Shadowed Witness by Angela Carlisle
Series: The Secrets of Kincaid – Book 2
Publisher:   Bethany House Publishers
Release Date: July 1, 2025
Pages: 336
Genre:  Romantic Suspense

THE SECRETS OF KINCAID

A haunting attack. A killer in the shadows. A protective love.

Murder–that’s what photographer Allye Jessup knows she witnessed as she departed her studio one evening. Waking with bruises on her neck and a foggy memory, she believes she survived an attack, but everyone seems to think she simply sustained a head injury from falling down the stairs outside her studio. Plagued by an undiagnosed health condition, she is torn between the haunting reality of what she may have seen and the possibility that her mind is playing tricks on her.

Without proof the other victim ever existed, Detective Eric Thornton can hardly declare the area a murder scene. Still, he adds Allye’s report to his already full caseload. But when new evidence surfaces to support her claims, Eric must stay one step ahead of a ruthless killer and uncover the truth before the suspect closes in on Allye again.

BOOK LINKS:
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My Review and Reflections

This is my first Angela Carlisle book, and now I’m sorry I haven’t read book one in this series. Oh, it worked just fine as a stand-alone, but it was such a good read that I just want more.

This is an action-packed yet highly realistic book. Allye Jessup is dealing with an undiagnosed medical issue—which happens all the time—and she also isn’t believed when she says she witnessed a murder. Given that she was found unconscious at the bottom of some stairs and there’s no evidence of a crime, I can see why that would happen. Even though the time frame from beginning to end isn’t all that long, the romance works well because Detective Eric Thornton is her brother’s friend. So they’ve known each other a while; it’s not just adrenaline-fueled feelings.

I have to say, I thought I had Carlisle’s entire plot figured out from the get-go, but the writing was so good that I couldn’t put the book down. I stayed up until midnight finishing it, and I’m typically sound asleep by nine. The reason for the late night? Not everything was as it seemed. When things started surfacing about the reason for the crime and who was involved, I was caught off guard. That’s always the sign of a good book.

I liked Allye and Eric’s personalities. The way Allye would doubt herself, given the symptoms from her mysterious illness, and the way she leaned on God the entire time was very endearing. Eric has pulled himself together despite his background and upbringing and has a real understanding of the needs of others. They were really strong characters in their own way.

And, as anyone who has read one of my reviews knows, I’m a sucker for a good epilogue—and this is one of the best. If you enjoy Christian romantic suspense, friends-to-more, small-town mysteries, or medical mystery tropes, you will enjoy this book.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, which I received from the publisher.
All opinions are my own.

About the Author

Angela Carlisle resides in the hills of northern Kentucky and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and The Christian PEN. Angela’s debut novel, Secondary Target, was a Parable Weekly top seller and was included in the Library Journal Stars So Far listing. Angela is an editor by day and prefers to spend her free time reading, baking, and drinking ridiculous quantities of hot tea.

Catch Up With Angela Carlisle:

AngelaCarlisle.com
Amazon Author Profile
Goodreads
BookBub – @AngelaCarlisle
Instagram – @angelacarlislewriter
Facebook – @AngelaCarlisle.Writer

Have you read this one? Let me know your thoughts in the comments – or tell me what clean read I should review next!