The Shadowed Mind by Julie Cave

All men are created equal. Or are they? One of America's core beliefs is about to be challenged. There's a killer on the loose who is intent on making a point. Those deemed unworthy – the prostitutes, mentally ill, alcoholics, and homeless – are all lower on the evolutionary scale and ought to be eradicated. Former FBI Agent Dinah Harris is hired by the mysterious Detective Samson Cage to assist in the investigation and gets a crash course into the world of neo-eugenics. As a recovering alcoholic, staying sober is hard enough. But when the killer targets her personally, the stakes are higher than ever before.

The Shadowed Mind by Julie Cave is the second book in the Dinah Harris trilogy. In my opinion, it is better than the first book though I do recommend reading them in order. Dinah Harris is a deeply intricate character that captures and holds the attention of the reader. Half-mystery and half-suspense, this book keeps the reader guessing about the killer's identity. There is also a sub-plot that doesn't seem to have anything to do with the Dinah's part of the story until the very end. I am always impressed when an author writes so well that I can't predict who did it until the chosen moment of revelation.

I applaud Cave for her boldness in tackling the topic of neo-eugenics. In way of warning, I think that politically liberal readers will probably take offense at some portions of this book. The book takes obvious stabs at prevailing liberal philosophies. From mocking evolutionary beliefs to quoting Obama's “no longer a Christian nation” statement, the author attacks ideologies and defends her own. Personally, I agree with the author's beliefs. I just feel it necessary to warn of the prevalent conservative bias that may cause some readers to discard the book rather than considering Cave's argument.

I recommend reading this book with an open mind.

Click here to read an excerpt from The Shadowed Mind.



Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from New Leaf Publishing Group as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."