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In the Shadow of Revenge
Everybody thought brilliant Cecily would leave dead-end Millers Falls for something better. But a two-decades-old tragedy locks her in place. Few understand the fierce bond that Cecily and Amelia share with Hilary, who was assaulted one summer as the two other girls watched helplessly. It's a bond of love and guilt…and a desire for vengeance that cuts clear to the bone.
So Assistant DA Cecily Minos waits, eager to see the guy in her courtroom. When Amelia meets a man who has the tattoo the girls remember seeing that day, they think they've finally caught a break. But the police refuse to reopen the case, and it's up to Cecily and Amelia to pursue their suspect.
Their investigation soon uncovers secrets best left buried. But the law is slow, and they've waited long enough for revenge…
So Assistant DA Cecily Minos waits, eager to see the guy in her courtroom. When Amelia meets a man who has the tattoo the girls remember seeing that day, they think they've finally caught a break. But the police refuse to reopen the case, and it's up to Cecily and Amelia to pursue their suspect.
Their investigation soon uncovers secrets best left buried. But the law is slow, and they've waited long enough for revenge…
- GenresMystery Thriller
203 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 15, 2013
7 people are currently reading
34 people want to read
About the author
Patricia Hale
4 books90 followersPatricia Hale is the author of the stand alone mystery, In the Shadow of Revenge. The first book in her new PI series, The Church of the Holy Child, will be released August 15th. Watch for the giveaway coming soon. Patricia lives in New Hampshire with her husband and two dogs.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
November 7, 2013
When nine-year-old friends Cecily, Amelia and Hilary became blood sisters in the railcar they had claimed as their very own cubby house, they swore they would remain sisters forever. The beginning of the school holidays were no different as they made their way to the railcar again, excited and happy about the upcoming games and mischief they would get into. But that day would change their lives forever – a young guy was inside and the brutality of the attack on Hilary while the other two girls cowered in the corner, unable to move, created a bond of guilt, laced with a desire for vengeance which never left them.
Twenty years later the three girls were still as close as ever, but Hilary was in and out of rehabilitation from drink and drugs, her only coping mechanism – Cecily was a lawyer, an assistant DA with commitment issues and Amelia had no trust of men, seeing a different man every night, never allowing herself to form a relationship. So when Amelia picked up yet another young guy at a nightclub one night, Cecily didn’t think anything of it. Imagine her shock when she received a call from an exceedingly distraught Amelia in the middle of the night. She had recognised a tattoo from the past….but the police wouldn’t reopen the case, basically laughing at them.
Hiring a Private Investigator, Cecily determined they would find the evidence themselves – no way was he getting away with it again. But as she dug deeper and deeper into the past, she discovered horrifying secrets. She couldn’t let it go, she wouldn’t let it go; the danger escalated at a frightening speed and suddenly the worst happened….
What an absolutely fantastic thriller from debut author Patricia Hale! I couldn’t put it down, and when I had to I found myself thinking about it continually, talking about it and wondering what would happen next. The twists were amazing, I was in the grip of the plot from the very beginning. I have no hesitation in highly recommending this novel, and I’ll be watching out for more from this author.
Twenty years later the three girls were still as close as ever, but Hilary was in and out of rehabilitation from drink and drugs, her only coping mechanism – Cecily was a lawyer, an assistant DA with commitment issues and Amelia had no trust of men, seeing a different man every night, never allowing herself to form a relationship. So when Amelia picked up yet another young guy at a nightclub one night, Cecily didn’t think anything of it. Imagine her shock when she received a call from an exceedingly distraught Amelia in the middle of the night. She had recognised a tattoo from the past….but the police wouldn’t reopen the case, basically laughing at them.
Hiring a Private Investigator, Cecily determined they would find the evidence themselves – no way was he getting away with it again. But as she dug deeper and deeper into the past, she discovered horrifying secrets. She couldn’t let it go, she wouldn’t let it go; the danger escalated at a frightening speed and suddenly the worst happened….
What an absolutely fantastic thriller from debut author Patricia Hale! I couldn’t put it down, and when I had to I found myself thinking about it continually, talking about it and wondering what would happen next. The twists were amazing, I was in the grip of the plot from the very beginning. I have no hesitation in highly recommending this novel, and I’ll be watching out for more from this author.
September 25, 2013
In her debut novel, author Patricia Hale weaves a riveting crime thriller about three girls who are bonded forever in friendship by a traumatic incident that leaves an indelible imprint on their lives through a bond of love, guilt, and desire for revenge.
Set in the rundown town of Miller's Falls, Maine, nine year old best friends Cecily, Amelia and Hilary are sworn blood sisters whose clubhouse is an old railway car. Their bond of friendship is forever cemented when Hilary is raped by a stranger with a tattoo, Cecily and Amelia are forced to watch and are unable to assist their friend, while the assailant escapes and is never caught. Fast forward twenty years, the young women are still haunted by the tragic event that has each of them handling the guilt, trauma and memories in different ways: Cecily is an Asst. DA who specializes in domestic violence cases and relies on an Ouija board for answers; Amelia is living a promiscuous life with one-night stands; and Hilary struggles with the memory of the rape and recovering from a history of substance abuse. When Amelia meets a man with the same tattoo that the rapist had, the girls are determined to get revenge and bring the rapist to justice at any cost.
This riveting story is told in the first person narrative by Cecily, who takes the reader along for the ride as the three best friends embark on a haunting journey to seek justice from a man who has changed their lives forever. This fast paced tale draws the reader in from the start with the traumatic incident that the three best friends endured, and keeps them turning the pages as the young womens' lives unfold, each dealing with the ramifications from the tragedy in different ways. The story is filled with emotion, drama, hidden secrets and enough intriguing twists and turns that keeps the reader in suspense and guessing what will happen next ... can the girls exact revenge and bring the rapist to justice?
You can't help but feel for Cecily, Amelia and Hilary, the author provides the reader with an emotional back story into each of the girls' childhood, and how the past still haunts their present lives, and how their damaged lives fuels their need to bring the rapist to justice. It is a riveting story about three young women whose bond of friendship endures the ramifications of a traumatic event, and how they learn to persevere and overcome their fears, and turn the tables on the man who forever changed their lives.
In The Shadow Of Revenge is a hauntingly poignant story that will tear at your heartstrings. It is also a thrilling mystery that will captivate you with intriguing drama and suspense, and a paranormal twist thrown into the mix.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Partners In Crime Virtual Book Tours.
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...
Set in the rundown town of Miller's Falls, Maine, nine year old best friends Cecily, Amelia and Hilary are sworn blood sisters whose clubhouse is an old railway car. Their bond of friendship is forever cemented when Hilary is raped by a stranger with a tattoo, Cecily and Amelia are forced to watch and are unable to assist their friend, while the assailant escapes and is never caught. Fast forward twenty years, the young women are still haunted by the tragic event that has each of them handling the guilt, trauma and memories in different ways: Cecily is an Asst. DA who specializes in domestic violence cases and relies on an Ouija board for answers; Amelia is living a promiscuous life with one-night stands; and Hilary struggles with the memory of the rape and recovering from a history of substance abuse. When Amelia meets a man with the same tattoo that the rapist had, the girls are determined to get revenge and bring the rapist to justice at any cost.
This riveting story is told in the first person narrative by Cecily, who takes the reader along for the ride as the three best friends embark on a haunting journey to seek justice from a man who has changed their lives forever. This fast paced tale draws the reader in from the start with the traumatic incident that the three best friends endured, and keeps them turning the pages as the young womens' lives unfold, each dealing with the ramifications from the tragedy in different ways. The story is filled with emotion, drama, hidden secrets and enough intriguing twists and turns that keeps the reader in suspense and guessing what will happen next ... can the girls exact revenge and bring the rapist to justice?
You can't help but feel for Cecily, Amelia and Hilary, the author provides the reader with an emotional back story into each of the girls' childhood, and how the past still haunts their present lives, and how their damaged lives fuels their need to bring the rapist to justice. It is a riveting story about three young women whose bond of friendship endures the ramifications of a traumatic event, and how they learn to persevere and overcome their fears, and turn the tables on the man who forever changed their lives.
In The Shadow Of Revenge is a hauntingly poignant story that will tear at your heartstrings. It is also a thrilling mystery that will captivate you with intriguing drama and suspense, and a paranormal twist thrown into the mix.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Partners In Crime Virtual Book Tours.
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...
July 16, 2013
In the Shadow of Revenge was a good book. It could have been a great book if it wasn't for the Ouija Board. When they were children, Cecily, Amelia and Hilary were "blood sisters" and used a Ouija board to tell them everything about their future. Everything changed the day Hilary was raped. Cecily still has and uses the board and has continued the blood sisters ritual. The concept of taking the devise seriously (as an adult) came off as juvenile and felt it added little to the story. All the events pertaining could have occurred without it, I just found Cecily's premonitions unnecessary and annoyed me. This could be because of my disinterest in the supernatural. It may not have contained Zombies or Werewolves, but the futuristics from said Ouija board was too much for me.
Otherwise, I found Patricia Hale's book to be a fun thriller. I did "figure it out" about halfway through but I didn't mind as it was Cecily's journey that I cared about. She and her friends Amelia and Hilary were three dimensional, with personalities to be peeled away like an onion. The author created three unique characters and found it interesting (despite it being fictional) how one event could so drastically change people in different ways.
Overall, In the Shadow of Revenge was a fun, enjoyable book which had me reading my way through dinner.
Otherwise, I found Patricia Hale's book to be a fun thriller. I did "figure it out" about halfway through but I didn't mind as it was Cecily's journey that I cared about. She and her friends Amelia and Hilary were three dimensional, with personalities to be peeled away like an onion. The author created three unique characters and found it interesting (despite it being fictional) how one event could so drastically change people in different ways.
Overall, In the Shadow of Revenge was a fun, enjoyable book which had me reading my way through dinner.
September 20, 2013
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel by Patricia Hale and felt it was a very fast paced story with little to no lull in the action or plot development at all.
In The Shadow of Revenge contained very likeable, strong characters and a believable storyline that kept me guessing as to what was going to happen next.
The faults and the habits of each character after experiencing a traumatic childhood event together, as well as how they each developed and moved on with their lives was quite interesting and I also enjoyed the small supernatural element that was contained within the story. I do wish that this element had been explored a little bit further though as I felt that it didn't really add to the story in the way that it could have.
This book was a definite page turner and kept my interest until the very end. I did have a little issue with some of the constant secrets and hiding of information that went on a lot to supposedly protect one another, but this was only a very small gripe which didn't detract from the story at all.
I'll definitely be looking out for more from Patricia Hale in the future.
In The Shadow of Revenge contained very likeable, strong characters and a believable storyline that kept me guessing as to what was going to happen next.
The faults and the habits of each character after experiencing a traumatic childhood event together, as well as how they each developed and moved on with their lives was quite interesting and I also enjoyed the small supernatural element that was contained within the story. I do wish that this element had been explored a little bit further though as I felt that it didn't really add to the story in the way that it could have.
This book was a definite page turner and kept my interest until the very end. I did have a little issue with some of the constant secrets and hiding of information that went on a lot to supposedly protect one another, but this was only a very small gripe which didn't detract from the story at all.
I'll definitely be looking out for more from Patricia Hale in the future.
September 8, 2013
For a first book for Patricia Hale, this one was very good! I can't wait to see what she will write in the future. I liked the bond between Cecily, Hillary and Amelia, and given what they have gone through, it is very understandable and believable. Something like that either tears you apart or brings you together forever.
The story unfolds with us learning more and more about the girls' childhoods and the women they have become today. You learn how they each have developed coping mechanisms to get them past the memories that haunt them. Cecily seems to bear the most guilt and it is linked to a Ouiji board that they had played with as children. She has a link to the board which she is sure comes from her deceased Grandmother. She feels that the answers that she has been given through the board may have been guidance from her Grandmother all along.
The more involved Cecily becomes in the investigation concerning the assault from 18 years before, the more danger she finds herself in, and the more muddy the lines between being loyal to friends or being loyal to family become.
Again, loved this book - and I loved the touch of paranormal that was thrown in!
The story unfolds with us learning more and more about the girls' childhoods and the women they have become today. You learn how they each have developed coping mechanisms to get them past the memories that haunt them. Cecily seems to bear the most guilt and it is linked to a Ouiji board that they had played with as children. She has a link to the board which she is sure comes from her deceased Grandmother. She feels that the answers that she has been given through the board may have been guidance from her Grandmother all along.
The more involved Cecily becomes in the investigation concerning the assault from 18 years before, the more danger she finds herself in, and the more muddy the lines between being loyal to friends or being loyal to family become.
Again, loved this book - and I loved the touch of paranormal that was thrown in!
October 20, 2013
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
A small town, a cold case and three friends who haven't been able to leave the small town or the past behind. Cecily, Amelia and Hilary have been friends since a young age and at the tender age of 9 endured a horrific day that left them all scared and they have all been barely coping until the past comes back to haunt them.
A small town, a cold case and three friends who haven't been able to leave the small town or the past behind. Cecily, Amelia and Hilary have been friends since a young age and at the tender age of 9 endured a horrific day that left them all scared and they have all been barely coping until the past comes back to haunt them.
February 12, 2017
Feather's Book Review: Patricia Hale is an excellent author. Her talent for throwing the reader into the scene is tops. Few thriller novels grab me to the degree In the Shadow of Revenge did. I could relate to Cecily's childhood, needing to escape the threats within her home, growing up with horrific secrets. What saved Cecily as a girl was the blood bond with her two friends, Hilary and Amelia. That bond followed her into adulthood as did the guilt she suffered. When the trio discovered justice was possible, they became unstoppable in spite of overwhelming risk, physically and emotionally.
The suspense grew swiftly right from the first page. The characters were alive, each with their particular brand of personality quirks, charm, heroism and unrelenting demons. My heart was fully engaged in this story, sometimes fearful of the next chapter. And yet, I was drawn to face the terror. The plot, while sometimes extreme, was plausible.
