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Coffin Shadows
12 YEARS AGO
Janet Martlee’s infant son died under mysterious circumstances.
Consumed with grief and anger, she ran away to start again...
YESTERDAY
A 12-year old boy with dead eyes appeared in her classroom,
begging for help. But Janet doesn’t believe in ghosts...
TODAY
Her psychiatrist tells her she must return home to confront
her past and uncover the mystery of what happened...
Only some questions don’t want to be answered.
And some answers hide in the shadows...
In the
COFFIN SHADOWS
Janet Martlee’s infant son died under mysterious circumstances.
Consumed with grief and anger, she ran away to start again...
YESTERDAY
A 12-year old boy with dead eyes appeared in her classroom,
begging for help. But Janet doesn’t believe in ghosts...
TODAY
Her psychiatrist tells her she must return home to confront
her past and uncover the mystery of what happened...
Only some questions don’t want to be answered.
And some answers hide in the shadows...
In the
COFFIN SHADOWS
114 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2020
8 people are currently reading
166 people want to read
About the author
Glen R. Krisch
35 books523 followersA native of the Chicago suburbs, Glen Krisch hopes to add to his list of ghosts he's witnessed (two), as well as develop his rather pedestrian telekinetic and precognitive skills.
His novels include Amazon Bestseller WHERE DARKNESS DWELLS, THE NIGHTMARE WITHIN, NOTHING LASTING, ARKADIUM RISING, ECHOES OF VIOLENCE, and LITTLE WHISPERS.
His novels include Amazon Bestseller WHERE DARKNESS DWELLS, THE NIGHTMARE WITHIN, NOTHING LASTING, ARKADIUM RISING, ECHOES OF VIOLENCE, and LITTLE WHISPERS.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
January 17, 2021
Janet who works as a teacher at a private school is pregnant from her boyfriend Brian. Then she starts seeing the strange apparition of a 12 year old boy in a red jacket. Why does this ghost appear to her? Her psychiatrist recommends to get in contact with her parents she hasn't seen in 12 years. Will the trip into the past reveal the answer for the apparition? We come to hear that Janet already was pregnant 12 years ago, lost her son under strange circumstances... there are dark points in her life. This was a straight shooting and extremely compelling story. That ride into Janet's past is absolutely nail biting and comes up with some nasty evidence about her parents and her former home. I was very positively surprised. Loved this book and can highly recommend it.
February 1, 2021
Coffin Shadows
by Glen Krisch & Mark Steensland
This is a book I requested from NetGalley and the review is all my own opinion.
This book had me hooked right away! Janet is a teacher and a few weeks pregnant. She is seeing a dead boy everywhere. It's effecting her life and messing with her job and health. She goes to her mental health doctor to discuss this. Janet had lost a baby 12 years prior but can't remember what happened. She had blocked off those memories and has no clue how the baby died or how she ended up in the hospital without a scratch. The doctor believes her seeing a 12 year old boy and her son died 12 years ago that she needs to go home and find answers. (She had left home from the hospital and never has been back.)
She doesn't want to lost touch with reality so she goes home. Memories start returning. Clues start emerging. She soon finds out more than what's good for her health.
This is a real nail biter! Lots of tension, suspense, and terrifying scenes, not with any paranormal activity but with human evil activities! Great plot, well developed characters, and great build up to the end! I could not stop reading! Loved it! Terrifyingly good!
by Glen Krisch & Mark Steensland
This is a book I requested from NetGalley and the review is all my own opinion.
This book had me hooked right away! Janet is a teacher and a few weeks pregnant. She is seeing a dead boy everywhere. It's effecting her life and messing with her job and health. She goes to her mental health doctor to discuss this. Janet had lost a baby 12 years prior but can't remember what happened. She had blocked off those memories and has no clue how the baby died or how she ended up in the hospital without a scratch. The doctor believes her seeing a 12 year old boy and her son died 12 years ago that she needs to go home and find answers. (She had left home from the hospital and never has been back.)
She doesn't want to lost touch with reality so she goes home. Memories start returning. Clues start emerging. She soon finds out more than what's good for her health.
This is a real nail biter! Lots of tension, suspense, and terrifying scenes, not with any paranormal activity but with human evil activities! Great plot, well developed characters, and great build up to the end! I could not stop reading! Loved it! Terrifyingly good!
September 30, 2020
3.5*
COFFIN SHADOWS, by Glen Krisch and Mark Steensland is a horror novella that takes our main character, Janet, in a quest to find out the truth about her past.
When she starts seeing a "dead" looking boy everywhere she turns, her psychologist suggests she go back to her hometown to finally confront the truth of what happened twelve years before. The events and action came fast at that point, and the underlying secrets were ones that I didn't see coming.
My main problem was with the characters--this could be simply because of the novella length, but I just didn't feel that any had any real depth to them. Janet started out well, but as the story went on, her memories coming back and other issues made me question her as a narrator (which I don't think was the intent).
Overall though, I read this novella in a single sitting, because I was carried away by the mystery. The writing was compelling, and I "needed" to know what happened. I feel the execution of the ending was just a bit too abrupt for the themes introduced. This is the kind of storyline that I think would have benefitted from a slightly longer length, and more character development. Still, a compulsive read and unpredictable tale.
Recommended.
COFFIN SHADOWS, by Glen Krisch and Mark Steensland is a horror novella that takes our main character, Janet, in a quest to find out the truth about her past.
When she starts seeing a "dead" looking boy everywhere she turns, her psychologist suggests she go back to her hometown to finally confront the truth of what happened twelve years before. The events and action came fast at that point, and the underlying secrets were ones that I didn't see coming.
My main problem was with the characters--this could be simply because of the novella length, but I just didn't feel that any had any real depth to them. Janet started out well, but as the story went on, her memories coming back and other issues made me question her as a narrator (which I don't think was the intent).
