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Reviewed by Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite
Locked in a Box by Sheila Sharpe is book two of the Kate O’Dade Art Crime series, a gripping psychological prequel to Kate’s story. A series of events has forced Kate to confront her past, a past she has tried so hard to keep buried. Memories of being locked in a box in the Metropolitan Opera House. Memories of a whispered voice. As the anniversary of her father’s death draws closer, the memories come surging back. A troubled woman she is treating pulls Kate into a psychological nightmare, and Kate can no longer hold the past back. Haunted by that whisper, Kate must discover the truth of what happened to her, who killed her father, and who that voice belongs to. Long-buried secrets will come tumbling out, and the truth may just be too much for Kate.
In Locked in a Box, Sheila Sharpe weaves a terrifying psychological thriller focused on themes of childhood trauma, repressed memories, and interiority. The writing is sharp, almost clinical when needed, and filled with emotion. The way she describes the scenes, especially those where Kate’s panic returns, ensures that readers will experience it for themselves. The character development is second to none, especially Kate. Elise is an utterly unreliable character whose presence is unnerving, not just to Kate but to anyone reading the book, too. This is a well-paced novel, filled with suspense and a hard-hitting blend of the past and present colliding spectacularly. It is a heavy subject, but Sheila has handled it brilliantly, keeping the focus on the long-term effects of childhood trauma and trying to find the truth when memories can’t be relied on. This is a must-read for anyone who loves dark psychological thrillers with plenty of emotional depth, but a word of warning – it may be triggering for some readers.
