Silent Gavel by Merissa Racine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I have never read a book quite like this one! Lauren Besoner is a court stenographer who is trying to start fresh after a recent divorce. She soon finds herself accused of murdering a local judge. In a page-turning whodunit, author Merissa Racine kept me thoroughly engrossed with secrets and reveals. I love, love a smart female main character!
Shadows of Doubt by Merissa Racine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Shadows of Doubt (A Crawford Mystery) by Merissa Racine is the second installment in the Crawford Mystery series. In book 2 we continue to follow Lauren, court stenographer, further into her new job as she now works for her ex-husband who takes his place as judge. This time, when her town of Crawford is faced with a murder, she must either do what she is being paid to do, or go with her gut instincts. I totally appreciate the portrayal of strong and smart women protagonists, and Lauren has quickly become a favorite of mine. I started out with little knowledge of legal matters, but had no problems becoming engrossed in this story from book 1. The author is knowledgeable of the legal process, but writes it in a way that is engrossing, as well as believable. I fully recommend this series and hope there is a book 3!
Shadows of Doubt by Merissa Racine
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I did not know the life of a stenographer till now. Lauren is now freelancing with her stenographer position. She was doing a deposition for a Lady who ended up dying the next night. Now she is back in the court scene since the person who took her position had a baby and on maternity leave. Lauren is back to investigating while doing her job to help figure out what happened to her. During all of this, she still is haunted from what happened in the first book, and unraveling secrets she didn’t think would ever come out. She gains friends with a little drama while keeping her family relationships close. This is a great mystery series.
Reviewed by @ash18235
Silent Gavel by Merissa Racine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Silent Gavel (A Crawford Mystery Book 1) by Merissa Racine is the page-turning opener of a two book courtroom series. Lauren Besoner is a courtroom stenographer and, after moving to Wyoming, finds herself in the middle of a murder that she did not commit. This author is a court stenographer in real life (also in Wyoming!), so the writing is reliable as well as compelling. The characters in this book are well-written, and it is easy to imagine being in the middle of this story. The story makes you think and keeps you on the edge of your seat! I thoroughly enjoyed following Lauren’s story and cannot wait to dig into book 2!
Silent Gavel by Merissa Racine
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book took me for a mystery ride! Lauren Besoner is a stenographer in Crawford County and hasn’t been working there for that long yet. She went to pick up her Judge to a hearing in a different town to find her dead in her home. From there, she’s first suspect since she was the one to find her, but she goes to to prove her innocence to find all the facts. This includes her relationship with her ex-husband, keeping up with her job, and trying not to be the next victim. This was a great mystery to read and went straight to the second book when I was done.
Reviewed by @ash18235
Shadows of Doubt by Merissa Racine
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Another page turner! Lauren is smack dab in the middle of another mystery. I love how Merissa Racine makes the whole story so realistic: in how Lauren follows the clues and in how she builds her story. I could read a dozen more Crawford Mysteries (and another dozen after that)! An amazing author who writes great characters! One of my absolute new favorites.
Shadows of Doubt by Merissa Racine
The story follows Lauren, a stenographer in small town Crawford, Wyoming, who uses the insight from her position to find the justice she wants to see served – but can her suspicions prove to be true before her friend’s nephew is charged with murder?
I had my suspicions on whether he was innocent or not. Merissa Racine does an incredible job making you go back and forth on your opinion.
What I wasn’t prepared for was for Lauren to uncover the truth at the perfect time.
The tension leading up to the final moment is absolutely delicious. This book will have your mind racing to find the killer and the motive but nothing can prepare you for the truth.
Silent Gavel by Merissa Racine
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Worth every star! I was hooked from the first line. Merissa Racine sets the perfect small town Wyoming scene when Lauren, a court reporter, enters the Judge’s house to see why she’s running late for a court appearance and walks in on her bloody body laying on the ground – making Lauren suspect number one.
I’m a sucker for a good thriller and this book is no exception. It was easy to relate to the characters and really cool to see the insight from someone inside the legal system work to prove her own innocence.
I highly recommend this novel for an intriguing page turner that you won’t be able to put down!
Shadows of Doubt by Merissa Racine
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Shadows of Doubt was such a great read! The main character, Lauren, was very relatable and it was easy to root for her as she navigated her new life as a single woman. The story was fast paced and kept me on the edge of my seat with all of its twists and turns. As soon as I thought I had this one figured out, something else happened to make me realize Merissa Racine was still two steps ahead! The ending was definitely a shocker and I hope there are more installments of the Crawford Mystery series.
