My Favorite of the SeriesOUT OF THE SHADOWS is the best of Hooper's Bishop Special Crimes series. It is the story of the namesake of the series and the woman for whom he has been searching. This paranormal suspense fiction is beautifully constructed story about a maniac killer and two people who have pain and mistrust between them. THE STORY: Special Agent Noah Bishop has been searching for the woman he loves for more than eight years. Before she disappeared, Bishop made a terrible mistake that resulted in the death of most of his love's family. Now that he has found her again, he is determined to break through her walls and create a future with her. Miranda Knight loved Bishop eight years ago until his actions destroyed her family and her trust. Her precognitive vision of the serial killer in the town's midst makes her contact Bishop. As sheriff in the town, Miranda has to find out who is killing the town's teenagers. She knows that it is time to reveal herself to Bishop even if she intends on keeping her emotional distance.OPINION: I absolutely love this book. Bishop and Miranda are special characters with a painful past that they have to deal with. What I especially like is how much of the resolution is the two talking out the pain of the past and acknowledging mistakes. Their relationship is immediately intense and special. The supporting characters are well delineated and at appropriate times funny. The mystery of who is committing the murders is intriguing and suspenseful. For me, the highlight of this book is the relationship and the tense, sexy, angst filled scenes between Bishop and Miranda are ones that I can read again and again.WORTH MENTIONING: I loved how this book takes seriously the psychic abilities of both Bishop and Miranda and is internally consistent about the rules that govern their abilities.FINAL DECISION: If you are going to read just one book in this series, read this one. It is by far the most balanced and compelling. The relationship between Bishop and Miranda is the center of the series and often I read the subsequent books only to hope for a glimpse of their continuing relationship.CONNECTED BOOKS: This is the third book in the Bishop/Special Crimes Unit series and the final book in the opening trilogy. This book can be read completely independent of any other book.STAR RATING: I give this book 5 stars!
This was one of my favorites so far in the Bishop/Special Crimes Unit books by Kay Hooper. I've enjoyed the series extremely. Unfortunately in my research to find more on this author, I think I have read these books out of chronological order. I hate when I do that, but it does explain some of the inconsistencies I encountered.More about Bishop is revealed including his past and his abilities. Sheriff Miranda Knight is introduced in this installment and she is quite the paranormal. Her talents are extraordinary. Her relationship with Bishop is fascinating to watch unfold. Of course, the relationship started long before this book, so here we are finding out what happens now. That can be quite fun.I think the dynamic between Miranda and Bishop was very entertaining. I would have liked to know more about their past. There are glimpses, but I was hungry for more details. I guess that's good writing - leaving you wanting more.The plot which Miranda and Bishop find themselves in is quite interesting. Despite the clues given the reader, I was surprised by the culprit. No spoilers here, though.All in all a very good read. I want more Bishop/SCU. Now on to the Evil series.
Having read the first two in the Shadows series by Kay Hooper, I was really disappointed when I'd finished reading Out of the Shadows. This novel was nowhere near the same standard of writing as the first or second. Sheriff Miranda Knight is psychic and has escaped to a small town in America, where she has changed her name to escape her past.Miranda's past is referred to throughout the book, however the complete story came far too late and after waiting so long to find out, it was almost an anti-climax.The tension/romance between FBI Agent Bishop and Sheriff Miranda Knight annoyingly detracted from the plot in which young people were being murdered in the town. The snow storm was a cliche and I found myself rolling my eyes at the predictability of certain points.I read about the hunt for the murderer with interest and the ending was satisfying, however in general this was an average read. I would enjoy reading about further cases featuring this team of FBI Agents made up of psychics and those with special abilities, so I'll leave myself open to reading further books by Kay Hooper in the future.
—Tracey Allen at Carpe Librum
This is book 3 in the series Bishop Special Crimes Unit series. In this book we finally get to learn more about Bishop and his past! Miranda has abilities of her own, abilities that tell her she needs Bishops help. Last time she trusted Bishop something awful happened...something that changed her life and she ran. Now she has no choice but to call Bishop and ask for his help in solving murders that are happening in her town. This book was amazing..the best of the series so far! I loved finding out more about Bishop and seeing Miranda and Bishop interact. I loved seeing them work together to solve the case..and what a case it was! Keeps you guessing until the end! This is one book you do not want to miss!
—Froggarita
Really well done paranormal murder mystery! Sheriff Miranda Knight oversees a small Tennessee town that is abruptly plagued with dying teenagers. While she has her own hunches that have made her successful in her job, she decides to call in the FBI Special Crimes Unit, knowing she will once again meet up with Noah Bishop, who heads up the team.I thought I'd figured out who might be torturing & murdering the kids, and that held consistent until the latter third of the book, when I had to go to my second choice. Nice use of the Ouija board in this one. (Yeah, I'd probably be freaked, too, lol!)Been a fan of Kay Hooper since the late 80s. Her books just don't disappoint!
—Maggie
