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Shadows in the Mist
World War II hero Jack Chambers still has nightmares about Hrtgen Forest in Germany-and the unholy horrors he battled there. Now, he is determined to tell his tale. His grandson, Sean, is given the task of carrying his message. But Sean's personal quest will pull him into a deadly race against those who wish to bury the truth forever and those who wish to use it to unleash hell on earth.
368 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2006
4 people are currently reading
219 people want to read
About the author
Brian Moreland
38 books242 followersBrian Moreland writes dark suspense, thrillers, and horror. He's an avid reader and big fan of movies and series. A native Texan, Brian loves to cook, go hiking in nature, and travel to interesting places around the world. He is enjoying life with family in rural Texas and writing new thrilling fiction. His books include:
THE DEVIL'S WOODS
TOMB OF GODS
THEY STALK THE NIGHT
SAVAGE ISLAND
SHADOWS IN THE MIST
BLOOD SACRIFICES: THREE HORROR NOVELLAS:
THE WITCHING HOUSE
DARKNESS RISING
THE SEEKERS
Friend Brian on Goodreads
Follow on Twitter/X @BrianMoreland
THE DEVIL'S WOODS
TOMB OF GODS
THEY STALK THE NIGHT
SAVAGE ISLAND
SHADOWS IN THE MIST
BLOOD SACRIFICES: THREE HORROR NOVELLAS:
THE WITCHING HOUSE
DARKNESS RISING
THE SEEKERS
Friend Brian on Goodreads
Follow on Twitter/X @BrianMoreland
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
October 4, 2017
Vote: 3, 5
This tale about the desperate mission of lieutenant Jack Chambers and his platoon, the Lucky Seven, WWII allied soldiers against unstoppable nazi creatures, is an action packed chilling adventure combining elements of historical thriller, military, supernatural and conspiracy genres: a perfect screenplay for a Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan/Indiana Jones mash-up.
Not bad at all and the historical research by the author was really accurate. Sadly the slow and long build-up to the creatures' real nature revelation (a real amazing and original twist, not the usual nazi-zombies at all), and the story being mostly a flashback from the pow of Chambers, killed tension and suspence for good.
A good read overall if you are a fan of historical fiction, horror and allied soldiers battling nazi-monsters flicks/videogames.
December 31, 2016
3.5 stars.
SHADOWS IN THE MIST, by Brian Moreland begins with an elderly man, Jack Chambers, who sends his grandson, Sean, on a mission to bring something to a General Briggs. As the General in on a U.S. Army base in Germany, this is not a "light" request to make.
The majority of the story takes place in the form of a novel-long "flashback" of what happened to Jack during his last mission in WWII. While the story was interesting, and I couldn't wait to find out exactly what was happening, it felt like too long of a build-up before anything "concrete" was mentioned about the real threat in the forest.
"Beneath the graveyard burrows a tunnel built like a mine shaft. That's where my men are buried."
I found most of the story to be about the war itself, and the effect that it had on the people fighting in it. I enjoyed the writing, but was expecting more of a supernatural aspect to the entire book--not just near the end.
". . . it's not the enemies out in the fields and trenches that drive good soldiers over the edge. It's the enemies that reside within us . . . preying upon our sanity . . ."
SHADOWS IN THE MIST, by Brian Moreland begins with an elderly man, Jack Chambers, who sends his grandson, Sean, on a mission to bring something to a General Briggs. As the General in on a U.S. Army base in Germany, this is not a "light" request to make.
The majority of the story takes place in the form of a novel-long "flashback" of what happened to Jack during his last mission in WWII. While the story was interesting, and I couldn't wait to find out exactly what was happening, it felt like too long of a build-up before anything "concrete" was mentioned about the real threat in the forest.
"Beneath the graveyard burrows a tunnel built like a mine shaft. That's where my men are buried."
I found most of the story to be about the war itself, and the effect that it had on the people fighting in it. I enjoyed the writing, but was expecting more of a supernatural aspect to the entire book--not just near the end.
". . . it's not the enemies out in the fields and trenches that drive good soldiers over the edge. It's the enemies that reside within us . . . preying upon our sanity . . ."
November 9, 2014
Shadows in the Mist is not only an informative piece of horror fiction, it's a lot of fun. After reading the book, Mr. Moreland talks about the research he did and the parts of the book that are true. I felt like I was in their with the Lucky Seven--a group of soldiers in the book. Moreland made me feel like I was on an adventure, and there's nothing more about a book I like then that. Completely took me out of the real world and into his fictional one. He mixes history with fiction perfectly. This read like a film, something Ed Zwick or Spielberg might make. The creatures are frightening and the action is intense. I mean, American solders fighting in WWII, Evil Nazi's, monsters that are hard to kill, and having to dig in and survive. Oh, and it's written superbly. What more could you ask for? This is a great book to settle down and escape with. And you'll learn a little something while you're at it too.
December 7, 2018
*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
Jack Chambers sends his grandson to Germany on a mission to retrieve the bodies of his deceased platoon. He wants the truth to be known about how and why his men were massacred in the Hurtgen forest but there are those who wish to keep what the Nazis did a secret. Jacks diary gives the answers as to the horrors that they endured and also speaks of a supernatural evil that the Nazis wished to unleash on the world and that higher powers would seek to exploit today.
A solid horror that is mostly told through the diary pages of Jack, you become completely invested in the survival of Jack and the 'Lucky Seven'. There's a lot of warfare discussion and this can drag a little but the horror elements make up for it and it ends up an entertaining mix of history and occultism. I did wish the present day story had been fleshed out a bit more, I expected that there would be more of a threat to Sean and those that went to the Church but at the end it was a little anticlimactic in that sense. I did appreciate other aspects of the ending and found it be moving and therefore somewhat satisfying.
Recommended.
Jack Chambers sends his grandson to Germany on a mission to retrieve the bodies of his deceased platoon. He wants the truth to be known about how and why his men were massacred in the Hurtgen forest but there are those who wish to keep what the Nazis did a secret. Jacks diary gives the answers as to the horrors that they endured and also speaks of a supernatural evil that the Nazis wished to unleash on the world and that higher powers would seek to exploit today.
A solid horror that is mostly told through the diary pages of Jack, you become completely invested in the survival of Jack and the 'Lucky Seven'. There's a lot of warfare discussion and this can drag a little but the horror elements make up for it and it ends up an entertaining mix of history and occultism. I did wish the present day story had been fleshed out a bit more, I expected that there would be more of a threat to Sean and those that went to the Church but at the end it was a little anticlimactic in that sense. I did appreciate other aspects of the ending and found it be moving and therefore somewhat satisfying.
Recommended.
March 3, 2017
Undead Nazi zombies are intriguing enough an idea. Throw in the fact that Brian Moreland made this a somewhat personal novel, as it was as an ode to his grandfather, and you have a fantastic supernatural story.
