Delias Shadow

I had quite high hopes for this novel, but in the end I felt the delivery made it a quite forgettable tale of murder and romance in San Francisco. Oct 29, Hasnamezied rated it it was amazing Shelves: Love it so so much. The mystery here was exciting and brilliant.

Every character here had her unique role sadie, jack, Dora , marshel , annie, I mean really eveyone Great book , I definitely recommend it. Dec 17, Matt Gilliard rated it liked it. True story, I found myself making an impromptu trip to my local book seller and I knew I wanted a debut author, preferably female for my next read.

I reached out to Twitter for recommendations but my trip was a short one and I didn't get a response fast enough, so I chose a book from the new release section only to find out the author of my chosen novel had suggested it. Fantasy is True story, I found myself making an impromptu trip to my local book seller and I knew I wanted a debut author, preferably female for my next read. Fantasy is not a genre known for it's subtlety and Moyer's delicate and graceful tapestry of historical, romantic, and supernatural elements is as far from the blade wielding heroes, wizened mages, and fire breathing dragons that most associate with the genre as you can get, both in terms of subject and delivery.

Even with ghosts and killers prowling the pages, Moyer delivers a subdued yet rousing tale about two people both haunted by their past drawn together to create a future. Moyer is definitely an author to watch. Delia's Shadow is the story of Delia Martin, a school teacher who has fled from her home in San Francisco to New York because she sees ghosts everywhere in her home town. When one persistent ghost appears, silently entreating her to return home, Delia returns home and quickly realizes that this ghost is leading her to a confrontation with her killer, a man who has recently begun killing again.

Terrified of both the killer, who has been drawn to her due to her connection to the detectives investigating his crimes and the growing intensity of the nameless ghost who has driven her home, Delia is determined to master her fear and help bring the killer to justice by any means.

Finding herself drawn to the grief stricken detective in charge of the investigation, Delia may have found the love of her life, if he can outwit this killer before he or Delia become targets themselves. Delia's Shadow has two main point of view characters, with Detective Gabe Ryan sharing duties with Delia. Both are well crafted and instantly sympathetic as Moyer shows how the killer's victims haunt them both, both in the figurative and literal sense. Both seem to be fairly rudderless in all aspects of their lives that are unrelated to the killings and Delia's ghosts but quickly find each other to be a healing and supportive influence.

If you are afraid of the story becoming a bodice ripper, you can rest easy. The romance between the two is a allowed to simmer, as their are more pressing problems and by allowing things to smolder rather than spark, Moyer adds a real sense of authenticity to their relationship. Which brings me to the mystery. Readers expecting something along the lines of a modern thriller will likely be disappointed. The thriller elements are present, but with the split focus, this is not as full as surprising reveals and reversals as the typical Patterson or Deaver novel. There are revelations a plenty, and though I managed to suss out a secret or two before the big reveal, it wasn't by many pages.

Moyer lays the clues in plain view, and trust the readers to figure things out along with the characters. I actually enjoyed the feeling of being able to piece together the mystery rather than waiting on the big reveal at the end with no clear trail of clues. Despite its relative brevity, clocking in at a little over three hundred pages and the tension of a serial killer who is ramping up in his grisly game of cat and mouse with the police, Delia's Shadow manages to maintain a precarious balance between allowing the romance between the two leads without losing the tension of the murder mystery that remains the center of the novel.

The action was subdued in most cases, which gives the novel the feel of a period piece and plays in well with the elements of historical fiction throughout the novel. All in all, Delia's Shadow is a promising debut and I'll look forward to seeing where Moyer takes these characters in the all but guaranteed continuation of the series. If you're in the mood for a fantasy novel that challenges your expectations of what the genre can be, Delia's Shadow may just be the book for you. Where you a fan of the TV show Ghost Whisperer? Did you read The Name of the Star and liked it?

Then you'll love this book!!! Delia is a woman, and she So she can see dead people's ghosts, but one of them, one in particular, the ghost of a woman, is following her around, like a shadow. Delia was working in NYC and when she goes back to San Francisco, to her friend Sadie's house, Shadow tries to tell her things trough her dreams, but those are not pleasant thing I like the book, it has a good pace, although I would have liked a bit more romance.

The mystery was good enough to keep me on my toes The concept of a haunting in history, pairing paranormal themes with the grace and politeness turn of the century San Francisco was an irresistible lure. But for a story that promises so much of the gothic tradition, I found these shadows to be thin.

I struggled to find an emotional connection with Delia. Even the nature of her haunting is so ubiquitous, so evenly accepted by those around her, that it becomes simple mechanics rather than a dramatic twist. Other than the over the top violence implied for the central boogeyman, his ghostly victims offer very little pathos. Those who like period drama may enjoy this historical mystery, with shadowy victims walking amongst the living as a killer terrorizes London. Kissing, references to sex. Aug 21, Beth Cato rated it it was amazing Shelves: I've been reading a lot of books about and set in turn-of-theth-century San Francisco.

When I found out about this book, I knew I had to read it, as it's set in Not only does it deal with the aftermath of the earthquake about a decade prior which is what I'm addressing in my own work , but it also takes place during the Panama-Pacific International Exhibition.

I first learned about that event as a child when I read the nonfiction collection of Laura Ingalls Wilder's letters on her visit to San Francisco; I haven't read that book in ages, so it was fascinating to revisit the setting as an adult, and in a very different context. Delia's Shadow is a work of historical fiction, but it's also, quite strongly, a ghost story and a murder mystery. These three elements blend in a beautiful yet gruesome way. Delia is haunted by a ghost that cannot speak but shares terrible images of terror and death. The other viewpoint in the story is Gabe, a detective tracking a series of frustrating murders across San Francisco--and he believes the murderer also hunted in the city thirty years before, when his father was a cop.

Delia and Gabe's story lines intertwine, of course. This brings out a fourth subgenre for the book: The chemistry is real because the characters feel real. The romance never took over the book, but added a great deal of tension and emotion as events escalated. When it was clear that Gabe's wife died during the earthquake, I was in dread that since Delia saw ghosts, some sort of love triangle would emerge with the dead wife. I was very, very glad that didn't happen, as that might have ruined the book for me. My only criticism, I think, is that the ending felt too fast.

Or maybe that's because I was enjoying it too much and didn't want it to end. The plot had plenty of twists, and the ghost element was downright creepy at times. The romance and genuine friendships between the characters added necessary levity to an otherwise dark book. Everything balances out just right. Sep 16, Julia rated it it was ok Shelves: The concept of a haunting in history, pairing paranormal themes with the grace and politeness of turn of the century San Francisco was an irresistible lure. And while those promises were upheld, I struggled to find an emotional connection with Delia.

I expected Delia to have a singular ability, but rather, Moyer writes a world where the veil between the living and the dead is quite thin, and several characters have their own interactions with ghosts before too long. That initial change in perspective from "singular ghost whisperer" to "everyone seems on board with ghosts" , made me no less interested, but the dry delivery and shallow descriptions made the story skim along without pulling me deeper.

Dead bodies and haunts fill the house, but ultimately seem no more frightening than party guests. I waited for Shadow's dream sequences to unfold, I waited for Delia to unbend enough to explore the phenomena haunting her, and all the while Gabe and Sophie and Jack clicked through the story like a clockwork cast. Part of this emotional distance is due to the time period, and that works, but part of it comes from the writing. Moyer's San Francisco never came alive for me, and the flat impressions of her characters provided the bearest glimpses of the world around them. I felt like I was reading lists of he-said, she-said rather than immersing myself in Delia's present.

Despite those issues, the premise and it's execution is enough of a ghost story to be worth a read for some. Those who like period drama may enjoy this historical mystery, with shadowy victims walking amongst the living as they try to catch a killer. Full review to follow. Sep 27, Mark Lindberg rated it really liked it. When I like an author, I want to like their books.

These are things I generally avoid; my tastes tend toward longer epic fantasy or sci-fi stories set on strange worlds with lots of cool technology or magic. The setting, a San Francisco, is done exceedingly well. Moyer lived in the area for much of her life, and her familiarity with the history of the area seeps through on every page, imbuing the novel with a sense of authenticity and easy grace, and I loved it.

It suffices to say that I thoroughly enjoyed the fantastical element. The main plot is a tight serial-killer mystery, following two detectives and two women in the society, and it works great for building the tension, as the murderer draws ever closer to our beloved protagonists. Again, the murder mystery and police elements reminded me of the Beka Cooper series, but set in a much nicer part of town. Moyer is a poet and a short story writer in addition to being a novelist, and it shows. Her prose is elegant and easy to read, and I was able to flow through the novel in two days.

Also, she uses one-sentence paragraphs more effectively than most of the other authors I read; they put a real punch in her writing that makes the story even more effective. I only have a few minor complaints about the novel, and those may say more about me than the book itself. First, there were two questions regarding the mystery that were never answered to my satisfaction, although the mystery itself definitely was.

Also, I was able to predict the ending and a few other major events before they happened. This is only an issue for me because I like—and have come to expect—twisty endings to my books. It was still a satisfying ending, however, and did not majorly detract from my enjoyment of the book. Review originally from my blog, here. Sep 08, Alicia rated it it was ok. I read the sample of your Shadow story and immediately thought: I was pretty hooked from the get-go with Delia's Shadow.

The description of her stepping off of the train in San Fran with ghosts everywhere, and so many of them from the great fire, was wonderfully detailed and quite the hook. Her instant connection with loyal friend and almost-sister, Sadie, is perfection as well. And the time period - early 's, where ankles can show but ladies still blush when a man's bare chest i Oh Delia But the hook for this story didn't last very long.

