Sunday, July 7, 2013

Book Review: The Shadow Tracer by Meg Gardiner

Sarah Keller is a single mother to five-year-old Zoe, living quietly in Oklahoma. She’s also a skip tracer, an expert in tracking people who’ve gone on the lam to avoid arrest, prosecution, or debt—pinpointing their locations to bring them to justice.

When a school bus accident sends Zoe to the ER, their quiet life explodes. Zoe’s medical tests reveal what Sarah has been hiding: Zoe is not her daughter. Zoe’s biological mother—Sarah’s sister, Beth—was murdered shortly after the child’s birth. And Zoe’s father is missing and presumed dead.

With no way to prove her innocence, Sarah must abandon her carefully constructed life and go on the run. Chased by cops, federal agents, and the group responsible for Beth’s murder, Sarah embarks on a desperate journey. Can her knowledge as a skip tracer help her stay off the grid, remain one step ahead of her pursuers, and find a way to save her daughter? (Goodreads)


I have seen so many posts from fellow bloggers about Meg Gardiner's books. Like most things, I am late to the game. This book was awesome, to say the least! It had me from page 1 and that says a lot. Not many books, as of late, have been able to do that for me.

I felt the same way reading this that I did when I first discovered Lisa Gardner. It included an intense writing style, terrific character development and fast paced action. A major story line of Shadow Tracer involves a religious cult and the horrendous people that are involved in it. Why this fascinates me, I don't know? Chalk it up to the unbelievable and my fascination with that.  I picked up China Lake, her Edgar Award winning book from 2008 and it too involves a religious cult. 

I also really enjoyed the back and forth chase game between Sarah and those that hunted her. Her fierce protection for her child I could totally relate to. Sarah's experience in finding people who are lost played out in her attempt to lose herself; using throw away phones, safe houses, and changing her appearance. This also fascinates me. 

The ending of the book gave me a feeling that this may not be a stand alone but time will tell. It is marketed as a stand alone thriller but she certainly has many other books that are in series. Either way I am planning on reading more of her. If you are a fan of Lisa Gardner or Joy Fielding, pick her up. I'm only 40 pages into China Lake and am just as wrapped up as I was with Shadow Tracer. 

I originally agreed to do a feature for this book because I didn't think I would have time to read it. I finished it in two days. I love it when a book just takes you away and you forget the obligation behind it or heck, laundry! 

Author Website:
Meg Gardiner





Happy Reading and as always, thanks for stopping by!

red headed book child


6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have read all of Meg Gardiner's series that came before this book (not her earliest works) and I loved them all! Unfortunately I was in between blogs then, or I would have raved about them, for suspense lovers like me. Glad you discovered her also; this has been on my wishlist.

Stacy at The Novel Life said...

ahhh, this one sounds like a perfect summer beach read ~ one to escape from the world for a while and just enjoy the sheer pleasure of reading! Definitely looking out for this one!

(Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea said...

I can't wait to try this one. Glad you enjoyed it.

Jen said...

This is the second great review I've read of this book, so I went ahead and placed a hold on it at my library. Can't wait to read it! :)

Lindsey said...

I hadn't previously heard of this author, but this sounds like a gripping read!

Gina said...

I've heard a lot of customers come through asking for this author's books. From the sound of this one, I can see why. Imagine being in that scenario? The fear, the responsibility, the shattered lives...definitely sounds promising. Thanks for the share and HURRAH for a new author to read through!