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Now you see me…

Six years ago, five friends went to New Orleans for Mardi Gras. Four of them returned. One simply disappeared. Jenny Taylor has never gotten over the disappearance of her twin sister, Caitlyn, but now things are even worse. Caitlyn calls to Jenny in her dreams, begging her sister to find her. But Jenny’s memory of the entire night is completely gone.

Shaye Archer knows better than anyone what it’s like to have gaping holes in your past, and how horrific dreams can cripple you. But this case presents problems on every level. An adult woman disappearing from the French Quarter during Mardi Gras is hard enough to get answers for, but when it happened years before, the difficulty level increases exponentially. But Shaye’s empathy for Jenny prevents her from saying no, even though she doesn’t expect to find anything.

Then a witness is murdered, and Jenny’s memory starts to return. What did she see in the alley that night? And how many more are in danger because of it?

364 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 4, 2018

444 people are currently reading
727 people want to read

About the author

Jana Deleon

102 books4,236 followers
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jana DeLeon was raised in southwest Louisiana among the bayous and gators. Her hometown is Carlyss, but you probably won't find it on a map. Her family owned a camp located on a bayou just off the Gulf of Mexico that you could only get there by boat. The most important feature was the rope hammock hanging in the shade on a huge deck that stretched out over the water where Jana spent many hours reading books.

Jana and her brother spent thousands of hours combing the bayous in a flat-bottom aluminum boat, studying the natural habitat of many birds, nutria and alligators. She would like you to know that no animals were injured during these "studies," but they kept makers of peroxide in business.

Jana has never stumbled across a mystery or a ghost like her heroines, but she's still hopeful.

She now resides in Dallas, Texas, with the most spoiled Sheltie in the world.

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5 stars
1,720 (64%)
4 stars
737 (27%)
3 stars
178 (6%)
2 stars
11 (<1%)
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3 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 141 reviews
1,383 reviews19 followers
January 24, 2020
A person missing for six years. Old friends who cannot forget her. In comes Shaye to help solve the mystery. In this book the twists kept me guessing almost to the end. I loved it. Once again, I cleared my schedule and read. Jana just keeps delivering with this series. No repetition, just action-filled and heart-stopping. The characters and their relationships keep growing. The complexity of the various intertwining story lines are handled impeccably. I highly recommend this book and Jana Deleon.
Profile Image for Marsha.
3,053 reviews58 followers
April 15, 2018
I’ve been in a reading funk and thought I lost my reading mojo. However, leave it to Jana Leon and the Shaye Archer to bring restart my love for reading. “Dreadful” takes this series to a whole new level both in the mysteries Shaye solves and in her personal life.

Shaye is working on some boring insurance invoices when there is a knock on her door. Jenny’s twin sister, Caitlyn went missing during Madi Gras six years prior. She also lost her memory of the situation that night as well. Now, she is having dreams of her sister and she is begging Jenny to find her. She asks Shaye to take on her case.

Meanwhile as Shaye investigates this cold case she gets a lead on the lawyer who handled her missing daughter’s adoption. Now she has to figure out if the information is valid. On a happier note, Shaye and Detective Jackson Lamotte have become comfortable with each other and are getting closer by the day. There is no pressure or high expectations, just a budding respect and affection.

This series just keeps getting better and better. I believe that it is due to the fact the author doesn’t rush anything. She is slow and thorough. I would like to see the relationship between Jackson and Shaye move to the next level. Hopefully in the next installment this will happen. If you haven’t read this series start with the first book and discover a world of intrigue, mystery and true grit. You won’t be disappointed!

Profile Image for Elisa.
3,231 reviews43 followers
April 8, 2018
A spine tingling thriller that kept me guessing to the end.
Just when I thought I had it all figured out another twisted caught me off guard, I really love how this series keeps me on my toes.

Shay Archer is on another tough case and again it's crossing with one of Jackson's cases but Jackson is also juggling more than one cases as well even though technically he and his partner have been taken off the kidnapping case.... my oh my talk about tangled webs and jumbled lies and a who's who of a crap pile to figure it all out before more bodies pile up.