When the police force gave no heed to their belief a rapist had returned for revenge, Cecily exchanged her lawyer hat for a detective's. She underestimated her adversary, and was not prepared for the truth of who was behind the attack on the three girls.
The only criticism I have, and it's minor, is that the characters seem to drink a lot of wine. Perhaps that's part of the culture among lawyers who can't escape a childhood nightmare.
One of my favorite paragraphs.
My anger at Hilary over her addictions had more to do with my own guilt. The longer she stayed sick, the longer I had to carry the blame. If she'd just get better, I could let some of it go and I knew that day would come, but I was impatient. Hilary exuded pain like a runner exudes sweat. Sooner or later she'd let out the last of it and wake up ready to move on. But for now, every one of her admissions into a psych unit or rehab sends me back in time. People said that Amelia and I were the lucky ones. And they were right, if you call it luck to watch your best friend get raped while you huddle in the corner of a rusted-out rail car, thank God it isn't you and feeling guilty as hell that it's not.
One of my favorite scenes.
"What'd you do to your hand?" he asked, nodding toward the red line on the fat of my palm where Hilary, Amelia and I had last run the straight edge for our ritual.
"It's nothing," I said.
"Doesn't look like nothing. Looks sore."
"We're blood sisters."
He nodded and looked back at the road.
I couldn't tell him that sometimes I ran the straight edge along the thin red line when I was at home too. While my mother was downstairs, her eyes moving left and right over the words inside her Bible, praising God.
Officer Marquette pulled his police car into my driveway and lifted my bike out of the trunk. "There you go," he's said and leaned it toward me.
When I took it from him he'd placed his palm on my shoulder and I'd felt the same heat as the night in my kitchen.
"We've got a deal, right?" he asked. "No more visits to the rail car."
His hand had been warm, comforting as a blanket fresh out of the dryer. I'd dropped my bike and ran for the house.
He'd looked at my hand again today. Not everything in childhood gets left behind.
My favorite lines.
The feeling that I would pay for that someday kept me returning to the ritual, like a sinner to Sunday Mass.
Balls come in all shapes and sizes.
The suspense grew swiftly right from the first page. The characters were alive, each with their particular brand of personality quirks, charm, heroism and unrelenting demons. My heart was fully engaged in this story, sometimes fearful of the next chapter. And yet, I was drawn to face the terror. The plot, while sometimes extreme, was plausible.
When the police force gave no heed to their belief a rapist had returned for revenge, Cecily exchanged her lawyer hat for a detective's. She underestimated her adversary, and was not prepared for the truth of who was behind the attack on the three girls.
The only criticism I have, and it's minor, is that the characters seem to drink a lot of wine. Perhaps that's part of the culture among lawyers who can't escape a childhood nightmare.
One of my favorite paragraphs.
My anger at Hilary over her addictions had more to do with my own guilt. The longer she stayed sick, the longer I had to carry the blame. If she'd just get better, I could let some of it go and I knew that day would come, but I was impatient. Hilary exuded pain like a runner exudes sweat. Sooner or later she'd let out the last of it and wake up ready to move on. But for now, every one of her admissions into a psych unit or rehab sends me back in time. People said that Amelia and I were the lucky ones. And they were right, if you call it luck to watch your best friend get raped while you huddle in the corner of a rusted-out rail car, thank God it isn't you and feeling guilty as hell that it's not.
One of my favorite scenes.
"What'd you do to your hand?" he asked, nodding toward the red line on the fat of my palm where Hilary, Amelia and I had last run the straight edge for our ritual.
"It's nothing," I said.
"Doesn't look like nothing. Looks sore."
"We're blood sisters."
He nodded and looked back at the road.
I couldn't tell him that sometimes I ran the straight edge along the thin red line when I was at home too. While my mother was downstairs, her eyes moving left and right over the words inside her Bible, praising God.
Officer Marquette pulled his police car into my driveway and lifted my bike out of the trunk. "There you go," he's said and leaned it toward me.
When I took it from him he'd placed his palm on my shoulder and I'd felt the same heat as the night in my kitchen.
"We've got a deal, right?" he asked. "No more visits to the rail car."
His hand had been warm, comforting as a blanket fresh out of the dryer. I'd dropped my bike and ran for the house.
He'd looked at my hand again today. Not everything in childhood gets left behind.
My favorite lines.
The feeling that I would pay for that someday kept me returning to the ritual, like a sinner to Sunday Mass.
Balls come in all shapes and sizes.
November 29, 2020
What a great mystery/thriller based in ME! The main character Cecily seems to have a great life, a good job as a DA, living with successful lawyer boyfriend who want to one day marry her and have a family. She has a close group of friends, who unfortunately also have painful secrets and s those start to slowly unravel her life changes drastically. Propelling and intriguing from start to finish!
