childhood in a rural, seaside town fostered in her a suspicious nature, a love of mystery, and a streak of black humour a mile wide. As her grandmother always said, ‘she’d laugh at a bad thing that one’, mind you, that was the pot calling the kettle black. TA Moore studied History, Irish mythology, English at University, mostly because she has always loved a good story. She has worked as a journalist, a finance manager, and in the arts sectors before she finally gave in to a lifelong desire to write.
Coffee, Doc Marten boots, and good friends are the essential things in life. Spiders, mayo, and heels are to be avoided.
Website: www.nevertobetold.co.uk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/TA.Moores
Twitter: @tammy_moore
Coffee, Doc Marten boots, and good friends are the essential things in life. Spiders, mayo, and heels are to be avoided.
Website: www.nevertobetold.co.uk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/TA.Moores
Twitter: @tammy_moore
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews
June 19, 2021
4 Hearts
My second foray into Moore and I’m not disappointed despite the mild rough edges in execution, editing, and the occasional confusing bits.
This is a somewhat bleak alternate reality where the population is 80% werewolves, 20% nulls. It stands to reason that rules and regulations are skewed towards the majority where every full moon, said majority lose their logical rational thinking and become deadly monsters. Kit here, is a plain ole normal human being, and he works the thankless job of a law enforcement officer on the night shift. He patrols and controls any wayward wolves, keeping homicide and destruction at a minimum if at all possible. One night, a dead girl shows up at the morgue and the evidence points towards a werewolfy suspect. This forces Kit to work with the enigmatic Cade, werewolf and CEO of private security for his kind, who can perhaps ease the way in the investigation.
Make no mistake that these two have noticed each other from afar, and now that they're in close proximity, certainly not by choice, their unwanted attraction to the other comes out nonetheless. Honestly, it was fascinating to watch their so-called flirting that was full of acerbic wit, deserved but humorous self flagellation, and an overabundance of foot in mouth syndrome. It made these guys more relatable as Cade isn’t always the cool, calm, and deadly alpha that he tries so hard to project, and Kit has a certain vulnerability that he can’t always hide behind his droll dismissive attitude.
I can see why many readers may be disgruntled with this latest release from Moore. The romantic progression, if you can call it that, goes at a snail’s pace but the sexual tension is strung bow tight and ready to be released at the littlest provocation. The one kiss we get was nothing to sneeze at, and I’m totally ok with that for now. Some things can’t and shouldn’t be rushed.
And yes, this ends on quite the cliffhanger, hinting that Kit’s past is on the brink of rearing its ugly head to wreak havoc on him again, dragging Cade along. I suspect and am thankful that Moore probably wrote this story in one sitting and decided to divvy it up into two books, and the conclusion will be shortly released if not already. I look forward to seeing how this pans out - both in the overall story arc and where these two end up!
Thank you to the author for a copy in exchange for an honest review
My second foray into Moore and I’m not disappointed despite the mild rough edges in execution, editing, and the occasional confusing bits.
This is a somewhat bleak alternate reality where the population is 80% werewolves, 20% nulls. It stands to reason that rules and regulations are skewed towards the majority where every full moon, said majority lose their logical rational thinking and become deadly monsters. Kit here, is a plain ole normal human being, and he works the thankless job of a law enforcement officer on the night shift. He patrols and controls any wayward wolves, keeping homicide and destruction at a minimum if at all possible. One night, a dead girl shows up at the morgue and the evidence points towards a werewolfy suspect. This forces Kit to work with the enigmatic Cade, werewolf and CEO of private security for his kind, who can perhaps ease the way in the investigation.
Make no mistake that these two have noticed each other from afar, and now that they're in close proximity, certainly not by choice, their unwanted attraction to the other comes out nonetheless. Honestly, it was fascinating to watch their so-called flirting that was full of acerbic wit, deserved but humorous self flagellation, and an overabundance of foot in mouth syndrome. It made these guys more relatable as Cade isn’t always the cool, calm, and deadly alpha that he tries so hard to project, and Kit has a certain vulnerability that he can’t always hide behind his droll dismissive attitude.
I can see why many readers may be disgruntled with this latest release from Moore. The romantic progression, if you can call it that, goes at a snail’s pace but the sexual tension is strung bow tight and ready to be released at the littlest provocation. The one kiss we get was nothing to sneeze at, and I’m totally ok with that for now. Some things can’t and shouldn’t be rushed.
And yes, this ends on quite the cliffhanger, hinting that Kit’s past is on the brink of rearing its ugly head to wreak havoc on him again, dragging Cade along. I suspect and am thankful that Moore probably wrote this story in one sitting and decided to divvy it up into two books, and the conclusion will be shortly released if not already. I look forward to seeing how this pans out - both in the overall story arc and where these two end up!
Thank you to the author for a copy in exchange for an honest review
May 5, 2021
3.5 stars
I hope I’m not jinxing it by saying this so soon, but I’m feeling optimistic about this series.
I really like the worldbuilding and the original take on the shapeshifter urban fantasy setting, I love the idea of this “mixed” couple, but most of all I’m intrigued by the MCs. Cade especially was a surprise. I’ve read about asshole MCs that deserved their reputation, I’ve read about asshole MCs that weren’t really so bad once you get to know them, and I wouldn’t put him in neither of those categories. It’s like he’s straddling the line between being an asshole and not caring about being one, being an asshole and caring about not being one, and not being a “real” asshole but still failing to come up as anything but one. Okay, maybe that wasn’t a line, more like a mess, but he’s realistically complicated like that. And so entertaining, lol. He kept surprising me with his thoughts and reactions, and I’ve read enough books in this genre to appreciate that when it happens, doubly appreciate it when it happens with the shapeshifter subgenre.