A good ending.
1,700 reviews35 followers
March 7, 2019
While Shaye Archer is catching up on paperwork. She gets a visit from three twenty something people. Two young women and a man.

One of the young women, Jenny Taylor, was with the other two people, her twin sister, and another friend. They had gone into a bar during Mardi Gras, after going to the restroom Jenny’s sister Caitlyn had simply disappeared. The police were unable to find her, and after six years, the case has since long gone cold.

Jenny has been unable to function since, and Shaye takes the case knowing what she is going through.

Now Jenny is having dreams. It’s time to find her sister. All the people involved are being eliminated. One. By. One.



Another fun and page turning story from the mind of Jana Deleon.
15 reviews
April 19, 2018
great & suspenseful book! love all of jana deleons books & this is no exception. can't wait for the next book. love Shaye Archer !
Profile Image for Tracy T..
1,023 reviews24 followers
December 30, 2018
Good book and narration, (audible review)

I enjoyed this book. I did miss some of the other characters in this book though.

Another crazy person murder mystery. Jana DeLeon does have an imagination. I couldn't figure this one out until close to the end. I had some guessing moments for sure but there were some twists and turns that had me rethinking it. So that is a good thing.

I love this writing style, the books are basically full of dialogue. which is fantastic, and NOT written in the first person so it makes them even better.

I have enjoyed all the books in this series so far. Read them in order. They are not cliffhangers, but there is back story that pops up now and then.

As for the narration, this narration was better than the previous narrations even though its the same narrator. She seemed to ease up on the panic reading emotions for every character. So YAY for that! And thank you!
Profile Image for Laci.
361 reviews4 followers
December 4, 2025
Book six in the Shaye Archer series & each one just keeps getting better!


Shaye Archer is in the middle of paperwork when Jenny Taylor and two friends show up, desperate for help. Six years ago, Jenny’s twin sister Caitlyn vanished during Mardi Gras in New Orleans, and the case went cold. Jenny’s life has been completely turned upside down since, and now she’s haunted by dreams that might hold the key.

As Shaye digs in, the tension ramps up. People connected to the case start turning up dead, one by one. Shaye also has to face some of her own past demons, and I loved seeing her lean on Detective Jackson LaMotte, who’s always there for her both on the job and in life. Their relationship is so sweet, and it was fun watching it develop.

The twists kept me on the edge of my seat, but Jenny’s ending? Totally shocking, I did not see that coming. Shaye’s smart, brave, and determined, and this book delivers suspense, heart, and a killer payoff. I’m already itching to start next one!
22 reviews22 followers
June 6, 2018
Great story

The story gets better with each book. PI Shaye Archer has been hired to find the missing twin sister of an emotionally distraught and frail woman. The missing woman disappeared 6 years earlier during Marti Gras in New Orleans. As Shaye questions potential witnesses and friends dead bodies start to pile up. Shaye also is dealing with personal issues from her past. Shaye has fractured memories of her own abusive childhood. Her friend and budding love interest Detective Jackson LaMotte is always there for her. Her listens to her and helps as he can with her professional and private life. Their relationship is sweet and I can’t wait to see it continue. With bravery and smarts Shaye solves the mystery of the missing woman and with Jackson’s help she solves a mystery from her past. I loved the conclusion and can hardly wait for the next story
Profile Image for Sharon.
Author 38 books397 followers
June 25, 2018
3.5/5 stars

Shaye Archer is hired to look into a cold case; Jenny's twin sister, Caitlyn, disappeared during Mardi Gras six years ago, and she is in desperate need of closure. Soon, people who believed that the situation was long-resolved are turning up dead.

I'm not going to lie; I was a little disappointed in this one. I figured out what was happening about two-thirds of the way into the book.

I won't pretend the book was anything other than well-constructed. It was. And maybe if I didn't read about a zillion "whodunnits" a year I wouldn't have picked up on the answer as easily as I did. It just wasn't as tightly created as the other books in the series, from where I sit.
Profile Image for Literati Literature Lovers.
2,007 reviews158 followers
April 15, 2018
Brilliant killer with a shallow motive.

This latest Shaye Archer book is full of twist and turns, with plenty of thrills, but when the motive for the killing is revealed it is weak. Unlike Shaye’s other cases this one is a cold one, and the trail for the missing woman is long dead, or so Shaye thinks. Lots of lies permeated the various characters motives, made for a tale with too many lies, and no real good guy.
As for Shaye’s personal life Jackson and Shaye have still not moved onto a more intimately physical relationship. Shaye hunts for her daughter while keeping Corrine and Eleonora in the dark. I missed
Hustle not being in this book.
Over all a good read but not the best of the series.
8 reviews
May 10, 2018
Jana Deleon's Shane Archer series is anything but dreadful. The twists and turns will leave you guessing until the end and Dreadful does not disappoint. The story focuses on a group of young people who go out to party during Mardi Gras, when one disappears. Still unsolved years later, the remaining friends hire Archer in an attempt to finally put that night to rest. DeLeon drops hints and misdirection throughout the book but the final twist is a doozie. I began reading DeLeon's Miss Fortune series, which is delightful and will have you laughing out loud. The Archer series is darker but both are not to be missed. I highly recommend them and look forward to the next installment of both.
Profile Image for Roxie (tokenfemale).
89 reviews1 follower
July 16, 2018
I have really enjoyed the entire Shaye Archer series, and will continue reading as long as Jena writes them! What started with a much better than usual freebie (Malevolent) has turned into a long term love affair.

This one wasn't my favourite of the bunch though, simply because it was less plausible than the others. And maybe because there was less screen time for the antics of Shaye's adoptive mum and her therapist - love those ladies! Also no real forward movement between Shaye and Jackson..... I guess I missed the core character development threaded throughout previous books.

Anyway, can't go wrong with this series and looking forward to the next!
Profile Image for Mary Lou Webb.
519 reviews2 followers
January 23, 2019
A thrill ride nearly every minute

Twins. Disappearances. Murders. Kidnapping. Amnesia. All of these intertwine to make this the best Shaye Archer novel yet. Once again, Shaye's case intertwined with the NOPD's, so once again Jackson's career is on the line. He and his partner, Grayson, just got kicked off a state senator's granddaughter 's kidnapping, which is being usurped t the FBI.

The plot is phenomenal, as are the characters, in this page turner of a thriller. I highly recommend this book and this series. Start at the beginning and enjoy all of Shaye's cases and escapades. You won't be sorry.
Profile Image for Paula Galvan.
781 reviews
December 2, 2020
The sixth book in the series was a fast and entertaining read. While Shaye Archer is hired to find a girl that disappeared during Mardi Gras six years ago, her boyfriend, Detective Jackson LeMotte, is working on a kidnapping case with his partner, Grayson. Eventually, they cross paths when a bartender Shaye interviewed turns up dead the next day and Jackson is reassigned to the murder case. As the facts unfold and the bodies pile up, Shaye also discovers a heartbreaking piece of her past that she has to deal with. Although the narrative is repetitive at times, the plot is tight and holds a few surprises at the end. Good to the last page.
Profile Image for Leah.
336 reviews
July 26, 2021
3.5 stars, rounded up because I love this series so much.

Of all the books in the series, this one was my least favorite. The plot was a bit more basic & predictable, there were more errors (spelling names wrong and such), and the writing seemed slightly more stilted.

I also noticed in this one that one of Jana DeLeon’s favorite phrases is “xyz knew the score”. There was one chapter that had it 3 pages in a row. Not something that bothers me too much, but it gets noticeable at that point haha

Overall though, I still loved this book, the new story, and the connections back to the core of who Shaye is. On to the next!
839 reviews
April 16, 2018
I love the series and this book was just as exciting and well written as all the rest. This time Shaye Archer is on the case of a disappearance that took place 6 years ago. Sounds impossible, doesn't it? Not for Shaye! There are lots of twists and turns and shady characters. The twist at the end was very good and one that was not easily seen in the making. The last chapter is a somewhat of a tear jerker and I really liked the way it was handled. I'm looking forward to more Shaye Archer mysteries. They are great!
Profile Image for Joan Fischer.
8 reviews
May 9, 2018
Still reeling

