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Greg McWhorter's “Shadowfall” is an enjoyable and entertaining read. There are a number of facets that come together well with this short novel.
McWhorter took historical components of World War II and a significant religious relic, and blended them together with supernatural elements, specifically dangerous apparitions, into a fresh tale. The setting of London, one of my most favorite cities, provides a legitimizing locale for McWhorter's plot – Nazi ghost soldiers come to life throughout the city and go on a killing spree each night as part of a delayed secret operation originating from an occult inspired plan. It's a fascinating and ingenious premise that is presented in a straightforward narrative structure.
The description of the ghosts, from the first speck of dust that eventually coalesced into apparitions with black eyes of abyss was riveting, especially during the first nights in Alfred Armbruster's flat. The pacing and tension McWhorter created heightened the overarching horror tone of the story. As a person who enjoys a good ghost story, the author delivered a tightly focused engrossing tale.
Tam, Simon and Gareth from the Greater London Investigators of the Paranormal seemed based on typical character stereotypes and as a result, were not well developed. They sounded and fell a little flat. In fact, Gareth was rather annoying; his silent and unrealized romantic interest in Tam became tiring after a short time. And the twist that Tam throws at Gareth was regrettably transparent. However, the author redeems with Walter Schmitt, who is the most developed and the most intriguing character. McWhorter spent the most time creating Schmitt and it showed. Given the character's past actions during the WWII, the author needed the character to come off as a likable person by the end of the story, in spite of the character's secret history. The author succeeded nicely.
“Shadowfall” was a fun read, and I wish that McWhorter had written a meatier full length novel that I could have relished longer than the current 120 pages. The end came too quickly!