City in Shadow

Hidden Manhattan #4

by Evan Marshall

“Absorbing…the suspense mounts…”—Publishers Weekly

BONUS: This edition contains an excerpt from DEATH IS DISPOSABLE by Evan Marshall.

A note left behind by a woman pleading for help leads Anna Winthrop to uncover a human trafficking ring unlike any other….

HELP ME!

A woman leaves a note which says HELP ME on the street outside the apartment of New York Sanitation department supervisor Anna Winthrop before Anna can talk to her. Anna sets out to follow her and spots her having dinner with a famous doctor, and again in Grand Central Station, where the woman is running to catch a train. But each time Anna gets closer to her, the woman gets away before Anna can talk to her. And then a few days later, the woman’s body is found floating in the Hudson River.

THE KIRKMORE

At the same time, a career-making story leads a journalist to a human-trafficking ring…a woman acts as bait to track down her missing sister…and Anna’s visiting cousin Patti prowls New York’s dark streets, but won’t say why…All of this leads Anna to follow a trail of clues which lead to a sinister apartment tower called the Kirkmore, where Anna observes young women entering but not seeming to leave again. There, Anna will discover that the place which is harboring a truly horrifying secret.

MANHATTAN MYSTERIES
DEATH IS DISPOSABLE
EVIL JUSTICE
DARK ALLEY
CITY IN SHADOW
REVIEWS OF CITY IN SHADOW

3.67 average review all editions, 18 ratings, 6 reviews, added by 51 people, 20 to-reads, 89% of people liked it.—Goodreads

4.0 out of 5 stars (6 reviews)—Amazon

*** 3 stars “I love New York! I know that sounds like the oft-run ad from a while ago, but I can’t help it - it’s the truth. And books that are set in and around that city naturally catch my attention. So it was with City in Shadow by Evan Marshall…”—Myckyee, Goodreads

*** 3 stars “I love Evan Marshalls' cozies… They are a quick read, well thought out and entertaining.” Dan Beliveau, Goodreads

***** 5 stars “A good book, true depiction of human trafficking from what I’ve read in true crime and biography books on the subject.”—Lisa Bennett, Goodreads

”Fast pacing, effective plot twists, sympathetic characters, multiple points of view combine for a compelling story.”—Booklist

***** 5 stars “I really enjoy Anna's grit; even though the author is a man his portrayal of Anna is spot on.”—Sonja, Goodreads

”A multi-layered mystery, populated with creatively developed characters…an innovative fast-paced plot.”Mysterious Reviews

ABOUT EVAN MARSNALL

Evan Marshall is president of The Evan Marshall Agency and author of The Marshall Plan® For Novel Writing, the international bestseller on novel writing now in its 20th anniversary edition. He is the author of 10 commercially published mysteries including Manhattan Mysteries and Jane and Winky Suburban Sleuths series, named “Miss Marple Lite” by Kirkus Reviews. His books appeal to fans of Janet Evanovich, Lilian Jackson Braun, Agatha Christie and Alexander McCall Smith. You can reach him at evan@evanmarshallagency.com.

Genres: Fiction

192 pages, Hardcover

Published November 1, 2010

About the author

Evan Marshall is president of The Evan Marshall Agency and author of The Marshall Plan For Novel Writing (Writer’s Digest, 1998), an international bestseller on novel writing now in its 20th anniversary edition. He is the author of 10 commercially published mysteries, Manhattan Mysteries Series and Jane & Winky Series which was named “Miss Marple Lite” by Kirkus Reviews. His books appeal to fans of Janet Evanovich, Lilian Jackson Braun, Agatha Christie and Alexander McCall Smith. You can reach him at evan@evanmarshallagency.com.

Reviews

[Myckyee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love New York! I know that sounds like the oft-run ad from awhile ago, but I can’t help it - it’s the truth. And books that are set in and around that city naturally catch my attention. So it was with City in Shadow by Evan Marshall, a novel that is part of the Hidden Mysteries series. This is the first book that I’ve read by this author and I don’t believe it's necessary to read the other books in the series first to be able to enjoy this one.

The story begins with Anna Winthrop, a sanitation department worker, witnessing what she thinks may be a woman being held against her will. Anna follows the trail of this woman to a mysterious building on 42nd Street. Meanwhile, Anna’s upstairs neighbour, Nettie, also sees the young woman and starts her own investigation. Both women encounter plenty of obstacles, sinister characters and danger in their quest to find out the truth.

This novel had several elements to it that stood out. First, it was written a bit like a noir thriller/hard-boiled detective novel. That genre pairs well with the New York setting (as does the plot) but the book also had a cozy mystery feel to it. The characters’ backgrounds were divulged, neighbours got to know neighbours (even if they were bad neighbours) and the way the characters zipped around the city and bumped into people just gave me a ‘small town’ sort of feeling. It was an interesting mix and I liked it.

I found the writing somewhat choppy at times and it could’ve used a bit more editing. I didn't always need to know how beautiful or handsome someone was and I felt those descriptions were somewhat clichéd.

Despite those flaws, I think this would be a great series for those who haven’t read a mystery before. It would also be very appealing for young adults new to the genre. And of course anyone who loves books set in New York!

[Gmr · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I can't say I'm in love with it, this is certainly a book that I learned to like along the way and just in time for the big finale. Why wasn't it love at first read? For me...it started off rather slow with seemingly meaningless character introductions and too many details....BUT....once the pieces started fall ing together there was no stopping it from snowballing into an interesting all the same. Seriously, you have wealthy female siblings living their lives the same as every other average joe (one is even a sanitation worker), an upstairs neighbor who moonlights as a ghost blogger but has other writing aspirations not considered commong knowledge to the public, two Ukrainian guys supposedly shopping for a desk for their den but really covering up a far more nefarious operation....see what I mean? LOADS of story line, but a common thread amongst them seems hard to find.....no worries, it IS in fact found and as I said, you'll follow it til the end.

Recommended reading for mystery or crime fiction adults fans due to the nature of the events that transpire. It's quite a ride from start to finish with twists and turns you may next expect. Happy reading....

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Debutante turned New York City sanitation supervisor, Anna Winthrop has plenty on her pre-Christmas plate. But then her young cousin from Cincinnati comes to spend a month, her new neighbor upstairs confides that her ex-boyfriend is stalking her, and Anna sees a frightened young woman in the company of two tough-looking Ukrainians. No matter how much her policeman boyfriend Santos warns her, Anna can't stop herself from trying to find the young woman, even if it means enmeshing herself in a dangerous investigation.

[Dan Beliveau · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Evan Marshalls' cozies. They are a quick read, well thought out and entertaining. A model I have decided to attempt to emulate. Normally I can't read the same author back-to-back, but these didn't bore me (I read Dark Alley & City in Shadow) with style, as so often happens. fast paced and likeable characters. Give any of the Jane & Winky or Manhattan series a try!

[Allison Chase · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a fan of The Hidden Manhattan series and thoroughly enjoyed this latest installment. I applaud the intelligent sleuth, the little touches of romance are appealing, and I especially enjoy that in each book I learn something new about NY, some surprising little tidbit I never knew despite being fairly familiar with the city.

[Lisa Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

a good book, true depiction of human trafficking from what Ive read in true crime and biography books on the subject.