This was the first book I read by Brian and between it and Dead of Winter I don't know if I can pick a favorite. Added to that he continues to create fantastic horror novels and novellas. In my opinion Brian Moreland is destined to become one of the greats! He already is in our home.
This was the first book I read by Brian and between it and Dead of Winter I don't know if I can pick a favorite. Added to that he continues to create fantastic horror novels and novellas. In my opinion Brian Moreland is destined to become one of the greats! He already is in our home.
September 23, 2012
Expertly researched military history meets slam-bam combat adventure and visceral terror. The intriguing premise of Shadows in the Mist is that Hitler’s Nazis faced their darkest days—the impending invasion by the Allies—by bringing to life a supernatural force of virtually unstoppable warriors. American lieutenant Chambers and his ragtag band of platoon survivors must team up with a mysterious international special forces unit to confront and try to survive this unearthly force in Germany’s real-life bloody Hurtgen Forest campaign.
Moreland’s book is a fast-paced read that’s sure to be of as much interest to World War II readers as it is to horror fans.
Moreland’s book is a fast-paced read that’s sure to be of as much interest to World War II readers as it is to horror fans.
April 12, 2014
In this WWII horror novel, Moreland expands upon the Ahnenerbe-SS's studies on the occult and the Nazi's research on a secret weapon that would tip the war in their favor. Showing an eventual hybridization of what they have found, the Nazis do develop an impressive weapon. But, is it a weapon that they can control?
This book really fit the bill at the time I read it. It met my need for a WWII fix and a horror fix simultaneously. It brought back some old, comfortable themes while expanding on one or two ideas that I had seen touched upon in other novels.
A couple of the action scenes got a bit confusing. But, it was not enough to detract from the overall novel.
4 STARS
This book really fit the bill at the time I read it. It met my need for a WWII fix and a horror fix simultaneously. It brought back some old, comfortable themes while expanding on one or two ideas that I had seen touched upon in other novels.
A couple of the action scenes got a bit confusing. But, it was not enough to detract from the overall novel.
4 STARS
October 18, 2017
Set largely during World War 2, the novel is told as a suicide mission behind enemy lines, involving Jack Chambers and his Lucky Seven platoon. The Nazis have long been fascinated with the occult and what resides within the dense forest is something horrifying beyond belief. But a group of mysterious commandos teams up with Jack and his men, in a final, deadly confrontation with the horrors cloaked in Nazi uniforms, gas masks, and carrying sabers.
Reminiscent of such classic WW2-era horror novels such as THE KEEP and THE SPEAR, Moreland clearly did his research, with an intriguing Afterword, in this outstandingly good read.
Highly recommended!
Reminiscent of such classic WW2-era horror novels such as THE KEEP and THE SPEAR, Moreland clearly did his research, with an intriguing Afterword, in this outstandingly good read.
Highly recommended!
September 4, 2012
Excellent historical horror. Mythic elements done well. Review soon to follow...
February 11, 2016
2 things horror novels aren't supposed to do:
1. Educate you
2. Make you cry
This book did both for me - this is a compliment to the author, not a criticism! Between the crash course on WWII & the depth given to the characters, it wasn't hard for me to learn, understand & sympathize with the plight of the people. The author's writing style is easy to follow yet descriptive enough to set the scene & put the reader right there with the characters. I have recently gained an interest in war stories, especially with regard to personal stories of the soldiers rather than the tacticians & bigger historical events resulting from war. In light of this newly-emerging interest, this book's description caught me. In fact, the story about this particular group of soldiers in WWII Europe seemed to be the primary focus, with the scary, supernatural elements being rather incidental though equally fascinating. This story takes the whole "Living Dead" thing that has plagued the horror genre in recent years in a new direction, utilizing golems created by Nazi occultists as the scary monster of choice - a refreshing change of pace & fun to read. This book held my interest throughout & kept me engrossed in the story & personally involved with the characters. If you want blood & guts & little else, move along. There's plenty of that crap out there to satisfy that need. But if you like a bit of PLOT with your innards & entrails, this is a great read. I'm a horror fan to the core & have been since childhood & I have gotten very good at discerning crap from real gems. I'm also not afraid to give a new, little-known author a shot & I REALLY hope Moreland's got more treasures to share because we horror fans need it!
1. Educate you
2. Make you cry
This book did both for me - this is a compliment to the author, not a criticism! Between the crash course on WWII & the depth given to the characters, it wasn't hard for me to learn, understand & sympathize with the plight of the people. The author's writing style is easy to follow yet descriptive enough to set the scene & put the reader right there with the characters. I have recently gained an interest in war stories, especially with regard to personal stories of the soldiers rather than the tacticians & bigger historical events resulting from war. In light of this newly-emerging interest, this book's description caught me. In fact, the story about this particular group of soldiers in WWII Europe seemed to be the primary focus, with the scary, supernatural elements being rather incidental though equally fascinating. This story takes the whole "Living Dead" thing that has plagued the horror genre in recent years in a new direction, utilizing golems created by Nazi occultists as the scary monster of choice - a refreshing change of pace & fun to read. This book held my interest throughout & kept me engrossed in the story & personally involved with the characters. If you want blood & guts & little else, move along. There's plenty of that crap out there to satisfy that need. But if you like a bit of PLOT with your innards & entrails, this is a great read. I'm a horror fan to the core & have been since childhood & I have gotten very good at discerning crap from real gems. I'm also not afraid to give a new, little-known author a shot & I REALLY hope Moreland's got more treasures to share because we horror fans need it!
September 9, 2012
Shadows in the Mist was the first novel written by author Brian Moreland, written several years ago but that has been re-released this month by Samhain Publishing. I’m not sure what modifications were made to the original tale, if any, with this new version.
While most of this story takes place in the Hurtgen Forest in Germany in late World War II, part of it is told through the eyes of Sean Chambers in the present day. He is the grandson of Jack Chambers, the main character. Jack was a Lieutenant during the war and led his men into battle from Northern Africa all the way into Germany. His last mission in the Hurgten still torments him to this day. When Jack gives Sean his war diary and asks him to hand it over to his friend, General Briggs, who is stationed in Germany, a Rabbi who served with Jack on that last mission catches up with Sean and urges him to forget his grandfather’s request and let sleeping dogs lie. The mission was top secret and it would be better for everyone if it stayed that way. Compelled by his grandfather’s request and ignoring the ominous threats of the Rabbi, Sean and the General return to Hurtgen and to a church Jack referenced were the real mystery lies buried. This is also where Sean begins to read his grandfather’s war diary so he can better understand what happened all those years ago.
The rest of this tale returns us to the battles in Hurtgen that Jack and his platoon suffered through. Jack had been dubbed the Grim Reaper by some, since so many of his men died under his command, though it is clear that he has been given some of the most dangerous assignments in the war and that he has done all that he can to protect the soldiers under his command. We are introduced to the six men in his platoon who, along with Chambers, dub themselves the Lucky Seven because they alone have survived through every battle together. Promises are made that they will be sent back home after years in the field, but the officer who makes that promise to Chambers dies before he can send that request to HQ and his new commanding officer insists they complete one last mission-a secret one with a group of commandos looking to push the Germans out of the Hurtgen for good. As the men reluctantly join this group of gung ho secret operatives, including a Lieutenant who shares an ugly past with Chambers, they discover that the mission has much darker goal than they’ve been told-uncovering how the Nazi’s are using supernatural means to create super soldiers.
This is the second novel I’ve read by Brian Moreland and much like his other effort, Dead of Winter, it provides the reader with a well researched and thought out story providing historically accurate and intriguing details, but doesn’t suffer from being over-stuffed with “technical” minutia that might distract from an otherwise intriguing supernatural adventure tale. Certainly, the idea of the Nazi’s discovering artifacts and texts of a religious nature which provide them with an advantage in their quest to become the master race is not a new one, but the author has drawn from historical events to craft his story, which gave it the right touch of authenticity and made it feel all the more plausible and entertaining.
I enjoyed this novel-my overriding appreciation for it comes from Jack’s tale as divulged in his war diary. The characters-in particular the Lucky Seven and Jack’s hated lieutenant rival-were all entertaining and solidly developed individuals. But as I like to do with each book that I review, I like to point out where the story might have missed the mark for me. With Shadows In the Mist, it was with the present day portion of the tale. It just felt like it was missing something. Early in, Sean is warned about the dire consequences of digging into the past and discovering what Jack and the Rabbi who was with him during his mission worked so hard to cover up in the Hurgten, and then Sean does continue digging, then Jack’s story is revealed, and then we return to present day and …well, I don’t like to divulge spoilers, so I’ll leave it at that, except to say that the rest of Sean and General Brigg’s story left me expecting more. My honest belief is that this book could have stuck to Jack’s tale from World War II exclusively and it would have been a great stand alone tale.
Even with this issue of mine, this is a fun, entertaining supernatural adventure novel that was well done and a lot of fun to read. Definitely worth checking out.
While most of this story takes place in the Hurtgen Forest in Germany in late World War II, part of it is told through the eyes of Sean Chambers in the present day. He is the grandson of Jack Chambers, the main character. Jack was a Lieutenant during the war and led his men into battle from Northern Africa all the way into Germany. His last mission in the Hurgten still torments him to this day. When Jack gives Sean his war diary and asks him to hand it over to his friend, General Briggs, who is stationed in Germany, a Rabbi who served with Jack on that last mission catches up with Sean and urges him to forget his grandfather’s request and let sleeping dogs lie. The mission was top secret and it would be better for everyone if it stayed that way. Compelled by his grandfather’s request and ignoring the ominous threats of the Rabbi, Sean and the General return to Hurtgen and to a church Jack referenced were the real mystery lies buried. This is also where Sean begins to read his grandfather’s war diary so he can better understand what happened all those years ago.
The rest of this tale returns us to the battles in Hurtgen that Jack and his platoon suffered through. Jack had been dubbed the Grim Reaper by some, since so many of his men died under his command, though it is clear that he has been given some of the most dangerous assignments in the war and that he has done all that he can to protect the soldiers under his command. We are introduced to the six men in his platoon who, along with Chambers, dub themselves the Lucky Seven because they alone have survived through every battle together. Promises are made that they will be sent back home after years in the field, but the officer who makes that promise to Chambers dies before he can send that request to HQ and his new commanding officer insists they complete one last mission-a secret one with a group of commandos looking to push the Germans out of the Hurtgen for good. As the men reluctantly join this group of gung ho secret operatives, including a Lieutenant who shares an ugly past with Chambers, they discover that the mission has much darker goal than they’ve been told-uncovering how the Nazi’s are using supernatural means to create super soldiers.
This is the second novel I’ve read by Brian Moreland and much like his other effort, Dead of Winter, it provides the reader with a well researched and thought out story providing historically accurate and intriguing details, but doesn’t suffer from being over-stuffed with “technical” minutia that might distract from an otherwise intriguing supernatural adventure tale. Certainly, the idea of the Nazi’s discovering artifacts and texts of a religious nature which provide them with an advantage in their quest to become the master race is not a new one, but the author has drawn from historical events to craft his story, which gave it the right touch of authenticity and made it feel all the more plausible and entertaining.
I enjoyed this novel-my overriding appreciation for it comes from Jack’s tale as divulged in his war diary. The characters-in particular the Lucky Seven and Jack’s hated lieutenant rival-were all entertaining and solidly developed individuals. But as I like to do with each book that I review, I like to point out where the story might have missed the mark for me. With Shadows In the Mist, it was with the present day portion of the tale. It just felt like it was missing something. Early in, Sean is warned about the dire consequences of digging into the past and discovering what Jack and the Rabbi who was with him during his mission worked so hard to cover up in the Hurgten, and then Sean does continue digging, then Jack’s story is revealed, and then we return to present day and …well, I don’t like to divulge spoilers, so I’ll leave it at that, except to say that the rest of Sean and General Brigg’s story left me expecting more. My honest belief is that this book could have stuck to Jack’s tale from World War II exclusively and it would have been a great stand alone tale.
Even with this issue of mine, this is a fun, entertaining supernatural adventure novel that was well done and a lot of fun to read. Definitely worth checking out.
March 12, 2014
I wouldn't normally have picked this book up, except that I really enjoyed some of the author's other works and bought this in my frenzy to read everything Moreland-related that Barnes & Nobles had to offer. I'm rather glad, as I liked this as much as his other stuff.
Don't let the book's synopsis fool you- Sean isn't really in the book that much. He's pretty much just a framing device for the real story that's narrated by way of his grandfather's diary. You see only small glimpses of Sean, so if you're expecting to see Sean have to battle the forces of darkness then you need to change the expectations because this doesn't happen. Any and all supernatural action happens in the past. Not that there's anything wrong with this- the action in this book is excellent, but I can't stress enough that the book's blurb is misleading.
That said, I have to restate that this book was pretty spiffy. It's a quick read, mostly because you'll likely be racing through it. If you've read Moreland's other works then you'll know what to expect. If you're new to his work, this is a pretty good start. Moreland's writing is similar to the schlock horror films and books of the 70s to early 90s. Kind of like a Hammer Horror/Full Moon Pictures type of thing. So if you know what I mean by that and want to read something along those lines, buy this book. You have some great action scenes and some fairly nice characters.
The only big downfall for this book is that you can see a lot of things coming from a mile away. Then again, that's a common failing of most things horror and it doesn't really detract from the work as a whole. The biggest thing I'd have suggested is that Moreland could have done away with the whole grandson angle and just focused on Jack Chamber's exploits. I really enjoyed this and I have to say, I'm becoming a fairly big Moreland fan.