Overall though, I read this novella in a single sitting, because I was carried away by the mystery. The writing was compelling, and I "needed" to know what happened. I feel the execution of the ending was just a bit too abrupt for the themes introduced. This is the kind of storyline that I think would have benefitted from a slightly longer length, and more character development. Still, a compulsive read and unpredictable tale.
Recommended.
April 6, 2023
Life seems to be going pretty well for Janet, although she is struggling with her feelings about her pregnancy due to the traumatic loss of her first baby. She's in a stable relationship, has a good job, and a best friend who would do anything for her.
Everything in her life would be perfectly rosy if not for the parts of her past she can not remember and the sudden appearance of what looks like the corpse of a 12 year old boy that is watching and stalking her.
Her therapist tells her she must return home, to her parents from whom she has been estranged for years, in order to seek out the truth about what happened to her baby. The therapist believes that confronting her past will rid her of these visions of a dead child.
This was a fast-paced, chilling read in which some secrets are horrifying but uncovering them can be deadly. The suspense kept my blood pounding but the shocking climax nearly stopped my heart! There is an old expression "You can't go home again" but maybe what is really meant by that is don't go back if you were lucky enough to escape the first time.
5 out of 5 stars
My thanks to Cemetery Dance Publications
Everything in her life would be perfectly rosy if not for the parts of her past she can not remember and the sudden appearance of what looks like the corpse of a 12 year old boy that is watching and stalking her.
Her therapist tells her she must return home, to her parents from whom she has been estranged for years, in order to seek out the truth about what happened to her baby. The therapist believes that confronting her past will rid her of these visions of a dead child.
This was a fast-paced, chilling read in which some secrets are horrifying but uncovering them can be deadly. The suspense kept my blood pounding but the shocking climax nearly stopped my heart! There is an old expression "You can't go home again" but maybe what is really meant by that is don't go back if you were lucky enough to escape the first time.
5 out of 5 stars
My thanks to Cemetery Dance Publications
December 10, 2020
Janet Martlee, until recently, has been a happy woman. She's living with a man she adores, has a great teaching job.
She also has secrets... secrets that are coming back to haunt her.
A young boy keeps appearing, even in her school classroom. He wears a red sweatshirt and he is clearly dead... but she doesn't believe in ghosts. So who is he? And why is he only appearing to her?
Fearing for her sanity, she makes an appointment with her psychiatrist who urges her to go back to her hometown. She needs to confront her parents to answer the questions she never asked ... what happened to her? Her memories are almost gone from that time in her life.
Doing what was recommended, she faces her parents. Dad is in the hospital, but Mom seems to be hesitant to talk to her. What she explains just doesn't make sense. And she learns that a 12-year-boy is missing. Is this the boy in the red sweatshirt she keeps seeing?
They say the truth can set you free ... but it can also place you in a dark web of lies.. threatening your very existence.
This is a short read, less than 200 pages. The mystery/suspense starts on the very first page and holds a steady pace until the very surprising conclusion. The solidly drawn characters swirl in the midst of twists and turns that kept me riveted to each and every page.
Many thanks to the authors / Silver Shamrock Publishing / IBPA / Netgalley for the digital copy of this occult fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
She also has secrets... secrets that are coming back to haunt her.
A young boy keeps appearing, even in her school classroom. He wears a red sweatshirt and he is clearly dead... but she doesn't believe in ghosts. So who is he? And why is he only appearing to her?
Fearing for her sanity, she makes an appointment with her psychiatrist who urges her to go back to her hometown. She needs to confront her parents to answer the questions she never asked ... what happened to her? Her memories are almost gone from that time in her life.
Doing what was recommended, she faces her parents. Dad is in the hospital, but Mom seems to be hesitant to talk to her. What she explains just doesn't make sense. And she learns that a 12-year-boy is missing. Is this the boy in the red sweatshirt she keeps seeing?
They say the truth can set you free ... but it can also place you in a dark web of lies.. threatening your very existence.
This is a short read, less than 200 pages. The mystery/suspense starts on the very first page and holds a steady pace until the very surprising conclusion. The solidly drawn characters swirl in the midst of twists and turns that kept me riveted to each and every page.
Many thanks to the authors / Silver Shamrock Publishing / IBPA / Netgalley for the digital copy of this occult fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
January 30, 2021
Coffin Shadows was a quick, fun read. We have our main character, Janet, who has lost a son due to mysterious circumstances. She runs away from her family and town because it would just be too much to stay. Flash forward to the future where Janet is seeing a boy who by all appearances is dead. This starts to affect her job and personal life so she returns home to gain some clarity as to what may have happened.
This story was so much fun to me! Some of the plot was questionable or not entirely fleshed out, but it doesn’t change the fact that you just need to know what happens next.
Thanks to NetGalley and Silver Shamrock Publishing for the opportunity to read and rate this title.
This story was so much fun to me! Some of the plot was questionable or not entirely fleshed out, but it doesn’t change the fact that you just need to know what happens next.
Thanks to NetGalley and Silver Shamrock Publishing for the opportunity to read and rate this title.
September 2, 2020
Anytime a Mark Steensland collaboration drops, I consider it a momentous occasion. When partnered with Silver Shamrock, go right on ahead and double that anticipation. After Steensland’s initial book with the press, In the Scrape, co-written with James Newman, this one had my attention from the word go. Glen Krisch is a new-to-me author, so I was anxious to see what the two could do together.
Coffin Shadows is a picturesque example of exactly what the novella offers in regards to the horror genre – a story with minimal set-up, dropping you directly into the action, and is able to keep the pace up for the majority of the run time. This story revolves around Janet. When we meet her there are certain peculiarities to her characterization, and we see the actions long before the explanations are unfurled. The most memorable part upfront is a clearly dead, pre-teen boy in a red sweatshirt that seems to show up everywhere she is, including, but not limited to, the coat closet at the school Janet works at.
