Shadow Sands – Kate Marshall Series #2

Author: Robert Bryndza
Genre: Crime Fiction
317 pages
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer, Seattle, 2020

Synopsis
The moors are a perfect hiding place for a serial killer. And a chilling return to the past for nascent private investigator Kate Marshall in a pulse-racing thriller by the author of Nine Elms.

Criminology academic Kate Marshall is on a scuba jaunt with her son when they dive toward a shocking discovery: the body of a teenage boy entangled below the surface of the Shadow Sands reservoir. The detective chief inspector’s too-quick narrative of a tragic drowning doesn’t add up, and when Kate follows the evidence, it leads to a darker discovery.

The victim is only the latest in a series of mysterious deaths and disappearances linked to the moorlands—and a mythic phantom said to hide in the rolling fog. When a researcher of urban legends vanishes without a trace, Kate and her associate Tristan Harper must act fast and look deep if they hope to find her alive.

But the elusive serial killer they’re hunting isn’t the only one a step ahead of Kate and Tristan. Someone else is making dead certain that the secrets of Shadow Sands stay buried.

My review
Shadow Sands by Robert Bryndza is the 2nd installment in the Kate Marshall series. It’s a decent thriller and a good choice if you’re in the mood for a serial killer story that’s less graphic than many popular series. While Bryndza’s writing is strong, I find it hard to rate this higher than 3 stars, as the storyline lacked the twists and impact I typically enjoy in crime fiction.

This story is straightforward and concise, making it an easy read for a single day. Although the plot moves along at a fairly consistent pace, the central protagonist, Kate Marshall, falls short despite her intriguing background. Her character lacks the depth and personality needed to be relatable or believable. I wanted to like her or have a compelling reason to root for her, but unfortunately, neither was present.

Midway through the story, the chapters begin alternating between two main narratives: Magdalena’s fight for survival after being abducted and Kate and Tristan’s investigation into Simon’s death. Their search uncovers secrets hidden within the Shadow Sands reservoir and a wealthy family determined to avoid scrutiny. The story also weaves in several subplots, including Kate’s battle with sobriety, her strained relationship with her son Jake, her lingering resentment over losing her police job, and Tristan’s struggles with his sexuality and his relationship with his sister. I found the chapters focusing on Magdalena’s experience after her abduction to be some of the most compelling.

The first book in the series, Nine Elms, was an engaging and fun read, so I had high hopes for this installment. While it’s a decent read, I didn’t find the storyline that interesting and it ultimately didn’t quite live up to my expectations.

My recommendation: this is a decent novel and a good choice if you’re seeking a serial killer thriller that’s less graphic than many of the more popular series out there.