Complete series:
Stealing Shadows
Hiding in the Shadows
Out of the Shadows
What is it about? (No spoilers)
There's a serial killer (or three) on the hunt and the local police departments are at a loss! Lucky for everyone, each case is being worked on by some talented investigators who also happen to be partnered up with someone who just happens to have some unconventional talents. While each book is about a separate case with a different set of characters in a different location, they are all connected by one man who, at times, can almost seem invisible.
What did I think about it?
To be honest, when I started the second book, I was pretty disappointed. I had already completed the first book in the series and was looking forward to see what was in store for the characters I had already grown to like. So, when I realized that the second book was about an entirely knew set of characters, I couldn't help but be disappointed. As I continued to read, I did find that I enjoyed the story and did start to like the characters, but was still...unsure about the end of the book. While it was interesting, in some ways it kind of feels out of place for the series, pulling the believable almost understated topic of the supernatural world into something a little more supernatural and bordering on the ledge of over stepping the bounds of suspension of disbelief as created for this particular series.
With that being addressed, I did enjoy the series as a whole. I really liked the characters in the first book and thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Bishop, a reoccurring character in all three books. While I was unsure about how I felt about it at first, I liked the way in which Bishop becomes more and more present as the three stories play out, allowing the reader to slowly get to know him and see him in a variety of different situations as well as relationships with the character.
I also liked the way in which the topic of supernatural abilities was presented and assisted in the progression of the story. No one has an exceptional amount of knowledge of the abilities, where they came from and how they work. There may be a small community of people who have abilities, but it's not super common and it's not well known, either. The abilities are almost like their own character in and of themselves, dropping little hint as time goes on and as more of story unfolds over the three books.I was even more drawn to the fact that the abilities was not the focus, but a common factor among specific characters and a tool to use in order to solve the crimes at hand. Those with the abilities are not defined by them, untouchable or over powered, but just regular people trying to use what they have in order to do the right thing and keep as many people a live as possible, most of all those they love.
As I'm sure no one will be surprised, my least favorite addition to this trilogy was the second book, Hiding in the Shadows. I didn't hate it, however it is not the story that or characters that will draw me back to reread the trilogy. On the flip side, I had originally been prepared to announce that the first book, (Stealing the Shadows) was my favorite, but I'm not sure I can truthfully say that. I really liked it and I think that I liked the main character best in this book, however I also really enjoyed the final addition to this trilogy. I liked the characters, enjoyed the added abilities that were not seen in the other books and was happy to finally get a chance to get to know Bishop on a more personal level then was previously allowed. So, pretty much, I'm torn. I can't choose and, therefor, will not. (I'm a woman. That's part of the glory of being a women, right?)
While I will not be selling this trilogy any time soon, and I would be lying if I said I didn't enjoy it, this is not a series of books that stands out remarkably from others with similar story lines. It's fun, at times humorous and it is fun to try to predict the turn out of the story and find the tiny crumbs that tie the three stories together, both the human sized ones as well as the tiny ones sprinkled along the way. However, it's not one I would say I love and will read over and over and over again like some of my favorites.
What do I rate it?
I would give this trilogy
2.75 out of 5 lives saved
Have you read this trilogy? Let us know what you thought about it, which of the three were your favorite books and which characters were among your favorites, too!
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