A Bishop/Special Crimes Unit Novel - Stealing Shadows

I love Kay Hooper books and bought this because of the author. Should have read the reviews first. Spoiler alert - nothing happens in the book. Nothing. I would have guessed that it was written by someone else.

I love Kay Hooper books and bought this because of the author. Should have read the reviews first. Spoiler alert - nothing happens in the book. Nothing. I would have guessed that it was written by someone else.

This book was so thrilling. I literally read it all in one day. Kay Hooper propel's you to keep reading. There are so many twists and you are guessing until the very end. If you love mysteries and you love romance this is a must read!

It calls itself a Bishop Special Crimes Unit, but it isn't really. This is Bishop's first appearance, as far as I know, but the Unit itself isn't involved. This is only one psychic who helps police catch killers. She's worn out and sick of looking in killer's heads. A child died because she made a mistake. So she runs to a small North Carolina town to find peace and escape.

Then the killings start. Any woman could be a target., The killings keep escalating while the killer is trying new things. Cassie has to find him, before he finds her.

You almost feel like you know the characters. They're very three dimensional. It's a fine read and very much a thriller. These crime stories are much better developed than the romances she writes. It really makes you feel for the real life hunters who have to see these things every day. It's scary knowing you can't tell the monsters apart from the rest of us.

While Bishop is merely an observer, he really makes his presence felt!

Cassie Neal thought she had finally found peace when she left Los Angeles and settled in Ryan's Bluff, North Carolina. A psychic who had worked with detectives to locate serial killers and that ilk, she was looking to put her gifts to rest and live out her life in solitude. Unfortunately, even small towns can have bear the same sins as the big city when women are turning up murdered in Cassie's new home. She reaches out to the skeptical Sheriff to offer her help and then seeks the help of the town's prosecutor, Ben Ryan, when she's rejected. Cassie and Ben have an immediate connection but she is reluctant to follow through on it, feeling she's destined for tragedy.

This is a chilling story as you anticipate not only who the killer is but who will be the next victim. Hooper does an admirable job of drawing you into minor characters and having you invest in their outcome. I found myself dreading who the next victim might be as I was unwilling to give up on any of those I'd come to know in the story. The plot was complex while seemingly simple. There were enough clues for me to have a shot at solving the mystery and I came pretty close. The end of the story had an extremely interesting twist that could have been deduced. In the end, Cassie's paranormal abilities are at the heart of this story and her skills are made believable by the author.

My only criticism is that the romance meter was a little low but adequate. Ben was very attractive with the requisite amount of flaws and Cassie, of course, was appealing in a poignant way. But, it was difficult to make the emotional connection because it was written pretty dispassionately.

This is well written and an excellent start to a promising series, which I plan to continue. It was high on mystery and suspense, keeping my pulse rate elevated through much of the story.

Cody goes to Montana, in winter, to help a friend's friend. He is promptly attacked by a karate proficient Brooke. Brooke is tough, capable, psychic and terrified she's losing her mind. Cody takes her mind reading in stride. Working together, they find out what's frightening her and fall in love.

It needs to be longer. I don't like love at first sight, but I like this one. I know it's not her best work, but there are parts I love. The connection with a wolf, Cody getting chased around a barn by a crotchety donkey, those are lovely images. The people aren't nearly as interesting, except for Thor having fits over his pregnant wife. The dragon dream sequence is a waste of pages.

It's cute, but I'm not sure yet whether I'm keeping it. I'm still rereading the other Hooper books.

