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Shooter in the Shadows
Author Tom Honeyman made a fortune naming the murderer in a true crime book about two killings in the upstate New York town of Prosper. Years later, his career in tatters, he's retreated to a solitary island in the Venetian lagoon to try to find the inspiration for a new book.
Only to discover he's trapped there with an intruder who says Tom names the wrong guy. Now, with no access to the outside world, he wants Tom to produce a new story in days, naming the real perpetrator.
Tom Honeyman's no longer writing to save his career.
He's writing to save his life.
Only to discover he's trapped there with an intruder who says Tom names the wrong guy. Now, with no access to the outside world, he wants Tom to produce a new story in days, naming the real perpetrator.
Tom Honeyman's no longer writing to save his career.
He's writing to save his life.
312 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 12, 2019
16 people are currently reading
53 people want to read
About the author
David Hewson
91 books505 followersDAVID HEWSON was born in Yorkshire in 1953. His books range from the Nic Costa series set in Italy to adaptations of The Killing in Copenhagen and the Pieter Vos series in Amsterdam.
He's adapted Shakespeare for Audible and in 2018 won the Audie for best original work for Romeo and Juliet: A Novel, narrated by Richard Armitage.
2019 sees the release of a new, full-cast Audible drama set in New York, Last Seen Wearing, and a standalone novel set in the Faroe Islands, Devil's Fjord.
Series:
Nic Costa
Pieter Vos
The Killing
He's adapted Shakespeare for Audible and in 2018 won the Audie for best original work for Romeo and Juliet: A Novel, narrated by Richard Armitage.
2019 sees the release of a new, full-cast Audible drama set in New York, Last Seen Wearing, and a standalone novel set in the Faroe Islands, Devil's Fjord.
Series:
Nic Costa
Pieter Vos
The Killing
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
July 4, 2020
I greatly enjoyed “the killing” series by this author that I read earlier this year. I jumped at the occasion to see if I like the rest of his work. So, I expected much of this new book and OMG, I was not disappointed.
Thomas Honeyman, an American writer with dwindling success, arrives on his island in the marshes around Venice to finish his latest novel. He made his fortune with a true crime book about a nasty fire that happened in his home town but could never reach that level again. His island home is primitive, remote and contains the derelict remains of an asylum/leper colony. There’s an armed stranger waiting for him who has somehow got hold of Tom’s estranged daughter. They haven’t spoken since her mother committed suicide 4 years earlier, but that doesn’t mean that he doesn’t love her. The kidnapper uses Lauren as leverage to make the author write a new book about the fire. A book where he admits to the lies he fabricated and reveals information he withheld and most of all where he reveals the real murderer. All this has to be done in the next 4 days before the feast of the redeemer starts or he and his daughter will be torched.
In the book, there’s already a parallel made to Scheherazade and 1001 nights and it befits this book like a glove. Tom has to keep writing, not only to save his life but that of his daughter as well. And that what he writes has to please the kidnapper.
It’s an interesting way to look at murder. There’s a murder mystery, it’s a cold case (although a supposedly solved one) that has to be solved far from the scene and the people involved, solely based on old interviews and tapes with no possibility to acquire new information
The story is told in 2 different time frames. There’s the here and now with the hostage situation and problems of writing under duress. But there’s also the story of the events leading to the tragedy of
2008 in America. A fire wherein a teacher and her student died. You’ve got the events as everybody believes them to be because that’s how they’re put in his book but now new evidence points to another possibility.
It’s really masterly done how the doubt and suspicions slowly creep into the story. At first, you believe that the writer has done nothing wrong but being overconfident in his findings, then you start looking for another possible killer until they lead to a chilling realisation. And every time you think “that’s it, we know all now” there’s another twist or turn that steer you in another direction. The end is really mind-blowing. I had expected early on that the teacher must have had a female lover as well, but the different corners the story turns after that was established, aren’t foreseeable in a million years. It’s really creepy and baffling at times. Well done! It’s more than mere crime fiction; it certainly deserves the title of a psychological thriller as well.
I thank BooksGoSocial and Netgalley for the free ARC they gave me; this is my unbiased, honest review of it.
Thomas Honeyman, an American writer with dwindling success, arrives on his island in the marshes around Venice to finish his latest novel. He made his fortune with a true crime book about a nasty fire that happened in his home town but could never reach that level again. His island home is primitive, remote and contains the derelict remains of an asylum/leper colony. There’s an armed stranger waiting for him who has somehow got hold of Tom’s estranged daughter. They haven’t spoken since her mother committed suicide 4 years earlier, but that doesn’t mean that he doesn’t love her. The kidnapper uses Lauren as leverage to make the author write a new book about the fire. A book where he admits to the lies he fabricated and reveals information he withheld and most of all where he reveals the real murderer. All this has to be done in the next 4 days before the feast of the redeemer starts or he and his daughter will be torched.
In the book, there’s already a parallel made to Scheherazade and 1001 nights and it befits this book like a glove. Tom has to keep writing, not only to save his life but that of his daughter as well. And that what he writes has to please the kidnapper.
It’s an interesting way to look at murder. There’s a murder mystery, it’s a cold case (although a supposedly solved one) that has to be solved far from the scene and the people involved, solely based on old interviews and tapes with no possibility to acquire new information
The story is told in 2 different time frames. There’s the here and now with the hostage situation and problems of writing under duress. But there’s also the story of the events leading to the tragedy of
2008 in America. A fire wherein a teacher and her student died. You’ve got the events as everybody believes them to be because that’s how they’re put in his book but now new evidence points to another possibility.
It’s really masterly done how the doubt and suspicions slowly creep into the story. At first, you believe that the writer has done nothing wrong but being overconfident in his findings, then you start looking for another possible killer until they lead to a chilling realisation. And every time you think “that’s it, we know all now” there’s another twist or turn that steer you in another direction. The end is really mind-blowing. I had expected early on that the teacher must have had a female lover as well, but the different corners the story turns after that was established, aren’t foreseeable in a million years. It’s really creepy and baffling at times. Well done! It’s more than mere crime fiction; it certainly deserves the title of a psychological thriller as well.
I thank BooksGoSocial and Netgalley for the free ARC they gave me; this is my unbiased, honest review of it.
April 1, 2021
I do enjoy Hewsons' novels and some of his series are quite fascinating and having read a few one-off stories I know Hewson can deliver a tale.
Tom Honeyman was a local newspaper man when he got the chance to write a real crime novel about something that happened in his little town. A teacher and her student lover did get murdered in a fire and its investigation and then the real crime novel destroyed the fabric of the town he lived in. The journalist became a successful writer only his crime novels lack that special something his first novel had and so Tom finds his next novels becoming less well received. He has this special thing where he writes and finishes his novel in a house on an island near Venice (the island used to be a leper colony). And he finishes the book on the day that Venice celebrates one of their holidays with big fireworks. And so he comes to Venice to finish a new book that might possibly never gets a publication and want to sell his island.
This time he finds the island less than a sanctuary somebody his coming for him and wants the real details from his real crime story and they differ from the truth according to the assailant. He has Toms estranged daughter as a hostage to make him play ball. This time Tom is writing to a deadly deadline. He has to relive the experience while writing about it. Has to relive the suicide of his wife and the dead of the perpetrator of the horrible killing.
An interesting book that somehow lost its pace in the end where I found myself thinking of a solution for the book and found out that I was much closer than I gave myself credit for. I dislike books with endings I can predict, but still Hewson does deliver a nice story.
Tom Honeyman was a local newspaper man when he got the chance to write a real crime novel about something that happened in his little town. A teacher and her student lover did get murdered in a fire and its investigation and then the real crime novel destroyed the fabric of the town he lived in. The journalist became a successful writer only his crime novels lack that special something his first novel had and so Tom finds his next novels becoming less well received. He has this special thing where he writes and finishes his novel in a house on an island near Venice (the island used to be a leper colony). And he finishes the book on the day that Venice celebrates one of their holidays with big fireworks. And so he comes to Venice to finish a new book that might possibly never gets a publication and want to sell his island.
This time he finds the island less than a sanctuary somebody his coming for him and wants the real details from his real crime story and they differ from the truth according to the assailant. He has Toms estranged daughter as a hostage to make him play ball. This time Tom is writing to a deadly deadline. He has to relive the experience while writing about it. Has to relive the suicide of his wife and the dead of the perpetrator of the horrible killing.
An interesting book that somehow lost its pace in the end where I found myself thinking of a solution for the book and found out that I was much closer than I gave myself credit for. I dislike books with endings I can predict, but still Hewson does deliver a nice story.
June 4, 2020
I've read most of David Hewson's work and this was by far one of the most well laid plots by far. It's story line goes between Venice Italy and the U.S. to show how far someone will go to make a life for themself. Although our main character Tom Honeyman, seems to come out of his book with eveyone telling him that it was all lies and he goes to his place in Venice to write another re-story to tell the truth. But unknown to Tom..... You'll have to read the story to find out what happens. You'll be glad you did.
July 18, 2020
Tom Honeyman made his name cracking a horrific double murder in his hometown of Prosper, New York. He got an international best seller out of it, made a small fortune, and left his newspaper reporting days behind. More than a decade after his one and only success, Honeyman’s life is in tatters. His wife committed suicide, his daughter hasn’t spoken to him in years, and his books don’t sell. He’s sequestered himself in his wreck of a retreat on an island in Venice, desperate to find the inspiration that will revive his career.
The author is a must read for me so I expected to enjoy this book & it didn’t disappoint. Twists, turns keep you guessing as everything is gradually revealed throughout the book, but is everything as it seems? Strong characters & a well plotted story kept me engrossed all the way through
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
The author is a must read for me so I expected to enjoy this book & it didn’t disappoint. Twists, turns keep you guessing as everything is gradually revealed throughout the book, but is everything as it seems? Strong characters & a well plotted story kept me engrossed all the way through
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
July 27, 2020
Thriller set on a remote island in the VENICE Lagoon
Tom Honeyman is an author. Each year, in July, he comes to a remote uninhabited island he has bought in the northern Venice lagoon to put the finishing touches to his latest book ahead of the Feste del Redentore (the Feast of the Redeemer) which takes place on the third Saturday of the month. He works flat out for 5 days and then pours himself a large negroni as he watches the firework display across the lagoon.
Tom made his money with just one book. He was working as a reporter on a small town newspaper in New York State when he struck gold. There was a double murder in the town and he wrote the ‘true life’ story of what happened, including naming the murderer. There was instant fame and fortune. Other books followed over the years, but they were all unsuccessful. Nevertheless Tom pretended it would not always be so, and thus headed to his island each July.
There was only one problem with his original book about the double murders. It had been written hastily and sloppily in an effort to get it out there. Short cuts were taken and it was not entirely truthful. The murderer Tom named was not actually the murderer.
‘Someone’ knew this, and was determined for Tom to write a true version of events – whoever it might hurt. This ‘someone’ was hidden on his island waiting for him when he arrived. What followed was a nightmare for Tom. He was fed snippets of information (from a person who very obviously knew details of the case) and was expected to work them into a true version of events. Not that he saw the ‘someone’ – his house on the island was under electronic surveillance and his laptop had been taken over. The snippets of information all came remotely. The ‘someone’ was not alone. He had inveigled Tom’s estranged daughter into accompanying him to the island – and was now holding her hostage to ensure her father’s cooperation in the venture.
Slowly the book comes together, and the truth of the murders is written down. But who is going to benefit from its publication and how?
Shooter in the Shadows is, as you would expect from David Hewson, a very well written, well thought through, and exciting read.
Recommended.
Tom Honeyman is an author. Each year, in July, he comes to a remote uninhabited island he has bought in the northern Venice lagoon to put the finishing touches to his latest book ahead of the Feste del Redentore (the Feast of the Redeemer) which takes place on the third Saturday of the month. He works flat out for 5 days and then pours himself a large negroni as he watches the firework display across the lagoon.
Tom made his money with just one book. He was working as a reporter on a small town newspaper in New York State when he struck gold. There was a double murder in the town and he wrote the ‘true life’ story of what happened, including naming the murderer. There was instant fame and fortune. Other books followed over the years, but they were all unsuccessful. Nevertheless Tom pretended it would not always be so, and thus headed to his island each July.
There was only one problem with his original book about the double murders. It had been written hastily and sloppily in an effort to get it out there. Short cuts were taken and it was not entirely truthful. The murderer Tom named was not actually the murderer.
‘Someone’ knew this, and was determined for Tom to write a true version of events – whoever it might hurt. This ‘someone’ was hidden on his island waiting for him when he arrived. What followed was a nightmare for Tom. He was fed snippets of information (from a person who very obviously knew details of the case) and was expected to work them into a true version of events. Not that he saw the ‘someone’ – his house on the island was under electronic surveillance and his laptop had been taken over. The snippets of information all came remotely. The ‘someone’ was not alone. He had inveigled Tom’s estranged daughter into accompanying him to the island – and was now holding her hostage to ensure her father’s cooperation in the venture.
Slowly the book comes together, and the truth of the murders is written down. But who is going to benefit from its publication and how?
Shooter in the Shadows is, as you would expect from David Hewson, a very well written, well thought through, and exciting read.
Recommended.
July 18, 2020
Thank you to Books Go Social for a digital edition via NetGalley of ‘Shooter in the Shadows’ by David Hewson in exchange for an honest review.
This intriguing thriller began its life as an Audible Original. In recent years Hewson has published a number of works this way; writing them initially for an audiobook format and then adapting for print.
Eleven years ago newspaper reporter Tom Honeyman made his name by cracking a horrific double murder in his hometown of Prosper, New York. He went on to write a true crime book, ‘The Fire: an American Tragedy’, that became an international best seller and made him a small fortune. He went on to become a full time author though his subsequent novels have not sold well.
In 2012 his wife, Diane, committed suicide on the anniversary of the fire at the heart of the murder case. As a result Honeyman and his daughter, Lauren, have become estranged.
When Tom had plenty of money he bought Maledetto, a small island in the Venice Lagoon, that he uses as a writing retreat. He has now sequestered himself there desperate to find the inspiration to revive his flagging career. Yet he is not alone as a stranger is on the island. They contact Honeyman and tell him that he got it wrong all those years ago and gives him only four days to uncover the real murderer or he and his daughter will be killed.
This is a chilling premise. Tom is thousands of miles from New York though is provided with material relating to the case to examine. The narrative moves between the countdown in Venice and events in the past that together builds up this intricate mystery. I won’t say more in order to avoid spoilers though I was very impressed.
I have read many of Hewson’s novels and have always found them well written and highly engaging. This was no exception and provided plenty of tension and the kind of twists that I classify as organic. Even though there are mobile phones, WiFi, and apps there are elements in the narrative that evoke classic thrillers.
A stand-alone novel that is certain to please Hewson’s many fans and also serve as an introduction for those new to his work.
4.5 stars rounded up to 5.
This intriguing thriller began its life as an Audible Original. In recent years Hewson has published a number of works this way; writing them initially for an audiobook format and then adapting for print.
Eleven years ago newspaper reporter Tom Honeyman made his name by cracking a horrific double murder in his hometown of Prosper, New York. He went on to write a true crime book, ‘The Fire: an American Tragedy’, that became an international best seller and made him a small fortune. He went on to become a full time author though his subsequent novels have not sold well.
In 2012 his wife, Diane, committed suicide on the anniversary of the fire at the heart of the murder case. As a result Honeyman and his daughter, Lauren, have become estranged.
When Tom had plenty of money he bought Maledetto, a small island in the Venice Lagoon, that he uses as a writing retreat. He has now sequestered himself there desperate to find the inspiration to revive his flagging career. Yet he is not alone as a stranger is on the island. They contact Honeyman and tell him that he got it wrong all those years ago and gives him only four days to uncover the real murderer or he and his daughter will be killed.
This is a chilling premise. Tom is thousands of miles from New York though is provided with material relating to the case to examine. The narrative moves between the countdown in Venice and events in the past that together builds up this intricate mystery. I won’t say more in order to avoid spoilers though I was very impressed.
I have read many of Hewson’s novels and have always found them well written and highly engaging. This was no exception and provided plenty of tension and the kind of twists that I classify as organic. Even though there are mobile phones, WiFi, and apps there are elements in the narrative that evoke classic thrillers.
A stand-alone novel that is certain to please Hewson’s many fans and also serve as an introduction for those new to his work.
4.5 stars rounded up to 5.
June 4, 2020
Shooter in the Shadows is one of those excellent murder mysteries that sneaks up on you. You think you know what is happening but then you don’t. The protagonist, Tom Honeyman, is a brilliant writer but not a great reporter because if he doesn’t know all the details, he just writes a good story. Shooter in the Shadows is the latest of several mystery novels written by David Hewson.
Tom Honeyman writes a bestseller by cracking a gruesome murder case in his home town and then writing about it. Unfortunately, it seems to be his only success since several books later he is going broke. He decides to revisit the same theme and see if he can get some of the old spark back. Tom takes his notes to his retreat house in Venice where he is interrupted by a killer who believes Tom is not telling the truth in his first novel and he wants to make sure Tom gets it right this time. The killer gives Tom his first chapter to get him started along with a short deadline to get the rest written. Can he do it and stay alive?
The characters are compelling. Flashing back to the time of the murder Tom’s family is struggling. His wife drinks too much apparently because she gave up her career as a reporter to have a child. Their daughter is just an angry teenager. Tom believes he can make things better by just writing that bestseller and the murder is his big opportunity. The bestseller happens but the characters don’t necessarily react as expected.
The plot is intricate and compelling because it unfolds throughout the entire book. With every piece of information, we learn more about what happens to get to where we are today. Also, with each piece of information comes a twist to keep the reader engaged.
Some may feel a bit distracted by the abundance of activity and plot lines in the book, but in my opinion that confusion just requires patience and, in the end, it adds to the appeal of the book.
I highly recommend this book to people who like a multifaceted murder mystery. I give it a 5 on 5. I want to thank Net Galley and BooksGoSocial for providing me with a digital copy of the novel in exchange for a fair review
Tom Honeyman writes a bestseller by cracking a gruesome murder case in his home town and then writing about it. Unfortunately, it seems to be his only success since several books later he is going broke. He decides to revisit the same theme and see if he can get some of the old spark back. Tom takes his notes to his retreat house in Venice where he is interrupted by a killer who believes Tom is not telling the truth in his first novel and he wants to make sure Tom gets it right this time. The killer gives Tom his first chapter to get him started along with a short deadline to get the rest written. Can he do it and stay alive?
The characters are compelling. Flashing back to the time of the murder Tom’s family is struggling. His wife drinks too much apparently because she gave up her career as a reporter to have a child. Their daughter is just an angry teenager. Tom believes he can make things better by just writing that bestseller and the murder is his big opportunity. The bestseller happens but the characters don’t necessarily react as expected.
The plot is intricate and compelling because it unfolds throughout the entire book. With every piece of information, we learn more about what happens to get to where we are today. Also, with each piece of information comes a twist to keep the reader engaged.
Some may feel a bit distracted by the abundance of activity and plot lines in the book, but in my opinion that confusion just requires patience and, in the end, it adds to the appeal of the book.
I highly recommend this book to people who like a multifaceted murder mystery. I give it a 5 on 5. I want to thank Net Galley and BooksGoSocial for providing me with a digital copy of the novel in exchange for a fair review
June 21, 2020
I like David Hewson’s writing. His prose is clear and straightforward yet descriptive and evocative. Some years ago I picked up THE LIZARD’S BITE, the fourth in Hewson’s Italian set series about Detective Nick Costa, and I have enjoyed periodic visits to catch up with Costa and to share the author’s love of Italy. SHOOTER IN THE SHADOWS, set on a small island in the Venetian lagoon, coincidentally the location for that earlier novel, is a stand-alone but no less exciting and gripping than the series.
SHOOTER IN THE SHADOWS is a thriller about an American journalist turned true-crime author, Tom Honeyman who, having had a huge success with his first book, about a grisly murder in upstate New York, has struggled to follow it up. Every year Honeyman comes to Maledetto, the small Venetian island which his success allowed him to buy, to start a new book in the hope of returning to the bestseller lists. But that initial success has proved a millstone, Honeyman’s life a mess, his wife having committed suicide, his daughter estranged and Maledetto a drain on his dwindling finances. When Laura, his daughter makes contact and him on the island, things appear to be improving, but soon both find themselves held prisoner by someone who believes that Honeyman got it wrong in his book and wants him to right a sequel to correct that error, to reveal the truth about who really burned two people to death, or die themselves. Honeyman has 4 days...
David Hewson’s characters are really well-formed. As the novel alternates Honeyman’s predicament with chapters of the new book, we find that he is not really a very nice guy, a talented writer but a poor reporter who substitutes vivid imagination for facts when necessary. But it is not only Honeyman who comes alive - the small town American cop; the wild, bohemian, sexually free teacher who died in the fire with her student lover; Honeyman’s wife, who gave up her own journalistic career to bring up their daughter - despite being drawn in relatively few scenes, jump off the page fully-formed. The joy of SHOOTER IN THE SHADOWS is the inherent unreliability of the narrator as we only have Honeyman’s version of what he think happened. And, even when I guessed the true events about three quarters in, seeing the truth play out was really satisfying. Except, I only thought I had solved it. There are events that even Honeyman doesn’t know, leading to a great twist.
Hewson captures the essence of the lagoon, the sounds, the smells. The setting is excellent, Maledetto simultaneously within sight of Venice’s main islands yet as remote from civilisation as it is possible to be in the lagoon.
SHOOTER IN THE SHADOWS is highly recommended.
SHOOTER IN THE SHADOWS is a thriller about an American journalist turned true-crime author, Tom Honeyman who, having had a huge success with his first book, about a grisly murder in upstate New York, has struggled to follow it up. Every year Honeyman comes to Maledetto, the small Venetian island which his success allowed him to buy, to start a new book in the hope of returning to the bestseller lists. But that initial success has proved a millstone, Honeyman’s life a mess, his wife having committed suicide, his daughter estranged and Maledetto a drain on his dwindling finances. When Laura, his daughter makes contact and him on the island, things appear to be improving, but soon both find themselves held prisoner by someone who believes that Honeyman got it wrong in his book and wants him to right a sequel to correct that error, to reveal the truth about who really burned two people to death, or die themselves. Honeyman has 4 days...
David Hewson’s characters are really well-formed. As the novel alternates Honeyman’s predicament with chapters of the new book, we find that he is not really a very nice guy, a talented writer but a poor reporter who substitutes vivid imagination for facts when necessary. But it is not only Honeyman who comes alive - the small town American cop; the wild, bohemian, sexually free teacher who died in the fire with her student lover; Honeyman’s wife, who gave up her own journalistic career to bring up their daughter - despite being drawn in relatively few scenes, jump off the page fully-formed. The joy of SHOOTER IN THE SHADOWS is the inherent unreliability of the narrator as we only have Honeyman’s version of what he think happened. And, even when I guessed the true events about three quarters in, seeing the truth play out was really satisfying. Except, I only thought I had solved it. There are events that even Honeyman doesn’t know, leading to a great twist.
Hewson captures the essence of the lagoon, the sounds, the smells. The setting is excellent, Maledetto simultaneously within sight of Venice’s main islands yet as remote from civilisation as it is possible to be in the lagoon.
SHOOTER IN THE SHADOWS is highly recommended.
July 7, 2020
I’ve noticed in the past that some of David Hewson’s other books have been pretty highly rated, but I haven’t yet gotten around to reading any. So I was happy to recently receive an ARC of Shooter in the Shadows to read, in exchange for my honest review. I was also excited to read this book because it is set in Venice, Italy (actually more on a minor island in the Venetian lagoon, near Venice), and I often enjoy mysteries set in places that I’ve been lucky enough to visit. Note that this is a stand-alone title, and not part of one of Hewson’s series.
Shooter in the Shadows pulled me in quickly (without being spoiler-ish, the scene with the laptop did it for me), and then just kept going in a well-written and well-plotted story that kept me guessing about many things right until the end. I ended up reading this late into the night, which is rare for me – I’m usually pretty early to bed. The background (the Italian part of it) lived up to my expectations, and the characters seemed quite believable, even if many of them aren’t very nice.
And I guess the “not very nice” leads to my only minor complaint about the book, which is that, although it may be sort of boringly middle-brow of me, I tend to like my books to have a few redemptive elements in them, and I had to look hard to find any in Shooter in the Shadows. Don’t get me wrong – this is a great story, well-written, which hooked me and kept me reading. But at the end, I just had some unhappiness at the bleak (to me, at least) way things wrapped up.
I tend to be pretty conservative in awarding stars, only giving five stars to maybe one in thirty or forty books, the ones I think I’ll read and re-read and re-read again. So four stars is a great rating from me and means I really recommend a book. I thought about taking off half of a star just because I was kind of unhappy with the ending, but that seemed too arbitrary to me. The ending really works for the book, and it’s just my quirk that makes me unhappy with it. So…four stars, and I definitely liked Hewson’s writing enough that I’m going to try the first title in his Nic Costa series soon.
Shooter in the Shadows pulled me in quickly (without being spoiler-ish, the scene with the laptop did it for me), and then just kept going in a well-written and well-plotted story that kept me guessing about many things right until the end. I ended up reading this late into the night, which is rare for me – I’m usually pretty early to bed. The background (the Italian part of it) lived up to my expectations, and the characters seemed quite believable, even if many of them aren’t very nice.
And I guess the “not very nice” leads to my only minor complaint about the book, which is that, although it may be sort of boringly middle-brow of me, I tend to like my books to have a few redemptive elements in them, and I had to look hard to find any in Shooter in the Shadows. Don’t get me wrong – this is a great story, well-written, which hooked me and kept me reading. But at the end, I just had some unhappiness at the bleak (to me, at least) way things wrapped up.
I tend to be pretty conservative in awarding stars, only giving five stars to maybe one in thirty or forty books, the ones I think I’ll read and re-read and re-read again. So four stars is a great rating from me and means I really recommend a book. I thought about taking off half of a star just because I was kind of unhappy with the ending, but that seemed too arbitrary to me. The ending really works for the book, and it’s just my quirk that makes me unhappy with it. So…four stars, and I definitely liked Hewson’s writing enough that I’m going to try the first title in his Nic Costa series soon.
August 6, 2020
Shooter in the Shadows. David Hewson. 2020 pre ordered iBook.
A long time since I truly don’t like a character in this book but perhaps that is quite a skill to write.... Set in America and Italy.
Tom Honeyman was a small town journalist but when a fire happens, with two bodies in the burnt out cabin, a young male student and a young female teacher, in his hometown of Prosper, New York, he writes a book about it, which becomes a bestseller! Revelations about people and relationships circulate and grow. The articles and book, disrupt or destroy several lives....in the small community.
His wife Diane commits suicide and leaves a note.....There’s a shooter in the shadows and I can’t bear this anymore! His daughter Lauren disappeared shortly afterwards.
His one huge bestseller was years ago. He tries again and again to repeat the success buying an island retreat that the locals call Maledetto...cursed! He travels to his writing hideaway island near Venice to try for another success year after year but someone has been there, rigged up the house and island and is demanding that he write the truth now! And gives him only so long to do it, while he edits every movement and word. His daughter, Lauren is being held captive ..... Tom Honeyman is no longer writing for his livelihood. He's writing for his life and his daughter’s. Vern wants justice for his dead father the local policeman in Prosper.....
But are things really as they seem? Some truly huge twists......
A long time since I truly don’t like a character in this book but perhaps that is quite a skill to write.... Set in America and Italy.
Tom Honeyman was a small town journalist but when a fire happens, with two bodies in the burnt out cabin, a young male student and a young female teacher, in his hometown of Prosper, New York, he writes a book about it, which becomes a bestseller! Revelations about people and relationships circulate and grow. The articles and book, disrupt or destroy several lives....in the small community.
His wife Diane commits suicide and leaves a note.....There’s a shooter in the shadows and I can’t bear this anymore! His daughter Lauren disappeared shortly afterwards.
His one huge bestseller was years ago. He tries again and again to repeat the success buying an island retreat that the locals call Maledetto...cursed! He travels to his writing hideaway island near Venice to try for another success year after year but someone has been there, rigged up the house and island and is demanding that he write the truth now! And gives him only so long to do it, while he edits every movement and word. His daughter, Lauren is being held captive ..... Tom Honeyman is no longer writing for his livelihood. He's writing for his life and his daughter’s. Vern wants justice for his dead father the local policeman in Prosper.....
But are things really as they seem? Some truly huge twists......
December 17, 2019
Duel Narration Almost Does The Trick!
Shooter in the Shadows is in quite a few ways cleverly done. Tom Honeyman, a one hit wonder author returns to his lonely Venetian Isle to try and rescue his career. The story splits mainly between his time on the island, which as you can imagine doesn't turn out to be the peaceful hideaway that he hoped for and back in the story of his first book. That being a true crime novel of his home town Prosper when two locals were killed in a quite horrific manner.
There is quite a lot that I enjoyed the book. The dual narration team of Jonathan Davis and Ramon de Ocampo work very well in tandem backed up by some very minimalist sound effects. I won't explain quite how as it would lead to spoilers but I got the impression that both put their all into this and raised the story up considerably.
The story itself is by no means a bad one but it never really quite held together in some ways and when you write it from a character's POV it irks me that he at times seems ignorant of knowledge that we later discover he has. It does have some dramatic twists in it but it seemed to me that when it came to the ending Hewson had three or four favourite endings and ended trying to push at all of them as it continually twisted. Perhaps a little less would have been more.
So, a slightly muddled story in my view that still has some merit and an excellent team performance for the narration that raised it above the mediocre.
Shooter in the Shadows is in quite a few ways cleverly done. Tom Honeyman, a one hit wonder author returns to his lonely Venetian Isle to try and rescue his career. The story splits mainly between his time on the island, which as you can imagine doesn't turn out to be the peaceful hideaway that he hoped for and back in the story of his first book. That being a true crime novel of his home town Prosper when two locals were killed in a quite horrific manner.
There is quite a lot that I enjoyed the book. The dual narration team of Jonathan Davis and Ramon de Ocampo work very well in tandem backed up by some very minimalist sound effects. I won't explain quite how as it would lead to spoilers but I got the impression that both put their all into this and raised the story up considerably.
The story itself is by no means a bad one but it never really quite held together in some ways and when you write it from a character's POV it irks me that he at times seems ignorant of knowledge that we later discover he has. It does have some dramatic twists in it but it seemed to me that when it came to the ending Hewson had three or four favourite endings and ended trying to push at all of them as it continually twisted. Perhaps a little less would have been more.
So, a slightly muddled story in my view that still has some merit and an excellent team performance for the narration that raised it above the mediocre.
August 13, 2020
This book has two storylines going at the same time. One is in Venice where Tom Honeyman lives on a deserted island off the coast of Italy to have the peace and quiet to write his books. The other, is the retelling of the fire in Prosper NY, which is the reason Tom achieved fame as a writer. His only bestselling novel about the fire tore his family apart and after years of estrangement, he is meeting his daughter again.
He quickly realizes that they are not alone and there is another person who wants to get to the truth about what actually happened in Prosper years ago. He is holding Tom and his daughter hostage until he gets to the truth. Honestly, that storyline was very meh for me. Tom posturing, the intruder threatening, the whole bit got old fast. I don’t know why, but that did not hook me. I was much more interested in what was going on in Prosper years earlier and this story was interesting with its many revelations.
Several of the surprises were obvious to me early on, but there were a few things I did not figure out. I am a fan of David Henson’s Nic Costa series and I do enjoy his writing style so I will definitely be back for more, but this one I would not rate higher than a 3.5 for me.
He quickly realizes that they are not alone and there is another person who wants to get to the truth about what actually happened in Prosper years ago. He is holding Tom and his daughter hostage until he gets to the truth. Honestly, that storyline was very meh for me. Tom posturing, the intruder threatening, the whole bit got old fast. I don’t know why, but that did not hook me. I was much more interested in what was going on in Prosper years earlier and this story was interesting with its many revelations.
Several of the surprises were obvious to me early on, but there were a few things I did not figure out. I am a fan of David Henson’s Nic Costa series and I do enjoy his writing style so I will definitely be back for more, but this one I would not rate higher than a 3.5 for me.
May 27, 2020
I enjoyed this book, and felt that it was cleverly done in certain ways, however, it was muddles in others. Tom Honeyman is the main character, and he's a one hit wonder author who wrote about a true crime that occurred in his hometown. Two individuals are murdered in a horrific fire and he is a small town newspaper reporter who ends up writing a blockbuster book with assistance from information and photographs provided to him buy an unnamed source.
It's a very good story but the way that it was handled made it difficult to follow along. It seemed as if the character was ignorant of knowledge that at the end we find out he's possessed all along. There were some twists and turns that I felt we're good, and I at first felt I suspected who I thought was the murderer only to find out I was half-right. I felt the ending went on a little more than it should have. But I do feel that it was a good book, and with a little cleaning up and some editing it would be a fantastic book. All in all good read.
I would like to thank David Hewson, BooksGoSocial and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for fair and honest review.
It's a very good story but the way that it was handled made it difficult to follow along. It seemed as if the character was ignorant of knowledge that at the end we find out he's possessed all along. There were some twists and turns that I felt we're good, and I at first felt I suspected who I thought was the murderer only to find out I was half-right. I felt the ending went on a little more than it should have. But I do feel that it was a good book, and with a little cleaning up and some editing it would be a fantastic book. All in all good read.
I would like to thank David Hewson, BooksGoSocial and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for fair and honest review.
March 20, 2021
I received an ARC copy of this via NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review. I read several of Hewson’s Nic Costa series years ago, so I thought I’d try this standalone. I can’t say I particularly took to the characters - but I think that’s the point, that everyone was flawed. Honeyman wrote a best seller years ago, following the murder by fire of a teacher and student in Prosper, NY. But he took some liberties with the facts and story, which led to a man being killed. Honeyman‘s wife kills herself years later. Ever since, he’s been trying to recreate the success of that book by going to the Venetian island he bought, and frantically writing before the firework festival. This year though, someone has gotten there before him, installed cameras and hacked his laptop, and basically holds him and his daughter hostage, providing more documents and proof, until Honeyman writes the real account of what happened. The story jumps between present day and the past, as Honeyman writes each historical chapter. It was a slow burn, but it built the tension, filling in more and more story. I did guess some of the solution, but not all of it. Definitely worth a read though.
August 19, 2020
At first I thought that this might be another instalment in the Nick Costa series but it turned out to be a stand-alone novel set in Venice, in a remote spot in the lagoon.
At first I had some difficulty getting into the story which is the first time this happened with a book by David Hewson. Maybe this was because I didn't really like the main character, or to be more precise, any of the characters in the book. After about 25-30% into the book the story started to really get me and from then on I couldn't put it down.
I liked the plot and the story twists, even though I kind of saw the end coming because I already suspected... well, that would be a spoiler so you will just have to read it yourself.
I also liked the setting in a remote spot in the lagoon and the dual setting of the story in the US and Venice.
I want to thank Netgalley and the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review
At first I had some difficulty getting into the story which is the first time this happened with a book by David Hewson. Maybe this was because I didn't really like the main character, or to be more precise, any of the characters in the book. After about 25-30% into the book the story started to really get me and from then on I couldn't put it down.
I liked the plot and the story twists, even though I kind of saw the end coming because I already suspected... well, that would be a spoiler so you will just have to read it yourself.
I also liked the setting in a remote spot in the lagoon and the dual setting of the story in the US and Venice.
I want to thank Netgalley and the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review
June 28, 2020
A well-written quite dense story of an author who has writer's block and heads off to an isolated island to try to rid himself of the block. I liked the idea of him reliving the past in order to write the next bestseller. What I didn't like were the characters - the author Tom, his estranged daughter Lauren and the rest. They were just downright unpleasant. He'd made a mess of his life following the first, and only, book, his wife later committing suicide as the money ran out and their life-style was beyond all sense. The 'bad guy' was really unpleasant and the whole idea of booby trapped islands, murdered visitors, harassment and perpetual surveillance just didn't make it a story I particularly wanted to read in the end, Thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
August 15, 2020
Secrets abound on a private island - twisty, dark, and inventive!
Tom Honeyman is the author of a bestseller true crime book - but how true was the story he told? Over the course of just 4 days on the island Maledetto, the story unravels to a shocking conclusion.
This book surprised me in the best of ways - it turned out to be much more complex than I anticipated. The chapters alternate between present day and flashbacks to the crime, making the reader feel part of the investigation. The island setting gives great classic mystery vibes, a la And Then There Were None. If you’re a mystery/thriller lover, I’d definitely give this one a try - I bet the twists will sneak up on you the way they did for me.
Thank you to BooksGoSocial for providing an ARC on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Tom Honeyman is the author of a bestseller true crime book - but how true was the story he told? Over the course of just 4 days on the island Maledetto, the story unravels to a shocking conclusion.
This book surprised me in the best of ways - it turned out to be much more complex than I anticipated. The chapters alternate between present day and flashbacks to the crime, making the reader feel part of the investigation. The island setting gives great classic mystery vibes, a la And Then There Were None. If you’re a mystery/thriller lover, I’d definitely give this one a try - I bet the twists will sneak up on you the way they did for me.
Thank you to BooksGoSocial for providing an ARC on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 7, 2020
Journalist, Tom Honeyman, received accolades for the book he wrote about the double murder in his New York hometown. More than a decade later, someone is questioning if Tom got it right. Was the man he named as the murderer really the one responsible for the deaths? In his cabin, on a Venetian island, Tom and his daughter are threatened by an unknown man to rewrite the story; this time with the truth, or else he and his daughter will not make if off the island alive. This book alternates between past and present and the author does a good job of sharing new information with you at just the right time for the truth to unfurl.
October 15, 2020
Absolute Tosh !
Having highly regarded David Hewson's books from his very first I have to wonder what has happened here . It is the most far fetched , ridiculous, unbelievable rubbish I have read in a very long time. The boring back and forth from Venice to America left me cold, so much so I didn't finish it . The drab Lagoon descriptions were totally depressing , all this in one of the most beautiful places in the world . The supposed technology involved left me gobsmacked. If this is where Hewson is at , it's time to pack it in literary wise .
Having highly regarded David Hewson's books from his very first I have to wonder what has happened here . It is the most far fetched , ridiculous, unbelievable rubbish I have read in a very long time. The boring back and forth from Venice to America left me cold, so much so I didn't finish it . The drab Lagoon descriptions were totally depressing , all this in one of the most beautiful places in the world . The supposed technology involved left me gobsmacked. If this is where Hewson is at , it's time to pack it in literary wise .
July 4, 2020
Five stars!
I really enjoyed reading this book.
It is my first novel from David Hewson and I am looking forward reading more from him. I really liked his writing and how he determined when to give information to readers. The novel is full of twists and suspense. The author did a good job leading readers in various directions.
I highly recommend this book.
Read: June, 2020
Source: NetGalley and BookGoSocial, the Publisher.
I really enjoyed reading this book.
It is my first novel from David Hewson and I am looking forward reading more from him. I really liked his writing and how he determined when to give information to readers. The novel is full of twists and suspense. The author did a good job leading readers in various directions.
I highly recommend this book.
Read: June, 2020
Source: NetGalley and BookGoSocial, the Publisher.
August 26, 2020
Each year Tom Honeyman goes to Maldetto an uninhabited island he owns in a lagoon in Venice to put the finishing touches to his new novel, only this year will be different, for Tom is not alone, also his estranged daughter has disappeared. Tom is somewhat of a one hit wonder when wrote a novel several years past based on a true crime where two people died in a fire in the town where he was a reporter, however it seems that the story Tom wrote was not accurate and someone wants the truth written, the catch Tom has 4 days in which to re write the book and find the real killer, the price of failure death.
I have to admit to being fan of the authors previous books and this does not disappoint. Always strong on narrative with subtle twists along the way, gripping and engaging
The story itself is told from two view points the present day and the past when the original murders took place. Here Toms would be killer is obviously familiar with the case and feeds Tom titbits from which Tom has to uncover the truth and re write the story.
David Hewson paints a vivid picture of the past and has created a wonderful feel for small town America and the characters who inhabit the town, as the book begins you believe everything to be straightforward, however, the author cleverly begins to sow the seeds of doubt.
With only 4 days to uncover the truth you can feel the urgency and tension build for Tom as he struggles not only to uncover the true killer but battles the solitude knowing his very move is being watched and every written word judged.
One thing that always stands out when reading the authors books is a strong sense of place, and here you get a real feel for this small island.
The plotting is intricate and the twists along the way are enough to leave the reader second guessing themselves as for the ending this is wonderfully constructed and not what I was expecting or where I thought the plot line would lead.
I have to say I was hooked from the opening pages and this is a wonderful premise for a crime novel as the truth is slowly revealed you can’t help but keep reading. One I would highly recommend
I have to admit to being fan of the authors previous books and this does not disappoint. Always strong on narrative with subtle twists along the way, gripping and engaging
The story itself is told from two view points the present day and the past when the original murders took place. Here Toms would be killer is obviously familiar with the case and feeds Tom titbits from which Tom has to uncover the truth and re write the story.
David Hewson paints a vivid picture of the past and has created a wonderful feel for small town America and the characters who inhabit the town, as the book begins you believe everything to be straightforward, however, the author cleverly begins to sow the seeds of doubt.
With only 4 days to uncover the truth you can feel the urgency and tension build for Tom as he struggles not only to uncover the true killer but battles the solitude knowing his very move is being watched and every written word judged.
One thing that always stands out when reading the authors books is a strong sense of place, and here you get a real feel for this small island.
The plotting is intricate and the twists along the way are enough to leave the reader second guessing themselves as for the ending this is wonderfully constructed and not what I was expecting or where I thought the plot line would lead.
I have to say I was hooked from the opening pages and this is a wonderful premise for a crime novel as the truth is slowly revealed you can’t help but keep reading. One I would highly recommend
May 11, 2024
To be fair, this novel did have some ability to string the reader along with edge-of-the-seat suspense. However, I found the plot to be very far-fetched and the twists less than believable. The further it went on, the less credible it seemed. Above all, it just seemed to be written like a first draft, rather than a polished story.
April 27, 2020
I had no interest in the characters and no interest in the outcome. Mildly entertained by the last few chapters.
June 29, 2020
I didn't figure out the ending. Unfortunately I didn't care.
October 6, 2020
A thriller in the very sense of the word, an excellent murder mystery and fabulous writing. Well worth a read !
December 25, 2023
I had better write a review because I won't remember this book by this time next year.
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