I can't fault the switch in narration because Gabe's POV was unique and quite solid. If anything, I think the writing style got a bit heavy handed with the 'film noir' imagery. What started off as wonderfully descriptive phrasing in the first chapter got super tedious by the fifth. I read about Gabe flipping his collar up to ward off the cold at least four times, and the wet grass soaking his socks and pant cuffs twice. I loved her character but I felt like I was beaten over the head with reminders about how pretty and talkative she was.

My favorite character was Dora and I desperately want to read a standalone story about her experience in Atlanta. I imagine I'm not the first nor the last go there. The pacing of Delia's Shadow was appropriate, if not a little slow. I can't say I figured out who the killer was before the big reveal, but there's little way I could have. I did, however, figure out who Shadow was almost immediately, actually.

With that said, the romance between the characters was definitely slow. Too many times we read about grown ass men and women falling in love at first sight. For better or worse, they don't even so much as kiss before confessing their love. All in all, this one started off so well but grew tedious as the story progressed and it got bogged down by details that caused me to do more than a little skimming. Not sure if I'm going to pursue the rest in this series - Depends on how much more we see of Dora.

Sep 21, Diana Francis rated it it was amazing. I flat out loved this book. Mar 05, Jodi Meadows rated it it was amazing Shelves: I actually read the sequel haha, be jealous , but it's not on GR yet. She fled San Francisco because it was flooded with spirits after the quake, but has returned because a strong ghost has been haunting her. Back in San Francisco, detectives Jack and Gabe are hunting a vicious serial killer. I liked a lot, the setting, the atmosphere, plot and characters all drew me in, I was interested, engrossed and inmersed in the story from the beginning. I found it odd that most of the characters accepted the supernatural occurrences without giving them a second thought.

It was very obvious. I enjoyed the romance Between Gabe and Delia, it felt like it took its time to blossom. The ghost world intrigued me and I want to know more. I will definitely continue with the series. Dec 10, LibraryCin rated it really liked it Shelves: Sophie is engaged to police officer Jack, who works with Gabe. Unfortunately, Gabe and Jack get the sense that their loved ones are also in danger… I really liked this!

There was some supernatural the ghosts , some horror, some mystery, some romance, and all set in , so a historical setting. Jul 24, Linda rated it liked it. Normally I devour ghost stories. This one however came with a gruesome serial killer. The killings began 30 years ago. Back then, officer Matthew Ryan proved ineffective in ridding the streets of a frightful menace who moved invisibly among the people. Very abruptly the killings stop. Now it is Lieutenant Gabriel Ryan, son of the stymied Matthew Ryan who peruses the old cases desperate to glean even the smallest clue to help him keep the people safe.

The killing frenzy is happening again. Friend Normally I devour ghost stories. Friends introduce Gabe to Delia who can see ghosts. Other "seer's join the hunt.

DELIA'S SHADOW by Jaime Lee Moyer | Kirkus Reviews

Serial killer means multiple murder by the same hand. This story has a few to many of both for my taste. Add in an abundance of characters who also "see" the ghosts. They are the restless souls of a madman. As a consequence, I became weary to reach the end. In the end, we do know who but not the why which left me wanting. I do not say the author didn't connect all the dots here. I do say I felt a heaviness and cumbersome atmosphere throughout the entire read. The story runs flat and predictable. Dec 15, Maggie Boyd rated it really liked it Shelves: This was an interesting book about a young medium who is haunted by a ghost.

Determined to free herself of the apparition and convinced that can only happen in her hometown of San Francisco, she returns home. While this doesn't free her from the ghost, she is glad to be back in time for her best friend's wedding and to spend some time with her foster mother before that worthy lady passes on. While Delia is enjoying her reunion with family, Gabe, a detective, is struggling to find a horrible seri This was an interesting book about a young medium who is haunted by a ghost. While Delia is enjoying her reunion with family, Gabe, a detective, is struggling to find a horrible serial killer.

When he and Delia meet, the case is blown wide open; Delia's ghost has information relevant to the case. Delia and Gabe fall in love as the a killer stalks them in early 20th century San Francisco. Enjoyable characters, well written history and an interesting mystery made this book an easy, fun read. I'm not sure I will continue with the series but I certainly found this first book worth my time. Aug 09, Lynn Williams rated it really liked it. Actually, in fairness, and for those of you that don't like romance stories the romance, only plays second fiddle and probably creates more tension in point of fact!

Delia left home, chased out by the ghosts that were living around her. She found a brief respite whilst teaching in New York but all too soon the spooky spirits caught up with her and one in particular compelled her to return home. Delia has always 'seen dead people'. Curse or gift, you decide. On returning to her home town she quickly becomes embroiled in her best friends and almost sister's wedding to local policeman Jack. Delia's parents died in a terrible earthquake and subsequent fire and has since lived with her mother's best friend, Esther. On returning to San Francisco Delia is surprised to find Esther in the final throes of death and seemingly seeing the same spirits as Delia as the veil between life and death grows thin.

On top of this Jack and his friend, and superior, Gabe, are on the trail of a serial killer. A killer who first terrorised San Francisco during Game's father's years and then seemed to disappear. The killer has now returned and Gabe and Jack need to pick up his trail before he starts to hurt the people they love. I enjoyed this story. It's well written and has a lot in it's favour.

Ghosts, Victorian times, serial killer, light romance. I enjoyed that the author changes the point of view and doesn't focus just on Delia as I think this would become too much. I liked them but I wouldn't say I love them just yet. Isadora is probably my favourite - she's full of life and sarcasm and quite lights up the room or the chapter whenever she enters.

As it is, I think the story was more plot driven than character driven at this stage and that's not necessarily a bad thing or a criticism as there is certainly no lack of things going on. I really enjoy reading any story from the Victorian era - be it historical, thriller, steampunk or ghost story.

So I was really keen to read this book. I think in terms of this story the Victorian setting only plays a small part - again more plot led at this point. For me, I think that's a bit of a missed chance because there seems to be such an opportunity with this story to make everything so creepy and foreboding. We have the Victorian era and all that brings, the restrictions, the conventions, the underlying currents, footsteps in the fog!

Not to mention with this story plenty of ghosts! I wouldn't say I had any hair on the back of my neck standing up, look over your shoulder moments and maybe that's deliberate on the part of the author. Again, I still think the story is enough with this particular novel, like I mention, plenty going on, plus suspense and thrills. There is a particularly sinister serial killer and for me the intrigue was all about finding out who he was and what exactly was going on.

I think my real criticisms are that I didn't have a particular feel for the Victorian period, I don't particularly want a wealth of detail and I wonder whether some of the 'feel' was tempered down enough to allow characters behaviour to seem more reasonable. I also felt that throughout the novel - a lot of things could have been different if Delia had simply listened to the ghost that was haunting her. Whereas, she was too afraid of the consequences - which I understand - but, it's one of those conundrums. I also didn't feel like the serial killer was given plausibility - there was a brief explanation about Egyptian hieroglyphics but I never really felt it had any real substance and I wanted more.

Otherwise, on the whole, this was very gripping. I thought it was well written, certainly no question that the author can write, and I enjoyed the different perspectives and would definitely enjoy continuing to read about Delia. However I will say, that if you're looking for a haunting read, chilling and gothic - this might not be for you. Again, I think if you go into this knowing what to expect you'll be very pleasantly surprised. More a murder mystery, serial killer, hint of romance. I received a copy of this book for review from NetGalley in exchange for my own opinion.

Jul 02, Angie rated it really liked it Shelves: It's so gorgeous and perfectly fits the content within. Delia's Shadow is an honest to goodness ghost story. Shadow torments Delia with nightmares of her murder thirty years ago, a murder eerily similar to those of an uncaught serial killer who appears to be killing again, catapulting Delia into a hunt for the killer.

Moyer promises the reader a good old fashioned ghost story and murder mystery and she does not disappoint. I adored Moyer's writing. It's gorgeous, rich in detail and highly atmospheric. I also greatly admire the amount of research that must have gone into this book, I looked a few things up while reading and everything seemed to be spot on. Sometimes POV changes can be disruptive, but that wasn't the case here. They flowed seamlessly into each other and I enjoyed getting to see things from both characters.

For the most part I also really enjoyed how descriptive the scenes were. Although I haven't yet had a chance to visit San Francisco, it was easy to picture myself there through Moyer's descriptions of the architecture, weather and scenery. Moyer paints lovely visual scenes. Moyer kept me on my feet the entire time, accomplishing something incredibly rare in a mystery novel: I actually didn't figure out who the killer was until a paragraph before it was revealed. It was creepy in all the right places and her ghosts definitely had teeth.

I only had two major complaint about the plot. The first is is that we never get any real explanation about why Delia has the ability to see ghosts, or why she didn't see them after she moved. I really wish this had been explained more, but I'm hoping it will be more of a focus in later books.

The second is a pivotal scene that happens towards the end with Gabe that I felt was just too rushed through. It was one of those blink and you miss it scenes and lacked the emotional punch it should have had. As for the characters, Delia's Shadow is filled with tons of great ones, all well-developed and likable. Down to earth, brave, intelligent and with just the right amount of sass, she's one of my new favorites.

And of course I fell utterly in love with Gabe. He has an old-soul vibe and a quiet strength that charmed my socks off. I also really loved all of the the minor characters, Sadie especially. She was a breath of fresh air when things got too dark and a perfect balance for Delia. Of all the characters though, Isadora was my favorite. She's strong, unconventional and mysterious and I hope there is much more of her in the future. This is a group of people I would have loved to have been friends with. I especially enjoyed the romance between Gabe and Delia.

Despite the quick progression of their relationship, it felt completely organic. Given the high stakes environment they are thrown into and the amount of time they are spending together, it felt natural for them to fall in love so quickly. I also loved that their romance did not overshadow the more important aspects of the plot. It was just a quiet, steady presence that added rather than distracted. I really loved this book and I want ya'll to be excited about it too.

It was a wonderful debut and I look forward to getting my hands on a finished copy, as well as future books. Mar 30, Kristen rated it really liked it Shelves: This book was an unexpectedly delightful excellent read! I picked this up at the library while waiting for a lecture to begin, because the book I was already reading was not holding my attention. This sounded like it would be right up my alley, and it was! A little of everything you could want, really.

Delia’s Shadow: Ghosts, mystery, and good fun

The book starts out feeling like a pred This book was an unexpectedly delightful excellent read! The book starts out feeling like a predictable ghost-story, gentle romance. I wasn't sure in the first 20 or so pages if it would keep my attention to the end. But then, the author throws a rather terrifying, gruesome serial killer into the mix, and the story ratchets up the pace.

I loved all the characters in this book. Even the supporting people had personalities, real characteristics and backstories, and parts to play as the plot progressed. The author did a great job at making these people you really came to care about, and whom you rooted for, and worried about as the dangerous and frightening events played out throughout the story. Delia in particular connected with me. She sees ghosts - that's not a spoiler since the description tells you that - and although she would prefer not to, she is not whiny or hysterical about it.

She is instead a strong, capable, intelligent woman who deals with what life throws at her with dignity and patience, and she still manages to have strong, healthy relationships with the people in her life. I liked her a lot, and found her behaviours and reactions to be sensible and reasonable, even recognizing that the situations she was dealing with were often neither. The murder storyline was very engrossing. We don't find out the identity of the killer until late in the book, but the actions the murderer takes are shocking and terrifying, and keep the reader on the edge of their seat worrying what will happen next and who will, and won't survive.

The pacing of this book was absolutely just right! Perfect to keep you reading on to the next chapter, particularly as the book alternates between the perspectives of Delia and Gabriel so that we get to be with all the activities going on, some of which only Delia or Gabe are present for. It didn't detract from the story at all to have alternating narrators, and felt very natural and easy to follow for me. The ghost-story aspect is a neat addition to the events the book chronicles, and the involvement of the ghosts, as well as their impact on the living members of the situation added an extra layer of interest for me.

It fit and in ways helped to move the plot forward. The romance aspect is minor, and handled very gently and sweetly. Given the time period, and the fact that the characters are dealing with a vicious serial killer, having romantic moments, although they do happen, are not the main focus of the story. The romance between two couples does, however help to break some of the tension of the search for the killer, and help to flesh out the characters and connect them to the reader, so it fits in nicely as a component of the book Finally, the setting of San Francisco shortly after the earthquake was a fun aspect for me as well.

San Fran isn't a location I've read a lot about, but it made sense in relation to some of the aspects of the story, and just felt like something a bit different. I wasn't sure what to expect when I picked this up, but I am very glad I did. I pretty much enjoyed everything about it, and am looking forward to reading the additional books following Delia and company that are already out. If they are as good as this one was, I look forward to more great reading with these characters. Jul 26, Diamond rated it liked it Shelves: I was very excited to come across Delia's Shadow because it seemed to have that rare mix of genres: Historical Fiction set in early s San Fransisco, Paranormal woman who sees ghosts , mystery, and thriller combined.

I was hoping for a very atmospheric novel that would take me back in time and creepy me out at the same time. Delia's Shadow definitely delivered that and more. My problems with this novel actually came at the beginning. Once I got to know her a bit more and other characters were introduced I got more attached to the story. Delia is arriving at the train station in San Fransisco after being in New York for 3 years. She left her home in San Fran to avoid her "ghosts" which were so prevalent in Sam Fran but that nonetheless followed her to New York. It was once ghost in particular Delia names her Shadow who shows up by her bed in New York and doesn't leave Delia's side no matter what she does.

She feels a compulsion to help this ghost but doesn't know how; until she goes back home, then things start to fall into place. I really enjoyed the mystery aspect oft his novel.

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• Delia's Shadow (Delia's Shadow, book 1) by Jaime Lee Moyer.

Things kept surprising me and as soon as I thought I knew who the killer was or why things were happening, I would be taken by surprise and proven wrong. I also really enjoyed the character development. The secondary characters such as Annie the housemaid and Isadora the gypsy fortune teller were so lovable and I found myself delighted to be caring so deeply for 7 characters within a page book.

One peculiar thing about this novel is the switches in narration from chapter to chapter. We mostly get Delia's narration which is told in first person. However, from the beginning we also get Gabe's narration which is from 3rd person. I know this bothered a lot of people and I can't say I hated it it I do recognize a lot of the smoothness issues I think were due to this. I'm not sure why the author chose to do this but I can't help but feel maybe it would've been better to keep it uniform. I did enjoy having Gabe's perspective though.

The romance between Sadie and Jack, and the developing romance between Delia and Gabe was really nice. In fact, it's what made the book for me. This book does have a lot of graphic, gory scenes with the murders and the description of the murders is very vivid.

That didn't bother me, but the added romance and friendships really helped make the book more well rounded. I will say, if you're someone who doesn't enjoy reading violent murder stories, maybe pass on this book. It's definitely an adult novel, so expect an adult mystery thrillers amount of violence and that's where this stands. The only reason I'm giving this 3 stars besides the narration bumps is because of the ending. Don't get me wrong, I was satisfied with the ending overall. However, I felt that the author did such a good job throughout the novel with the twists and turns, i was expecting the ending to have another big twist or surprise.

When it didn't it sort of fell short for me. Perhaps she could've had more twists occur towards the end instead of none at the end. Anyway I loved the feel of the early s San Fran with ghosts and creepy Victorian houses, filled with the creepiness of a psychotic murderer who is always one step ahead! I'm definitely holding my breath for the sequel.

I can't wait to read more of Delia Martin and her ghosts! Aug 21, Jennifer rated it really liked it Shelves: The time period, or nine years after the great quake destroyed San Francisco--is often times overlooked in these times of books. Sadie and I eased her mother down on the pillows and tucked the coverlet around her. I kissed Esther on the cheek again. Would you like that? Calm was far from how I felt. Esther shut her eyes, tears pooling in the corners. They told me you died in the quake. She thought I was my mother. I fled into the hallway, exhausted and unable to bear more.

Sadie murmured to Esther, soothing her as you would a small child, and shame joined grief. Sadie had borne the burden alone for nearly three years. Hugging arms over my chest did little to warm me. The air in the hallway had turned so cold I expected to see my breath cloud. Shadow stood at the end of the hall, keeping her distance from the bedroom door, but positioned to keep me in sight.

She glided a step closer, hand extended. I stepped back, shaking my head. Find another way to tell me. Find a way to speak so I can understand. Then she was gone. Gone for now, but I knew not forever. I slumped against the wall, shivering in the lingering chill. Sadie stepped into view and closed the bedroom door softly. She leaned against the wall with me, offering companionship.

Dee, I have to ask…the girl Mama saw in the doorway…. She chewed her lip for a moment and nodded. Sadie understood the implications perfectly. Annie will feed you and then you can get some sleep. Sadie raised an eyebrow, looking down on me from her height advantage of two and one quarter inches. Food and sleep would help set things right; just as long as I could swallow past the lump in my throat. And I had Jack to help. Spirits would find me no matter where I was and I needed to face up to that. Whatever the reason she led me home, I was grateful. We reached the bottom of the stairs and my stomach rumbled loudly enough to make Sadie laugh.

She slipped an arm around my shoulders. Jack and I have talked about marriage for a long time, but we only made it official last Friday. We both agreed to skip the engagement party and go straight to the wedding. I paused at the kitchen door. Annie always knew everything that went on in the house, but I still lowered my voice.

People much older than either of us wilted when she turned that look on them. Six weeks might be all the time I have to spare. I pushed open the kitchen door and held it for her. Afterward we should visit a seamstress to see about a wedding dress. Making a dress and fittings will take the longest, so we should see to that immediately. I gave her a gentle shove into the kitchen and put on a smile for Annie. My heart was too full, all the words I could have said in answer gone. Leaving home had been a mistake. This time I was inside her skin. Shadow rushed down streets grey with fog, cold seeping through the thin soles of her shoes and numbing her toes.

The night was moonless and darker for it. People hurried past, vague shapes that loomed into view and disappeared again, heads down and bundled against the chill. Fog deadened the sound of footsteps, the creak of wagons and harness. Hissing gas-lamps stood on corners, a small oasis of yellow light puddled on damp brick sidewalks. She crossed a street and Shadow looked behind, the feel of someone watching tickling the back of her neck.

He kept his head down like all the other people on the street. She saw him turn a corner, no doubt in a hurry to reach home and a fire. Shadow pulled her shawl tighter, the deeper cold near the wharfs making her wish for her heavy wrap. Fishing boats rocked gently on the incoming tide. Mooring ropes groaned as they pulled tight and water sloshed against the hull. Saturday nights were busy at the tavern. Sean had given her a quarter for staying an extra shift and offered the use of the cot behind the kitchen.

More than cold made her walk faster. Shadow tried not to think of the stories men told over mugs of beer and glasses of whiskey. Darkness pressed in as the alley narrowed. She wrapped a chapped hand around the cross at her throat, muttering prayers under her breath. A cat yowled, running from between two houses and across her path. Shadow touched her face and drew away bloody fingers. She found the scrap of handkerchief in her pocket and worked it out, careful not to spill her hard-earned coins on the ground.

Shadow moistened the handkerchief with her tongue, scrubbing at her fingers and walking faster. The streetlamp at the end of the narrow alley, a beacon marking the street and the last block home, blinked out. Tall and broad shouldered, a man stepped out of the mist, standing toe to toe with Shadow before she saw him. She stared, heart pounding in terror and breath coming in gasping sobs. I scrabbled off the bed, running from a threat that began to fade as soon as my eyes opened.

My feet tangled in sheets and the hem of my nightgown, tripping me. Slamming into the table next to the bed tipped the lamp, but I caught the heavy brass-base before the whole thing crashed to the ground. Light chased away more panic, enough that I stopped wanting to flee the room. The house was still silent with sleep. Shaking, gulping air and crying, I huddled in the overstuffed chair, grateful not to have an audience for my humiliation and the privacy to sort through what had just happened. The dreams had started in New York, mere glimpses of Shadow hurrying down a darkened street or following me wherever I went.

Urgency had always been there, coupled with fear and panic and the need to get away. Details of those dreams were as fuzzy and murky as the fog. The sense of urgency, that there was something vital I need do, increased until the day I knew I had to come home. Distance played a part in the dreams being fragmented and unclear.

Shadow stood at the foot of my bed, hands folded at her waist. Watching and waiting for me to speak. Shadow needed someone, needed me, to know why. Gabe unbuttoned his suit coat and let the front hang open. Each step kicked up water droplets that soaked into the cuffs of his trousers and the tops of his socks. His feet were getting wet inside his shoes. This early in the day the Presidio was empty of visitors wanting to pay their respects to fallen solders. A crisp breeze blew off the bay, the air cold enough at the top of the hill that Gabe decided against abandoning the jacket for shirtsleeves.

His squad worked efficiently if somberly, voices subdued and their normal gallows humor missing. Jack stood in the shade of a redwood not more than fifty feet away, questioning the man who found the bodies and scribbling notes in the battered moleskine he kept in his pocket. The gravedigger was older, his dark hair gone mostly grey and skin sun-creased.

He twisted his cap in shaking hands and kept his back to the murder victims. Death was harder to confront outside a sealed casket. The Army brass scowled, his opinion of civilians investigating a crime on his base and infringing on his territory clear. All the old man would remember then was the blood. Gabe left his partner to prying loose information. He walked a slow circle around the dead couple, always careful to stay clear of the patrolman taking photographs with a folding Kodak.

His father taught Gabe that was how the toughest crimes were solved, gathering and piecing together odd fragments of information until you had the picture clear in your mind. Focusing on details let him ignore the sewer stench of punctured bowels that filled each breath, coating his tongue. Thinking about anything but how the bodies were posed was a rookie mistake. Gabe swallowed away the burning in the back of his throat and vowed to keep his breakfast down. The man and woman lay on their sides facing each other, hands bound behind their backs.

Neither one wore shoes or stockings. Skin was scraped raw and bloody around the ropes at both wrists and ankles.

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Gabe swallowed again, suddenly reminded of animals gnawing off their own legs to escape a trap. Strips of red fabric were rolled and stuffed into their mouths to muffle screams. Each scream did more damage, drew more blood. The wounds Gabe saw were non-lethal, shallow stab wounds inflicted for pain and not to kill; not right away.

The killer never meant for them to die quickly or easily. The symbol carved into their foreheads, a circle divided into quarters, matched marks on the first two victims found; a man in Chinatown and a woman near the Ferry Building. He wanted to send a message and make sure the police took him seriously. The tall and skinny young rookie broke away from a line of men searching between headstones and trotted across the grass. As soon as Baker finishes taking his photographs, cover them up. The coroner and his men will be along soon. Gather a few of the officers to give them a hand getting the stretchers down the hill.

The one sending the letters. Gabe stuffed his hands deep into his pockets and took his time strolling to where the captain and Jack waited. The captain meant to force a confrontation of some kind and throw his weight around. Summoning Gabe like a private caught sneaking out after curfew guaranteed the captain would get exactly what he wanted. The mayor and the base commandant were old friends. Getting in a row with a high-ranking officer would come back on him, right or wrong.

The look Jack gave him was a mixture of warning and exasperation. Lieutenant Ryan is the detective in charge of the investigation. Irwin appeared to be about forty, tall and well-muscled, compact and not going soft around the middle. Squint lines surrounding pale-blue eyes and skin tanned to the color of tobacco spoke of days spent outdoors, not sitting at a desk. A training officer perhaps, accustomed to barking orders and instant obedience.

Jittery bounces on his toes and a disapproving scowl made his annoyance plain. He forced a smile and stuck his hand out. Is there something I can do for you? His schedule calls for speeches at fourteen-hundred hours, a wreath laying ceremony and escorting everyone to the fair once the ceremony is complete. I have a squad waiting to set up the podium and chairs. Your men are smack in the middle of where they need to work. Jack tapped the edge of his notebook with a chewed pencil, a sure sign he was tense or on the verge of losing his patience.

He insisted on speaking to someone in authority. He had a hunch; he wanted to be wrong. The Presidio is a big place. Surely you can find another suitable location for the colonel to give his speech. He never really looked at the dead couple or saw how their heads lined up precisely with the grave markers. The killer wanted to send a message all right, but he might be the only one listening. They both feel the police are best equipped to find this killer.

My men know what to look for, Captain. Irwin glowered, pulled himself up straight and smacked his riding crop against his leg repeatedly, a pose designed to put the fear of God and Captain into young troopers. That he thought intimidation would work on Gabe was almost amusing. Henderson directed two patrolmen to help lift the blanket-shrouded bodies.

Rigor mortis had set in before the couple was found, making the task easier. The woman was easier to move, slightly built and not very tall. Gabe saw a scrap of blue flutter in the grass. The wind sent the envelope tumbling across the hilltop, sticking in blades of grass for an instant and whirling in the air again. Marshall Henderson reacted first, already in hot pursuit before he could yell. Henderson caught the envelope within a few seconds.

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He pinched the blue square tight between two fingers, turning it to examine both sides. Color bleached from his face. You need to see this. He left Jack to deal with Irwin and met his promising rookie halfway. Gabe wrapped the envelope in his handkerchief, tucked the note in a jacket pocket and buttoned the flap. He had cotton gloves and fingerprint powder in his desk.

Nothing had shown up on any of the other letters, but he kept hoping overconfidence would make the killer sloppy. His men knew their jobs and could finish up without him. He strode past Irwin without a word or a glance, his mouth dry and his heart pounding. The killer was raising the stakes, making this personal. Jack caught up before Gabe got more than a hundred yards down the hill.

His partner tucked the ever present moleskine into an inside pocket, whistling a cheerful tune. The song was a hit in the saloons and bawdy houses near the docks, the lyrics lewd and not fit for decent company. Undoubtedly in poor taste considering the situation. Some of the tension bled out of his shoulders and he unclenched his fists. The air was clean away from the murder site, filled with the familiar seaweed and sand scent of the bay, the smell of pinesap and wet grass crushed underfoot.

Noise from the Pan Pacific carried into the Presidio, voices and music an insect drone in the distance. Fog built an iron-grey wall outside the Golden Gate, biding its time until sunset. The killer would bide his time too, using darkness and murk as cover to hunt.

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Gabe paused to let the stretcher bearers get ahead and watched them go. They deserve a decent burial. Sunlight glinted off the windscreen of the black motorcar and the wire-spoke wheels. Gabe still preferred buggies, but the Chief was determined to replace all the horse drawn vehicles the department owned with automobiles.

He and Jack ambled downhill, neither of them in any hurry to overtake the procession of stretchers. The fire took Victoria and his unborn child from him. Gabe opened the car door and waved Jack inside. But it tells me this man is still a step ahead and knows more about us than we know about him. Frankly, that gives me the willies. The car jerked away from the curb, gears whining as the driver followed the twisting road that led off the base and back into the city.

Gabe leaned his head back and tipped his hat over his eyes. Thinking, trying to put the puzzle together. He lifted the brim of the hat and looked his partner in the eye. See if you can get her to agree. Gabe thought of Victoria and pulled the hat back over his eyes. Do whatever it takes to get Sadie to agree to police protection. Knowing his men were watching over Sadie would let him sleep better. Fanning myself with one of the brochures on the showroom table moved little air and did less to relieve the heat.

Her square hands were smaller than mine, nails trimmed short to keep from snagging the fabrics, and pale against the dark wood frame. Would you like a cup of tea? I was adrift in a sea of swatches, pearl buttons and bobbin lace, following where she led. Shadow stood near me, hands pressed to her stomach and eyes all too aware. Closeness to home and the life ripped away from her had to be the reason why. She watched buggies and motorcars pass on the street with great interest, studied the faces of people walking past the windows and the few women who came into the shop. Looking for someone, perhaps searching for a face she knew.

Ghosts mingled with the people on the sidewalk, going about their business as they had in life.

Some areas of the city were thick with restless dead and in others I never saw a spirit. None but my personal ghost. She never left me for long. I watched Shadow, mulling over my nightmare and trying to understand what she wanted from me. The need to discover all I could about her was growing stronger, becoming a compulsion. Accepting that the ghost was real and haunting me was hard enough; that she might be influencing my thoughts made me uncomfortable.

All that kept me from contemplating the possibility of insanity was that Esther had seen her too. The door to the dressing suite swung open and Sadie finally appeared. Tears filled my eyes and I forgave all the waiting. Sadie stepped up onto a round platform centered in front of a wall lined with mirrors. Mademoiselle Fouche shook out the full silk skirts of the wedding dress, settling the lace overlay into place. Long organdy sleeves reached her wrists.

Trailing behind from shop to shop was worth seeing her so radiant. She stepped back, smiling broadly and obviously pleased. You will be a most beautiful bride, Miss Larkin. A few small alterations and it will be as if the dress was made just for you. I can have it ready for you within the month. Excuse me while I write up the order and prepare the bill.