Reviewed by Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite
Shadow of Punishment by Jacques Oscar Lufuluabo is a twisty crime mystery. An exclusive rehab center in Italy, VitaNuova, is the scene of a grisly murder, a murder that is about to expose some dark secrets that really should have stayed buried. The ‘guests’ at the rehab center are just random people, unconnected to one another in any way – aren’t they? Inspector Nardi is tasked with solving the murder and, along the way, he discovers that nobody is who, or what, they appear to be. Lovers, sisters, fake marriages and more come to light and Nardi is also forced to face his own past if he is to solve this crime.
Shadow of Punishment by Jacques Oscar Lufuluabo is an edge of the seat thriller with several plots running through it. Each plot is a story on its own, but they all intermingle and it's only at the end that you can see how they all join. There are loads of twists and turns, loads of surprises, and more than enough action to keep you hooked all the way through it. The author has done a good job of delving into the minds of all the characters, giving us a psychological insight that adds depth to a story already packed with suspense. These are real people, credible characters that you could be walking past in the street, and you will relate to them easily. This is a complex story and you do need your wits about you to keep up with all the different story threads. It was originally written in Italian, but it has translated very well. Good story; recommended reading if you want something to get your mind ticking over.