That event causes a panic attack of epic proportions which results in Janet being given an unasked for and unanticipated vacation from work to get it together. She uses this time to return to her hometown, and from here we dig into her complicated past.
It feels like I just laid a great deal of exposition at your door, but that’s a pretty basic set-up, happening fairly quick in the book. It’s really the discoveries Janet makes in regards to her personal past and the people and places she grew up around that propel the narrative forward. There are some interesting elements that I won’t go into here, most I didn’t expect going in, or even after the first thirty pages or so. In this regard, the authors holding onto their secrets until the proper time is done fairly well.
I mentioned the pacing of a novella previously, and as much as I love the breakneck dynamics the novella had to offer, this one could’ve used just a bit more padding to increase characterisation. The reader doesn’t dislike Janet, but nor do they like her. They don’t really get to know her before she’s plunged into the action. We also could use a little more time spent with her partner, Brian, to figure out whether or not he has Janet’s best interests at heart and if we should be rooting for him.
On the flip side, regarding the mystery surrounding Janet, the reader not knowing every aspect of her personality allows the authors to experiment with dangling plot elements in front of the reader. We are invited to guess and wonder what’s real.
Overall, Coffin Shadows creates the literary equivalent of the 90 minute horror/psychological thriller movie, grabbing hold of the reader on page one and dragging you kicking and screaming behind the bumper fire almost 120 pages. With the exception of one plot element that I would’ve liked to see wrapped up, the story is very self-contained and allows for that one-sitting type of escapism I’ve really thrives in since the pandemic hit. I would recommend this fans of psychological horror.
I received a copy from the publisher for review conversation.
Coffin Shadows is a picturesque example of exactly what the novella offers in regards to the horror genre – a story with minimal set-up, dropping you directly into the action, and is able to keep the pace up for the majority of the run time. This story revolves around Janet. When we meet her there are certain peculiarities to her characterization, and we see the actions long before the explanations are unfurled. The most memorable part upfront is a clearly dead, pre-teen boy in a red sweatshirt that seems to show up everywhere she is, including, but not limited to, the coat closet at the school Janet works at.
That event causes a panic attack of epic proportions which results in Janet being given an unasked for and unanticipated vacation from work to get it together. She uses this time to return to her hometown, and from here we dig into her complicated past.
It feels like I just laid a great deal of exposition at your door, but that’s a pretty basic set-up, happening fairly quick in the book. It’s really the discoveries Janet makes in regards to her personal past and the people and places she grew up around that propel the narrative forward. There are some interesting elements that I won’t go into here, most I didn’t expect going in, or even after the first thirty pages or so. In this regard, the authors holding onto their secrets until the proper time is done fairly well.
I mentioned the pacing of a novella previously, and as much as I love the breakneck dynamics the novella had to offer, this one could’ve used just a bit more padding to increase characterisation. The reader doesn’t dislike Janet, but nor do they like her. They don’t really get to know her before she’s plunged into the action. We also could use a little more time spent with her partner, Brian, to figure out whether or not he has Janet’s best interests at heart and if we should be rooting for him.
On the flip side, regarding the mystery surrounding Janet, the reader not knowing every aspect of her personality allows the authors to experiment with dangling plot elements in front of the reader. We are invited to guess and wonder what’s real.
Overall, Coffin Shadows creates the literary equivalent of the 90 minute horror/psychological thriller movie, grabbing hold of the reader on page one and dragging you kicking and screaming behind the bumper fire almost 120 pages. With the exception of one plot element that I would’ve liked to see wrapped up, the story is very self-contained and allows for that one-sitting type of escapism I’ve really thrives in since the pandemic hit. I would recommend this fans of psychological horror.
I received a copy from the publisher for review conversation.
December 15, 2020
With a striking cover and an ominous sounding plot, this seemed like a good midnight read. I must say the quality of this publisher’s output (specifically their line of these scary novellas) hasn’t been wowing really, it tends to be consistently on the average, very occasionally going above and sometimes below that level. This one is, once again, well in the average territory. The writing is good, but the plotting essentially recycles the traditional genre scenarios with a twist you can predict from a good distance away. But having that been said, it’s a perfectly fine read, it’s entertaining and goes by quickly.
A young woman goes back to the small town she dramatically fled as a teen to confront her parents and find out the truth about the deadly circumstances leading up to her leaving. And of course, there’s evil there, it’s a small town, it’s a genre novel, what’d you expect, apple pies? So the trick is to just figure out what kind of evil is she dealing with. Is it of a natural of supernatural variety. To be fair, the former so often more effective than the latter, for the things people do to each other are devastating and terrifying (as the news so likes to remind us), so for a fictional refresher on those themes, there’s this novella.
And there you have it. A reasonably entertaining if not especially memorable quick read of backward small towns and backwardly dangerous small towners, a story dramatically outdone by its cover. Thanks Netgalley.
A young woman goes back to the small town she dramatically fled as a teen to confront her parents and find out the truth about the deadly circumstances leading up to her leaving. And of course, there’s evil there, it’s a small town, it’s a genre novel, what’d you expect, apple pies? So the trick is to just figure out what kind of evil is she dealing with. Is it of a natural of supernatural variety. To be fair, the former so often more effective than the latter, for the things people do to each other are devastating and terrifying (as the news so likes to remind us), so for a fictional refresher on those themes, there’s this novella.
And there you have it. A reasonably entertaining if not especially memorable quick read of backward small towns and backwardly dangerous small towners, a story dramatically outdone by its cover. Thanks Netgalley.
September 16, 2020
While new to Krisch, I got a taste of Steensland through the 2019 favorite, In the Scrape (which was a fantastic coming-of-age drama). In some ways, Coffin Shadows reminds me of that story. It’s not scary, but instead relies on the dramatic over scenes of terror.
