Robert Bryndza returns with another gripping installment in the Erika Foster crime thriller series, Chasing Shadows. This highly anticipated book is fast paced and engaging.

Detective Chief Inspector Erika Foster is thrust into one of her most chilling cases yet. It ties into her tragic past. This is a must read! If you have not read any of the Ericka Foster books, you are missing out.

This latest in the DCI Erika Foster series is amazing! After ten years, Erika may finally have a break in the case that took the lives of four of her colleagues and her husband. After a strange series of events concerning a deceased nun-to-be and an old radiator, Erika is brought face to face with Jerome, the leader of the gang responsible for the murders in the failed raid. He goes by another name now, but she would bet her life it’s the same man – I mean, really, you don’t forget the face of someone who took your whole world away. Even though her team isn’t quite as sure of his identity, they back her up and help dig into the case again.

She has to be even more careful than usual, as there are some big (and shocking!!!) names implicated in the case with crooked officers engaged with Jerome and his gang for years. Luckily, nothing gets in Erika’s way and the team make some crazy discoveries that not only answer lingering questions but take away any liability Erika may have had for the raid going sideways all those years ago. But will they be able to get the solid evidence they need before someone tries to silence Erika for good?

I love that there are finally answers for Erika and hope that her character stops carrying the guilt that’s burdened her for years. And I still can’t get over the high-ranking crooked official – I wonder if that was the author’s plan all along or if he just came up with it while writing this book. I don’t know how he’s going to top this one, but I’m so glad this wasn’t the end of the series and that there will be more to come for Erika and her team!

I absolutely love the Erika Foster series and this one certainly did not disappoint! Erika finally has to face her past of what happened in Manchester prior to her moving to London. During their latest investigation into a suspicious death she stumbles onto something which opens up old wounds and leads her down a path she has no choice to follow. An absolute page turner and would recommend to anyone who enjoys investigative books.

I’ve waited eagerly for this next instalment and when I saw it was on Netgalley I was so excited! It certainly hasn’t disappointed, every book Robert Bryndza writes is full of heart, mystery, thrills and page turning wonder. There’s been enough written about the plot so all I’ll say is go and buy it, you’ll not be able to put it down. I can’t wait for the next in the series!

Thank you to Netgalley the author and publishers for an arc in exchange for an honest review

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review "Chasing Shadows", the ninth book in Robert Bryndza's brilliant and suspenseful Detective Chief Inspector Erika Frost series (all of which I have read and thoroughly enjoyed).
While investigating a very strange death - was it suicide or was it murder? - Erika comes face-to-face with her past; the case that resulted in the death of her husband and most of her team, and left Erika near to death.
So how is it that no one believes that Jerome Goodman, conman and drugs dealer - is still alive and once again wreaking havoc on her 'patch'. According to records, and the top brass, Goodman is dead and has been for some time. But Erika doesn't believe this and goes to such extremes to prove her point that she's put on forced leave and can only return after her upcoming physical (providing a) she passes, and b) no one higher up fudges the results).
To give them credit, her team is fully behind DCI Foster, and they all work tirelessly to get to the bottom of things. Digging into the past re-opens the trauma that Erika suffered after the loss of her team and husband, and leads her to wonder just who of her friends and higher-ups she can trust.
The book moves seamlessly from the present to the past, as readers (and DCI Foster) will finally find out the truth of what happened all those years ago.
Highly recommended. Can work as a standalone, but reading the series is also recommended.
If you love Angela Marsons's 'Kim Stone" series and books like that, you will certainly like the Erika Foster series.

I knew, after reading the first 3 chapters, that this would be a sprint not a marathon. I was right. I finished this book in 8 hours!
Brilliant. Absolutely bloody brilliant!
More to come after publication
Now, I eagerly await Erika’s next instalment

Ten years ago, on a drug raid in Manchester that Erika Foster was in charge of, her husband and some of her colleagues were killed and the murderer, Jerome Goodman, escaped. Now a DCI in London, inquiries into the death of a young woman find Erika face to face with Goodman whom she promptly arrests. The only problem is, the man she arrests has a different identity and Goodman supposedly died in an accident some years ago. She is placed on leave but cannot resist further investigation. With the surreptitious help of her team, she is determined to find out what really happened those ten years ago and bring Goodman to justice. As she unravels the truth, there are shocking revelations.

This is yet another riveting, can’t put down mystery/thriller from Bryndza. You always know with him that there will be a well plotted story that will hook you from the beginning. I like fifty two year old Erika, despite her propensity to being rather brash and often annoying to her superiors. A testament to her character, though, is the willingness of her team to assist her even when she is on the outs with her superiors. In this book, the suspense was heightened by Erika’s precarious job situation and her foreshadowing of possible doom.

This is the ninth in the Erika Foster series. As someone who has read and enjoyed some of the earlier installments, I liked learning more of her backstory. This would, however, work well as a standalone. I cannot wait for the next in this outstanding series.

I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. This is book 9 in the Erika Foster series of books and it is no less gripping than the first book, it drew me in from the first page and didn't let go until the end. I am looking forward to the next one.

Anyone who follows The Book Review Café knows I’m a huge fan of Robert Bryndza’s Erika Foster series, so you can imagine my excitement when Chasing Shadows landed in my hands. And WOW, it did not disappoint. This one grabs you instantly, and honestly, it’s a contender for the best book in the series yet. Robert Bryndza delivers everything fans have come to love and more: tension, twists, and emotional depth, all packed into one of those rare, read-in-one-sitting thrillers that refuses to let you go.

A routine 999 call turns dark when a body is found in a spotless flat, no evidence, no clues. But for Erika Foster, the real shock is recognising the face of the man who killed her husband ten years ago. Only his ID says he’s someone else, and his record is spotless.

Cut off from the case and running out of allies, Erika digs deeper on her own. What she uncovers is a dark web of secrets, lies, and betrayal, forcing her to confront the past she’s never been able to let go. It’s her most personal case yet, and the most devastating.

Robert Bryndza has truly outdone himself. Chasing Shadows is a taut, emotionally charged thriller that blends gripping police work with the raw intensity of a psychological drama. The tension is sharp, the twists are masterfully delivered, and the pacing is relentless. There are no wasted chapters here, just expertly crafted suspense. What truly sets this story apart is its emotional weight. Erika isn’t just solving a case, she’s confronting the deepest wounds of her past, and Bryndza captures her grief, resilience, and vulnerability with care.

I absolutely loved Chasing Shadows. It’s a standout in an already brilliant series. Whether you’re a devoted fan or a newcomer, this is one you won’t want to miss. Dark, twisty, and deeply personal, this might just be Erika Foster’s most disturbing case yet.

At last the next book in the Erika Foster series is almost with us - publication date is 5 June 25. Book 9 in the series does not disappoint, it’s set over multiple timelines starting with the incident that left Erika’s husband Mark and several of her team dead. It’s a twisty emotional story with raw emotions. Will Erika nail her husband’s killer? Technically this could be read as a stand alone novel but honestly the whole series is so good I would start at book one. Loved this book it was excellent, I read it in one sitting! Totally deserves five stars …. Bring on the next one! Highly recommend! Thank you to Netgalley and Raven Street Publishing for this ARC in return for my honest review.