As thrillers go, this is one of the best. Many series becomes stale by this time and lose impact as the author rushes to churn out another book. Ms. DeLeon just keeps getting better crafting a logical, yet unbelievable ending. When you lose yourself in the story and cry at the emotional impact you know it's good. On one hand I hope this is it for the series as it is going to need to take a different track to keep going. But, I'll be counting days until the next one arrives. What happened next will keep me waiting....
34 reviews
Read
July 21, 2023
Twice is nice., but not this time

Twin sisters should share a special bond. Jealousy and hate have no place in that relationship unless one is a narsicisstic crazed murderer who'll do about anything to hide her guilt even pretending to be the poor weaker sister whom she herself killed six years earlier. Lies and cover-ups slowly surface till she is no longer safe hiding in plain sight and mom eventually takes matters into her own hands -a mother always knows her own children.
30 reviews
April 23, 2018
Wonderfully written, as usual. I love all of Jane's books. This book is like her other books, fast moving and exciting. The Shea Archer series is so fast paced and you can't help but hope the good guys come out on top.

Exciting as usual. The Shea Archer series is always a spellbounder. As with all of Jane's books, very entertaining in a "can't out the book down till the end" sort of way
95 reviews
November 11, 2022
Another good one, on to the next.

This book was great, the characters, the plot twists. I have been an avid reader since I was 4, I binge read instead of TV. First found Jana seldom with her Ms. Fortune series, was happy to find this series,sad only 1 more.Hoping she writes more for both. I will be looking at everything she has written. definitely on my list of authors that if they write it,I will read it.
Profile Image for Jo Mikels.
35 reviews1 follower
April 10, 2018
It's complicated

Jana DeLeon is one of my favorite authors. Her Shaye Archer series is generally much darker than her other books and this one runs true to form. There are multiple murders that overlap and Shaye and Jackson stay busy. Without giving anything away, the ending is much sunnier than others have been. I look forward to more.
Profile Image for Dawn Gee.
2,991 reviews13 followers
April 12, 2018
Twisted brilliance

The murder mystery is brilliant with twists and turns with complete shock. There are several sad moments throughout the story. It ends with Shaye proving what complete selfless love should be like for a child. I'm a happy note, Shaye and Jackson are still building a solid relationship.
91 reviews
April 13, 2018
Dreadful

Wow!!! What an entertaining and suspenseful read. I think the Shaye Archer series is excellent and I'm so glad I found it. I think the authors who write series are smart when they offer the 1st book in the series free. After you've read the first one, if it's good, you'll gladly pay to read all future ones.
33 reviews
April 17, 2018
The best Shaye Archer yet

This book took me completely by surprise. Normally I can figure out “who-done-it” but this was a shock! I love the development between Shaye and Jackson and am anxious for the next book. If you haven’t tried this series you really need to start with the first book or you will be lost. Love Jana DeLeon!
Profile Image for Lois L Langham.
80 reviews
April 20, 2018
A story full of twists and turns

If you like a good story where you will not see what is coming, even if you guess parts you will never guess it all. Suspense, mystery, murder and a Shaye’s relationship with detective Jackson continues to evolve. Fast paced , you won’t want to put it down.
Profile Image for Mary Rowe.
2,622 reviews8 followers
August 24, 2018
Dark and Dreadful, As Promised

A cold missing persons case crosses Shaye’s doorstep and begins to collapse an intricate web of lies, secrets and present-day murders as Jackson and Grayson end up resolving a similarly dreadful kidnapping while their homicide investigations continue.
Profile Image for amy todd.
12 reviews
August 29, 2018
Didnt see that coming

Brilliant read! nerve wracking from begining to end i just love Shaye please dont let this be the last! we need more Shaye and Jackson and Shayes brilliant heroism. This book had brilliant characters.. Amazingly well set scenes and a gritty storyline. A must read for any jana deleon fan!
Profile Image for Tameka.
2,356 reviews3 followers
March 28, 2019
The pure fact that your twin goes missing and the surviving one has gaps in her mind about that fateful day until people start popping up dead.
My heart for Shay in so many ways. You know there is a child out there who shares your DNA but don't know if they are in a good home or if the people they have been placed with are decent.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 141 reviews

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