Landlord Gabe Angueira is trying to do the right thing by his family after a car crash leaves his teenage daughter, Megan, in a minimally conscious state. Since the accident, he and his ex-wife Anya have gotten back together, and he's moved them both back in his house with him. Relying on his rental properties for his sole source of income, he spends his days taking providing full-time care to Megan, trying to make up for what he considers his failings as her father.
When Gabe rents out the house on Shadow Drive without collecting rent or a signed lease, he does it out of the goodness of his heart. The older woman who shows up unexpectantly to rent the place claims she needs it for herself and her pregnant daughter. Although he's never been stiffed in the past, he can't help but worry about it this time. After all, he doesn't own the house. Anya does. She'll be furious if he doesn't get the money. But little does he know, that's the least of his problems.
When he returns later that day to collect the rent check and get a signature on the lease, he discovers the windows have been covered with newspaper and some strange man has been digging under the deck. Unable to make contact with his new tenant, Diane, in person or by phone, he goes online to try to find her. Realizing he doesn't know her last name, he searches by her phone number and finds her on Facebook. But the post coming from that phone number isn't from Diane. It's from Sheryl, another name that turns out to be fake. Whoever she really is, one thing quickly becomes clear. She doesn't want to rent the house on Shadow Drive. She wants to destroy it -- along with Gabe and his family. It's up to him to stop her by unearthing the truth.
Riveting, unpredictable, and hair-raisingly creepy at times, Shadow Drive by Nolan Cubero is a captivating read for those who prefer thrillers that are a little dark and disturbing. From the very beginning, eerie undertones give the story a The Twilight Zone-vibe in places while plot twists and red herrings keep you trying to figure out what's really going on.
It's hard to believe this is Cubero's debut novel. He makes writing look easy and effortless, which it never is. Every word, every sentence, and every paragraph flows into the next. The dialogue is never stilted -- or is it really noticeable because you're so caught up in the book. You hear the characters instead of seeing quotation marks. His descriptions give just the right amount of detail. They are never too lengthy or bulky. For example, when he describes Gabe's daughter's appearance after the accident, you'll gasp. His writing is so good, you'll see her clearly in your mind.
Written in first person point-of-view, the entire book is told from Gabe's perspective. The other characters are all secondary to Gabe. They're either shiver-me-timbers creepy or suspicious -- or both. Gabe's likeable almost instantly. In a genre where unreliable narrators are popular in thrillers, Gabe is trustworthy right from the start. He's trying to figure things out right along with you. But nothing will prepare him -- or you-- for the disturbing revelation at the end.
Don't let the unexciting cover fool you. This is a book you want to read. Books in this genre are known for their secrets and twists, but few are as twisted as Shadow Drive. You'll love it.
Thank you to Nolan Cubero and Blackstone Publishing for the complimentary eARC in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.