Janet has a past she has tried to forget for years (and, in some cases, has actually forgotten). Her fiance, Brain, is excited that they’re moving in together and are pregnant. Janet, however, seems haunted. In a way, she actually is - a 12 year old boy keeps appearing, even though no one else can see him. And there’s something very familiar about this child . . .
Because of this haunting and her mounting emotional distress, Janet is soon sent to her hometown to discover the truth about the son she lost twelve years ago under mysterious circumstances. Her doctor hopes this will help her settle some internal struggles, thus returning to Janet her grip on reality. Unfortunately, Janet discovers a dark web of lies of what really happened to her baby and why.
It seems like the set up of Coffin Shadows would allow for some frights along the way, but this story is more about mystery and the suspense in seeking out answers. And there’s nothing wrong with that - but it would have been nice to have a little more excitement along the way. The ending also feels a little abrupt, despite a solid finale. At times, it seemed like the authors were keeping things light on detail and narrative to keep this at a novella’s length; I think Coffin Shadows could have been a stronger story with an additional fifty pages or so to give it more depth.
That being said, Coffin Shadows has a good horror backdrop and a strong sense of emotional turmoil. I’m a drama guy - fix that into horror the right way and watch out! - so Coffin Shadows really appealed to me. I was interested and invested throughout, so mark this as a win and recommendation as far as I’m concerned.
Review by Aiden Merchant
www.aidenmerchant.com (Also on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Amazon)
contact@aidenmerchant.com (Message for review consideration)
Janet has a past she has tried to forget for years (and, in some cases, has actually forgotten). Her fiance, Brain, is excited that they’re moving in together and are pregnant. Janet, however, seems haunted. In a way, she actually is - a 12 year old boy keeps appearing, even though no one else can see him. And there’s something very familiar about this child . . .
Because of this haunting and her mounting emotional distress, Janet is soon sent to her hometown to discover the truth about the son she lost twelve years ago under mysterious circumstances. Her doctor hopes this will help her settle some internal struggles, thus returning to Janet her grip on reality. Unfortunately, Janet discovers a dark web of lies of what really happened to her baby and why.
It seems like the set up of Coffin Shadows would allow for some frights along the way, but this story is more about mystery and the suspense in seeking out answers. And there’s nothing wrong with that - but it would have been nice to have a little more excitement along the way. The ending also feels a little abrupt, despite a solid finale. At times, it seemed like the authors were keeping things light on detail and narrative to keep this at a novella’s length; I think Coffin Shadows could have been a stronger story with an additional fifty pages or so to give it more depth.
That being said, Coffin Shadows has a good horror backdrop and a strong sense of emotional turmoil. I’m a drama guy - fix that into horror the right way and watch out! - so Coffin Shadows really appealed to me. I was interested and invested throughout, so mark this as a win and recommendation as far as I’m concerned.
Review by Aiden Merchant
www.aidenmerchant.com (Also on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Amazon)
contact@aidenmerchant.com (Message for review consideration)
January 17, 2021
Thank you #NetGalley and #SilverShamrockPublishing for the copy in exchange for a review.
Check out @iknowpages for the full review 😊
Check out @iknowpages for the full review 😊
November 7, 2022
Who can you trust?
Years ago Janet's son passed away. She does not know from she leaves home. Now she has to go back and find out what happened. She may not like the answer. Suspenseful.
Years ago Janet's son passed away. She does not know from she leaves home. Now she has to go back and find out what happened. She may not like the answer. Suspenseful.
March 3, 2021
*Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.*
In the very beginning we’re introduced to Janet and her boyfriend Brian. He tells her that he has a surprise for her, which she’s not too thrilled about since she hates surprises.
The surprise turns out to be a baby crib, which elicits a strange response from Janet. Instead of happiness, she seems...upset. We now know that Janet is newly pregnant, but why was her reaction to the crib so strange?
The reason for her distress is that she had been previously pregnant, but had lost the baby.
Then, Janet starts seeing a 12 year old boy, who doesn’t seem to be alive, but he’s asking for her help.
Her therapist says she needs to go home and confront her past and get closure that she desperately needs to move on.
I really liked this one! I liked the mystery surrounding Janet and her baby, I couldn’t quite put my finger on what was going on.
I had many ideas that were floating around in my head, some were immediately dismissed as I starting getting more information.
This held my attention the entire time, I didn’t find myself checking to see how much I had left, I was just in the moment and having lots of fun while enjoying the story.
I will say that I did sort of predict some of it. Like I said, I had many ideas running around my head while reading, but I did start figuring out things a little sooner than I would’ve liked to.
My biggest “issue” with this story and the reason I knocked off a whole star, is the length. Novellas are tricky, length seems to always be the downfall for them and that’s the issue here. I felt like it was rushed at the end, just as everything was coming to a climax, it was over. I wanted more, if it has just been a little itty bit longer, I think the ending wouldn’t have felt so abrupt. That tension that I love so dearly, didn’t get to it’s full potential and I think it could’ve been drawn out slightly for me to have been really wowed by it all.
I also think some added length would’ve helped me to emotionally attach to Janet and other characters. Since this is a fairly short story, I didn’t get to know the characters that well, which results in not much of a bonding experience.
In saying all that, I did like the ending. Even in the abruptness, I still got some closure and some answers that I was happy to see.
Overall, I had a lot of fun reading it and I enjoyed the whole premise! I will definitely be checking more out from these authors.
In the very beginning we’re introduced to Janet and her boyfriend Brian. He tells her that he has a surprise for her, which she’s not too thrilled about since she hates surprises.
The surprise turns out to be a baby crib, which elicits a strange response from Janet. Instead of happiness, she seems...upset. We now know that Janet is newly pregnant, but why was her reaction to the crib so strange?
