Shadows of Justice: A Topher Davis Thriller

by Brian Copeland

When a determined reporter and his homicide detective sister link the disappearance of a missing Black woman to the highly publicized case of a vanished suburban housewife, they uncover a terrifying criminal conspiracy in this gripping crime thriller.

When Kristen Promes leaves her family’s annual 4th of July barbecue in an upscale Bay Area suburb to pick up her daughter’s playmate, she is never seen again. The discovery of her abandoned vehicle along the short route sparks a media frenzy, thrusting the mysterious disappearance of the affluent suburbanite into national headlines.

San Francisco investigative reporter, Topher Davis, and his dedicated team dive into the high-profile case. Amidst the relentless coverage, Josephine “Josie” Walker–from East Oakland –seeks out Topher, revealing that her daughter, Danica, has been missing much longer than Kristen, and without any attention from authorities or the media. Desperate for help, Josie pleads with Topher to cover her daughter’s story.

Enlisting the help of his sister, San Francisco PD Homicide Detective Lynn Sloan, Topher attempts to retrace Danica Walker’s final footsteps. As they unravel the layers of her life, they unearth connections between the two cases. Will Topher and Lynn expose the perpetrator before another life is claimed, or are they now mere pawns in a more perilous and deadly game?



 

289 pages, Paperback

Published April 29, 2025

Reviews

[Monique B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐ I really enjoyed the fast pacing of this crime thriller. I did go in to it thinking the focus would be a bit more on Danica, but I still enjoyed the read.

I liked how Topher & his sister, Lynn team up to figure out why a string of women have been killed in a similar manner. How some women were connected to other minor characters really had me guessing who was to blame for the killings. I was surprised with the ending!

I did find some details took away from the story & would've been fine without. (ex: naming all the news stations/sources, Topher's car "name")

I knocked this one out in less than 2 days and found it easy to follow with minor characters having a reason for being in the plot. I'm looking forward to reading more from Brian Copeland!

Thanks to Black Odyssey Media for the free eARC in exchange for my honest review! 🩷

[Vonetta Evans · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a 3.5 stars for me.

When I read the synopsis of this book I was intrigued. Once I started reading and saw that Kristen an affluent white woman turns up missing and there is so much press surrounding her disappearance, meanwhile there is Danica, a missing black woman which the police didn't make any efforts to find,, it really shined a light on how much racial disparity there is which is a little unnerving when you think about it.

As the story goes on, I wanted to see where it was going to to and what the connection was with the two missing women. As we learn they were both murdered in the same way, it turned into a game of whodunit for me and definitely had me side eying a few of the characters mentioned in the book. It was interesting to see all the theories Topher and his sister Lynn came up with and it almost made me forget he was an investigative journalist as it seemed he was more of a detective. When it was revealed who the killer was and the reasons why they killed, it made sense on one hand but it was also a little disheartening when it came to Danica and I almost wished it would have been something else that was the "connection" between the two women because she had so much going for her.

Although I enjoyed the mystery aspects of the book, I felt there were some unnecessary details brought into the book, especially with Topher's car, that took a little away from the story and I found myself rushing past them so I could get back to the main storyline. While I enjoyed the book and I would want to read more from Brian Copeland, I would have enjoyed it more without some of the details that didn't have to do with the actual storyline.

[Reading_Utopia! · Rating 4 out of 5]

I cannot get enough of the Mystery and Thriller Genre! This gripping novel gave me an adrenaline rush that kept me engaged and continuously guessing until the very end.

Kristin Promes leaves her home in the upscale Bay Area during a 4th of July celebration and she never returns. The media goes crazy and the Promes family can’t leave their home without questions being hurled at them by all the reporters camped out at their home.

Over in East Oakland, Danica Walker has been missing much longer than Kristin Promes with no media attention or help from the authorities. Josie, Danica’s mother pleads to an investigative report, Topher Davis, to look into her daughter’s disappearance.

Shadows of Justice by Brian Copeland (Pub. Date: Apr 29, 2025) is part of the Topher Davis Thriller series and follows the charismatic, San Francisco investigative report Topher Davis. While covering the high profile case of Kristen Promes, Topher and his “force to be reckoned with” sister/homicide detective Lynn discover that Danica Walker’s disappearance is linked to the highly publicized Promes case. Together they uncover dirty secrets, strange connections, and disturbing similarities while trying to piece together this unsettling mystery.

