Diablo's Shadow
Non-series
Mark
W. Danielson
Night Shadows Press (Hardcover)
ISBN-10: 0-9799167-4-7 (0979916747)
ISBN-13: 978-0-9799167-4-8 (9780979916748)
Publication Date: September 2008
List Price: $29.95
Synopsis (from
the publisher): The girl’s
silly laugh was like a beacon to the stalker. He slinked through the
brush, gaining favorable position while she taunted her father. He
froze to admire her, holding his breath, hoping the birds didn’t
scare her away. He inhaled her fragrance and his vessels engorged. Her
father’s shouts would help mask his ambush. It was a perfect
setup. There was no turning back. When the timing was right, he made
his move. A swift blow held her silence while he carried her off where
no one would find her. Now she would be his.
Advertising executive Randy Connifer adored his six-year-old daughter,
Kerri. He yearned to be with her. He could see her only on Wednesday
mornings and every other weekend, and it was never enough. Despite his
estranged wife’s court order limiting their time together, they
looked forward to their time in the park, Kerri’s cherished spot.
When he picked her up that particular Wednesday morning, Kerri was
dedtermined to reach the lookout bench, buoyed by the thought of seeing
snow on Mount Diablo. Randy sensed that someone was watching them. All
of a sudden, Kerri sprinted ahead, knowing Randy couldn’t keep
pace. She disappeared around a blind curve without a trace.
The media, police, and wife Amanda Schaefer were quick to accuse Randy
of kidnapping Kerri. Amanda loathes her husband, but is forced to join
him in finding their daughter. In doing so, they begin an unimaginable
journey that rides waves of emotion.
Review: Inspired
by an actual Colorado case, Diablo's
Shadow is the third thriller by Mark W. Danielson. This moving
and heart-wrenching novel tells the story of a parent's worst
nightmare: a missing child.
Kerri is walking, running, laughing, playing – all the things all
the things a happy six-year-old does while playing in a forest preserve
with her father, Randy Connifer. One minute they are holding hands. The
next she is running ahead imploring him catch her, all the time
laughing and giggling. Then comes the game of hide and go seek. She
runs and hides behind a tree. She sticks her head out so her dad can
see her and she can see him. He begs her not to run too far ahead. But
she’s just six-years-old. She wants to run and again see if he
can catch her. She continues laughing and calling her dad to hurry
around the next bend on the trail. He is only seconds behind her. When
he gets to the bend, there’s no more laughter or giggles. There
is just silence. Kerri is not there. He looks behind the trees. He
looks on the trail ahead. He calls her name over and over. But the only
sound he hears is that of his own voice. It has been raining and the
trails are still wet. Could she have fallen and slid down a hill. If
that had happened, why didn’t she scream for help? Could someone
have abducted her in a matter of seconds? Where is Kerri Connifer? What
has happened to his beloved daughter?
Randy and his wife Amanda are separated. Though Amanda has full custody
of Kerri, Randy has visitation rights on Wednesday mornings and every
other weekend. When Amanda learns that Kerri has vanished, she strikes
out at Randy, blaming him. And the police have their doubts as well.
Though Amanda despises her husband, she knows in her heart that Randy
would do nothing to harm their daughter so she reluctantly agrees to
show a united front to the public in hopes of finding her.
Diablo's Shadow is
written with such passion that the reader is drawn into the story, so
much so that they might feel regret they cannot be part of the
volunteer search party. It is a story filled with aspiration,
indignation, panic, anxiety, and fear, all emotions that make a good
suspense novel better. But there is also a very personal aspect, with
love and hate, accusation and forgiveness. This is a superb, amazing,
and breathtaking story, but these superlative adjectives do not
adequately convey how powerful this novel is.
Special thanks to guest reviewer Betty of The Betz Review for contributing her review of Diablo's Shadow and to Night Shadows Press for providing a copy of the book for this review.
Review Copyright © 2008 — Hidden Staircase Mystery Books — All Rights Reserved
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Diablo's Shadow
Night Shadows Press (Hardcover), September 2008
ISBN-10: 0-9799167-4-7 (0979916747)
ISBN-13: 978-0-9799167-4-8 (9780979916748)
Omnimystery keywords for Diablo's Shadow ...
Location(s) referenced: San
Francisco, California.