September 8, 2013
Consider me impressed with author Patrica Hale's debut novel, In The Shadow of Revenge. This story centers around three childhood friends, Cecily, Hilary and Amelia, and a tragic event involving the trio. The stunted versions of lives they now lead as adults turns mysterious when someone from their past shows up ensnaring them in a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse. I can't reveal much about this tale but I read it through in one sitting, not wanting to leave this small town mystery.
Cecily is the narrator and with her strong, determined voice we experience second-hand what she's been dealing with. Living with the ghost of tragedy has affected the the lives of herself and her two friends. As nine-year-old girls, they were forced to grow up suddenly, unprotected by the adults in their lives. In their small Maine town, we see Cecily's life with a overtly religious mother and an absentee father who abandoned their family. Her older brother Jarod is horrible and abusive so she spends time with Hilary, who has a less than stellar family as well. Amelia rounds out their group. Parts of their childhood are revealed as we see them as the damaged adults they became. The past haunts the present. Cecily is a lawyer living with Ben, a man she's not sure she can commit to since she's frequently busy taking care of Hilary, a recovering alcoholic, and watching out for Amelia and her one night stands. Each woman handles the trauma in their own way and they vowed as kids to never break apart their friendship.
There's a paranormal thread weaved throughout the book concerning Cecily and her grandmother's "gift" which gave the story a cool vibe. I loved the way Cecily described things and people in her life. She had some great lines and her outlook made the story visually stimulating. Her observations about her childhood and about her mother are so well stated they are the lines readers like to stop reading in order to reread again. Rich. Poignant. Heartbreaking at times. The mystery had me going for a while, trying to figure out what exactly was going on. The friendships between the three stood out, enriching the story. I did feel Hilary and Amelia could have been fleshed out a bit more. As for the secondary characters, I liked police officer Marquette from his first scene and Ben was a nice guy. The antagonist was just that-really bad and realistically so. The pacing was consistent and there were some tense scenes which kept me riveted.
I don't read many mysteries so when I do I want to get sucked into them. In The Shadow of Revenge intrigued me from its first pages and kept me enthused with its rich descriptions, brutally honest depictions of realistic characters, small town life, and how evil can penetrate the fabric of anyone's life--even a child--and yet, time, good friends and selfless love can help one persevere. Sometimes, through revenge, wrongs can be righted enabling those who've suffered to get on with their lives. A gripping read. (Tour stop: http://www.readergirlsblog.com/2013/0...)
Cecily is the narrator and with her strong, determined voice we experience second-hand what she's been dealing with. Living with the ghost of tragedy has affected the the lives of herself and her two friends. As nine-year-old girls, they were forced to grow up suddenly, unprotected by the adults in their lives. In their small Maine town, we see Cecily's life with a overtly religious mother and an absentee father who abandoned their family. Her older brother Jarod is horrible and abusive so she spends time with Hilary, who has a less than stellar family as well. Amelia rounds out their group. Parts of their childhood are revealed as we see them as the damaged adults they became. The past haunts the present. Cecily is a lawyer living with Ben, a man she's not sure she can commit to since she's frequently busy taking care of Hilary, a recovering alcoholic, and watching out for Amelia and her one night stands. Each woman handles the trauma in their own way and they vowed as kids to never break apart their friendship.
There's a paranormal thread weaved throughout the book concerning Cecily and her grandmother's "gift" which gave the story a cool vibe. I loved the way Cecily described things and people in her life. She had some great lines and her outlook made the story visually stimulating. Her observations about her childhood and about her mother are so well stated they are the lines readers like to stop reading in order to reread again. Rich. Poignant. Heartbreaking at times. The mystery had me going for a while, trying to figure out what exactly was going on. The friendships between the three stood out, enriching the story. I did feel Hilary and Amelia could have been fleshed out a bit more. As for the secondary characters, I liked police officer Marquette from his first scene and Ben was a nice guy. The antagonist was just that-really bad and realistically so. The pacing was consistent and there were some tense scenes which kept me riveted.
I don't read many mysteries so when I do I want to get sucked into them. In The Shadow of Revenge intrigued me from its first pages and kept me enthused with its rich descriptions, brutally honest depictions of realistic characters, small town life, and how evil can penetrate the fabric of anyone's life--even a child--and yet, time, good friends and selfless love can help one persevere. Sometimes, through revenge, wrongs can be righted enabling those who've suffered to get on with their lives. A gripping read. (Tour stop: http://www.readergirlsblog.com/2013/0...)