Kay Hooper has always been an excellent author, but she has outdone herself in Stealing Shadows. Ms. Hooper is apparently making her move from romance to thriller in an exciting book that will keep you glued to an explosive story that involves an intriguing cast of characters.
Psychic Cassie Neill moves to a small, secluded town in North Carolina from L.A. after she misreads the mind of a serial killer that results in the death of an innocent child. Blaming herself, she wants to isolated herself from the world and never be called upon to experience the terror she feels when using her psychic ability to enter the mind of a killer. Her aunt, who had spent the last twenty years hiding from the world because of her own psychic abilities has left her a house in the isolated countryside upon her death. Luck goes against Cassie as she begins to experience visions of a madman who is about to begin a killing spree. Cassie, knowing what skeptism is instored for her, goes to the local sheriff and prosecutor trying to warn them of what is ahead. Expressing doubt and disbelief, they are stunned to find out Cassie is right. There is a serial killer amid their small town stalking and brutally murdering women.
Kay Hooper has written one of the best novels I've read this year--if not the best. It amazes me how she has taken such a large, complex cast of characters, intertwined their lives, and still maintained the high level of terror and suspence in the plot. The suspense in this book never lets up. I'm glad there are two more novels folloing this one. I can't wait to see what Ms. Hooper has instored for her readers.
Grab this book, isolate yourself for a couple of hours, and get ready for one of the most exciting stories you'll ever read.

Cassie Neill lives with monsters. A natural psychic, Cassie has the unique ability to connect with a killer's mind and use the information she gleans there to help the police find the victim and capture their tormentors. But all those mind-sessions with the worst humanity has to offer has taken its toll on Cassie, and she decides to retreat to a small town on the East Coast.
Cassie inherits her aunt's rural home, and takes up her place as the town loner. No one knows who she is or what she is, until a serial killer decides to make the town his latest target. Unable to sit idly by when she knows she can help, Cassie offers her services to the town sheriff.
For the more skeptical reader, Cassie's abilities are explained quite well. She overcomes even the most cynical overtures by continuously putting herself at risk to help others. Although her appearance is a fragile one, this woman is strong and powerful, and utterly determined to do two things -- find the killer before he strikes again and keep herself alone and remote from the rest of the world.
Those plans are ultimately complicated by Ben Ryan, the town prosecutor. Ben is one of the few people Cassie is unable to "read," and that makes her attraction to him that much more difficult. Ben is a typical romance novel hero. He's handsome, kind and troubled (he has "walls"), yet he simply exudes warmth. It's
clear the two of them would make a great match, if they can just get past their individual fears...and the whole serial killer situation.
Filled with a dozen twists and turns, "Stealing Shadows" keeps the reader entranced. Just when you think you've got the next victim picked out, or the killer identified, Kay Hooper throws another option at you. The characters of this book are memorable and real, the kind you don't want to let go after the story ends. My only suggestion is to avoid reading this book in bed. I guarantee you'll get no sleep at night.

I was reluctant to starting this series, as I really don't care for romance novels, and this author has lots of romance out there, but this proved to be more than a romance. I would have to call it a thriller/suspense with an impending romance on the side. Very good reading. This is the start of a series of books, the author has dubbed 'Bishop Crimes series'. It is based mainly on a psychic that sees murders as they happen, helping the police catch the killer. She's totally burned out on this life and flees, only to find herself in the middle of an investigation. That leads to all kinds of trouble and skepticism from new authorities and townspeople. Hence, FBI Agent Bishop makes an appearance on the scene, breaking ground for a whole new series of books. I can't wait to read more, cause it's a fast paced page turner that really held my interest.

Brooke Kennedy has isolated herself in the wilds of Montana but she won't tell her friends why she needs this solitude. Cody Nash is asked by his friends to go up to Montana and find out what Brooke is hiding and to protect her if necessary. Cody is psychic but he doesn't need his powers to know that Brooke is terrified and has only seemed to increase. When a blizzard snows them in and strands them together, Cody realizes this is a chance for him to not only get to know Brooke, but perhaps save her from herself.

Readers should remember this is a re-issue of an old story. There is formula here people and if a formula book is off putting you may want to look for one of Ms. Hooper's other efforts. This for the most part is a tepid effort and not the best example of what this talented author is capable of producing. The character development is not terribly brilliant and this may also leave the reader feeling a little flat.