The same applies to Marlow, with all due differences, and to their dynamic. I loved the way they interacted and how sometimes misinterpreted each other’s behavior, I’m always baffled at characters being able to read another person at any moment and under any circumstances after knowing them only for a few days. For the same reason, I appreciated that the romance was barely addressed in this first book, there’s a lot of flirting and attraction, but the MCs aren’t ready to swear their undying love for each other after 2 days. Hallelujah for that, they’ll hopefully have the entire series to fall properly in love.
I enjoyed the mystery even if some revelations came a little out of nowhere, which probably makes sense given the length of the book. The hints at the characters’ past and the bigger overarching story arc are more than enough to keep me interested, so I would’ve continued anyway, even without that ending—yes, I’m side-eyeing you, author. I just hope it doesn’t become a habit, since only the second book is available at the moment.
I can’t review a book by this author without mentioning what, at least in my experience, has always been a sore point: the editing. I’m happy to report that the situation is improved, it’s still not perfect, in a couple of instances the transition from one scene to the next could’ve been smoother, but there weren’t any glaringly obvious continuity issues or the numerous typos so common in her previous books.
I hope I’m not jinxing it by saying this so soon, but I’m feeling optimistic about this series.
I really like the worldbuilding and the original take on the shapeshifter urban fantasy setting, I love the idea of this “mixed” couple, but most of all I’m intrigued by the MCs. Cade especially was a surprise. I’ve read about asshole MCs that deserved their reputation, I’ve read about asshole MCs that weren’t really so bad once you get to know them, and I wouldn’t put him in neither of those categories. It’s like he’s straddling the line between being an asshole and not caring about being one, being an asshole and caring about not being one, and not being a “real” asshole but still failing to come up as anything but one. Okay, maybe that wasn’t a line, more like a mess, but he’s realistically complicated like that. And so entertaining, lol. He kept surprising me with his thoughts and reactions, and I’ve read enough books in this genre to appreciate that when it happens, doubly appreciate it when it happens with the shapeshifter subgenre.
The same applies to Marlow, with all due differences, and to their dynamic. I loved the way they interacted and how sometimes misinterpreted each other’s behavior, I’m always baffled at characters being able to read another person at any moment and under any circumstances after knowing them only for a few days. For the same reason, I appreciated that the romance was barely addressed in this first book, there’s a lot of flirting and attraction, but the MCs aren’t ready to swear their undying love for each other after 2 days. Hallelujah for that, they’ll hopefully have the entire series to fall properly in love.
I enjoyed the mystery even if some revelations came a little out of nowhere, which probably makes sense given the length of the book. The hints at the characters’ past and the bigger overarching story arc are more than enough to keep me interested, so I would’ve continued anyway, even without that ending—yes, I’m side-eyeing you, author. I just hope it doesn’t become a habit, since only the second book is available at the moment.
I can’t review a book by this author without mentioning what, at least in my experience, has always been a sore point: the editing. I’m happy to report that the situation is improved, it’s still not perfect, in a couple of instances the transition from one scene to the next could’ve been smoother, but there weren’t any glaringly obvious continuity issues or the numerous typos so common in her previous books.
April 29, 2021
I saw, I opened and I read. That was yesterday. Now I'm finished and in the second chapter of the second one.
June 2, 2025
3 Stars
This was my first time reading a story by T.A. Moore, and, for the most part, it was a really positive introductory experience.
I enjoyed the urban fantasy world-building here, as well as the fast-paced, gritty-toned, mystery/crime procedural arc. And I definitely liked the lead characters, werewolf security consultant Cade Deacon and null (human) night shift officer Kit Marlow, who are paired together to work a murder case from two different but overlapping angles.
The promise of werewolves is always an easy way to bate me into reading a book, and I really appreciated how this story played with these themes in a new and unique way, especially in terms of the purpose of the night shift cops and the mayhem that can often take place during a full moon. It was a cool concept, realized in an interesting fashion.
As some other reviews have stated, there are some small editing issues that I was able to overlook pretty easily (but may bother more stringent readers), and I found the story so fast-paced that there were often moments I was confused about who was talking and where the scenes were taking place, but again, this was small pickings compared to how much I was into the overall writing style and original story.
As the first of three connected novellas, this one only barely grazing the surface of the relationship forming between Cade and Kit, but there’s more than enough there—in terms of palpable sexual tension, a growing emotional connection, AND an actual plot—to keep the reader interested… even when this first story ends abruptly, in the midst of an action scene, under the guise of a cliffhanger.
Cliffhangers have their welcomed time and place in book series, but to me, this one just felt unnecessary and only served to vex me. It was a total tease in that way, because what the author has actually done here is just break ONE story up into THREE parts, in my opinion, with no resolution or comfortable resting stop in-between, forcing the reader to either jump ship or fork out more money just to continue the flow of the story.
Overall, I was intrigued by this premise and I was into these characters to a degree that I have chosen to keep reading the story to its conclusion, even if the whole cliffhanger/forced continuation thing has left me feeling pretty damn salty.
This was my first time reading a story by T.A. Moore, and, for the most part, it was a really positive introductory experience.
I enjoyed the urban fantasy world-building here, as well as the fast-paced, gritty-toned, mystery/crime procedural arc. And I definitely liked the lead characters, werewolf security consultant Cade Deacon and null (human) night shift officer Kit Marlow, who are paired together to work a murder case from two different but overlapping angles.
The promise of werewolves is always an easy way to bate me into reading a book, and I really appreciated how this story played with these themes in a new and unique way, especially in terms of the purpose of the night shift cops and the mayhem that can often take place during a full moon. It was a cool concept, realized in an interesting fashion.
As some other reviews have stated, there are some small editing issues that I was able to overlook pretty easily (but may bother more stringent readers), and I found the story so fast-paced that there were often moments I was confused about who was talking and where the scenes were taking place, but again, this was small pickings compared to how much I was into the overall writing style and original story.
