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Shuller #2
Prodigal Son
Sheriff Martin Shuller was good at his job. He had a reputation of being a very thorough and very honest investigator. It had not surprised anyone when he was tapped to help with an investigation in a small neighboring town with a shocking high profile murder. Shuller, willing to help the quaint cove, readily accepted the challenge. Leaving his town in the safe hands of his deputy, Shuller traveled to Columbus Cove and worked the Steven Harrigan murder investigation. With the dramatic end to that case now behind him, Shuller returned to his seemingly normal and quiet town of Huntersville. He was glad to be back, despite only being gone for the brief time. A weight had lifted once he returned to his town, his routines, his life. He felt all the previous stress leave him as soon as he crossed back into his town’s outer limits. Quiet and normal was what he was seeking. It certainly was not what he found.
Not long after returning home to his life and routine, a murder occurs, and it is too close for comfort for him.
Shuller is unexpectedly drawn into the case and discovers that things he thought he knew may not have been what they seemed to be. Shuller tries to come to grips with the revelations as they are discovered and those close to him worry for the embattled sheriff. As with most murders, there is more than just a single victim. Shuller had never thought that what had occurred in that house on Cedar Mill Lane would have uprooted what he thought he knew.
Not long after returning home to his life and routine, a murder occurs, and it is too close for comfort for him.
Shuller is unexpectedly drawn into the case and discovers that things he thought he knew may not have been what they seemed to be. Shuller tries to come to grips with the revelations as they are discovered and those close to him worry for the embattled sheriff. As with most murders, there is more than just a single victim. Shuller had never thought that what had occurred in that house on Cedar Mill Lane would have uprooted what he thought he knew.
261 pages, Hardcover
First published October 30, 2014
1 person is currently reading
10 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 28, 2017
WOW - This Shuller Series is awesome. Kathleen Lopez does have a wonderful way of writing a good mystery. With this being the 2nd book of the series, I really suggest that you start by reading the 1st book -- Between the Shades of Light and Dark -- before reading this one. It will just have things making more sense.
Sheriff Shuller is a man who love to focus on details. He is really good at his job and has pride in his work. When he is asked to help a neighboring town with a big murder investigation, he just could say no! He felt good leaving his town in the hands of his deputy. When he returns to town and back to his old routine, he was surprised when someone was murdered. I don't write spoilers - so I will stop here and say that you really have to read this book to experience the story yourself!!!
I highly recommend this one to anyone who loves a good, fast-paced mystery. I look forward to more from Kathleen Lopez!!!
Sheriff Shuller is a man who love to focus on details. He is really good at his job and has pride in his work. When he is asked to help a neighboring town with a big murder investigation, he just could say no! He felt good leaving his town in the hands of his deputy. When he returns to town and back to his old routine, he was surprised when someone was murdered. I don't write spoilers - so I will stop here and say that you really have to read this book to experience the story yourself!!!
I highly recommend this one to anyone who loves a good, fast-paced mystery. I look forward to more from Kathleen Lopez!!!
April 12, 2017
Wow. This book is amazing. It kept me hooked, and I definitely wasn't expecting that ending.
April 1, 2017
I purchased this book, among others, at the Amelia Island book festival a few weeks ago. I had a chance to meet author Kathleen Lopez and chatted with her briefly. She explained that this book is entirely her work, self-published. No editor, no agent, no public relations, no publisher promotion. I admire someone this determined to publish a novel.
The book cover does not give much of the plot away, so I won't either. It is a murder-mystery, but we know who did it. But there are other questions. Would the killer be caught? If so, how?
The book is set in a small Arizona town, with the main character being the town's sheriff. He is a bachelor. As an eligible bachelor, well-meaning people feel the need to play matchmaker and that leads to a subplot in this book.
I enjoyed this book. It successfully portrayed the culture in a small town. The mystery was solved a bit too easily. And the reader is left hanging about the state of the sheriff's love life. But there was a pretty good twist at the end that resolved several other unanswered questions.
The book cover does not give much of the plot away, so I won't either. It is a murder-mystery, but we know who did it. But there are other questions. Would the killer be caught? If so, how?
