I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A woman must contend with a haunted past as she searches for clues to a childhood loss in author Sheila Sharpe’s “Locked in a Box,” the second book in A Kate O’Dade Art Crime Series.
The Synopsis
Darkness. A Terrifying Whisper. The Click of a Lock. Forgotten Memories.
Locked in a Box, the dramatic and heart-pounding prequel to the award-winning debut novel, Artist, Lover, Forger, Thief, is now available for pre-order! Being Locked in a Box in the bowels of New York’s Metropolitan Opera House as a child is the terrifying memory psychologist and artist, Kate O’Dade, can no longer suppress, no matter how hard she tries. Kate must now navigate her own personal harrowing psychological labyrinth that will push her to the brink as she gets closer to the terrifying truth long-buried in the past.
The anniversary of her father’s death resurrects old fears and awakens missing fragments of her memory. One particular memory still causes her paralyzing fear: “Katie, Katie, you can’t hide from me.” The whisper as terrifying as the click of the box being locked, trapping her in utter darkness and panic. And the questions that have haunted her for decades: Who locked her in that box? Who killed her father? As her repressed memories slowly begin to coalesce, Kate begins her relentless pursuit of the truth, hoping that discovering those answers will free her from the locked box she’s been emotionally trapped in for a very long time.
THE REVIEW
The story immediately stands out as a powerful psychological thriller that blends creative, haunting storytelling with personal, emotionally driven psychological exploration. The rich imagery the author uses in their writing style really paints a chilling picture, especially when delving into the protagonist’s backstory, and the path to investigating that backstory takes some interesting directions as the narrative develops. While new to the overall series, what makes the story so fun for new readers is that it’s a prequel to the original novel, allowing readers to get to know the protagonist on a much more personal level if they haven’t gotten the chance to read the first book yet, while also allowing fans of the first book to really understand the protagonist’s approach to that first story.
The powerful themes and deep exploration of psychology as a whole, from the perspective of someone who endured a very traumatic experience, make the story so unique and character-driven. The mystery behind her father‘s death and what happened to her are the biggest driving forces to get readers to this narrative. Yet it was the personal exploration not only of trauma but also identity that really kept readers invested in this character and the story that developed.
THE VERDICT
Haunting, thrilling, and wildly engaging, author Sheila Sharpe’s “Locked in a Box” is a must-read psychological thriller. The author’s own personal experience in psychology and theater adds a weight of realism to help immerse the reader into the setting and haunting tone the narrative invokes for the reader, and the twist and turns that come throughout the story allow the reader to feel like they’re on the edge of their seats for the majority of the narrative, keeping them invested in reading the first book and in future stories. If you haven’t yet, please be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
About the Author
Sheila Sharpe has been a therapist for more than forty years, specializing in treating trauma, couples, and artists. Being a detective of sorts to determine patients’ issues and their solutions like she does in The Ways We Love, along with her past history as an artist and fascination with art forgery, led to the creation of her new best-selling fiction book series, the Kate O’Dade Art Crime Novels, with Artist, Lover, Forger, Thief being the first book of the series, launched in April 2025.
Her roots in art are long and deep. A painter and storyteller since early childhood, Sharpe earned an undergraduate degree in painting and sculpture, as well as a degree in English Literature, from Connecticut College. Next, she earned an MFA in painting and film criticism from the University of California – San Diego, where she also taught both of those subjects. Following her stint at UCSD, Sharpe used these creative and artistic skills working as an art teacher and social worker, before earning a PhD in clinical psychology.
As a therapist and struggling artist, Sharpe began investigating the dark side of the art world, especially art forgery. This research, plus Sharpe’s therapy with creative people, led her to uncover why certain talented but traumatized artists became brilliant forgers. This research serves as the basis for the Kate O’Dade Art Crime Novels book series.
https://www.instagram.com/sheilasharpe_writer
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