• Land of Shadows

  • Detective Elouise Norton, Book 1
  • By: Rachel Howzell Hall
  • Narrated by: Je Nie Fleming
  • Length: 10 hrs and 11 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (450 ratings)

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Land of Shadows  By  cover art

Land of Shadows

By: Rachel Howzell Hall
Narrated by: Je Nie Fleming
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Publisher's summary

"A fresh voice in crime fiction. Fast, funny, heartbreaking and wise.... Elouise Norton is the best new character you'll meet this year." (Lee Child, New York Times best-selling author, on Rachel Howzell Hall's Land of Shadows)

Along the ever-changing border of gentrifying Los Angeles, 17-year-old Monique Darson is found dead at a condominium construction site, hanging in the closet of an unfinished unit. Homicide Detective Elouise "Lou" Norton's new partner, Colin Taggert, fresh from the comparatively bucolic Colorado Springs police department, assumes it's a teenage suicide. Lou isn't buying the easy explanation.

For one thing, the condo site is owned by Napoleon Crase, a self-made millionaire...and the man who may have murdered Lou's missing sister, Tori, 30 years ago. As Lou investigates the death of Monique Darson, she uncovers undeniable links between the two cases. But her department is skeptical.

Lou is convinced that when she solves Monique's case she will finally bring her lost sister home. But as she gets closer to the truth, she also gets closer to a violent killer. After all this time, can he be brought to justice...before Lou becomes his next victim?

©2014 Rachel Howzell Hall (P)2019 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

“A fresh voice in crime fiction. Fast, funny, heartbreaking and wise...Elouise Norton is the best new character you'll meet this year.” —Lee Child, New York Times bestselling author

“Spellbinding. Gritty. Original, complex, profound, and riveting. This is a voice you have never heard--and will be unable to forget. Prepare to be blown away.” —Hank Phillippi Ryan, Anthony, Agatha, and Mary Higgins Clark Award–winning author

“A hard-hitting tale of a modern, complex Los Angeles. Well-written and deftly paced…a story that stays with you after the last page is read.” —Gary Phillips, author of Warlord of Willow Ridge

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What listeners say about Land of Shadows

Average customer ratings
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    5 out of 5 stars

I’m hooked

Was looking for a couple of good detective authors and stumbled on Hall. Loved the first one. And the performance by Fleming kept me engaged on the story.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great main character interesting story

I love how the protagonist is not only a black female but also isn’t a twenty something year old. She’s tough but also has flaws, which make her interesting. The whole story was a nice read. Will definitely check out more by this author

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

WOW!

What a wonderful surprise! I stumbled across this book almost two months ago and decided to pass on it. Boy was I wrong! This book was a great listen. I plan to listen to the entire series. I thought I knew who the killer was, but then the real killer was revealed. I didn't see that coming at all. The narrator is new to me. However, she did an amazing job 👏!! She didn't just read the book she actually performed. Her voice transition were so smooth you would think, there were multiple narrator's. On to book two.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Listen!

Great characters. Narrator is outstanding.
Plot allows for listener to follow clues, without being too vague or too obvious.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Twist and turns galore.

This book is involved. There are so many twists and turns it keeps you guessing. A little too violent for my usual reading pleasure...... But very good read of very surprising resolution........

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Gritty. real, sad and balanced

Started with the print book, ended with the audio book, and both are stunning. Stunning, as in extremely impressive; staggering.
Not a "fun" book; but isn't out of bounds with torture or the whole "superhero" schtick. Not my usual cup of tea, but an amazing book, and the narrator was spot-on perfect; did the accents seamlessly. I'll be looking for book two.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Good book - distracting narration

I liked the book enough to continue with the series. The story is solid (if a bit formulaic), and gripping. The narration, however, leaves much to be desired. Was considering not continuing with the series because of it. I don't know if it's the producer's fault, but the narrator repeatedly and distractingly puts the wrong emphasis on phrases.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Good Book and Characters

I liked the plot, it had many surprises. I will try to read other sequels. The reader did s good job with the different characters.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great narrator!

This was my first Audible and I really enjoyed it. I recommend it to someone that likes crime and a woman as the main character.!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
  • KO
  • 05-22-21

Narrative

The narrator should have pronounced the Lt’s as Rodriguez, not in an over pronounced Hispanic accent. It was quite disconcerting

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9 people found this helpful