September 7, 2013
When Cecily, Amelia and Hilary were nine, they used an old railway car as their clubhouse. One day Hilary was raped and Cecily and Amelia were forced to watch. The man was never caught and the three girls were never the same. Almost twenty years later, Hilary is in and out of rehab, Amelia is promiscuous and Cecily is an assistant DA with a focus on domestic violence cases. When the rapist comes back to town, Amelia and Cecily do all they can to catch him so they can make him pay for what he did.
This is the first book I've read by this author and I enjoyed it. I liked the writing style and thought it flowed well. The language is for mature readers.
It is written in first person in Cecily's voice so we know what is happening from her perspective. Cecily is willing to risk everything, including her job and her relationship with Ben, to bring the rapist to justice and make things right for her friend. She comes from a broken home ... her mother is a bible freak and her older brother is a bully who can do no wrong in her mother's eyes.
I liked the characters. Cecily, Amelia and Hilary have been friends forever and will do anything for each other. Nick, the PI that Cecily hires, is good support for her in helping her get evidence on the rapist. He knows her from when she was an abused child so understands her.
An interesting twist in this book was the use of a ouija board. Cecily has visions and sensations that had been passed down from her maternal grandmother (her mother feels it's the devil's influence) when she uses a ouija board. Plus she finds relief from her guilt in what happened to Hilary all those years ago in a sad but topical way.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2013/09...
This is the first book I've read by this author and I enjoyed it. I liked the writing style and thought it flowed well. The language is for mature readers.
It is written in first person in Cecily's voice so we know what is happening from her perspective. Cecily is willing to risk everything, including her job and her relationship with Ben, to bring the rapist to justice and make things right for her friend. She comes from a broken home ... her mother is a bible freak and her older brother is a bully who can do no wrong in her mother's eyes.
I liked the characters. Cecily, Amelia and Hilary have been friends forever and will do anything for each other. Nick, the PI that Cecily hires, is good support for her in helping her get evidence on the rapist. He knows her from when she was an abused child so understands her.
An interesting twist in this book was the use of a ouija board. Cecily has visions and sensations that had been passed down from her maternal grandmother (her mother feels it's the devil's influence) when she uses a ouija board. Plus she finds relief from her guilt in what happened to Hilary all those years ago in a sad but topical way.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2013/09...
October 1, 2013
I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review.
This was quite a powerful story and quite hard hitting from the start. It's the story of how childhood innocence that is so cruelly taken away, affected the lives of three 9 year old girls. One eventually became an assistant DA but was constantly haunted by the event and riddled with guilt; one turned into a promiscuous woman who just couldn't settle down and form a relationship; one became alcohol dependent and went in and out of rehab. One thing that never changed was the love and bond these three girls share.
When the subject of their fear and revulsion re-appears on the scene, they look for the chance of revenge.
I thought this a thoroughly enjoyable read. I loved how the author had created the bond between the three characters and how she had written them to be such different people, pulled together by a cruel act committed when they were children. The strength that they showed at times then moments of weakness, were very moving.
It was quite a believable story; how they undertook to take revenge on the person who robbed them of their childhood. When things didn't go the way they planned, you felt their pain and frustration. There is the inclusion in the story of one of the girls using a Ouija board, like they did when they were younger, when they sealed their friendship. Some other readers have said this wasn't needed in the book, but I disagree as it includes the ritual of self-harm which so many people inflict upon themselves, to relieve the pain and hurt of a trauma they've endured.
This was a well written story; full of content and with many twists and turns. It was in no way predictable and I found it hard to put down.
I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was quite a powerful story and quite hard hitting from the start. It's the story of how childhood innocence that is so cruelly taken away, affected the lives of three 9 year old girls. One eventually became an assistant DA but was constantly haunted by the event and riddled with guilt; one turned into a promiscuous woman who just couldn't settle down and form a relationship; one became alcohol dependent and went in and out of rehab. One thing that never changed was the love and bond these three girls share.
When the subject of their fear and revulsion re-appears on the scene, they look for the chance of revenge.
I thought this a thoroughly enjoyable read. I loved how the author had created the bond between the three characters and how she had written them to be such different people, pulled together by a cruel act committed when they were children. The strength that they showed at times then moments of weakness, were very moving.
It was quite a believable story; how they undertook to take revenge on the person who robbed them of their childhood. When things didn't go the way they planned, you felt their pain and frustration. There is the inclusion in the story of one of the girls using a Ouija board, like they did when they were younger, when they sealed their friendship. Some other readers have said this wasn't needed in the book, but I disagree as it includes the ritual of self-harm which so many people inflict upon themselves, to relieve the pain and hurt of a trauma they've endured.
This was a well written story; full of content and with many twists and turns. It was in no way predictable and I found it hard to put down.
I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 4, 2013
Thank you to the author and publisher for the copy of this book via netgalley.