The reason for her distress is that she had been previously pregnant, but had lost the baby.
Then, Janet starts seeing a 12 year old boy, who doesn’t seem to be alive, but he’s asking for her help.
Her therapist says she needs to go home and confront her past and get closure that she desperately needs to move on.
I really liked this one! I liked the mystery surrounding Janet and her baby, I couldn’t quite put my finger on what was going on.
I had many ideas that were floating around in my head, some were immediately dismissed as I starting getting more information.
This held my attention the entire time, I didn’t find myself checking to see how much I had left, I was just in the moment and having lots of fun while enjoying the story.
I will say that I did sort of predict some of it. Like I said, I had many ideas running around my head while reading, but I did start figuring out things a little sooner than I would’ve liked to.
My biggest “issue” with this story and the reason I knocked off a whole star, is the length. Novellas are tricky, length seems to always be the downfall for them and that’s the issue here. I felt like it was rushed at the end, just as everything was coming to a climax, it was over. I wanted more, if it has just been a little itty bit longer, I think the ending wouldn’t have felt so abrupt. That tension that I love so dearly, didn’t get to it’s full potential and I think it could’ve been drawn out slightly for me to have been really wowed by it all.
I also think some added length would’ve helped me to emotionally attach to Janet and other characters. Since this is a fairly short story, I didn’t get to know the characters that well, which results in not much of a bonding experience.
In saying all that, I did like the ending. Even in the abruptness, I still got some closure and some answers that I was happy to see.
Overall, I had a lot of fun reading it and I enjoyed the whole premise! I will definitely be checking more out from these authors.
August 17, 2021
Coffin Shadows is one of those books that prove that good horror can come in a small package. The official page count is 126, but that seems a little generous. The truth is that this novella can be read comfortably in one sitting, preferably on a rainy afternoon, but the story feels like it will be in my mind for a long time. Coffin Shadows starts with Janet, pregnant with her boyfriend, Brian’s, baby, working at a private school. She starts seeing a dead boy in a red jacket, asking for her help. The writing is so good, the tension and reactions that Janet feels so real that the book pulls the reader deep into the story within a few pages.
Janet’s therapist thinks that this boy is the manifestation of the son that she had when she was a teenager, a son that died in a car wreck with Janet at the wheel, an accident she really does not remember. Her therapist thinks it is best to go back to the town she fled, to patch things up with her family and clarify her memories of what happened to her son. We learn quickly that the small town has many secrets that Janet needs to be uncovered.
There are so many elements that make this a great horror story. From the apparition begging for help, to the old burned out mansion she finds on her parent’s old property, to the secrets and lies that her town feeds her, there are so many classic horror plots wrapped into one great story. And it moves so fast that it does not bog itself down. I can see this being written by someone else as a 600 or 700 page book, a long saga that would take weeks to read. As it is, the speed of this book is really a bonus. It allows the story to really pack a punch. The only thing that I wish could have been done a little differently is that the kid in the red jacket does not appear again when she goes back to the town of her youth. I would have liked him to continue to be part of the story, since he was the catalyst that made her pursue the truth in the first place. Other than this small piece, Coffin Shadows is a perfect story. To be able to do so many things without slacking on the character development and the storytelling really makes this novella a treasure.
Janet’s therapist thinks that this boy is the manifestation of the son that she had when she was a teenager, a son that died in a car wreck with Janet at the wheel, an accident she really does not remember. Her therapist thinks it is best to go back to the town she fled, to patch things up with her family and clarify her memories of what happened to her son. We learn quickly that the small town has many secrets that Janet needs to be uncovered.
There are so many elements that make this a great horror story. From the apparition begging for help, to the old burned out mansion she finds on her parent’s old property, to the secrets and lies that her town feeds her, there are so many classic horror plots wrapped into one great story. And it moves so fast that it does not bog itself down. I can see this being written by someone else as a 600 or 700 page book, a long saga that would take weeks to read. As it is, the speed of this book is really a bonus. It allows the story to really pack a punch. The only thing that I wish could have been done a little differently is that the kid in the red jacket does not appear again when she goes back to the town of her youth. I would have liked him to continue to be part of the story, since he was the catalyst that made her pursue the truth in the first place. Other than this small piece, Coffin Shadows is a perfect story. To be able to do so many things without slacking on the character development and the storytelling really makes this novella a treasure.
February 14, 2021
Another fantastic novella from Silver Shamrock. This publisher is quickly becoming one of my favorites.
Janet is a teacher. She and her fiancé are expecting a child and everything seems to be normal until Janet starts seeing a ghostly boy who needs her help. Is she losing her mind? Her therapist thinks she needs to return to her childhood home for answers, and so, reluctantly, she goes back for the first time in nearly two decades, and hi-jinx ensue. If you, like me, enjoy the “horror in a small town” trope, then this for you.
I really enjoyed this one: it’s great story with a lot of tension, tightly plotted with some good surprises. My only quibble would be that, after spending a comfortable amount of time setting up the premise and getting to Janet’s hometown and figuring out exactly what was going on, the ending felt a little rushed. That’s a small thing, however, and didn’t affect my overall rating.
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I received a free copy of this ebook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is it!
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Janet is a teacher. She and her fiancé are expecting a child and everything seems to be normal until Janet starts seeing a ghostly boy who needs her help. Is she losing her mind? Her therapist thinks she needs to return to her childhood home for answers, and so, reluctantly, she goes back for the first time in nearly two decades, and hi-jinx ensue. If you, like me, enjoy the “horror in a small town” trope, then this for you.
I really enjoyed this one: it’s great story with a lot of tension, tightly plotted with some good surprises. My only quibble would be that, after spending a comfortable amount of time setting up the premise and getting to Janet’s hometown and figuring out exactly what was going on, the ending felt a little rushed. That’s a small thing, however, and didn’t affect my overall rating.
