Shadows Still Remain

Excellent solo debut, interesting character

I like De Jonge's writing better than Patterson's or any of their collaborations. This novel was interesting, well-paced, and thoughtfully written. I hope he develops the character of OHara. I would like to see more of her in future novels. He does a good job of writing about a female character. Not too many authors can do that well. I like that he converts NYC into another character. The sense of place, and the contrast between the homes of the rich with the seedy bars and slums is very well featured. It reminds me of the novels of Dennis Lehane and Gabriel Cohen, where the location is as pertinent as the character and the plot. Good job, and I hope we will see more of his writing in the near future.

3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Ditch James Patterson, keep writing on your own

Pick up the bargain book Shadows Still Remain by Peter De Jonge; you won't be sorry. This who done it is tautly woven with well worked out surprises up to the end. The plot is cleverly constructed. It's a page turner that keeps you wanting to know who and why. The ending is shocking. Very well written. I enjoyed the female protagonist. I'll look forward to more DeJonge novels written alone. Well worth the $3.99 bargain.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

An entertaining and impressive beginning of a new-crime fiction series

If the name Peter de Jonge sounds familiar to a reader, it's because it has appeared next to the mega best-selling author James Patterson's name, and credited as co-author of several best-sellers such as "Miracle on the 17th Green", "Beach Road" and "The Beach House". "Shadows Still Remain" is his first novel written without collaboration with Mr. James Patterson. It is an impressive debut.

After a night of heavy drinking, when Francesca Pena, a beautiful teenaged NYU student disappears, the case is assigned to Detective Darlene O'Hara. However, when Francesca's battered body is found in East River Park, the missing person case is suddenly transformed into a case of homicide, and the case is taken off Detective O'Hara's hands. Unwilling to let go of the case, O'Hara, a single mother and tenacious, continues her investigation privately and uncovers a hidden facet of Francesca's dark, secret life at an escort service and a strip club also.

The setting of the novel - the Lower East Side of New York, with is narrow, shadowy streets, tiny bars, tattoo parlors, boutiques, and small parks, create a bewitching and interesting back ground. The story is fast paced. And full of unexpected twists and turns, the plot becomes more complex.

With the second book featuring Detective O'Hara now in progress, Peter de Jonge has created a bright new crime fiction series. I found the book well-plotted, well-written, fast-paced, gripping and highly readable.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Nice

Fine debut. Will purchase next book.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

New Heroine

Shadows Still Remain, by Peter De Jonge is a fast paced story about a female detective, Darlene O'Hara who is trying to make it into the Homicide Division. She catches a case involving a missing NYU student, and quickly learns that the girl is not really missing, but dead.

As O'Hara and her partner follow the clues, they also bump heads with the lead investigator on the case, Lowry. Because of their dislike for each other, O'Hara keeps information from Lowry and gets herself into all kinds of messy situations. All the while, an interesting and shocking case unfolds before O'Hara and she finds herself examining parts of her own past.

This book was fast paced and easy to read, for the most part. It was written in the present tense which made it a little less enjoyable for me. I found myself re-reading several sentences because the tense didn't seem to fit the flow of the story.

The character development was done really well for most of the characters, and the conclusion of the case is surprising. However, the ending of the story left a bit to be desired. After solving the murder case, O'Hara found herself obsessed with who the victim was before she was killed, but never learns the answers she wanted. Even though the lesson was that she won't always get all of the answers, I still felt like I was left hanging...just a little.

On a scale of 1-4, I give this book a 3. I liked the main characters, the storyline, and the pace. I would have preferred it to have been written in past tense, and I would have liked to have learned the answers to the questions O'Hara was trying to find.


This book was published by HarperCollins.
ISBN: 978-0-06-137354-1

I like both the headline and the photographs in the text.

A very good book - well written, interesting. I look forward to reading De Jonge's next book.

Good Read

DeJonge writes an interesting tale, but throughout one is aware that he has stacked the deck and is revealing his cards at his leisure. Rather that find any deep meaning in the story, one just watches him play his cards until the deck is done. It's interesting, but not very compelling.

Great Read!

It's not often you find a male writer who can write a believable story line about a female detective. But this author did a great job. And the story is also fast moving and hard to put down. You will enjoy this thriller!

I Love NY..

I was familiar with Peter De Jonge's work from James Patterson and was curious enough to purchase the book to see what a true solo effort would bring, The shackles were off, Peter has a unique voice and took me into a world of NY that I found sexy edgy and dangerous as the same time.It was written with such description I felt I was walking down the streets of NY, and sitting at the bar with the O'Hara. O'Hara is inspirational with her dedication and passion. The job as a detective seems sad and lonely at times, but O'Hara takes every turn and instinct which leads us down a dark path. I loved being there if only in my mind. This is a must read, what is better murder, mystery, intrigue and all of it in NY.. You will LOVE this book...

fans will enjoy SHADOWS STILL REMAIN, an entertaining New York City police procedural

Thirty-four years old NYPD Detective Darlene O'Hara leads the search for missing NYU student Francesca Pena. However, the day after the Thanksgiving weekend, the hunt ends when the teen's battered body is found in East River Park. --------------

The police led by veteran Detective Cooney hone in on Pena's former boyfriend David McLain as the violence implies a crime of passion. O'Hara differs as something is not quite right. She focuses on Pena's life especially after she came to NYU on a full scholarship. O'Hara soon finds evidence that the perfect student worked at an escort service and strip club. Following up on a tattoo the killer carved on the victim, O'Hara finds another student with the same telltale mark.------------

Although not unique as the premise of the story line has been used a lot in mysteries, fans will enjoy SHADOWS STILL REMAIN, an entertaining New York City police procedural. O'Hara is an intriguing lead character as she defies her more experienced peers seeking a solution elsewhere even though none at first surface; that is until she begins to uncover the truth behind the façade of the perfect student. Fans will enjoy her investigation even if we know early one what to expect.---------

Harriet Klausner

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.