Cecily, Amelia and Hilary are best friends…Hilary was attacked one fateful day during their youth and the others could do nothing to stop it – this bonds them beyond the normal ties of friendship. Jump forward in time and Hilary still has issues…and Cecily is now an assistant DA. When Amelia comes across a man with a memorable tattoo the girls have a chance for Justice…but with little interest from the powers that be its up to them to find it for themselves…
This novel went off in a direction I wasnt quite expecting from reading the synopsis – that made it slightly more than your average crime mystery - but the best part of this book for me was the relationship the author has created between these three friends. Each affected in different ways by the trauma of that long ago day…they are all well drawn with hidden depths and emotions that you begin to learn more about as the book progresses. Extremely realistic, even down to allowing Cecily to feel quite annoyed with Hilary’s complete inability to “fix” herself, this made for an interesting look at those relationships that we form for ourselves outside the familial one.
I don’t want to give too much away – the mystery element is also very good – more in the “will she won’t she how far will she go” kind of way – it was more a character driven novel than anything. As Cecily moves forward in her quest I found her to be more and more intriguing and it held my interest for that reason more than for any kind of thrill aspect. And thats just as good!
One slight downside was I felt that Cecily’s “abilities” were not really required to make this a great novel. That aside this was a great read and I will certainly look forward to more from this author.
Happy Reading Folks!
Cecily, Amelia and Hilary are best friends…Hilary was attacked one fateful day during their youth and the others could do nothing to stop it – this bonds them beyond the normal ties of friendship. Jump forward in time and Hilary still has issues…and Cecily is now an assistant DA. When Amelia comes across a man with a memorable tattoo the girls have a chance for Justice…but with little interest from the powers that be its up to them to find it for themselves…
This novel went off in a direction I wasnt quite expecting from reading the synopsis – that made it slightly more than your average crime mystery - but the best part of this book for me was the relationship the author has created between these three friends. Each affected in different ways by the trauma of that long ago day…they are all well drawn with hidden depths and emotions that you begin to learn more about as the book progresses. Extremely realistic, even down to allowing Cecily to feel quite annoyed with Hilary’s complete inability to “fix” herself, this made for an interesting look at those relationships that we form for ourselves outside the familial one.
I don’t want to give too much away – the mystery element is also very good – more in the “will she won’t she how far will she go” kind of way – it was more a character driven novel than anything. As Cecily moves forward in her quest I found her to be more and more intriguing and it held my interest for that reason more than for any kind of thrill aspect. And thats just as good!
One slight downside was I felt that Cecily’s “abilities” were not really required to make this a great novel. That aside this was a great read and I will certainly look forward to more from this author.
Happy Reading Folks!
September 17, 2013
Three nine-year-olds share the nasty event of a rape happening to one of them, Hilary, while the two others are forced to watch. It draws Amelia, Cecily and Hilary together as nothing else could. Eighteen years later, they each still suffer from the consequences of that day. Will they ever be released from that yoke forged upon them by the rapist or will they be able to break free?
In the same week that Hilary was raped, her father Duane robs his favorite drinking hole, whacking the owner in the head, ending up in prison. Is this a coincidence? Could he have had a partner?
Does Cecily really believe in the system she serves as a prosecutor to deliver justice for this cold case? Officer Nick, now turned PI, remembers the case as one does with the unsolved cases and is more than happy to help when Cecily turns to him. A few unexpected disclosures regarding family relations make it even more thrilling and spellbinding, not counting the role the Ouija board plays from beginning till end.
The psychological ramifications of what happened to the three girls and how it influenced their lives is authentic and moving, causing you to ache and long for their redemption. The author has done a great job in marrying a mystery/detective with the complicated workings and consequences of a pact made by three little girls, who carry a burden of a horrible secret that no one should ever bear. However, is revenge really that sweet after all?
A captivating suspense novel that will keep you turning the pages till the end! Way to go for a debut!
In the same week that Hilary was raped, her father Duane robs his favorite drinking hole, whacking the owner in the head, ending up in prison. Is this a coincidence? Could he have had a partner?
Does Cecily really believe in the system she serves as a prosecutor to deliver justice for this cold case? Officer Nick, now turned PI, remembers the case as one does with the unsolved cases and is more than happy to help when Cecily turns to him. A few unexpected disclosures regarding family relations make it even more thrilling and spellbinding, not counting the role the Ouija board plays from beginning till end.
The psychological ramifications of what happened to the three girls and how it influenced their lives is authentic and moving, causing you to ache and long for their redemption. The author has done a great job in marrying a mystery/detective with the complicated workings and consequences of a pact made by three little girls, who carry a burden of a horrible secret that no one should ever bear. However, is revenge really that sweet after all?
A captivating suspense novel that will keep you turning the pages till the end! Way to go for a debut!
