Barry Finlay’s Shadows of Truth follows Jake Scott, his partner Dani, and her daughter Emilie on what is supposed to be a relaxing Alaskan cruise. But almost from the moment they set sail, the trip takes a darker turn. When a fellow passenger is found dead on the balcony next door, Dani, head of Ottawa’s Homicide Division, can’t shake her suspicion that it was no accident. As the ship glides through breathtaking scenery, Dani quietly investigates, unearthing unsettling connections and running into resistance from the ship’s crew. What begins as a holiday turns into a slow-burning mystery at sea, blending moments of lighthearted travelogue with the tension of an unfolding crime.

I loved how immersive the cruise setting felt. Finlay paints it with vivid detail, from the ship’s bustling dining halls and over-the-top entertainment to the quiet, salty nights on the balcony. The dialogue feels natural. Jake’s dry humor made me grin more than once, and Dani’s calm competence grounded the story. At the same time, I found the pacing deliberately unhurried, which matched the cruise setting. The murder mystery simmers beneath layers of shipboard life, and that contrast works, though it sometimes feels like the crime takes a back seat to the vacation.

What really hooked me was Dani herself. She’s methodical, perceptive, and quietly relentless, even when others want her to let it go. I felt her frustration when leads went cold or when official channels seemed more interested in avoiding bad publicity than finding the truth. Jake, on the other hand, is endearingly out of his element, torn between wanting to support Dani and just wanting to enjoy the trip. Their dynamic felt genuine, equal parts affection, exasperation, and mutual respect. The mystery is clever in how it teases possible motives and suspects without dumping everything at once.

Shadows of Truth is a solid and atmospheric mystery with characters who feel like people you might actually meet on a cruise. It’s perfect for readers who enjoy slower-paced, character-driven mysteries where the setting is as much a part of the story as the plot. If you like your crime fiction laced with travel, humor, and the occasional glass of wine on a moonlit deck, this is a trip worth taking.

Pages: 269 | ASIN : B0FLWN2XCD