In the Eyes In the Shadows

by Gage Greenwood

His obsession with death was unhealthy, but it didn't become dangerous until death became obsessed back.

While Jackson takes care of his dying father, navigates his rocky relationship with Amanda, and watches the company he works for go out of business, his panic attacks return with a vengeance. In a stressed fugue, he sees a figure approach his father's death bed, singing a lullaby. And when he looks into his father's eyes, he sees something he can't define, dancing within the irises.

With his life falling apart around him, Jackson finds comfort in a new seeking out dead things and trying to find that hidden pattern in their eyes, hoping to lure the mysterious figure he'd seen at his father's bedside from the darkness.

But one day, Jackson finds the wrong dead thing. Her name is Lexia, and she's angry.

Genres: Horror, Paranormal, Fiction

280 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 31, 2024

About the author

Gage Greenwood is the best-selling author of the Winter's Myths Saga, and Bunker Dogs. He's a proud member of the Horror Writers Association and Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers association.He's been an actor, comedian, podcaster, and even the Vice President of an escape room company. Since childhood, he's been a big fan of comic books, horror movies, and depressing music that fills him with existential dread.He lives in New England with his girlfriend and son, and he spends his time writing, hiking, and decorating for various holidays

Reviews

[Matt Ferenczy · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐

The cover of this book haunted me for a couple of weeks, I have to say. And when I was reading another story, it got in my head over and over, and I said, OK motherfucker creature, you won. And I started reading.

I found the plot idea pretty attractive, but sometimes the prose feels a bit erratic. There's something about this book and Pet Sematary, by Stephen King. I'm not spoiling anything, you'll get it when you read it.

The problem is that the structure of the story has several patches for me, and it is quite noticeable. But it doesn't mean that I don't find it interesting.

There are gruesome and violent scenes, some of them very creepy. So if you are looking for a story full of ghosts and killing, this is your book. You need to take your time to accept the reiterated iterations but in the end, it gets enjoyable

[✮ osanna aoki ✮ · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, I’d like to thank the author, Gage Greenwood, for providing me with an ARC of In the Eyes, In The Shadows in exchange for my honest review. Though I am a couple days behind, happy belated publication day (10/31/24) — you also shattered my heart with this one.

”When Jackson was a kid, it seemed true. He never noticed his father losing. As he grew older, he recognized it happening more and more often. Senior lost with his wife, with his dreams, with his drinking, until finally, he started losing the big one.”

A fever dream filled with grief is how I can describe this book. It left me emotionally battered.

Jackson’s tale is one of heartache and somberness. After slowly losing his father to cancer, his already spiraling life has now completely crashed.

The panic attacks are coming back, the hallucinations resurfacing. Life is not good. And there’s Lexia— the violent yet hurting soul who won’t release her grasp on him. Why? You’ll soon find out.

It’s hard to describe this novel without giving away the details that build this book into the grief-stricken story that it is. But with every page, you’re pulled further into the melancholy that is Jackson’s life.

Though Jackson falls into the darkness, you root for him to conquer his struggles and ultimately defeat the past that nips at his heels. You can feel Jackson’s days growing longer and more tedious as the book ramps up and— God, do you wish for his suffering to end.

But the hallucinations grow more frantic, the humming becomes louder, the darkness beckons, and Jackson is crumbling. His longtime girlfriend Amanda is understandably frightened. The love of her life is falling apart, again.

And then there’s the picture-taking of dead animals, the brewing obsession with death—

Is it coping with loss, or something more? Something more sinister. In The Eyes, In The Shadows will leave you with the lines blurred between grief and darkness.

I loved this book. I love every book Gage produces— but this one truly hit different. Grief horror has a way of worming itself into the soul and squeezing at your heart strings. And while Jackson’s character was a whirlwind, I think everyone has a little piece of him somewhere inside, a bit of relatability. Grief will tear you apart. It will rip you at the seams. Gage writes our MC with such poise, honesty, and sincerity. You feel it on every page. Tie grief in with broken mental health and well, you see what it can do. And as someone who battles schizoaffective and panic disorder, Jackson’s mental warfare was extremely relatable.

This book did its job. It makes you feel.

Whether you have suffered loss or struggle with mental health— this is a powerful read. And let’s talk about the redeeming and absolutely absurd ending.

Will it change your mind?

