Note: I am reviewing both the books in this series together.

Prior to reading these books I had heard of Victor Methos and especially his book 'The Neon Lawyer' which I am interested in reading.

Both these books are part of a new series involving Solomon Shepard, a former prosecutor who suffered a near fatal attack by a psychotic killer whom Solomon was prosecuting and Elizabeth (Billie) Gray, a young detective following in her father's footsteps.

Like in most cases I began the series by reading the second book before moving on to the first one. The first book deals with a copycat killer impersonating The Reaper, a serial killer who was never caught while the second book has a criminal holding years old grudge against Solomon for prosecuting and imprisoning him.

While both books are fast paced without a dull moment, I did find I enjoyed the second book much more than the first one. I found the nemesis of the second book, Alonso Ash, a lot more interesting and scary. His delusion, sense of false victimhood and lack of fear of any consequences made him truly terrifying. I am still not sure why the first book is called 'The Silent Witness' but the title of the second book 'The Grave Singer' makes sense when Alonso references an ancient practice to decide if a person on trial was truly guilty or not.

One thing though: Solomon Shepard is described as someone being not that old (maybe mid to late 30s) who uses the aid of a walking stick as a result of the attack he suffered in the courtroom but I somehow couldn't create a clear picture of him in my head. There were times when I pictured a much older man which was in direct contrast to how he was described.

P. S.: From the short bio, I found Victor Methos's own journey to becoming a lawyer quite interesting as well.

Rating:
The Silent Witness ⭐⭐⭐✨💫
The Grave Singer 🌟🌟🌟🌟

This is a new series for the author of the Desert Plains series which I thoroughly enjoyed, Although there were definitely some plot twists, I didn't think there was much suspense or mystery in this story and I'm not really sure why it was called The Secret Witness.

While I enjoyed Solomon Shepard as a character, as a prosecutor in the courtroom he seemed a bit ineffective. I did like the interaction between Solomon and Billie enough to look forward to the next book in the series. Thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for this ARC.

Methos has outdone himself on this one. A tense and complex mystery - perfect mix of investigation, courtroom, psychopathic crime, and the humans all affected. A definite winner and great start to a new series.

This is a first for me from this author and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I was captivated immediately and read it in a few short sittings. I loved the twist at the end.

Thank you to both the publisher's and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this ARC copy of Secret Witness in exchange for an honest review.


I have quickly become a huge fan of Victor Methoses writing. I actually own an E Book copy of several of his books that I just haven't gotten to yet but I just know that I will like them. This review though is about Secret Witness which is the starting book of a new series featuring Elizabeth Gray... Sheriff Billie Gray and Solomon Shepard, a former prosecutor who seems to understand what goes on inside these murder's minds. It's quite fascinating.
We start the book through the killer's eyes and perspective as he is preparing to murder what we think are his first murder's. I don't think there was too more gore in this book. If you've watched the show Bones or any of the medical dramas on TV these days then the descriptions of the murders shouldn't creep you out. This is not really a spoiler because the synopsis of the book states “This is the Reaper speaking”. On a side note I read a lot of these kind of books and it seems that when there is a killer serial or not they are imitating the Reaper. I don't have any statistics on this but the Reaper does seem to be the most copycatted murderer of all books that have murders in the story. OK back to this novel. I won't say who the killer is or if it isn't obvious who it is but that isn't a problem because it's the journey of the main characters forming a new partnership and the journey of a boy fascinated by killing and murder and dead people who grows up and fulfills his desperate need to kill. The ending chapter is quite chilling and revealing. I know some people might say this is a strange thing to say but I found the book entertaining and the writing is just so well done. I definitely recommend and look forward to many more books featuring Sheriff Gray and Solomon Shepard. I give the book 4 ½ stars.

This is the first book that I’ve read by this author and I enjoyed it. Dry much. The story caught my attention immediately and kept it throughout…I read it in two days. The case was interesting and though I suspected a twist at the end , it was not what I expected. Loved the hero. I wdoukd love to read more by this author.

Victor Methos creates and edge of your seat storyline in this book. Years ago, a serial killer known as The Reaper, went on a killing spree. He was never caught and the killings just stopped. This novel begins with new victims being found that fit the same pattern of The Reaper killings and the new killings happen on the anniversary of the first killings. The local sheriff, Billie Gray, knows she needs help so she enlists the help of a former prosecutor who was forced to retire after a defendant in another case attacked him in the courtroom. While this book takes you into the mind of a deadly killer, there are many surprises up until the ending. I highly recommend this author and this book.

