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The Shadow Box Kindle Edition

4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 68,463 ratings

An Amazon Charts bestseller.

The Amazon Charts bestselling author of Last Day delivers a haunting thriller about how far one wife is willing to go to expose the truth—and the lengths someone will go to stop her.

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. If the public were to find out who her husband is, his political career would be over. Claire’s certain her husband and his powerful supporters would kill her to stop the truth from getting out.

When one of Claire’s acquaintances is murdered, the authorities suspect the homicide is linked to the attack on Claire. As the dual investigations unfold, Claire must decide how much she’s willing to lose to take down her husband and the corrupt group of elites who will do anything to protect Griffin’s interests and their own.

Popular Highlights in this book

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Rice’s compelling heroine and crisp prose lift her brisk thriller…” Kirkus Reviews

“[A] gripping psychological thriller…Prepare to be up all night reading.” Publishers Weekly

“Decades-old crimes lead to current murder in a case unwound through the efforts of strong women. With a core of appealing characters, bestselling author Rice—known for domestic fiction and romance—has the makings of a promising mystery series here.” Booklist

The Shadow Box is a heart-stopping yet enthralling breath of sea air, with as much dark beauty as one of Claire Beaudry Chase’s own shadow boxes. It’s also a resolute testimonial of inner strength, no matter how far from our plots and plans life takes us.” The Big Thrill

The Shadow Box is a captivating read as much for its illuminating portrayal of domestic disenchantment as for its requisite, and robustly handled, mystery elements. Ultimately, Luanne Rice has given us a deeply affecting meditation on how we both lose and find ourselves, proving once again that she’s a luminary in any, and all, literary realms of her choosing.” —Criminal Element

The Shadow Box is Luanne Rice at her dazzling best. Filled with dark family secrets and wells of deep emotion, this novel will stick with you long after you’ve finished reading.” —Harlan Coben, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Run Away

“As always, Luanne Rice gives us characters so real they feel like family and families so flawed they give us chills. Shocking, compassionate, and told with the unerring eye of a true and gifted observer, The Shadow Box will keep you turning the pages long past your bedtime.” —Tami Hoag, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Boy

“A clever protagonist in extreme danger pitted against a cruel and powerful circle made the stakes in The Shadow Box so high I could barely stop reading for a drink of water. Luanne Rice creates a thrillingly compelling tale of common cruelty, high ambition, and the courage it takes to oppose them. Well done!” —Barbara O’Neal, Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author of When We Believed in Mermaids

“Every family has secrets, but in Luanne Rice’s clever thriller, The Shadow Box, the truth won’t set you free—it will put you in a shallow grave…particularly if you live in the posh Connecticut enclave of Catamount Bluffs, where corruption, kidnapping, and murder are only a few of the community’s hidden sins.” —Lee Goldberg, #1 New York Times bestselling author

From the Publisher

After the brilliantly twisty and nuanced Last Day published a year ago, I wondered how Luanne Rice could top herself. But she has done just that, proving she is the maestro of family drama that builds and builds and builds with suspense.

Set in Luanne’s beloved Connecticut coast,
The Shadow Box centers on Claire Chase, an artist who creates intricate shadow boxes using natural elements like shells, stones, carapaces, and bones. When we first meet her, she is fighting for her life in the garage of her oceanfront home. Left for dead, Claire escapes with her life but has no idea who to turn to. She finds shelter in the land surrounding her—since it is really what she knows best.

It will take everything she’s got left to find out who wanted her dead, all the while fearing that her politico husband and his powerful entourage of supporters are behind it.

To the very end of this book, I was blown away by the seamless twists and turns. It’s no exaggeration to say Luanne is in her prime with
The Shadow Box, and once you start reading, I dare you to try to set this book down.

- Liz Pearsons, Editor

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B082SX9CXQ
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Thomas & Mercer (February 1, 2021)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 1, 2021
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4.4 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 367 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 68,463 ratings

About the author

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Luanne Rice
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Luanne Rice is the New York Times bestselling author of 35 novels, which have been translated into 25 languages. The author of Last Day, Dream Country, Beach Girls, Pretend She's Here and others, Rice often writes about love, family, nature, and the sea. She received the 2014 Connecticut Governor’s Arts Award for excellence and lifetime achievement in the Literary Arts category.

