Portrait of a Shadow

Featured
Portrait of a Shadow
Author(s)
Age Range
14+
Release Date
July 16, 2024
ISBN
1250863279
Inez is missing, but missing things can always be found.

Mae knows this as a fact, even though the police investigation has come to a standstill, even though her parents are moving on. But when she goes to clear out her older sister’s studio, she finds a mess of research and a white canvas that seems even older than the ornate frame it is set in. The closer Mae gets to the canvas, the more difficult it is to pull her eyes away from its mottled surface, its heavy layers of white paint, its peeling top corner she is tempted to pull to see what’s beneath. But she doesn’t. Not yet.

Mae decides to trace her sister’s last steps in the hopes of finding answers, certain that Inez’s disappearance is related to the painting. And she knows she is desperate enough to let the strange boy who claims to have been Inez’s neighbor tag along. Even if his good looks don't help distract from his avoidance of her questions. So begins a scavenger hunt piecing together what they can find from what Inez left behind. One that leads to centuries-old questions best left unasked and secrets best kept in the dark.

Editor review

1 review
An Engrossing Mystery
Overall rating
 
4.0
Plot
 
4.0
Characters
 
4.0
Writing Style
 
4.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
N/A
Portrait of a Shadow weaves together a haunting mystery about an ominous painting and the secrets that lie within it. Readers follow the main protagonist, Mae, who is desperate to find her missing sister as it seems the police as well as her parents have given up. She can’t shake the nagging feeling that there may be more to Inez’s disappearance and when she goes through her sister’s belongings, she finds a white painting and Inez’s neighbor which she believes is tied to everything. As the mystery unravels though, is Mae prepared for the answers she might discover?

What a chilling and suspenseful read that Metoui has crafted in this novel! Metoui takes her readers on an arduous journey full of entangled secrets from the past in this plot. Her writing is detailed, yet vague enough in certain parts that it doesn’t give all the answers away too quickly. I was thoroughly engrossed in the plot, and I appreciated the winding road that the story presents in this novel. Being a fan of the novel The Picture of Dorian Gray, I loved how the novel used elements of the classic tale to create a painting that seems to grant your heart’s deepest desires but at a deadly cost.

I enjoyed the constant shifting of point-of-view to add to the mystery aspect. The constant twists keep the readers on their toes as they learn more about this creation of the painting and aren’t sure which characters to trust. Mae, as the main protagonist, may be an amateur sleuth of sorts but she is fueled by the love for her sister even though she is estranged from the rest of the family. Her fierce determination and strength navigating through a difficult situation make her an admirable character. This novel displays just how far the lengths people are willing to go to help the people we love.

The novel has a steady pace for the most part, starting slowly and then quickly speeding up as truth bombshells are revealed. I appreciated that the format of the story kept me guessing and I liked the cast of the characters too. I would like to have more about Inez’s background seeing as the story surrounds her disappearance and hearing from her own words what slowly happened. I also would have expanded more on the creation of the painting which could have happened if the novel were longer or had a sequel.

All in all, I would recommend Portrait of a Shadow for readers that enjoy mysteries, thrillers, or retellings. Metoui has created a novel that provides an engrossing reading experience and a story that will stick with you long after reading it!
Good Points


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