The Shadows in My Soul: Mystery Suspense

by James H. Bloom

This book involves murder & Paranormal events.

124 pages, Paperback

Published July 19, 2019

Reviews

[Fauzia Fatchan]

I was expecting a story that if it was adapted into a motion picture, it would be like The Amityville movies. But unfortunately, my expectation fell apart right from the second paragraph of the Preface when I started to think that I was reading raw draft of an unpublished novel.

Every chapter should work like picture or painting in a single frame. All the frames are sewed together to create a beautiful quilt, the biggest picture. There the plots flow smoothly. But this book is just patchy. The plots uncontrollably jump around like wild fires. Apart from very poor grammar, it’s confusing.

You should try to build stronger characters, places, or events related to the story. Instead, you came with unnecessary details such as the features of a Barquentine or the logistic items that were included in the ship ticket purchase (down to the weight of each item) in which they had absolutely nothing to do with the story whatsoever.

I am sorry if I might sound discouraging but I am sorry for more to know that you really wasted your own debut in writing fiction. When it comes to publishing your work, it takes more than just interest or hobby in writing.

Publishing is a business. In business, one of the most important aspects is that you have to build your brand. In this case, it’s your own name. Readers will not listen to your excuses or explanation. Especially when you cannot interact with them directly. All they know is that they buy your book and expect what they get is worth what they have spent. If they don’t like it, next time your book is sitting on the shelf – online or offline – they will just keep walking.

It might need extra efforts if you plan to publish another book. Take your time, don’t rush. Read more books, especially the bestselling ones, in the same genre to get ideas or insights in how other authors construct their stories. Do more detail research, more than merely relying on National Geographic or even taking the information from NatGeo, you can present more detail footnotes.

Taking online classes on creative writing might be worth to do. Udemy or Master Class (I am not endorsing anybody) have great classes that you can check. Have a proofreader reads your draft before you apply for the ISBN.

[Selim · Rating 3 out of 5]

This fictional story takes place in the Midwest during the XIX century. It revolves around the murder of Johnson's family and the extremely bizarre method employed to discover the murderer. The case was put to rest thanks to the extraordinary physic abilities of Amber, daughter of the Stewart's marriage, who came to America from England and took residency in the very same house in which the crime took place five years earlier. The novel's depiction of the murder is utterly crude and bloody and came up somewhat unexpectedly. From that point onwards, readers are introduced to Amber's evolving abilities to connect with the dead victims, who wander aimlessly inside the house. Due to this connection, Amber is able to not only identify the perpetrator, but also trace the places on which the weapons used were hidden. This novel presents an interesting plot that needs more work, especially to connect all pieces in a more smoothy way. Also, more attention needs to be put to avoid asynchronism. Two examples to illustrate: it would've been impossible for the murderer to use a Colt 36, as this handgun was only invented in 1850, thus 30 years after the crime took place. Another example was the blood testing mentioned in page 98. A brief inquiry will let the author know that blood testing was first practiced by Karl Landsteiner in 1900, several years after the event showcased in the story.

[Jan Jan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't really like this read. I felt I was reading a children's book back when I was in primary school, one of those illustrated classics and even those were better detailed. The literature ...point form? I also felt that to much time was spent on Captain John Blake and "history" on page 72 to 75. Seeing ghostly images to physic abilities?
Why was a warrant issued in the first place for Mr. Carson?
What is death roll?
How can you be in the story from "he" straight to "I"? Or "we"?
Page 28. Amber claimed to see shadows and hear voices in her mind...
Jeff and Laura weren't quite sure how to take it since they haven't heard anything going on around the house.

This story lacked details. There was nothing there to take my mind in it! There was no actual story! This was so bad that I had to put it down a few times. Unless it's a children's book? This is the way to a kid's mind...without the blood and gore! Then if it is forget my bad review!

Then there's the pages at the end of the story about the real Amber.

Honestly I feel as if the Author bio was more interesting than the book itself.

[Romila · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read James H. Bloom for the first time and discovered him this year. I should say I am glad I picked up his book to read. The current is a haunting tale, very disturbing kind of about a house located in Shadows Lane with lots of bad tragic which makes you wonder what made the author write such a story. I liked the author’s writing style - very direct, and doesn’t sugar coat the vocabulary much. As this genre is one of the favourites I loved reading the story. It held my breath, I finished it one sitting as it is just 120 pages and was easy to read. I am highly recommending this book.

[Yara · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a short book that narrates a haunting tale of a house in Shadows Lane that beset a horrible tragedy. It can easily be read in one sitting, gripping your senses, and have you gasping for breath, you would gag for knowing the truth.

Overall, it's a fast-paced and easy read!