Review: Shadow of Perception by Kristine Mason

(Full length, contemporary romantic suspense)

What happens when negligent plastic surgeons receive a taste of their own medicine…?

Chicago investigative reporter, Eden Risk, receives an unmarked envelope containing a postcard ordering her to watch the enclosed DVD…or someone else dies. No Police. After Eden watches the DVD, a gruesome, horrifying surgery, she turns to the private criminal investigation agency, CORE, for help. Only she hadn’t expected that help to come with a catch. Her former lover, Hudson Patterson, has been assigned to the case.

Hudson would rather have another CORE agent handle the investigation. Two years ago, he’d screwed things up with Eden…bad. And as more DVDs arrive, Eden and Hudson find themselves not only knee-deep in a twisted investigation, but forced to deal with their past, and the love they’d tried to deny.


It's been a long time since I've read a book that kept me riveted and left me a little sad and conflicted.  Shadow of Perception did all that and more.

First, kudos to the author for creating a villain who wasn't just plain evil.  So frequently we see sociopaths or villains so psychologically messed up it's hard to believe they could truly exist. There are actually two villains in this book, and one of them will make you question your own idea of what is right and wrong.

The hero and heroine were interesting, to be sure.  The conflict between them seemed to be settled a little too quickly, which made me question just how deeply Hudson wounded Eden before.  I think the greater conflict  was their difficulty in sharing their pasts, their feelings, their hopes for the future.  Also, I wish the issue of Eden's eating disorder had been addressed more completely.  I felt as if she got over it just too easily (though I suppose it's possible she's not actually over it -- maybe if we see her in the future it'll crop up again).

Those were the only real issues I had with this story -- nothing major, just little nit-picky things. The rest of the plot was great.  I admit that my ability to "see" what was happening in my mind was a bit of a  disadvantage here, as some of the scenes are pretty graphic.

I completely loved the secondary characters, but did feel as if I was missing a little of the dynamics between Eden and her sister for not having read book one.  I intend to rectify that mistake immediately.  So many of the other characters are begging to have their stories told and I can't wait for the next book.

The plot was solid, the writing clean, descriptive and easy to read, and I didn't notice any editing errors, but that may also be a credit to the writing keeping me so completely engrossed.   I'm so glad to have been introduced to Kristine Mason and can't wait to keep following the members of CORE.

Rated 5 Flowers - I loved this book! It's on my keeper shelf! I highly recommend it.