Four Star Review For Mask of Shadows
Mask of Shadows (Michael Drake Mystery#2)
Price: $2.99
Quite the page turner!, October 16, 2012
This review is from: Mask of Shadows (Michael Drake Mystery) (Kindle Edition)
PDF version via author for honest review
What a book! I loved it! Michael Drake has had a lot of hard times in his life and it seems no matter who comes in to his life, he just “breaks” them. He feels alone and like everything he does ends in disaster and heartache. He loves his Jazz club that he owns, but finds himself spending less and less time there as he is asked to use his private eye skills again for a friend of his. Alex, his long time friend from high school, wants him to follow his wife and see if she is cheating on him. Working for a friend may not be Michael’s best idea, but he really needs the money, so he agrees. Allison, Alex’s wife, is a wonderful woman with looks as beautiful as her attitude. Michael always wanted to be more to her than a friend, but he would never cross the line of friend and lover with her since she is with his best friend. When Michael investigates her behaviors and what she is really doing, he is shocked to find out that she is doing so to try and get him. She has secretly loved him too all these years. Michael makes a bad decision in the heat of passion and sleeps with Allison, but refuses to spend the night with her at the hotel. The next morning guilt is eating Michael away and he needs to talk to Alex about this. Before he can do that, however, he is given the shock of his life…Allison is dead! She was murdered the night before/early morning. Now Michael is asked by his friend to look into the murder and who really did it. The cops are thinking Alex is to blame, but he swears he didn’t do it. Can Michael really help solve this murder without telling Alex that he was with Allison that night before she was killed? Who would want to kill Allison anyway? Is Alex really as innocent as he says he is? What other secrets lie in this web of friends?
Mixed in with this murder is also the mystery of the serial killer that seems to be on the loose, that is killing young women who they think will not be missed. Along with all this is also the past that haunts Michael of his love of his life disappearing, his ex wife up and leaving…with his daughter, and just a mixed up past. Can the murder of Allison have anything to do with the serial killings? Or is it all just a coincidence seeing as how she really doesn’t seem to fit the serial killers “type”? Michael has a lot to sort out if he wants any answers of any kind that’s for sure. While he is dealing with all that he is also trying to keep a troublesome nephew out of trouble after he is suspended from school for trying to make out with a white girl in the broom closet at school. He doesn’t quite understand that at that time, it still is a bit unheard of or improper for, a black boy to be with a white girl. Then there’s the bad influence of Alex’s little brother on him too, which isn’t helping the situation. Michael just hopes to keep his nephew out of trouble and out of jail.
Oh my, I just can’t get over this book. I loved every word on every page of it! This mystery is full of action, adventure, lies, deciet, friendships, and paths from the past. I have not read any of this authors other works, but I think I may have to after reading this book. A lot happens in this book and is going on in this book, but not in a way that makes it seem too much. I loved the writing style and the quick pace of the book. There were no lull points and at no point did I ever think of not continuing the read. I read this book in just two days, I just couldn’t put it down. My favorite character was Michael, the main character. He has a lot of baggage from his past, but he is good at what he does…even if he doesn’t think so. I felt connected to the characters as the book went on and could just feel the emotions of them. This book kept me guessing all the way until the end on who really did kill Allison. One thing is for sure, many things are never as they seem. I am not just talking about in this book either. Masks are always worn by people to hide things they don’t want others to see about them. It’s what is behind those masks that we can see peoples deepest darkest secrets revealed. As was the case in this book.
I found this to be an easy read also. I think it may have been an easy read because of the fast pace of it. Very well written and a great joy to read. Any mystery lover should put this book on their “to read” list. There was one quip I had with the books conclusion, but it was still a great read.