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I received a free copy of this ebook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is it!
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December 20, 2020
I read an ebook version of #CoffinShadows courtesy of #NetGalley.
This was a well-paced tale blending supernatural elements with human monsters.
Janet Martlee, pregnant and uncertain of her future plans regarding herself or her fiance, is encouraged to travel home for answers and possible closure in the death, over a decade ago, of an infant son. The discovery of an abandoned house on her parent's property reveals long-buried memories which simultaneously expose secrets and serve to broaden the mystery and it's scope, seeming now to include the whole town. With the passing of each day, she remembers why she fled so abruptly in the first place, with no intention of looking back.
I will search out more work by both Glen Krisch and Mark Steensland, who have collaborated to craft a solid spooky story.
This was a well-paced tale blending supernatural elements with human monsters.
Janet Martlee, pregnant and uncertain of her future plans regarding herself or her fiance, is encouraged to travel home for answers and possible closure in the death, over a decade ago, of an infant son. The discovery of an abandoned house on her parent's property reveals long-buried memories which simultaneously expose secrets and serve to broaden the mystery and it's scope, seeming now to include the whole town. With the passing of each day, she remembers why she fled so abruptly in the first place, with no intention of looking back.
I will search out more work by both Glen Krisch and Mark Steensland, who have collaborated to craft a solid spooky story.
November 23, 2023
Janet keeps seeing a mysterious boy. Not believing in ghosts, she consults her psychologist, who recommends she return to the place where tragedy struck twelve years ago. To when she lost her son.
I tell you, once the plot was laid out, I thought I new what to expect. Not! The story took off like it was tied to a rocket. Janet ripped the door off the closets, revealing some disturbing family secrets. It isn’t always the ghosts you have to worry about.
While being a novella, don’t let that fool you. This story packs a big punch of suspense, mystery and hair-raising scenes.
I received a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.
I tell you, once the plot was laid out, I thought I new what to expect. Not! The story took off like it was tied to a rocket. Janet ripped the door off the closets, revealing some disturbing family secrets. It isn’t always the ghosts you have to worry about.
While being a novella, don’t let that fool you. This story packs a big punch of suspense, mystery and hair-raising scenes.
I received a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.
February 25, 2021
2 1/2 Stars
COFFIN SHADOWS is an ok read if you want a fast-paced plot and a clear line. I usually do favor those traits. I just wanted more in this case, like an added chapter or two just to delve furthermore into the psyche of its protagonist who, though interesting as a pregnant teacher who may or may not see dead people), felt a bit short for my taste. Yet I think COFFIN SHADOWS is still worth a look for its dark mystery behind the character's plight.
COFFIN SHADOWS is an ok read if you want a fast-paced plot and a clear line. I usually do favor those traits. I just wanted more in this case, like an added chapter or two just to delve furthermore into the psyche of its protagonist who, though interesting as a pregnant teacher who may or may not see dead people), felt a bit short for my taste. Yet I think COFFIN SHADOWS is still worth a look for its dark mystery behind the character's plight.
January 7, 2021
Kick ass cover, and a collaborative effort between two authors who are frighteningly forthright when it comes to a telling horror story. Imagine you’re an elementary school teacher showing up to school for another stale day in the the classroom when a cadaverous 12-year old boy joins your fellow students...
Thanks to NetGalley for providing the free ARC for my honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing the free ARC for my honest review.
September 6, 2020
Great collaboration from two great authors. Only one issue that I found...wish it had been longer. Great, heartfelt story.
January 18, 2022
A bit of a mixed bag.
I enjoyed the writing and the pace of the book, finished it in less than a day - so the readability is not in question, for me it was the depth of the story that was lacking, I was enthralled at the start of the book with this phantom presence that kept on appearing, but then this trope just seemed to disappear until the end where it made its appearance or was referred to again.
Also there was some underlying questions which we did get answers too and the story builds to a great conclusion, unfortunately the twist was quite obvious for me (but others seemed to not discover this when I looked at other reviews) but also with a lot of lead up and then this reveal the end of the novella just seemed to be wrapped up in a few pages and everything was okay again - although what transpired at the end was far from ‘okay let’s crack on and have this baby’ - there needed to be a few more chapters in my opinion for them to work through what had just happened - I needed a little more and so felt a little disappointed at the stories close.
The information that bleeds out as the story progresses was well done and adds tension - we also feel that our protagonist is being gaslighted which was also well handled.
I enjoyed the writing and the pace of the book, finished it in less than a day - so the readability is not in question, for me it was the depth of the story that was lacking, I was enthralled at the start of the book with this phantom presence that kept on appearing, but then this trope just seemed to disappear until the end where it made its appearance or was referred to again.
Also there was some underlying questions which we did get answers too and the story builds to a great conclusion, unfortunately the twist was quite obvious for me (but others seemed to not discover this when I looked at other reviews) but also with a lot of lead up and then this reveal the end of the novella just seemed to be wrapped up in a few pages and everything was okay again - although what transpired at the end was far from ‘okay let’s crack on and have this baby’ - there needed to be a few more chapters in my opinion for them to work through what had just happened - I needed a little more and so felt a little disappointed at the stories close.
The information that bleeds out as the story progresses was well done and adds tension - we also feel that our protagonist is being gaslighted which was also well handled.
March 3, 2021
This was a fun, fast read by an author I love - Glen Krisch, an author I've come to look forword to - Mark Steensland. Together they wrote a novella that made it near to impossible to tell where one stopped writing and the other started. That's hard to do.
The story was a compelling one. It made for a great evening's entertainment. It's an occult story that takes place in a small northern California town. My only only complaint was that it ended too soon. It could easily have been about 50 pages longer. Still, it was well worth reading and I hpoe you pick up a copy.
