Rooker Lindstrom wants to be left alone with the many traumatizing demons from his past, but he finds himself dragged into a new investigation when the body of a missing woman is found with a taunting note specifically inviting Rooker to "come out and play.” His friend and investigative partner, computer-savvy Millie Langston, is determined to figure out what connections there may be to a decades-old local case and what it all has to do with Rooker. Most of this novel reads like a high-quality procedural featuring an odd couple of private investigators making progress while the police seem to expect one-way cooperation from them. Other parts—the ones describing the crimes or featuring the victim in the clutches of the killer—are so over-the-top revolting that I found myself skimming to avoid having nightmares. No one picking up a serial killer novel expects it to be cozy, but for me this crossed the line between thriller and horror and was just too gross. Bad guy does crime; please solve it without showing me eyeballs.

Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for a digital advance review copy.

WOW! All I can say. If you weren’t a huge fan of Pete Zacharias before this, you will be now! The perfect follow up to book 1!

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

Interesting cast of characters and a good thriller. Note that this is the second in a trilogy. I had not read the first and I think that was a problem.

Thanks to the publisher and to Netgalley for this eARC..

AHhhh, just my cuppa, except my very favorite character died, but that is how it goes at times, with hardboiled, solid, and interesting old-fashioned, hard-police procedurals.

If you are a fan of books in this genre, give this a read, and enjoy this story about a steady hunt for an insidiously clever serial killer (don't worry, they are rarer than on might realize) facing intelligent, fast paced investigators who are anxious to capture their prey, before they do further damage.

Kudos to the author for this well-written book, which contains more than enough action and unusual characters to maintain your interest!

Thank you Thomas & Mercer for the ARC to read & review!
The opposite of 'thank you' to Pete Zacharias FOR THAT ENDING (insert broken heart emoji)

Maaan, can Mr. Zacharias write his ass off or what!? Answer: he totally can. As with book 1 this is super descriptive. It is easy to see, hear, smell, feel, taste...? (lol) what the characters are experiencing because of the writing. The chapters from the killer's perspective were appropriately creepy (being in the mind of a psychopath would be) yet mesmerizing. (does that make me weird?)

I really liked this story. I'm glad we get more of Rooker, Millie, Tess & the team's lives from book 1. The mysteries are well-investigated by Rooker & Millie who've just created a PI business (Manor Investigations). Their 'simple' missing person case turns into SO much more. As other reviewers have said, I found myself not liking Tess' character as much in this book, which actually sort of worked with this story, in a strange way.

I saw that this will be a trilogy so I will 100% be grabbing Rooker Book 3! (yes, even after you did that to us at the end)

I'd recommend for those that love dark mysteries, troubled characters with troubled pasts & some police procedural-ish but make it PI.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

This book was a wild ride and oh boy and quite nerve wrecking. The book is the perfect plot featuring a journalist pitied against a serial killer. A journalist. The book tells the story of Rooker a journalist that serves as a consultant for the Minnesota PD who gets an invite from a serial killer which is more like a dare to catch him.
I enjoyed the dynamics between him and Millie who are quite the dynamic duo. Fast paced, remarkable, shocking and jaw dropping are the best words to describe this book

I read The Man Burned by Winter last year, so as soon as I saw this I knew I had to grab it! Let me tell you, it did not disappoint!
The Man Trapped by Shadows is book two in the Rooker Lindström series and picks up where the first book leaves off. It felt like with everything that happened in the first book Rooker is even more tortured now than he was before... and yet Rooker has this charisma that draws you in. This book literally had me in a chokehold! Book two found me liking Tess Harlow less and less, but loving Millie Langston even more. Just when I thought that the webs of the first book had finally been unraveled and we had answers Pete Zacharias threw in plot twists that left me feeling like I had more questions than answers. All I do know is that I am fully invested in this series and book three can't get here fast enough!!

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for sending me this ARC for review! All of my reviews are given honestly!

Pete Zacharias does it again! He wrote another twisted tale that had me on the edge of my seat and reading way past my bedtime. The author writes in such a way that makes you feel like you are right there experiencing every thing in person. He makes the story come alive even in the most horrifying moments. And just when you think it's all said and done he leaves you with a cliffhanger wanting more.
This book is great for anyone a fan of serial killer novels or books with a police/private investigations for abductions. It is the 2nd book in a series. I highly recommend reading the 1st book but it's not required. There is a lot of references to the 1st novel. I overall enjoyed this book. there were times I felt the excitement died down too much and the plot deflated. But realistically speaking in a police investigation it's not always pure excitement. I did feel a few times the storyline seemed a bit exaggerated or unlikely. especially when trying to tie rookers past to his present life. I rate this book 7/10 I look forward to reading more from this author.

The Man Trapped by Shadows by Pete Zacharias is book two in the Rooker Lindström Series.

If you are a fan of serial killer stories or thrillers then you’ll enjoy this story.

The character development was really great. I enjoyed reading Rooker and Millie’s story. It was so fun seeing how this one would unfold.
I thought TMT was extremely well written as was the first book.
The mystery is intriguing. I love serial killer reads and this was right up my alley.
Intriguing, suspenseful, interesting and so good.
The writing style was great. Once I started I couldn’t stop. Pete Zacharias really knows how to hook his readers and keep them reading all night.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

I couldn’t snatch this one up fast enough! I loved the first book in this series and am using it as a comp I’m the book I’m querying. I was so excited to see the sequel is finally coming out! Despite Rooker being an unlikeable character, it’s so hard for me to not like him. He’s so damaged you can’t help but feel for him. I did find myself liking Tess less in this book than the first one, but I can’t really blame her for her attitude. I definitely didn’t expect the outcome of the last chapter, and I’m surprised it headed that way for *reasons*! I don’t want to spoil it. But the next one is going to be a wild ride and I can’t wait to read it!

Huge thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for sending me this ARC for review! All of my reviews are given honestly!

First of all- I was entirely invested in this story from the get go. It starts off with a bang and doesn't let up until the final page. There was so much keeping me invested and the twists were well done. I enjoy the characters, flaws and all. But... the writing could use some work. It felt disjointed and a bit extra at times. Overall, a dark twisty read that I couldn't put down. I look forward to the next book in the series!

In The Man Trapped by Shadows by Pete Zacharias, Rooker Lindström is a reluctant consultant for the Minnesota PD. His past gives him an edge. When the body of a woman, missing for eight years, is pulled from the lake, evil comes knocking again. This time with a note meant just for Rooker: Won’t you come out and play?

I did not read the first book in this series. I don't feel I missed anything by not reading book 1.

The story and mystery were okay. It took me a while to get invested in the characters and the story. I'm not sure I would recommend this book. However, I may check out other books by this author to see if I like other stories.

#TheManTrappedbyShadows #NetGalley @AmazonPub

4/5 stars! This is the second book in the "Rooker Lindstrom" series. There were a few minor points that reading the first book would have helped with, but overall, this was able to be read as a standalone. I liked Rooker Lindstrom as a character. The pacing of the story was well done and I was pulled in by the cat-and-mouse game between Rooker/Millie and the killer. The twist was well done but a bit lacking. It could have used more. But I will definitely be checking out more books by this author.

I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily