This is the debut psychological thriller by author Ann Gosslin, it's an intriguing mystery with numerous twists and hard left turns. Dual timelines, presented as "flashbacks" along with a cast of unreliable characters, this story is quite different from what you might come to expect in this genre.

The crime that this story revolves around is heinous and absolutely horrifying...and yet reading deep into the wee morning hours to uncover the truth seemed like the only way to get this compelling story off my mind.

Erin is a Psychologist from England, who takes on a new and exciting position in the United States. With her wealth of knowledge and experience behind her, she is asked to join a patient review board to assess a patient up for release.

We quickly come to learn that Erin has many secrets of her own, and that this case may be hazardous to her mental health, as well as her life.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers at Legend Press, and the author, Ms. Ann Gosslin for the opportunity to read this Advanced Readers Copy of "The Shadow Bird". The opinions expressed in this review are mine alone.

This book is an excellent thriller! The plot twists are great and keep you guessing (a few are a little predictable but not enough to make you uninterested). The relationship development between Timothy, a murderer and Kim, a psychologist, makes for a great read. Definitely recommend.

A psychiatrist with a hidden past stumbles upon an ethical dilemma. Erin is supposed to review Tim's case to determine if it is suitable for him to return to the outside world after being locked up in a psychiatric hospital for thirty years. In Erin's secret past, she knew Tim. But that was before he murdered his sisters and mother. In Erin's search for answers, she dares to return to their home town to uncover if Tim really is guilty of the crime. What do people remember of that night? Hopefully no one recognizes Erin and reveals her true identity.

There was parts of this book that I enjoyed and other parts not so much but overall it wasn't a bad read.

I particularly enjoyed watching the relationship between the two main characters evolve and the parts that focused on the assessment/evaluation of Timothy. .

Good read, enough twists and turns to keep your interest. I did however find some parts of the story predictable and some of the twists were made a little too obvious. It would have been good to have more of the book focused on the interactions between Erin and Timothy as this was the part of the plot that I found most interesting.

Overall, I enjoyed The Shadow Bird. Psychiatrist, Erin Cartwright, was to evaluate mental patient, Tim Stern, who had been institutionalized for 27 years for the murders of his mother and sisters. Was he ready for release? In that process Erin was forced to ‘return’ to her own horrendous childhood and her connection to Tim.

There were a few flaws along the way, firstly being the age discrepancy. Although Erin would have been eleven in 1977, the present-day storyline made her feel younger than her mid 50s. The ‘canopy bed on the top floor’ of two different hotels (not likely) jumped out at me along with a couple other similar errors. Those mini blunders, which should have been caught by an editor or a re-reading, did not take away my enjoyment of this book. I suspected how this story might play out, but the author kept me interested throughout with intricate situations and good writing. Not once was there an ‘eye roll’ from me.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. I enjoyed it and look forward to future writings from Ms. Gosslin.

This is not a fast paced, body filled thriller and it soars higher because of it. A strong character study of two people - Timothy a murderer and Erin, a psychiatrist whose paths would never have normally crossed. Erin is evaluating Timothy for a partial release and they discover they have much in common including secrets buried deep down. The writing is excellent and you are drawn into both worlds very quickly. I really didn’t expect the turns it took and was engrossed in the surprising developments.

The Shadow Bird is a slow burn thriller that weaves two stories together in a way that keeps you guessing until the end. Erin is a psychiatrist based in a New York clinic. She is asked to evaluate a long term psychiatric patient and decide if he is fit for release after murdering his mother and sisters when he was a teenager. Erin is hesitant to take on the case due to a connection to the patient and his hometown from her own childhood.
I thoroughly enjoyed the main storyline in this book, and really did struggle to work out the connections between the various characters. The ending was unpredictable yet satisfying but the pace of the novel was far too slow. The standard of the narrative kept me reading, but I was frustrated at the speed it unfolded.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of The Shadow Bird.

I was pleased when my request was approved though the premise sounded familiar, I hoped the author had a trick up her sleeve.

Sadly, she did not.

First, I didn't like Erin. I found it hard to believe she was a renowned psychiatrist; she seemed flaky, anxious and tense. For a psychiatrist, she was clueless to body language, easily fooled by sneaky characters, and believed what she wanted to believe, especially when she meets a charming, handsome man.

She was unprofessional, inappropriately attached to a troubled teen, and spent an inordinate amount of time fretting about her deep, dark past, which didn't sound all that original to me.

Second, there was a ridiculous pseudo unnecessary romance that only served as filler and did nothing to move the plot forward.

Third, the plot was predictable and I figured out the villain the moment he appeared.

Also, I don't believe in coincidence. What are the odds that Erin is from the same neighborhood as the murderer?

The Shadow Bird lacked suspense and compelling characters, but the writing wasn't bad and this might interest some readers.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for this ARC.

If I had read this before I had read hundreds of other thrillers, this would have been brilliant. If you’re new to the thriller genre, read this. If you’re beginning to feel thriller fatigue, don’t.

It is almost impossible to believe that THE SHADOW BIRD is author Ann Gosslin's first novel. This psychological thriller is sure to gain instant fans. I know for sure that I will be watching for her next novel and I sincerely hope she continues on with Psychiatry Specialist Erin Cartwright. 

The plot of THE SHADOW BIRD  contains twists and turns that first time authors are not usually adept at. Author Ann Gosslin handles them like a seasoned professional. The multiple plot lines could easily have become unruly, but Ann Gosslin's talent and incredible intelligence shine through and readers will find this psychological thriller impossible to put down.

There are very few books where the conclusion surprises me, when I find such a book, I am inclined to shout it to the rooftops. THE SHADOW BIRD is worthy of my shouting.

Characters so realistic they jump off the pages and make you want to learn more about them.

This is a PERFECT book for Book Clubs around the world. I am well aware that this book is not available for a couple more weeks, but this knowledge does nothing to dampen my recommendation. You should ORDER this book from your favorite Indie Bookstore.

I rate THE SHADOW BIRD as 5 OUT OF 5 STARS ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to Netgalley and Legend Press for the arc of The Shadow Bird by Ann Gosslin.

This follows a woman named Erin Cartwright whom works as a psychiatrist at a hospital for girls whom have there own troubled past. the past in which she has tried so hard to hide and ignore has ended up catching up to her during a criminal case in which she's asked to advise on.....

This was a good well written psychological book in which is unpredictable at times, I read within 1 day I really liked it.

Definitely recommend
4 stars

Erin is a doctor working in a psychiatric unit. When she is asked for personally to examine a patient who murdered his mother and sisters over twenty years ago alarm bells begin to ring. The facility she has to visit an institution called Greenlake in Maine and the murder took place in Belle River, Maine oddly when Erin was living there herself as a child.
Erin is a mysterious character, she is American but pretending to be English to hide herself away from her past and why does this particular case have links with her?
Confusing in parts but well worth the effort this story is fascinating and we learn to fit the pieces of the jigsaw together alongside Erin. A violent crime over twenty years ago leads to a violent conclusion as the story gradually unfolds. The true murderer was a clever and manipulative man and Erin worked it all out just in time to save an innocent man.
Well written and paced just right this is an excellent first novel and I really want to read her next one.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of The Shadow Bird by Ann Gosslin.

Erin Cartwright is a British psychiatrist working in America, who has no interest in treating criminals. But she is compelled into a case about a man who, when a boy, killed everyone in his family except his dad. The crime occurred in a town she is familiar with, and can't help but feel a connection to it.

I almost made it, but alas, I put it down. The premise was promising, but the best word I can think of to describe it was weak. It just didn't quite have the hook to draw me in. The writing was a bit hazy, I was never completely clear of what was going on, and I struggled with the main character. I didn't like how a psychiatrist could be herself so disingenuous and obtuse.

I’d never heard of the author before. Legend Press are one of my favourite publishers so I knew I was in safe hands. I loved this book; it’s the sort of twisty turny thriller full of misdirection that I enjoy the most. The book moves between different locations as Erin revisits the scene of Tim’s crime and also moves between different periods of time. Erin is a great character. She cares about her job. Any other psychiatrist would have done the bare minimum required to complete their report but she cares about Tim’s welfare and the truth about the night his life blew apart. Erin is also hiding secrets of her own which would have dire consequences for her involvement in Tim’s case if these come to life. This is the kind of book you don’t want to stop reading once you’ve started. I loved it.

Thanks to Netgalley for a preview of this book. It was difficult to get into but once you gave it a decent amount of time it got to be good. I'm glad I stuck with it as it turned out to he a good read and the ending was clever.

Thank you NetGalley and Legend Press for my ARC in exchange for an honest review. Erin is running away from a past filled with pain and sorrow. Her never ending quest for a new beginning is always just out of her reach. Being a psychiatrist, she is asked to help a murderer who is eligible for release. This journey brings past memories crashing back with intensity proving that you can’t escape from the past, no matter how hard you try.
I felt for Erin during her struggle for peace and happiness. As the mystery unfolds, secrets come to light and lives are changed forever. Suspenseful whodunnit! This is an enthralling debut and I look forward to Ann Gosslin’s second book, The Double, coming in 2021.

I received a copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I hate to be overly critical, especially of a book that I had looked forward to reading, and especially when it is a first novel. So I will start with what I enjoyed about The Shadow Bird.
I actually stayed up past midnight to finish this. I had to know how it ended. It was a fast-paced, genuinely mysterious story. The mental health facility setting (and themes of mental illness and perceptions of reality) added to the tension. Overall, it was a fun, entertaining read. But.
There were a number of things that I wish had been different. I feel like the author should have just set the story in England. That way, she would only have had to keep track of one character using American idioms and style of speech, rather then nearly everyone as well as the prose. As it was, despite being set in the USA, with only one "English" character (and one minor character who appeared briefly), they all used English idioms. When was the last term you heard a working class, small town American use the term "wanker"? The prose, as well, used British terms and spelling. It throws the reader off when the language does not match the setting. At least it did me.
Erin, the American-pretending-to-be-English protagonist was unfortunately underwritten. I understand that her background was a big part of the mystery, and everything was intellionally vague. But it left her... boring. Her character was completely flat, just a plot device. She was so vague that it was difficult to even judge how old she was supposed to be. She acted like a very young woman, making incredibly stupid decisions, and in one chapter, she was described like this: "Dressed as she was now, in jeans and a jumper, and her hair in a messy bun, she could easily pass for a college student." Except, if she was 11 in 1977, she would be 56 years old, and no way a 50-something woman could be mistaken for a college student, even squinting from a distance.
So, back to her stupid decisions. She was supposed to be a professional psychologist, and yet she lacked basic reasoning skills and was a tremendously poor judge of character. I won't flog a dead horse, but I'll just say that it was frustrating. And then in spite of all of this, and in spite of all her unsanctioned time off, (and when she was about to skip town) her annoying boss gets charged with drug offenses and she is offered his job. What?
The romantic subplot was... silly and made Erin look kind of dense (and lacking in professionalism).
The subplot involving the patient Cassie was unnecessary and only served to make Erin look even more unprofessional (stalking a client). I had thought it might be setting up a potential plot for a sequel, but it wasn't.
The mystery itself was entertaining, but the solution was obvious. I kept thinking, no, it can't be, there has to be some kind of twist. But there wasn't, and it was frustrating because if the reader can figure it out from the start while the "detectives" flounder, it seems unrealistic.
All that having been said, though, for a first novel, it was very good. It kept my interest, and while I found parts of it disappointing, it was an entertaining read. Solid three stars.

An intriguing debut here from Ann Gosslin, a beautifully written and riveting story with some brilliant characters and a cleverly crafted mystery element.

Themes of trauma and memory are at the centre of this story, as one woman searches for answers all the while very aware that her own past may be closer than she can see..

I liked the juxtaposition between past and present here, one was almost seamlessly woven into the other until in the end the truth is revealed. It is a story of heightened emotion and tragedy, one act causing a ripple effect through the lives of so many.

I thought it was great. An author to watch. Recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book.

Dr. Erin Cartwright's new position at the Meadows is contingent on her taking pro bono cases. When she is suggested to take one of Tim Stern, a man who allegedly slaughtered his mother and sisters when he was 17, the carefully crafted facade of Erin's life begins to crumble. The more she learns about Tim, and his fractured family, the more it brings back her own murky history.

I had a few problems with this novel. One, it's set in America, with American characters, yet the prose and spelling are all English. It's a small thing, but it tripped me up more than once. Americans, for instance, don't usually call others wankers, and an American character probably wouldn't use that term. I have no problem with British prose, spelling, and wording, but it should fit the narrative. It didn't here. Two, how did Erin get all this time off work? She's constantly flying somewhere or taking day trips to research an old murder case,, so who is tending to her patients? Also, characters pop in and out, like Niels and Cassie. Honestly, the whole Cassie storyline could have been cut, as it served no purpose to the overall narrative. Three: This book dragged on. It took until about 60-70% in for there to be any action, and even then, there was no surprise or shock. The twists weren't twisty enough for there to be a big emotional payout.

I will say that it was well written. The prose is smooth and flows well. The character of Erin is well written. Overall, however, this book just didn't hit all the right buttons for me.