Don't let the book's synopsis fool you- Sean isn't really in the book that much. He's pretty much just a framing device for the real story that's narrated by way of his grandfather's diary. You see only small glimpses of Sean, so if you're expecting to see Sean have to battle the forces of darkness then you need to change the expectations because this doesn't happen. Any and all supernatural action happens in the past. Not that there's anything wrong with this- the action in this book is excellent, but I can't stress enough that the book's blurb is misleading.
That said, I have to restate that this book was pretty spiffy. It's a quick read, mostly because you'll likely be racing through it. If you've read Moreland's other works then you'll know what to expect. If you're new to his work, this is a pretty good start. Moreland's writing is similar to the schlock horror films and books of the 70s to early 90s. Kind of like a Hammer Horror/Full Moon Pictures type of thing. So if you know what I mean by that and want to read something along those lines, buy this book. You have some great action scenes and some fairly nice characters.
The only big downfall for this book is that you can see a lot of things coming from a mile away. Then again, that's a common failing of most things horror and it doesn't really detract from the work as a whole. The biggest thing I'd have suggested is that Moreland could have done away with the whole grandson angle and just focused on Jack Chamber's exploits. I really enjoyed this and I have to say, I'm becoming a fairly big Moreland fan.
December 4, 2013
Just finished Brian Moreland's "Shadows in the Mist." I absolutely loved it!! A problem I have experienced with a lot of horror novels is that the authors feel the need to jump right into the thick of things providing a story and characters that you really don't care about (as is a problem with many horror movies). Moreland really hooks you into the story in different layers introducing you to characters and settings in great detail. By the time stuff starts to hit the fan, he has immersed you into a setting (in this case WWII Germany) and you really are on the edge of your seat dreading the fate of the characters (even though in this particular novel, you have a very vague idea of their fates). As far as the setting, either Moreland really does his research or he can fudge a fact in amazing form because it is VERY believable. I would highly recommend both this book and the other work of his that I read, "Dead of Winter" to anyone looking for a good horror read.
August 2, 2011
Enjoyable read, July 23, 2009
Although, not a fan of fiction, I did thoroughly enjoy this book. The author effectively created the ambience of misery that was a trademark of the Hurtgen Forest campaign ... the perfect scenario to inject his "Da Vinci Code"-like plot. Impressive for a first-time author ... the book read like being immersed in a video game.
Ironically, the video game aspect of the book was real as I find it hard to believe Mr. Moreland wasn't credited with inspiring ideas for two World War II video game titles released after his book was published:
Medal of Honor: Airborne ... the elite and virtually indestructible SS storm troopers on the last levels of the game seemed identical to the stormtroopers described in the book (even down to the gasmasks).
Call of Duty: World at War: the zombie levels
Although, not a fan of fiction, I did thoroughly enjoy this book. The author effectively created the ambience of misery that was a trademark of the Hurtgen Forest campaign ... the perfect scenario to inject his "Da Vinci Code"-like plot. Impressive for a first-time author ... the book read like being immersed in a video game.
Ironically, the video game aspect of the book was real as I find it hard to believe Mr. Moreland wasn't credited with inspiring ideas for two World War II video game titles released after his book was published:
Medal of Honor: Airborne ... the elite and virtually indestructible SS storm troopers on the last levels of the game seemed identical to the stormtroopers described in the book (even down to the gasmasks).
Call of Duty: World at War: the zombie levels
June 18, 2016
What's not to love about a story with Nazi zombies? Or is it zombie Nazis? I've been a fan of war stories for as long as I can remember. Whether true to life, or a work of fiction like this, they carry their own horrors within. Throw in the supernatural element of the occult, golems, and curses and it makes for quite the story. I always get so attached to characters in war stories, I feel as though I've fought battles with them and when they are lost, a part of me mourns for them. That all contributes to a great story where your heart is invested in the characters and the outcome.
December 26, 2012
If you like books by Clancy & King then you may like this one. I found the book interesting & intriguing to read... Excellently written & the storyline/plot made book a page turner for me personally...
April 29, 2013
Horror and history wrapped into one. Well written and action packed it kept me on the edge of my seat most of the time (some of the mystic talk towards the end slowed it down but it wasn’t for long). If you’re looking for a gore filled thriller this is right up your alley.
June 16, 2009
Very unique book. Characters are not redundant. The plot twist was a bit rough, but carried through nicely. It felt a bit rushed at the end, but overall a very good read.
February 17, 2014
very cool
March 14, 2022
Review to come.
February 6, 2013
What better mix than Nazis and the occult? Not much in the horror fiction world, in my opinion. The story takes place in the dense, mist enshrouded and unforgiving terrain of the Hürtgen Forest just inside the German border. This forest was nicknamed the meat grinder by those who fought there. Allied forces are pushing forward and an elite team is assembled to assault the border town of Reichskuhl. When they get there, the town is seemingly abandoned with not one German soldier defending it. Seemingly…
When Himmler saw the war was not going well and the Allies were pushing into Germany, his occult division worked feverishly to create a last line of defense – unstoppable, inhuman supersoldiers. Kudos to the author for not making them zombies!
The story is mostly set during World War II, but does switch to the present to describe the quest of Sean, an Air Force pilot, to return his grandfather’s tell-all diary to the military. The recounting of the tale from World War II was more engaging than the brief modern-day narrative.
The atmosphere is palpable. The forest and the mist are like characters themselves, and the desperation and fatigue of the soldiers come across vividly. The sense of isolation and panic is present throughout, as the odds of survival decrease ever further. The characters are well written and engaging, especially Jack Chambers and Rabbi Goldstein. The colorful characters of Chamber’s ‘Lucky Seven’ and the X-2 special forces are teamed up together to take Reichskuhl. All of them are pushed to the limit by the stress of the situation, a seemingly relentless and unstoppable enemy, and seeing their comrades fall. In the desperate fight for survival, the soldiers’ personalities come to the fore. Some dig deep to carry on, and others crumble. The arrival of Anna, a rescued Jewish prisoner, is a welcome break from the entirely male cast of characters.
The plot moves along at a fair pace, with the Nazis a looming presence, as the Allies try to piece together who and what they are fighting, and moreover, how to stop an enemy that bullets have no effect on. The Nazi super-soldiers are fantastic, conjuring up a real sense of dread, with glowing eyes behind gas masks. It’s an iconic image, like having a recognizable villain in a slasher movie. The Nazis bring to mind a comparison with the killer from My Bloody Valentine. When they do get their hands on someone, much delicious gore ensures. As the book nears its conclusion and explanations for the Nazis, the author gets into the mysticism of runes, Jewish folklore and the Masonic Order. I’ll admit that gets long-winded and he lost me a bit.
