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Thomas Shepherd Mystery #2
Daddy’s Little Girls
When obsessive love turns to evil…
A nine-year-old girl vanishes from Wolf Lake without a trace, and Agent Neil Gardy with the FBI believes the disappearance is related to a potential kidnapping case in Michigan.
A child predator is loose in Nightshade County. And it’s Halloween night.
Sheriff Thomas Shepherd can’t escape the feeling that the two missing girls are part of a larger investigation. The deeper he digs, the closer he comes to hell.
Children venture into the night to celebrate Halloween, heedless of the sheriff’s warnings.
Is a dark presence watching?
A nine-year-old girl vanishes from Wolf Lake without a trace, and Agent Neil Gardy with the FBI believes the disappearance is related to a potential kidnapping case in Michigan.
A child predator is loose in Nightshade County. And it’s Halloween night.
Sheriff Thomas Shepherd can’t escape the feeling that the two missing girls are part of a larger investigation. The deeper he digs, the closer he comes to hell.
Children venture into the night to celebrate Halloween, heedless of the sheriff’s warnings.
Is a dark presence watching?
- GenresThriller
289 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 20, 2023
390 people are currently reading
163 people want to read
About the author
Dan Padavona
100 books607 followersAuthor of the Wolf Lake and Darkwater Cove series.
Want a free thriller and mystery book? Please join my VIP thriller readers club at
www.danpadavona.com.
I'm a father, husband, dog lover, and an advocate for animals and the homeless.
My kryptonite is ice cream, and my super power is cranking heavy metal.
More than anything, I love a good story. Let me tell you one.
Want a free thriller and mystery book? Please join my VIP thriller readers club at
www.danpadavona.com.
I'm a father, husband, dog lover, and an advocate for animals and the homeless.
My kryptonite is ice cream, and my super power is cranking heavy metal.
More than anything, I love a good story. Let me tell you one.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
March 8, 2023
Not a bad read - 4 solid stars
All the main characters get involved - creates quite a dynamic.
All the main characters get involved - creates quite a dynamic.
July 6, 2025
Good evening Goodreads Family, well another review has come and I gave the book 2 ⭐️⭐️ Well I’m surprised that I gave it that. Me giving it 2 stars was being nice because it was really boring. The case that was going on was about 2 girls that were abducted. It barely mentioned it. Now don’t get me wrong, I love ❤️ all the characters especially Sheriff Thomas.. I love Dan Pandavona’s 📚 books but honestly this one could have been better. Well, I guess there’s always one that doesn’t do so well.. Anyway, it doesn’t mean that maybe you read it and think it’s great!! Everybody has their own opinions. But this one for me was whack!! Either way I have to push forward to get to my reading challenge.. See you at the next review……..
February 9, 2023
2 &1/2 stars rounded up to 3
Struggled with the rating. Rounded up only because I cared enough to stay with it to the end. Fast read. Lots of potential with the plot; thought the characters (with the sole exception of the bad guy) lacked depth and realistic dialogue.
Struggled with the rating. Rounded up only because I cared enough to stay with it to the end. Fast read. Lots of potential with the plot; thought the characters (with the sole exception of the bad guy) lacked depth and realistic dialogue.
March 28, 2023
summary:
a young girl is kidnapped by a man who claims he is a substitute teacher looking for the local school. he has two girls under his thumb at the moment, and keeps calling them his daughters. it’s halloween so he takes them trick or treating, which is eventually part of what gets him caught. he kidnapped the girls to recreate his family, which his real life daughters died in a boating accident, which led to his divorce.
a subplot is that scout is trying to make new friends because levar might be leaving her to go to college out of state. spoiler alert, he decides to stay in kane grove for college. scout goes to the house from a few books prior where a man killed his cousin, assumed her identity, and held a woman captive for like 10 years. scout, her friend who is into ghost hunting, and her crush go to the house to get evidence of ghosts on halloween night. the crush and the school bully play a prank on the girls. scout gets in trouble for breaking and entering, and thomas enforces community service instead of being arrested. the makeshift family uses this as a bonding moment, because all of them go volunteer at the soup kitchen together.
my thoughts:
please don’t judge a book by its name… at least for this one. it sounds like a smutty, intense romance but that’s not the case at all. i really enjoyed this book and love how it added overall to the overall, series wide development of each character. i thought the premise was so interesting, and the paternal instincts of the killer was something i could imagine in an episode of criminal minds. my biggest complaint is the plot line of thomas’s hurdle of having an attorney target him and try to unseat him as sheriff. i know that every character has to have some kind of bad thing happen to them for them to overcome but cmon that’s the oldest trope in the book. it seems like all books of this type have an annoying, rude politician trying to taint their image and get them fired. try something new pls.
