Customer Reviews

Within The Shadows

5 star:		(47)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

All of a sudden I gasped and cried out "Oh no!, Oh no!" and those around me said "that must be a good book!" The book I was reading was Within the Shadows by Brandon Massey. This is the third of his horror/suspense novels I have read and each one I have enjoyed. Within the Shadows started off a little slow, but had a strong middle and ending.

Writer Andrew Wilson is best known for his Mark Justice suspense novels. One Tuesday while sitting in Starbucks, he sees a beautiful young woman reading his novel. Putting his shyness aside and acting on a dare from his best friend, Eric Patton, he introduces himself to her. The woman is Lalamica (Mika) Woods. After meeting Mika, Andrew's life becomes a whirlwind of strange, unexplainable events. His home is invaded by an unknown source that turns on electrical equipment and communicates with him by typing messages on his computer. Three gray cats, with piercing eyes that can look beyond the soul find their way on his property. Worse of all, Mika is not the woman he thought. With the help of friend, Carmen and his estranged father, Ray, Andrew has to find out the mystery behind the strange going-ons in order to keep his sanity.

Intrigued is the best way I can describe how I was feeling while reading this book. The actions and suspense had me on the edge of my seat. I was anxious to find out what was going to happen next, but afraid to turn the pages too fast for fear of the unexpected. I sat for hours savoring every word to get to the ending. In this review I am leaving out a lot of information because I would not want to spoil this book for anyone. I suggest you pick up this book and enjoy the haunting experience for yourself.

Jeanette
APOOO BookClub
Motown Review BookClub

I was in the middle of reading a couple of romance/relationship novels that were making me yawn, when I decided to go ahead and peruse the first couple of chapters of a horror novel (Within the Shadows) that I'd bought that Friday afternoon. I didn't put the book down until I'd finished reading it (14 hours later). This book grabbed me by the throat and violently shook me around and didn't let me go until I read the final word!! I felt like I was on a runaway rollercoaster and someone forgot to strap me in. I was so engrossed and scared that I would jump whenever my own telephone rang. Now that's what I call a good book!!

Three thoughts crossed my mind repeatedly when I was reading this book: 1) Andrew, man, you've got yourself mixed up in some straight craziness!!, 2) Mika would beat the brakes off of that broad Glenn Close!!! and 3) How the heck are Andrew, Carmen and Raymond gonna get outta this mess??

I agree with some of the other reviewers on the overall plot structure of the novel. I liked the way the author layered the subplots into the main plot. Who would've thought you could weave complex family issues, love relationships, eroticism (Brandon, have you been hanging out with Zane??) and friendship issues together so perfectly into a horror novel? And do it very delicately and be suttle about it, in such a way that the main plot is in no way overshadowed????? And the author's attention to detail was insane!! I might have to read it again, because I know I missed something!

I especailly enjoyed the fact that much of this story took place over in my hood (Southside Atlanta, South Fulton County).

Seems like with each book, Brandon Massey gets better and better. Man, he is really fine-tuning his craft!!!! I thought Thunderland and Dark Corner were scary. The eclectic Dark Dreams Anthology was very good, masterfully edited. Within the Shadows took it to a whole 'nother level. I can't imagine what Mr. Massey will write next!!!

Please GO OUT AND GET THIS BOOK!!! I promise, you won't regret it.

Andrew Wilson is a young, successful bachelor looking for the right woman to help complete his life. He is also trying to re-establish a relationship with his absentee father. While returning from a weekend golf getaway, Andrew and his father have a bizarre car accident, but the accident was no accident at all, it was planned. In the time that follows, Andrew meets an amazing, drop dead gorgeous woman, Mika Woods. Suddenly strange things begin to happen and they all can't be a coincidence. As Andrew begins to make sense of it all he will need to be open and trust his father, the father that abandoned him years ago, because he holds the answers that Andrew seeks.

I loved Brandon Massey's Thunderland, it was my first experience in the genre of horror. After reading his third novel I thought of the song lyric by Sade, "nothing's as good as the first time", but WITHIN THE SHADOWS comes mighty darn close. I still received the chills of terror and the sadness that goes hand in hand. The subplots dealing with family relationships are just as strong and interesting as the primary one. His characters have depth and it is easy to picture the story he has drawn out for you in words. WITHIN THE SHADOWS is a well-crafted horror story.

