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Special Tracking Unit #3
Shadows of the Dead
The best tracker in the world, a man with a secret and a special set of skills, must find two nearly untraceable killers before time runs out for their victims, in Spencer Kope's Shadows of the Dead.
A woman—abducted and found in the trunk of a car after a high-speed chase—regains consciousness in the ICU to reveal two crucial pieces of information: the man who kidnapped her is not the same as the man who left her in the woods, and she's not the first victim—in fact, she is number eight.
Magnus “Steps” Craig is part of the elite three-man Special Tracking Unit of the FBI. Known for his ability to find and follow trails over any surface, Steps is called in on cases that require his unparalleled skills. But there’s a secret to his talent. Steps has a kind of synesthesia where he can see the ‘essence’ of a person—what he calls ‘shine’—on everything they’ve touched.
Brought in to track the driver through a dense forest after the blood hounds have lost his trail, Steps and his partner Jimmy find the driver laughing maniacally, babbling about souls, and hiding a pristinely maintained box of eight posed rats. Now the Special Tracking Unit must chase two villains—through not just the real world, but the dark web as well—tracking an enemy they can't see, as time runs out for the unknown victims.
A woman—abducted and found in the trunk of a car after a high-speed chase—regains consciousness in the ICU to reveal two crucial pieces of information: the man who kidnapped her is not the same as the man who left her in the woods, and she's not the first victim—in fact, she is number eight.
Magnus “Steps” Craig is part of the elite three-man Special Tracking Unit of the FBI. Known for his ability to find and follow trails over any surface, Steps is called in on cases that require his unparalleled skills. But there’s a secret to his talent. Steps has a kind of synesthesia where he can see the ‘essence’ of a person—what he calls ‘shine’—on everything they’ve touched.
Brought in to track the driver through a dense forest after the blood hounds have lost his trail, Steps and his partner Jimmy find the driver laughing maniacally, babbling about souls, and hiding a pristinely maintained box of eight posed rats. Now the Special Tracking Unit must chase two villains—through not just the real world, but the dark web as well—tracking an enemy they can't see, as time runs out for the unknown victims.
378 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 25, 2020
48 people are currently reading
405 people want to read
About the author
Spencer Kope
11 books223 followersI started writing while serving in the Navy in the early 80s. I was a Russian linguist with the Naval Security Group at a time when the Cold War was still going strong. After my enlistment, I worked as an intelligence analyst and then a project manager for the Office of Naval Intelligence. You'd think this experience would have led me to write espionage novels, but it wasn't meant to be. Mind you I tried, but my heart wasn't in it.
Instead, I wrote horror stories and tales of a dystopian future. There were plenty of short stories, attempts at novels, and then novels. And while I've always had an incredible imagination, my early writing skills were pathetic.
It's been said that to become a master at anything, one need only practice that art for ten thousand hours. Well, it's taken three decades, but I've walked that road; I've done my ten thousand hours. I'm no longer afraid to share my work, and I find that my own words can make me smile, laugh, and even bring me to tears. Often, particularly when I'm supposed to be editing, I find myself being sucked into my own story.
I finally quit the intelligence business in 1999, and, beginning in 2004, started a new career as a crime analsyt. And while I still enjoy writing a variety of genres, particularly young adult, my career in law enforcement prompted me to write "Collecting the Dead," the first in a series about the fictional Special Tracking Unit.
Named by Kirkus Reviews as one of the Best Books of 2016, and nominated for a Barry Award for Best Thriller, "Collecting the Dead" launched the new series with a bang. Best of all, I love the characters and the premise of the series, and look forward to writing these books for years to come.
Instead, I wrote horror stories and tales of a dystopian future. There were plenty of short stories, attempts at novels, and then novels. And while I've always had an incredible imagination, my early writing skills were pathetic.
It's been said that to become a master at anything, one need only practice that art for ten thousand hours. Well, it's taken three decades, but I've walked that road; I've done my ten thousand hours. I'm no longer afraid to share my work, and I find that my own words can make me smile, laugh, and even bring me to tears. Often, particularly when I'm supposed to be editing, I find myself being sucked into my own story.
I finally quit the intelligence business in 1999, and, beginning in 2004, started a new career as a crime analsyt. And while I still enjoy writing a variety of genres, particularly young adult, my career in law enforcement prompted me to write "Collecting the Dead," the first in a series about the fictional Special Tracking Unit.
Named by Kirkus Reviews as one of the Best Books of 2016, and nominated for a Barry Award for Best Thriller, "Collecting the Dead" launched the new series with a bang. Best of all, I love the characters and the premise of the series, and look forward to writing these books for years to come.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
July 21, 2020
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Spencer Kope, and St. Martin’s Pressfor providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
After thoroughly enjoying the audio versions of Spencer Kope’s Special Tracking Unit series, I turned to the book format for this latest instalment. Kope excelled with his detail and action before, but this book was completely off the charts, sending chills and thrills with each page turn. Magnus “Steps” Craig remains quite busy with the FBI’s Special Tacking Unit (STU), a small collection of individuals tasked with locating missing persons, which can include discovering bodies in the most macabre situations. Steps has an added tool in his arsenal, setting him apart from others, called ‘shine’, which allows him to see the presence of someone through an aura that presents itself in detailed colours and other visual disturbances. After a call to assist when a purported kidnapper has fled into the Washington State woods, Steps and his partner, Special Agent Jimmy Donovan, agree to do what they can. After surrounding a small cabin, the authorities coax a young man out and proceed to arrest him. His muttering are all over the place, but one thing is clear, the woman in his trunk is call ‘Eight’ and he must ‘fix her’. Further rambling reveals that this man works for ‘the Onion King’, though even saying that might be too much. Working with these leads and some help from the kidnap victim, Steps and Donovan discover that there is more to the case and that this Onion King may be much more dangerous than first presumed. When they find themselves outside another rural cabin, what’s discovered inside begins to offer some idea of who the other seven women might be and the rationale behind their abductions. However, even as Steps and Donovan put names to these women, their connection to one another and the Onion King remains opaque. Time is running out and the shines associated with all involved are slowly ebbing. With a wily and ruthless serial killer out there, vulnerable women are not safe and cannot see the danger before them. Recommended to those who have read and enjoyed the past novels in this series, as well as the reader who finds pleasure in something well off the beaten path.
There is surely a significant difference in reading a book through audio and seeing the lines before your eyes. Some would even pose the argument that audiobooks are not a part of the reading process, but that is for another review. After being pulled in by the first two novels in this series, I was pleased to receive an advance copy of this story. Spencer Kope uses his unique perspective with crime thrillers to lure the reader in from the opening pages. Magnus ‘Steps’ Craig offers his unique abilities to add another layer in his role as protagonist. Steps is a talented tracker in the FBI, though his shine offers him both some advantages and impediments, as he cannot share its presence with others. Kope leaves the backstory out of this book, focussing his attention on the camaraderie and teamwork between Steps and Donovan. Working closer to home, the case takes on a more intense nature and pushes the characters together with more regularity. Other characters who appear throughout help offer some added depth to the story, which is surely the most spine chilling of the three novels.. Others continue to complement and flavour the narrative effectively and keep the reader wanting more. The story is better than I expected and proves captivating because of the approach that remains unduplicated by other novels in the genre. Kope peppers the plot with numerous twists planted throughout the story, forcing the reader to pay close attention. Offsetting this with a decent dose of humour, educational moments, and great plot pacing, this book makes its mark and will surely leave the reader wanting to explore more. I would not normally say this, but this book has all the elements of being perfect as a movie, provided that some of the darker moments can be executed with style.
Kudos, Mr. Kope, for another winner and surely the best of the lot. I cannot wait to see what you have in mind for Steps and Donovan in the coming novels.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
After thoroughly enjoying the audio versions of Spencer Kope’s Special Tracking Unit series, I turned to the book format for this latest instalment. Kope excelled with his detail and action before, but this book was completely off the charts, sending chills and thrills with each page turn. Magnus “Steps” Craig remains quite busy with the FBI’s Special Tacking Unit (STU), a small collection of individuals tasked with locating missing persons, which can include discovering bodies in the most macabre situations. Steps has an added tool in his arsenal, setting him apart from others, called ‘shine’, which allows him to see the presence of someone through an aura that presents itself in detailed colours and other visual disturbances. After a call to assist when a purported kidnapper has fled into the Washington State woods, Steps and his partner, Special Agent Jimmy Donovan, agree to do what they can. After surrounding a small cabin, the authorities coax a young man out and proceed to arrest him. His muttering are all over the place, but one thing is clear, the woman in his trunk is call ‘Eight’ and he must ‘fix her’. Further rambling reveals that this man works for ‘the Onion King’, though even saying that might be too much. Working with these leads and some help from the kidnap victim, Steps and Donovan discover that there is more to the case and that this Onion King may be much more dangerous than first presumed. When they find themselves outside another rural cabin, what’s discovered inside begins to offer some idea of who the other seven women might be and the rationale behind their abductions. However, even as Steps and Donovan put names to these women, their connection to one another and the Onion King remains opaque. Time is running out and the shines associated with all involved are slowly ebbing. With a wily and ruthless serial killer out there, vulnerable women are not safe and cannot see the danger before them. Recommended to those who have read and enjoyed the past novels in this series, as well as the reader who finds pleasure in something well off the beaten path.
There is surely a significant difference in reading a book through audio and seeing the lines before your eyes. Some would even pose the argument that audiobooks are not a part of the reading process, but that is for another review. After being pulled in by the first two novels in this series, I was pleased to receive an advance copy of this story. Spencer Kope uses his unique perspective with crime thrillers to lure the reader in from the opening pages. Magnus ‘Steps’ Craig offers his unique abilities to add another layer in his role as protagonist. Steps is a talented tracker in the FBI, though his shine offers him both some advantages and impediments, as he cannot share its presence with others. Kope leaves the backstory out of this book, focussing his attention on the camaraderie and teamwork between Steps and Donovan. Working closer to home, the case takes on a more intense nature and pushes the characters together with more regularity. Other characters who appear throughout help offer some added depth to the story, which is surely the most spine chilling of the three novels.. Others continue to complement and flavour the narrative effectively and keep the reader wanting more. The story is better than I expected and proves captivating because of the approach that remains unduplicated by other novels in the genre. Kope peppers the plot with numerous twists planted throughout the story, forcing the reader to pay close attention. Offsetting this with a decent dose of humour, educational moments, and great plot pacing, this book makes its mark and will surely leave the reader wanting to explore more. I would not normally say this, but this book has all the elements of being perfect as a movie, provided that some of the darker moments can be executed with style.
Kudos, Mr. Kope, for another winner and surely the best of the lot. I cannot wait to see what you have in mind for Steps and Donovan in the coming novels.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
May 11, 2025
Shadows of the Dead is a police procedural that has a slightly paranormal element where Magnus has an extrasensory skill. I loved how that element was incorporated into this story because it added a supernatural layer of detection. Something that I don’t want to forget to mention was the suspense. Everything is explained in time but the suspense of not knowing what was taking place was both pleasurable and painful. Overall, Shadows of the Dead was an exciting reading experience.
This review is based on a complimentary book I received from NetGalley. It is an honest and voluntary review. The complimentary receipt of it in no way affected my review or rating.
This review is based on a complimentary book I received from NetGalley. It is an honest and voluntary review. The complimentary receipt of it in no way affected my review or rating.
August 8, 2020
When I read "Collecting the Dead," the first book in this series, I said in my review that it knocked my socks off. Then I got this one, and there went my toes.
It's absolutely exhilarating to find a new series that's this enjoyable; I love Magnus "Steps" Craig, an agent with the FBI's Special Tracking Unit. He's clever, amusing and "special" in another sense. Ever since surviving a childhood accident, he's had the ability to see "shine" - the essence, or aura, human beings leave behind wherever they go - in glorious living colors. It's not always a welcome talent, though, so he wears special lead crystal glasses that block it out when he doesn't need it on the job. As for that, his ability is a secret except to his partner, Special Agent Jimmy Donovan, his father, the head of the FBI and, of course, readers like me.
That ability is stretched almost to the limit in this book, when it's learned that the body of a female jogger in a wooded area isn't the first. Apparently, a serial killer has been plying his or her trade for years - and the modus operandi smacked of a seriously deranged individual. Steps and Jimmy catch the "perp," and that theory becomes a reality. Also a reality, though, is that at least one someone else is involved - someone who may be more dangerous than the one they caught (if that's possible).
When yet another woman goes missing, time becomes the enemy. The team has a pretty good idea how long they have before this latest kidnapping turns into a murder - and it may not be long enough. It takes the skills of every expert in the Special Tracking Unit, plus the help of other law enforcement officials with whom they routinely work, to identify and locate the person behind the grisly murders. The devil, of course, is in the details - and while I won't reveal any of them, trust me when I say they make for a highly engrossing story that I really, really didn't want to put down.
For the record (and for those who prefer to read books in order), somehow I missed the second installment, "Whispers of the Dead," more's the pity. It's a mistake I intend to rectify as soon as possible. Meantime, thanks once again to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy. Outstanding!
It's absolutely exhilarating to find a new series that's this enjoyable; I love Magnus "Steps" Craig, an agent with the FBI's Special Tracking Unit. He's clever, amusing and "special" in another sense. Ever since surviving a childhood accident, he's had the ability to see "shine" - the essence, or aura, human beings leave behind wherever they go - in glorious living colors. It's not always a welcome talent, though, so he wears special lead crystal glasses that block it out when he doesn't need it on the job. As for that, his ability is a secret except to his partner, Special Agent Jimmy Donovan, his father, the head of the FBI and, of course, readers like me.
That ability is stretched almost to the limit in this book, when it's learned that the body of a female jogger in a wooded area isn't the first. Apparently, a serial killer has been plying his or her trade for years - and the modus operandi smacked of a seriously deranged individual. Steps and Jimmy catch the "perp," and that theory becomes a reality. Also a reality, though, is that at least one someone else is involved - someone who may be more dangerous than the one they caught (if that's possible).
When yet another woman goes missing, time becomes the enemy. The team has a pretty good idea how long they have before this latest kidnapping turns into a murder - and it may not be long enough. It takes the skills of every expert in the Special Tracking Unit, plus the help of other law enforcement officials with whom they routinely work, to identify and locate the person behind the grisly murders. The devil, of course, is in the details - and while I won't reveal any of them, trust me when I say they make for a highly engrossing story that I really, really didn't want to put down.
For the record (and for those who prefer to read books in order), somehow I missed the second installment, "Whispers of the Dead," more's the pity. It's a mistake I intend to rectify as soon as possible. Meantime, thanks once again to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy. Outstanding!
October 14, 2020
I really love this series!! Magnus "Steps" Craig’s special ability is fascinating to me, and when combined with traditional FBI procedural techniques, it's perfection!. This series has the Police Department, Sheriff's Department, and FBI working together for the good of the victim. I wish it could be that way in more of the books I read.
Fabulous plot-line in Shadows of the Dead! It definitely kept me guessing!!!
Fabulous plot-line in Shadows of the Dead! It definitely kept me guessing!!!
September 8, 2020
Magnus "Steps" Craig tracks men for the FBI's Special Tracking Unit and his partner is Special Agent Jimmy Donovan. Through the woods, they are tracking the driver of a car that crashed. What makes this guy so special is the unconscious woman bound and gagged in the trunk. Turns out she's the eighth victim. Where are the other seven? When searching the suspect's trailer, they find 7 dried out rats that have been posed with masks on. Ewww, what does that mean?
Here's the background on why Steps is special: When he was 8 years old, he was lost in a blizzard. He died. Searchers found and revived him but now he has a gift. He sees the essence of people, a shine where they've been. Neons. Lead crystal is the only substance that blocks the shine, so Steps has several pair of lead crystal glasses made by a glassblower. Shine is like DNA or fingerprints - unique to each person and Steps can see every touch, footprint, bodily fluid. The only people who know of his special ability is his father, his partner Jimmy, and the head of the FBI.
I was browsing the new books at the online library catalog and this one looked interesting. It's #3 of a series but I thought the background was explained really well so I don't feel like I missing a thing. The premise of Steps character plus the story line is certainly unique. The book slowed down a bit in the middle but wrapped up well. It's so creative that I want to read the first book to see how all this came about.
Here's the background on why Steps is special: When he was 8 years old, he was lost in a blizzard. He died. Searchers found and revived him but now he has a gift. He sees the essence of people, a shine where they've been. Neons. Lead crystal is the only substance that blocks the shine, so Steps has several pair of lead crystal glasses made by a glassblower. Shine is like DNA or fingerprints - unique to each person and Steps can see every touch, footprint, bodily fluid. The only people who know of his special ability is his father, his partner Jimmy, and the head of the FBI.
I was browsing the new books at the online library catalog and this one looked interesting. It's #3 of a series but I thought the background was explained really well so I don't feel like I missing a thing. The premise of Steps character plus the story line is certainly unique. The book slowed down a bit in the middle but wrapped up well. It's so creative that I want to read the first book to see how all this came about.
September 19, 2020
Steps shines bright like a diamond
The killers shine is a yellowish green with a reptilian texture
Another well written Special Tracking Unit book.
The urgency as Steps and his partner Jimmy hunt a sadistic serial rapist/murderer. I would read faster looking for the 'shine' of the killer hoping it wasn't too late to save his latest victim.
I look forward to next book where the hunt for Leonardo Da Vinci takes center stage.
"Life is a vast wilderness where it's easy to get lost." -Steps
"Show me where to look tell me what will I find
Oh, heaven let your light shine down"-Collective Soul
The killers shine is a yellowish green with a reptilian texture
Another well written Special Tracking Unit book.
The urgency as Steps and his partner Jimmy hunt a sadistic serial rapist/murderer. I would read faster looking for the 'shine' of the killer hoping it wasn't too late to save his latest victim.
I look forward to next book where the hunt for Leonardo Da Vinci takes center stage.
"Life is a vast wilderness where it's easy to get lost." -Steps
"Show me where to look tell me what will I find
Oh, heaven let your light shine down"-Collective Soul
March 16, 2020
384 pages
5 stars
Wow! How did I miss this author?
A high speed car chase. A crash. An unconscious woman in the trunk. A chase through the woods. The suspect is caught.
Magnus “Steps” Craig and his partner James “Jimmy” Donovan are on the case and the arrest. They form two members of the three person Special Tracking Unit of the FBI. The third person is Diane. She is an IT Specialist. Steps has a special ability that greatly aids him in tracking people. Only Jimmy knows about it.
When the suspect Murphy Cotton keeps calling the woman in the trunk “number eight,” the agents get a bad feeling. After interviewing him, they know that he is not working alone. There is a shadowy figure who calls himself the “Onion King” pulling his strings.
They are saddened to learn that there are indeed eight women.
Steps, Jimmy and Diane are able to pick up some valuable clues from not only their research, but that of neighboring – and very helpful – police forces. They are as anxious as the FBI to capture this serial killer.
This is a fast-paced thriller. It is also a detailed and highly interesting police procedural. It shows all the disappointments and triumphs of an investigation. I like the way that Mr. Kope interjects occasional humor to break the awful tension the agents and police officers must be feeling. As Steps tells the story, the reader is right there. I was riding in the car with them, witnessing the awful results of the murders, and eavesdropping in on various conversations. I usually don't enjoy stories told in the first person, but Mr. Kope made Steps so very real, and so human. I really liked him and Jimmy. I liked their interactions and ability to work well with one another. They communicated on a level that didn't need words. This is my first Spencer Kope novel, but it certainly won't be my last. I loved the book!
I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for forwarding to me a copy of this remarkable book for me to read, enjoy and review.
5 stars
Wow! How did I miss this author?
A high speed car chase. A crash. An unconscious woman in the trunk. A chase through the woods. The suspect is caught.
Magnus “Steps” Craig and his partner James “Jimmy” Donovan are on the case and the arrest. They form two members of the three person Special Tracking Unit of the FBI. The third person is Diane. She is an IT Specialist. Steps has a special ability that greatly aids him in tracking people. Only Jimmy knows about it.
When the suspect Murphy Cotton keeps calling the woman in the trunk “number eight,” the agents get a bad feeling. After interviewing him, they know that he is not working alone. There is a shadowy figure who calls himself the “Onion King” pulling his strings.
They are saddened to learn that there are indeed eight women.
Steps, Jimmy and Diane are able to pick up some valuable clues from not only their research, but that of neighboring – and very helpful – police forces. They are as anxious as the FBI to capture this serial killer.
This is a fast-paced thriller. It is also a detailed and highly interesting police procedural. It shows all the disappointments and triumphs of an investigation. I like the way that Mr. Kope interjects occasional humor to break the awful tension the agents and police officers must be feeling. As Steps tells the story, the reader is right there. I was riding in the car with them, witnessing the awful results of the murders, and eavesdropping in on various conversations. I usually don't enjoy stories told in the first person, but Mr. Kope made Steps so very real, and so human. I really liked him and Jimmy. I liked their interactions and ability to work well with one another. They communicated on a level that didn't need words. This is my first Spencer Kope novel, but it certainly won't be my last. I loved the book!
I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for forwarding to me a copy of this remarkable book for me to read, enjoy and review.
March 14, 2020
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this arc.
I very much enjoyed the previous two books of this series and read this one in a single sitting. Magnus (Steps) Craig does not seem to be typical FBI material, but he has the ability to see "shine" when he's not wearing his special prismatic glasses. "Shine" is like a person's aura that is shed like dead skin cells wherever the person has been, and it's as unique as the person's DNA. Aha, it's a no-brainer that he's part of the FBI's Special Tracking Unit..
The story took off like a car race...…. and stayed like that most of the way through out. It slowed just a little for detailed forensic explanations and dark web workings. Travel time between various crime scenes was spent in contemplative musings and discussions with his partner. Their basic decency and humanity really shined there.
The bad guys were really bad and the good guys were great. All felt real and fully developed.
I very much enjoyed the previous two books of this series and read this one in a single sitting. Magnus (Steps) Craig does not seem to be typical FBI material, but he has the ability to see "shine" when he's not wearing his special prismatic glasses. "Shine" is like a person's aura that is shed like dead skin cells wherever the person has been, and it's as unique as the person's DNA. Aha, it's a no-brainer that he's part of the FBI's Special Tracking Unit..
The story took off like a car race...…. and stayed like that most of the way through out. It slowed just a little for detailed forensic explanations and dark web workings. Travel time between various crime scenes was spent in contemplative musings and discussions with his partner. Their basic decency and humanity really shined there.
The bad guys were really bad and the good guys were great. All felt real and fully developed.
December 30, 2019
Perfect for fans of Lee Child or Michael Connelly. This series is amazing and I’ve loved every addition. The wit makes the uncomfortable subject matters bearable. I can’t wait to read more about Steps
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August 7, 2020I tried so hard and got so far, but in the end it didn’t even matter…
Let me start off by saying I am clearly in the minority with this book. There are tons of glowing reviews and I can completely see why. The premise is amazing and there is a character called the freaking ONION KING. I mean, if that doesn’t get you, I don’t know what will. I will start off saying this was a DNF for me and here is why.
First of all, having a detective character that is able to see “glow” is extremely unique, but I see it as a cheat. Does this character need to do detective work? Maybe a little, but since he has the “glow” he has a lot of the work done for him. The “glow” is the shiny aura that someone puts off and the main character, Steps, can see where people have been by their unique glow left behind. He got this power after “dying” as a child when he was left in the woods to freeze to death. This seemed both far fetched and a frustrating fall back.
Secondly, almost every character had a nickname. Characters are hard enough to keep track of in police procedurals like this, but besides having their name they also had nicknames and origin stories and a lot of detail that I didn’t feel was necessary. I got to about 60% in this book before quitting because I found myself getting bored and lost in the details.
There was also a lot of witty banter and metaphor, both of which didn’t fit in with the police procedural plot. I LOVED the premise of this book. It started off amazingly and again, THE ONION KING! There were so many interesting ways this story could have gone, but I got bogged down with the tangents and the main character.
Let me start off by saying I am clearly in the minority with this book. There are tons of glowing reviews and I can completely see why. The premise is amazing and there is a character called the freaking ONION KING. I mean, if that doesn’t get you, I don’t know what will. I will start off saying this was a DNF for me and here is why.
First of all, having a detective character that is able to see “glow” is extremely unique, but I see it as a cheat. Does this character need to do detective work? Maybe a little, but since he has the “glow” he has a lot of the work done for him. The “glow” is the shiny aura that someone puts off and the main character, Steps, can see where people have been by their unique glow left behind. He got this power after “dying” as a child when he was left in the woods to freeze to death. This seemed both far fetched and a frustrating fall back.
Secondly, almost every character had a nickname. Characters are hard enough to keep track of in police procedurals like this, but besides having their name they also had nicknames and origin stories and a lot of detail that I didn’t feel was necessary. I got to about 60% in this book before quitting because I found myself getting bored and lost in the details.
There was also a lot of witty banter and metaphor, both of which didn’t fit in with the police procedural plot. I LOVED the premise of this book. It started off amazingly and again, THE ONION KING! There were so many interesting ways this story could have gone, but I got bogged down with the tangents and the main character.
August 31, 2020
I love this series so I was excited to read this book. Shadows of the Dead is the 3rd book in the series. It can be read as a stand-alone but I recommend reading the previous books first. This one started off slow but the ending was thrilling. I still love the relationship between Steps and Jimmy. This book wasn't my favorite but I am definitely going to keep reading more from this series.
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Spencer Kope for a copy of "Shadows of the Dead" in exchange of an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Spencer Kope for a copy of "Shadows of the Dead" in exchange of an honest review.
July 15, 2020
This is the third book in the Special Tracking Unit series. It is the first of the series that I have read, but I didn't have problems following along.
A wrong turn in the woods, a blizzard and a lost boy. The boy is eight, and dies. The boy is revived by his father and searchers, and now has a gift or a curse, depending on how one views it. That boy is Magnus Craig, now 28 working for the FBI as a man-tracker, and goes by Steps. Steps is able to see shades of color left by others, which he refers to as shine. Only three people know about shine, Steps' father, partner, Jimmy, and the director of the FBI.
Steps gets a call involving a high speed pursuit leading to a car crash, a woman in the trunk, and a driver that fled.
Steps lead a team to a small cabin, where the driver is apprehended and gives his name as Faceman that he's a fixer, and asks about Eight. It is apparent, that they are dealing with a guy who should be institutionalized.
An interview with Faceman leaves a chilling impression that there are more victims, besides Eight, where Faceman is fixated on "patients" who are broken and need to be fixed. It's apparent, that Faceman is working with someone else referred to by Onion King.
Faceman is sprung from jail, and news about another person missing leads Jimmy and Steps to race against the clock to find who this Onion King is, before there is another victim.
Wow, I enjoyed the different take where solving crime had to do with a special gift that only a few knew about. Lots of twists and turns, and humor. Now that I've read this, I want to go back and read the other two books in the series.
I received an ARC from NetGalley via St. Martin's Press and I have voluntarily reviewed this book.
A wrong turn in the woods, a blizzard and a lost boy. The boy is eight, and dies. The boy is revived by his father and searchers, and now has a gift or a curse, depending on how one views it. That boy is Magnus Craig, now 28 working for the FBI as a man-tracker, and goes by Steps. Steps is able to see shades of color left by others, which he refers to as shine. Only three people know about shine, Steps' father, partner, Jimmy, and the director of the FBI.
Steps gets a call involving a high speed pursuit leading to a car crash, a woman in the trunk, and a driver that fled.
Steps lead a team to a small cabin, where the driver is apprehended and gives his name as Faceman that he's a fixer, and asks about Eight. It is apparent, that they are dealing with a guy who should be institutionalized.
An interview with Faceman leaves a chilling impression that there are more victims, besides Eight, where Faceman is fixated on "patients" who are broken and need to be fixed. It's apparent, that Faceman is working with someone else referred to by Onion King.
Faceman is sprung from jail, and news about another person missing leads Jimmy and Steps to race against the clock to find who this Onion King is, before there is another victim.
Wow, I enjoyed the different take where solving crime had to do with a special gift that only a few knew about. Lots of twists and turns, and humor. Now that I've read this, I want to go back and read the other two books in the series.
I received an ARC from NetGalley via St. Martin's Press and I have voluntarily reviewed this book.
September 24, 2020
Magnus "Steps" Craig has a secret ability. He has a type of synesthesia. Developed as a child when he was lost in the woods. Found "dead" and brought back to life, he is able to see a "shine", the aura or essence a person leaves on things they touch or places they go, unique to each individual.
He and his partner Jimmy, and their research assistant Diane Parker make up the skilled Special Tracking Unit of the FBI.
Only his father and Jimmy are aware of Steps special ability.
When an abducted woman found in the trunk of a car after a high speed chase crash reveals that the driver of the car is not the man who kidnapped her, and she is not the first victim, Steps and Jimmy are brought in to track the driver who escaped into the woods.
They find the driver, raving about the "Onion King" and how he must fix "eight".
When another woman goes missing, time is short. They must learn who the Onion King is, and find his secret lair before it's too late.
This police procedural/mystery was suspenseful and captivating. The characters are distinctive and I enjoyed the humorous touches throughout that lighten some of the grimmer aspects.
An extremely entertaining series, especially if you like something a little different.
Thank you Minotaur Books for the e-ARC via NetGalley.
He and his partner Jimmy, and their research assistant Diane Parker make up the skilled Special Tracking Unit of the FBI.
Only his father and Jimmy are aware of Steps special ability.
When an abducted woman found in the trunk of a car after a high speed chase crash reveals that the driver of the car is not the man who kidnapped her, and she is not the first victim, Steps and Jimmy are brought in to track the driver who escaped into the woods.
They find the driver, raving about the "Onion King" and how he must fix "eight".
When another woman goes missing, time is short. They must learn who the Onion King is, and find his secret lair before it's too late.
This police procedural/mystery was suspenseful and captivating. The characters are distinctive and I enjoyed the humorous touches throughout that lighten some of the grimmer aspects.
An extremely entertaining series, especially if you like something a little different.
Thank you Minotaur Books for the e-ARC via NetGalley.
September 3, 2020
Magnus "Steps" Craig and his partner Jimmy are part of the FBI's Special tracking Unit, called upon to assist in tracking everything from bank robbers to, in this case, the driver of a crashed car who had a woman in the trunk. The opening is a tense standoff between the driver the FBI and local authorities have pursued, and that drive, holed up in a cabin deep in the forest.
Promising!
Unfortunately, that promise is blunted by tedious, unnecessary tangents, and a special ability that doesn't make a whole lot of sense.
Steps, pronounced dead at the age of eight of hypothermia, but brought back to life, returns from that experience with the ability to see people as colors and textures - this is known as synesthesia, but in this book, Steps is told by his father that he has the shine. To me, someone described as having the shine is someone who can see events past and future, and/or talk to other people just using their mind. Neither of those are present in this book, which is the third in a series, although I suppose typing shine is easier than typing synesthesia over and over. This condition is kept a secret from everyone except Jimmy and their mutual boss, incluing his own mother, who is never told. In the world of this book, it makes Steps the best tracker in the country. I have some questions about this, which I'll get into.
Back to the beginning. The authorities have the fleeing driver surrounded in the cabin. Right before someone's going to launch a tear gas canister into the cabin, we get....a flashback. We get the tale of how Steps died and came back with synesthesia, how he and his father kept it a secret from his mother, how lead crystal glasses help him keep the blinding neon glow of humanity from burning out his eyeballs and giving him migraines. We then get back to the action at the cabin. This was a very weird editorial choice, and it immediately rips the reader out of the action.
They capture the driver, who rattles on about the woman being number Eight, how he was going to "fix" her, and we discover there's someone out there actually taking the women and holding them before turning them over to the crazy guy so he can experiment on them.
Things shift into trying to find the Onion King, as he's called. Why is he called that? Is this really number eight? If so, who are the first seven? And where are they - or more accurately, whree are their bodies?
Throughout this, we get a lot of metaphysical discussions - good versus evil, the story of the two wolves - and a lot of references to books Steps has read, movies he and Jimmy watch, and I have to say that all of that really reduces the energy of the investigation, not to mention yanking the reader right out of the story. Nothing seems urgent here, despite the fact they're hunting for a serial killer, until the last 10% of the book.
Another irritant was that everyone in the book - except, again, the IT person in charge of the systems someone breached - had some kind of witty banter moment, or more than one moment, and some of it wasn't funny. That sort of thing is supposed to be used sparingly, and it really did seem as if some scenes were there merely to pad the book. Ditto for the main character's constant meandering off into the weeds about everything from Archimedes to Zeno.
All of the IT people are genius hackers, trawling the dark web as easily as looking up something in a database - except the IT crew that manages the courthouse servers, where crazy man's bail was reduced from $10MM to $2K, and apparently no one notices this.
A note here about the "shine": if Steps can see people through their color, and he has never met the missing women, I kept wondering just how he knew each woman's color. He couldn't get this from the women themselves, and as they make their way to the homes of each woman, he immediately says "She was here, this is X" based on...just seeing a track of color where the woman has walked. How would he know? What if they had a roommate? Lived with family? A bunch of ifs ran through my mind during some of these scenes.
I didn't hate the book, but I didn't love it, either. Thirty minutes after finishing, I couldn't remember the title of the book, and errantly searched for "Death in the Shadows", which is not the name, of course. There are two books previous to this, and based on the epilogue, a fourth is upcoming. I'm afraid I'm not invested enough in Steps and Jimmy to read what came before or what comes after.
Three point five stars, rounded down to three because of the issue noted. Sorry folks, this just wasn't for me.
Thanks to NetGalley and Mintaur for the advance copy.
Promising!
Unfortunately, that promise is blunted by tedious, unnecessary tangents, and a special ability that doesn't make a whole lot of sense.
Steps, pronounced dead at the age of eight of hypothermia, but brought back to life, returns from that experience with the ability to see people as colors and textures - this is known as synesthesia, but in this book, Steps is told by his father that he has the shine. To me, someone described as having the shine is someone who can see events past and future, and/or talk to other people just using their mind. Neither of those are present in this book, which is the third in a series, although I suppose typing shine is easier than typing synesthesia over and over. This condition is kept a secret from everyone except Jimmy and their mutual boss, incluing his own mother, who is never told. In the world of this book, it makes Steps the best tracker in the country. I have some questions about this, which I'll get into.
Back to the beginning. The authorities have the fleeing driver surrounded in the cabin. Right before someone's going to launch a tear gas canister into the cabin, we get....a flashback. We get the tale of how Steps died and came back with synesthesia, how he and his father kept it a secret from his mother, how lead crystal glasses help him keep the blinding neon glow of humanity from burning out his eyeballs and giving him migraines. We then get back to the action at the cabin. This was a very weird editorial choice, and it immediately rips the reader out of the action.
They capture the driver, who rattles on about the woman being number Eight, how he was going to "fix" her, and we discover there's someone out there actually taking the women and holding them before turning them over to the crazy guy so he can experiment on them.
Things shift into trying to find the Onion King, as he's called. Why is he called that? Is this really number eight? If so, who are the first seven? And where are they - or more accurately, whree are their bodies?
Throughout this, we get a lot of metaphysical discussions - good versus evil, the story of the two wolves - and a lot of references to books Steps has read, movies he and Jimmy watch, and I have to say that all of that really reduces the energy of the investigation, not to mention yanking the reader right out of the story. Nothing seems urgent here, despite the fact they're hunting for a serial killer, until the last 10% of the book.
Another irritant was that everyone in the book - except, again, the IT person in charge of the systems someone breached - had some kind of witty banter moment, or more than one moment, and some of it wasn't funny. That sort of thing is supposed to be used sparingly, and it really did seem as if some scenes were there merely to pad the book. Ditto for the main character's constant meandering off into the weeds about everything from Archimedes to Zeno.
All of the IT people are genius hackers, trawling the dark web as easily as looking up something in a database - except the IT crew that manages the courthouse servers, where crazy man's bail was reduced from $10MM to $2K, and apparently no one notices this.
A note here about the "shine": if Steps can see people through their color, and he has never met the missing women, I kept wondering just how he knew each woman's color. He couldn't get this from the women themselves, and as they make their way to the homes of each woman, he immediately says "She was here, this is X" based on...just seeing a track of color where the woman has walked. How would he know? What if they had a roommate? Lived with family? A bunch of ifs ran through my mind during some of these scenes.
I didn't hate the book, but I didn't love it, either. Thirty minutes after finishing, I couldn't remember the title of the book, and errantly searched for "Death in the Shadows", which is not the name, of course. There are two books previous to this, and based on the epilogue, a fourth is upcoming. I'm afraid I'm not invested enough in Steps and Jimmy to read what came before or what comes after.
Three point five stars, rounded down to three because of the issue noted. Sorry folks, this just wasn't for me.
Thanks to NetGalley and Mintaur for the advance copy.
February 17, 2020
This series is an excellent one, and this most recent title is an excellent addition.
The unique perspective, that an FBI tracking agent is able to see and identify specific individuals' "shine", is a fresh and ever-entertaining one. I enjoyed everything about this third book, but most of all I loved those moments when Steps moved the action along with his unique ability.
I appreciated that the crimes were serious and cleverly plotted without the reader exposed to too much grit and trauma. The main recurring characters are engaging as well, and the entire package makes me eager to read the next! That's the curse of a good author: Give readers an excellent experience, and they will want more immediately! Thank you, author Kope, for this book. And thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this preview. Publication date Aug 25, 2020.
The unique perspective, that an FBI tracking agent is able to see and identify specific individuals' "shine", is a fresh and ever-entertaining one. I enjoyed everything about this third book, but most of all I loved those moments when Steps moved the action along with his unique ability.
I appreciated that the crimes were serious and cleverly plotted without the reader exposed to too much grit and trauma. The main recurring characters are engaging as well, and the entire package makes me eager to read the next! That's the curse of a good author: Give readers an excellent experience, and they will want more immediately! Thank you, author Kope, for this book. And thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this preview. Publication date Aug 25, 2020.
June 19, 2020
What can I say? I loved this book! I can’t wait to get my hands on more by this author. The story drew me in from the start with action around every corner, some freaky and weird, and some evil and gruesome. The characters were so well developed with every super ability counterbalanced by human flaws and anxieties. And as the plot unfolded the climax was not squeezed into a final page or chapter, rather it kept the reader in suspense with heart racing and fear in the eyes for page upon page, chapter after chapter, high octane right to the end. Thank you to netgalley for an advance copy of this hugely entertaining read.
May 27, 2020
Apparently I’m in the minority on this one but I found this book an epic snore fest. I tried and failed multiple times to make it through this book but after a couple months I’m calling it quits. Maybe you’ll love it but for me there was no opening hook to draw me in and encourage me to keep reading. I felt no connection to the characters or the slow paced plot.
August 26, 2020
Readers of this way above average and unique series featuring the FBI tracker known as 'Steps' are in for a treat as Barry Award-nominated author Spencer Kope returns with the most intense story in the series yet.
Kope takes the serial genre to a different level with SHADOWS OF THE DEAD where we get to see Magnus 'Steps' Craig use his special ability he refers to as 'the shine' to aid his team in pursuit of a killer who seems more supernatural than human. It begins when Steps tracking party is sent to Clallam County in Washington State to investigate a cabin in the woods that may house a serial killer. As we are about to step into this drama, Kope gives readers a glimpse into the past and the creation of the man we now know as Steps. An accident in the woods when he was eight-years-old left him apparently dead of hypothermia. His father found him and revived him --- but he brought back with him a special power. This special power or 'shine' allows him to see the glowing essence of a person which has made him the best tracker of people in the world.
The person from the cabin is one Murphy Cotton, a crazed individual who may or may not have acted alone in the disappearance of several young women. Upon apprehension and throughout his questioning, Murphy speaks in insane riddles, constantly referencing a being he calls The Onion King. He tells Steps' team that The Onion King abducts the victims, holds them for a couple of weeks, and then leaves them in the woods for Murphy to find. There is some bizarre process that is going on both in the selection and whatever physically happens to the victims. Now, they just needed to find the missing women dead or alive.
It's clear to the FBI that The Onion King is indeed a separate person involved in the case and not the supernatural being from another dimension that Murphy makes him out to be --- or is he??? Murphy is sent to prison awaiting trial while the team sets its' sights on this second party. Two huge things then take place. First, the remains of the nine dead girls are literally stumbled over in the woods. Secondly, someone hacks into the Justice Departments' database and changes the bail amount on Murphy from one million dollars to a mere two thousand. Murphy is then released on bail before the FBI can question him further. When they go looking for him, they come across his dead carcass, just another victim in the wake of a much larger and far more evil force.
SHADOWS OF THE DEAD provides an unexpected dive into the over-populated serial killer drama as the story takes a dark town that even Steps own shine cannot illuminate. I really enjoyed this novel that is full of complex, real characters and a plot-line that kept me ever guessing and continually surprised.
Kope takes the serial genre to a different level with SHADOWS OF THE DEAD where we get to see Magnus 'Steps' Craig use his special ability he refers to as 'the shine' to aid his team in pursuit of a killer who seems more supernatural than human. It begins when Steps tracking party is sent to Clallam County in Washington State to investigate a cabin in the woods that may house a serial killer. As we are about to step into this drama, Kope gives readers a glimpse into the past and the creation of the man we now know as Steps. An accident in the woods when he was eight-years-old left him apparently dead of hypothermia. His father found him and revived him --- but he brought back with him a special power. This special power or 'shine' allows him to see the glowing essence of a person which has made him the best tracker of people in the world.
The person from the cabin is one Murphy Cotton, a crazed individual who may or may not have acted alone in the disappearance of several young women. Upon apprehension and throughout his questioning, Murphy speaks in insane riddles, constantly referencing a being he calls The Onion King. He tells Steps' team that The Onion King abducts the victims, holds them for a couple of weeks, and then leaves them in the woods for Murphy to find. There is some bizarre process that is going on both in the selection and whatever physically happens to the victims. Now, they just needed to find the missing women dead or alive.
It's clear to the FBI that The Onion King is indeed a separate person involved in the case and not the supernatural being from another dimension that Murphy makes him out to be --- or is he??? Murphy is sent to prison awaiting trial while the team sets its' sights on this second party. Two huge things then take place. First, the remains of the nine dead girls are literally stumbled over in the woods. Secondly, someone hacks into the Justice Departments' database and changes the bail amount on Murphy from one million dollars to a mere two thousand. Murphy is then released on bail before the FBI can question him further. When they go looking for him, they come across his dead carcass, just another victim in the wake of a much larger and far more evil force.
SHADOWS OF THE DEAD provides an unexpected dive into the over-populated serial killer drama as the story takes a dark town that even Steps own shine cannot illuminate. I really enjoyed this novel that is full of complex, real characters and a plot-line that kept me ever guessing and continually surprised.
March 20, 2021
Just finished a really good book by Spencer Kope, "Shadows of the Dead". The main character, Magnus "Steps" Craig, is part of a special 3-man team with the FBI. His specific talent is tracking using what he calls "shine". Everyone leaves behind markers for everything they've ever touched and Steps uses those markers to follow suspects. He has to be careful not to let others around him know his special skill or they might not take him seriously. Love to find a new author to start following and Spencer Kope is my new guy.
March 20, 2020
I really enjoy this series, with its solid FBI plotting and added slightly supernatural twist. This installment did not disappoint.
October 9, 2020
#3 in series
January 12, 2021
I enjoy this series so much! Just the right sprinkle of humor in a serious book to lighten it enough. And I enjoy that the books can stay true to the genre without being too graphic or have a lot of language.
August 25, 2020
4.5 stars.
Shadows of the Dead by Spencer Kope is a clever mystery with fantastic characters and a unique premise. Although this latest release is the third mystery in the Special Tracking Unit series, it can be read as a standalone. However, I highly recommend the previous mysteries as well.
Magnus "Steps" Craig and his partner Special Agent Jimmy Donovan's latest case begins with tracking the driver of an automobile accident through the forest. He is suspected of kidnapping the woman found in the trunk of his car. The case takes a strange turn after capturing Murphy Cotton when he refers to the victim as "eight". Steps and Jimmy are certain there are seven previous victims they need to locate. Cotton also reveals that he is working with a partner, but he only knows the man as the Onion King. Finding the other victims is their first priority while the third member of their team, Intelligence Analyst Diane Parker, uses her extensive computer skills to try to unmask the Onion King's identity. The stakes become much higher when another woman goes missing and Steps and Jimmy feverishly work to locate her before it is too late.
Steps and Jimmy are a formidable duo who share a close friendship along with their professional relationship. Jimmy is a skilled FBI agent whose compassion and gentle approach yields valuable information. Although she can a little fearsome, they have great respect and affection for Diane. Her ability to unearth important details provides the first viable lead in their search for other victims. This is where Steps special ability to see people's "shine" comes into play. Everyone's shine has a different color and texture so Steps uses this talent to find the place where Cotton took his victims. After making a gruesome discovery, Steps can now track the victims' shine and hopefully find Cotton's partner.
Shadows of the Dead is an engrossing mystery with an intriguing storyline. Steps, Jimmy and Diane are three-dimensional characters who skillfully narrow down the suspect pool as they track their killer. With a few unexpected twists and turns, Spencer Kope brings this riveting mystery to a pulse-pounding dénouement. While the current case is completely wrapped up, the tantalizing epilogue will leave old and new fans of the Special Tracking Unit series impatiently awaiting the next installment in this spectacular series.
Shadows of the Dead by Spencer Kope is a clever mystery with fantastic characters and a unique premise. Although this latest release is the third mystery in the Special Tracking Unit series, it can be read as a standalone. However, I highly recommend the previous mysteries as well.
Magnus "Steps" Craig and his partner Special Agent Jimmy Donovan's latest case begins with tracking the driver of an automobile accident through the forest. He is suspected of kidnapping the woman found in the trunk of his car. The case takes a strange turn after capturing Murphy Cotton when he refers to the victim as "eight". Steps and Jimmy are certain there are seven previous victims they need to locate. Cotton also reveals that he is working with a partner, but he only knows the man as the Onion King. Finding the other victims is their first priority while the third member of their team, Intelligence Analyst Diane Parker, uses her extensive computer skills to try to unmask the Onion King's identity. The stakes become much higher when another woman goes missing and Steps and Jimmy feverishly work to locate her before it is too late.
Steps and Jimmy are a formidable duo who share a close friendship along with their professional relationship. Jimmy is a skilled FBI agent whose compassion and gentle approach yields valuable information. Although she can a little fearsome, they have great respect and affection for Diane. Her ability to unearth important details provides the first viable lead in their search for other victims. This is where Steps special ability to see people's "shine" comes into play. Everyone's shine has a different color and texture so Steps uses this talent to find the place where Cotton took his victims. After making a gruesome discovery, Steps can now track the victims' shine and hopefully find Cotton's partner.
Shadows of the Dead is an engrossing mystery with an intriguing storyline. Steps, Jimmy and Diane are three-dimensional characters who skillfully narrow down the suspect pool as they track their killer. With a few unexpected twists and turns, Spencer Kope brings this riveting mystery to a pulse-pounding dénouement. While the current case is completely wrapped up, the tantalizing epilogue will leave old and new fans of the Special Tracking Unit series impatiently awaiting the next installment in this spectacular series.
September 12, 2020
Fast paced and unputdownable...with a fascinating lead with an unusual ability. "Steps" Craig is an elite tracker with the FBI. He can find people when no one else can...but he has a secret. He's able to see the essence that they leave behind...he calls it their "shine". He and his partner Jimmy are an enjoyable unique team that work well together. They are called in on a case of a young woman found abandoned in the trunk of a car and the hunt begins. Though they have found her it appears that there are more missing. This book has everything I love in a good crime fiction/suspense/ mystery. It's exciting with an unusual premise. I loved it and can't wait to read the two that came before.
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 31, 2020
The third novel of this series follows Magnus Craig aka Steps and his partner, Jimmy, as they track down a serial killer. Steps can see the essence of where someone has touched or walked and each person has a unique “shine” of colours that they leave behind as a trail. After tracking a deranged man into the forest using Steps’ gift, they find out he is an accomplice to another man who is still on the loose. They are racing against the clock to save the Onion King’s latest victim after they learn of another abduction in the Seattle area. @netgalley and @stmartinspress gave me my review copy!
The camaraderie between Steps and Jimmy sets this FBI duo apart from other detective mysteries I’ve recently read. The supporting characters lend warmth to otherwise very dark subject matter. The author makes the point that being unique is a positive thing as Steps uses his talent to help the world. Kope explores the importance of mental health care as well as we see how the system has failed some of the characters. As I was reading this, I could almost envision it as a Criminal Minds episode which I used to be obsessed with. Steps was believable and likeable and I am a fan for sure. I read this as a standalone and I would love to go back and read the others in this series.
The camaraderie between Steps and Jimmy sets this FBI duo apart from other detective mysteries I’ve recently read. The supporting characters lend warmth to otherwise very dark subject matter. The author makes the point that being unique is a positive thing as Steps uses his talent to help the world. Kope explores the importance of mental health care as well as we see how the system has failed some of the characters. As I was reading this, I could almost envision it as a Criminal Minds episode which I used to be obsessed with. Steps was believable and likeable and I am a fan for sure. I read this as a standalone and I would love to go back and read the others in this series.
September 8, 2020
one of 2 authors that have a different spin on plots and how to solve mysteries---love Steps and Jimmy---humor is great and the creepiness factor----so glad for perpendiculars----keep on shining--can't wait for the next one!
August 30, 2020
A brilliant read and a refreshing new storyline! I loved this book and took my time reading it.
Magnus Craig or Steps to his friends and colleagues have a very special ability that he calls "shine". He can see human residue. He can see every touch and footfall; any bodily fluids left behind by people. This is a blessing and a curse in 1. Because of this ability, he works for the FBI's special tracking unit. This is where all the fun for us as readers start. In this book, he is up against the seriously sick (in the head) and elusive Onion King.
The action is fast and keeps you on the edge of your seat With the authors background as a crime analyst and intelligence operations specialist with the Office of Navy Intelligence the information on procedures are very interesting.
I also loved the bits of humour!
" She is twenty years, seven teeth, and two hundred pounds past average, so sexy is a hard goal to hit."
Thank you to NetGalley St Martin's Press and Minotaur Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Magnus Craig or Steps to his friends and colleagues have a very special ability that he calls "shine". He can see human residue. He can see every touch and footfall; any bodily fluids left behind by people. This is a blessing and a curse in 1. Because of this ability, he works for the FBI's special tracking unit. This is where all the fun for us as readers start. In this book, he is up against the seriously sick (in the head) and elusive Onion King.
The action is fast and keeps you on the edge of your seat With the authors background as a crime analyst and intelligence operations specialist with the Office of Navy Intelligence the information on procedures are very interesting.
I also loved the bits of humour!
" She is twenty years, seven teeth, and two hundred pounds past average, so sexy is a hard goal to hit."
Thank you to NetGalley St Martin's Press and Minotaur Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
September 11, 2020
I really enjoyed this third installment of Kore's series that features "Steps" and his partner, Jimmy. This one immediately thrusts them into a new mystery that makes use of Steps' ability to read the "shine" left by each person as a unique signature. Here, they start off tracking a man who was stopped with a woman in his trunk. The woman is saved, and when the suspect is finally cornered, it leads to only more questions about what was actually happening. This turns into more victims and an even larger mystery.
Unlike the second book that bopped around quite a bit, this one sticks all within Washington state. The pacing is quick and this one is hard to put down. It's definitely more plot-centric and I enjoyed it. The mystery takes some surprising turns (though some readers may see a few more familiar turns coming). The series continues to slowly build up more on the Leonardo killer - which I must admit, was what I originally thought that the focus of this book would be. Again, like its predecessor, there's not a real need to read these in order, so you can start here, but I would, of course, recommend reading them in order. And I am definitely excited to see what the fourth book will bring!
Unlike the second book that bopped around quite a bit, this one sticks all within Washington state. The pacing is quick and this one is hard to put down. It's definitely more plot-centric and I enjoyed it. The mystery takes some surprising turns (though some readers may see a few more familiar turns coming). The series continues to slowly build up more on the Leonardo killer - which I must admit, was what I originally thought that the focus of this book would be. Again, like its predecessor, there's not a real need to read these in order, so you can start here, but I would, of course, recommend reading them in order. And I am definitely excited to see what the fourth book will bring!
August 24, 2020
Fast paced and unputdownable...with a fascinating lead with an unusual ability. "Steps" Craig is an elite tracker with the FBI. He can find people when no one else can...but he has a secret. He's able to see the essence that they leave behind...he calls it their "shine". He and his partner Jimmy are an enjoyable unique team that work well together. They are called in on a case of a young woman found abandoned in the trunk of a car and the hunt begins. Though they have found her it appears that there are more missing. This book has everything I love in a good crime fiction/suspense/ mystery. It's exciting with an unusual premise. I loved it and can't wait to read the two that came before.
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 31, 2020
Kope has done it again. Steps, Jimmy, Diane, Les and Marty one cold wild ride. Taking creepy up a whole new level. Must read.
My favorite line from the book "Bob's an ass".
My favorite line from the book "Bob's an ass".
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