The conclusion brings a mighty showdown and there was an enjoyable twist leading up to it that I hadn’t been expecting. Overall, Shadows in The Mist was a good read. There is more of an emphasis on the military aspects than the horror, but that worked well in this case. I’d put it down as military fiction/horror fiction, rather than vice versa.
7.5/10
When Himmler saw the war was not going well and the Allies were pushing into Germany, his occult division worked feverishly to create a last line of defense – unstoppable, inhuman supersoldiers. Kudos to the author for not making them zombies!
The story is mostly set during World War II, but does switch to the present to describe the quest of Sean, an Air Force pilot, to return his grandfather’s tell-all diary to the military. The recounting of the tale from World War II was more engaging than the brief modern-day narrative.
The atmosphere is palpable. The forest and the mist are like characters themselves, and the desperation and fatigue of the soldiers come across vividly. The sense of isolation and panic is present throughout, as the odds of survival decrease ever further. The characters are well written and engaging, especially Jack Chambers and Rabbi Goldstein. The colorful characters of Chamber’s ‘Lucky Seven’ and the X-2 special forces are teamed up together to take Reichskuhl. All of them are pushed to the limit by the stress of the situation, a seemingly relentless and unstoppable enemy, and seeing their comrades fall. In the desperate fight for survival, the soldiers’ personalities come to the fore. Some dig deep to carry on, and others crumble. The arrival of Anna, a rescued Jewish prisoner, is a welcome break from the entirely male cast of characters.
The plot moves along at a fair pace, with the Nazis a looming presence, as the Allies try to piece together who and what they are fighting, and moreover, how to stop an enemy that bullets have no effect on. The Nazi super-soldiers are fantastic, conjuring up a real sense of dread, with glowing eyes behind gas masks. It’s an iconic image, like having a recognizable villain in a slasher movie. The Nazis bring to mind a comparison with the killer from My Bloody Valentine. When they do get their hands on someone, much delicious gore ensures. As the book nears its conclusion and explanations for the Nazis, the author gets into the mysticism of runes, Jewish folklore and the Masonic Order. I’ll admit that gets long-winded and he lost me a bit.
The conclusion brings a mighty showdown and there was an enjoyable twist leading up to it that I hadn’t been expecting. Overall, Shadows in The Mist was a good read. There is more of an emphasis on the military aspects than the horror, but that worked well in this case. I’d put it down as military fiction/horror fiction, rather than vice versa.
7.5/10
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 1, 2013
Ok I'd like to start things of by stating how confusing the goodreads system of saving and updating goes. Granted I had not updated as much as I was expected to, my point remains as stated. I had previously updated my progress in the book and when I checked back I was still at 0 pages. Also this is the second time I have written out these first 2 paragraphs because I pressed a button and it sent me to the log in page. You may ask what does this have to do with this book? Well, I was not toughen into a state of rage forced to quit due to an internal core meltdown of my incapability to write out a simple review. I think that is a plus. Also, I am overwhelmed by the total shock and joy I received from this book. One can probably assume my opinion on this book.
As a fan of the supernatural, I find this book not only entertaining but it also brings a sense of appreciation. He did not go overboard with the supernatural, or making it seem childish/unbelievable. That brings an aroma of passion surrounding this novel. In addition my appreciation to the author, I have so much respect to him. Never before have I physically cringed reading a book before, especially chapter 10, the entire chapter is fairly brutal but when they describe captain Chambers wounds it sent a shiver down my spine. and for that I thank you.
I was also impressed by his wording, many I had not thought ever to use like "A symphony of gunfire surrounded them" (10, 49). I have taken a lot from reading this but I feel as if my writing vocabulary has been extended by far. Before I have struggled with metaphors, and similes because it never seemed to fit in my text, forced even. Now I feel as if I can use it more openly as a result of this.
I was surprised when I found out about our class book we had to read about, The Things they Carry, and the several similarity's between the themes. One example being that both had reflections on their war experiences sharing like opinions based on their actions. Now this is definitely represented in the first few chapters of the novel when Chambers gave his grandson the war diary he had been keeping secret for so long. I had purchased this book prior to knowing this and had planned reading this for school so I could get graded for reading an amazing book, if it was not for a grade, my act in reading this would not be altered in any way. The second saw this novel I knew I was going to love it.
This is, by far my favorite book I have read to date. Rarely do I ever use complete confidence in my words(note the use of the word "rarely"). I "usually" state how it is one of... or among the... when I chose to describe something.
Having met the author brings a whole new sense of accomplishment from not only finishing it but reading it for school. Reading this did not feel in any way, forced or expected, rather a privilege to have came across this book at Horror Hound.
As a fan of the supernatural, I find this book not only entertaining but it also brings a sense of appreciation. He did not go overboard with the supernatural, or making it seem childish/unbelievable. That brings an aroma of passion surrounding this novel. In addition my appreciation to the author, I have so much respect to him. Never before have I physically cringed reading a book before, especially chapter 10, the entire chapter is fairly brutal but when they describe captain Chambers wounds it sent a shiver down my spine. and for that I thank you.
I was also impressed by his wording, many I had not thought ever to use like "A symphony of gunfire surrounded them" (10, 49). I have taken a lot from reading this but I feel as if my writing vocabulary has been extended by far. Before I have struggled with metaphors, and similes because it never seemed to fit in my text, forced even. Now I feel as if I can use it more openly as a result of this.
I was surprised when I found out about our class book we had to read about, The Things they Carry, and the several similarity's between the themes. One example being that both had reflections on their war experiences sharing like opinions based on their actions. Now this is definitely represented in the first few chapters of the novel when Chambers gave his grandson the war diary he had been keeping secret for so long. I had purchased this book prior to knowing this and had planned reading this for school so I could get graded for reading an amazing book, if it was not for a grade, my act in reading this would not be altered in any way. The second saw this novel I knew I was going to love it.
This is, by far my favorite book I have read to date. Rarely do I ever use complete confidence in my words(note the use of the word "rarely"). I "usually" state how it is one of... or among the... when I chose to describe something.
Having met the author brings a whole new sense of accomplishment from not only finishing it but reading it for school. Reading this did not feel in any way, forced or expected, rather a privilege to have came across this book at Horror Hound.
September 3, 2012
Daniella's review posted on Guilty Pleasures
Adolph Hitler knew he was beginning to lose the War...
Take Stephen King’s fantastic style of horror writing that makes you freak at every noise and Tom Clancy’s incredibly detailed style of writing that paints the book into a tableau of smell, touch and sound in front of you and morph them into a person and voilá you will get Brian Moreland. He has a fantastic way of being so detailed that you swear you think you are with this group of U.S. Army men in Europe during World War II and at the same time, he can freak you out enough to make you think twice about reading without checking the doors in your house to make sure they are locked and keeping a light on.