a young girl is kidnapped by a man who claims he is a substitute teacher looking for the local school. he has two girls under his thumb at the moment, and keeps calling them his daughters. it’s halloween so he takes them trick or treating, which is eventually part of what gets him caught. he kidnapped the girls to recreate his family, which his real life daughters died in a boating accident, which led to his divorce.
a subplot is that scout is trying to make new friends because levar might be leaving her to go to college out of state. spoiler alert, he decides to stay in kane grove for college. scout goes to the house from a few books prior where a man killed his cousin, assumed her identity, and held a woman captive for like 10 years. scout, her friend who is into ghost hunting, and her crush go to the house to get evidence of ghosts on halloween night. the crush and the school bully play a prank on the girls. scout gets in trouble for breaking and entering, and thomas enforces community service instead of being arrested. the makeshift family uses this as a bonding moment, because all of them go volunteer at the soup kitchen together.
my thoughts:
please don’t judge a book by its name… at least for this one. it sounds like a smutty, intense romance but that’s not the case at all. i really enjoyed this book and love how it added overall to the overall, series wide development of each character. i thought the premise was so interesting, and the paternal instincts of the killer was something i could imagine in an episode of criminal minds. my biggest complaint is the plot line of thomas’s hurdle of having an attorney target him and try to unseat him as sheriff. i know that every character has to have some kind of bad thing happen to them for them to overcome but cmon that’s the oldest trope in the book. it seems like all books of this type have an annoying, rude politician trying to taint their image and get them fired. try something new pls.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 20, 2023
Daddy’s Little Girls, the second book in the Thomas Shepherd Mystery series, is a parent’s worst nightmare. When 9-year-old Bailey Farris disappears while walking home from school, it is all hands on deck at the Sheriff’s department. When FBI Agent Neil Gardy shows up and adds his information, this case takes on an even more sinister turn. Bailey may not be the only child held by this predator. As if that is not enough, Scout, student and good girl extraordinaire, is about to come out of her shell and do something so unlike her. This will put her at odds with Shepherd. As with all Padavona novels, this is a well-written, very creepy, thriller. I absolutely loved it. I am looking forward to the next book in this great series. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 12, 2024
Daddy's Little Girls - a review by Rosemary Kenny.
A riveting psychological thriller from Master of the genre, Dan Padavona, the second novel in A Thomas Shepherd Mystery series, Daddy's Little Girls, sees the Wolf Lake Sheriff focus on finding two young girls, kidnapped at Halloween by a serial killer.
Young tech genius Scout Mourning, Thomas' girlfriend PI Chelsea Byrd, his protégé LeVar and Deputy Aguilar, work with FBI Agent Neil Gardy to profile and get the shocking background of the kidnapper's potential identity and whereabouts. The team must find and stop him before he kills again...can they do it?
Absolutely unputdownable, get your copy of Daddy's Little Girls today - and make plenty of coffee and snacks to sustain you - you'll read all night!
A riveting psychological thriller from Master of the genre, Dan Padavona, the second novel in A Thomas Shepherd Mystery series, Daddy's Little Girls, sees the Wolf Lake Sheriff focus on finding two young girls, kidnapped at Halloween by a serial killer.
Young tech genius Scout Mourning, Thomas' girlfriend PI Chelsea Byrd, his protégé LeVar and Deputy Aguilar, work with FBI Agent Neil Gardy to profile and get the shocking background of the kidnapper's potential identity and whereabouts. The team must find and stop him before he kills again...can they do it?
Absolutely unputdownable, get your copy of Daddy's Little Girls today - and make plenty of coffee and snacks to sustain you - you'll read all night!
October 17, 2023
Interesting but not what I expected
I decided to read more of Dan's other works, so I've returned to the Thomas Shepherd series. This story is about a serial killer who abducts 2 young girls and the ensuing pursuit. The story gets off in a slow start, as more attention is paid to the various characters and their relationships. I feel too much time was spent on who drank whatever coffee and so on. Kindly speaking, there just wasn't enough meat on the bone. I guess after reading all the Bell and Wolfe books, I've gotten spoiled. So I'll leave this series for now. Eagerly waiting for Scarlets next book.
I decided to read more of Dan's other works, so I've returned to the Thomas Shepherd series. This story is about a serial killer who abducts 2 young girls and the ensuing pursuit. The story gets off in a slow start, as more attention is paid to the various characters and their relationships. I feel too much time was spent on who drank whatever coffee and so on. Kindly speaking, there just wasn't enough meat on the bone. I guess after reading all the Bell and Wolfe books, I've gotten spoiled. So I'll leave this series for now. Eagerly waiting for Scarlets next book.
