The Shadow Man, Mark Murphy (4.5 stars)

The Shadow Man Book Summary

There is a devil in the night, silent and invisible, moving in the dream realm between life and death. And he's coming for you.

Savannah surgeon Malcolm King had a perfect life—a loving wife, devoted daughter, and a thriving medical practice. But when a random airport parking lot hit-and-run links him to a dead body in a Florida hotel and an acquaintance is found dismembered and stuffed into a garbage bag, Malcolm finds himself on the run as a suspected serial killer. But he's no murderer.

Or is he?

Who is the mysterious Thin Man who lurks at the edges of his vision? Are the ravens that crowd the skies overhead a warning of impending doom - or do they exist at all?

With the help of Seminole tracker Billy Littlebear, Malcolm tries to untangle the web of clues left behind by a mysterious chameleon-like killer known as the Shadow Man. But will he be too late?

The Shadow Man is a complex, atmospheric thriller in the tradition of Stephen King. Darkly evocative and relentless in its twists and turns, it dares the reader to put it down - even for a minute.

Review

Dr. Malcolm King has an enviable life; he's a well-respected surgeon with a loving family. But everything starts to unravel when grisly murders occur and all evidence points to him. He contacts a longtime friend, Ben, who works in homicide. When every victim has a connection to Malcolm and various personal effects of his are found at the crime scenes, even Ben starts having his doubts.

Still, Ben manages to give Malcolm a heads up that the police are coming to arrest him. In a desperate attempt for more time to clear his name, Malcolm goes on the run and encounters Billy Littlebear. Billy says he's there to help and has details about the real murderer. Unfortunately, Malcolm doesn't know who to trust anymore, especially since the killer seems to know his every move. Is anyone safe from this mad man? Is Dr. King innocent? Is Billy really there to help?

I hesitate to offer much more summary, because it would take away from the experience of reading the book. Just when you think you can guess the next development, hold on. The author stays one step ahead of you with every turn of the page. A couple of times I considered jumping to the end to release the tension of not knowing, but I quickly realized I didn't want to miss one piece of the puzzle.

Pick up a copy and clear a day! Once you start reading, you will not be able to put it down. I highly recommend this novel to those who enjoy a fast-paced ride that will leave them guessing.

Rating: 4.5 stars

Mark Murphy's Bio

A physician currently living in Savannah, Georgia, Mark Murphy is also a lifelong award-winning writer. In the midst of a busy medical career which included several academic publications, Dr. Murphy’s decision to attend the Iowa Summer Writing Festival led to the inclusion of a short story, "The Funeral," in a 2004 collection of works entitled O! Georgia! A well-received regular newspaper column in the Savannah Morning News followed. The Shadow Man is his first novel.

For more information on the author, please visit his website, his Facebook page, his blog, and on Twitter.

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Note: I received a complimentary copy from Tribute Books for review purposes. No other compensation was received. A positive review was not guaranteed or requested; the views expressed are my own.

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