Reviewed by Aiesha Flowers
of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers

Brandon Massey never fails to please, and this novel just adds stock to why he is one of my favorite authors.

Within The Shadows is a story about an author, who grabs the attention of an obsessive fan. The twist of the story is that she is not who, or what, you may think she is. What starts as a lustful, *Massey pens one of the most erotic sex scenes I have ever read in this one! *whoooo* mentally tantalizing affair, turns into a nightmare beyond imagination.

I won't tell too much more of this brilliantly penned novel. But trust me, it's a pageturner. Not your typical horror story, and will leave you literally on the edge of your seat!

JD

This book is GREAT!! If you enjoyed Brandon Massey's book, Dark Corner, you will definately enjoy Within the Shadows. I, myself, am a HUGE Brandon Massey fan, and although all of the books that I have read by him are great, this is THE BEST.

This was a page turner. I couldn't stop reading it, I had to know what's going to happen next. Mika was such a psycho, at times I had to laugh because she was soooo crazy. Don't sleep on this book, go and get it.

While driving back with his father after a round of golf, Raymond makes a sudden turn and drives until he has an accident. Nearby is a mansion which his son Andrew enters to look for a phone. The place seems haunted so he quickly goes outside gets a signal on his cell phone. When his father is admitted to the hospital because of injuries due to the accident, Andrew asks him if he knows about the house and he says no but his son knows his father is lying.

Not long after that episode, Andrew, a thriller writer, is in his favorite coffee shop prepared to do some writer when he meets Mika Woods. She makes it plain she is interested in him and entices him into coming back to her hotel room where they have hot sex. Mika makes it plain that she loves him and he is the soul mate she waited years to find but Andrew wants to take things slow which upset her greatly. Her obsession leads her to stalk Andrew and his friends while his father dreams about the mansion. When Andrew finally admits something supernatural is going on, anyone who gets close to him is in danger from Mika and her paranormal powers. It is up to Andrew's father to save the son he abandoned so many years ago.

Brandon Massey is a fantastic horror writer who will appeal to readers who like Bentley Little. Andrew rings true as he goes from skeptical non believer in the paranormal to a believer because he has witnessed strange happenings and knows he needs to destroy Mika before she further hurts those he loves. WITHIN THIS SHADOW is worthy of a Bram Stoker award nomination.

Harriet Klausner

Oh my gosh!!! This is the best ghost book I have ever read! I want to tell the McBride person that I am not a paid friend or relative or have I ever heard of Brandon Massey until I bought this book, but I sure will read every other one he has ever written. I am just a grandma that loves a good book. If you love supernatural you owe it to yourself to read this one. Why can't people just read a book for the enjoyment of it and not try to put authors down for every little thing. Geez, lighten up. Mr. Massey if you see this, I want you to know that I LOVED the book. I just wish it would be made into a movie. My husband and I miss the good old scary shows. Keep up the great work, you have a new fan.

So I had to take a break from the romance novels and hit up one of Brandon Massey's new thrillers titled "Within The Shadows".

If you love a good thriller, then this is the book for you! It started off with a bang! It ended with a bang! This book shows you that you should be open for the possiblity of anything happening in your life! The good, the bad and the UGLY!

Brandon's main character Andrew realized all that. He was a creature of habit until the one fatal day he did something he didn't normally do! Yep, it costed him a lot when he stepped out of his normal habit and didn't FOLLOW his CONSCIENCE!!!! True enough some good came out of it. BUT a whole lot of bad and ugly came out of it ti! It was a great tale of friends, family, and lust!

Take a ride with Andrew as he deals with writing a book, selling his 4th novel, sex, love, and the ghostly adventures!!!!!

OK - this one got me. Talk about scary! There's no one creepier than the 'Fatal Attraction' chick in this novel. She gives obsession a whole new meaning. Massey has a gift of grabbing and holding your attention. It was hard to stop reading. Just when I would decide to put this book down to get some rest, here he goes ending the chapter with a cliffhanger that made it impossible not to read further. I love his style of writing. Every novel I've read of Massey's has been awesome, but this one is my favorite.