A Shadow Melody

by Brian Kaufman

In the early 1900s, Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla, and Harry Browning each researched devices to contact the dead through scientific means. Only one of them succeeded.

Harry Browning is a prodigy with an extraordinary understanding of the natural sciences. Orphaned as a child, he becomes a beloved professor, a war hero... and a shell shock victim.

At war's end, he returns to his college hometown in Ohio and dedicates himself to research. Alone and isolated, he hires Elizabeth Rose, a young housekeeper with secrets. Together, they will seek to answer the one question that all humanity shares—what becomes of us after we pass beyond the veil?

They may not like the answer.

Kindle Edition

First published January 5, 2023

Reviews

[Kevin Halter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brian Kaufman's A Shadow Melody was an enjoyable read for me from start to finish. I enjoyed the premise and the characters. The writing was deft and focused more on storytelling and delivered wonderfully.
From the description, "In the early 1900s, Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla, and Harry Browning each researched devices to contact the dead through scientific means. Only one of them succeeded."
This book runs a gamut of genres and pulls you along for the ride by being both intellectually and emotionally engaging. I would like to go into more detail but don't want to spoil it for anyone.
I highly recommend #AShadowMelody by Brian Kaufman. Thank you to #NetGalley, and #BlackRoseWriting for the ARC of this book. I plan on picking up a physical copy for my straining bookshelves and keeping an eye out for more works by the author.

[Kevin Halter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brian Kaufman's A Shadow Melody was an enjoyable read for me from start to finish. I enjoyed the premise, and the characters. The writing was deft and focused more on storytelling and delivered wonderfully.
From the description, "In the early 1900s, Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla, and Harry Browning each researched devices to contact the dead through scientific means. Only one of them succeeded."
This book runs a gamut of genres and pulls you along for the ride by being both intellectually and emotionally engaging. I would like to go into more detail but don't want to spoil it for anyone.
I highly recommend #AShadowMelody by Brian Kaufman. Thank you to #NetGalley, and #BlackRoseWriting for the ARC of this book. I plan on picking up a physical copy for my straining bookshelves, and keeping an eye out for more works by the author.

[Isabel Nicholson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the most unusual and interesting reads I’ve had so far this year. The plot is engaging and filled with unexpected twists. It both makes the reader think and examines the boundaries between science and the unknown.
The characters are great and it is interesting to see them (especially Harry) change and develop over time. There are some wonderful supporting characters throughout the novel too.
I enjoyed this novel and the style it is written in, so, even though I haven’t read anything by this author before, I am sure I will read more of his books in the future.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harry Smith in his young life head had some of the best and the worst things that could happen to a person happened to him. He lost his mom at the young age of three in for a few years him and his dad lived hand to mouth until his dad got hired at Mr.Brampton’s estate and this would change young Harry’s life for the better and forever. Young Harry was one of the smartest seven--year-olds Mr.Brympton ever met and so he took a special interest in him. He was a professor at the local college and new young Harry was something special and after the death of his father the professor would be all young Harry had left. This is why when Harry left to join the great war Mr. Brympton was not happy about it. Throughout Harry’s life he wanted to know why did people die? Why did his mother die why did his father have to die? After the war when the professor passed away he left a big enough inheritance to let houri study and research and try to answer the scientific questions he had. One day after moving into his little cottage A local girl name Elizabeth knocked on his door having Vincent there by the window to see if he would hire her as a housekeeper. This would change young Harry’s life forever. She would also help him answer his questions about that but either he asked the wrong questions or didn’t understand the answer because sometimes it’s better just to wander. I know this isn’t the greatest summary but how do you summarize such an awesome book. This isn’t a romance book it isn’t a paranormal book and although they have aspects of both I think this is a book that stands all on its own I truly enjoyed this book and when I say I did not say the story going we’re dead I don’t think anyone will babe but this book is so good I loved it and highly recommend it it is definitely the kind of book I have come to expect from Black Rose Writing . I will definitely be looking for more books by this author asked for this one I highly recommend it if you love historical fiction with a paranormal and romantic twist you’ll love this book. Let me just say this book is so much more than a romance book I feel as if I’m doing it a disservice by putting the genre in my review but it does have romantic aspects but it is a way more credible story than just a whimsical ghost or romance genre. I’ve received this book from NetGalley and Black Rose Writing but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a short novel that feels like a novella. It's written like a short story, with the kind of ending a short story often has, but it's really a novel that hasn't been given enough room to breathe.

Nothing is developed as much as I felt it needed to be. The romance felt cursory. The dark-fantasy element (I'd consider communicating with the dead dark fantasy, though it's presented in a context which otherwise suggests science fiction) felt inadequately led up to and not motivated enough by the prior parts of the story, which also felt disjointed, as if the child Harry we met at the beginning didn't have much continuity with the adult Harry. I think this is because while some of his abilities were the same, there didn't seem to be a clear emotional throughline from beginning to end. The twist also felt abrupt (and broke my suspension of disbelief: the Catholic Church never actually "outlawed" a musical interval as demonic, and having a piece of music do psychic damage just... didn't work for me).

I think it's the emotional throughline that I was really missing. I've reviewed a few books this year that I've put on my Best of the Year list despite significant mechanical issues, because they showed good storytelling ability and took me on an emotional journey that worked. This one is the opposite; there are relatively few and minor prose errors, but it's all chops and no gravy.

There are some missed opportunities, too, that could have created such a throughline. For example, while in college, Harry secretly admires his best friend's girlfriend; but after the two friends are both in World War I, she disappears from the story completely, even though she could easily have filled the exact role that is instead filled by the randomly-appearing and previously-unheralded Elizabeth. It's as if, with each time skip (child to college age, college to the war, war to several years post-war) there's a reset, and what Harry cares about, and the cast of secondary characters, are completely replaced. I think that's what makes it feel underdeveloped and too short; none of the sections is complete in itself, and there's not enough connection between them. Maybe the author was going for "each stage of his life ends with a death of someone important to him, and that's what motivates him to want to speak to the dead," but if so, it didn't come through clearly enough for me.

For me, this had potential, but needed more work to be satisfying.

[Gojan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well-paced and satisfying tale written in spare, often lofty early 1900s language that slowly and effectively builds to a touching and satisfying conclusion.

Elizabeth and Harry, at first seemingly unlikely attractants, each become fully developed and likeable characters. Kaufman covers quite a bit of ground in this concise book that mingles history, the science of Edison and Tesla and the paranormal with a perfectly believable love story.

The author, as in an earlier novel that I enjoyed, has a knack for quietly drawing you into his story with as much implication as narrative detail. That’s certainly the case here: boy-genius grows into a quirky yet conscientious and dedicated scientist, engages quietly in a noble quest and then finds romance in an endearing and unexpected way. The ending is nicely hopeful and sweet.

Romeo and Juliet with a Ouija board.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

First and foremost, I would like to say I am personally not a huge fan of historical and paranormal stuff; however, I am all about giving a book a chance and I am thankful that I did. This book was an interesting read from start to finish.
Just based on what the book mini dialogue says: This story takes place back in the 1900s and Thomas, Nikola and Harry all get a machine that allows them to contact the dead. However, only one of them is successful.
I felt a connection to Harry Smith the most, how good and bad things can happen to a person, and he just had a lot of questions on why both his parents died. It also broke my heart to read it.
I found it interesting how author Brian Kaufman blended paranormal and history and twisted it together. Overall, I would recommend this book.

[Patricia Stoltey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you think it's possible to make contact with souls of those who've passed from this world? If so, how would go about it? A visit to a psychic? Participate in a seance? Maybe try a Ouija board? Harry Browning, a man with a scientific mind and a reclusive nature, invents a device to communicate with the departed. He's only slightly distracted by the charms of the young lady he hires as a housekeeper, especially when she takes an interest in his work. Part romance and part mystical adventure into the unknown, A Shadow Melody picks at the reader's heartstrings while raising questions of what might be possible if a scientist persists. Like other Brian Kaufman novels, the characters in the book are beautifully drawn and the story original and clever.

[Kim Garrow · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC publication for an honest review.

A Shadow Melody
by Brian Kaufman
Pub Date: 05 Jan 2023

A Shadow Melody is a mixture of historical fiction, science, science fiction/paranormal and a sweet romance. I enjoyed the book and was ready to give it a 4-star review.... until the last part of the book took a turn that I was really disappointed in. I don't want to spoil anything, so I will leave it at that, but I will say the ending is left open...

3 stars

[Margaret A. Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Walking away from a book you’ve just read and wondering what does it leave me with? Ultimately it’s boiled down to “be careful what you wish for.” A driving consumable quest can have tragic consequences in spite of its success.

I also wonder if that was the author’s purpose or perhaps I’ve still got more to realize. Maybe that’s the author’s ultimate success! In any event Mr Kaufman has captured my admiration!

[Kenneth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Shadow Melody is the story of Harry Browning, a brilliant scientist determined to unlock the key to communicating with the dead. Along the way he discovers love with Elizabeth Rose, but their happiness proves fleeting as Harry’s dream turns into a nightmare he couldn’t have imagined. This is a great read. Highly recommended.

[JoAnne · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intriguing mixture of historical fiction, romance, psychological drama, and paranormal. Full of unexpected twists and surprises. Intriguing plot and characters kept me emotionally invested in the story.

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sprinkling of historical fiction, characters real enough to draw breath, two spoonful's of macabre and you end up with a man cheated of love driven to rectify the situation, damning all long-distance charges for the communique.

[Denice Langley · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mixed genre story that was both entertaining and educational. I expected the story to lean towards horror but was pleasantly surprised with the mix of history and scifi that left me wondering if popular opinion on life after death could be answered with more than a yes or no.

[laura lavarnway · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book interesting topic

I enjoyed the book it had an interesting and unusual topic. I wished cut was longer and felt it ended abruptly.

[Virginia · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.