Are you looking for your next great read? Pick up Under the Shadows. It’ll keep you up until the very end!

Thanks to Beach Nut Press and NetGalley for ARC.

Ex-Australian Federal Police turned private investigator Nick Harding is still hurting after his last big case a year ago. His girlfriend and sometime co-conspirator private banker Lucy and childhood friend/perennial sidekick computer expert Davie are both suffering PTSD in different ways after the same, very dangerous case. Nick sets up office in a central Sydney co-working space and is looking to take on more work, of the more routine kind. When a woman contacts him asking for help locating her missing son, he figures it's easy, low risk and a quick way to offset the costs of setting up the office.
Of course he's wrong and he gets involved in all sorts of stuff, involving circuses, organised crime, money laundering and torture in lonely buildings in remote locations.
McFadden's strength is pacing - the plot rollocks along nicely, not giving the reader much time to pause and think how unlikely the whole thing is, or to wonder too much about the inner lives of the protagonists and antagonists. A nostalgic treat for me as it's years since I spent any time in these locations. This is book number 4 in a series.

A fast action packed read filled with danger and mystery. The characters were well done with different personalities and characteristics. I found the overall plot to be well thought out and was character driven. There were a few things that happened through out the book that seemed a bit to convenient. This is the first book I have read that is based in Australia and while some of the language confused me a bit, I did enjoy reading it. It was interesting to see how the rest of the story after finding the lost teenager played out.
I recommend it if you are looking for a fast paced detective mystery.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC of this title for my honest review.

Well written with an excellent plotline and likeable characters. That said, be prepared for glib humour and please bring plenty of willing suspension of disbelief… as this story is as much about the jape as it is about the caper. The main character has more escapes from potential death than can be believed, and his use of humour seems more likely to hasten death or at the very least worsen an already savage beating.

This book had a lot of action in it, but the action seemed to jump around, in my opinion. Maybe add some more scenes between the action scenes. Besides this, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. You were kept wondering how Nick was going to get out of these dangerous situations without being killed. Each way was a surprise. Enjoyable book

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

In “Under the Shadows,” McFadden weaves a gripping tale of suspense, danger, and unexpected twists. Nick Harding, our flawed yet relatable protagonist, grapples with demons from his past as he delves into a seemingly straightforward missing person case.

The narrative unfolds with precision, revealing layers of intrigue and hidden agendas. McFadden’s writing is sharp, evocative, and laced with dark humor. The Australian setting adds authenticity, and the pacing keeps readers on the edge of their seats.

As Nick peels back the layers of deception, he confronts not only external threats but also his own vulnerabilities. The shadows cast by secrets and betrayals loom large, threatening to engulf him. The tension builds steadily, leading to a heart-pounding climax.

If you’re a fan of crime thrillers with flawed yet compelling protagonists, “Under the Shadows” is a must-read. McFadden’s storytelling prowess shines, leaving readers hungry for more of Nick Harding’s adventures.

A quick read with plenty of action. Nick, an ex policeman working with financial crime is now a private investigator. He is asked to find a 15 year old runaway and does find him quite quickly. During this action, he glimpses a man who caused the death of his best friend 10 years ago. This leads to Nick looking into what happened and getting into a lot of trouble. Fortunately his friend is a technical wizard who saves his skin (together with Nick's girlfriend) on a couple of occasions.
I liked the writing style, to the point and no nonsense language told from Nick's point of view. The plot has a clouple of twists and is entertaining, with some humour and a fair bit of violence. The setting is Australia and you get a reasonable description of the places, seen from the POV of Nick. I look forward to reading more about Nick & Lucy and I enjoyed this book more than the previous one I had read.
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC

I was hoping it would be more thrilling and exciting.
Loved the writing, tho. Characters are very well written.

I chose this book for its cover and book blurb, and of course, that it was an investigative thriller, a genre right up my alley.

What I liked:
Under the Shadows fits the genre perfectly, the tropes of the retired AFP-turned-investigator, his chum, and an intelligent, lovable girlfriend were unchallengeable and I liked the fairly fleshed-out characters, especially the “good” guys.
I love the way the author introduced concepts and words like HDMI’d, hopium, Schoedinger’s Fiat, Kenthurst Panther, etc. almost imperceptibly into the narrative, creating a seamless reading experience.
The tongue-in-cheek wit was great, laughed a lot throughout the book. Some that stood out for me:
Blatant ageism - that Nick could laugh at himself is one of the most endearing qualities of the protagonist.
Are you Finnish? - to a Finnish
Brewed as in put the cups under the spouts and push the necessary buttons! - This is how coffee is “brewed” today! I loved it.

What I believe needed more work:
There were too many convenient coincidences:
Nick seeing Heung just like that!
Finding Fiona, a complete stranger, and sharing personal and professional information with her within seconds of meeting her.
And finally, the antagonists needed more focus to make them more likeable. Oops, unlikeable! The bad guys seemed more like comic, ineffective characters rather than money-laundering villains running a big, global operation. Conveniently dumb!

Overall, the book is a breezy one-time read. I'll pick up another Tony McFadden book, specifically for some light reading after some heavy reading.

My rating: 3 stars

Fast paced you just barely skim a bashing and then you are facing the next.
Private Investigator formerly Federal Police’s first case is finding a missing teenager. Following clues left behind by the teen, this was easily completed but the case did not sit easy with Nick. He discovered his earlier nemesis, almost by accident. Leung long thought dead and the cause of many deaths amongst the Feds is alive but Nick has to convince his former colleagues who think he is delusional.

Following leads to Leung involves thugs who have no hesitation in using rough methods to interrogate Nick. It however is strongly linked to the mother of the rescued teenager but Nick has to join the dots to uncover the scams going on.

Interesting story set in Sydney. Fast and furious.

A desperate mum hires Nick to find her wayward teenage son, Piece of cake, right? That easy job drags him into darkness from his old Australian Federal Police days, Darkness he had left behind, Or so he thought, Finding the kid was easy, The rest of it almost killed him! Good book! Great characters! This book had suspense, intrigue, murder, mystery, drugs, guns, a bit of a who done it and a few crazy twists and turns! The story was very interesting! I definitely recommend reading this book! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!