I adored Topher and Lynn’s relationship, their banter and how they worked together as a team even though they worked in two different professions. This novel sheds light on the frustrating and painful issues of missing black people being shunned by the media. Overall, Shadows of Justice possessed well developed characters and a complex plot that left the right amount of clues throughout the story leading up to several surprising twists and the ultimate big reveal.

This is my first time reading this author’s work and I will definitely be reading book one of this series!

I’d like to give special thanks to Black Odyssey Media, NetGalley, and the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Kim’s Kindle Reads. · Rating 4 out of 5]

My second book from Copeland and baby I am A FAN. This was such a good read. I had A TIME going back and forth trying to figure out what the hell was going on 😭 the plot was good, of course I love the main characters and the new/side characters I loved as well. Topher and sister Lynn are investigating the murder of two missing/murdered women who seemingly live in two different worlds. The twist, turns and secrets revealed how they were connected and baby… let me just say … the culprit shocked me cuz why would someone go through all of that for that??? 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 i highly recommend this series. Book I and II were amazing! I need book III asap.

Thank you NetGalley and Black Odyssey Media for this eARC!

[ChiQuito · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shadows of Justice, Brian Copeland

I had no idea this was the 2nd installment in a new series. Brian Copeland (Author) did a wonderful job at not giving lots of details about the characters.

I would give this a solid ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ to 4.5 stars. I was impressed with the keep you guessing suspense and murders. Topher Davis (Reporter) works closely with his Homicide Detective Sister, Lynn. The story starts with the murder of Kristen Promes (Caucasian, wealthy, pregnant). The media frenzy making this unsolved murder all anyone can talk about. Meanwhile, a grieving mother’s only daughter Danica (Black, not wealthy, pregnant) has disappeared and it seems nobody cares enough to look into her disappearance. Josie, Danica’s mother, reaches out to Topher for his help. Topher with the help of his sister Lynn discover details link the two cases but how?

I enjoyed this book. I’m glad I discovered it and had the opportunity to read such a great book.

Dislikes: Hearing about Topher’s The Black Beauty (car). There were quite a few mentions and my personal opinion I didn’t think it was necessary. However, that was my only dislike and not a big deal OR a reason not to purchase the book.

I look forward to reading “Outraged” the 1st installment in the Topher Davis series and future books by this author.

[J Kromrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Brian Copeland’s Shadows of Justice plunges readers into a world where idealism collides with institutional decay, and the pursuit of truth comes at a steep—and deeply personal—cost. This isn’t just a courtroom drama or a procedural thriller; it’s a razor-edged exploration of power, memory, and what justice really means when the system is rigged to forget.

At its core is Topher Davis, a whip-smart criminal defense attorney who uncovers a conspiracy so tangled it threatens not just his career, but his very identity. Copeland paints Topher as more than just a legal hero—he’s a man haunted by both past injustice and present compromise. His moral compass isn’t just tested; it’s recalibrated by necessity.

What gives Shadows of Justice its bite is the way it refuses simplicity. Every victory is laced with ambiguity, and every villain harbors just enough humanity to make us question our loyalties. Copeland’s prose moves with urgency, but he’s careful with the weight of each reveal, crafting a story that grips like a thriller while asking questions that linger like a bruise.

And yet, this is also a novel of resonance. Through Topher’s journey, Copeland unearths deeper themes of generational trauma, systemic betrayal, and the enduring ache for redemption. It’s a pulse-pounding ride, yes—but it’s also a story that listens, hard, to the echo of silenced voices.

Shadows of Justice earns its tension not through spectacle but through consequence—and in doing so, it sets itself apart in a crowded genre.

[Mystie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Ash the Bookworm on IG and Black Odyssey Media I saw this book showcased and thought....why not try it 🤷🏽‍♀️
Fours hours later I am done and pleased that I picked this one up.

This is a good, fun, modern day whodunit, with an investigative reporter and his sister, a homicide detective, unraveling a case that snags your full attention at the end of Chapter One.

