I love the “Erika” books. I am a fan and like that she gets the bad guy in the end (spoiler alert).

So, book number 9 in the Erika Foster series. A series of books that I have been following since the first title 'Girl in the ice' came out already quite a while ago. I enjoyed every single title, was happy with the parallel series on Kate Marshall; but ever since the previous Erika book, 'Lethal Vengeance' I had been looking forward to more Erika, and finally, here we are !!
Rest assured, 'Chasing Shadows' has not let me down. Erika digs in further into events from the past, confronts her demons, who knows where this will lead to (you will, once you finished this book).
As from the very start the book hits in, and more ore less races you until the end, quite some action quite some suspense,
I really enjoyed being dragged into the story, a story well told, with interesting characters and a nice plot.
And as always, after the epilogue, Rob shares some thoughts with us, his readers, so nice of him getting a bit more personal; and, maybe even more important, him teasing for more to come. So looking forward to it !!

Robert Bryndza has a way of making a book suspenseful even though readers know who most of the antagonists are from nearly the beginning of the book. Chasing Shadows, the ninth book in the series featuring Detective Chief Inspector Erica Foster, continues to be set mainly in London with a few trips to the Manchester area and to Wales. This time a routine emergency call ends with a twist. A dead body is found in the apartment above a collapsed ceiling. With DNA evidence scrubbed away, it seems a dead end until drug residue is found on the ceiling. When the drug dogs lead her and the team to a parcel locker on the outside wall of the property, a Foster gets a big surprise. After finding the locker’s owner and her boyfriend, Foster finds herself staring at Jerome Goodman, the man who murdered her husband ten years ago.

The arrest doesn’t go as planned. His passport and lawyer say his name is Kieron Bagshaw. Foster is forced to take leave to deal with her post traumatic stress disorder, but she uses the time off to do some digging of her own, with some help from a few trusted colleagues and her partner, Igor.
Foster is principled and tends to go against authority if she feels they’re not doing what’s right. She has a direct manner, gets results, and is well respected by her team. However, because she occasionally bucks authority and ruffles feathers, her career feels stalled. She can be stubborn, feels her job is a calling, and doesn’t care what people think of her which makes her more challenging for the brass to control. The other characters are well defined as well, with a set of repeat characters from previous books along with new ones related to the cases in this story line. It was good to see Detective Inspectors Moss and Peterson get high visibility in this novel with some great character growth and depth. While most of the story is from Foster’s point of view, there are occasionally chapters from the point of view of the antagonists.

The prologue is chilling and the first chapter gets readers engaged in the emergency call mentioned above. The plot is twisty, deeply involved, and intense at times. It quickly builds momentum as the plot twists and turns and higher-ups try to contain the investigation. There are unpredictable moments in the story that are unsettling. It allows readers to gain insight into the thoughts, behaviors, and actions towards others of both Foster and the antagonists. There is a surprise near the end that completely caught me off guard and makes me wonder what is in store for Foster in the next book. My biggest quibble is that the storyline goes back and forth in time frequently and this disrupted the flow and pacing for me.

Overall, this gripping, emotional, and complex police procedural has well-developed and compelling characters, contains plenty of action, and has a plot that keeps readers turning the pages to see what will happen next. If you are expecting a solid series that will have mysteries, suspense, crime, and action, then this is a series that I recommend.

Raven Street Publishing and Robert Bryndza provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for June 05, 2025.

Absolutely brilliant book. I've read this series from the start and I did not see that coming! I was hooked from the first page and I can't wait to read the next one.

The fourth book by Robert Bryndza I have reviewed and the second of the Erika Foster books I have read. Such is my enjoyment of Roberts books I have purchased a further seven which await me finding time to read them. 'Chasing Shadows' is an excellent book that brings together a few loose ends from earlier in the series and had this reader on the edge of his seat unable to put the book down, needless to say read in a day. It would be wrong of me to divulge much of the plot as I feel that would ruin it for other readers, but I would urge the avid readers of Roberts books to purchase and read at the earliest available time. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to ARC this book.

Another 5 star book by Robert Bryndza i love his books and his writing style. although the starting was little slow but when the story
line starts i really love the twists and the story line. i love the way Erika solve the mysteries and the patience level. i will definitely recommend this to every thriller lover. fantastic once again.

Full disclosure, I came into this series with this book (#9), but I was able to pick up with the narrative fairly easily.

The storyline was fine. I admired Erika for her tenacity to bring her husband's (and her colleagues') justice for their deaths. The villains were especially intelligent and heinous. My only issue in the book was a disconnect with the characters in general...and I don't think that was from joining the cast later in the series. Other than applauding Erika's determination, I really did not relate to her on any other level. She (and basically the ensemble cast) felt one-dimensional, and there was not enough heft/development to their characters' personalities that I felt like I knew and understood them. And as a character-driven reader I felt let down and dare I say a little bored as I had so little invested in them overall.

I'm sure that others will enjoy this book, but it just did not meet my expectations.

My thanks to NetGalley and Raven Street Publishing for providing the free early arc of Chasing Shadows for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

3.5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and Raven Street Publishing for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

The ninth book in the Detective Erika Foster series is hitting bookstores soon, and if you are a longtime fan like myself, you are going to enjoy Robert Bryndza bringing Erika's heartbreaking loss in book one, the loss of her husband Mark and her police colleagues in a horrible shootout, full circle by finally solving the case. Of course, the top brass are going to do everything they can to thwart Erika from taking the steps to do so. Luckily, Erika can depend on members of her team to support her theories even if it threatens their careers.

Fellow fans, the author does state that there could be more Erika Foster books in the future, and that certainly gladdens my heart. Erika, now 52, is as stubborn as ever, and I adore her relationship with her team. Although it wasn't one of my favourites in the series, I was very satisfied by the outcome.







Expected Publication Date 05/06/25
Goodreads Review Date 30/05/25

#ChasingShadows #NetGalley.

Happy to have found a new series I love thanks to NetGalley and Raven Street Publishing. Not sure how I missed this author and Erika Foster. This did make an easy stand alone novel and I now will start reading the series in earnest.
I found Erika to be a very appealing protagonist in this police procedural. The book picks up and explains her backstory of losing her husband and many police colleagues in a botched raid on a drug operation in Manchester. Erika is mowing working in London on the murder squad. A bizarre case is presented to her and she believes she has come upon the missing perpetrators of her husbands murder.
She initially is put on leave - some possible corruption rears its head early in the story. She continues to investigate and eventually is reinstated in time to participate in the case coming together.
The plot is fascinating ! The writer’s style is very pleasant to read and follow. The resolution is complete and satisfying
Along the way there is a lot of suspense and tension. The details about how the murder team and the larger police system worked were most interesting.
I’m sure followers of the series will love this book and would urge others to pick it up as I did.
Expected publication date JUNE 5.

What a fantastic addition to the Erika Foster series, I absolutely loved it! Erika is facing the demons from her past in this read and her emotions are really pushed to the limit. Erika is a fascinating character, she definitely does things her own way, despite her senior officers disagreement. The plotting and the pacing is fast and the action takes place over two timeframes as Erika hunts her husband's killer. If you like gritty police procedurals, I can highly recommend this series as one of the best. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

Robert Bryndza is one of my go to authors, and CHASING SHADOWS is no exception. The Detective Erika Foster series is easily one of my favorite detective series, both because of the cast of characters and the writing itself. The books tend to be fast-paced, extremely engaging and suspenseful. This sequel in particular hits very close to home indeed for our favorite detective. I have to stress that while technically you can read Chasing Shadows as a stand-alone without missing out on too much, I wouldn't recommend it. There are references to previous events you won't catch otherwise, and the same goes for the dynamics between Erika and the rest of the team. Also, they are all excellent detective thrillers in the first place. The case itself also connects directly with Erika's past. Recommended to all suspense/thriller readers.

Chasing Shadows is the ninth book in the Detective Erika Foster series. This is the third book in series I have read. I am not sure how I missed all the others but will make a point to go back and start at the beginning. This is a fantastic series.

The story begins with a ceiling that has collapsed with a dead body in a flat. The neighbor below calls it in, and Erika is first on the scene and finds that the flat has been thoroughly cleaned from the floor to all the belongings including the walls. There are some odd things that make Erica question the scene. One of which is the dead woman has no shoes anywhere in the flat. Another is the smell of bleach stands out is a clue there is something more to the scene of the crime.

Following the clues will lead them to a parcel locker on the wall of the property. However, forensics discover cocaine residue coating every surface of the ceiling. Erika calls in the drug dogs, which lead her to a mysterious parcel locker on the outside wall of the property. As they try to find the owner of the lockers, Erika will find herself staring into the eyes of Jerome Goodman, the drug dealer who murdered her husband, Mark, ten years ago, now going under another name. Erika will find herself challenged to prove she is correct when she is put on a pause of duty and works the case under the radar of her superiors. A supervisor has their eyes on Erica which will make her reach out to an old 'friend' but will that be the best decision or the worst mistake of her life.

This is a fantastic story that ties up the loose ends that we have wondered about. This thriller is fast paced and riveting as it gives Erica the chance to finally learn the truth of what happened to her husband and her team all those years ago. It was thrilling to see Erica relive one of the worst days of her life. Loved it!

A great addition to this series. Love Erika and her crew, and this latest book was an awesome mix of past and present. Completely hooked me from the start. Fast paced, great characters, and an exciting plot. Already looking forward to Book 10!
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I love Erika Foster and her crew. I always look forward to a new book. I wish the end had a little more drama, because it was a big ending deserving of some reactions that I think all Foster fans have been waiting for. Besides that, loved it!

This is the 9th book in the Erika Foster series and they just keep getting better and better. With great characters and a fast paced plot, this one grabbed me right from the beginning and I read it straight through in two days. I really enjoyed revisiting protagonists from earlier novels and how it filled in more backstory on Erika. This can easily be read as a stand alone but I strongly urge you to start with the first book, "The Girl in the Ice," and read them in order. Highly recommended

Thanks to NetGalley and Raven Street Publishing for an advanced reader copy.

Yes! A seriously great addition to the Detective Erika Foster series. Loved everything about it. Highly recommend reading this series in order to get the full experience/understanding/nuances of the characters and their story.

Thank you #netgalley and #ravenstreetpublishing for the eARC.

A 999 call from a woman whose ceiling has collapsed revealing a dead body in the flat above, DCI Erika Foster goes to investigate and discovers the flat has been wiped of all traces of DNA and evidence, apart from the ceiling which is coated in cocaine, then the drugs dogs lead the team to a parcel locker on the outside of the property, and its owner, and Erika is brought face to face with a man she hasn't seen for ten years, Jerome Goodman, the drug dealer that killed her husband Mark and their colleagues during a drug raid. She immediately arrests him only to be told this is Kieron Bagshaw who doesn't have a record and is quickly released. She is then forced to go on leave until she passes her impending medical and the case is passed to DI Moss, but Erika refuses to go down without a fight and decides to continue digging, what she discovers shocks her to the core, forcing her to relive the trauma of that fateful day and questioning how this has slipped under the police radar for so long!

This latest novel by Bryndza brings us back to the day that Mark Foster and his colleagues were killed and opens up deep wounds for Erika. The story is told from various perspectives across multiple timelines leading up to that fateful day, beyond and up to the present day and hits the ground running. Even though we already know how they died it was fascinating to finally get the full story and hopefully see that justice would be served for the lives lost. Once again Bryndza does not disappoint in this fast paced compelling tale with one of my favourite kick ass detectives, which was full of intrigue and a jaw dropping twist that completely blindsided me! Another fantastic read in a series that just keeps getting better by one of my absolute favourite authors. Chasing Shadows is the ninth book in the Erika Foster series and, while it can be read as a standalone, to understand the background of the characters, especially for this story, the books are better read in order.

I'd like to thank Raven Street Publishing and Netgalley for the auto approval, I will post my review on Goodreads now and Amazon on publication day.

Wow the book all Erika Foster fans have been waiting for and it was everything I wanted and more! Im so invested in Erika, Moss, Peterson and the rest of the team I only have one question for Robert Bryndza when do we get No 10?

As someone who has read this series avidly since the first book, I was thrilled to discover this book would delve into Erika’s former life and the loss of her husband and colleagues - it certainly did not disappoint! Plenty of mystery, betrayal and emotional moments with lots of familiar faces along the way. I love these books!

As always, reading an Erika Foster book is time well spent! While this is the 9th in the series, Erika and the reader are finally taken back to the case that killed her husband and has had its hold over Erika for the entire series. When Erika comes face to face with the ring leader of the gang that murdered her husband and colleagues, no one but Erika is alarmed. In fact, some people are so unalarmed that it is suspicious in its own right. Even though she is told to drop it, and is put on forced leave, Erika can't. A couple lucky breaks and the pull of the old case provide some answers, not all that Erika would like. This is a pivotal book in the series and not to be missed!