Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse #1)

Adeline Reilly, a young author, returns to her family's gothic mansion, Parsons Manor, in Washington state after her grandmother's passing. As she settles in, she becomes aware of a persistent presence—someone is watching her every move. This unsettling attention escalates when her stalker, Zade Meadows, a leader of an underground organization dedicated to combating human trafficking, begins to leave her ominous gifts and messages. Despite her attempts to distance herself, Adeline finds herself drawn into a complex and dangerous relationship with Zade, whose obsession blurs the lines between protector and predator.

As Adeline delves into the mysteries surrounding her great-grandmother Gigi's unsolved murder, she uncovers dark secrets about her family's past. The narrative alternates between Adeline's perspective, labeled "The Manipulator," and Zade's, labeled "The Shadow," providing insight into their intertwined fates. The story is marked by gothic suspense, psychological thrills, and a slow-burn tension that builds as Adeline and Zade's relationship deepens, leading to a confrontation with a powerful and dangerous society.

The atmosphere is dark and intense, with themes of obsession, moral ambiguity, and the blurred boundaries between consent and dominance. The novel's pacing is deliberate, allowing the tension to build gradually as the characters' complex dynamics unfold. The setting of Parsons Manor adds to the eerie and suspenseful mood, serving as a backdrop to the unfolding drama.