October 24, 2025
Another fantastic addition to this series
I have loved every single book that I've read by this incredibly talented author. I have always loved reading mysteries, thrillers, and suspense stories. There are many things that has made all of the books by this author even more special, but the main thing is the awesome characters that are in every story, as well as the unbreakable bonds that they've created. It will certainly pull you into each story, and have you wishing for more. All of his books are a definite must read!
I would definitely recommend this book, series, and exceptional author.
I have loved every single book that I've read by this incredibly talented author. I have always loved reading mysteries, thrillers, and suspense stories. There are many things that has made all of the books by this author even more special, but the main thing is the awesome characters that are in every story, as well as the unbreakable bonds that they've created. It will certainly pull you into each story, and have you wishing for more. All of his books are a definite must read!
I would definitely recommend this book, series, and exceptional author.
January 21, 2023
Absolutely Tremendous!!!
Another absolutely tremendous book by one of the greatest authors I have had the pleasure to read. To anyone and everyone that loves a fantastic storyline, twists, turns, ups and downs, not to mention the believable characters that you will fall in love with, this is the author for you. From the very beginning until the final word, you will be engrossed in the story. I totally devoured this book in one day. Once I started, there was no putting it down.
Another absolutely tremendous book by one of the greatest authors I have had the pleasure to read. To anyone and everyone that loves a fantastic storyline, twists, turns, ups and downs, not to mention the believable characters that you will fall in love with, this is the author for you. From the very beginning until the final word, you will be engrossed in the story. I totally devoured this book in one day. Once I started, there was no putting it down.
February 11, 2023
Loved this so much
I loved the first leg of this series, Wolf Lake Mysteries, and was sad when it ended. I am so happy the series continues. I've grown to love the characters, I love that the sheriff is on the spectrum, and I love the stories. Everything is well thought out and the characters keep developing and adapt and that makes this a very enjoyable book series. Definitely recommend reading this series.
I loved the first leg of this series, Wolf Lake Mysteries, and was sad when it ended. I am so happy the series continues. I've grown to love the characters, I love that the sheriff is on the spectrum, and I love the stories. Everything is well thought out and the characters keep developing and adapt and that makes this a very enjoyable book series. Definitely recommend reading this series.
January 31, 2023
one more great read with my favorite characters
I was excited to read the second book in the Thomas Shepherd Mystery series. This book did not disappoint! The suspense built with the main story line, the other stories woven into the book were also interesting. Thank you for another great book!!!
I was excited to read the second book in the Thomas Shepherd Mystery series. This book did not disappoint! The suspense built with the main story line, the other stories woven into the book were also interesting. Thank you for another great book!!!
January 4, 2024
Daddy's Little Girls ( A Thomas Shepherd Mystery Book 2) by Dan Padavona
Another great book and amazing team work with Thomas Shepherd and crew. Each book is exciting and leads to more comrades working together to get the job done. I love Dan's books and never get enough. Each character grows as each book appears.
Another great book and amazing team work with Thomas Shepherd and crew. Each book is exciting and leads to more comrades working together to get the job done. I love Dan's books and never get enough. Each character grows as each book appears.
January 16, 2024
Can't beat a great story
What can I say but once again the story grabs you, holds on to you and takes you for a ride on the reading train that you can't stop reading until you turn the last page. Highly recommended especially if you like suspense, intriguing charters and non stop action.
What can I say but once again the story grabs you, holds on to you and takes you for a ride on the reading train that you can't stop reading until you turn the last page. Highly recommended especially if you like suspense, intriguing charters and non stop action.
December 10, 2025
For the most part, I enjoy his books. However, he has a tendancy to blurt out summaries from previous books in the series when the info isn't necessary. It seems forced.
He also mentions things sometimes that I don't believe are accurate. One example is in at least 2 of his books he mentions a woman looking older than her years likely due to a history of wearing too much makeup. ???
He also mentions things sometimes that I don't believe are accurate. One example is in at least 2 of his books he mentions a woman looking older than her years likely due to a history of wearing too much makeup. ???
January 25, 2023
Daddy's Little Girls
OMG. This book is great like the rest of these books always are. This is a book I could not put down I finished it at 6:00AM in the moring. I had to finish this book. I cannot wait for the next book.. I highly recommend this book and series.
OMG. This book is great like the rest of these books always are. This is a book I could not put down I finished it at 6:00AM in the moring. I had to finish this book. I cannot wait for the next book.. I highly recommend this book and series.
