2024 Hollywood Book Festival Winner
Teresa James
5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A Good Read
The Killing of a Shadow is a very well written story about an Air Force Staff Sergeant, Alexandra Foster, who volunteered for deployment to Afghanistan and was happy to leave. Little did she know what was in store for her being stationed there. Although it's a fictional book. The heart-wrenching situations of hurt, loss, and abuse that Alex endures are things that happen in reality. Which makes this story come to life with a heavy impact.
Despite some emotional triggers, gruesome details, and wickedness of a killer. I was able to press forward while reading this book. Unfortunately what Alex had experienced in her deployment, is what happens in the evil world we live in. It gives you a deeper look into how the military affects those in it and around it. Growing up with my Father in the Air Force, I could truly relate to the military aspects of the book. It is definitely a page turner and keeps you plugged-in and wanting to know what's going to happen next. It is undoubtedly a good read.
The attention to details and character roles will definitely keep you absorbed. J.F. Hilley has done an outstanding job of writing The Killing of a Shadow and I am deeply impressed with her ability to intrigue readers with the realistic storyline and suspense. If you like stories where evil is avenged then I recommend this book.
A MUST READ!
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Fortia
5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
"The Killing of a Shadow" by J.F. Hilley is a fictional book set against a military background. The Protagonist, Staff Sergeant Alexandra Foster, is shipped to war-torn Afghanistan, starting on a 365-day mission that she sees as both an escape from her tumultuous past and a chance to prove herself in a male-dominated field. The plot revolves around a main antagonist, Captain Marcs, a character whose horrible atrocities against women have left a lasting impression on Alex and others. The narrative suggests a deep psychological and emotional journey punctuated by moments of introspection and fierce determination to succeed in her pursuit of justice.
What I truly enjoyed about this book was the well-developed character of Alex. She’s intriguing not merely because of her physical and mental strength but also due to her vulnerability. Her complicated personality is put bare through her exchanges with fellow soldiers, her internal monologue, and her memories. This multi-dimensionality makes her approachable and immensely human. Also, the well-paced plot of the book reveals twists and turns that keep readers involved in the ending, further amplified by Hilley's ability to blend action with deeply emotional undertones.
I had no dislikes and I will commend Hilley's attention to detail shown through her descriptive writing. I enjoyed every detail of this book and I recommend it to lovers of fiction.
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~Audible Reviews~
Amazon Customer
5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
How brave Alex was!!
Love this book. I started it and could not stop reading/listening to it. Can't wait for the next one.
5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Willy Lee
Couldn’t put it down!
Great story. Can’t wait for the sequel. This book should definitely be made into a movie. Blockbuster.
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Chris
5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“When Staff Sergeant Alexandra Foster arrives in Afghanistan, she’s thrust into a perilous mission to take down the notorious Shadow. As she undergoes intense training and grapples with the moral complexities of her task, she finds unexpected support and love in the midst of danger. But with her leader’s true intentions shrouded in mystery, Alex must confront her own darkness to survive.
“The Killing of a Shadow,” by J.F. Hilley is a compelling and intense thriller that grips you right from the prologue. The story follows Staff Sergeant Alexandra Foster, a small-town girl from Missouri, as she navigates the treacherous landscape of Kabul, Afghanistan. Hilley masterfully portrays the harsh realities of war and the personal struggles of a soldier far from home.
The narrative is both heart-wrenching and inspiring, shedding light on the rising torture, rape, and murder of young women in the country due to one man’s actions. Foster’s character is well-developed, showcasing her strength, resilience, and vulnerability. The plot pacing is even as it flows through with twists and turns that are engrossing and cinematic.
Hilley’s writing is vivid and evocative, painting a stark picture of the setting and the emotional turmoil of the characters. The book is not just a thriller but also a poignant commentary on the impact of war on individuals and societies.
Overall, “The Killing of a Shadow,” is a must-read for fans of military thrillers and those interested in stories of courage and survival. It’s a powerful and thought-provoking novel that stays with you long after you’ve turned the last page.”
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Bridget Ball
5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ominous, tough, and feminine
An evil mastermind known as the "Shadow" has been on a torturous murdering rampage against the women of Afghanistan and so far has not been caught. Sergeant Alexandra Foster has been deployed on a dangerous mission to stop him once and for all.
Alex is one of those rare characters that can be tough and feminine at the same time. I enjoyed the storyline that had romantic elements to contrast the ever-present ominous tone coming not just from the Shadow but Captain Marcs who assigned the task and has his own cruel agendas.
I recommend this book for military and service people who will instantly understand Alex's good soldier mentality and the weight of her internal conflicts that she carries. I also think feminists will enjoy this female heroine who is very relatable and realistic. The suspenseful nature will intrigue anyone and will keep you guessing things until the end.
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Keith Hayden
5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A Military Thriller With Heart
This book is a military thriller done right.
There is an ever present tension throughout as Alex navigates the various challenges of deployed life in Afghanistan during a dangerous period in the war, and battles her own personal struggles.
As a veteran, I found all of the characters to be proper reflections of people I served with for better or worse.
This is a highly character driven narrative. Despite occurring in the context of war and military operations, Hilley focuses on the heart of Alex and the rest of the characters very well and tells an intriguing story throughout that is guaranteed to keep you turning pages until the very end.
Those with sensitive pallets beware, this book contains a lot of content that is often considered taboo and off limits by many in mainstream culture. Rape, sexual assault, murder, violence, war and high level of sexual fidelity are a large part of the experience, so you should know what you're getting into before you start reading.
But for those who are no stranger to the darker characteristics of the human experience, you will find this book contains these elements for reasons that both make sense narratively and work to highlight and champion individuals who have lived and survived through such horrific ordeals.
Any veteran or military affiliated person will find enjoyment with this book and story. I highly recommend you read it today.
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Jill Rey
5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Using her obvious career military experience, Hilley has penned an entirely realistic read!
Author J.F. Hilley is an Air Force veteran having served twenty years, including time in Afghanistan. Using her obvious career military experience, Hilley has penned the entirely realistic read, “The Killing of a Shadow.” At times this book is part romance, while other times it is gruesome, painful, and action packed, but throughout readers remain unwavering in their desire to see The Shadow pay for his brutal actions.
Trigger warnings include death, rape, PTSD, violence, and many other ghastly horrors of war. And, while this may not be a heartwarming read, it felt like a necessary one for those, like myself, that have lived a free and enjoyable life thanks to those that have served and protected us.
Our main heroine is none other than female staff sergeant Alexandra Foster. Foster joined the military right out of high school to escape life with her abusive and alcoholic father.
Having grown up in a less than ideal household she volunteers to serve a 365-day tour in Afghanistan as a way to further advance her Air Force career. Upon her arrival she is immediately taken in by a group of quick friends and is soon recruited to undertake a top-secret mission to kill The Shadow. What she doesn’t anticipate are soldiers such as Liam and Captain Marcs, both of which play entirely pivotal roles in her life, for extremely different reasons.
Creating a strong, but fragile female lead, flanked by two polar opposite male sidekicks, tucked amongst the Afghan landscape and that is just scratching the surface of what “The Killing of a Shadow” offers readers. While Alex’s backstory is fraught with difficulties and trauma, readers can’t help but burrow in as villian’s attempt to hold her back at every turn.
Giving us a front row seat to her characters’ thoughts and dialogs, Hilley has forged a diverse array of personalities and morals within the fictional characters gracing these pages. Adding to the captivating nature of the read are the contrasting personalities in both the military and locals.
Bringing her military experience to the forefront of this read, Hilley crafts a genuine tale, teaching us the ins and outs of military life, the sacrifices made, and the relationships formed. “The Killing of a Shadow” will make reader’s hearts pound as they root for Alex’s success.