Amazing novel once again, coming from an incredible author and human being. Thank you for sharing the most vulnerable parts of your writing ability, and I’m absolutely looking forward to whatever is next. A sad yet wonderful ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ star read!

[Milt Theo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gage Greenwood's "In the Eyes, In the Shadows" reads like one of those unending nightmares, where no matter which way you go, there's always something sinister waiting to make you piss your pants, screaming bloody murder. The book's main character, Jackson, can get no break: he's locked in a permanent self-destructive spiral, one fuelled by grief, guilt, and self-hatred. Plus, he's got mental issues: he'd been tormented by panic attacks and horrific hallucinations as a teen, and the attacks seem to be coming back. Plus, his father is dying from cancer. Plus, the business he's working for, a video store, is (predictably) closing down. Plus, his girlfriend is moving out of town. And, to make matters even worse(!), he's being pursued by a supernatural force bent on ruining his entire life.

Greenwood, thankfully, manages to tell his story with great empathy, never judging or implying the poor man is somehow responsible for all this. (Is he though?) The book grows into a meditation on helplessness, punctuated with several awesome scenes of terror - right from the opening sequence, an utterly creepy scene set in the dying father's room, a scene that gave me chills and which, of course, I just had to read twice!

Although I had some trouble relating to Jackson, especially when he starts obsessing with death (tracking down roadkill, and so on), I could easily feel his struggling, his pain, and his despair as he's slowly realizing there's no end in sight to his torments. Admittedly, it took me some time to believe that his actions did make sense, that even his obsession had its own logic and rationality, at least once it became clear what he was really obsessing about. Still, this did not prevent me from enjoying the story; Greenwood's prose builds on emotion -confusion, self-doubt, sorrow- and this made everything feel impressively authentic.

Note that Jackson's journey is quite intense: he feels things deeply, and his struggle is real. The ending is dark, as is proper for a horror book, and eschews any chance of redemption. I appreciated its lingering wrongness - it captured everything beautifully, almost as if the book ended up devouring itself. Highly, very highly recommend!

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy fuck this book is gonna stay with me for a while

[Jamie LeGuier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Grief horror in its finest form. I lost my mum in August of 2024 and so much of this book resonated with me. Losing someone you love with all your heart is so beautifully and tragically depicted by Greenwood. I could feel the constant unease that followed Jackson everywhere and his unraveling as he finally understands his obsession with death after his father dies.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the running for "Best Book of the Year" just for emotional destruction ALONE. Gage Greenwood has been a favorite author of mine since Winter's Myth but he takes it a whole other level here. The depth he achieved was impressive. I cannot recommend this enough. Grief Horror is quickly becoming a favorite subgenre for me. This is buy-worthy folks.

[Trisha Tropiano · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t actually read the synopsis, I went into this totally blind - honestly, it was the author and the stunning cover that made me want to read it. So I did not realize I was in for such an emotional rollercoaster! Everything about this book was perfect. I could feel Jackson’s pain as he cared for, then grieved the loss of his father. Then Lexia showed up, and I felt his terror. Gage does such a great job of putting you into the mind of each character. The story is beautiful, devastating, and horrifying all at once - highly recommend, but grab a box of tissue! This one is sure to stick with you for a long time.

[Jordan Gregoire · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have no words. This book literally stole the words out of my brain. In the BEST way. I can’t even explain it. It’s original, completely unexpected, phenomenal & terrifying AND just GO read it (releases 10/31)! This one will be with me for quite a while.🤯

Jackson takes care of his father as he is dying from cancer, and on his death bed he sees a dark figure that inexplicably brings him comfort as he watches his father take his last painstaking breaths, noticing something beautifully captivating dancing around while he stares into his dads lifeless irises…🫣
Jackson then becomes infatuated with trying to get back that fleeting feeling he felt by pursuing dead things (yes, those things we never want to see on the side of the road 😩) and taking pictures of them on a mission to connect dots he can’t even explain…until one night he stumbles upon something far more than just a dead animal.

Thank you so much Gage for the ARC of this exquisite tale. I absolutely devoured Bunker Dogs, but this just may be up there with one of my all time favorite horror novels yet.

[Kaela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, Gage, for the opportunity to read this ARC! It releases October 31st, so be sure to order a copy today! 
 