January 25, 2023
Keep them coming
The spin off of the Wolf Lake series is just as enjoyable as its predecessors. Easy to follow, the same likable characters and a menagerie of unrelated family togetherness.
The spin off of the Wolf Lake series is just as enjoyable as its predecessors. Easy to follow, the same likable characters and a menagerie of unrelated family togetherness.
January 25, 2023
Another well written, page turner, by Dan Padavona. It was Halloween night and two little girls were kidnapped by a child predator. It was a very interesting story that keeps you interested to the end.
I received a arc copy of this book for my honest review.
I received a arc copy of this book for my honest review.
January 27, 2023
Love Wolf Lake!
It’s difficult to pull tears, laughter, and shivers all in one novel; however Padavona does exactly that in each novel set in Wolf Lake. I love his Scarlett Bell series, but this series is a favorite. I can’t wait to read more!
It’s difficult to pull tears, laughter, and shivers all in one novel; however Padavona does exactly that in each novel set in Wolf Lake. I love his Scarlett Bell series, but this series is a favorite. I can’t wait to read more!
January 28, 2023
Another amazing book by Dan Padavona !
I absolutely love the Wolf lake/ Thomas Shepard series. It just keep getting better and better. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone it is great !
I absolutely love the Wolf lake/ Thomas Shepard series. It just keep getting better and better. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone it is great !
January 30, 2023
A mystery and a feel good story all in one
I was so happy with the final decision that was made but not spoiling it! Another great Thomas Shepherd story. Such. A great mix of characters
I was so happy with the final decision that was made but not spoiling it! Another great Thomas Shepherd story. Such. A great mix of characters
February 10, 2023
Love this book
Love all Dan's books. I am so excited every time a new one comes out. He is one of my favorite writers. This one made me so sad because of the storyline but that's what makes the book so good. Relating to the characters. Keep them coming.
Love all Dan's books. I am so excited every time a new one comes out. He is one of my favorite writers. This one made me so sad because of the storyline but that's what makes the book so good. Relating to the characters. Keep them coming.
February 27, 2023
Exciting from start to finish
Enjoyed the book, the sheriff and the rest of the characters interact well together. I’ve been following them through many adventures. The storyline keeps you on your toes, with exciting thrills at each turn. Looking forward to the next book
Enjoyed the book, the sheriff and the rest of the characters interact well together. I’ve been following them through many adventures. The storyline keeps you on your toes, with exciting thrills at each turn. Looking forward to the next book
March 4, 2023
Great Thriller!
Exciting, emotional rollercoaster! You won't be disappointed. It amazes me how people handle tragedy in life. Most people don't handle it well! Asking for help is the key!
Dan, is a great writer!
Exciting, emotional rollercoaster! You won't be disappointed. It amazes me how people handle tragedy in life. Most people don't handle it well! Asking for help is the key!
Dan, is a great writer!
April 23, 2023
Another great, quick read!
The people in this book are just a great blend of folks; faithful to each other and supportive of each other…and just a great balance of humanity. Keep writing about their trials and tribulations - please!
The people in this book are just a great blend of folks; faithful to each other and supportive of each other…and just a great balance of humanity. Keep writing about their trials and tribulations - please!
June 19, 2023
great character growth
A horrific kidnapping with wide-ranging consequences; a teen-age crush, and a Halloween prank gone horribly awry.
Drama, actions, and consequences.
Wee-balanced tale (and a jerk or two gets some comeuppance as well).
A horrific kidnapping with wide-ranging consequences; a teen-age crush, and a Halloween prank gone horribly awry.
Drama, actions, and consequences.
Wee-balanced tale (and a jerk or two gets some comeuppance as well).
August 30, 2025
I liked it, I love that this series (second continuation) has a lot of background on the group of characters, I just wish this one had more from the actual crime. The plot was a bit lackluster this time.
January 21, 2023
Wow, so many stories going on at once. Enjoyed how everyone worked together. Most important was we learned something about everyone, even Gardy👍👍👍looking forward for more.
January 24, 2023
On your edge of the chair
Very interesting storyline. Kept Me reading well into the night I love all of the people in the different series.
Very interesting storyline. Kept Me reading well into the night I love all of the people in the different series.
January 30, 2023
Great second book
I'm really enjoying this sequel series to the Wolf Lake Series. It's fun to read about the characters and their adventures. Looking forward to more in the series.
I'm really enjoying this sequel series to the Wolf Lake Series. It's fun to read about the characters and their adventures. Looking forward to more in the series.
January 30, 2023
Fav
My all time favorite series. I cant wait until the next book comes out. I just love the characters on these books
My all time favorite series. I cant wait until the next book comes out. I just love the characters on these books
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews