Long Shadows: A brand-new gripping supernatural thriller (Elizabeth Cage, Book 3)

Where on earth to start? First off, DO NOT start the series with this book, it is complicated enough for those of us who have read the preceding books, for a new reader I think it would be almost impossible. Elizabeth Cage was a very boring, ordinary, housewife, married to the head of security for a local research facility. But she has a secret, she can see people's auras (or colours as she describes it) and that can give her insights into people's emotions and whether they are lying. After her husband's death, Elizabeth is pursued by the sinister head of research, Sorenson. Elizabeth thinks she has found some form of equilibrium/ mutually assured destruction with Sorenson so she and Michael Jones (a shadowy MI5-type character) take a long-overdue holiday in Scotland. Unfortunately, despite their best plans, Elizabeth's 'gift' leads them into conflict almost immediately. Someone else has said they couldn't describe the plot because 'spoilers'. Suffice it to say this book contains: a hunky secret agent type with witty repartee, a huge sword, a smelly dog, Christmas, several ghosts, ancient gods, demons, murders, kidnapping, and a date. And of course, long dark shadows. It was mad, gripping, funny, scary, and sweet all at once. Loved it.

Number three in the Elizabeth Cage series with White Silence (book 1) and Dark Light (book 2) and as good as the first two books, which I also rated a 5. Whilst you can read each as a stand alone, they are more enjoyable and you understand the funny references better if you read all three in the order they have been written. Jodi Taylor is a delight as an author, someone whom I found six months ago and I have now read all of her Chronicles of St Mary books (time travel and history with a lot of funny bits) and Frogmorton Farm ( sort of adult fantasy/magic fiction stories - but don't let that put off, it is a great series). I would rate Jodi Taylor in one of my top 10 authors to go to now. I read voraciously, so to find a new author that has a great imagination, writes interesting and unusual books and has a huge sense of humour, which she brings to her stories is wonderful. And her characters are strong and not wishy washy. I hate simpering, stupid females and stereotyped genders, which she does not do. Highly recommended.

Exceptional, as always, with a twist and turn I couldn't even have begun to predict. Can't wait for the next one. Bravo, Jodi. another masterpiece.