Shadows of Doubt by Merissa Racine
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is the second book in this mystery series by this author. I found it to be just as enjoyable and suspenseful as the first one. In fact, maybe just a little bit more. I love mystery novels. I especially love mystery novels with women doing the investigating. More so when they are not “the investigator” but go out on their own to solve the crime. I thought that this story was very well written. I was on the edge of my seat throughout most of it. I couldn’t put it down, so I was up almost all night reading just to finish this book. I love the way she captivates the reader with her characterization that literally makes me feel like I am writing the story. I must admit that the ending was so not what I was expecting it to be and that blew me away because it was such a plot twist. I highly recommend you pick up this book. But, before you do, make sure that you read book one in the series. I feel as that will be beneficial to you to know and understand the story and characters.
Shadows of Doubt by Merissa Racine
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is a very good crime mystery, I really enjoyed it. There is a lot of detail in the plot, but it is never difficult to keep it all straight, nor veering into boredom with monotony. I do find other books bore me with too many details, but this one was just right. The twists of the plot were very interesting, and definitely kept me guessing. Racine’s writing style is very engrossing, and seemed very realistic in the level of detail about Lauren’s stenography job and how the courtroom works. Great job!
Reviewed by @ericalorraine
View all my reviews
Shadows of Doubt by Merissa Racine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Merissa Racine has written an incredible thrillery cozy mystery. The MC Lauren is a stenographer, who is a very well-developed character. I have not come across a cozy mystery where the MC was in this career. It was a very interesting look into the career. The mystery was well thought out. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
Shadows of Doubt by Merissa Racine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is a really enjoyable read. I found the mystery really interesting and even though I haven’t read the first book in the series I did not feel lost in any way, the characters were likable and fun to read and felt real and relatable.
Lauren is a stenographer in need of a bit of cash, and as such ends up accepting a job offer from her ex-husbands who is acting as a judge on a pretty mahoosive case. Faced with a little choice Lauren takes the job, only to quickly realise that some shady shenanigans may be afoot and that the things going down the courtroom may only be the tip of the proverbial iceberg.
I really enjoyed this and thought that Racine’s writing was gripping. Really recommend this for anyone that loves a good mystery.
Shadows of Doubt by Merissa Racine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Lauren is struggling to survive at the moment, but when the biggest murder case her little town as ever seen she is in the thick of it with her being a court stenographer, but as the trial is going on Lauren is starting to have doubts if the person they have actually committed the murder.
As Lauren starts looking into the case it becomes more apparent that the wrong person is being charged but can she uncover the true murderer or will she be put in more danger as she goes through.
I have not read the first book but found that I had not missed any of the story, possible it would help with a bit more background between Lauren and her ex-husband but it did not distract from the story. I loved the mystery and the twists and turns that the author created within the story which had you guessing and following along with Lauren picking up the clues along the way.
The story was well written and developed and the characters offer a depth to the book which I found interesting and engaging. I can not wait to read the next book in this series and will also like to read the first book.
Shadows of Doubt by Merissa Racine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Merissa Racine has done it again. This is the second book in her Crawford Mystery series and I’d have to say that this may be better than the first. I would recommend reading these books in sequence so you have a better character build. Lauren is force not to be reckoned with. She is a little ball of fire! I think I am so drawn to this character because I had always wanted to be a court reporter so by reading about her life, I am able to see what might have been (even though I don’t think so much drama would follow in real life, LOL) like to have actually been a court reporter. If you a fan of cozy mysteries and like to be kept on the edge of you seat and not worried about sleep, then I would say run run run to your nearest book seller and check this out!
Silent Gavel by Merissa Racine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This wonderful storyline examines a mystery intertwined with the justice system. One minute I felt like I knew what would come next only to be surprised by a twist in the story. The characters were well written and easy to visualize throughout the book. This was a great read and I was glad I had the next book on hand.
Shadows of Doubt by Merissa Racine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The second book in Racine’s series was as good as the first. Racine brought the primary characters back and further developed new characters through the story. A peek into the justice system and good people was a nice touch, even if I was unsure of how it would end. Racine was able to create a story and characters that made me questions my perspective of good and bad.
Shadows of Doubt by Merissa Racine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A great mystery with loads of suspense. Lauren is reporting on the biggest murder trial of her career. Lauren starts to believe that the person on trial is not the real culprit. She decides that she must get to the bottom of the murder. And then when a second murder occurs Lauren realizes she was right but will it be too late.
Shadows of Doubt: A Crawford Mystery by Merissa Racine
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Second installment of the series, great spin on murder mystery novel.
Loved this book. As someone who knows a bit of the legal process I enjoyed seeing it play out on the page and how Lauren’s character contributed to finding out the truth. I could see how that legal process could be seen as slower reading to the casual reader though. I do think there were confidentiality issues that arose but it certainly made for some good drama in the story.
I enjoyed getting to know more about Lauren’s family history and back story. We get to meet her dad and we get to see more of Aunt Kate and Uncle Jake. We don’t get to see as much of Sam in this installment but his appearances are never dull. I enjoyed Eli, the defense attorney, and the side conversations Lauren and he share.
This book follows in the firsts footsteps with me not having guessed the end result but thoroughly enjoying the conclusion.
Hope there’s a book 3 in the works; I look forward to reading it if so.
Shadows of Doubt by Merissa Racine
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Let me just say Yowzah!! I never go into a second book really expecting it to out preform book one but ‘Shadow of Doubt’ by Merissa Racine really out preformed my expectations. I absolutely loved the way she took her characters over the top! You really get to see who her characters are. The story development is well planned and progresses at the right moments. I really enjoyed the story as it had a little of everything.
Silent Gavel by Merissa Racine
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Lauren Besoner has a long line of bad life decisions and a long thread of unpleasant happenings in her life. She makes the decision to leave it all behind and move back home. She is resilient, strong and determined to have a better life. When she meets the handsome, charismatic, hard working Detective Sam Overstreet will sparks fly and set their worlds on fire?
Merissa Racine leave no detail unwritten making the movie reel play in your mind as you ready this heart pounding, suspenseful, unpredictable mystery!
A page turner that has a little of something for everyone. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am happy I have book two, “Shadow of Doubt” queued up and ready to go!!
Shadows of Doubt: A Crawford Mystery by Merissa Racine
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Another hit! Shadows of Doubt: A Crawford Mystery by Merissa Racine is an excellent second installment! We pickup following small town court reporter Lauren, who is closely tied to another murder in town. When someone is arrested and tried, she just isn’t so sure they have the right man. Can she help unravel the mystery?
I really enjoyed this story and again found Racine’s writing style to flow so well, keeping me engaged and turning the page. Do yourself a favor and pick this one up (and any others she writes)!
Silent Gavel by Merissa Racine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Interesting take on investigative who-did-it mystery
This one started off slow for me, but once it ramped up in the second half, I was hooked. This book is written in the second person format and I have come to find those stories harder for me to be swept away with because I feel so removed.
I did enjoy getting to know Lauren and the roll of a stenographer in the court proceedings. While we get to meet the Detective in his official capacity here, with viewing Lauren as the suspect, I do like him as a character and hope to see more, and see if he develops into a love interest down the line. I also loved Aunt Kate’s farm and the mention of alpacas. I enjoyed the tenderness that Maverick and Percy brought out in the other characters and that animals had such a prominent role in Lauren’s life.
I do feel that the story was dragged out a bit more than it needed to be, with lots of conversations that didn’t have much bearing on the storyline and furthering the plot, but did feel like an accurate depiction of what would occur in real life. I did not see that ending coming, nor did I suspect who the killer was. Talk about something coming out of left field! However it didn’t feel so impossible for it to have been that person either.
Can’t wait to see what will occur in book 2!
Shadows of Doubt by Merissa Racine
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I just… wow I normally dislike mysteries! I think they are either too cliche or too boring. But not the Crawford Mystery series!!!! Ahhhh!!! Merissa Racine is amazing!! I read the first book first (like a normal person), but I think this could be a good standalone.
So in the first book, we meet everyone and get great story, in the book, ITS WONDERFUL STORY!!!! I could not picture anything that was going to happen and I just loved this books so much. (Upcoming little spolier) following Lauren’s ups and downs after her first run in with a murder was a good look into how skeptical and curious she is. And when Sam and her FINALLY get everything in the open I was so happy!!!
@karenmmarsh
Shadows of Doubt by Merissa Racine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Shadows of Doubt, the second book in the series A Crawford Mystery by Melissa Racine is just as good as her first book. Although each book could be read as a standalone, it sure helps to know what the main character Lauren went through in the first book. In this second book we find Lauren is now a freelance stenographer. Due to her freelance work being not steady work, Lauren agrees to be the court reporter for her ex-husband… This second book has great character like the first book, plot twists, and Lauren questioning whether she should look for the killer herself. I have really enjoyed this series. I’m sure I’ll be checking for new books by Ms. Racine!
Silent Gavel by Merissa Racine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Silent Gavel (A Crawford Mystery Book 1) by Melissa Racine caught my attention from the start. Lauren, a court reporter, finds the Judge she works for murdered one morning when they are supposed to be on the road to a trial in another district. Soon after the police and other emergency vehicles arrive, Lauren is answering questions about why she was there and she begins feeling uneasy about the direction the questions are heading. At one point after frustrated, Lauren starts a list of suspects to find who really did it. This book is full of great characters, some plot twists, a couple of dogs, and kept me guessing as to who the real killer might be. Overall, I really enjoyed the book.
Shadows of Doubt: A Crawford Mystery by Merissa Racine
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Shadow of Doubt was just as good as the first book in the series. I look forward to more books by Merissa Racine, as I loved both books in the Crawford Mystery series. I really would love to know if the author wrote this from experience (not all the details, but assisting solve a big case). This book could be read as a stand alone, but you would be missing a lot of the background information. Also the first book is really great, so why skip it? The main character Lauren is brilliant, but is currently freelancing and desperate for money. So desperate, she takes a job working along side her ex husband daily. As if that weren’t enough stress, Lauren once again finds herself in the center of a major crime in her little town. On top of that, she has taken it upon herself to play detective and try to prove the innocence of a man on trial for murder. This book is action packed, and once again, has some twists and turns along the way that caught me off guard. I love that the real murderer was not at all who we suspect it will be. Well done Racine!
Reviewed by @way2gosmartguy
Silent Gavel by Merissa Racine
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Silent Gavel is my first Merissa Racine book, but it won’t be my last. I was instantly hooked and didn’t want to put it down. It is the first book in the Crawford Mystery series, and is a page turner. It is action packed from the very beginning and kept me on the edge of my seat. Lauren finds her boss dead, and soon becomes the lead suspect. She begins playing detective to try to prove her innocents, and while she has many possible suspects in mind, the cops are zeroed in on her. This book is full of surprises and action packed. Relationship drama, ex cons, unemployment, jealousy, the works. I loved all the characters and how they were brought to life. I was shocked to learn who the killer was, as they were not even on my radar (or Lauren’s for that matter). I hope to see some romantic sparks between Lauren and Sam (detective) in the next book. Highly recommend this one!
Side note, I thought it was really cool to learn the author is a stenographer, like the lead in this book.
Reviewed by @way2gosmartguy
Shadows of Doubt by Merissa Racine
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Merissa Racine has done it again! Shadows of Doubt is the second novel in the Crawford Mystery series, and it was a can’t-put-it-down read!
I would highly recommend reading the first book in the series to get a feel for the main character, Lauren, and what she does as a court stenographer.
In this second book, Lauren has grown from her experiences in the first novel and is ready to figure out yet another mystery that has happened in the town of Crawford.
If you enjoy thriller novels or mystery novels (or both like me) then you will love this series!
Merissa has taken a job not many know about and has written it into a novel series that makes you want to keep reading more, not only for the mystery and who-dun-it storyline but also to learn about an important behind-the-scenes job in the court system.
I cannot wait until the next book in the series comes out as it will be high on my priority list to read! I already know it will be even better than this one!
Shadows of Doubt by Merissa Racine
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Shadows of Doubt (A Crawford Mystery) by Merissa Racine was a great second installment in the Crawford Mystery series. Once again we follow Lauren, who is now working as a freelance court reporter, as she is thrust into the Archer family drama. Shadows of a Doubt once again pulls you into trying to solve the who-done-it mystery. Merissa successfully sets up the story line, question and makes you guess who the murderer is, and shocks you at the end. I found that I couldn’t put the book down and kept wanting more. I hope to continue following Lauren, Sam, and all the townspeople of Crawford.
