Shadow House in Q&A with Stuart Land

Jun 18, 2011 Loves To Dive rated it it was amazing

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 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
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May 10, 2013 Kathy rated it it was amazing

Shadow House is not a typical ghost story. Indeed, it's not a ghost story at all. It is a thrilling ride through an unimaginable landscape. Aaron Molina plods through his ordinary, boring life -- cute family, cute wife, cute house in the suburbs -- like an obedient school child, until an unexpected purchase at a flea market changes his life. From that moment the story takes on a life of it's own as Aaron clashes with PJ McAvoy, an evil, vicious apparition who wants to destroy him. Stuart Land da ...more

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