Logan Monroe’s family is in danger. After his sister, Laura, and her kids are run off the road and their house is broken in to, Logan tasks the Angelharts with keeping them safe, and the PIs drop everything to take on the case.
But they quickly realize there’s more to the situation than anyone thinks. First, the burglars didn’t take anything—were they just trying to scare her or were they after something they didn’t find? Then Laura can’t reach her ex-husband, who was supposed to take the kids for the weekend. While Jack protects the family, Margo tries to find the ex…but he seems to have disappeared.
As she digs deeper, Margo uncovers someone hiding in the shadows who will do anything to get what he wants—including killing anyone who stands in his way.
Out of the Shadows is a romantic suspense novella with elements of a missing person mystery and crime thriller. It’s book 1.5 in the Angelhart Investigations series but can easily be read as a standalone. The story follows Laura Monroe, whose ex-husband, Charlie, goes missing at the same time her family becomes the target of escalating threats—including a hit-and-run and a home break-in. Her brother Logan brings in investigators Jack & Margo Angelhart to protect Laura and her children while investigating the truth behind Charlie’s disappearance.
The Angelhart family is a highlight of the story—especially brother and sister Margot and Jack Angelheart, who are a compelling and likeable investigation duo. Margo is sharp, proactive, well-skilled, and very committed to getting to the bottom of things. Her feisty dialogue, especially when interrogating others, adds a lot of entertainment value to the story. Jack Angelhart, previously a police detective and now part of the family PI business, plays a more central protective role with Laura and her kids. He’s the perfect golden retriever MMC and provides grounding for Laura amidst all the stress and danger she faces. Meanwhile, Laura is a complex character who puts her children’s needs above her own and is still reeling over her ex-husband’s mistakes. Her children are a central part of the mystery and add vulnerability and urgency to the narrative. Lastly, Charlie, Laura’s ex-husband, is the most flawed character, and his disappearance is the catalyst of a much larger danger that’s threatening the family.
Alongside the missing person mystery, there’s also a compelling romantic subplot between Investigator Jack and Laura, which will delight romantic suspense lovers! Jack takes on a protective role for Laura and her family, and their chemistry is tangible from their first encounter! Despite Laura’s residual feelings for her ex-husband, Jack’s warmth and protective nature have her very much considering a second chance at love!
This book is marketed as a novella but in reality is the length of a short novel at over 200 pages. The pacing is pretty relentless with short chapters that often end in cliffhangers, and readers will be furiously turning the pages to see how it unfolds! The story has a wonderful balance of suspense, family drama, romance, and police procedural elements. Even though it’s shorter than a full novel, Brennan packs in enough twists, detours, and red herrings to keep readers fully engaged from start to finish.
Overall, Out of the Shadows is an exciting short read and the perfect entry in the Angelhart Investigations series. It also perfectly showcases Allison Brennan’s unique writing style that will appeal to a wider range of readers than a typical mystery or thriller with her strong characters, family dynamics, high-stakes suspense, and touch of romance. Fans of procedural crime thrillers, rich characters, family dynamics, and romantic suspense will enjoy this book!
Narrator Performance
The audiobook of Out Of The Shadows is a suspenseful, immersive listen read by award-winning Powerhouse Narrator Hillary Huber, who’s also narrated the other books in the Angelhart Investigations series.
Huber portrays protagonist Jack with a steady and protective tone, capturing his role as the family’s primary investigator. The performance conveys his determination and care for Laura, making him a swoon-worthy lead. In contrast, Huber portrays protagonist Laura with a determined, defiant voice infused with vulnerability and fear, perfectly conveying a single mother determined to protect her children and simultaneously upset and concerned for her ex-husband. By the end, Huber shifts her performance to showcase Laura’s emotional journey, from fear to resilience. The dialogue between Laura and Jack is a highlight of the audiobook, and their chemistry and strong connection are obvious and captivating.