The story was a compelling one. It made for a great evening's entertainment. It's an occult story that takes place in a small northern California town. My only only complaint was that it ended too soon. It could easily have been about 50 pages longer. Still, it was well worth reading and I hpoe you pick up a copy.
January 9, 2025
Very good story that had me guessing till the end.
December 14, 2020
The good news! This is a short book.
The bad news! It's maybe not for me?
I'm having such bad luck with my ARCs lately. I'm just not vibing with so many of them and it makes my heart sad. Unfortunately, Coffin Shadows comes next in line. I was tempted and lured in by that gorgeous cover, but ahh! This is the worst feeling I could ever imagine with an indie horror!
My complaint is straightforward, but it's a huge one: It's really hard for me to connect with a story when I'm being told things, instead of shown them. I struggled hard with the writing. We get narration that reads like this: "She was a nice person. She said this. She thought that. It was sad." And I do not gel with this, I don't need to be told to be sad for a character when the scenario that you crafted already should make me sad. You know what I mean?
The good news is you can finish Coffin Shadows in a day.
The bad news is, the cover was my absolute favorite thing about it, and I'm sad that the story couldn't live up to it.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The bad news! It's maybe not for me?
I'm having such bad luck with my ARCs lately. I'm just not vibing with so many of them and it makes my heart sad. Unfortunately, Coffin Shadows comes next in line. I was tempted and lured in by that gorgeous cover, but ahh! This is the worst feeling I could ever imagine with an indie horror!
My complaint is straightforward, but it's a huge one: It's really hard for me to connect with a story when I'm being told things, instead of shown them. I struggled hard with the writing. We get narration that reads like this: "She was a nice person. She said this. She thought that. It was sad." And I do not gel with this, I don't need to be told to be sad for a character when the scenario that you crafted already should make me sad. You know what I mean?
The good news is you can finish Coffin Shadows in a day.
The bad news is, the cover was my absolute favorite thing about it, and I'm sad that the story couldn't live up to it.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 6, 2021
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
“Coffin Shadows” is an eerie thriller, with a dash of horror. Overall, I enjoyed it, even though it felt short, somewhat rushed, and not fully fleshed out. The beginning was a bit slow to pique my interest because it felt like just any other generic supernatural thriller: a troubled woman seeing ghosts. However, as I read on and learned more about the protagonist’s life story, I became emotionally attached to her, wanting her to succeed and fight her demons. About a third of the way through the novel, unexpected elements were introduced that made it stand out as a unique plot, and I was hooked from there on out.
While the novel is categorized as horror, I would not necessarily classify it exclusively as such. It definitely includes some traditional horror elements, that I will not mention as to avoid spoilers, but it is not really scary at all. I wish that the authors had taken those elements and included them more in the plot, perhaps fleshing them out more with descriptions, to make the atmosphere of the novel fit the horror genre better.
Another criticism is that some of the best scenes, including the climax, felt rushed. What could have been some of the scariest, bone-chilling moments, were instead glossed over by an overused literary device: having the main character black out and forget what had just happened. I wish the reader could have been there with the protagonist while those critical scenes were happening, instead of hearing it from a secondary character after the fact. Perhaps adding some chapters from another character’s point of view would have avoided this, and filled in the plot holes.
Overall, “Coffin Shadows” is a quick and creepy read, with a few unexpected twists, despite lacking in horror and thorough plot development.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book on NetGalley and have provided an honest review.*
“Coffin Shadows” is an eerie thriller, with a dash of horror. Overall, I enjoyed it, even though it felt short, somewhat rushed, and not fully fleshed out. The beginning was a bit slow to pique my interest because it felt like just any other generic supernatural thriller: a troubled woman seeing ghosts. However, as I read on and learned more about the protagonist’s life story, I became emotionally attached to her, wanting her to succeed and fight her demons. About a third of the way through the novel, unexpected elements were introduced that made it stand out as a unique plot, and I was hooked from there on out.
While the novel is categorized as horror, I would not necessarily classify it exclusively as such. It definitely includes some traditional horror elements, that I will not mention as to avoid spoilers, but it is not really scary at all. I wish that the authors had taken those elements and included them more in the plot, perhaps fleshing them out more with descriptions, to make the atmosphere of the novel fit the horror genre better.
Another criticism is that some of the best scenes, including the climax, felt rushed. What could have been some of the scariest, bone-chilling moments, were instead glossed over by an overused literary device: having the main character black out and forget what had just happened. I wish the reader could have been there with the protagonist while those critical scenes were happening, instead of hearing it from a secondary character after the fact. Perhaps adding some chapters from another character’s point of view would have avoided this, and filled in the plot holes.
Overall, “Coffin Shadows” is a quick and creepy read, with a few unexpected twists, despite lacking in horror and thorough plot development.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book on NetGalley and have provided an honest review.*
June 5, 2023
'Coffin Shadows' is a very easy, creepy read, with an interesting premise and a satisfying ending. It grabs you from the start and doesn't let go. It's written in a very straightforward, descriptive manner, with crisp dialogue and well-paced short scenes. The story features Janet, an elementary school teacher, who's pregnant, yet feels very ambivalent about the pregnancy. Out of nowhere, strange things start happening to her, involving apparitions of a child; they eventually lead her back to her home town, where all will be revealed. The authors keep their characters on a very tight leash: there's minimum characterization and very little character development. Indeed, Janet is not a very relatable character; however, once you realize how she's been traumatized in the past, her emotional struggles make perfect sense. For some reason, there's a very bizarre surprise half a page before the ending, whose significance I'm unclear about. Still, this is an entertaining story for horror fans, and you won't regret giving it a chance!
Many thanks to Cemetery Dance for the digital copy provided for review.
Many thanks to Cemetery Dance for the digital copy provided for review.