Several of Rice's novels have been adapted for television, including Crazy in Love for TNT, Blue Moon for CBS, Follow the Stars Home and Silver Bells for the Hallmark Hall of Fame, and Beach Girls for Lifetime. Rice's four cats are her muses, and she speaks their language. She lives in Old Lyme, Connecticut.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
68,463 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book gripping and intense. They describe it as a joy to read with well-developed characters. The writing style is smooth and easy to understand. Readers appreciate the fast pacing and good background information. The story keeps their attention throughout with its twists and turns.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

1,896 customers mention "Suspenseful"1,743 positive153 negative

Customers find the book gripping with an intense plot and believable characters. They describe it as an engaging thriller with many twists and turns that keeps readers hooked until the end.

"...This novel is full of suspense, page turning interactions, intense dialogue, character growth, and a strong female protagonist...." Read more

"...character of its own, and the bit of the mystical entwined in the tale was interesting. I liked Claire, but she made some stupid decisions...." Read more

"This novel by Luanne Rice is action packed. Her novels always have a “twist” in them and this one is not an exception...." Read more

"...We get a lot of strong backstory on some of the characters and I found the author's take on the world of New England's monied elite both interesting..." Read more

1,443 customers mention "Readability"1,404 positive39 negative

Customers enjoy the book's readability. They find it engaging, worth the effort, and a joy to read. The story intrigues them and they appreciate the author's craft. The climax is satisfying and the book keeps you hooked until the end.

"...if you are not triggered by these topics, then “The Shadow Box” is a great read...." Read more

"I really enjoyed reading this book, even though I have been reading a number of this type of book lately and am ready for a change...." Read more

"A great read by virtue of its strong characters, gripping plot line, and literary talent...." Read more

"...Overall I thought it was very good, and I like the author's style of writing. I'm just about to start another of her books." Read more

675 customers mention "Character development"583 positive92 negative

Customers enjoy the well-developed characters. They find the story exciting, told through different character perspectives. The author is praised for his skill in creating engaging characters.

"...is full of suspense, page turning interactions, intense dialogue, character growth, and a strong female protagonist...." Read more

"...The Connecticut coastal setting was a compelling character of its own, and the bit of the mystical entwined in the tale was interesting...." Read more

"...The characters are believable and the setting is perfect. The female characters were strong and smart. I loved every page." Read more

"...This one really had believable characters, and it was easy to believe based on the stereotypical beliefs of the different cultures represented,..." Read more

594 customers mention "Writing quality"492 positive102 negative

Customers enjoy the writing quality of the book. They find it well-written and easy to read. The characters are believable, with vivid setting descriptions and well-researched area history. The story moves along quickly to keep readers captivated.

"...I really enjoy her writing style and her creativity. Her last 3 books have shown a shift in her writing and the stories told...." Read more

"...a groundbreaking story but a nice diversion, and I do like the author’s smooth, engaging writing style." Read more

"...This one really had believable characters, and it was easy to believe based on the stereotypical beliefs of the different cultures represented,..." Read more

"...She moves the story along quickly to keep you captivated. Cheering for the good guys and hoping good conquers evil." Read more

343 customers mention "Pacing"295 positive48 negative

Customers find the book has a fast pace that keeps them hooked. The writing moves smoothly, keeping them engaged with thrilling twists and turns that keep the page turning. Readers describe it as an entertaining read with a dramatic climax worth the wait. Overall, the book flows seamlessly and keeps readers hooked until the end.

"...Fast paced, page turning, emotional, and encouraging … The Shadow Box is a great psychological thriller to read...." Read more

"...This book was a quick read and I didn't dislike it, but I never quite connected with the characters and certain details of the story left me..." Read more

"...A book that is temping to read from cover to cover in one sitting." Read more

"...The story has murder, intruige, elistist and privilege Power corrupts and destroys from within. Be careful what you wish for...." Read more

328 customers mention "Predictability"270 positive58 negative

Customers enjoy the book's clever writing and strong characters. They find it clever, unique, and a well-planned mystery that keeps them guessing until the end. The author provides great descriptions and draws them into the story.

"...Fast paced, page turning, emotional, and encouraging … The Shadow Box is a great psychological thriller to read...." Read more

"...The female characters were strong and smart. I loved every page." Read more

"...Another nice thing is it's not all about the cops figuring everything out, although there are various cops as part of the story, and they have "..." Read more

"I loved this book. Clever and unique. Exemplifies the intelligence and strength of women...." Read more

236 customers mention "Interest"217 positive19 negative

Customers enjoy the book's interest. They find it engaging with its twists and turns that keep them hooked until the end. The mystery captures their attention from the beginning and keeps them reading for hours.

"...She moves the story along quickly to keep you captivated. Cheering for the good guys and hoping good conquers evil." Read more

"...This novel immediately grabs you and doesn't let go until you reach the final page." Read more

"A mystery that captures your attention in the beginning...." Read more

"...This one was so powerful and kept you going throughout till the very end! Great writing!!!!" Read more

162 customers mention "Violence level"132 positive30 negative

Customers find the book a realistic portrayal of abusive people. They appreciate the author's incorporation of domestic violence within the suspenseful story. The book touches on mental and physical abuses and how they are intricately interwoven. It brings awareness to abuse, being on the run, murder, attempted murder, and rape.

"...It grabs you from the beginning and sweeps you into a maelstrom of evil proportions that won't easily let you go. I very highly recommend it...." Read more

"Spousal abuse, secrets, politics and art all come together in this novel...." Read more

"This book was really good. Lots of twists and turns, obvious bad guys and some who weren’t. It was a quick read and held my interest throughout." Read more

"...is full of loyalty, intrigue, power, love, hate, shadows, privilege, evil, and strength...." Read more

An exciting thriller!
4 out of 5 stars
An exciting thriller!
This story starts off with a gripping scene that leaves the reader needing to know what in the actual world is going on. It was a chapter that had me at the edge of my seat, needing to know what happened next!The Shadow Box is a mystery and thriller that creates an exciting story told through different character POVs as well as different timelines. I really liked Claire’s POV as she worked to prove her husband’s attempt at her murder as well as a 20+ year old crime.The mystery and crime-solving in this story is really great. I enjoyed trying to figure out what was actually happening, who did what, and who was going to survive! The pacing of the book, at times, did cause me to stumble while reading. The timeline jumps around, and I would get a big confused about where we were, however, I was always able to recover and get back into the story. Overall, it was an engrossing story that truly captured my attention, and it was a joy to read!
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2021
    I have been reading Luanne Rice’s books for over 20 years. I really enjoy her writing style and her creativity. Her last 3 books have shown a shift in her writing and the stories told.

    Fair warning: “The Shadow Box” is full of trigger issues. If it is difficult for you to read about domestic abuse, serial killers, alpha male antagonists, boys club topics then this book is probably not for you.

    However, if you are not triggered by these topics, then “The Shadow Box” is a great read. This novel is full of suspense, page turning interactions, intense dialogue, character growth, and a strong female protagonist.

    This story takes place after Claire is brutally attacked and left for dead. She feels her husband is the prime suspect. Claire is an artist whose primary medium is creating Shadow Boxes. At the beginning of the novel, Claire is about to have a show of her work at her friend’s Art Gallery. When Claire is a no show, her friends and the police begin looking for her. Throughout the novel, we learn about her relationship with her husband and his former relationships with women and his boy club friends. When a homicide occurs and the wife of her husband’s friend is killed, the two investigations spark the eventual looking into the husbands for the crimes.

    The Shadow Box is everything I expected it to be from Luanne Rice.

    Fast paced, page turning, emotional, and encouraging … The Shadow Box is a great psychological thriller to read.

    The Shadow Box releases on February 2nd.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on October 19, 2021
    I enjoyed this thriller focused on abuse of power and domestic abuse, mainly because of the strong female lead who fought for her life.
    Claire is a strong woman who fights for survival against an abusive, power-hungry husband. She’s willing to risk her life to expose Griffin’s dark past even after he tries to kill her. This isn’t a spoiler. She knows who her attacker is right from the start. The suspense is how she goes about taking him down.
    Conor is a detective trying to find the truth. He has to overcome obstacles from powerful people protecting the guilty. He was a typical good-guy cop. Would have liked to see at least one flaw.
    I was rooting for Claire, and most of the plot twists kept me guessing until the end. The shifts in time from different POV characters was a little confusing at first, but I got through it. The subject matter seems torn from the news headlines of corrupt rich white people, domestic violence, and environmental issues, but the story kept my interest anyway. The Connecticut coastal setting was a compelling character of its own, and the bit of the mystical entwined in the tale was interesting. I liked Claire, but she made some stupid decisions. She weds a guy she has some reservations about, and she leaves a guy who treats her well. She does make up for this, but it’s almost too late for her. I realize this wasn’t a romance, but I would have liked to see something spark between Claire and Conor at the end. I also hoped that it wasn’t Griffin who tried to kill her. There were other suspects that could have done it, and it might have made the story more interesting. It’s not a groundbreaking story but a nice diversion, and I do like the author’s smooth, engaging writing style.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on November 5, 2024
    This novel by Luanne Rice is action packed. Her novels always have a “twist” in them and this one is not an exception. The characters are believable and the setting is perfect. The female characters were strong and smart. I loved every page.
  • Reviewed in the United States on December 16, 2021
    I really enjoyed reading this book, even though I have been reading a number of this type of book lately and am ready for a change. This one really had believable characters, and it was easy to believe based on the stereotypical beliefs of the different cultures represented, such as rich vs poor, etc. You can easily imagine the people presented doing the things they are accused of, and you can easily make assumptions about other things that "probably" happened. Of course some of my assumptions were incorrect, and there were a few surprises I didn't expect - plus a few things I just knew were going to happen sooner or later, but if you read enough of this type of story you get a feel for those types of things. I very much recommend if you like this type of thriller/mystery/crime type of story that you give this one a read. Another nice thing is it's not all about the cops figuring everything out, although there are various cops as part of the story, and they have "supporting roles" so to speak. I am also picky about how stories end, and I think the way this one ended pretty much answers all the questions and puts everything to rest! By now you are probably frustrated that I haven't told you much about the actual story - I don't like to do spoilers, and I would rather tell you what I like or don't like about a story and how it rolls. I think you will enjoy this book.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on September 5, 2024
    I always love how Luanne Rice brings such depth to each character. She moves the story along quickly to keep you captivated. Cheering for the good guys and hoping good conquers evil.

Top reviews from other countries

  • Rock&Ecc
    5.0 out of 5 stars I love these books sooooo much x
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 8, 2024
    The characters are super relatable and the books are so well written I feel I’m living along side them x looking forward to the next one x well worth the read! So glad I’ve found this author x thanks for another wonderful twisty turny adventure that kept me reading all day x
  • Fitz
    5.0 out of 5 stars A terrific read!
    Reviewed in Canada on February 2, 2021
    This story grabbed my attention from the first paragraph and didn’t let go. It was suspenseful and fast-paced. I loved the strength of the main character, and found many of the supporting characters interesting and likeable. (Or, in the case of the bad guys, fun to hate.) The time-changes, from present to past, added to the story’s excitement, as the tension and mystery continued to build. I read until 3:00 am as I couldn’t put it down. I have a new favourite author in Luanne Rice. Fans of the mystery/crime fiction genre, will definitely enjoy The Shadow Box.
  • Benu
    4.0 out of 5 stars Beyond formulaic thriller
    Reviewed in India on October 19, 2021
    This book marinates thrilling mystery with an interesting mix of characters. It is the kind of book that keeps the reader saying "just one more chapter" until they realize they've been up all night reading it.
  • Tomma Williams
    5.0 out of 5 stars Shadow Box Luanne Rice
    Reviewed in Australia on February 5, 2021
    could not put this book down! great read loved the descriptions of the area,knew who the bad guy was,but it had enough twists to make me finish it in one sitting.I will be reading more from this author
  • sharewithu
    4.0 out of 5 stars Book review
    Reviewed in Canada on February 18, 2021
    Well written and suspenseful. The action was fast paced and kept my intrest. Worth reading if you are a fan of suspense.

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