As the first of three connected novellas, this one only barely grazing the surface of the relationship forming between Cade and Kit, but there’s more than enough there—in terms of palpable sexual tension, a growing emotional connection, AND an actual plot—to keep the reader interested… even when this first story ends abruptly, in the midst of an action scene, under the guise of a cliffhanger.
Cliffhangers have their welcomed time and place in book series, but to me, this one just felt unnecessary and only served to vex me. It was a total tease in that way, because what the author has actually done here is just break ONE story up into THREE parts, in my opinion, with no resolution or comfortable resting stop in-between, forcing the reader to either jump ship or fork out more money just to continue the flow of the story.
Overall, I was intrigued by this premise and I was into these characters to a degree that I have chosen to keep reading the story to its conclusion, even if the whole cliffhanger/forced continuation thing has left me feeling pretty damn salty.
May 24, 2021
3.5
Imagine a world where 80% of the people are werewolves and we're not talking about wolf-shifter but run of the mill werewolves and their full moon issues. You surely believe that there are different laws in place for those 3 nights a month. No one can be held responsible for what they do as a wolf when they don't even remember what they did during that time but of course there has to be a special police force for those time of the month, called the Night Shift.
But don't worry, there is no world building over-bombing. T.A. Moore let us pretend it's nothing special and that we're familiar with that world. That leaves her the freedom to show what's necessary for the story and leave the rest to our imagination. Not always the best decision but she gives us enough bits and pieces to make it work and herself to be able to focus on the mystery and her main characters. So it's foremost one of those laconic big city mysteries where the current investigation gets overshadowed by past occurrences and misdemeanors and where trust is not easily given.
Do we get a romance additionally? No, not exactly a romance but a romance in waiting, but you wouldn't expect anything else in this kind of mystery and guys who come with that kind of baggage. Nevertheless there is a connection from the first time we see those 2 together and while still vulnerable and undefined it gets stronger and they can't shake it off.
So I read about an imaginative world with a new twist on werewolves, got a mystery with a modern version of that dry vibe I always loved on film noir movies and a unlikely relationship with a glacial slow burn where kisses and hand jobs are enough to keep it going. I really enjoyed it and while most of the time it was no solid 4 star rating I gladly would have rounded up – if there would have been a different end. Firstly, I'm no fan of cliffhanger and secondly as atmospheric and nicely constructed the mystery was, its conclusion came too fast, too easy, too unpredictable.
Imagine a world where 80% of the people are werewolves and we're not talking about wolf-shifter but run of the mill werewolves and their full moon issues. You surely believe that there are different laws in place for those 3 nights a month. No one can be held responsible for what they do as a wolf when they don't even remember what they did during that time but of course there has to be a special police force for those time of the month, called the Night Shift.
But don't worry, there is no world building over-bombing. T.A. Moore let us pretend it's nothing special and that we're familiar with that world. That leaves her the freedom to show what's necessary for the story and leave the rest to our imagination. Not always the best decision but she gives us enough bits and pieces to make it work and herself to be able to focus on the mystery and her main characters. So it's foremost one of those laconic big city mysteries where the current investigation gets overshadowed by past occurrences and misdemeanors and where trust is not easily given.
Do we get a romance additionally? No, not exactly a romance but a romance in waiting, but you wouldn't expect anything else in this kind of mystery and guys who come with that kind of baggage. Nevertheless there is a connection from the first time we see those 2 together and while still vulnerable and undefined it gets stronger and they can't shake it off.
So I read about an imaginative world with a new twist on werewolves, got a mystery with a modern version of that dry vibe I always loved on film noir movies and a unlikely relationship with a glacial slow burn where kisses and hand jobs are enough to keep it going. I really enjoyed it and while most of the time it was no solid 4 star rating I gladly would have rounded up – if there would have been a different end. Firstly, I'm no fan of cliffhanger and secondly as atmospheric and nicely constructed the mystery was, its conclusion came too fast, too easy, too unpredictable.
January 16, 2022
I liked almost everything about this -- the greater world-building (although I wanted that to play a bigger role), the dynamic between the MCs, the smaller mystery that leads to a bigger mystery -- but it really annoyed me that it's essentially just the first 100 pages of a full-length novel. I knew this in theory, which is why I waited for all three installments to be released before I started it, but this means it's basically a $10 book, and I didn't like it that much. I can pretty much guarantee it's a 3/3.5 star read that I would enjoy and then barely remember in a few months, and if it were at my library or on Scribd I would have happily binged the whole thing. I just couldn't bring myself to spend another $7 on it 🤷🏻♀️
March 27, 2024
No world-building,
just propulsive action and
lust. Frustrating, good.
just propulsive action and
lust. Frustrating, good.
June 21, 2021
4 stars rather than 5 only because it's Part 1 of an overarching series
I'm a huge T.A. Moore fan. She creates imaginative worlds, economically described (no wait-2-chapters-while-I-tell-you-how-clever-I've-been world vomiting here), and populates them with laconic vulnerable people, trying their (more-or-less) honourable best to get by. Then she lets them get on their sardonic romance-adjacent way.
Here, the world is populated 80% by werewolves, fine upstanding members of society (most of the month) and policed both by their own private force – CEO Cade Deacon:
As far as Cade had pieced together over the years, the wolf version of him was the same asshole he was the rest of the month. Just happier about it. And hairier.
– and also by the under-resourced, over-stretched Night Shift branch of the San Diego Police Department, represented by Kit Marlow:
"I have to respect the work ethic of San Diego’s tax-funded LEOs," Cade drawled. "Not only here first thing in the morning, but dressed and already looking like shit."