Jackson has had his share of hardships in his life. From the crippling panic attacks he had as a teenager to taking care of his father on his deathbed, he is no stranger to sadness. After his father's death triggers one of his panic attacks, Jackson can't tell what's real anymore. As his sanity begins to slip, he struggles to find the truth behind the figure haunting him all while trying to stay alive.
 
This is a beautiful story about grief, loss, and the struggle to keep your head above the water despite it all. Jackson's grief and terror are palpable throughout the story, and you feel as though you're right there with him experiencing it all. The writing in this story is beautiful and a perfect example of grief horror at its finest. All of the characters are well developed and feel like real people, and the dialogue is believeable and flows naturally. I loved everything about this book and couldn't read it fast enough. 
 
I feel so lucky to be alive in the timeline where Gage is writing books. He is one of my favorite authors, and I can't wait to see what he writes next!

[Ali O · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the Eyes In the Shadows by Gage Greenwood
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This is a very interesting grief-horror story that deals with death and loss, and what that can look like for a person. This book is very emotional and intense, filled with grief and darkness.
Jackson took care of his dying father and saw something in his eyes when he died and this death was almost more than Jackson could handle. Shortly after his father’s death, Jackson encounters another dead body. This dead person begins to interact with him in a scary and unwelcome way. Jackson takes on the mission to find out more about Lexia’s life, when she was alive, to see why she’s trying to hurt him now in her death.
The story is very well written and deep!

Thank you to Gage Greenwood for an arc of this excellent book.

*It’s out now, so grab your copy!!*

[Bradford · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to thank the author for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Holy crap that was hard to read in the best way possible. I had to take some breaks while reading this one.

I may have to crown Gage Greenwood as the king of grief horror! He does it so well, and his stories always get to me.

In this book, every character, every interaction they have, every emotion feels real, natural, and genuine. This demonstrates how talented the author is at writing and storytelling.

This was rough to read emotionally as the author does an excellent job of having the reader "go through it" with the characters in this book. Make sure you're in a good headspace before diving into this one.

This was super creepy, the visuals were excellent, and I can't say enough about the well-written characters.

This was another punch in the gut/feels from Gage Greenwood, and I loved every second of it. 5⭐️s, without a doubt.

[Kate | Date With A Thriller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually finished this a couple of days ago but had to let it marinate in my mind before I wrote this review. 😮‍💨

This is true grief horror, my book peeps! This book takes the profound loss of a loved one to a very dark and extremely creepy place…and it will make you question what is real and what is not. Highly recommend this one!!! 👏

Gage Greenwood, this was amazing - thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to read the eARC in exchange for my honest review! ❤️

P.S. I forgive you for making me cry with that dedication, sir! 😭🫶

TW: Suicide/attempted suicide, animal death

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for providing a review copy.

Oh man, where to start? This book devastated me, just picked away at little scabs. Most importantly, it made me FEEL something. I have always loved Gage's books, the way he writes. This book sees that already impactful writing at full force, packing gut punch after throat punch. Having experienced the death of my father (whom I had a complicated relationship with) and the loss of the ability to do the one sport I loved more than anything, I related to Jackson on a visceral level. This book is beautiful and haunting and heartbreaking and I loved it so much. 5 stars

[Steven Francis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well that was dark, depressing and grief stricken. My first experience with Gage Greenwood and this one is a gut punch. I’m a little hesitant with modern horror authors because I like what I like. The more I branch out, the more gold I find.

[Kelsey Tenbrook · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me feel a type of sadness and despair that I haven’t felt in a while. The heartbreak. Feeling of going crazy because you lost the one person that held you down to this world. This book moves you and then the ending just punches you in the gut. A beautiful heartbreaking story.

[Joel Ryken · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was going to give this books 4 stars for the ending alone but had to stick with 3 just because of the rest of it. Overall it was just decent certain parts were pretty meh and showing the entity or its forms early on kinda had me feel more like it was a monster fight rather than a haunting etc. it for sure was a slow burn and at times almost frustrating not in a good way with how erratic the story goes not knowing where it’s going but I think that’s the point as it follows Jackson’s mental state. For the most part I wasn’t overwhelmingly engrossed in the book except for certain parts like the end and when he started becoming obsessed with death. The whole lexia thing was just like what? I was sort of pulled back as it seemed just like a cheaper narrative. The last 2 chapter pulls it all together beautifully though and the words and message of it all I loved.

[Alix · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars, no I am not okay

Jackson has everything and nothing going for him. He was a basketball star in high school but had to give it up when he started experiencing panic attacks and hallucinations. He works at a video store (going out of business due to streaming services replacing the need for DVDs) is still dating his high school sweetheart, Amanda, (who may be moving to New York for a job), and caring for his father after he becomes ill with cancer. Jackson must confront his greatest fears and handle his grief - or else be consumed.

Gage is an absolute craftsman, and the way he blends the supernatural with grief is part of what makes his work an automatic "drop everything and read it" for me. Writing summaries is NOT my strong suit, but please go read this if you're a fan of Gage's work.


EDIT TO ADD: I sat with my feelings a little longer and wanted to add to my initial review. This is the review I left on Amazon. Some of it repeats since I used my Goodreads review as my baseline, but I feel more satisfied with the additional analysis I could provide.


Gage is an absolute craftsman, and the way he blends the supernatural with grief is part of what makes his work an automatic "drop everything I'm currently reading and read his book" for me. This book is absolutely in keeping with his style, and so unsettling and haunting.

The protagonist, Jackson, has everything and nothing going for him. He exists in this liminal space between the potential he once had and uncertainty. He's a grown man who's portrayed as somewhat of a high school has-been. A sudden, life-altering incident in his teen years stripped away any hope of becoming the person he thought he could be; it's like he became stuck in that pivotal moment and hasn't been able to find his way out since.

He enters a type of survival mode and exists in a static state for years. It doesn't help that he's surrounded by reminders of the past; reminders of the great high school athlete he once was, his job at the video store being made obsolete by streaming services, and his high school sweetheart who wants to grow beyond her current existence. Jackson continues to drift along like a jellyfish - until another catalyst that forces him to reconcile his past, present, and potential self in order to break through his own mental prison and liminal existence.

I don't think my analysis can do the book justice. It really is a phenomenal piece that deals with the discomfort surrounding death, grief, mental illness, and generally every other uncomfortable yet STRONG emotion you can conceive of.

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

He who courts Death, courts Insanity.

Jackson has always had a complicated relationship with Death, unknowing, though it may be. He's had intense panic attacks and insomnia for most of his life, leading him to quit basketball and withdraw from the things he loved until it was just him and his dying Pops. But the day finally comes, and his dad dies, throwing Jackson on a collision course with the biggest decision he'll ever have to make.

Gage hits hard. There were moments in the first quarter of this story where I had to pause and gather myself because I felt so intensely the grief and loneliness that Jackson was feeling. Gage has a beautiful way of making his readers feel every gut punch of emotion that his characters feel, and you can tell how much passion and care he puts into his writing. It's really something special to read.

This story also gave me some rather interesting anxiety. I read the vast majority of this at night, and I found myself looking over my shoulder expecting to see eyes or figures in the shadows and my heart racing whenever my back was to a particularly shadowy part of my house. The descriptions of the manifestations of Jackson's panic attack were so vivid that I felt like they may well be stalking me, too.

I will say, though, that the pacing was a little off for me. Parts dragged a bit then when the action started, it all took off like a shot. I wanted more of that action and drama spread out throughout the book a little more, so it wasn't such a "flipped switch" moment for me.

I loved this story so much, though. It was raw and emotional, and that ending was something of beauty (despite the actual happenings at the end). In the Eyes in the Shadows is something that I won't be forgetting for a very long time, that's for sure.

[Carrie Shields · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬.

Grief horror has become one of my favorite sub-genes, and I expected to read this book in a few hours. I did not expect to have such a visceral reaction, however, and could only manage a few chapters at a time.

Grief is an odd thing, and it manifests itself in a variety of ways. Jackson is caring for his dying father, managing a rocky relationship with a girlfriend, and coming to terms with the fact that his comfortable dead-end job is coming to an end. He's always suffered from panic attacks, but the stress of all of these combined events brings them back with a vengeance. Was it the panic attack that manifested the strange figure he saw by his father's bed? Did it create the lullaby he heard? And was it responsible for something he saw in his dying father's eyes?

Jackson copes the only way he can--he begins to seek out dead things, beginning with roadkill, to study their eyes, hoping for a glimpse of what he saw in his father's eyes. But then he finds Lexia, a girl who took her life, and she's just as interested in Jackson as he is in her.

As someone who is struggling with the recent loss of a parent and not being there in those final moments, this book got under my skin. I have imagined, hoped, and feared many things. Watching Jackson's descent into madness was like standing outside myself and watching my own rapid spiral. The ending still doesn't seem real. This book is going to stay with me for a long, long time. Thank you so much to the author for this stunning early copy. At the time this review was written, this book was expected to publish on October 31, 2024.

[Alison Faichney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brutal! Man, Greenwood can rip your heart out with his words like few others can. This book hits hard and deep. It’s definitely more of a slow burn in the beginning, but when it picks up momentum it feels like you’re experiencing the world’s slowest car crash. You know what’s happening and can do nothing but feel it. This is grief horror at its finest.

In In the Eyes, in the Shadows we follow Jackson whose father is dying. Jackson has already had a difficult life with his mother leaving him and other traumatic experiences. When his father dies he begins to spiral and death seems to encompass everything.

This entire book is one where you’ll be grappling with trying to decide if you’re reading a man’s descent into lunacy, or is something more sinister occurring.

This is a *dark* read and one that will stick with you. As usual, Greenwood’s writing is fantastic and he really nails these vivid scenes. The ending is raw and gut wrenching but it felt right and actually increased my rating of the book. The characters are well written and you’ll be rooting for almost all of them even as you feel the despair start to overtake the book.

Anyways, another fantastic Greenwood book. He seems to improve with each new book and I can’t wait to read what he comes out with next. Definitely recommend.

[Angel Medina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just when I thought Levitating: Stories made me cry, this one made me cry even more. I'm reminded of why I admire Gage as an author. This was one hell of a read as it explores how a person handles losing their father. Despite everything falling apart around Jackson, Gage shows why he's an empath. While everything is falling apart for Jackson, the narrator never blames Jackson for his misfortunes, even though he could have.

This is a very dark read, so check your triggers folks. The ending will make you ball out tears. I mean damn, this story hits deep. This is easily one of the best books I've read this year. This is grief horror to level ten. Just make sure you grab a box of tissues because this one will make you cry. By the way, you won't have to wait until the end either, the beginning is just as impactful.

Gage, damn you. You made me cry and made me think about how I handle my own grief. Despite that, I award you 5-stars. Again this is why he gets the hype he gets. Well done!

[Dorian's Pictures · Rating 5 out of 5]

Come home to your own haunted heart.

I want to start by saying I usually finish a book in 1-3 days. After 100 pages I had to take a break from this one. I’ve read 242 books this year and never needed time to let anything settle. I finished four days ago and again needed time, for me that means of all the books I’ve experienced in 2024 this one is the summit.

This story moved me in ways few may understand. I have read grief horror before but none that felt as if I was pouring my own emptiness and struggles into the read. A flawed main character, a powerful loss and a very real danger are awaiting you here. Gage has surpassed King’s Bag of Bones on my list with this entry into his arsenal.

What if you lost everything that held you to this world in a short time? What if all you found afterward were things that did not?

Delve into grief, longing, guilt and creeping terror as Jackson struggles to stay tethered to his dying world. Is it madness from grief? Dark reality? Beware, sometimes you find the wrong links and they cannot be unbroken.

[Jennifer Leonard · Rating 3 out of 5]

After hearing over and over again from folks in an online group I follow that this was devastating, haunting, and their book of the year; I caved. I can see how for some this might be all of those things, but it didn't quite hit any of of those marks for me. Everything here topped out at "fine" for me; the writing, the characters, the plot. I was really intrigued by the concept, and I felt for our MC, but there were lots of threads that just didn't seem to tether to the main plot. I really felt like the gf was a two dimensional, inconsequential character without nearly enough impact for the role she was supposed to play here.

I love the idea of being haunted by death though, and someone mentioned there might be a follow up story to this one? I would be interested in reading it still, and I think for the right audience, this is exactly what I heard advertised. Unfortunately, I'm just not that audience. A good story, but not quite what I went into it looking for.

[Svea Neitzke · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the Eyes, In the Shadows by Gage Greenwood is the most emotionally intense book I've read this year. Jackson is being haunted by more than just spirits, especially a young woman named Lexia. He is haunted by his past with his dying father, being forced to relive memories and experience PTSD. Through twisted ways, Lexia shows him what it means to confront his demons. Everything in this book is so well crafted. Every word, image, and thought empathizes Jackson's grief.

There is a passage in that struck me. I'm not sure if I can copy it, but you'll know it when you read it. Basically, we learn to acknowledge that the traits we hated in someone, are the most beautiful. We crave their annoying habits when they're gone. It made me reflect on all of the family I have lost. It brought tears to my eyes. This book brought me more peace in my life.

[P.D. Alleva · Rating 5 out of 5]

I dare say, even though we are not at the end of the year and there’s more than a few books to read before the year ends, I’d have to say that In the eyes In the shadows is more than likely going to be the top book I read this year. At the moment it’s going head to head with, Chasing the bogeyman.

In the eyes In the shadows is a slow descent into madness. Filled with ghosts, and malevolent spirits that add an extra layer to the theme of death and dying. The psychology behind the story is brilliant and spot on and the manner in which the MC, Jackson deteriorates, both mentally and physically grips the reader in its talons and refuses to let go. If you’re trying to decide which books to read before the end of the year, you definitely need to put this book on your list. It is a must read book. Kudos to Gage Greenwood for penning such a fantastic novel.

[Ashley Protus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Plot Synopsis:
In In the Eyes in the Shadows, Gage Greenwood masterfully crafts a chilling tale that weaves fear, sorrow, and eerie beauty into an unforgettable story. As darkness creeps closer, both literal and emotional, readers are drawn into a world where heartbreak and terror intertwine.

Review:
If Gage Greenwood already a must-read author for me, this book would have cemented it. The atmosphere is unsettling, the story deeply eerie, and the emotional weight undeniable. Greenwood’s words pull you in, immersing you in a narrative that leaves you both scared and profoundly moved. The ending was devastatingly gut wrenching , bringing tears to my eyes—a testament to Greenwood’s ability to balance terror with raw, human emotion. To feel fear and heartbreak simultaneously is rare, but this book delivers that in spades. A solid 5 out of 5 sta

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hold onto your hats. This one's a doozy.
This book is grief horror in its most thought-provoking, terrifying, and profound form. I was hooked by the summary of this, and I couldn't imagine a scenario that I wouldn't enjoy it based on that alone. I most definitely wasn't disappointed.
Gage has a way with words. I will tell you, go into this one expecting to be emotionally shredded. Read every word like it's your last because it might actually be.

This story follows Jackson who just lost his father to cancer and he doesn't cope well. Everything starts falling apart around him and it has you questioning what is truly happening until the very end.

I have to say, this one is in my top 5 faves for the year so far. Fantastic job 👌

[ChanaReadsHorror · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was Gage at his best.
After losing his father to cancer, Jackson must face his new life. The job he loves at the video store is slipping away as it is getting ready to close its door and his girlfriend may be moving away for a new job. As he struggles to find something to hold on to, he becomes more and more distant with himself.
As he tries to find himself he does this by looking into the eyes of animals who have passed away. While on the way home one night he stubbles across Lexia, a girl who took her own life, and things begin to spiral out of control for Jackson. He knows he is being haunted, but by what? Lexia, his father, the shadows from his past, or even death and dying itself.
This is one you will not want to pass up.

[Angela Brewington · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was gifted this ARC. It took me a lot longer than normal to get through this read because of stuff going on at home. Not sure if it’s SAD or things just suck right now, but I made it through. Feeling numb through the past couple weeks, this book made me feel something this weekend. I got about halfway by Sunday and I didn’t want to put it down at that point. The only reason I didn’t finish it was because I had to work. The gasp that I gasped on that last page… 🫠 I kept going back and forth on whether or not I knew what was happening, and I most definitely did not see that coming. As someone that has struggled with her mental health due for as long as I can remember because of family trauma I felt for Jackson. 5⭐️ read for me.

[Alison Hodyna · Rating 5 out of 5]

The thing I appreciate most about Gage’s books is you can feel how personal they are. The dialogue between characters, the thoughts they have, the decisions they make, even as questionable as they might seem sometimes, they’re natural. They’re relatable. It can sometimes feel like you’re reading a retelling of actual events and conversations.

In the Eyes, In the Shadows managed to be both terrifying and devastating. It’s peak grief horror with an incredibly unsettling supernatural element. In between all the heart-pounding scenes, it tackles truths we don’t like to talk about, such as death, mental illness, and the effects these things have on everyone they touch. This is my favorite work of Gage’s to date.