Customer Reviews

Let the Shadows Fall Behind You: A Novel

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This is an intricate story where the memories of the past and the discoveries of the present weave themselves together to heal wounds and answer haunting questions.

Leveille uses the many seemingly unrelated events of complicated lives to help show how the characters got to where they are today and how the hidden scars of the past have affected them, changed them and molded them..

This is almost a coming of age story where the characters learn to understand themselves and grow. Very well done book.

This is a wondrously written thriller that I couldn't put down. Set in Canada, a young woman trying to escape her violent childhood cons her way onto an environmental research team where she falls in love with the team leader. When he inexplicably disappears into the Canadian wilderness, she returns home to sort out her past and, by default, her future.

The novel traverses three time periods: the protagonist's early childhood, the present, and the not-so-distant past of her scientific expedition. The three time frames meld together perfectly and there is no confusion, only enhancement of the story.

This is a character-driven, psychological thriller that hooks you immediately and doesn't let go until the last secret is revealed. The plot increases intensity to an almost feverish point, but the author does so with beautifully written prose. The sights, smells, sounds and emotions come alive.

Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys a good thriller that isn't just about car chases or explosions!

Brannagh Maloney is working in Northern Ontario with a crew of wilderness preservationists tracking birds, when her boyfriend Nikki goes missing. Heartbroken over his disappearance, Brannagh travels back to her childhood home in Saint John's, New Brunswick, where she reconnects with her girlhood friends. There she begins to unravel a bigger mystery from her past: the murder of her mother and her best friend's little brother.

Let The Shadows Fall Behind You is an interesting and complex exploration of loss and childhood trauma. The story of Nikki and Brannagh's relationship runs parallel through the story, and the past is interwoven with the present search for the truth about Brannagh's family. I did find the blur in the temporal lines a bit distracting, even jarring at times as there didn't seem to be any distinct transition. In spite of this, the novel is worth the read. Kathy-Diane Leveille writes with a hypnotic eloquence this is entirely captivating.

Connections can form in the strangest of ways. "Let the Shadows Fall Behind You" tells the story of two individuals and their relationship, with a heavy focus on the psychological aspect. One must cope with the guilt of being partly responsible for a murder, and the other is coping with the sudden and mysterious disappearance of her lover. "Let the Shadows Fall Behind You" is an intriguing novel of suspense and romance, highly recommended.

LET THE SHADOWS FALL BEHIND YOU may by Kathy-Diane Leveille's first novel, but if this book is any indication of her gifts both as a weaver of fascinating stories and a poet of natural expression then it will most assuredly will not be her last! There is at the core of this novel a finely tuned story that mixes contemporary action with reflective passages of each character's past, a technique that for some can be burdensome in that time frames tend to blur. For the sophisticated reader this technique of blending past histories to support the development of the plot enhances the involvement in the story and allows the reader to take the journey the book explores with a fund of knowledge that resembles carrying a 'character thesaurus'.

Finding a character readers will want to accompany is a tough start for any writer: Leveille creates such a character in the enigmatic Brannagh Maloney, a cataloguer for an environmentalist Nikolai Mirsky who suddenly disappears, leaving Brannaugh with blossoming emotions she feels compelled to explore. We are given her personal history through a series of flashbacks but more importantly through a 'reunion' with her along-the-way friends Annie, Tish and Dianne - each of whom has a significant history that reflects some heinous incidents of the past that have molded Brannagh's preparedness for becoming a woman. It is a story rich in subplots while never digressing from the primary incident that eventually changes the life of Brannagh.

The story is set in Canada and Leveille has a wondrous way of painting the Canadian landscape so that those of us who do not know the atmosphere there find it palpable in her hands. 'As the late afternoon sun slanted through the window, her eyes grew heavy, and the book in her hands tumbled to the floor. She awakened with a start to discover that another day had disappeared into the twilight.' The writing is filled with poetic imagery such as this and serves the story well. This is a fine debut novel! Grady Harp, June 09

Let the Shadows Fall Behind You tells the story of Brannaugh, a wildlife illustrator. Passages alternate between past and present to unlock the mystery surrounding the deaths of two people from her hometown and the disappearance of her lover, Nikki. Kathy-Diane's writing is beautifully poetic and immerses the reader in the wonder of Nova Scotia, her characters, and the story. Well done.

This vacation time I ended up having two weeks away from my computer (but I'm a slow reader), and I am grateful I chose this book for my free hours. I wanted a book that would sweep me up in a big story, with interesting, believable characters, and that provided themes that I could think about afterwards -- when I had to get back to the real world of work. Finally, I really wanted good writing, writing that would make me turn the page back and re-read a section, simply to enjoy the way the author had put the words together to create a scene, an image or an interaction among characters. Let the Shadows Fall Behind You by Kathy-Diane Leveille fit the bill perfectly.

The author has created a world that is both very familiar -- and yet remains a creation of her mind, populated with interesting, true-to-life people. The situations they find themselves in force them to confront difficult issues. As readers, we get to do the same thing, while retaining the luxury of being able to put the book down and to thank God we're not actually in those situations ourselves. The book also poses fascinating questions about people and the choices we make, and what value we end up placing on the lives of the other people around us.

While the book is propelled by the characters and the demanding, compelling situations in which they find themselves, it is the beauty of the language that flows from page to page that connects every situation. This was a good story and fast read.

When I started reading LET THE SHADOWS FALL BEHIND YOU by Kathy-Diane Leveille, I assumed it was going to be one of those part suspense/part mystery type of book. And there definitely was a suspense aspect to this novel, but I was a little surprised that there was so much more to this story. This book is actually much deeper than a just a typical mystery book. LET THE SHADOWS FALL BEHIND YOU is a deep, complex story that delves into a woman's life and her attempts to resolve issues about her past.

What I most appreciate about this book was how Ms. Leveille developed all of the characters. In fact, I thought she did a wonderful job of bringing so many complicated characters to life. (I can't remember the last time I read a book with this many characters who were carrying this much baggage.) I especially appreciated how she developed the character of Brannagh. Brannagh always felt as if important people in her life just disappeared on her, and she was trying to come to terms with not only her current relationship but also all of the relationships in her past. I wasn't sure that I actually liked Brannagh -- she was rather distant and even cold; however, as the story unfolded, I began to sympathize with her. And by the end of the book, I was hoping that she would have some closure and begin to heal.

I also enjoyed the suspense and mystery parts of this story. While I definitely think the character development was my favorite part of this book, I still liked that I was "in the dark" about so much of Brannagh's and Nikki's past. I found myself guessing as to what had happened to them and even questioning where the book was going to go. When things finally became clear towards the end of the book, I was surprised to say the least. LET THE SHADOWS FALL BEHIND YOU will keep you guessing and even thinking about the book after you complete it.

I enjoyed Ms. Leveille's writing style and how she told this story. The story goes back and forth between Brannagh's current life and her incidents from her past. In addition, the story also flashes back to Nikki's childhood. I liked how the reader was given little "clues" into both of the characters' pasts to help explain their current situations. It could have been confusing switching back and forth so often and with so many characters; however, I thought Ms. Leveille did a terrific job with this and kept things clear to the reader.

This book will certainly entertain a lot of readers because it is a good mix of suspense and character development. However, I also think many readers will be impressed with the deeper topics that the book explores -- -- it might even make a good book club discussion book. There are so many things to think about such as the characters' actions and reactions as well as the issue of perception vs. reality. I also think there is a great opportunity for discussion about the various relationships that occur throughout the novel.

Brannagh Maloney escaped a troubled childhood home when she attended university. Years later, she has furthered that escape by working as a cataloguer for wilderness preservationist Nikolai Mirsky (Nikki) in northern Ontario. After falling in love with her boss and spending the winter with him in an old abandoned prospector's cabin, Brannagh faced Nikki's sudden disappearance when he left for a weeklong conference never to return.

When Brannagh was three-years-old her father hopped a Russian freighter and was never seen again. Several years later, her mother left the family home, and was later found murdered. Brannagh lived with her Aunt Thelma and her grandfather in a large four-story house with a so-called Nervous Clinic on the top floor, and the Provincial Asylum two blocks away.

After Nikki's disappearance, Brannagh felt the old familiar feelings of abandonment. Enter Annie, a childhood friend who hounded her into attending a reunion of a group of girls that had formed a club in eighth grade. Against her better judgment, she gives in goes back home to join the women. It does not take Brannagh long to remember why she had not wanted to return. Old conflicts arise and she soon realizes she needs to face reality regarding her relationships, and who and what is important in her life.

She confronts her grandfather in an attempt to find out the truth about the past and his harsh treatment of her and her family. When the shocking truth is finally revealed, she feels her life tilt out of control, but at the same time, she realizes she has the opportunity to regain her footing and move on from the past.

Let the Shadows Fall Behind You by Kathy-Diane Leveille probes childhood traumas and how they affect the psychological makeup of someone who must later enter the mainstream of life. Not only did Brannagh face a traumatic family life, but also her childhood friends had their own issues, many of which became known during their reunion.

Leveille has written a compelling debut novel filled with characters that have their own issues or need to adjust their life because of the actions of others. How each character responds to what has happened in the past, and how that shapes their life as an adult is part of the draw of this intense character study. Leveille swiftly moves between past and present, sometimes to some distraction, but the story moves at a rapid pace and does not disappoint.

Let the Shadows Fall Behind You: A Novel

The author of Let The Shadows Fall Behind You writes a beautiful and poignant novel with engaging and carefully crafted characters.

An asborbing suspenseful piece of literarture, I really enjoyed. Two thumbs up!