There are two plots. One centres on the unexpected and inexplicable appearance in SDPD's morgue of a handless ex-sanguinated corpse. Cade & Marlow work together to solve this (neither quite prepared for their attraction to each other) and I liked the way they came to respect each other's qualities in the process. Along the way we learn more about the world of werewolves & "nulls" (non-werewolves), their tensions and scraps of their histories. It's relevant information since the overarching plot - concerns a rogue SDPD officer with whom Marlow shares an unspecified backstory.
This is a rare book in which I'd say not a word is wasted. But it didn't take TAM even 40k words to get me invested in Cade & Marlow's spiky relationship. This is wooing-by-sarcasm and I am a complete pushover for it.
While the Handless Corpse plot is self-contained, be warned that the romantic arc is not concluded (though it is advanced), and the book ends on a delicious cliff-hanger.
You can bet I've ordered Split Shift already.
I'm a huge T.A. Moore fan. She creates imaginative worlds, economically described (no wait-2-chapters-while-I-tell-you-how-clever-I've-been world vomiting here), and populates them with laconic vulnerable people, trying their (more-or-less) honourable best to get by. Then she lets them get on their sardonic romance-adjacent way.
Here, the world is populated 80% by werewolves, fine upstanding members of society (most of the month) and policed both by their own private force – CEO Cade Deacon:
As far as Cade had pieced together over the years, the wolf version of him was the same asshole he was the rest of the month. Just happier about it. And hairier.
– and also by the under-resourced, over-stretched Night Shift branch of the San Diego Police Department, represented by Kit Marlow:
"I have to respect the work ethic of San Diego’s tax-funded LEOs," Cade drawled. "Not only here first thing in the morning, but dressed and already looking like shit."
There are two plots. One centres on the unexpected and inexplicable appearance in SDPD's morgue of a handless ex-sanguinated corpse. Cade & Marlow work together to solve this (neither quite prepared for their attraction to each other) and I liked the way they came to respect each other's qualities in the process. Along the way we learn more about the world of werewolves & "nulls" (non-werewolves), their tensions and scraps of their histories. It's relevant information since the overarching plot - concerns a rogue SDPD officer with whom Marlow shares an unspecified backstory.
This is a rare book in which I'd say not a word is wasted. But it didn't take TAM even 40k words to get me invested in Cade & Marlow's spiky relationship. This is wooing-by-sarcasm and I am a complete pushover for it.
“What happened?” Cade asked...
Marlow looked surprised, as if he’d forgotten about the marks. He reached up and brushed his fingers along his lower lip until he hit the tender spot. Cade’s body tightened with awareness, and he wondered what it would be like to kiss Marlow’s bruised mouth. The taste, the texture, the way Marlow would pull back or lean in…
“Got punched in the face,” Marlow said.
“You paint a picture with your words.”
The sarcastic edge to Cade’s voice made him swear silently. Despite the pep talk he’d given himself on the way over, he had not brought his best self to play. He tried to cough up an apology, but the flash of a sudden, unexpected grin from Marlow interrupted his attempt.
It was a nice enough smile—wider and more mobile than Cade had expected from Marlow’s lean, sharp-boned face. Nothing about it, though, justified the rush of gooey, soppy warmth that rose from Cade’s stomach and filled his chest. It just felt good that he had been the one to coax something more than half a crooked smile out of the self-contained officer."
While the Handless Corpse plot is self-contained, be warned that the romantic arc is not concluded (though it is advanced), and the book ends on a delicious cliff-hanger.
You can bet I've ordered Split Shift already.
March 14, 2021
ARC received for an honest review.
Kit Marlow is an officer with the SDPD. He's on the night shift because he's a null; a person who doesn't shift. There was some bad business in the PD years ago and it affected his police career. Now he's set up to work with Cade Deacon to solve the mystery of a dead woman found in the morgue.
Cade Deacon is the owner of a security firm. He's also a shifter that's been asked to work with the SDPD to help solve case of the dead woman. He had some bad history in his business years ago and is worried what more will come from the past trouble.
Kit is a quiet character going about his day. He doesn't like to ruffle anyone's feathers and is just trying to keep his head down. He even lets another officer take credit for saving a child because it just isn't worth it. What?!? When the dead woman turns up in the morgue without properly being dropped off; it immediately gets his and his captain's attention. This is the signature of a bad cop that has been in prison for years. This makes Kit wonder who wasn't ferreted out from that investigation? Who is bad in the SDPD? While he and Cade are investigating they find they are both attracted to each other but is it a bad idea for a shifter and a null to hook up?
There's chemistry between Kit and Cade; although, it's not very hot. Other than one episode of kissing and rubbing each other, it doesn't go anywhere. The mystery isn't solved completely and is left hanging in a cliffhanger. I couldn't really get into this story and found myself wanting to skip pages but as it was an ARC I forced myself to finish. There's something about the world building that was off-putting to me. It was unusual (and not in a good way) and hard to follow along. The blurb says that the city is 80% shifter and with the way they are described the SDPD wouldn't be able to keep up with the aftermath. It would've been better to say that shifters lock themselves in cages than to write them like the author did. I'm intrigued enough to want to know who the bad guy in the SDPD is but not enough to buy the next book. The bad history both MCs have, in their line of work, isn't explained thoroughly and is upsetting that I'd have to wait and read book 2 to maybe get some answers. I won't be reading this book again and definitely can't recommend it for others.
Kit Marlow is an officer with the SDPD. He's on the night shift because he's a null; a person who doesn't shift. There was some bad business in the PD years ago and it affected his police career. Now he's set up to work with Cade Deacon to solve the mystery of a dead woman found in the morgue.
Cade Deacon is the owner of a security firm. He's also a shifter that's been asked to work with the SDPD to help solve case of the dead woman. He had some bad history in his business years ago and is worried what more will come from the past trouble.
