The Shadow Man

The Shadow Man
by Mark Murphy
published by Langston Street
2012
ISBN 978-1-938296-30-1
Why Read?: Review
Challenges: Mystery & Suspense

Mark Murphy’s debut novel, The Shadow Man, is a dark, atmosphere thriller set in the haunting city of Savannah, Georgia.  In it, Malcolm King, a respected surgeon finds himself the suspect in a serial murder case that involves surgical precision.  Someone – or something – seems to be setting him up, targeting him, but Malcolm can never get a good glimpse of his tormentor.  As the bodies pile up, Malcolm’s psychological state become more and more tenuous, leading up to one heck of an ending.

Murphy’s fast-paced writing immediately draws the reader in, and the mood permeates every word.  This helps to immerse the reader into Malcolm’s world, making the pages fly by as the terror builds.  Mark Murphy carefully walks the line between mystery and horror making The Shadow Man the perfect psychological thriller.  For a debut novel, this is one amazingly strong story.

Rating: 5/5