The book is set in a small Arizona town, with the main character being the town's sheriff. He is a bachelor. As an eligible bachelor, well-meaning people feel the need to play matchmaker and that leads to a subplot in this book.
I enjoyed this book. It successfully portrayed the culture in a small town. The mystery was solved a bit too easily. And the reader is left hanging about the state of the sheriff's love life. But there was a pretty good twist at the end that resolved several other unanswered questions.
January 22, 2015
Prodigal Son by Kathleen Lopez is classified as a mystery; but, in my opinion, it reads more like a romantic suspense novel. With the exception of the prologue, the novel has the slow, simmering start of a rich, romantic novel. And, it has the witty, whodunit intrigue of a soulful, suspense novel.
But, the murder mystery almost seems like a subplot rather than a main plot. The budding love story is powerfully written and, at times, tends to overshadow the murder mystery. This is not a bad thing; in fact, it is the thing that made me read on, to see what would happen.
Prodigal Son has sassy, flawed, believable characters that feel like people I could know. Vivian Nash, an older woman who lives alone in a three-story Victorian house, is trying to hang on to her independence. Levi Swanson, an auto mechanic, is a recent addition to town, and the newest neighbor of Ms. Vivian. Martin “Marty” Shuller, the small-town sheriff of Huntsville, is committed to looking out for Vivian, checking in on her, having tea with her. Susan (“Suzie Q”), Shuller’s secretary at the police station, plays cupid for Marty, setting him up with her friend Jeanie Jacobs, the dispatcher for the town’s fire station.
Marty and Jeanie bond over Susan’s son’s little league game, a leisurely walk after the game, and a helping of apple cobbler at the local diner. Sweet, and very small-town Friday night.
By the way, the Harrigan case mentioned throughout the novel refers to the murder investigation from Ms. Lopez’s debut novel, Between the Shades of Light and Dark. I did not read her first book (yet), so I was a little confused about why it was being mentioned, until I did a little digging.
Crimes rarely happen in this small, Mayberry-“esque" town; so, when the police station gets a call from Vivian, Sheriff Shuller rolls out to investigate. Someone has been spying on her house. And, it was not the first time. But, who would spy on a little, old lady?
Then, during Marty and Jeanie’s first “official” date, another crime occurs; one that rocks the entire tiny town right down to its foundation. It’s a murder of one of Huntsville’s own. And, it quickly becomes personal, for all involved.
I pride myself on being clever enough (most times, at least) to figure out the ending before actually reading it. This was not the case here. The surprise ending was not only satisfying, but fitting as well.
I would be remiss if I did not mention that there were omissions, typos, and misused words. But, the overall story was solid, and a pleasant, enjoyable read. Ms. Lopez has crafted a worthwhile story.
Give Prodigal Son a read, you won’t regret it. 3 ½ stars
HKelleyB is an editor, proofreader, and book reviewer. This honest review is given in exchange for a free copy of this e-book.
But, the murder mystery almost seems like a subplot rather than a main plot. The budding love story is powerfully written and, at times, tends to overshadow the murder mystery. This is not a bad thing; in fact, it is the thing that made me read on, to see what would happen.
Prodigal Son has sassy, flawed, believable characters that feel like people I could know. Vivian Nash, an older woman who lives alone in a three-story Victorian house, is trying to hang on to her independence. Levi Swanson, an auto mechanic, is a recent addition to town, and the newest neighbor of Ms. Vivian. Martin “Marty” Shuller, the small-town sheriff of Huntsville, is committed to looking out for Vivian, checking in on her, having tea with her. Susan (“Suzie Q”), Shuller’s secretary at the police station, plays cupid for Marty, setting him up with her friend Jeanie Jacobs, the dispatcher for the town’s fire station.
Marty and Jeanie bond over Susan’s son’s little league game, a leisurely walk after the game, and a helping of apple cobbler at the local diner. Sweet, and very small-town Friday night.
By the way, the Harrigan case mentioned throughout the novel refers to the murder investigation from Ms. Lopez’s debut novel, Between the Shades of Light and Dark. I did not read her first book (yet), so I was a little confused about why it was being mentioned, until I did a little digging.