Kit is a quiet character going about his day. He doesn't like to ruffle anyone's feathers and is just trying to keep his head down. He even lets another officer take credit for saving a child because it just isn't worth it. What?!? When the dead woman turns up in the morgue without properly being dropped off; it immediately gets his and his captain's attention. This is the signature of a bad cop that has been in prison for years. This makes Kit wonder who wasn't ferreted out from that investigation? Who is bad in the SDPD? While he and Cade are investigating they find they are both attracted to each other but is it a bad idea for a shifter and a null to hook up?
There's chemistry between Kit and Cade; although, it's not very hot. Other than one episode of kissing and rubbing each other, it doesn't go anywhere. The mystery isn't solved completely and is left hanging in a cliffhanger. I couldn't really get into this story and found myself wanting to skip pages but as it was an ARC I forced myself to finish. There's something about the world building that was off-putting to me. It was unusual (and not in a good way) and hard to follow along. The blurb says that the city is 80% shifter and with the way they are described the SDPD wouldn't be able to keep up with the aftermath. It would've been better to say that shifters lock themselves in cages than to write them like the author did. I'm intrigued enough to want to know who the bad guy in the SDPD is but not enough to buy the next book. The bad history both MCs have, in their line of work, isn't explained thoroughly and is upsetting that I'd have to wait and read book 2 to maybe get some answers. I won't be reading this book again and definitely can't recommend it for others.
September 8, 2025
What an intriguing premise! However, the writing needed more work, mostly around scene transitions and exposition. The former was disjointed and the latter not near enough to follow the story (what is a “nul”l? I made an educated guess but it would have been nice to have it explained to me or given clearer hints). Other than that, the story was alright and the characters decently fleshed out.
For those who are particular about these things, there’s no spice in this and the story actually ends on a cliffhanger regarding the mystery and the MCs’ relationship.
Sidenote: Kit Marlow is an aptly-named MC, especially if this series goes where I believe it will.
Expect
- Shifters
- Dislike to lovers
- Forced proximity
- Cliffhanger
Kindle freebie: 29.5.25
For those who are particular about these things, there’s no spice in this and the story actually ends on a cliffhanger regarding the mystery and the MCs’ relationship.
Sidenote: Kit Marlow is an aptly-named MC, especially if this series goes where I believe it will.
Expect
- Shifters
- Dislike to lovers
- Forced proximity
- Cliffhanger
Kindle freebie: 29.5.25
March 13, 2021
Originally published at Reading Reality
I’m going to try for short and sweet with this review – at least in certain senses of sweet – because I’ve got plenty of content to go with it from today’s guest, author TA Moore.
It’s sweet because I loved this book. There’s plenty of bitter to go with that sweet, but that’s all to do with the way this version of our world is set up and especially the personality of the characters. Between Marlow and Cade, there’s plenty of bitter going around. Neither of them is exactly sweetness and light, not even on a good day.
And neither of them has much in the way of good days – especially not the days after a full moon.
Cade’s description of himself pretty much sets up his personality and his take on the world, when he considers that “the wolf version of him was the same asshole he was the rest of the month. Just happier about it.”
This is a world where 80% of the human population turns wolf on the three nights of the full moon. But in a world where 80% are werewolves, that means 20% are not. Marlow is one of those “nots”. He’s Null with a capital N. Whatever makes him incapable of going were makes him perfect for the Night Shift, the cops who work those three nights when most of the population isn’t completely responsible for whatever they do and whoever they do it to.
It’s a tough job, but somebody has to do it.
The story in Shift Work, the first book in the Night Shift series, puts cop Marlow on the same case as high-powered and highly paid private security consultant Cade Deacon.
The case of a young Null woman whose dead body was dumped in the police morgue the morning after a full moon without her hands – and whose last known location was an exclusive – and expensive – preserve for rich, entitled wolves.
Cade wants to protect his business – the firm responsible for security at the preserve. The dead girl’s last known location proves there’s at least one hole in his security net and he needs to close it up – fast.
Marlow knows that the way that the girl’s body was dumped in the morgue connects to an old, thought to be cold, case of one very dirty cop now behind bars. Marlow needs to find out if his old partner is somehow up to his old tricks – because if he is then Marlow is next on his to-do list.
All that Cade and Marlow have to do is focus on the case that’s temporarily tying them together – and not let themselves get wrapped up in the inappropriate and irresponsible attraction they have to each other.
Escape Rating A-: This is an A- because I want more so damn bad I can’t stand it. Honestly.
The reader gets dropped into this story – this world – at what feels a bit like the middle and it is one hell of a tease. Not just because Marlow is describing the naked man he’s sharing the elevator with.
The world felt fully fleshed out – pun definitely intended – but I really wanted to know more about how things got this way, because by this point in their history whatever happened happened far enough back that the world has adjusted around it. Which was great but left me wondering whether there was an “Event” and I missed it or if this is the way it’s always been.
The story is being labelled as MM romance because these two men are pulled together sexually and can’t help fantasizing about it even if they don’t get to act on it much in this first book. But really this story is urban fantasy, and like much of urban fantasy the protagonists are both hot messes and neither is ready for a real relationship – or possibly even friends with benefits because neither of them is able to handle friendship.
This one feels like its more about the case they have to solve – and the cases that this one leads back to – rather than the potential romantic relationship between Marlow and Cade. Because they’re not going to get there for a while. Just like they’re not going to get to the bottom of the crap they’ve uncovered.
And I love me some detective procedural-type urban fantasy, so this was absolutely my jam every step of the way.
But I ended the book wanting to scream! Not just because they haven’t gotten to the bottom of the case, but because when the story ends it’s a cliffie. Not just a figurative cliffie but a literal damn cliff that they’ve just been pushed off of. Where’s that next book already? I’m dying over here. And possibly Cade and Marlow are dying over there. I have to KNOW!
I’m going to try for short and sweet with this review – at least in certain senses of sweet – because I’ve got plenty of content to go with it from today’s guest, author TA Moore.
It’s sweet because I loved this book. There’s plenty of bitter to go with that sweet, but that’s all to do with the way this version of our world is set up and especially the personality of the characters. Between Marlow and Cade, there’s plenty of bitter going around. Neither of them is exactly sweetness and light, not even on a good day.
And neither of them has much in the way of good days – especially not the days after a full moon.
Cade’s description of himself pretty much sets up his personality and his take on the world, when he considers that “the wolf version of him was the same asshole he was the rest of the month. Just happier about it.”
This is a world where 80% of the human population turns wolf on the three nights of the full moon. But in a world where 80% are werewolves, that means 20% are not. Marlow is one of those “nots”. He’s Null with a capital N. Whatever makes him incapable of going were makes him perfect for the Night Shift, the cops who work those three nights when most of the population isn’t completely responsible for whatever they do and whoever they do it to.
It’s a tough job, but somebody has to do it.
The story in Shift Work, the first book in the Night Shift series, puts cop Marlow on the same case as high-powered and highly paid private security consultant Cade Deacon.
The case of a young Null woman whose dead body was dumped in the police morgue the morning after a full moon without her hands – and whose last known location was an exclusive – and expensive – preserve for rich, entitled wolves.
Cade wants to protect his business – the firm responsible for security at the preserve. The dead girl’s last known location proves there’s at least one hole in his security net and he needs to close it up – fast.
Marlow knows that the way that the girl’s body was dumped in the morgue connects to an old, thought to be cold, case of one very dirty cop now behind bars. Marlow needs to find out if his old partner is somehow up to his old tricks – because if he is then Marlow is next on his to-do list.
All that Cade and Marlow have to do is focus on the case that’s temporarily tying them together – and not let themselves get wrapped up in the inappropriate and irresponsible attraction they have to each other.
Escape Rating A-: This is an A- because I want more so damn bad I can’t stand it. Honestly.
The reader gets dropped into this story – this world – at what feels a bit like the middle and it is one hell of a tease. Not just because Marlow is describing the naked man he’s sharing the elevator with.
The world felt fully fleshed out – pun definitely intended – but I really wanted to know more about how things got this way, because by this point in their history whatever happened happened far enough back that the world has adjusted around it. Which was great but left me wondering whether there was an “Event” and I missed it or if this is the way it’s always been.
The story is being labelled as MM romance because these two men are pulled together sexually and can’t help fantasizing about it even if they don’t get to act on it much in this first book. But really this story is urban fantasy, and like much of urban fantasy the protagonists are both hot messes and neither is ready for a real relationship – or possibly even friends with benefits because neither of them is able to handle friendship.
This one feels like its more about the case they have to solve – and the cases that this one leads back to – rather than the potential romantic relationship between Marlow and Cade. Because they’re not going to get there for a while. Just like they’re not going to get to the bottom of the crap they’ve uncovered.
And I love me some detective procedural-type urban fantasy, so this was absolutely my jam every step of the way.
But I ended the book wanting to scream! Not just because they haven’t gotten to the bottom of the case, but because when the story ends it’s a cliffie. Not just a figurative cliffie but a literal damn cliff that they’ve just been pushed off of. Where’s that next book already? I’m dying over here. And possibly Cade and Marlow are dying over there. I have to KNOW!
December 17, 2022
3.5
Maybe 4. Hmmm. I was confused occasionally (names, plot parts) and sometimes had to go back and re-read. But overall I really liked it, the two main characters had chemistry, and a nice mystery!
Maybe 4. Hmmm. I was confused occasionally (names, plot parts) and sometimes had to go back and re-read. But overall I really liked it, the two main characters had chemistry, and a nice mystery!
December 9, 2025
This has some potential to be a good slow burn, but the author could have explained the world building a bit more. It was hard to get into because I was confused about who’s who or what. Organization/company names are thrown around like I was supposed to know them already. Once I got the gist of the story, things got more interesting. Still, the story is too short to deliver any impact.
September 14, 2021
AYEE I'M FOREVER IN LOVE WITH THIS BOOK THAT PULLED ME OUT OF THIS STUPID FUNK AHHHH I'M SO HAPPY.
It was so good. I loved the case and Marlow and Cade and especially the way they meet XD. Sex scenes weren't so great, not like there were much what with all the interruptions lol but even otherwise, they were filled more with thoughts and talking than any sexy stuff.
It was so good. I loved the case and Marlow and Cade and especially the way they meet XD. Sex scenes weren't so great, not like there were much what with all the interruptions lol but even otherwise, they were filled more with thoughts and talking than any sexy stuff.
March 19, 2021
I was gifted my copy of this book, and I thank Ms Moore for that.
However!
I went into this book thinking it was a complete story. And its freaking NOT!! It's a mahoosive cliff hanger, and my poor kindle is lucky to still be working!
Cos there I was, merrily reading away, not paying much attention to how much I have left, and BOOM! The end crept up on me and I was OMFG and JHFC and all kinds of loud swear words a sailor would be proud of!
Oh, this is a bloody good book, but you need to know, its a cliff hanger, one of Dover Cliff size and I didn't know that!
Anyway, now I've ranted about that, here's what I really thought ;-P
I bloody LOVED this book! These werewolves are somewhat different, and it took me a little time to piece together the clues about how they are around "that time of the month" (I loved those little jokes, they proper made me chuckle!) They are dark and deadly around the full moon. Cade has just a few days to find out who the girl is in the morgue, the one who shouldn't be there. Working with Marlow, who is Night Shift (capitals intended, its how it is said in the book) and null. It took me a while to figure out what THAT meant, and I'm not entirely sure I've fully got it, but you make your own mind up.
