I'm seriously frustrated with "The Day Before (Time & Shadows Mystery Book 1)". It was *this* close to being a truly excellent, engaging, thought-provoking, and dramatic read. But the mood, tone, and atmosphere were all over the map. It's full of jarring shifts between humor, drama, pathos, and a forced "romance." And the supposedly intelligent, kick-ass heroine point-blank refuses to even *consider* the most obvious suspects because... well... because they're the authorities. I mean, who's ever...

Liana Brooks's *The Day Before (Time & Shadows Mystery Book 1)* is a fast-paced and intriguing science fiction mystery. Set in a future dystopian America, the novel follows an agent trying to uncover the identities of presumed clones in an Alabama field, only to stumble upon something far more insidious. Some of the time-bending, mind-bending elements can be a bit confusing at times—a common pitfall in science fiction of this type—but Brooks skillfully navigates this by having her characters dis...

2.5-ish starsThe year is 2069: Commonwealth Investigator Samantha Rose starts looking into a suspected clone body dumping, which leads her into the darker corners of post-outbreak tech and the desperate things people will do to rewrite the past. Between a superior who's a total pig, a career that might be over before it even gets going, and locals who aren't exactly helpful, Sam finds support in the most unexpected place.Where do I even begin with this one? I hadn't heard a thing about "The Day ...

Review brought to you by OBS staff member Andra Warning: Some Spoilers My first thoughts? An interesting read, but is it trying to emulate the feel of J.D. Robb’s ‘In Death’ series? That initial thought gave me a bit of unease, because who could live up to that series? Luckily, that feeling quickly vanished thanks to the writing and the storyline. I was immediately hooked, and some of the twists and turns actually made me drop everything else and keep reading way past my bedtime. The big ques...

A truly fantastic read! CBI Agent Samantha Rose, the main character in Liana Brooks' *The Day Before (Time & Shadows Mystery Book 1)*, is strong-willed and instantly likeable. She's got just enough mystery in her past to keep you guessing when the big questions pop up. Then there's Mac, the medical examiner, who's battling PTSD with prescription drugs. They cloud his awful memories but also leave him confused and muddled. I absolutely loved his dreamlike and desperate point of view; it makes for...

My two biggest complaints about Liana Brooks' *The Day Before (Time & Shadows Mystery Book 1)* are that 1) it ended, and I didn't want it to, and 2) I'm pretty sure I can't preorder the sequel yet. Seriously, I'm already itching for more!I won an ARC of this novel on publication day, and there was no expectation that I leave a review. I'm reviewing it anyway, though, because I need to recommend it to everyone. *The Day Before* is a fantastic sci-fi police procedural that kicks off with an uniden...

Okay, wow, "The Day Before (Time & Shadows Mystery Book 1)" by Liana Brooks? Seriously good. I was hooked. CBI agent Samantha Rose isn't exactly thrilled with her assignment in the boonies. When a new case pops up, it seems like her ticket out of this one-horse town and back to civilization. But this case? It’s twisted. With the help of the Medical Examiner and her partner Mackenzie, Sam has to chase every lead, no matter how bizarre. I literally couldn't put "The Day Before (Time & Shadows Mys...

I've reviewed other books by Liana Brooks (Fey Lights, and Even Villains Fall in Love) and follow her on Twitter, so I was lucky enough last week to get the opportunity to win an ARC of her latest release (HAPPY RELEASE DAY!), The Day Before (Time & Shadows Mystery Book 1). I kept telling myself I was only going to read just one more chapter, but in the end, the only reason I took a break at all was because hungry puppies will not countenance a book addiction. :D Over the past year, I've seen B...

I was lucky enough to read this book before its release, and if you enjoy a blend of science fiction and thriller elements, "The Day Before (Time & Shadows Mystery Book 1)" by Liana Brooks is definitely for you. This book is all about Sam. Yes, there are other characters, but if you've ever read a book and thought, "Character X was more interesting," you probably won't feel that way here. Sam is a unique kind of "strong female lead" – she doesn't need to shoot people to prove how tough she is (n...

I've had the privilege of reading "The Day Before (Time & Shadows Mystery Book 1)" as a beta reader on multiple occasions and through several versions. I’ve witnessed characters and plotlines evolve throughout its development. This is shaping up to be a fantastic book, and I'm confident it will become even more captivating as you delve into books 2 and 3. If you're looking for a gripping mystery book, definitely check out Liana Brooks' "The Day Before (Time & Shadows Mystery Book 1)".