Crimes rarely happen in this small, Mayberry-“esque" town; so, when the police station gets a call from Vivian, Sheriff Shuller rolls out to investigate. Someone has been spying on her house. And, it was not the first time. But, who would spy on a little, old lady?
Then, during Marty and Jeanie’s first “official” date, another crime occurs; one that rocks the entire tiny town right down to its foundation. It’s a murder of one of Huntsville’s own. And, it quickly becomes personal, for all involved.
I pride myself on being clever enough (most times, at least) to figure out the ending before actually reading it. This was not the case here. The surprise ending was not only satisfying, but fitting as well.
I would be remiss if I did not mention that there were omissions, typos, and misused words. But, the overall story was solid, and a pleasant, enjoyable read. Ms. Lopez has crafted a worthwhile story.
Give Prodigal Son a read, you won’t regret it. 3 ½ stars
HKelleyB is an editor, proofreader, and book reviewer. This honest review is given in exchange for a free copy of this e-book.
January 21, 2015
Prodigal Son by Kathleen Lopez kept me busy for a few days. The book is about a loveable town sheriff trying to solve a murder in his small town. The story also contains a little bit of romance but nothing major.
Prodigal Son starts off good, but by the end of the book I was left with more questions than actual answers. The surprise ending did not help with the answers. This could be exactly what Lopez wants so that I will be forced to read her next book to satisfy my craving for the answers. If so this is pretty genius because I hate having unanswered questions.
As for the characters, there are two that really stand out. I loved Shuller the town sheriff. Shuller is something of an Andy Griffin. The whole towns loves and respects him. The next character is Levi. I felt really bad for Levi, but at the same time I was confused by him.
Overall I enjoyed the book and will have to read Lopez's next book. With every book there is a lesson. The lesson learned from this book is to never assume you know someone's life story. Everyone has secrets that they hide.
* I was given a free copy of Prodigal Son in return for an honest review
Prodigal Son starts off good, but by the end of the book I was left with more questions than actual answers. The surprise ending did not help with the answers. This could be exactly what Lopez wants so that I will be forced to read her next book to satisfy my craving for the answers. If so this is pretty genius because I hate having unanswered questions.
As for the characters, there are two that really stand out. I loved Shuller the town sheriff. Shuller is something of an Andy Griffin. The whole towns loves and respects him. The next character is Levi. I felt really bad for Levi, but at the same time I was confused by him.
Overall I enjoyed the book and will have to read Lopez's next book. With every book there is a lesson. The lesson learned from this book is to never assume you know someone's life story. Everyone has secrets that they hide.
* I was given a free copy of Prodigal Son in return for an honest review
May 9, 2025
When the killer’s close to home and the truth cuts deepest—Prodigal Son doesn’t pull its punches.
Some stories hit you in the gut because of the mystery. Others? Because they rip into the personal, the real—and Prodigal Son did both. Kathleen Lopez didn’t just write a murder mystery. She cracked open a man’s carefully guarded world and left me picking through the emotional wreckage right alongside him.
I came into this expecting another small-town crime tale. What I got was a raw, soul-shaking unraveling of what happens when duty and family collide—hard. Sheriff Martin Shuller thought he was walking away from one case to finally breathe again. What he didn’t realize? The storm wasn’t over. It was waiting for him. At home. In his own story.
And this time, the lines weren’t just blurred—they were obliterated.
Watching Shuller—who's normally this composed, dedicated figure—get pulled into something so intimate and destructive? It was personal in a way that surprised me. You feel every ounce of his disbelief, his grief, his desperation to understand how the people closest to him could be part of something so dark. That vulnerability made this installment hit harder than the last.
Lopez does something I love in thrillers: she doesn't give easy answers. The truth comes in pieces, jagged and painful, and every new revelation felt like a betrayal—not just to Shuller, but to me as a reader who wanted to believe he’d finally found some peace.
This isn’t just about solving a case. It’s about what happens when the case solves you—when it digs up everything you thought you’d buried and forces you to look at it under a microscope. Shuller has to navigate not just the facts, but the emotional fallout of realizing that his personal life may have been built on secrets all along.
