Reviewed by Taylin
TITLE: Crooked Shadows
SERIES: Whitethorn Agency #2
AUTHOR: M A Grant
PUBLISHER: Carina Press
LENGTH: Novel
RELEASE DATE: December 14, 2021
BLURB:
Everyone has secrets. Especially those who live in the shadows.
Cristian Slava doesn’t fear much. After he was betrayed by the man he called an uncle, leaving upstate New York for the Carpathian Mountains of his childhood is more a matter of practicality than fear. With him is Atlas Kinkaid, a former marine turned fierce bodyguard…and fierce lover, albeit a hell of a complicated one.
Cristian’s cunning is tested by the politics and intrigue of the vampire families of Romania, and the warm welcome he and Atlas were assured of quickly turns to ash as they race to unravel the mystery of an old friend’s disappearance. Searching for the missing vampire draws them into a web of betrayal and half-truths that reaches further than Cristian ever could have imagined, and they uncover a string of grisly murders that bear a striking similarity to the attack that changed Atlas’s life forever.
Stalked by the past and uncertain of the future, Cristian learns he does have something to fear after all…
Losing the man he loves.
REVIEW:
After an attack, Atlas and Christian are on the run. To get answers, they head into the lion’s den, Romania – the very place Atlas and his platoon were attacked. Romania holds memories for both men, is a place of territorial ruling families, and where the wrong protocol can get you either safe passage or killed.
Having come down from such a high after reading book one in the Whitethorn Agency series, it was always going to be difficult for the follow-up to top it, but it does a valiant job. The story is told in the third person from the viewpoints of Christian and Atlas. Unlike Rare Vigilance, Crooked Shadows is more investigative than high octane and action-packed. But, have no fear; there are some dramatically gripping scenes. Additionally, there is more focus on the trust and developing relationship between Christian and Atlas – it was a lovely process to witness. There is less snark and more support between the two, especially as Atlas relives scenes from his past, which reveal a host of interpretations of the word ‘fine’. It is also evident by the end (and what a doozy of an end it is), that there are more secrets to be uncovered.
While Atlas and Christian investigate their way across Romania, they encounter vampire nests, power plays, mysteries, kidnapping, half-truths, double crossings, and some beautiful imagery – both scenic and world-building. The author gives the perfect picture-building experience without going into unnecessary minute detail.
As for the more expansive cast, the individuals are more typical of the traditional vampire covens in actions and personalities. I wouldn’t turn my back on any of them. However, some are more enlightened than others. I’ll admit that I missed Christian’s loyal to a fault ‘Scooby gang’ from book one – there are no comparisons. But there’s the odd gutsy character in Crooked Shadows to admire.
After book one, I expected more of the same in book two, and I was taken by surprise when it wasn’t. Nevertheless, I still enjoyed the read, which got better and better as the tale progressed. Crooked Shadows has the feel of a novel that is the story developer before the big finish in a triple bill. Although the story ends on another cliffy, one mystery is solved, but another is alive up and running. Thankfully, there is another book to follow.
RATING: 
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