On the evening before Thanksgiving, Pena and several college friends party into the night at a downtown bar. Pena continues to party even after her friends leave. On Friday, her former boyfriend reports her missing to Detective Darlene O'Hara. O'Hara also lost her father when she was eleven and had a rocky childhood which included giving birth to a son at sixteen.

 When a body is found brutally tortured and raped near a construction site which matches Pena's description, the crime becomes headline news attracting the police commissioner and chief homicide detective Patrick Lowry who at 6'5" and 400 pounds  is a force to be reckoned with. A van at the scene points to Pena's old boyfriend who reported her missing.

O'Hara is advised to stop her investigation but for personal reasons, she persists even after her suspension. O'Hara discovers that even though Pena has changed her life, Shadows Still Remain of her former personality.

Many may recall Peter De Jonge served a three book apprenticeship with James Patterson. De Jonge has produced a police procedural set in 2005 in the Lower East Side of New York City. There are many similarities to Patterson including short chapters, rapid-fire action, and quite a few twists you do not see coming, but De Jonge also adds some impressive character development. In addition, De Jonge has added pictures of New York City to help the reader better visualize the settings involved and an illustration which is key to solving the murder.

Shadows Still Remain is a quick, enjoyable read and hopefully the first installment in the Darlene O'Hara series.

--Jerry Solot