Shadow Ridge by M E Browning

Shadow Ridge

by M E Browning

Death is one click away when a string of murders rocks a small Colorado town in the first mesmerizing novel in M. E. Browning's A Jo Wyatt Mystery series.

Echo Valley, Colorado, is a place where the natural beauty of a stunning river valley meets a budding hipster urbanity. But when an internet stalker is revealed to be a cold-blooded killer in real life the peaceful community is rocked to its core.

It should have been an open-and-shut case: the suicide of Tye Horton, the designer of a cutting-edge video game. But Detective Jo Wyatt is immediately suspicious of Quinn Kirkwood, who reported the death. When Quinn reveals an internet stalker is terrorizing her, Jo is skeptical. Doubts aside, she delves into the claim and uncovers a link that ties Quinn to a small group of beta-testers who had worked with Horton. When a second member of the group dies in a car accident, Jo's investigation leads her to the father of a young man who had killed himself a year earlier. But there's more to this case than a suicide, and as Jo unearths the layers, a more sinister pattern begins to emerge--one driven by desperation, shame, and a single-minded drive for revenge.

As Jo closes in, she edges ever closer to the shattering truth--and a deadly showdown that will put her to the ultimate test.

Reviewed by Nadz@Totally Addicted to Reading on

4 of 5 stars

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I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.I am so glad I got the chance to read this book. I love well written police procedurals, which features a strong heroine and has me flipping the pages, while attempting to figure out the villain’s identity. Shadow Ridge delivered on all counts. This is book one in the Jo Wyatt Mystery series, and it’s my first time reading the author’s work.

The story began with a case of apparent suicide, followed by incidences of cyber stalking and a suspicious motor vehicle accident. The question on the reader’s mind was, were all these events related, and if so, how? Detective Jo Wyatt figures there is more to the case, and she makes her mission to uncover the truth. Her job would prove difficult as no one buys into her theory except for her partner Squint. To make matters worse, as one of the few females in a male-dominated field, she faced discrimination. Women had to work twice as hard to prove themselves, and even then, it didn’t mean diddly squat.

Jo proved to be a relatable character. She displayed a strong moral compass, and she proved to be smart and compassionate. She is suspicious, which would not be surprising given her profession.

I like how her friends, including her work partner, had her back. Her soon to be ex-husband, however, grated on my nerves and frankly I am glad to see she would be free of him. Her best friend Aiden has returned for from an undercover assignment. It’s clear there is chemistry between them, but they both are trying to pretend it doesn’t exist.

There were a few suspects, one of whom may be a potential victim. Throughout the story, I made several guesses in relation to how the events connected, who was the actual suspect and what was the motive. The revelation of the truth led to a suspenseful scene near to the end. The identity of the villain came as no surprise, because I suspected the person had to be involved somehow.

The author’s attention to details and the manner in which she explained the facts of the case demonstrated her knowledge of the subject, especially as it related to cyber-crime and the prejudices that Jo faced in a male-dominated field. After reading her biography, I recognised that the story may have come from a place of personal experience.

I enjoyed this book, and I am looking forward to continuing the series as I am eager to learn if Jo will finally get the recognition she deserves and follow along as she set out to solve fresh cases.

Conclusion/ Recommendation
If you enjoy police procedurals, then Shadow Ridge would be a great addition to your library.
This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading

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  • 11 December, 2020: Reviewed