This book is eerie and chilling and so detailed that you are right there with “The Grim Reaper” (aka Lieutenant Jack Chambers) while he and his men try to survive a hellish time in World War II Germany fighting what they originally think are just German troops. They have a mission, but as The Grim Reaper and his men finds out more and more information they realize that this mission might just be the one that none of the men might return from.
This book starts out in the modern day with Sean Chambers, the grandson of the “The Grim Reaper” carrying out a request by (now Colonel) Jack Chambers, which involves travelling to Europe to fulfill a promise his Grandfather made over 60 years before. During his travel, while reading his grandfathers diary Sean begins to understand that maybe some of the horror and tall tales that are told about the evils of the Third Reich aren’t all elaborations or dreamt up nightmares and that Hitler’s right hand “medical” men were creating unspeakable horror to fight the Allies. “The Grim Reaper” and his men don’t believe what they see and hear but they know they have to fight whatever it is no matter how much they might disbelieve. Lt. Jack Chambers has agreed to his team’s “last” job because the “higher ups” have made him the offer that after they finish this job they can all get shipped stateside-so long as the objective is reached. Had he known everything he had been getting he and his men into he might have thought twice.
I could not put the book down. I mean I have seen my share of horror movies that I will watch again and again because they are just that well done and this book I consider to be a classic movie just in written form. I know it was just a book but Brian Moreland has an incredible gift at not just telling a story, because anyone can tell a story; but he is so descriptive and his story is so alive that when the shelling and gunfire occurred I swear I could hear it!!
I applaud you Mr. Moreland, you are incredible!!!
Adolph Hitler knew he was beginning to lose the War...
Take Stephen King’s fantastic style of horror writing that makes you freak at every noise and Tom Clancy’s incredibly detailed style of writing that paints the book into a tableau of smell, touch and sound in front of you and morph them into a person and voilá you will get Brian Moreland. He has a fantastic way of being so detailed that you swear you think you are with this group of U.S. Army men in Europe during World War II and at the same time, he can freak you out enough to make you think twice about reading without checking the doors in your house to make sure they are locked and keeping a light on.
This book is eerie and chilling and so detailed that you are right there with “The Grim Reaper” (aka Lieutenant Jack Chambers) while he and his men try to survive a hellish time in World War II Germany fighting what they originally think are just German troops. They have a mission, but as The Grim Reaper and his men finds out more and more information they realize that this mission might just be the one that none of the men might return from.
This book starts out in the modern day with Sean Chambers, the grandson of the “The Grim Reaper” carrying out a request by (now Colonel) Jack Chambers, which involves travelling to Europe to fulfill a promise his Grandfather made over 60 years before. During his travel, while reading his grandfathers diary Sean begins to understand that maybe some of the horror and tall tales that are told about the evils of the Third Reich aren’t all elaborations or dreamt up nightmares and that Hitler’s right hand “medical” men were creating unspeakable horror to fight the Allies. “The Grim Reaper” and his men don’t believe what they see and hear but they know they have to fight whatever it is no matter how much they might disbelieve. Lt. Jack Chambers has agreed to his team’s “last” job because the “higher ups” have made him the offer that after they finish this job they can all get shipped stateside-so long as the objective is reached. Had he known everything he had been getting he and his men into he might have thought twice.
I could not put the book down. I mean I have seen my share of horror movies that I will watch again and again because they are just that well done and this book I consider to be a classic movie just in written form. I know it was just a book but Brian Moreland has an incredible gift at not just telling a story, because anyone can tell a story; but he is so descriptive and his story is so alive that when the shelling and gunfire occurred I swear I could hear it!!
I applaud you Mr. Moreland, you are incredible!!!
May 11, 2017
Lieutenant Jack Chambers has a secret that’s been weighing on his soul. Now an elderly man, he wants to make things right and avoid taking the past with him to his grave. He asks his grandson, Sean, to take his secret War Diary to his trusted ally, General Mason Briggs, across the ocean in Heidelberg, Germany. The matter concerns his platoon, known as The Lucky Seven, whose bodies were never recovered. The official report was that Jack was separated from his platoon and that they were lost in enemy territory. However, that’s not exactly how it happened. Jack has provided a map to Sean, which discloses the location of where his platoon is buried. He wants to bring his men home to their families to give them closure. Jack hands a plane ticket to Sean, and he sets off on this journey. On the plane, Sean is approached by someone claiming to have served with Jack in WWII. His name is Rabbi Jacob Goldstein, and somehow he knows that Jack has betrayed their vow to never speak a word of what really went on during the war. The Rabbi wants Sean to hand over Jack’s diary to him, but Sean has no intention of going against his grandfather’s wishes. The Rabbi is concerned that the diary will trigger a military investigation and that no good will come out of it. He is worried about the information in the diary getting into the wrong hands and that the evil that was buried will become unleashed, resulting in more deaths. Sean is determined to carry out his grandfather’s dying wish.
The majority of the book was told through Jack’s diary, as we stepped back in time to 1944 to the location of where these events took place: The Hürtgen Forest in Germany.
This was very different from any type of horror novel that I’ve read before. I was impressed with the historical detail that the author included, and it made the story seem very plausible! I had no idea that the Nazis had an interest in the occult, and I found that very intriguing. The pace of the story was a little slow in spots, but I enjoyed Moreland’s literary style and plan to read more of his work.
I received a complimentary copy for voluntary review consideration.
This review was posted on my book blog:
http://darlenesbooknook.blogspot.ca/2...
The majority of the book was told through Jack’s diary, as we stepped back in time to 1944 to the location of where these events took place: The Hürtgen Forest in Germany.
This was very different from any type of horror novel that I’ve read before. I was impressed with the historical detail that the author included, and it made the story seem very plausible! I had no idea that the Nazis had an interest in the occult, and I found that very intriguing. The pace of the story was a little slow in spots, but I enjoyed Moreland’s literary style and plan to read more of his work.
I received a complimentary copy for voluntary review consideration.
This review was posted on my book blog:
http://darlenesbooknook.blogspot.ca/2...
March 30, 2013
Shadows In The Mist is the story of Lieutenant Jack Chambers and his platoon, The Lucky Seven, who have fought courageously in World War II. They must complete one more mission before the United States army will allow them to return home. This mission isn't like anything they've faced before. They must sneak behind enemy lines, but when an unexpected supernatural curve ball is thrown their way, the men must make hard and quick decisions.
As much as I love the horror genre, even the best of stories tend to follow the same cat and mouse pattern: predator chases prey, main character makes very obvious bad decisions that take them down a perilous path. Because, hey... they've got to choose the wrong path to keep the plot going, right?
