First in a new series from a fabulous author, I have thoroughly enjoyed all of MS Nellestein’s books and this one was no exception, if you enjoy getting your head around a mystery and working through the clues then this is one you should be picking up, you won’t be sorry.

Australian Ashleigh Gray has packed up and moved to the small town of Sergis, Connecticut, after everything that happened to her, she was a rising star as a detective in Sydney when her life changed a new start is just what she needs.

Police Chief Chad Townsend has just received a gun license application for the new Australian who has moved to town and he wants to know why she wants a gun, when he arrives on her doorstep she is nothing what he expected, and he soon learns partly why she has moved across the world.

When a car that has crashed into a tree is discovered after a storm with no victims and no traces of any DNA Chad is determined to find out what has happened and talking to Ash is just what he needs she uses her investigations skills and soon Ash is working as a consultant to the Sergis Police Department but the clues come slowly and when they do they are wondering what they have uncovered.

This is such a great story with wonderful characters I loved Ash and Chad and am very much looking forward to more cases to investigate from them. A well written story that will keep you turning the pages and working through the clues to uncover the truth, Huge congrats MS Nellestein on the new series, this is one that I highly recommend.

My thanks to the author for my copy to read and review.
review-copy-from-author21 s Craig / Phil1,650 86

Thank you Tanya for gifting us a copy to read and review.
An alliance between an ex Aussie cop and a local American Police Chief in a small American town has both a professional and personal flair as they work together on a mysterious case.
A refreshing Aussie lead and a very hunky all American guy will test all their personal demons in pursuit of the truth.
Chad had a stereotypical image of the new Aussie girl in town and was pleasantly surprised to find a stunning redhead with pale skin.
He knew a little about her policing background but was impressed at some insight she offered on a case that had him stumped.
A dumped car, a missing man and a web of intrigue create a quandary and a dangerous situation as the two work out what the truth is.
A refreshing crime suspense that sets the scene for a great series.
Very able leads, authentic setting and an opportunity to put your sleuthing hat on.
I loved the Aussie connection and how resolute Ash was in keeping up her vegemite supplies.
The diversity Tanya offers in her writing genres is impressive and I’m always excited to read what is on offer.
6 s Anne Jenkins296 1 follower

This is my first experience of this author’s work. The storyline was well written and gripping. I loved the dynamic between the main characters and I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series, so much so that my pre order is already in. Well worth a read.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.reviewed3 s Bridie86 5

I freaking loved this book! Tanya managed to hook me into the story, and kept me there! Literally couldn’t put the book down. The way the story is written made it easy for me to keep my attention on it, and the plot twist was fab! 5?? from me!2 s Bette Reith154 4

A retired Aussie police detective moves to a small town in Connecticut to start her life over. She just wants peace and quiet, but finds herself helping the local law enforcement investigate an unusual car accident where the vehicle was wiped clean, doors locked, broken windshield, no DNA, and no body to be found. As this is the first book in the series, most is spent in background info, but it is well written with lots of twists and turns. The main characters are likable and I can see many books coming from this pairing. Thanks to bookSirens for the ARC. I look forward to future stories.2 s Linda K Goodwin331 3

What do you do when you are a former detective, about to be divorced, and needing to escape?

Romance, yes. Deception, yes. Action, yes.

Had wonderful ah moments, heart racing moments, and a comfortable ending.

I enjoyed the short story of detective work. Who done it stories appeal to me, and this one satisfied the spot.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.2 s Genoveva869 9

Check TW and CW. This fulfilled my search for a new mystery series with a sprinkle of more. Ash is new in town and runs into local cop Chad. It comes to light she’s a former officer back in Australia and could help out Chad investigate some weird going ons in the two. The story had twist and turns I didn’t see coming I cannot wait for book 2.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.2 s Jeri1,457 37

Very enjoyable first book in a new series. Ash Gray is a former homicide detective from Sydney, Australia. After something bad happened, she lost her career there and has moved to a small town in Connecticut, USA. When the police chief of her little town finds himself with a missing body after a car accident, the two join forces. The author is Australian, and trying to sound as if the third person omnipotent narrator is American was amusing to me.

The mystery was not as important as the world building. We still don’t know what happened with Ash’s career in Sydney. Looking forward to the next book in the series.

I received an advance copy of this ebook at no charge from BookSirens and the author, but all opinions are my own.grief mysteries police-procedural-s ...more1 Holly Rife318 4

Ash is running half way across the world from her own demons… Will it be far enough to distance herself from the pain? Chad is the sheriff in the local town she's settling into. He's working on a case. Maybe she can heal as they put their heads together to solve it one piece at a time.

Ashleigh is a well-written leading woman. She's been through hell. She's lost everything and through it all, she's learning to find herself by getting back on her own two feet. Things may look a bit different, and feel a whole lot different to her, but she's learning one step at a time. Chad has had his own difficulties, but they are working together and he's such a good, kind male character who lets the FMC shine.

I love this first book of the series 'Townsend and Gray'! Looking forward to the next one!!

1 Ciclochick563 13

This book is very definitely worthy of five stars but, sadly, due to poor editing, one's got to go. Any editor who misses the plethora of apostrophes used to pluralise needs to be 'let go': especially if that same editor keeps confusing 'too' with 'to'. Too many schoolboy errors here tainted the whole book, just a bit, alas.

But for that, it's a cracking story: a newly-relocated-to-USA Aussie ex-detective teams up with a young and, of course, very handsome widowed police chief. In between the will-they-won't-they vibe, they're a force to be reckoned with when they team up to get to the bottom of a mysterious bodyless car accident, the nature of which dictates that there really ought to be a very injured person if not a dead one. Full synopsis here.

Really well written (bad editing notwithstanding) and well balanced. The crime and solving thereof is perfectly weighted against the attraction between the two crime solvers.

I was delighted to discover that the next Townsend and Gray is imminent. I'm really looking forward to that (but better edited) and hopefully, many more thereafter. Mike972 79

The first of a new crime series, Missing in Shadows (2023) by Tanya Nellestein is set in the fictional town of Sergis, Connecticut. Former Sydney homicide detective, Ash Gray decides to take advantage of her dual citizenship and move to America to start a new life. Settling into the small town of Sergis, she is visited by the local Police Chief, Chad Townsend. When a stolen car is found crashed into a tree after a fierce thunderstorm, the absence of a driver and no fingerprints or DNA traces are mystifying. Chad seeks Ash’s assistance in the investigation as each startling new discovery raises even more questions in an enthralling beginning to the Townsend and Gray crime team series. With an unfolding complex case and flowing narrative makes this a four stars read rating. With thanks to BookSirens and the author, for an uncorrected advanced review copy for review purposes. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own, freely given and without inducement. american-crime aussie crime ...more17 s RedFlower113 3

This detective novel was amazing!

As the storyline was unfolding, I was hooked by it. I enjoyed how the characters were portrayed, they were relatable, and this allowed me to have a deeper connection with them.

Ash and Police Chief Chad were the protagonists in this story, and their physical attraction was deliciously explored. The mystery elements in this plot were intriguing, to the point where I was trying to second guess it constantly. This all added to my experience as a reader, and I couldn't put the book down.

I cannot wait to keep reading the next adventure in their love and their town.

I highly recommend this engrossing story to everyone in to this genre!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Michelle MontebelloAuthor 12 books219

A cracking first book in a new series by Tanya Nellestein. Missing in Shadows (Townsend & Gray #1) delivers a complex and compelling mystery in the fictional small American town of Sergis.

Aside from the author's exceptional ability to create well-developed, intricate and able characters, she has a knack for weaving a mystery that will have you guessing until the end. Her knowledge of American police investigative procedure was spot on and I was transported into the pages of her gripping mystery. Add a hot local cop, a mysterious vehicle accident during a dark storm, and an Australian former detective running from her past, and you have all the ingredients for a stellar read! J118 2

I'm not sure how I this book was recommended to me, but I loved it.

The characters are so real, flawed the rest of us. Ash has 'run away' from an untenable situation determined not to do any investigating again but Chad managed to persuade her otherwise.

The author is obviously invested in her characters, and it shows in how she describes their thoughts and actions. I'm looking forward to learning more about them as well as reading more books by Tanya Nellestein.

Thank you for the free copy of this book, and these are my own thoughts. Lori65 1 follower

I was hooked at the beginning wanting to know more about Ash's past. I really loved how Ash and Chad's relationship develops through the book. It was really cool seeing how they investigated the case together, especially when the suspect list kept growing. I'm looking forward to reading more Townsend & Gray books. I received an advanced review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Alison N77 1 follower

This is the first book I've read by this author, and it won't be the last. This book held my attention from the first pages, with lots of twists and turns its a great read. We slowly find out what happened to cause Ash to move from Australia to a small town in America, although I do believe there is more to come with that. Looking forward to the next book in this series.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily Jacqueline HayleyAuthor 13 books38

Talk about a page turner! Missing in Shadows is an excellent combination of thriller, mystery and romance - Nellestein does an exceptional job of making all three genres fit beautifully within this story. As always, my favourite thing about Nellestein's writing is the evocative way she depicts her characters, while cleverly spinning a mystery that keeps you guessing. I can't wait to find out what's in store for Ash and Chad in book 2! Sammye2,773 15

What an awesome beginning of a new series. This plot is full of action, lies, deceit and mystery. I thoroughly enjoyed Ash’s and Chad’s story. They are an unly compatible couple, but it all ends well. I look forward to reading more about their experiences. **this was a complimentary copy and this is my honest review** H.M. HodgsonAuthor 9 books72

Nellestein has crafted a scintillating, page-turning world of intrigue, romance and mystery that had me reading way past my bedtime to find out the ending. Townsend and Gray … my new favorite crime solving duo!!! Can’t wait for more! Rania BattanyAuthor 13 books34

A great new book featuring able characters, an intriguing mystery, and a great small-town setting. This story had me intrigued from the get go! I loved meeting everyone in the town and following along on the investigation as the mystery came to light. A great first book in a new series! Becca2,703 31

Oh so good! I figured out who was involved pretty early on but man was that an intriguing story. So many twists to it. I'm ready to see what the next book brings! KrystenAuthor 2 books36

I seem to be in the minority on this one, but... I had a hard time getting through this book. I couldn't get attached to the main characters and felt no chemistry between them. The police procedure parts seemed authentic enough, and it was obvious the author took care in developing the plot, as there were lots of suspects and possible motives. However, the mystery wasn't very compelling to me, and the big reveal was ho-hum. The fact that only one of the characters in the book was Australian, but they all spoke/thought in Australian vernacular, was very distracting to me. It was frustrating that we never got the whole story of Ashleigh's past and why she moved to the other side of the world. I know this book has already been published, so I hope future installments in the series go through a few more beta reads and another round of editing. Both would go a long way to improving the quality of the books.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.arcs hard-to-get-into Sienna S'Zell531 4

Good puzzler, makes you want to read the sequel. Michael E Lucas57 1 follower

I agree with the majority of the reviewers of this book, it is well written, has a gripping story line, and left me wanting more. What more could anyone want? Wendy133 4

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