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Behind the Shadows
Conjuring ten haunting tales to bring a shiver down your spine, author Ray Van Horn, Jr. shares a mixtape blend reminiscent of EC Comics and 80s unsettling narratives to invade your dreams and keep you up at night.
"Ray Van Horn, Jr.'s obvious love for the movies, music, comics, and -yes- the horror fiction of the 1980s bleeds through every page of BEHIND THE SHADOWS. Ray's got the good stuff here, folks." - Dayton Ward, New York Times best-selling author, Star Trek universe
"Like the great EC comics of yore, BEHIND THE SHADOWS is a hell of a horror anthology - literally! It's gruesome, terrifying, and tinged with a punk attitude. What else do you need, and why are still reading this testimonial? Buy this damn book!" -Josh Eiserike, author THE VERY FINAL LAST GIRLS; CHARM CITY; G.I. RENEGADES
"You wanna know what's BEHIND THE SHADOWS? Ray Van Horn, Jr. is more than happy to show you. Fractured families and frothing creatures. Endless nights and pulsing darkness. It's a nostalgic ride back to the horrors of your youth. Logic isn't always logical, and the horrors don't always end when the lights come on. But it's a damn good time!" -John Boden, author SNARL and THE ETIQUETTE OF BOOBY TRAPS
"Ray Van Horn, Jr.'s obvious love for the movies, music, comics, and -yes- the horror fiction of the 1980s bleeds through every page of BEHIND THE SHADOWS. Ray's got the good stuff here, folks." - Dayton Ward, New York Times best-selling author, Star Trek universe
"Like the great EC comics of yore, BEHIND THE SHADOWS is a hell of a horror anthology - literally! It's gruesome, terrifying, and tinged with a punk attitude. What else do you need, and why are still reading this testimonial? Buy this damn book!" -Josh Eiserike, author THE VERY FINAL LAST GIRLS; CHARM CITY; G.I. RENEGADES
"You wanna know what's BEHIND THE SHADOWS? Ray Van Horn, Jr. is more than happy to show you. Fractured families and frothing creatures. Endless nights and pulsing darkness. It's a nostalgic ride back to the horrors of your youth. Logic isn't always logical, and the horrors don't always end when the lights come on. But it's a damn good time!" -John Boden, author SNARL and THE ETIQUETTE OF BOOBY TRAPS
175 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 26, 2024
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
November 1, 2025
Ray Van Horn, Jr.’s Behind the Shadows is a ten-story horror anthology published in 2024. As someone who doesn’t often read horror anymore, I bought this for my niece but couldn’t resist reading it myself first—especially since Ray and I recently connected on Substack and share several interests. Reviewing a book by someone you know, even casually, is always a delicate task. I genuinely wanted to love it. While some stories stood out, others left me wishing for tighter execution and editorial polish.
The Darkest Side of Jericho
A ghost-hunting couple meets a grim fate at the Jericho Covered Bridge. The premise is promising, but the story suffers from overwritten narrative and a lack of suspense. The final twist—revealed via YouTube commentary feels abrupt and emotionally unsatisfying.
The Carnelian Pick
A demonic guitar pick drives a washed-up rockstar to murder and musical rebirth. While the concept is intriguing, the execution falters. The pick’s colour description (orange with vanilla swirls) contradicts the actual hue of carnelian, and the horror elements feel muted.
Death of the “S”
A supernatural invasion of bloodthirsty zombies bombs the parking lot at a shopping center and invades a comic book shop on the day of “The Death of Superman” release. The story requires a generous suspension of disbelief, but it delivers more horror than others in the collection. The prose leans on alliteration and flowery language, which occasionally distracts from the tension.
Behind the Shadows
A werewolf grapples with guilt and transformation under a sturgeon moon. This story is compact, atmospheric, and emotionally resonant. The tension between Kent and Jackson is palpable, and the ending leaves a haunting impression.
Secrets
A slow-burning tale about a father and daughter hiding to protect a monstrous mother. The buildup is strong, but the ending feels rushed and confusing. A mislabelling of PTSD as “Post-Traumatic Syndrome Disorder” detracts from the credibility.
Deepfake
A brief, abstract meditation on livestream violence. While the concept is timely, the story lacks clarity and emotional impact.