The other notable performance is that of Margo, who’s depicted with a voice that balances professionalism, sarcasm, and female strength. Huber makes her cleverness and snarky attitude very evident, especially when she’s dealing with individuals trying to undermine or question her intelligence—and she may very well be the most likable character for it! Huber distinguishes the various supporting characters with subtle changes in tone and pacing, helping listeners easily identify each character.
Overall, the combination of Brennan’s suspenseful storytelling and Huber’s dynamic narration makes for an unstoppable listen. The audiobook (and entire series) is a must-listen for fans of romantic suspense and immersive mysteries. If you haven’t listened to Hillary’s narration before, this is a great example of her engaging voice, impeccable acting skills, and wonderful pacing—and you’ll definitely want to check out her incredible backlist of 800+ titles, including a huge number of mysteries and thrillers!
Narrator Performance
The audiobook of Out Of The Shadows is a suspenseful, immersive listen read by award-winning Powerhouse Narrator Hillary Huber, who’s also narrated the other books in the Angelhart Investigations series.
Huber portrays protagonist Jack with a steady and protective tone, capturing his role as the family’s primary investigator. The performance conveys his determination and care for Laura, making him a swoon-worthy lead. In contrast, Huber portrays protagonist Laura with a determined, defiant voice infused with vulnerability and fear, perfectly conveying a single mother determined to protect her children and simultaneously upset and concerned for her ex-husband. By the end, Huber shifts her performance to showcase Laura’s emotional journey, from fear to resilience. The dialogue between Laura and Jack is a highlight of the audiobook, and their chemistry and strong connection are obvious and captivating.
The other notable performance is that of Margo, who’s depicted with a voice that balances professionalism, sarcasm, and female strength. Huber makes her cleverness and snarky attitude very evident, especially when she’s dealing with individuals trying to undermine or question her intelligence—and she may very well be the most likable character for it! Huber distinguishes the various supporting characters with subtle changes in tone and pacing, helping listeners easily identify each character.
Overall, the combination of Brennan’s suspenseful storytelling and Huber’s dynamic narration makes for an unstoppable listen. The audiobook (and entire series) is a must-listen for fans of romantic suspense and immersive mysteries. If you haven’t listened to Hillary’s narration before, this is a great example of her engaging voice, impeccable acting skills, and wonderful pacing—and you’ll definitely want to check out her incredible backlist of 800+ titles, including a huge number of mysteries and thrillers!
The audiobook of Out Of The Shadows is a suspenseful, immersive listen read by award-winning Powerhouse Narrator Hillary Huber, who’s also narrated the other books in the Angelhart Investigations series.
Huber portrays protagonist Jack with a steady and protective tone, capturing his role as the family’s primary investigator. The performance conveys his determination and care for Laura, making him a swoon-worthy lead. In contrast, Huber portrays protagonist Laura with a determined, defiant voice infused with vulnerability and fear, perfectly conveying a single mother determined to protect her children and simultaneously upset and concerned for her ex-husband. By the end, Huber shifts her performance to showcase Laura’s emotional journey, from fear to resilience. The dialogue between Laura and Jack is a highlight of the audiobook, and their chemistry and strong connection are obvious and captivating.
The other notable performance is that of Margo, who’s depicted with a voice that balances professionalism, sarcasm, and female strength. Huber makes her cleverness and snarky attitude very evident, especially when she’s dealing with individuals trying to undermine or question her intelligence—and she may very well be the most likable character for it! Huber distinguishes the various supporting characters with subtle changes in tone and pacing, helping listeners easily identify each character.
Overall, the combination of Brennan’s suspenseful storytelling and Huber’s dynamic narration makes for an unstoppable listen. The audiobook (and entire series) is a must-listen for fans of romantic suspense and immersive mysteries. If you haven’t listened to Hillary’s narration before, this is a great example of her engaging voice, impeccable acting skills, and wonderful pacing—and you’ll definitely want to check out her incredible backlist of 800+ titles, including a huge number of mysteries and thrillers!
