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Reviewed by Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite
Running in the Shadows by Skye Alexander takes readers back in time to 1926 for a roaring good mystery. Lizzie has an epic opportunity to perform with her band at a Spring Equinox party hosted by a rich art collector with an interesting reputation. Money aside, the party should provide fun for Lizzie and her friends, and a possible chance to interact with a charming Boston Brahmin who has caught her attention. The event is quickly and unexpectedly interrupted when a naked woman emerges like Lady Godiva on horseback and disappears with an artist. The puzzling interruption leaves everyone scratching their heads but it only becomes more confusing when Lizzie finds the artist’s body the following day. The scene was like a painting by Botticelli with the artist's body pierced with arrows and tied to a tree. The situation quickly becomes personal when Lizzie learns that her partner has a connection that could make him a suspect. If she wishes to protect him, she’ll need to dig into the world of art forgery and theft to catch a killer.
The opening captures the awe and wonder associated with the era while drawing you into the artsy elements and immediately introducing the victim. This makes the story fast-paced from the get-go and catches your attention with the glitz and glamor, important components of the world that Lizzie finds herself investigating. Skye Alexander does a masterful job of controlling the tone so that even with darker elements the narrative never falters. The grotesque scene that mimics a famous painting is a clever way of setting in motion the events that follow with Lizzie being drawn into the middle. The mystery is personal for her as her friend is a suspect, which makes you root for her to find answers. Lizzie is an amazing sleuth with observational skills reminiscent of classic detectives as she notices little details that she then puts together. She’s also fiery and bold, which fits well with the 1920s background as this is a time of reinvention and breaking free of previous norms. This makes every part of the investigation exciting and fun with surprises to be discovered along with Lizzie. Running in the Shadows is a highly recommended historical mystery with a clever sleuth, a glitzy backdrop, and genuine surprises waiting around every corner.
