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5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Read By A Major New Talent, Shadow-House-Stuart-Land-front-cover-4-inch-with-frame

July 8, 2011

By James A. Anderson "James Anderson" (London, Ontario Canada) See all my reviews

This review is from: Shadow House (Kindle Edition)

An amazing new young author has descended on the literary scene with his paranormal horror-mystery novel SHADOW HOUSE. 

I'm not a huge fan of horror novels. I much prefer mysteries, thrillers, spy novels and sci-fi. But I have read and enjoyed the works of Stephen King, Dean Koontz and another new young writer Alison Buck. Stuart Land deserves his place alongside these other great writers. 

SHADOW HOUSE is an engrossing, truly enthralling read. Mr. Land has an inventive, sometimes very weird imagination and takes his reader on a roller coaster ride of thrills, action and twists and turns where you really don't know how it's going to end up. His writing is outstanding and it was a pleasure to read a book not filled with errors, typos and misused words. Truly an outstanding editing job. 

The story focuses on Aaron Molina and his family. Aaron buys some tools and an estate of the evil P. J. McAvoy which takes a grip on his family and leads them on a horrifying journey. Beware what you buy at the next yard sale! The story builds to a climax which has some very surprising twists.(No spoilers here, you'll have to read the book). 

This is an excellent read by a major new young talent who could one day end up in best sellerdom with works like this one. Do yourself a favor and buy it. He is also the author of Original Blood, a vampire thriller. I'm not a vampire story lover either (TWILIGHT --Yuuuk) but I might break down and buy this one anyway based on SHADOW HOUSE. 

James A. Anderson 
Author, DEADLINE
 

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5.0 out of 5 stars Twilight Zone and Alfred Hitchcock move over, there's a new kid in town

June 24, 2011

By lovestodive (Athens, GA) See all my reviews

This review is from: Shadow House (Kindle Edition)

Aaron Molina is your average 30 something American man, with a wife, 2 children, a dog, a home in the suburbs and a nine to five job. He often wonders if he is satisfied with his life, and feels something might be missing, and then he continues to live that life just the same. Then one Saturday, on a trip to a flea market with his family that starts just like every trip to the flea market has ever started, he will stumble upon an old set of hand tools that will change his and his family's lives forever. 

The tools are part of an estate that once belonged to PJ McAvoy, gifted carpenter who was born in the 20's and was a truly evil person. In order to buy the tools, Aaron must buy the entire estate, fascinated with the tools Aaron buys it all. Thus begins Aaron and PJ's journey into each other lives, each being able to see through the other's eyes into both the past and the future. Aaron discovers PJ had an ulterior motive in dictating his entire estate be sold as one lot, and that motive involved the lives of Aaron and his family. Thus begins Aaron's journey to figure out PJ's intent, attempt to stay one step ahead of him and save everyone that is dear to him. 

I have to say; right here and now, that Mr. Land's writing style is absolutely beautiful. It reminded me of the old style writing of F. Scott Fitzgerald and company. The words dip and flow, and pull you into this tale of evil and bizarre happenings. Aaron starts out as the guy next door that we all know; slightly overweight and apathetic to the world he lives in, and morphs into a superhero type character. The glimpses we get into PJ's mind and life are so well described you can see, feel and actually smell what is happening. The secondary characters are a great group of people. Aaron's family balance him out and other people we meet along the way are an interesting mix of personalities. Mr. Land manages to bring all these different characters together into this spine tingling tale with just the right about of humor and mystery. 

I truly enjoyed every second of this book. It took me about 30% into the book to get the feel and rhythm of Mr. Land's writing style but once I did, I was totally hooked. I was taken on a ride of being pushed to the limit of scared and reeled back in with Aaron and companies self-depreciating humor and sarcasm. There was never a dull moment, and when I was finished I was so pulled into the story I was relieved and saddened at the same time. There is some violence here, some sex, some mystery, and some suspense, all wrapped up in a good story. If you read any of my reviews, you know I rarely give five stars; I would give more if I could to this book. I recommend this book to anyone who loves a good Alfred Hitchcock, Twilight Zone thriller/suspense type book. For best results, turn the lights down, close the shades, pull up the covers and enjoy. 

Reviewed for Paranormal Romance Guild 

 

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Good Story 

June 25, 2011

By Me "bear lover" (Eastern Shore, MD) See all my reviews

This review is from: Shadow House (Kindle Edition)

I bought this book because it sounded interesting. I found it to be very much stay on the edge of your seat. There were lots of surprises that kept me guessing from one minute to the next. I have been very cheap since getting my Kindle and rarely buy books more than $1.99, this one is $2.99 and I believe it to be worth it. If you like mystery with some supernatural thrown in get this book. I think that it will have you asking "What came first the chicken or the egg?"
 

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