Private eye Jake Somers, a former cop, is called in by local police to help them find a serial killer who is terrorizing young women. The bodies are spread around a large area of town, including one who was found in Jake’s dumpster.

Jake brings his associate, Steve Evans, to help as the death count rises. Most of the murders seemed to be tied to a popular cosmetic’s company that targeted young women, and the sale of illegal synthetic drugs. A former college professor was distributing the product but later changed his mind about what he was doing. He was later found dead.

As Somers investigates the murders, he wonders if the cosmetic company is the tie that binds the deaths together, or are they acquainted with someone who is not related to the beauty products. As the deaths continue to mount up, Jake comments that not all murders make sense. Sometimes they occur because someone knows too much and the perpetrator(s) get nervous.

Meantime, Jake’s secretary is planning her wedding and his girlfriend seems to be closer to his mother, who lives next door, than she is to Jake.

When someone close to Jake is brutally attacked, the investigation begins to feel personal.

Shadows, A Jack Somers Novel, by Don Castle the third in a series following Pecan Gap and Dark Soul. A prologue introduces the characters to the reader and sets the tone of the story. The mystery is often as much about family and friends as it is in hunting down a dangerous killer.

Jake is a likeable character that has empathy for the victims that many private eyes don’t show. Often they are hard in their ways while Jake spends time with the numerous females around him including his mother, his girlfriend, and his secretary.

While the story seems rather slow in the beginning despite the gruesome murders, the author picks up the pace as he goes along. This is a difficult book to put down as the story easily draws one in to the midst of the horror.

Well-developed characters bring life to the novel and the settings make the story seem real to life. This book, and the rest of the series, is highly recommended if you want to relax and allow yourself to savor a delicious murder mystery story.

If you are interested in reading any of Don Castle’s mysteries, they are available at Amazon.com.

This review is based on a book that was provided by the author in exchange for our honest opinion.