September 18, 2013
Three little girls, an unspeakable act,a bond among friends is the premise of this mystery. The story centers around Cecily, Amelia and Hillary, three women who have been friends since they were young. They have maintained a close friendship with each other over the years, in fact an act of violence prevents these three women from leaving their hometown, Miller's Falls. Cecily is an Assistant DA who fights for abused and mistreated women and children and sees that justice is done and the abuser gets what is coming to them.
All three women have insecurities stemming from the incident that happened when they were young. Cecily has been haunted by her past and her inability to help one of her friends so she depends on her Ouija board and self mutilation to help her cope. Amelia has numerous sexual encounters with strange men and Hillary is frequently hospitalized for drugs and alcohol abuses.
All of the women's fears come to a head when Amelia has a sexual liaison with a man with a tattoo. A tattoo that she recognizes from the past. Thus begins a hunt for a killer and secrets long buried. Cecily is obsessed with finding the man with the tattoo and bring him to justice, whether legally or not. Cecily will stop at nothing to bring closure to a haunted past.
This book is one of those page turners about women trying to overcome their insecurities. A character driven novel with people that inspire strength and give the reader lots of characters to dislike.
I enjoyed reading this book and recommend it highly.
All three women have insecurities stemming from the incident that happened when they were young. Cecily has been haunted by her past and her inability to help one of her friends so she depends on her Ouija board and self mutilation to help her cope. Amelia has numerous sexual encounters with strange men and Hillary is frequently hospitalized for drugs and alcohol abuses.
All of the women's fears come to a head when Amelia has a sexual liaison with a man with a tattoo. A tattoo that she recognizes from the past. Thus begins a hunt for a killer and secrets long buried. Cecily is obsessed with finding the man with the tattoo and bring him to justice, whether legally or not. Cecily will stop at nothing to bring closure to a haunted past.
This book is one of those page turners about women trying to overcome their insecurities. A character driven novel with people that inspire strength and give the reader lots of characters to dislike.
I enjoyed reading this book and recommend it highly.
September 29, 2013
The lives of nine-year olds Cecily, Amelia, and Hilary are changed forever when a stranger invades their hideout and rapes Hilary while forcing the other girls to watch. Cecily manages to rise above the tragedy long enough to attend law school, while Amelia and Hilary's lives are stuck in a pattern of promiscuity and alcohol abuse. Although she appears to have her life together, Cecily carries her own secret of guilt and addictive behavior.
When it appears that Hilary's rapist has returned to town, Cecily and Amelia determine to bring him to justice....with or without the law.
This is a spellbinding story of dysfunctional families, abuse, and revenge. From the first page, I could not put this down until the heart-stopping conclusion. With characters as unforgettable as these, I will be looking for Ms. Hale's future novels.
5 stars
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Partners In Crime Book Tours reviewers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
When it appears that Hilary's rapist has returned to town, Cecily and Amelia determine to bring him to justice....with or without the law.
This is a spellbinding story of dysfunctional families, abuse, and revenge. From the first page, I could not put this down until the heart-stopping conclusion. With characters as unforgettable as these, I will be looking for Ms. Hale's future novels.
5 stars
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Partners In Crime Book Tours reviewers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
September 26, 2013
Patricia Hale presents a suspenseful story of 3 women, friends all their lives, who have grown up after horrible tragedy happens to one of them. Hilary, Amelia and Cecily have coped for years, each in their own way. Then one day, the past comes back around. Twist and turn after twist and turn I couldn't put it down. This is not a normal read for me. I generally avoid suspense and mystery especially since I almost didn't make it through the first chapter without skipping ahead. It just broke my heart and stunned me. But I understand the need for background in the story. Wow! and Yikes! Just after halfway through, I think I figured out part of the mystery; it's a bit evident. Just don't stop reading it! Even if the first part upsets you. It's definitely worth the read!! It has quite the ending!!!
October 3, 2013
Patricia Hale pens "In The Shadow of Revenge" in a plot filled with suspense along with many twists and turns. Between the author's characters that were well developed, interesting and unique, and the plot that just captivated me from the very start and had be guessing throughout, this is one book I really had a hard time putting down. Highly recommended for all suspense fans.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the author which was provided for an honest review.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the author which was provided for an honest review.
June 7, 2018
I did not care for it. Armature. Hate Ouija Boards so that early on turned me off big time. And I never liked the characters. Sometimes this works for me but not here. I have read too many books I think that gripped me or have a deeper layer to the writing that I am spoiled. I may try her again if I happen to end up with another book she writes in the future since she may improve. The story synopsis sounded good
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September 19, 2013Today is my stop on the In The Shadow of Revenge blog tour sponsored by Partners In Crime
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January 30, 2022
I enjoyed this book. This novel was a mystery and had time jumps from past to present. Read this excellent mystery novel.
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