The chapters are short. It took me a couple minutes to read Chapter One and even less time to cancel the rest of my day. This is an easy, enjoyable read, even though at the center there are some gruesome murders. You do not feel it though. As the banter and humor between the siblings keep the story moving and light enough that you do not feel heavy while reading.
Instead you are overcome with curiosity. You just want to know, who did it and why. Because with every twist the mystery deepened. In the end though it was smartly wrapped up and left me satisfied and ready to read more of this series and more from Brian Copeland.

Thanks to Net Galley and Black Odyssey Media for allowing me access to this intriguing arc.

It certainly was my pleasure!

[Barbara Rhine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Copeland's second thriller after "Outraged," and it was the one I read first. I enjoyed it a lot. Same characters--reporter Topher Davis as the narrator, working alongside his sister the cop, and his assistant on his job. All black, which took me a while to realize, which I liked. Women are being killed left and right, but the one paid the least attention to by the press and public is a black victim, seeming unconnected to the others. Topher is bothered by this, so he looks into it all. What emerges is fascinating, and even mostly believable, despite the pattern being truly weird. Anyhow, it's always a mistake to disclose too much of a thriller's plot--suffice it to say that if you like thrillers, this one is worth your time. Copeland, who also wrote and acted in the play "Not a Genuine Black Man," the longest running in Bay Area history, has now written two Topher Davis thrillers. I liked them both, but preferred this one...

[Ash · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now this was a crazy thriller! Two women disappear at the same time, one white & one black yet only one is being covered in the media. The mother of the black missing woman tracks down Topher Davis a well known news reporter to beg him to also include her daughter Danica, so that she can be found. Topher promises that he will do all that he can & gets his sister Lynn a homicide detective to also help him. I was literally guessing thru the entire book who the murderer actually was because there were so many twists. My only complaint about the story was a bit of repetition especially about Black Beauty it seemed in every other page & a few long winded paragraphs but other than that it was definitely a solid thriller. Grateful for my complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, Black Odyssey Media for the copy of Shadows of Justice by Brian Copeland. This is the second book in the Topher Davis series. I loved the first book and this one is even better, if that’s possible. The story is set in the San Francisco Bay Area and if you live here it feels comfortingly familiar. I loved the little insights into Topher’s life; from being a dog-dad to being a public figure and dating. This time, Topher and his sister are investigating how the women's deaths are connected, and the connections unearth many secrets that add up to an intriguing story. I’m not sure I could have guessed the culprit, but I loved the conclusion. I can’t wait for book three! 5 stars

[Matthew Barmack · Rating 3 out of 5]

Almost like a Bay Area version of Michael Connelly. Especially good detail on obscure East Bay suburbs including Pleasanton and Castro Valley. (The descriptions probably resonated for me because I know the area well.). A mystery surrounding initially two (and then more) linked murders, one of a white and affluent suburban soccer mom and another of a black paralegal trying to put herself through school. Full of interesting observations on class and race. I was ready to give 4* but (spoiler alert) the end is bonkers and not based on a well developed foundation from the rest of the book.

[Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brian Copeland does it again! I just love his Topher Davis book series. It's captivating and interesting.

I love the storyline and characters in the book. The final twist in the book was jaw dropping!

I highly recommend this novel, especially to those who are dealing with a reading slump. Outstanding storytelling!

[Addie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great ride with Topher and the gang. Really loved the local flavor and great characters. The ending will shock you. It’s great how Brian can use the stories to highlight problems in the world like the lack of interest and follow-up for missing women of color but still creates a compelling who-done-it.

[Michael Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A children's birthday party leads to a murder. The victim is the wife of a successful business man. That man is sleeping with one of her best friends. Topher, short for Christopher is a reporter. His sister is a cop. Their jobs intertwine on different cases. I loved the writing style of the Author. I would read another novel in this series.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Despite murder victims dropping like flies, this book was a fun read due to the local setting—murders in Pleasanton, Livermore, and San Francisco. I had the pleasure of meeting the author at an event at our local bookstore.

[Quaterria Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Topher Davis is slightly aggy as the main male character but continues to prove himself as the top investigative reporter that he is. I didn't know how this book was going to go and was the twist was good!

[Rochele · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

[DyaaReads_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️ It’s part 2 of the Topher series, & some details should have been left out because it was introduced in book 1. A lot going on but overall, a quick & good read.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the first one better but still a nice quick read with local touches.