For any would-be writer who wonders the best way to begin a book, I suggest you pick up The Shadow Box by Luanne Rice. Immediately the reader is thrown into the desperate situation of Claire Beaudry Chase regaining consciousness after being attacked by a masked assailant. Claire is pretty certain she knows who her attacker is, that he’s left her for dead but will return for her body’s “discovery,” and that she only has a very small window to escape and disappear. Knowing that she must be clever, because her very powerful husband, Griffin, will use every resource available to find her and make sure that she is dead, once and for all.

I did not want to put this book down. Rice has created a very clever, deftly plotted book, rich with setting and characters. While I always loved her warm-hearted sister fiction, I have to say that these psychological thrillers she’s been writing show an author at the top of her game.

The novel is told through multiple POVs, two of whom, Tom and Conor, we met in last year’s Last Day (you can read my review here) as well as different time periods to provide relevant backstory. Rice has pieced together like a jigaw. This piece fits here and that there, to give us a complete picture of who Griffin Chase is, his friends and colleagues, and how Claire has come to be in her current situation. But even after all of the pieces have come together, Rice doesn’t let the reader off the hook. A thrilling conclusion to masterful storytelling.

If you love psychological thrillers, you’ll probably like this one. You do not need to have read Last Day to enjoy The Shadow Box.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Shadow Box is a very well written suspense. Luanne Rice at her best. A great plot with good character dynamics. Fans of suspense will not be disappointed. I received an advance ebook from the publisher and Netgalley. This is my unbiased review review.

Claire Beaudry Chase was attacked by a masked man while she was on her way to her art exhibition. She then goes hiding and she believes that her husband, Griffin, a high prolific prosecutor and running for the governor is responsible for attacking her and also for the death of a girl named Ellen, happened twenty five years ago. Meanwhile, a ship was attacked and a woman named Sallie, who is the interior designer in that area, was dead. Are the two cases connected?

This was a sort of thriller that will put you at the edge of the seat. A land of elite and corrupted people who would do anything to remain in power and would get rid of the person who is a threat. This story is more like a cat and mouse chase, twists and turns and quite a page turner that you wouldn't actually want to put the book down!

Overall, this book worth five stars!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC copy. This story drew me in on the first page and from there I could not put it down!! Wow, what a thriller!! The main story broke off into other subplots that were eventually weaved together nicely at the end. It kept me on the edge of my seat!! Will defiintely recommend!

After artist Claire Beaudry Chase is attacked and left for dead in her home on the Connecticut coast, she doesn’t know who she can trust. But her well-connected husband, Griffin—who is running for governor—is her prime suspect.
Just before the attack, Claire was preparing for an exhibit of her shadow boxes, one of which clearly accuses Griffin of a violent crime committed twenty-five years ago.
When one of Claire’s acquaintances is murdered, the authorities suspect the homicide is linked to the attack on Claire
Wealth and political corruption is the whole start of this story and Griffin's life.
We learn of Griffin's first wife and his sons and the couple he thinks of like parents.
Then there is the good ole boys club and who is in that and what exactly do they do.
I felt this really does happen in the real world and can actually seeing this play out on the news.
Thank you Luanne Rice for a great book and to Thomas and Mercer for the ARC to review,

A promising premise to be sure. It started with a bang! Claire Chase is anticipating her art show and before the big reveal she is attacked in her own home. She has a pretty good ideal who it is and she fights the attack with all that she has. Good start! It just did not stick well with me. The narration was fluid enough. The narcissistic husband, a detective, and a few other key players. It felt like a Stepford Wives but on the neighborhood and I would have enjoyed seeing that more played out. Claire did not know who to trust and she stayed in hiding to build a case against her husband.

The author intend was to bring out abusive spouses and nature but I feel like to much was going on to feel a connection to Claire and other victims.

A special thank you to Thomas & Mercer and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

This masterfully crafted tale was disturbingly realistic and thrummed with tension from beginning to end. The pacing and storylines were cunningly conceived and shrewdly constructed for maximum impact with cringe-worthy depictions and blood-chilling reveals. My curiosity was well and truly tipped. I fell right into this distressingly addictive story and was fully absorbed and ensnared by the horror of the victim’s conundrum as well as awed by Ms. Rice’s clever and evocative phrasing and brain-tickling narrative. This was devastatingly intriguing storytelling as it hurdled toward either discovery or impending doom for all involved. It was marvelously disorienting. I am now a rabid fangirl.

Thank you @netgalley for this gifted copy of The Shadow Box by Luanne Rice in exchange for an honest review.

A gripping domestic thriller that will leave you guessing until the end. I love playing detective so the books that ask who did it? Those are my jam. The Shadow Box is one of those books. From the first chapter we are at the scene of a terrible crime gone wrong and work to help Claire piece together who is after her ( or who ISN’T after her). The story is told from several different points of views and goes back and forth from the present to the past, so it did get a little confusing at times but it certainly kept the story flowing and interesting. When the pieces finally came together at the end and Claire faced off with her attempted murder it was oh so satisfying.

Synopsis: Claire builds Shadow Boxes and has a special one for her husband Griffin. Griffin comes from money and holds a position in power and Claire wants to take him down. Before she is able to she is attacked by a masked man in her garage and left for dead. Too bad she doesn’t die. She hides out in the woods while her wounds heal.
On the same day a boat blows up killing a woman, injuring a man and his daughter and leaving a child missing.
Connor wants to know what happened? Where is Claire and why is there so much blood but no body? Where is the missing boy and what is the connection between these people? Someone else wants revenge. It’s a race against time to take down the the corruption in this small town. But how many people will have to die first?

I loved this suspenseful story. This is one of my favorite author's when it comes to suspense. She writes with alot of creativity and heart. This is a well developed story that brings the story to life. Her attention to details made the twist and turns feel realistic. I had no problem connecting with the characters. This is a fast paced story that is both engaging and a page turner. I read this book in one sitting, I couldn't put it down once I started it. Claire is an artist and her husband is running for governor. What happens when Claire is attacked and not only that but she reveals a crime that was committed twenty five years ago. Her husband is the prime suspect, how much is she willing to lose and is she willing to expose her husband? I really enjoyed this story. It is so full of action, I had to keep turning pages to see what happened next. I highly recommend this book and this author.

I loved The Shadow Box by Luanne Rice. I have read all of this authors books and each book is better then the last and this books definitely delivers. I couldn’t put this book down because I couldn’t wait to see what happened next. I thought I had it all figured out but I was wrong, this book had so many twists that kept me reading to see how it ended. Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC.

I really enjoyed this. A friend recommended I read it and I’m glad I did. It’s not the usual style of novel I prefer, but I enjoyed the mystery aspect as well as all of the twists and turns! I also liked the coast of Connecticut as the setting. The one thing I found weird was the reconnection with the heroines ex husband. I felt that was a little out of the blue. Thank you to netgalley for the arc.

Thanks Netgalley for a copy of THE SHADOW BOX by Luanne Rice.
Wow how have I not read a novel by Rice before ? Great intriguing story I really could not put down. Loved the different points of view. Definitely want more.

I loved this book! I had never read Luanne Rice before even though I have seen her books in stores. I'm probably a big convert now, especially if they are anything like this one. I was hooked right from the beginning even though there were quite a few characters and I needed to stop and remember who was who for the first couple of chapters. I thought everyone was well developed and I couldn't wait to find out whodunit so I sped through it. Thank. you for introducing me to a new author I should have looked at sooner!

This book has enough twists and turns to keep the reader interested from start to finish. You might think you have the story figured out in the first couple of chapters but it would be a mistake to put the book down. Read on, my friends. It’s a fun one!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book.

The Shadow Box by Luanne Rice is a suspenseful thriller with a wonderful storyline that keeps you guessing from page one. The book opens with a dramatic scene of a woman, Claire Chase, surviving a horrific attack that she believes was committed by her husband, Griffin. However, she is not sure as he was wearing a mask, What she is sure about is that she needs to escape, as her attacker believes she is dead and a faulty beam is the only reason she isn’t.

Claire is not the typical socialite despite the family she has married into. In Catamount Bluff , Connecticut the connections you have are what matters most. Her husband, Griffin, has impeccable credentials but it is all at risk in his run for Governor if his secrets come to light. Griffin is the perfect sociopath, his clear green eyes turn completely black when he is over the edge —-a phenomenon shared by Ted Bundy. But, only Claire is willing to expose him, the other lifelong associates seem willing to look away in the hopes that Griffin will be elected.

You are given glimpses of flashbacks of Claire’s life and the secret lives of those in their exclusive enclave but you are still left with questions, This book will grip you and leave you wondering who is trustworthy and who is already willing to look the other way in hopes of receiving financial gain,

All the characters have flaws and secrets which draws the reader even further. You can not help but try to figure out who to sympathize with and who is at fault. Trust me though, you will be shocked when it is not at all what it seems.

I was provided a free advance reader copy from Thomas & Mercer in exchange for my honest review on Net Galley. The opinions shared in this review are my own.

This book was absolutely phenomenal!! It really, really, really needs to be made into a movie - all you Hollywood
or Netflix execs out here - read this book and then don't tell me that this wouldn't make a phenomenal series!!

What a fantastic mystery and edge of your seat book!! One of this Author's finest yet!! It had a lot of guessing and wondering what was going to.happen next!!

I highly recommend this book. While reading it I was always wondering what would happen next so it was a bit suspenseful. Very strong characters and storyline.

I had high hopes for this book, but it didn't do if for me. It was long, drawn out and the plot was all over the place. Far fetched to the point of being boring as were most of the characters.

The Shadow Box by Luanne Rice is a very readable "take me away from all this and let me immerse myself in someone else's life" type book.