Vladana’s Daughters
Dracula’s widow builds a coven in Victorian London. The setting is richly imagined, but the prose is overly ornate, and the horror veers into gratuitous territory. Historical anachronisms (like “first dibs”) and syntax issues weaken the narrative.
Backdoor Breaker
A baseball thriller with ghostly revenge. This is one of the strongest entries—well-paced, morally complex, and vividly written. Van Horn’s love of the sport shines through, and the supernatural twist lands with impact.
Lunch Break
A chilling morality tale about addiction and cannibalism. The pacing is tight, the horror visceral, and the ending unforgettable.
The Grinning Soul
A music-obsessed man spirals into infidelity and horror. While the story is well-structured, referencing David Bowie within the setting of a serial killer felt jarring and personally off-putting.
Van Horn, Jr. is a talented scene-setter with a vivid imagination and a deep well of pop culture nostalgia. His love of music, comics, baseball, and horror permeates the collection. However, many stories would benefit from editorial tightening—particularly in syntax, pacing, and word choice. The prose often leans toward floridness, which can dilute tension and clarity. As a veteran journalist, I expected more polish, but his raw creativity is undeniable.
While Behind the Shadows contains moments of genuine horror and emotional depth, its brand of horror—at times graphic and extreme—wasn’t quite for me. I won’t be gifting this to my niece, but I do recognize Van Horn Jr.’s potential and passion. With refinement, his future work could truly shine.
The Darkest Side of Jericho
A ghost-hunting couple meets a grim fate at the Jericho Covered Bridge. The premise is promising, but the story suffers from overwritten narrative and a lack of suspense. The final twist—revealed via YouTube commentary feels abrupt and emotionally unsatisfying.
The Carnelian Pick
A demonic guitar pick drives a washed-up rockstar to murder and musical rebirth. While the concept is intriguing, the execution falters. The pick’s colour description (orange with vanilla swirls) contradicts the actual hue of carnelian, and the horror elements feel muted.
Death of the “S”
A supernatural invasion of bloodthirsty zombies bombs the parking lot at a shopping center and invades a comic book shop on the day of “The Death of Superman” release. The story requires a generous suspension of disbelief, but it delivers more horror than others in the collection. The prose leans on alliteration and flowery language, which occasionally distracts from the tension.
Behind the Shadows
A werewolf grapples with guilt and transformation under a sturgeon moon. This story is compact, atmospheric, and emotionally resonant. The tension between Kent and Jackson is palpable, and the ending leaves a haunting impression.
Secrets
A slow-burning tale about a father and daughter hiding to protect a monstrous mother. The buildup is strong, but the ending feels rushed and confusing. A mislabelling of PTSD as “Post-Traumatic Syndrome Disorder” detracts from the credibility.
Deepfake
A brief, abstract meditation on livestream violence. While the concept is timely, the story lacks clarity and emotional impact.
Vladana’s Daughters
Dracula’s widow builds a coven in Victorian London. The setting is richly imagined, but the prose is overly ornate, and the horror veers into gratuitous territory. Historical anachronisms (like “first dibs”) and syntax issues weaken the narrative.
Backdoor Breaker
A baseball thriller with ghostly revenge. This is one of the strongest entries—well-paced, morally complex, and vividly written. Van Horn’s love of the sport shines through, and the supernatural twist lands with impact.
Lunch Break
A chilling morality tale about addiction and cannibalism. The pacing is tight, the horror visceral, and the ending unforgettable.
The Grinning Soul
A music-obsessed man spirals into infidelity and horror. While the story is well-structured, referencing David Bowie within the setting of a serial killer felt jarring and personally off-putting.
Van Horn, Jr. is a talented scene-setter with a vivid imagination and a deep well of pop culture nostalgia. His love of music, comics, baseball, and horror permeates the collection. However, many stories would benefit from editorial tightening—particularly in syntax, pacing, and word choice. The prose often leans toward floridness, which can dilute tension and clarity. As a veteran journalist, I expected more polish, but his raw creativity is undeniable.
While Behind the Shadows contains moments of genuine horror and emotional depth, its brand of horror—at times graphic and extreme—wasn’t quite for me. I won’t be gifting this to my niece, but I do recognize Van Horn Jr.’s potential and passion. With refinement, his future work could truly shine.
Displaying 1 of 1 review