Reviews

  • When socialite, Evelyn Carrington, goes missing, Detective Wolfe is drawn into a case filled with high-stakes betrayals, dangerous alliances, and a family dynasty crumbling under the weight of its secrets.
    The deeper he digs, the more he realizes that the city’s most untouchable elite are willing to kill to keep their sins hidden.
    As Wolfe uncovers a hidden ledger detailing financial crimes, illicit affairs, and a shocking conspiracy that reaches into the mayor’s office, he must decide: how far will he go for the truth?

 

  • James Landsaw weaves a intricate web of deceit and betrayal set around a country club for the elite. A place where patrons hide their sins and become wealthier with no moral compass or empathy for those that get in the way of that.

    I enjoyed reading about Detective Wolfe and how he became involved to find a missing woman. The plot then thickens as the layers begin to fall away. The love of a woman leads to the empire falling a part or does it. The plot twists and turns more than the Colorado River. Its intense, exciting and a enjoyable read for all those into this genre of books.

 

  • This thrilling detective story is about a crumbling of powerful families and people of privilege. The story revolves around an exclusive country club where secrets and betrayals are part of the fabric of the club. Power is the ruling force in the club and its tentacles reach to politics, finances and even law enforcement. The disappearance of Jackie Carrington , a socialite who discovered some of these powerful secrets, is the catalyst that brings in the expertise of detective, Adrian Wolfe. Wolfe, along with a few other players, helps bring about the fall of high society and its deceptions. The reader is left with the intriguing knowledge that power and privilege can hide underground and may not be demolished after all. Readers who love detective stories will enjoy this book.

 

  • James Landsaw is a talented writer. The opening paragraphs are rich with descriptions of the spaces and the characters are well developed.
    Reginald Sterling, the patriarch of the family belongs to the most influential club in the city where the elite power brokers do business and determine the regions political directions. This is a classic detective story with Adrian Wolfe as the fearless detective. It isn't a complex novel and the story is fairly straightforward. However, it does address corruption within the circles of power.
    The novella could do with some additional editing. For example the word "opulent" or a derivative thereof appears five or six times in the first few pages.
    I'm sure Landsaw will keep writing and this is an easy, quick read.

 

  • Beneath the shimmering chandeliers and polished smiles of the city’s elite lies a world of deception, and The Shadow of Elegance exposes it brilliantly. The storytelling is razor-sharp, effortlessly weaving suspense with stunning prose. Adrian Wolfe is a compelling protagonist—determined, flawed, and impossible not to root for. Every chapter pulls you deeper into a mystery filled with betrayals, hidden agendas, and shocking revelations. If you enjoy thrillers that mix glamour with danger, this book will keep you hooked until the last page.

 

  • This book is really fun and moves along at an exciting pace. The detective uncovers the secrets and battles the powerful and ruthless. A great detective story worth your time.