Shadows In The Mist doesn't succumb to the typical bad-decision-making characters that often drive an otherwise good horror story straight into the ground. This novel is unique in that it puts you side by side with a platoon of skilled soldiers fighting in WWII. These guys are warriors, true heroes, and they make wise choices, fight with every fiber of their being, and do all the right things. They are trapped in a battle they must face with as much courage as they can muster, while more and more grisly, supernatural details unfold. You will root for these guys. Each individual character will solidify in your mind's eye and become real as the plot develops.
But, as you know, war is an unpredictable thing. Any moment could be their final moment, any breath their last. Especially considering the pure evil the Nazis have cooked up in this tale...
Shadows In The Mist was a worthwhile read... one I won't soon forget. I'll definitely keep an eye out for future releases from author Brian Moreland. This book taught me a thing or two about the war. Plus, it made me cry. Written from the heart and fueled by emotion, with a ton of blood and guts mixed in. How can you possibly go wrong?
As much as I love the horror genre, even the best of stories tend to follow the same cat and mouse pattern: predator chases prey, main character makes very obvious bad decisions that take them down a perilous path. Because, hey... they've got to choose the wrong path to keep the plot going, right?
Shadows In The Mist doesn't succumb to the typical bad-decision-making characters that often drive an otherwise good horror story straight into the ground. This novel is unique in that it puts you side by side with a platoon of skilled soldiers fighting in WWII. These guys are warriors, true heroes, and they make wise choices, fight with every fiber of their being, and do all the right things. They are trapped in a battle they must face with as much courage as they can muster, while more and more grisly, supernatural details unfold. You will root for these guys. Each individual character will solidify in your mind's eye and become real as the plot develops.
But, as you know, war is an unpredictable thing. Any moment could be their final moment, any breath their last. Especially considering the pure evil the Nazis have cooked up in this tale...
Shadows In The Mist was a worthwhile read... one I won't soon forget. I'll definitely keep an eye out for future releases from author Brian Moreland. This book taught me a thing or two about the war. Plus, it made me cry. Written from the heart and fueled by emotion, with a ton of blood and guts mixed in. How can you possibly go wrong?
November 1, 2013
Black Forest of Death
Mr. Moreland has picked the perfect setting for this gore fest. If you’ve studied WWII history then you know how brutal the campaign in the Hürtgen was. It was a literal meat grinder. Every division thrown in to clear out the Germans was reduced to shreds. Even the Big Red One was humbled by the terrible terrain. Imagine never being able to see the enemy. Artillery shells set to explode at tree-top level, showering the attackers with wood and metal splinters or the nasty bouncing betties and other diabolical booby-traps the allies encountered; all of this before encountering the hidden concrete machine gun bunkers of the enemy. And then there was the foul weather surrounding the battle. Rain, rain, fog, mist; bone chilling cold and more rain. How’s that for a horror setting?
The story revolves around Sean Chambers and his great-grandfather Jack. Sean has always wondered why Jack never talked about his wartime experiences. He’s about to find out and it’s not what he thinks.
With the allies knocking on the doorstep of the Third Reich, Hitler and Himmler prepare to unleash the most horrible army man or beast has ever encountered.
Without getting into all the details, I can assure readers you will feel like you are there combating the German Army of the undead.
The only con I have is the overly descriptive scenes. In the beginning it’s well crafted and pulled off, but as the story progresses, we are still reminded how cold, wet and miserable it is. It became over burdensome and unnecessary. I was already immersed in the scenes and didn’t need to be constantly reminded of the setting.
If you are an avid fan of WWII and enjoy a bit, no, a lot of horror thrown into the setting, this book will not disappoint!
A resounding 4.5 stars.
Mr. Moreland has picked the perfect setting for this gore fest. If you’ve studied WWII history then you know how brutal the campaign in the Hürtgen was. It was a literal meat grinder. Every division thrown in to clear out the Germans was reduced to shreds. Even the Big Red One was humbled by the terrible terrain. Imagine never being able to see the enemy. Artillery shells set to explode at tree-top level, showering the attackers with wood and metal splinters or the nasty bouncing betties and other diabolical booby-traps the allies encountered; all of this before encountering the hidden concrete machine gun bunkers of the enemy. And then there was the foul weather surrounding the battle. Rain, rain, fog, mist; bone chilling cold and more rain. How’s that for a horror setting?
The story revolves around Sean Chambers and his great-grandfather Jack. Sean has always wondered why Jack never talked about his wartime experiences. He’s about to find out and it’s not what he thinks.
With the allies knocking on the doorstep of the Third Reich, Hitler and Himmler prepare to unleash the most horrible army man or beast has ever encountered.
Without getting into all the details, I can assure readers you will feel like you are there combating the German Army of the undead.
The only con I have is the overly descriptive scenes. In the beginning it’s well crafted and pulled off, but as the story progresses, we are still reminded how cold, wet and miserable it is. It became over burdensome and unnecessary. I was already immersed in the scenes and didn’t need to be constantly reminded of the setting.
If you are an avid fan of WWII and enjoy a bit, no, a lot of horror thrown into the setting, this book will not disappoint!
A resounding 4.5 stars.
January 8, 2017
Jack Chambers, still has horrific dreams about the time that he spent in The Hurtgen Forest fighting the Germans. Jack wanted to tell his story about the fighting, and the brave soldiers that were called The Luck Seven. Jack kept a diary of this time fighting the German. Jack called on his grandson Sean., to take his diary to General Briggs, who is station in Germany. Jack had one final request for General. To read the diary, and to see if the General could help him out with this difficult request. Briggs, finally agrees to help Jack. He tells his grandson, that this task is not an easy one but he try his best to complete it. Most of the book takes place in Germany, during World War II. The Germans have a secret weapon that they are using to kill the soldiers. Can Jack, and The Lucky Seven, help destroy this secret weapon, and push back the German troops? This was Brian Moreland first book. The story was well written but lacked that strong supernatural touch that Moreland is known for. You can tell that Moreland put a lot of research into this book. Not a bad story but not his best.
December 15, 2013
Awe! The ending of this story wrapped around my heart and had my eyes shimmering with unshed tears.
The whole time I was reading this story, I desperately wanted to protect The Lucky Seven and have a swarm of allies come to their rescue.
And, although the outcome of what took place at Hurtgen Forest was revealed at the beginning of this story, it was everything in between the beginning and the end that truly brought this story to life for me. Also, at this very moment I am still mentally beating Fallon for being such a jerk to Jack.
The further you get into the story, the more you start to care about each of the characters and I honestly held out hope for each of them to be ok, even while fighting in a losing battle against evil.
This is a skillfully written, action packed war thriller surrounded in a world where demons do exist and hero's overcome their fear.
I absolutely recommend this novel!
The whole time I was reading this story, I desperately wanted to protect The Lucky Seven and have a swarm of allies come to their rescue.