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Peter Okonkwo
5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A gripping and suspenseful story
This is my first time experiencing the work of J. F Hilley, and I must say that I am intrigued by her plot, writing style, story development, and transitions. With an impressive blend of romance, Jennifer delivers a suspenseful, captivating, and emotional read that got me loving some characters and hating others. Thoughtful, disturbing, wise, and engrossing. The Killing of a Shadow reads like one of those murder movies.
This book detailed the life of the protagonist, Alex, an Air Force young lady who was deployed to work in Afghanistan. While in Afghanistan, Alex is hunted by her past, the death of her mother, and the hell her father made her through. They come to her in the form of nightmares. While in her new country, Alex is introduced to interesting people in the name of Liam, Tate, and other people. They started as acquittance until Alex, who grew up alone, without siblings, began to see these people as her brothers. They shared an interest in her work, mission, and her well-being.
The story took a fantastic switch when a huge request hit Alexandra from the hard head Captain Marc. I hate Marcs' characterization, for a man to be full of strife, envy, and hatred at the same time. He had come up with the huge request of having Asim Barzan Majid, who was also referred to as the Shadow, killed. Asim is an inhumane, and cruel beast who has done horrible things to girls, and ladies. He would rape them, mutilate their body parts, and eventually kill them.
Having seen pictures of the victims of Asim's wickedness. Alex contemplated her response if truly she would accept the request to kill Asim or let him go. After much deliberation, Alex eventually accept to embark on the mission of killing the Shadow. This was followed by seasons of training, and endurance as Alex spent months preparing to kill cruel Shadow.
I would restrict from revealing more in an attempt to keep my review spoiler free, however, I would love to leave you to find out if Alex can conquer the Shadow. Captain Marcs also came with his bit of challenges. This alongside the killing of the Shadow made for a suspenseful, and gripping story. I love the scenarios of the event that happened between Alex and Marcs in her room. I also admire the description of the scene where Alex met Asim.
I need to say that author Jennifer is so skilled at describing the events in this book. Each chapter made me paint an image in my head as I read along like I'm watching a movie. The Killing of a Shadow is an enthralling read and I am compelled to check out other works by J.F Hilley. With a great blend of graphics, suspense, and action. I was left glued to the book until the last page has been read. Scenic, brave, didactic, reminiscent. I recommend this book to lovers of murder thrillers, and literature at large.
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K.E. Rosene
5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Hilley ‘Marcs’ The Spot!
In J.F. Hilley's Psychological Thriller “The Killing of a Shadow" Sergeant Alexandra Foster faces a Forum of her Fears. As a child, she was haunted by a less than endearing father and it seems that even as an adult, she would eventually attract the eye and ire of another. This theme's overwhelming presence positively supported by well expressed emotions that put you in the well tailored shoes of the protagonist. As Alexandra's interior battles play out externally, we are introduced by a Fine symphony of emotions that will no doubt play on our heartstrings long after the book is closed!
Throughout her journey, Alexandra suffers loss, hardship and overall heartache on her quest for a sense of belonging. While her uphill battle has quenched her thirst for vertical success in her field, the attention that comes with it may be more than she bargained for. Deemed perfect for a mission but ripe for the picking puts Alex in a more awkward position than she could ever imagined. Fueled by a checkered past, a prominent future, some unlikely friends and a few shady characters on her radar, Sergeant Foster powers this thrill ride full steam ahead!
One of the most intriguing elements of J. F. Hilley's book is her grand attention to detail! The details were so poignantly placed and described that the visuals jump out of the pages. Hilley's Killing of a Shadow proves that the bricks meant to break us sometimes build us into a Brickhouse! Strong yet sensitive, stern yet soft-tongued, Sergeant Foster has all the makings of a heroine that we are sure to be addicted to for installments to come.
-Alexandra "Fosters" several keys to success: Sensibility, Savvy, Sex Appeal, and a Certain amount of sass!!
Best in Show - 28 May 2023