The chill intensified, and Archer opened his eyes to see the candles extinguish one by one …
PSI – Paranormal Surveyance Ireland – are in deep water. When the operators of a luxury cruise ship ask for their help with a series of unexplainable events, Raven and the team are hopeful that this case, for once, won’t endanger their lives.
As they try to blend in with the wealthy passengers, it quickly becomes clear to Davis, Fionn and the others that there is more lurking in the shadows than they've realised. With the eerie encounters escalating and rising tensions threatening to tear the team apart, time is running out for PSI. Can they save the ship – and themselves – before it’s too late?
I received an eARC from the publishers in exchange for an honest review. It has not affected my opinions.
4.5 stars
WHERE THE SHADOWS HIDE is another brilliant instalment to this series that delves into trust and chronic illness.
The motivations of the two ghostly actors in this tale are very different to in the previous instalments. I really liked how this made it feel different (as well as the very different setting!) In some respects, it's moving away from some of the more classic paranormal ghost tropes, really letting Amy Clarkin put her own stamp on this genre.
I loved Éabha's storyline around chronic illness and fatigue and learning to manage your new, variable limits. As someone who's has two major flare ups in as many years, it's something I've also had to learn and this book so perfectly captures the frustration and doubt in yourself that suddenly finding that showering is so much effort can bring. But it also explores how it's not the end of the world and you are still you.
I really wanted to shake Archer at times over how he treated Éabha. He doubts her, tries to hold her back. It's all coming from a place of caring - and Amy Clarkin does a great job of letting you understand why he does this, even if he's very wrong in how he tries to care for her. It takes a lot of skill to present both sides in an understanding way while also showing how one is the wrong approach to take.
I also loved the way this played out for their relationship - it's a route I so rarely see in books but it is an important and realistic one I think. It doesn't gloss over what happened or what it means for trust. But it also resolves positively without being unrealistic, which is such a good example for readers.
There has also, after three books, been such growth in the characters. It's most evident in Raven, who is the most emotionally stable one during all the relationship strains that Éabha and Archer's troubles bring for the whole group. It was so nice to see Raven hold onto that growth and use it to help others.