And, although the outcome of what took place at Hurtgen Forest was revealed at the beginning of this story, it was everything in between the beginning and the end that truly brought this story to life for me. Also, at this very moment I am still mentally beating Fallon for being such a jerk to Jack.
The further you get into the story, the more you start to care about each of the characters and I honestly held out hope for each of them to be ok, even while fighting in a losing battle against evil.
This is a skillfully written, action packed war thriller surrounded in a world where demons do exist and hero's overcome their fear.
I absolutely recommend this novel!
June 9, 2025
Interesting concept and engaging story for the most part. The cheesy, gung-ho military dialogue really breaks immersion in a lot of places for me, which, in my opinion, harms the otherwise creepy and intense story. A solid “meh.”
November 12, 2011
Shadows in the Mist is a hilarious,gut-bustingly funny novel. The laughs come nonstop, and what more can you ask from a -
Oh, wait. That's right, it's not a comedy. It's a horror novel set in WWII, a sort of Saving Private Ryan with Nazi monsters thrown in. The laughs are accidental, and the dire seriousness of the book's tone makes it feel like an Ed Wood movie, and makes it worth an extra star 'cause he tried so hard.
We open on an old, retired veteran waking from a nightmare and deciding that today is the day to finally tell somebody about the secret he's been hiding for fifty years. He entrusts his old war diary to his grandson and sends him to Germany to meet with an old friend of his, General Briggs (because what general isn't named Briggs?).
General Briggs was my first clue that we were in for a bumpy ride. It seems at one point Moreland realized there were no characters in the novel who weren't white, and decided to retroactively make Briggs a black man by inserting a single line, in the LAST paragraph of the LAST chapter that Briggs appears in: "The African-American general fired his gun."
There's a mysterious stranger on the plane and the suggestion that there might be some cat-and-mouse intrigue as various groups try to get ahold of the diary - but no, it's just a chapter filler to pad out the book, and we find Briggs and Sean in a secluded cabin? reading Jack's diary.
Flash back to 1944 Germany, and young Sgt. Jack Chambers is being forced to tell his squad of war-movie stereotypes that their long-awaited leave has been canceled. Instead, they have been selected to accompany a special ops commando team into nearby Heurtgen Forest to capture a German installation. Most of the entertainment value at this point in time comes from trying to figure out how to pronounce "Heurtgen." Try it, it's fun!
What's most unfortunate about this novel is that it really did have potential. Once the soldiers enter the forest, things are satisyingly creepy for almost two chapters. The dreary forest with its mists and mysteriously slaughtered Nazis lying around is genuinely spooky, and so is the mist-shrouded town where the titular Shadows appear - figures in full SS uniforms and gas masks so not an inch of skin is visible, who are impervious to bullets and determined to kill Nazis and Americans alike with swords. Unfortunately, the fight scenes become drawn out too long, not one soldier ever saying "Hey! Bullets don't do anything to these guys! Let's run away!"
Long, boring passages follow, and the flashback nature of the story kills all potential for suspense. Because we know Jack will survive, and because he basically tells us in the first chapter that everyone else dies, there is nothing to do but wait until the characters meander their way into finding the German base and discovering what the hell is going on.
***Spoiler Alert***
When they do find out what the hell is going on, I nearly wet my pants laughing. The leader of the special ops unit, who is actually a member of a secret society of Freemasons dedicated to stopping Hitler's magical warfare department (and you'd think a team of professional monster hunters would be better prepared to deal with an actual monster), makes the alarming discovery that
Wait for it...
The Nazis are practicing Kabballah and creating Golems, mythical Jewish clay warriors that, big effin surprise, turn on their creators.
The Nazis are practicing Kabballah.
I couldn't read any further. Everybody dies. Jack escapes somehow and swears never to tell a living soul, probably out of sheer embarrassment.
If you like the category of movies that are classics because they fall into the "so bad they're good" category, you might want to check this out. Otherwise, stay away.
Oh, wait. That's right, it's not a comedy. It's a horror novel set in WWII, a sort of Saving Private Ryan with Nazi monsters thrown in. The laughs are accidental, and the dire seriousness of the book's tone makes it feel like an Ed Wood movie, and makes it worth an extra star 'cause he tried so hard.
We open on an old, retired veteran waking from a nightmare and deciding that today is the day to finally tell somebody about the secret he's been hiding for fifty years. He entrusts his old war diary to his grandson and sends him to Germany to meet with an old friend of his, General Briggs (because what general isn't named Briggs?).
General Briggs was my first clue that we were in for a bumpy ride. It seems at one point Moreland realized there were no characters in the novel who weren't white, and decided to retroactively make Briggs a black man by inserting a single line, in the LAST paragraph of the LAST chapter that Briggs appears in: "The African-American general fired his gun."
There's a mysterious stranger on the plane and the suggestion that there might be some cat-and-mouse intrigue as various groups try to get ahold of the diary - but no, it's just a chapter filler to pad out the book, and we find Briggs and Sean in a secluded cabin? reading Jack's diary.
Flash back to 1944 Germany, and young Sgt. Jack Chambers is being forced to tell his squad of war-movie stereotypes that their long-awaited leave has been canceled. Instead, they have been selected to accompany a special ops commando team into nearby Heurtgen Forest to capture a German installation. Most of the entertainment value at this point in time comes from trying to figure out how to pronounce "Heurtgen." Try it, it's fun!
What's most unfortunate about this novel is that it really did have potential. Once the soldiers enter the forest, things are satisyingly creepy for almost two chapters. The dreary forest with its mists and mysteriously slaughtered Nazis lying around is genuinely spooky, and so is the mist-shrouded town where the titular Shadows appear - figures in full SS uniforms and gas masks so not an inch of skin is visible, who are impervious to bullets and determined to kill Nazis and Americans alike with swords. Unfortunately, the fight scenes become drawn out too long, not one soldier ever saying "Hey! Bullets don't do anything to these guys! Let's run away!"
Long, boring passages follow, and the flashback nature of the story kills all potential for suspense. Because we know Jack will survive, and because he basically tells us in the first chapter that everyone else dies, there is nothing to do but wait until the characters meander their way into finding the German base and discovering what the hell is going on.
***Spoiler Alert***
When they do find out what the hell is going on, I nearly wet my pants laughing. The leader of the special ops unit, who is actually a member of a secret society of Freemasons dedicated to stopping Hitler's magical warfare department (and you'd think a team of professional monster hunters would be better prepared to deal with an actual monster), makes the alarming discovery that
Wait for it...
The Nazis are practicing Kabballah and creating Golems, mythical Jewish clay warriors that, big effin surprise, turn on their creators.
The Nazis are practicing Kabballah.
I couldn't read any further. Everybody dies. Jack escapes somehow and swears never to tell a living soul, probably out of sheer embarrassment.
If you like the category of movies that are classics because they fall into the "so bad they're good" category, you might want to check this out. Otherwise, stay away.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews