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Threads of Shadow: The Wendlelow Mysteries
Elspeth McGinnity has vanished, swallowed by the mists of her native Ireland.
Without her, the shadows over Wendlelow only deepen.
Casper Trenchton is a man haunted by his past. Fleeing to the quiet lanes of Shropshire in search of solace, he finds instead a town steeped in secrets. Under the employment of the enigmatic Doctor Mogfadian and his niece, Julie, Casper is drawn into a web of uncanny occurrences. Wendlelow, he soon learns, is no haven; it is a place where darkness festers and ancient horrors stir.
Within these pages lie nine chilling, interconnected tales from a town that reason forgot. So stoke the fire, draw the curtains tight, and prepare to be horrified.
Without her, the shadows over Wendlelow only deepen.
Casper Trenchton is a man haunted by his past. Fleeing to the quiet lanes of Shropshire in search of solace, he finds instead a town steeped in secrets. Under the employment of the enigmatic Doctor Mogfadian and his niece, Julie, Casper is drawn into a web of uncanny occurrences. Wendlelow, he soon learns, is no haven; it is a place where darkness festers and ancient horrors stir.
Within these pages lie nine chilling, interconnected tales from a town that reason forgot. So stoke the fire, draw the curtains tight, and prepare to be horrified.
252 pages, Paperback
Published April 26, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 17, 2025
This is the second installment of the Wendlelow Mysteries, linked short stories held together by the colorful, eldritchy, crazy quilt (meaning no firm pattern) that is the hamlet of Wendlelow, home to humans as well as all manor of bogeys, wraiths, ancient gods, demons, witches, warlocks, and enchanted objects best left hidden.
I enjoyed the first collection, Fireside Horror, which is far more charming and fairy-tale like than true horror, with very likeable characters, namely Elsbeth and Nolan, a folklorist and her young assistant, who stumble upon some very real frights while doing research on local lore.
In the second installment, we begin with Nolan again as a young man, to introduce the bully in his dorm in boarding school, Casper. We find out what prompts Casper to be a bully, and it seems his karma ripens swiftly in the first story. However--and I love this--people are usually not all good or all bad, and when Casper reappears later, well, I won't give it away, but his story arc is expertly handled. All of the main characters experience an evolution and growth that elevates and solidifies the stories into a sort of overall fantasy quest or adventure story with a witchy backbone.
Now, I'm not usually a fantasy/quest reader, but this is an easy read with characters to care about, a bit spooky-- I read the last one in winter, at night by a crackling fire. Perfect. This time, it's June, and it still works well. Had to keep reading to find out what happens to the characters I care about! And there will be another installment. I believe the author has mentioned at least a trilogy.
Great news! More to come!
Age appropriate for older children to adult.
Ah! You know what this reminds me of in a way? Roger Zelazny's Lonesome October and Ray Bradbury's The Halloween Tree--specifically, the feel of a spooky adventure that a young person might read and enjoy but come back to as an adult with a sense of nostalgia. Charming. Delightful. Warming on a chilly or lonesome night.
I enjoyed the first collection, Fireside Horror, which is far more charming and fairy-tale like than true horror, with very likeable characters, namely Elsbeth and Nolan, a folklorist and her young assistant, who stumble upon some very real frights while doing research on local lore.
In the second installment, we begin with Nolan again as a young man, to introduce the bully in his dorm in boarding school, Casper. We find out what prompts Casper to be a bully, and it seems his karma ripens swiftly in the first story. However--and I love this--people are usually not all good or all bad, and when Casper reappears later, well, I won't give it away, but his story arc is expertly handled. All of the main characters experience an evolution and growth that elevates and solidifies the stories into a sort of overall fantasy quest or adventure story with a witchy backbone.
Now, I'm not usually a fantasy/quest reader, but this is an easy read with characters to care about, a bit spooky-- I read the last one in winter, at night by a crackling fire. Perfect. This time, it's June, and it still works well. Had to keep reading to find out what happens to the characters I care about! And there will be another installment. I believe the author has mentioned at least a trilogy.
Great news! More to come!
Age appropriate for older children to adult.
Ah! You know what this reminds me of in a way? Roger Zelazny's Lonesome October and Ray Bradbury's The Halloween Tree--specifically, the feel of a spooky adventure that a young person might read and enjoy but come back to as an adult with a sense of nostalgia. Charming. Delightful. Warming on a chilly or lonesome night.
September 17, 2025
I didn't know I needed gothic horror until this book. Now I need all the gothic horror. Like, all of it.
Wonderfully written. I loved all the twists and turns and most of all the character development. It's the perfect amount of darkness, dread and creepy. My heart is so happy after reading it.
It was the book I didn't know I needed and that in itself makes it so great. I will definitely be keeping an eye on this author.
Wonderfully written. I loved all the twists and turns and most of all the character development. It's the perfect amount of darkness, dread and creepy. My heart is so happy after reading it.
It was the book I didn't know I needed and that in itself makes it so great. I will definitely be keeping an eye on this author.
August 30, 2025
this is my first time reading this author. and I can honestly say that I was not disappointed. this book delivers the best short scary stories. and I love how they are interconnected.
it's great that these stories can be enjoyed by so many ages. it's definitely a gather around the fire grab some smores, and enjoy some scary stories to tell while you enjoy some family/ friend time.
will most certainly have tu grab the first book so I'm not missing out on anything.
it's great that these stories can be enjoyed by so many ages. it's definitely a gather around the fire grab some smores, and enjoy some scary stories to tell while you enjoy some family/ friend time.
will most certainly have tu grab the first book so I'm not missing out on anything.
August 22, 2025
Threads of Shadow is Paul Sheldon’s second book in his Wendlelow Mysteries trilogy, and it was well worth waiting for. Though you certainly can read them out of order, as you do get some backstory from the first book, for the best effect, I strongly recommend that you read this series in order.
Elspeth McGinnity, the folklorist and central character from Sheldon’s first book, Fireside Horror, has disappeared, causing the shadows surrounding the odd little Shropshire town of Wendlelow to deepen without her steadying influence.
Returning to Victorian-era Wendlelow was like coming home after the first book, since everything is already familiar. But this book is built around Casper Trenchton, a resident we were introduced to in the first book and come to know well in this one. Throughout adolescence, he was a miscreant and a bully, but as time and the years move on, readers cannot help but reevaluate previous opinions and end up with a great deal of sympathy toward Caspar. All he wants is peace and quiet, but he gets little of that when he accepts employment with enigmatic Dr. Mogfadian to be a bodyguard to his niece, Julie, both of whom are pretty strange folks. Caspar begins with indifference toward his charge but gradually comes to regard her as a little sister and becomes fiercely protective of her—even from her uncle, who has nefarious plans in mind for Julie.
Sheldon has a most interesting style, in that he takes nine short stories and weaves them together to form an interconnected, cohesive whole at the end—and he does this masterfully. The first book in this trilogy, Fireside Horror, which I have also reviewed on Hellnotes, is handled the same way, making it an easy and engaging read on a ‘dark and stormy night’ (thank you, Edward Bulwer-Lytton!).
Do yourself a favor and pick up Fireside Horror and Threads of Shadow today—you won’t be sorry. And with Christmas coming, both books make a wonderful gift for those horror/mystery aficionados on your list! They are available on Amazon.
5 stars!
Elspeth McGinnity, the folklorist and central character from Sheldon’s first book, Fireside Horror, has disappeared, causing the shadows surrounding the odd little Shropshire town of Wendlelow to deepen without her steadying influence.
Returning to Victorian-era Wendlelow was like coming home after the first book, since everything is already familiar. But this book is built around Casper Trenchton, a resident we were introduced to in the first book and come to know well in this one. Throughout adolescence, he was a miscreant and a bully, but as time and the years move on, readers cannot help but reevaluate previous opinions and end up with a great deal of sympathy toward Caspar. All he wants is peace and quiet, but he gets little of that when he accepts employment with enigmatic Dr. Mogfadian to be a bodyguard to his niece, Julie, both of whom are pretty strange folks. Caspar begins with indifference toward his charge but gradually comes to regard her as a little sister and becomes fiercely protective of her—even from her uncle, who has nefarious plans in mind for Julie.
Sheldon has a most interesting style, in that he takes nine short stories and weaves them together to form an interconnected, cohesive whole at the end—and he does this masterfully. The first book in this trilogy, Fireside Horror, which I have also reviewed on Hellnotes, is handled the same way, making it an easy and engaging read on a ‘dark and stormy night’ (thank you, Edward Bulwer-Lytton!).
Do yourself a favor and pick up Fireside Horror and Threads of Shadow today—you won’t be sorry. And with Christmas coming, both books make a wonderful gift for those horror/mystery aficionados on your list! They are available on Amazon.
5 stars!
October 14, 2025
'Threads of Shadow' is a collection of stories, and the first book I have read by author Paul A. Sheldon. From the first page I was drawn into the created world of Wendlelow Town, set amid the wynd lanes, mist-laced lakes, and wooded dells of Edwardian Shropshire.
The medieval town was steeped in witch-haunted tales older than memory. Many a door still bore the 'witch-brand' seared deep into its aged wood panels. Yet, these rituals deemed of the past refuse to stay buried; as the pages unfold we glimpse elements of spine-chilling horror.
An atmospheric blend of taunt suspense, dark folklore, and supernatural romance; as each story unravels, black magic witchcraft begins to surface. A vivid tapestry of heritage and everyday life connecting these tales of the eerie grotesque...
From the 'White Lady' looking out of her castellated North Tower; to the tale of Benedict Weathers, his mother unmarried and a seamstress, yet a carriage and four would come to call! His linage was both feared and revered, for his father being the Rowan King, Lord of the fairy folk...
A book not to be missed. Riveting!
The medieval town was steeped in witch-haunted tales older than memory. Many a door still bore the 'witch-brand' seared deep into its aged wood panels. Yet, these rituals deemed of the past refuse to stay buried; as the pages unfold we glimpse elements of spine-chilling horror.
An atmospheric blend of taunt suspense, dark folklore, and supernatural romance; as each story unravels, black magic witchcraft begins to surface. A vivid tapestry of heritage and everyday life connecting these tales of the eerie grotesque...
From the 'White Lady' looking out of her castellated North Tower; to the tale of Benedict Weathers, his mother unmarried and a seamstress, yet a carriage and four would come to call! His linage was both feared and revered, for his father being the Rowan King, Lord of the fairy folk...
A book not to be missed. Riveting!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews