Shadows Book

Audio book narrated by Robertson Dean
4****

The Shadows is an historic 1920s house originally owned by a notorious rum runner. It's been empty since the last owner, a successful man with an excellent reputation, was killed there. His murder has never been solved and is all but forgotten. Now the family has sold the property to a developer, but an enterprising young preservationist pleads with the Cold Case Squad to try to stop the demolition because it would be destroying evidence. They agree to take one last look around though they doubt they'll find anything. When they stumble upon the rum runner's secret cellar, however, they find an old trunk and some skeletal remains. Newspapers in the trunk date the objects to the early 1960s - about the time the last owner was murdered. The cold case is suddenly very hot, indeed.

The novel includes more than just the main story line. Detective Sam Stone has a personal project - to solve the murder of his parents. The policeman who originally responded to the apparent robbery made a big impact on the then 6-year-old, and his attentions were a major factor in Stone's decision to join the force. Detective Pete Nazario's side-line job has him providing security for a multi-millionaire's stately mansion in exchange for free-lodging in the apartment over the garage. Imagine his surprise when he comes home to find a young woman on the premises without having tripped the alarm.

Buchanan started her writing career as a journalist working the police beat in Miami. She's a great storyteller, making the city, itself, a character in her novels by including elements of Miami culture and history. Her characters are colorful, human, intelligent, flawed, and strong. The pace is unrelenting, though she does take some time for a few moments of humor or tenderness to relieve the tension. I hadn't figured out the complicated connections before they were revealed, although I did think it was a little too convoluted. Still, I was engaged and entertained from beginning to end.

Robertson Dean does a good job voicing the audiobook. He has enough skill as a voice artist to differentiate the characters, although his female voices are pretty laughable.