This ninth entry in the Erika Foster series starts well enough, with an original premise, an ugly crime scene and a murder victim. Interesting, entertaining and engrossing. Soon, though, a small detail turns it into one of the biggest cases of Erika’s career and life. It can be read as a standalone, but longtime readers will be highly satisfied. Bryndza manages to find the happy medium where he recaps enough information as needed to understand what’s going on without making it repetitive. I’m not a fan of the common plot in procedurals in which the hero is sidelined and has to work the case as a civilian, but these characters are strong enough to keep the momentum going without neglecting anyone. Erika may be out, but she’s not giving up and her team has her back, as usual. I missed Isaac, the pathologist and Erika’s best friend, who only appears for a few scenes, but everyone else is there and their chemistry is stronger than ever. The novel is well written, twisty and addictive. It made me fear for Erika’s welfare. When I thought where this was going, a twist made me gasp out loud, changing everything. After this, I couldn’t read fast enough. The suspense grows and grows to almost unbearable levels. To say that this book will change everything is no exaggeration. I’m glad to learn that the author hopes to keep writing more about Erika because I really want to know what happens next.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Raven Street Publishing.

5/5 stars! This is one of my favorite thriller authors, so I screamed a bit when I got the chance to read this. This is the 9th book in the Detective Erika Foster series and we finally get to unravel the moment in time 10 years ago that changed the trajectory of her life. This was masterfully written. I loved the twists and turns and was raging, needing Erika to get closure. Great story!

I could not put this down - I finished it in one day and it is easily in my top 5 books of 2025!

Reading Erika is like coming home - it's so comforting to know that once I start reading it will pull me in from the beginning and not let go.

Please keep writing Robert!!

Did I drop everything and move this book to the top of my TBR as soon as I received it.. you bet I did!! this is the book that Erika Foster fans have been waiting for and my goodness it was worth the wait. Outstanding once again Robert Bryndza, you never let me down!!

In book 9 of this amazing series we finally get the details of what happened on that day 10 years ago. Ow, when Erika’s husband Mark and her team were killed in a police raid in Manchester. That day changed her life and the way she sees the world. Now on an investigation into a murder, she comes face to face with the man responsible, only he claims to be someone else. Then she is told that the man who killed Mark is dead.

Now if you know Erika at all you know that she is not going to take this. She knows it was him and she wants justice for her husband. Even being put on stress leave isn’t going to stop her. And her loyal team and partner are there to help her.

This book was so good!! i just love Erika and her way of doing what is right, even when she is told otherwise. She is smart, determined and snarky and I love it. I cannot recommend this series more for those who love a good gritty police procedural.

Thank you so much to Raven Street Publishing for my early copy to read. Always such a joy to read these books. Easy 5 stars.

I would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. Robert has done it again, this time we follow Erika to a house for information where she sees a man she thinks is from her past, the man responsible for killing her husband co workers. He claims he is not that person and right from then we follow Erika who will not stop until she finally gets the truth. Great read, finished in one sitting.

Thank you,Raven Street Publishing, for providing the copy of Chasing Shadows by Robert Bryndza. If you have been following Erika Foster’s adventures you know what a treat her stories are. This is book nine and I love how she deals with her past trauma. The character development of the characters is amazing and he multiple timelines add so much to the story. Do not miss this book, and while you can read it as a standalone after you finish it you will want to read them all! 5 stars!

An exciting story and excellent well drawn characters, especially Erika. I read it at one sitting it was such a page turner. Highly recommended.

Thanks for allowing me to read and review this book. One of my favourite series, I have read and enjoyed everyone! Erika is one of my favourite characters, I am interested in her personal and professional life,

This was a fast paced book, with an interesting storyline, which left me guessing, especially because it solved a mystery from Erika’s past!

Looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

This author is yet to write a book which is less than stellar and the Erika Foster is perhaps his best work. In this extremely satisfying read, we finally get to the bottom of Foster’s back story and find out what happened on the day her husband died. Bryndza misses no steps in unpicking the past while also progressing the plot in the present day. His sensitive story-telling allows us to appreciate Foster’s growth as a character and the depth of the relationships she has built both personally and professionally over time. I absolutely loved his handling of Igor’s efforts at detective work, not to mention the nail biting surveillance through London by the team. As always, the writing itself is impeccable, with tight dialogue and clear descriptions to really place the reader in the story. A genuine rave review for a fantastic book!