January 9, 2021
This book was recommended to me on Amazon, that cover is just amazing and after reading the creepy synopsis I was sucked in to purchasing it.
It reminded me of Kealan Patrick Burke’s work one of my fav horror authors which is funny as I later found he designed the flipping cover for it! 🤣
Anyways, this is a fast paced horror novella, I won’t give to much away but a woman who starts to see a dead boy with white eyeballs following her around is advised by her doctor/therapist to go back home to her childhood town and parents to see what really happened with a dark event when she was younger...her past begins too haunt her and she becomes trapped in a dome of lies and can’t trust anyone.
It was a little crazy and unbelievable at the end but then horrors can be. Overall a creepy gripping fast paced horror, 4 stars from me.
It reminded me of Kealan Patrick Burke’s work one of my fav horror authors which is funny as I later found he designed the flipping cover for it! 🤣
Anyways, this is a fast paced horror novella, I won’t give to much away but a woman who starts to see a dead boy with white eyeballs following her around is advised by her doctor/therapist to go back home to her childhood town and parents to see what really happened with a dark event when she was younger...her past begins too haunt her and she becomes trapped in a dome of lies and can’t trust anyone.
It was a little crazy and unbelievable at the end but then horrors can be. Overall a creepy gripping fast paced horror, 4 stars from me.
January 1, 2021
I received a copy from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I found this in the Read Now section of Netgalley. I liked the cover, the concept sounded good, and it had some positive reviews, so I thought, let's give it a shot.
I'm glad I did. This was an engaging, well-paced horror-ish short with a very satisfying ending. The writing was solid, the characters were realistic (even though the subject matter was most definitely not), and the outlandish twist 3/4 of the way through was actually pretty great (and it didn't come out of nowhere, which I appreciate- the author set it up well).
I want to reiterate how satisfying the ending is, unlike a lot of horror stories, which rely on sort of vague, mean-spirited endings. I was pleasantly surprised.
I found this in the Read Now section of Netgalley. I liked the cover, the concept sounded good, and it had some positive reviews, so I thought, let's give it a shot.
I'm glad I did. This was an engaging, well-paced horror-ish short with a very satisfying ending. The writing was solid, the characters were realistic (even though the subject matter was most definitely not), and the outlandish twist 3/4 of the way through was actually pretty great (and it didn't come out of nowhere, which I appreciate- the author set it up well).
I want to reiterate how satisfying the ending is, unlike a lot of horror stories, which rely on sort of vague, mean-spirited endings. I was pleasantly surprised.
February 23, 2021
COFFIN SHADOWS - by Glen Krisch & Mark Steensland
Released - September 1, 2020
When a second-grade teacher, Janet Martlee, starts to see visions of a twelve-year-old boy with dead eyes, she begins to question her sanity and must return to the past to uncover the mystery that haunts her.
‘And some answers hide in the shadows...In the COFFIN SHADOWS.’
I’m not going to venture down Spoilerville Lane as this book is a short read. However, I will say...
If you are a fan of Occult Horror, I Highly Recommend—My Heart!
Thank you, NetGalley and Silver Shamrock Publishing, for loaning me an eBook of COFFIN SHADOWS in the request of an honest review.
Released - September 1, 2020
When a second-grade teacher, Janet Martlee, starts to see visions of a twelve-year-old boy with dead eyes, she begins to question her sanity and must return to the past to uncover the mystery that haunts her.
‘And some answers hide in the shadows...In the COFFIN SHADOWS.’
I’m not going to venture down Spoilerville Lane as this book is a short read. However, I will say...
If you are a fan of Occult Horror, I Highly Recommend—My Heart!
Thank you, NetGalley and Silver Shamrock Publishing, for loaning me an eBook of COFFIN SHADOWS in the request of an honest review.
December 20, 2020
Janet starts seeing a young boy in a red coat around town....and then he disappears, every single time. Her therapist suggests that this could be something from her past catching up to her and she should go home to get things in order before it gets worse. When she returns, she figures out that her past isn't what she was expecting.
I went into this book expecting a true horror book. There are light supernatural aspects but it would be best to go into this with a thriller aspect. That being said, I really did enjoy the story. It was a fast read and I will be looking for more from these authors. Also, that cover is beautiful!
I went into this book expecting a true horror book. There are light supernatural aspects but it would be best to go into this with a thriller aspect. That being said, I really did enjoy the story. It was a fast read and I will be looking for more from these authors. Also, that cover is beautiful!
March 2, 2021
After Janet becomes pregnant, she starts seeing a dead boy in a red hoodie. Is it the ghost of the baby she had when she was seventeen, conjured by her hormones going crazy? Or is it a reminder of a forgotten past she left behind when she fled her family after the tragic death of her baby and her own accident? To find the truth, and thus some sort of closure, Janet travels back home, only to find her father in hospital. When she and her mother start preparing the family estate for sale, Janet discovers an old family secret which also triggers the recurrence of some long buried very dark memories. Soon, the shocking truth puts her in deadly danger. Will she be able to flee from home once again?
What began as a ghost story soon turned into a much darker nightmare I never would have expected. It's hard to describe, but to me this gripping novella felt like a full-blown novel, with a very elaborate plot and well-drawn characters. Recently, I've come across a couple of author collaboration projects, and this story is another successful result of the combined imaginative forces of two great voices in horror.
(thanks to netgalley, the author, and the publisher for a copy of the book, all opinions are my own)
What began as a ghost story soon turned into a much darker nightmare I never would have expected. It's hard to describe, but to me this gripping novella felt like a full-blown novel, with a very elaborate plot and well-drawn characters. Recently, I've come across a couple of author collaboration projects, and this story is another successful result of the combined imaginative forces of two great voices in horror.
(thanks to netgalley, the author, and the publisher for a copy of the book, all opinions are my own)
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