You don’t need to read Book 1 to dive into this one—but after finishing Prodigal Son, I can tell you I’m absolutely going back to see how deep Shuller’s world runs. If you’re into mysteries with real emotional stakes, where the protagonist can’t just walk away when the case is over—this one will get under your skin.
And if you're like me? You'll finish the last page, close the book, and just sit there, thinking: "What would I have done, if it were my family?".
Some stories hit you in the gut because of the mystery. Others? Because they rip into the personal, the real—and Prodigal Son did both. Kathleen Lopez didn’t just write a murder mystery. She cracked open a man’s carefully guarded world and left me picking through the emotional wreckage right alongside him.
I came into this expecting another small-town crime tale. What I got was a raw, soul-shaking unraveling of what happens when duty and family collide—hard. Sheriff Martin Shuller thought he was walking away from one case to finally breathe again. What he didn’t realize? The storm wasn’t over. It was waiting for him. At home. In his own story.
And this time, the lines weren’t just blurred—they were obliterated.
Watching Shuller—who's normally this composed, dedicated figure—get pulled into something so intimate and destructive? It was personal in a way that surprised me. You feel every ounce of his disbelief, his grief, his desperation to understand how the people closest to him could be part of something so dark. That vulnerability made this installment hit harder than the last.
Lopez does something I love in thrillers: she doesn't give easy answers. The truth comes in pieces, jagged and painful, and every new revelation felt like a betrayal—not just to Shuller, but to me as a reader who wanted to believe he’d finally found some peace.
This isn’t just about solving a case. It’s about what happens when the case solves you—when it digs up everything you thought you’d buried and forces you to look at it under a microscope. Shuller has to navigate not just the facts, but the emotional fallout of realizing that his personal life may have been built on secrets all along.
You don’t need to read Book 1 to dive into this one—but after finishing Prodigal Son, I can tell you I’m absolutely going back to see how deep Shuller’s world runs. If you’re into mysteries with real emotional stakes, where the protagonist can’t just walk away when the case is over—this one will get under your skin.
And if you're like me? You'll finish the last page, close the book, and just sit there, thinking: "What would I have done, if it were my family?".
January 28, 2025
4.5⭐️
This book started off on the tail end of the previous book, which I rather liked as it links the series together with more than just the main character. I was a bit unsure what was happening at first with the story following two separate characters, one who seemed entirely unrelated at first, but it all clicked into place eventually! I preferred the writing style and perspective switching much more in this book than the first one.
Much like the last book, the main murder plot doesn’t begin until around half way through, there was a fair bit of romance again, which I wasn’t expecting, and it ended with a twist reveal which seems to be the authors signature move. The revelation in the epilogue had me so shocked!
This book started off on the tail end of the previous book, which I rather liked as it links the series together with more than just the main character. I was a bit unsure what was happening at first with the story following two separate characters, one who seemed entirely unrelated at first, but it all clicked into place eventually! I preferred the writing style and perspective switching much more in this book than the first one.
Much like the last book, the main murder plot doesn’t begin until around half way through, there was a fair bit of romance again, which I wasn’t expecting, and it ended with a twist reveal which seems to be the authors signature move. The revelation in the epilogue had me so shocked!
March 26, 2019
I loved the book. I seen the other reviews about spelling errors and while I did see those, the story of the book kept me enthralled so that I finished it in one sitting. Could not put it down. I would recommend it to anyone who loves mysteries. I figured out most of the plot along the way but never seen the ending coming. Great job! I was provided with a free copy of this book so I could give an honest review.
August 27, 2023
I do not like cliff hangers. It wouldn't be so bad if the book held me more intrigued than it did. I got this book thinking it would be more mystery...and it was but personally, the romance stuff is not for me. It was sweet but just not my cup of tea. This book seemed a bit harder for me to get though, so I don't know if I'll finish the series. I'm curious but not enough.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 19, 2017
Another from the Amelia Island Book Festival. Not a bad book, but could use a bit more in the areas of plot and writing style. Characters were developed ok. It's just that there are some really good authors there, so an average one, like I found this, is up against pretty stiff competition!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews