Secret's Shadow: The First Cassidy McCabe Mystery [Paperback]

Alex Matthews (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Despite solving a murder, Cassidy McCabe emerges from this soapy melodrama as an ineffectual therapist who gives airheads a bad name. A client, Ryan Hollister, wrote a suicide note before (apparently) killing himself; but Ryan's half-brother, reporter Zach Moran, thinks another hand pulled the trigger and wants Cass, with her privileged information, to help him find the killer. But how much help can she be? Her mind often wanders during therapy sessions ("This gets so boring," she thinks while listening to a young woman patient. "What a bimbo"). She is further distracted by both the critical voice of her mother she carries in her head and the fact that her feckless ex-husband has used her suburban Chicago house as collateral for a loan from the mob and now can't repay it. While Zach and Cass, getting friendlier all the while, sort through the skeletons in the Hollister family closet, Cass hopes that the mob's thugs will stop pestering her if she just ignores them and wonders why she isn't receiving all her phone messages, even though she must repeatedly be reminded that she should lock her back door. The mystery of whodunit pales next to the questions of how this sleuth ever made it through college or got her license.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 347 pages
• Publisher: Intrigue Press (April 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1890768030
• ISBN-13: 978-1890768034
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,066,659 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars I missed something, May 9, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Secret's Shadow: The First Cassidy McCabe Mystery (Paperback)

I can't help but wonder if I read the same book that the other reviewers did. This is an okay book, great if you'd like some light reading, but I certainly wouldn't classify it as a must-read. I found the main character to be flighty, and her actions a bit silly at times. I certainly didn't buy the independent, strong-willed woman bit. If Cassidy McCabe were such a spunky lady, why would she continually leave her doors unlocked when she was fully aware of the fact that she was being watched, harassed, etc., by members of the mob, or worse? Wouldn't such an independent thinker put every possible safe-guard and obstacle in place to ensure her safety?

That was just one aspect of the book which didn't ring true. The book seemed to ponder the exact same questions over and over, never really going anywhere. The mystery was, in fact, finally solved through pure coincidence.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Snappy prose and a quick moving plot., March 5, 2000

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Secret's Shadow: The First Cassidy Mccabe Mystery (Cassidy McCabe Mysteries) (Hardcover)

Genre: Mystery Alex Matthews has created a masterful beginning to her mystery series with Secret's Shadow. All lovers of mysteries take note: Cassidy McCabe will keep you entertained and guessing till the end. Cassidy is not the typical heroine. The story begins with a charming calico cat adopting the 37-year-old psychotherapist. Throughout the book, we are privy to Cassidy's inner thoughts as she talks to the nameless feline. And when the going gets rough, Cassidy's peanut butter cups become a tell-tale sign of stress and hope. Secret's Shadow has a tight plot that's guaranteed to delight. Cassidy has divorced a charmer who has nearly caused her bankruptcy. When her ex borrows money from the mob, against an old deed with both their names on it, the mob comes to Cassidy for collection. Further, her malpractice insurance lapses, and when her favorite client commits suicide, the family sues. Worse, she's forced to face her feelings for the deceased patient Ryan, as well as question her clinical abilities -- all while coping with a blossoming romance with Ryan's black-sheep brother Zach. When her life is endanger, she's not sure if it's the mob or someone worse after her. Alex Matthews has a big hit with this quirky, engaging heroine. The author's prose is snappy and sharp, and the quick moving plot is meticulously detailed. All mystery lovers are sure to enjoy the fast-paced Secret's Shadow.

Cindy Penn, Reviewer

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hard to believe that this is a first novel, September 17, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Secret's Shadow: The First Cassidy McCabe Mystery (Paperback)

Secret's shadow is unbelievably good, especially for a first novel. Cassidy, the protaganist, is in so much trouble, it seems like there's no hope she'll ever get out of it. Cassidy and her cat are lovable characters. They both find themsleves fascinated with Zach, a sexy man who won't take "no" for answer. The mystery is compelling and keeps one guessing until the end. One of the things that I liked best was that Ms. Matthews ties up all the loose ends with plausable explanations for everything.