I've not tagged this as romance. There is steam and attraction, but there is no romance here, not yet. Oh they have a moment in the bathroom that was rudely interrupted, but once they get some time together, the chemistry will explode, I'm sure.
I have it on authority that the next book isn't too far away, and I really hope that Ms Moore doesn't cliff hang that one, cos I'm not sure that my kindle can survive a second trip to the wall so close to the last one!
It's only 117 pages, but packs a mighty powerful punch!
So, all in all, a bloody good book, but April needs to hurry the chuffing heck up!
5 stars (but I would, even for such a short, cliffhanger book, give it more if I could!)
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
However!
I went into this book thinking it was a complete story. And its freaking NOT!! It's a mahoosive cliff hanger, and my poor kindle is lucky to still be working!
Cos there I was, merrily reading away, not paying much attention to how much I have left, and BOOM! The end crept up on me and I was OMFG and JHFC and all kinds of loud swear words a sailor would be proud of!
Oh, this is a bloody good book, but you need to know, its a cliff hanger, one of Dover Cliff size and I didn't know that!
Anyway, now I've ranted about that, here's what I really thought ;-P
I bloody LOVED this book! These werewolves are somewhat different, and it took me a little time to piece together the clues about how they are around "that time of the month" (I loved those little jokes, they proper made me chuckle!) They are dark and deadly around the full moon. Cade has just a few days to find out who the girl is in the morgue, the one who shouldn't be there. Working with Marlow, who is Night Shift (capitals intended, its how it is said in the book) and null. It took me a while to figure out what THAT meant, and I'm not entirely sure I've fully got it, but you make your own mind up.
I've not tagged this as romance. There is steam and attraction, but there is no romance here, not yet. Oh they have a moment in the bathroom that was rudely interrupted, but once they get some time together, the chemistry will explode, I'm sure.
I have it on authority that the next book isn't too far away, and I really hope that Ms Moore doesn't cliff hang that one, cos I'm not sure that my kindle can survive a second trip to the wall so close to the last one!
It's only 117 pages, but packs a mighty powerful punch!
So, all in all, a bloody good book, but April needs to hurry the chuffing heck up!
5 stars (but I would, even for such a short, cliffhanger book, give it more if I could!)
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
August 5, 2021
3.5 stars - upgraded on reread. Maybe because I’m in a different frame of mind but I enjoyed it more on second read. Still didn’t like the cliffhanger ending but I felt more sympathetic to the characters. Will read rest of series :)
Ms Moore books are definitely on the grittier side. This book was interesting in that being a werewolf is more common than not and the wolves are more like classic monsters than some of the fluffier modern shifter books. They have little knowledge of their brutal actions as a wolf. Despite his assholishness, I found Cade’s attempts at flirting and his resulting inner self deprecating voice endearing. I felt the sexual tension between him and Marlow. However, this ends on a cliffhanger though and not even hfn. I’m not sure if I’m invested enough to read more in the series.
Ms Moore books are definitely on the grittier side. This book was interesting in that being a werewolf is more common than not and the wolves are more like classic monsters than some of the fluffier modern shifter books. They have little knowledge of their brutal actions as a wolf. Despite his assholishness, I found Cade’s attempts at flirting and his resulting inner self deprecating voice endearing. I felt the sexual tension between him and Marlow. However, this ends on a cliffhanger though and not even hfn. I’m not sure if I’m invested enough to read more in the series.
May 21, 2022
Dual POV
Pre-established attraction (eh)
Good chemistry (surprisingly)
Ends on a cliffhanger (boo)
The mystery is simple, the book is too short for it to have any serious depth. It seems like the focus is more on the two main characters and their development/backstory. Which is fine by me, I can go either way with mysteries and I prefer romance.
The book could use some editing, I had to reread a number of sections to figure out who was talking or what they were referring to.
The rules of the world don't currently make sense but maybe that will be addressed in later books.
I hate cliffhangers but I'm interested enough to read the next book
Pre-established attraction (eh)
Good chemistry (surprisingly)
Ends on a cliffhanger (boo)
The mystery is simple, the book is too short for it to have any serious depth. It seems like the focus is more on the two main characters and their development/backstory. Which is fine by me, I can go either way with mysteries and I prefer romance.
The book could use some editing, I had to reread a number of sections to figure out who was talking or what they were referring to.
The rules of the world don't currently make sense but maybe that will be addressed in later books.
I hate cliffhangers but I'm interested enough to read the next book
March 10, 2024
enjoyable. Mildly keen to read the next one.
ATA: Good Recommend.
The story of the 3 book series takes place over about 5 weeks. Really, this is a book in 3 parts.
ATA: Good Recommend.
The story of the 3 book series takes place over about 5 weeks. Really, this is a book in 3 parts.
August 13, 2021
3.5 for me - took me a while to find my groove with this book but I’m glad I persisted 🙂 I think it’s going to be fun !
August 17, 2021
*3.5 Stars.
I really enjoyed this one! It was fun and fast paced, and the case the two MCs were investigating was interesting and thrilling.
However I must admit that I had some problems with the world building. It is clear that there can't be much detail in such a short novel, but the first 30 to 40 pages I was still confused as to who belonged to which institution, and how exactly the Night Shift and the Reserve operated.
All of this was made up by the two very likeable MCs. Their dynamic was just great! Definitely going to read the two other books.
I really enjoyed this one! It was fun and fast paced, and the case the two MCs were investigating was interesting and thrilling.
However I must admit that I had some problems with the world building. It is clear that there can't be much detail in such a short novel, but the first 30 to 40 pages I was still confused as to who belonged to which institution, and how exactly the Night Shift and the Reserve operated.
All of this was made up by the two very likeable MCs. Their dynamic was just great! Definitely going to read the two other books.
August 13, 2021
3.5 rounded up.