A good suspense thriller read . It does remind me of a law and order episode so I wonder if that is where the idea came from. Author gave details of the attack and details of the mind of the killer that made the story interesting.

Very good! It had me hooked from the beginning and kept my interest until the last page! It kept me guessing and the ending was one i didn’t see coming! It’s interesting for anyone who loves psychological thrillers

I enjoyed this whodunit as it was more than just finding the villain. There was also the court case after the apprehension in order to determine the fate of the criminal. Strong characters, interesting story with a twist at the end, it kept me turning the pages until the conclusion. I will definitely be looking for more by this author!

Much appreciation to the author ans Netgalley .Truly loved this book that type of story that keeps pulling you in and in .I honestly couldnt put the book down .Am looking foward to reading more of his books .Definitely a 5 star

Another solid legal thriller from Victor Methos!

As the Sherriff of a small town, Billie is under a lot of pressure to solve a series of murders that seems to have been committed by a serial killer who had been dormant for nearly a decade. Knowing she needs help, Billie drags her father's friend Solmon, a former prosecutor, out of retirement and the two pound the pavement for answers.

This one has great characters, a good plot, and like everything else Methos has written, it's well constructed and keeps you interested! Additionally, this one has a particularly good twist at the end!

This is my first book by this author and I truly enjoyed it. I have to say the killer was fairly obvious and I wasn’t expecting the reveal half way through but it was refreshing. I usually read thrillers/mysteries where finding out the killer is the ending so getting to read about the trial was interesting. I knew there had to be more because of it and it did keep me reading. I try to come up with my own predictions and I was almost disappointed that what I thought would happen didn’t, but I think Mr. Methos’ ending was fitting! Definitely can’t wait to read more by him!

I usually enjoy reading Victor Methos' work and was happy to have the opportunity to read an ARC of his newest release.
I was a fairly quick read with short chapters. Kind of reads like an episode of CSI ; makes sense as Methos is an attorney as well as an author.
I must admit "The secret witness" is not my favorite work from Methos. The plot and the characters are fairly predictable . However,there is a small twist at he end.
A solid 2 1/2 star read.

The writing is good and the characters are excellent, but the plot and the structure of this book are too strange for me. It's definitely not a thriller, and the mystery isn't hard to solve, but there is some legal action that may be interesting. Let's hope the characters get something better to work on in future books.

This book reads like a crime show…unlikable characters who commit murder and mayhem…likable characters who try to discern the clues…this book was sent to me by Netgalley for review…this is one talented and gifted author at writing a cannot put down book…the ending is a surprise which is unusual as most endings are easily guessed…not this one…this would make a great movie if a teenager could be found to do justice to the antagonist.

Thank you Thomas & Mercer for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Three stars as I DNFed it. The premise itself was captivating, but the execution fell flat. It was quite boring, and the writing felt clunky and disjointed. I could not get invested in the story. Specifically, the parts that should've been suspenseful didn't evoke any emotion.

This was a quick read that I finished in only a few sessions. I thought it was going to just a straight up murder investigation, but halfway through it turns into a courtroom drama. Some of those parts got a little boring, to be honest, and I was a bit disappointed about how it was all resolved.

I enjoyed the dynamic between Solomon and Billie. Solomon was definitely the more developed character of the two, but since this the first book in a series, I imagine that more will be revealed about Billie later on.

Overall, this was a solid procedural with a good twist at the end. If you enjoy shows like Law and Order, I think you'll be satisfied.

This book starts out interesting and quickly gains your interest more and more. The short chapters are great because they make you read more in one sitting. I liked the plot and the development of the characters. It also had a suspenseful feel. While I wondered if all of the elements would be addressed, I was not disappointed. However, I do confess that the ending left me a bit unsatisfied. It may just be me, but I would have preferred a more fulfilling ending.I’m not saying the ending is bad, it just wasn’t what I would have liked. I still think it’s worth a read.

Killer Conundrum..
The first in the Shepard and Gray series finds a young sheriff and a former prosecutor with a serial killer conundrum. Are the recent killings plaguing the town copycat killings? They’re certainly reminiscent of a series of brutal slayings from some years ago. The body count is rising and the clock is ticking as the pair strive to catch this deranged killer. It’s a well trodden path but a pacy, tension fuelled read nonetheless.