Review: Shatter the Night by Emily Littlejohn

Title: Shatter the Night

Author: Emily Littlejohn

Series: Detective Gemma Monroe, #4

Published: December 2019, Minotaur Books

Format: ARC Paperback, 320 pages

Source: Publisher

Summary: 

An enthralling, atmospheric new novel from Emily Littlejohn, author of acclaimed debut Inherit the Bones, featuring Colorado police officer Gemma Monroe.

It’s
Halloween night in Cedar Valley. During the town’s annual festival,
Detective Gemma Monroe takes a break from trick or treating with her
family to visit an old family friend, retired Judge Caleb Montgomery, at
his law office. To Gemma’s surprise, Caleb seems worried—haunted,
even—and confides in her that he’s been receiving anonymous threats.
Shortly after, as Gemma strolls back to her car, an explosion at Caleb’s
office shatters the night.

Reeling from the shock, Gemma and her
team begin eliminating suspects and motives, but more keep appearing in
their place, and soon another man is killed. Her investigation takes
her from a chilling encounter with a convicted murderer at the Belle
Vista Penitentiary, to the gilded rooms of the renovated Shotgun
Playhouse, where Shakespeare’s cursed play Macbeth is set to open in a few weeks.

Yet
most disturbing of all is when Gemma realizes that similar murders have
happened before. There is a copycat killer at play, and if Gemma can’t
stop him, he’ll carry out his final, deadly act.

My thoughts: The is the fourth book in Emily Littlejohn’s Detective Gemma Monroe series and the second book I’ve read and I really like this series. I read the previous book, Lost Lake, and while I had every intention of going back and reading the earlier books, time just got away from me. But, I really do intend to do so as one of my favorite aspects of this series, and all series actually, is the character development, and I know I am missing a big part of that from the earlier books.

This was a great installment to the series. It starts off with quite a bang and doesn’t really let up. The suspense builds at a steady pace and I love that even in a small town there are a ton of suspects. I was really kept on my toes as to who was behind everything and I love that – I like making my brain work when I’m reading and that’s what I love about a good mystery series and this one definitely does that. Plus, I love the way this author uses the small town and it’s history and weaves it into her story. She was able to do that in the previous book and does it again here as well. 

I love Detective Gemma Monroe. She is such a great character, strong and independent, yet also a loving mom and soon-to-be wife. She really has a tough time balancing it all and we  really see that struggle in this book. She likes to give her all in whatever it is she does so to see her have issues with the work/life balance just makes her that much more relatable and real as a character.

This is a great series and I hopefully will be able to get to the earlier books before the next book comes out. I love reading series and am usually a stickler for reading them in order, but sometimes it just doesn’t work out that way. Have your read this series yet?

Books in this series: 

  1. Inherit the Bones
  2. A Season to Lie
  3. Lost Lake
  4. Shatter the Night
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3 Comments

  1. shelleyrae @ book'd out
    December 30, 2019 / 1:21 pm

    Sounds like a good series, thanks for sharing your thoughts

  2. Dianna
    December 31, 2019 / 4:44 am

    I haven't heard of this series yet — you always have the best suggestions! Love small town settings.

  3. Mystica
    December 31, 2019 / 6:17 am

    Sounds very good. Thank you for the review.