The Shadow Box

I veered off from my usual historical-fiction lane to pick up Shadowbox, and I’m honestly glad I did. Even though it isn’t historical fiction, it hits with the same emotional intensity and moral urgency that I look for in that genre. This is a domestic-abuse story that doesn’t tiptoe around anything—it goes straight for the jugular. It’s raw, unsettling, and painfully realistic in the way it captures how women can be slowly cornered, controlled, isolated, and erased by the person who claims to love them. What made it powerful for me was the slow tightening of the psychological noose—how the book shows that abuse isn’t just bruises, it’s gaslighting, intimidation, financial control, fear, and the way a woman’s world shrinks one decision at a time. It’s the kind of storytelling that leaves you clenching your jaw, talking back to the pages, and wanting to jump in and rescue her yourself. Despite the heaviness of the subject, the writing is clear, gripping, and surprisingly fast-paced. I found myself devouring chapter after chapter because I needed to know she’d make it out, needed to see the turn, the crack in the cage, the moment she reclaims herself. 8 stars for being brave, unflinching, and absolutely impossible to put down.

I really enjoyed this book, once I got the characters and timelines straight. You get POVs from 6 people total, 3 of them are most of the book and the other three are extra sprinkled in. The timeline also jumps around and I almost needed a notebook to keep track. Once I figured I out, I was invested and wanted to find out what happened and whodunit…it’s as obvious as you think, but it’s pretty twisty. Book #83 in 2023

This book was okay. It was well written, and used audible for this title, and the narrators were both good.

I really dislike the mystery books being from multiple points of view. I wish authors would just write a mystery book that unfolds like you would if you were investigating. I don't like the structure of knowing all the answers and waiting for the characters to put it together. I read mysteries because I like to use my brain to try and figure out the mystery. When they're formatted like this it doesn't scratch the mystery solving itch, it's more like just reading a random novella.

Great book but one time during the book all I could think was let’s hide behind the chainsaws.