Shades of Justice (Detective Madison Knight, #9)

by Carolyn Arnold

[Nadz@Totally Addicted to Reading]

In the wake of all Maddison Knight experienced in the previous installment, my curiosity as it relates to what next was in store for the tenacious detective was on a high. Whatever, it was I knew without a doubt that Arnold would take her readers on a journey filled with twists and turns and provide a mystery that would keep them guessing to the end. She did not disappoint.

Madison is still reeling from her last adventure involving the kidnapping of her sister at the hands of the Russian Mafia. She decides to conduct her own investigation into corruption at the Stiles Police Department, a situation that places all whom she holds dear in danger. Added to that, she finds herself embroiled in a high profile case involving a double murder. Her boss wants her to treat the main suspect gently due to his benevolence to the Stiles PD. Maddison is not the type to bow to pressure and was determined to solve the case even it meant displeasing the department’s benefactor and her misogynistic boss.

This case points to the possibility of an affair gone bad, but as we go deeper into the story, we see there is more to the murders. Family secrets, blackmail, revenge and jealousy were the underlying factors of this mystery. The suspect pool is large, consisting of family members, friends and acquaintances. Maddison has her work cut out for her, but her tenacity knew no bounds.
She will learn that finding the truth is not always black and white and that to get the real story you look at what lies in between.

As the story progressed, I found myself guessing at every page turn. When I thought I had it figured out, the author highlights another suspect, which has me guessing all over again.


Besides dealing with issues resulting from the case and the private investigation, she is also preparing for her best friend’s wedding.

I had a great time reconnecting with the characters. With each installment, readers are treated to new information about the characters. This was no different. We see Maddison’s relationship with Troy developing and marriage appears to be on the horizon. She still has issues with trust, but she is learning to get a handle on it. These are characters whom I became invested in and needed to how their lives had developed since I was first introduced to them.

I loved all the characters, however, Madison outshone them all. This is not because she is the protagonist but because she is the epitome of a strong, independent, no nonsense female. She is a character that strong women can relate to.

Conclusion/Recommendation
Shades of Justice is a well-written story that will entertain you from start to finish. Fans of hard-boiled detective stories/police procedurals will enjoy this latest offering from Arnold.