I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

A couple seeks revenge as a sleazy real-estate investor rolls into the small community of Serenity Acres in author Crystal Quast’s “Shafted”, the second book in the Serenity Acres series. 

The Synopsis

Fraud. A catfish. And murder on the menu. Welcome to the neighborhood.

Serenity Acres looks picture-perfect, but the secrets and the bodies are stacking up. A slick real estate investor rolls into town with a too-good-to-be-true deal that has the neighbors seeing dollar signs. But one couple isn’t buying in. They’re seeing red…for revenge. In this race to screw each other over, someone’s about to get shafted.

Shafted is book 2 in the Serenity Acres suburban mystery series. Each book can be read as a standalone, so you can dive in anywhere. No prior reading required.

The Review

The author does an incredible job of building on the suspense and drama of the first book while creating a wholly unique story that can be read as a standalone narrative and still pays off plot points from the first novel. The tension and atmospheric nature of each chapter add depth to the secrets and lies that lie beneath the surface of this close-knit community, and the exploration of sex, power, and money as motivations for deadly plots feels both relevant and cinematic in its delivery.

The heart of the novel was what has made this entire series so palpable, which is the character development. While the book featured a significant number of subplots with supporting characters that kept readers invested in the events unfolding in this community, the central focus on Clara and her husband, Evan, made the story all the more compelling to read. The twisted lengths they were willing to go through, especially Clara, made the novel feel visceral and delightfully wicked to get lost in.

The Verdict

Twisted, enthralling, and memorable, author Crystal Quast’s “Shafted” is a must-read suburban crime thriller and a great continuation of this series. The cinematic quality of this narrative felt like a mashup of great shows like Desperate Housewives, Revenge, and Tell Me Lies, while the twists and turns in the story’s final chapters add a bit of suspense that no one will see coming. If you haven’t yet, preorder your copy today or grab a copy of the book on October 15th, 2025!

Rating: 10/10

About the Author

With over twenty years of spinning stories in corporate communications, Dinked: Serenity Acres. Where Secrets Barely Stay Hidden is Crystal Quast’s debut novel. When she’s not writing, Crystal loves playing pickleball and tennis, paddleboarding, hiking, and spending time with her family.