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Reviewed by Trudi LoPreto for Readers' Favorite
A Cry in the Shadows (Nora Cooper Mysteries) is the story of a blind mother and the reality of having her ten-year-old daughter kidnapped. Susan has recently become blind. She tries her very best to live a normal life and have a normal relationship with Margot, her ten-year-old daughter. They live in Italy, in an apartment with neighbors that have always watched out for each other.
The story opens with Susan and Margot waiting for neighbor Alexandra to arrive for dinner and are disappointed when she never shows up. Alexandra is soon found in a dump, murdered. When Margot takes the garbage down to the basement, she runs into one of the neighbors who is also the killer and unknowingly sees a possible clue. The killer, afraid that Margot will reveal the evidence or identification in conversation, sees no way out but to kidnap the little girl. Susan has to forget that she is blind and do whatever is necessary to get her daughter back. Inspector Andrea Danzi is falling in love with Susan and working the case from many angles, trying desperately to find Margot. Nora has special senses and is trying to help from Boston.
I shared the fear and worry along with Susan and tried to decide who among the neighbors was the killer and kidnapper. I was completely surprised and never guessed the right answer. A Cry in the Shadows is a really good mystery. Giulia Beyman has given the plot and characters a human feel. She has written a story that pulls you right into the pages and makes it really hard to stop reading. This is the second book in the Nora Cooper Mysteries and, while it stands alone, you will want to read everything that Giulia writes. This book is a must-read and deserves a five star rating.