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CORE Shadow Trilogy #2

Shadow of Perception

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What happens when negligent plastic surgeons get a taste of their own medicine…?

Chicago investigative reporter, Eden Risk, receives an unmarked envelope containing a postcard ordering her to watch the enclosed DVD…or someone else dies. No police. After Eden watches the DVD, a gruesome, horrifying surgery, she turns to the private criminal investigation agency, CORE, for help. Only she hadn’t expected that help to come with a catch. Her former lover, Hudson Patterson, has been assigned to the case.

Hudson would rather have another CORE agent handle the investigation. Two years ago, he’d screwed things up with Eden…bad. And as more DVDs arrive, Eden and Hudson find themselves not only knee-deep in a twisted investigation, but forced to deal with their past, and the love they’d tried to deny.

380 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 21, 2013

29 people are currently reading
154 people want to read

About the author

Kristine Mason

38 books311 followers
Kristine Mason is the bestselling author of the popular romantic suspense trilogies, C.O.R.E. Shadow and Ultimate C.O.R.E. She is currently working on her next series, C.O.R.E. Above the Law, along with more Psychic C.O.R.E. novels.

Although Kristine has published a few contemporary romance novels, she focuses most of her energy on her romantic suspense stories, which she loves for their blend of dark mystery/suspense and sexy romance. She is fascinated with what makes people afraid, and is famous for her depraved villains whose crimes present massive obstacles for her heroes and heroines to overcome.

Kristine has a degree in journalism from Ohio State University and lives in Northeast Ohio with her husband, four kids, and two dogs. If she’s not writing, she’s chauffeuring kids, gardening, or collecting gnomes. Oh, and she makes a mean chocolate chip cookie!

Connect with Kristine on Facebook, Twitter or Goodreads. Or sign up for her newsletter at www.kristinemason.net.

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5 stars
134 (43%)
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108 (34%)
3 stars
56 (18%)
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8 (2%)
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
Profile Image for Mei.
1,897 reviews468 followers
March 3, 2014
I love how Ms. Mason writes!

She managed to do something I appreciate very, very much!
She's able to make me like a characted that when I started the book I found very unlikable! And, for me, it's a great achievement!

That's what happened with Eden.

At the beginning of the book she's the very definition of a bitch! She's caustic, she's stubborn, she's nasty, she's always on the defensive...

Since I don't like this kind of person, I found her immediately detestable.

But, as I went on reading, I started to understand her and, slowly, to like her. I understood her fears, her conflicts, her history.

That, for me is what makes Ms. Mason's writing excellent!

But, that's not the only thing!

She manages to write some really gruesome torture and murders in a way that left me holding my breath!

In this book we have a very intricate story with sme really sick people doing some very disturbing things!

I don't want to spoil the book for you, but believe me when I say thta it was incredible!

I couldn't believe it myself, but at the end I liked and understood even one of those characters!!!

The love story was a nice complement to the story and what made it balanced between good things in life and very bad ones!

In one word: if you enjoy a good, logical and coherent crime story, with some hot love interwined in between, you will klove this book!!!
Profile Image for Sherry Fundin.
2,280 reviews162 followers
August 14, 2013
"There's no such thing as perfect, only perception."

"Look at me Daddy."

He was watching as the images crawled across the screen. Eliza in her cheerleading uniform. Eliza being crowned homecoming queen. Eliza on her first modeling assignment. Eliza DEAD. The note she left said, "Make them listen, Daddy."

Well, they will listen now he thought, as he dropped off the first DVD to Eden Risk.

Eden is an investigative reporter and he knew she would make it right.

Eden knew she needed help. She contacted CORE,a private criminal investigation agency. Ian and Hudson were watching the DVD.The horror that was taking place was too obscene to comprehend. The violence and mutilation the victim suffered was one of the worst they had seen. When the torture stopped, the doctor looked into the camera.

"Eden, take care of yourself....While I've been watching you, someone else has been, too."

5 STARS - Would Buy It For Them (lol)

The covers and tag lines are so intriguing. I was hooked as soon as I laid eyes on them. I didn't need anything else to make me want to pick up the books and read them as soon as I could get my hands on them.

After reading Shadow of Danger, the first book in the CORE "Shadow" Trilogy, my expectations are high. There are multiple storylines and Kristine kept the suspense at a very high level.

The violence and torture is very graphic. I was amazed at Kristine's ability to describe the brutality so vividly. Maybe she should be a profiler. She sure got into the mind of this serial killer.

Eden - a confident and ambitious investigative reporter for , with dark secrets. She had a need to control everything in her life. Obsessive-Compulsive. Stubborn. Sexy. Her pets, Fabio the cat and Brutal the rat dog, are unique and show that under her hard exterior there is a heart.

Hudson - a Marine and a CIA operative, doing Black Ops work. Looked like a kickass biker dude. An air of danger surrounds him. Hmmm, I like that. He could be a GB- Golden Boy- or a DB - Douche Bag.

I am a dog lover and find it adds another element to the story. It makes the characters seem more human and easier to relate to. Kristine did a fantastic job of integrating the animals into the story and giving me some chuckles.

The relationships between the characters smack of reality. They fail to communicate, which causes all sorts of problems and I think we can all relate to that.

QUOTES

"......a front for some eighties big hair band." "..that explains all those hot groupies folowing me around and throwing their g-strings at me.

"I've only seen cats that size at the zoo or in the jungle. What the hell is it? Besides big and ugly."

"Don't talk like that, putting her hand over the cats ears." "He's sensitive."

"So sorry if I hurt your widdle feewings." Then she flipped him the bird.

"Hell is exactly where you are.......Welcome."

"Slow down, Speed Racer." I laughed out loud. I remember watching the show all the time.

"..what's wrong?" "I've never owned a week whacker." "What would you weed whack anyway? The dead plants in your apartment?"

"God this is something out of Hellraiser."

I love it when an author can integrate humor into such a dark and violent story.

I received this book in return for an honest and unbiased review.

Shadow of Perception (Book 2 CORE Shadow Trilogy) by Kristine Mason

Kristine Mason
Profile Image for Geri Winney.
283 reviews6 followers
July 21, 2019
SMH SMH SMH

This book was every romance novel cliche with a healthy dose of "stupid chick from a horror movie" mixed in for good measure. It's unfortunate because the bones of the plot were decent. Two unrelated killing sprees collide in a sad display of what grief and trauma do to the human mind and spirit. I wish the crimes and killers had a better duo pursuing them. What a waste.
Profile Image for Kathy Heare Watts.
6,915 reviews175 followers
November 27, 2017
I won a signed copy of this book during an online giveaway. I am under no obligation to leave a review or rating and do so voluntarily. So that others may also enjoy this book, I am paying it forward by donating it a local library.
Profile Image for Morgan Wyatt.
Author 20 books310 followers
August 8, 2013
Shadow of Perception by Kristine Mason is Book 2 in the CORE Shadow Trilogy. CORE is an elite group of agents that handles unusually dangerous and heinous crimes. A Shadow of a Perception opens with a crazed father who has kidnapped the plastic surgeon he blames for his daughter’s death and videotapes a diabolical surgery on the man. Eden, an investigative journalist and heroine, receives the tape.

Eden can’t believe her eyes when she watches the first video or the note that instructs her to show the horrific sequence on the news or another person will die. Her first instinct is to call CORE who had handled similar incidents in the past. What she didn’t expect was to have Hudson Patterson play bodyguard. He’s convinced that the deviant killer behind the tape has his eye on Eden. It is difficult to be near Hudson after their affair ended so abruptly two years ago. She’s tried to put it behind her, but having the living, breathing Hudson beside her brings it all back.

Hudson would rather have anyone guard Eden than him, then again, not. After all, he’s the best and he wouldn’t want anything to happen to her. He’d never forgive himself. He had a job to do and he could do it. Before he knows it, he, Eden and the rest of CORE find themselves trying to outthink a driven madman anxious to exact revenge on those he blames for his beauty queen daughter’s death. As the tapes arrive, and the body count rises, Hudson and Eden rediscover what they threw away so cavalierly.

Shadow of Perception has some majorly creepy scenes with the killer. CORE characters especially work well together. Hudson and Eden are initially very prickly around one another making their eventual return to love all the sweeter. The author’s research into child beauty pageants, what happens to the participants and parents that live for the pageant crown adds to the fabric of the story.

Shadow of Perception is a major thriller with disturbing scenes. I am betting it will put a few thousand people off any planned plastic surgery. All the same, it is a fun read. Two thumbs up for this satisfying read. Suspense and thriller fans both should enjoy it.
Profile Image for Books Mom.
138 reviews4 followers
September 13, 2013
It's been a long time since I've read a book that kept me riveted and left me a little sad and conflicted. Shadow of Perception did all that and more.

First, kudos to the author for creating a villain who wasn't just plain evil. So frequently we see sociopaths or villains so psychologically messed up it's hard to believe they could truly exist. There are actually two villains in this book, and one of them will make you question your own idea of what is right and wrong.

The hero and heroine were interesting, to be sure. The conflict between them seemed to be settled a little too quickly, which made me question just how deeply Hudson wounded Eden before. I think the greater conflict was their difficulty in sharing their pasts, their feelings, their hopes for the future. Also, I wish the issue of Eden's eating disorder had been addressed more completely. I felt as if she got over it just too easily (though I suppose it's possible she's not actually over it -- maybe if we see her in the future it'll crop up again).

Those were the only real issues I had with this story -- nothing major, just little nit-picky things. The rest of the plot was great. I admit that my ability to "see" what was happening in my mind was a bit of a disadvantage here, as some of the scenes are pretty graphic.

I completely loved the secondary characters, but did feel as if I was missing a little of the dynamics between Eden and her sister for not having read book one. I intend to rectify that mistake immediately. So many of the other characters are begging to have their stories told and I can't wait for the next book.

The plot was solid, the writing clean, descriptive and easy to read, and I didn't notice any editing errors, but that may also be a credit to the writing keeping me so completely engrossed. I'm so glad to have been introduced to Kristine Mason and can't wait to keep following the members of CORE.
Profile Image for Samantha Holly.
328 reviews2 followers
March 16, 2016
Eden Risk is an investigative reporter for WBDJ News. Following her promotion to Network, Eden begins to receive strange phonecalls and then receives a strange DVD showing the torture of a complete stranger. Not knowing if it is a prank or not, she enlists the help of Ian Scott's CORE group - a Private Investigative Agency.

Immediately after reviewing the DVD, Ian assigns Hudson Patterson as her protection detail. But they have a past and the emotions are still raw for the both of them but spending 24/7 with someone you hold a strong attraction to can cause all sorts of trouble.

Shadow of Danger is the first book of this series and I personally feel John and Celeste story was so much more - suspense, thrilling and even the emotional connection between the two characters. Plus, Celeste's little gift (as a psychic) and being able to relive the dying moments of the dead, I was hoping that either Eden or Hudson would have opted to use her ability. Although the reasoning behind this is explained later in the book, I was slightly disheartened when the only mention of Celeste is the arguments between the two.

It was still a great book and I would recommend it to those who like suspense/romance type novels.
Profile Image for Maggie Thom.
Author 25 books476 followers
August 27, 2013
4.5/5 Shadow of Perception is a really good read but it's tough at times to get through the graphic details... it's so real. It's a romance, a thriller, full of suspense, gory stuff and murder. There is quite an ironic twist in the story. No I can't tell you what it is, you'll have to read it to discover it yourself. This story will keep you interested and turning the pages, some faster than others.

Eden is an investigative reporter for the local news station but she is moving in a few weeks to her dream job in New York. Only a nut case who is surgically mutilating men, has chose as his messenger. He has DVD's delivered to her of his gruesome murders and he tells her to watch herself as she has a stalker. Enter Hudson, a CORE agent, someone she had a hot and heavy affair with two years before but when he used her as bait to catch a serial rapist, she dumped him. He's now been ordered to babysit her and make sure nothing happens to her. Still pissed at him for the stunt he'd pulled two years before, you can imagine how well that went over with her. Well at least until she's reminded of the hot steamy sex they used to have.

This is book two in a series but can be read on it's own. I was given a copy for an honest review.
Profile Image for Cindy.
2,347 reviews172 followers
November 8, 2015
Double the suspense... One killer who is fueled by grief and vengeance and another a killer who is a complete psychopath all on a collision course with the heroine, Eden Risk.

Eden didn’t come off very warm and friendly in the first book. But as the story goes along we learn about the real Eden and why she presents a hard uncaring persona to the world.

Hudson Patterson a former marine and CIA agent who now works for CORE. Two years ago he was romantically involved with and used Eden to catch a killer which resulted with the relationship ending badly. Neither of them are happy when he is assigned to protect her.

The three story lines kept you on the edge of your seat throughout the book until till the final converging. This author defiantly knows how to write gory scenes and they are aplenty in this book.
Profile Image for Leah Speller.
411 reviews3 followers
July 7, 2016
This second book was just as strong a ride as the first. But there was more than one killer...

Again I loved hearing it from both sides and how it would all combine down to one point but this point was very different from any that I have ever read. Now that I am not giving away cause that would be just telling.

The characters and the story arch are so well thought out it reminded me of, well forgive the music analogy, having a melody and harmony but then there is this other melody that weaves itself in oud out yet fits in and then another joins in each of their own strong but put together makes for a unique piece of music. That is what this book and story line made me think of when I came to write my review. I hope I did not confuse anyone....

So needless to say I so enjoyed this book and looking forward to the next.
Profile Image for Heather.
6 reviews2 followers
October 2, 2014
Like the first book of the series, this installment gives the reader an inside look from multiple characters view points and thoughts. At first not knowing how they are connected until the story reaches climax. I loved the extra element added in the story and how Mason got the reader (at least, I was) rooting for the killer. The main character was slightly mentioned in the first book and I was over joyed to learn more about her in this one. It was refreshing to see how different these characters were from the main characters of the first book. This is definitely a page turner; just like the first one; I can't wait to read the third part of the CORE series.
Profile Image for Hot Romance Novel.
124 reviews14 followers
October 24, 2013
Another page turner by Kristine! More characters, even more developed. Another book that allowed little to no sleep for me! I started and finished it in one night. I could not put the book down. I love how Kristine makes the villains seriously evil, demented and sick! I love how she keeps her heros so complex and still simple. She has a talent for sure! I can not wait to read the 3rd book. This is going to be a nail biter for sure!
Profile Image for Maggie Bermann.
215 reviews7 followers
November 4, 2013
I didnt enjoy this book as much as the first book. maybe cos 1st book had a bit of the paranormal about it.. i just found I got confused as it flipped between 2 killers.

It was pretty gory in places, but expected that after 1st book. Going to read 3rd book and hope its better, as was a wee bit disappointed.
97 reviews3 followers
December 6, 2014
Core Shadow Book 2

This is the second book in The Shadow series. I must say I didn't really enjoy this one like I did the first story. Great storyline but a lot of repetition in this book. About Eden and Hudson's history, and Eden's past and how she handled it. It was like cut and paste. The ending was great though.
Profile Image for Dr. Lee.
68 reviews
September 24, 2015
The second book in the trilogy moves the main character from Celeste to her sister Eden. I miss Celeste. The mystery involves a man who sends Eden DVD's showing several gruesome murders that the murderer had performed. There was no psychic helping to solve these murders, only a different member of the CORE team. Decent mystery. Too much sexual obsession between the characters.
Profile Image for Booknookie.
309 reviews23 followers
December 13, 2017
This one I did not like at all. I didn’t like that the suspense disappeared so fast since Mason gave to much explanations to early. So the murder and his mystery was not that exciting. And I did not like Eden at all. A complete review can be read at The Book Chick.
Profile Image for Diana Davidson.
113 reviews
April 19, 2014
If you think the first book is good, this one is gonna take your breath away. Kristine Mason is a romantic suspense master. Tons of action, romance and 2 serial killers!! Can't wait to see what she has In store for the next one!
Profile Image for Noralyn  Hughes.
3 reviews
October 25, 2016
A fun read

This is the second book of her for shadow trilogy. I love her style of writing it keeps me interested. If you like suspense combined with sexy Romance these books are for you.
2,822 reviews8 followers
March 17, 2016
I enjoyed this book, but I wish there were less scenes from the killers' points of views. The characters were great, and I loved the relationship between Eden and Hudson.
Profile Image for Glenda Bettin.
4,405 reviews29 followers
January 28, 2017
I had a hard time liking the heroine but eventually she redeemed herself
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews

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