Needs a little more editing, some places were rough and hard to follow. But I squinted and enjoyed it anyway
Needs a little more editing, some places were rough and hard to follow. But I squinted and enjoyed it anyway
April 27, 2021
First of a series.
Classy, smutty, bloody, and very cleverly plotted, this first of the Night Shift books is well worth reading. Just be prepared to s want to jump straight onto the next nook
Classy, smutty, bloody, and very cleverly plotted, this first of the Night Shift books is well worth reading. Just be prepared to s want to jump straight onto the next nook
August 1, 2021
Hahaha! Forgive me while I laugh with joy and pure elation! Great move, TA Moore! When everyone else is 'zigging' in paranormal literature, this writer's particular 'zag' dumps the werewolf mythos on its head. In a city where 80% of the population are werewolves, one would expect the dynamics of the sociopolitical system to be very different from the norm. TA Moore captures a bit of this distinction and makes it a basis for her Night Shift series--a truly brilliant and promising work that has garnered more than its share of recommendations in the LGBTQ+ book groups.
In a city where 80% of the population of werewolves, full moons are truly lively and potentially dangerous. Officer Kit Marlow knows all too well how lively things get at the full moon and encountering a naked man trying for the elevator at work is just one of the many things he endures working the night shift. Nightshift is a dedicated law enforcement department operating in the evenings that is committed to policing the city during the three-day full moon cycle. They are manned by norms like Kit who represent that 20% of the population that are NOT werewolves. He finds himself reluctantly partnered with that same naked man, Cade Deacon-a security consultant, in order to find out who killed a use-to-be-famous young woman. The investigation into her life leads them to realize the young woman had been confined only to die when she managed to escape her detainer.
TA Moore makes the distinction between werewolf and wolf-shifter in her work. This was an unexpected personal bonus that I found especially enjoyable. Wolf shifters are able to change at any time and are aware of their humanity while in the wolf body. That is NOT the case with werewolves, who may find they have little or no memory of what goes on when they've changed into wolves. The writer gives us intriguing glimpses of the social policies and law enforcement procedures that would be implemented in a world where werewolves are in the majority. This includes the kind of equipment needed for deterrence and containment in addition to the specific crimes committed by and against this special population. There's so much there to work within this truly unique world giving readers so much to look forward to in this auspicious series.
In a city where 80% of the population of werewolves, full moons are truly lively and potentially dangerous. Officer Kit Marlow knows all too well how lively things get at the full moon and encountering a naked man trying for the elevator at work is just one of the many things he endures working the night shift. Nightshift is a dedicated law enforcement department operating in the evenings that is committed to policing the city during the three-day full moon cycle. They are manned by norms like Kit who represent that 20% of the population that are NOT werewolves. He finds himself reluctantly partnered with that same naked man, Cade Deacon-a security consultant, in order to find out who killed a use-to-be-famous young woman. The investigation into her life leads them to realize the young woman had been confined only to die when she managed to escape her detainer.
TA Moore makes the distinction between werewolf and wolf-shifter in her work. This was an unexpected personal bonus that I found especially enjoyable. Wolf shifters are able to change at any time and are aware of their humanity while in the wolf body. That is NOT the case with werewolves, who may find they have little or no memory of what goes on when they've changed into wolves. The writer gives us intriguing glimpses of the social policies and law enforcement procedures that would be implemented in a world where werewolves are in the majority. This includes the kind of equipment needed for deterrence and containment in addition to the specific crimes committed by and against this special population. There's so much there to work within this truly unique world giving readers so much to look forward to in this auspicious series.
August 11, 2021
This was so much FUN!
It's a quick paced murder mystery with a paranormal twist, because there are werewolves in this world! And I mean the cool ones, who walk on two feet and are like.. 7 feet tall!
I absolutely adored our main protagonist Marlow, because he is a very tired, unbothered person, which was interesting to see. I also liked Cade, even though he was an ass most of the time.
The worldbuilding was a little confusing at times, but still very interesting and I'm excited to see how the author will expand the world she has created.
It's a quick paced murder mystery with a paranormal twist, because there are werewolves in this world! And I mean the cool ones, who walk on two feet and are like.. 7 feet tall!
I absolutely adored our main protagonist Marlow, because he is a very tired, unbothered person, which was interesting to see. I also liked Cade, even though he was an ass most of the time.
The worldbuilding was a little confusing at times, but still very interesting and I'm excited to see how the author will expand the world she has created.
March 22, 2021
This could have been good. It's an interesting take on werewolves and the characters are compelling. But the abrupt end without even a HFN puts me off completely. It's like the author just got up from the keyboard for a bio break and never came back and then went - oh well I want to go play video games, I guess I'll publish this anyway.
If you want to read this, I'd recommend waiting until the entire series is finished before picking it up.
If you want to read this, I'd recommend waiting until the entire series is finished before picking it up.
September 21, 2021
I had a hard time getting into reading this one so I purchased the audiobook. I disliked the narrator. His narration was not fluid & at times I was sure who was speaking. There is a lot left open & does end on a cliff hanger. I will probably read the second book as I need the answers & a better explanation on what happened to both of our MC's in their past.
March 22, 2021
Cliffhanger
This was an enjoyable story but it ended on a cliffhanger which I hate. Additionaly some important backstory and plot points that were hinted at were not addressed by the end of this book. If you must read it my advice is to wait until the second book is out.
This was an enjoyable story but it ended on a cliffhanger which I hate. Additionaly some important backstory and plot points that were hinted at were not addressed by the end of this book. If you must read it my advice is to wait until the second book is out.
May 22, 2021
Fabulous start to a new series.
June 1, 2021
Werewolves. Werewolves actually killing people because they're werewolves. This was a great take on shifters and I can not wait to read more.
Read
October 27, 2021Highly likeable MC’s. Interested to see where this goes
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