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Behind the Shadows: Standalone Pitch-Black Dark Stalker Romance | Psychological Romantic Thriller of Obsession & Betrayal
Some of us were born into darkness. Others were shackled.
They drugged me.
Chained me.
Tore apart my mind until the pieces didn’t fit anymore.
Then they gave me a name.
Cleaner. K!ller. Son.
Monster.
Told me the blood on my hands was hers.
Then they smiled and made me k!ll again.
And they told me she never existed.
But I’ve seen her.
In dreams. In flashes of red hair and blood.
And now she’s real—flesh and bone and terrified eyes.
But they made one mistake.
They didn’t bury her deep enough.
Now she’s back.
And even if she doesn’t remember me—
My obsession remembers everything.
She runs. I follow.
She screams. I savor it.
She looks at me like a stranger.
And I try not to laugh.
Because I know her body better than she does.
I’ve watched her sleep. Touched her skin. Marked her without mercy.
And now that I’ve found her again…
There’s no version of this where I let her go.
You don’t have to love me, little ghost.
Lock the door. Scream my name. Run.
I’ve never needed permission to take what’s mine.
**Dear readers, this dark romance contains multiple storylines, and many exciting moving pieces that come together in one satisfying and unexpected HEA. If you enjoy a single storyline, this book might not be for you.
BEHIND THE SHADOWS is Kip and Holland’s story—a standalone pitch-black stalker romance and psychological romantic thriller of obsession, betrayal, and deadly lies. Perfect for readers who crave dark romance with a morally gray antihero, a forbidden captor/captive love story, and a heroine fighting to survive a monster who can’t be saved. No cheating, no third-act breakup, and includes an HEA. Check author’s website for TW/CW.
***While not required, it’s highly recommended to read the duet In the Shadows and Back in the Shadows first.
They drugged me.
Chained me.
Tore apart my mind until the pieces didn’t fit anymore.
Then they gave me a name.
Cleaner. K!ller. Son.
Monster.
Told me the blood on my hands was hers.
Then they smiled and made me k!ll again.
And they told me she never existed.
But I’ve seen her.
In dreams. In flashes of red hair and blood.
And now she’s real—flesh and bone and terrified eyes.
But they made one mistake.
They didn’t bury her deep enough.
Now she’s back.
And even if she doesn’t remember me—
My obsession remembers everything.
She runs. I follow.
She screams. I savor it.
She looks at me like a stranger.
And I try not to laugh.
Because I know her body better than she does.
I’ve watched her sleep. Touched her skin. Marked her without mercy.
And now that I’ve found her again…
There’s no version of this where I let her go.
You don’t have to love me, little ghost.
Lock the door. Scream my name. Run.
I’ve never needed permission to take what’s mine.
**Dear readers, this dark romance contains multiple storylines, and many exciting moving pieces that come together in one satisfying and unexpected HEA. If you enjoy a single storyline, this book might not be for you.
BEHIND THE SHADOWS is Kip and Holland’s story—a standalone pitch-black stalker romance and psychological romantic thriller of obsession, betrayal, and deadly lies. Perfect for readers who crave dark romance with a morally gray antihero, a forbidden captor/captive love story, and a heroine fighting to survive a monster who can’t be saved. No cheating, no third-act breakup, and includes an HEA. Check author’s website for TW/CW.
***While not required, it’s highly recommended to read the duet In the Shadows and Back in the Shadows first.
406 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 29, 2025
About the author
J.A. Owenby
38 books995 followersInternational bestselling author J.A. Owenby grew up in a small backwoods town in Arkansas, where she learned how to swear like a sailor and spot water moccasins skimming across the lake.
She finally ditched the south and headed to Oregon. The first winter there, she was literally blown away a few times by ninety-mile-an-hour winds and storms that rolled in off the ocean.
Eventually, she longed for quiet and headed up to snowier pastures. She now resides in Washington state with her hot nerdy husband and cat, Chloe (who frequently encourages her to drink). She spends her days coming up with ways to torture characters in a way that either makes you want to throw your book down a flight of stairs or sob hysterically into a pillow.
J.A. Owenby writes new adult and romantic thriller novels. Her books ooze with emotion, angst, and twists that will leave you breathless. Having battled her own demons, she’s not afraid to tackle the secrets women are forced to hide. After all, the road to love is paved in the dark.
Her friends describe her as delightfully twisted. She loves fan mail and wine. Please send her all the wine.
She finally ditched the south and headed to Oregon. The first winter there, she was literally blown away a few times by ninety-mile-an-hour winds and storms that rolled in off the ocean.
Eventually, she longed for quiet and headed up to snowier pastures. She now resides in Washington state with her hot nerdy husband and cat, Chloe (who frequently encourages her to drink). She spends her days coming up with ways to torture characters in a way that either makes you want to throw your book down a flight of stairs or sob hysterically into a pillow.
J.A. Owenby writes new adult and romantic thriller novels. Her books ooze with emotion, angst, and twists that will leave you breathless. Having battled her own demons, she’s not afraid to tackle the secrets women are forced to hide. After all, the road to love is paved in the dark.
Her friends describe her as delightfully twisted. She loves fan mail and wine. Please send her all the wine.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 30, 2025
Rating: 4/5
Spice: 4/5
Plot: 5/5
Primary Genre: Dark Romance
Blurb:
Some of us were born into darkness. Others were shackled. They drugged me. Chained me. Tore apart my mind until the pieces didn’t fit anymore. Then they gave me a name. Cleaner. K!ller. Son. Monster. Told me the blood on my hands was hers. Then they smiled and made me k!ll again. And they told me she never existed. But I’ve seen her. In dreams. In flashes of red hair and blood. And now she’s real—flesh and bone and terrified eyes. But they made one mistake. They didn’t bury her deep enough. Now she’s back. And even if she doesn’t remember me—My obsession remembers everything. She runs. I follow. She screams. I savor it. She looks at me like a stranger. And I try not to laugh. Because I know her body better than she does. I’ve watched her sleep. Touched her skin. Marked her without mercy. And now that I’ve found her again…There’s no version of this where I let her go.
You don’t have to love me, little ghost.
Lock the door. Scream my name. Run.
I’ve never needed permission to take what’s mine.
**Dear readers, this dark romance contains multiple storylines, and many exciting moving pieces that come together in one satisfying and unexpected HEA. If you enjoy a single storyline, this book might not be for you.
BEHIND THE SHADOWS is Kip and Holland’s story—a standalone pitch-black stalker romance and psychological romantic thriller of obsession, betrayal, and deadly lies. Perfect for readers who crave dark romance with a morally gray antihero, a forbidden captor/captive love story, and a heroine fighting to survive a monster who can’t be saved. No cheating, no third-act breakup, and includes an HEA. Check author’s website for TW/CW.
***While not required, it’s highly recommended to read the duet In the Shadows and Back in the Shadows first.
My Thoughts:
For starters, I’m kind of obsessed with this series so I highly recommend that you read the first two books when you have the time. They don’t HAVE to be read to understand this book but you’ll enjoy it, like, EXTRA if you read them. There are a ton of twists and turns in the ongoing Shadows storyline that are quite entertaining. I loved getting to know Kip better and his love interest/our FMC is a great character. Up front trigger warning, there are some deep dives into child abuse trauma and child sex trafficking/child sexual abuse trauma. This might sound kind of cheesy but Kip and Holland feel meant to be. They’ve got a ying and yang vibe about them that you’ll love. The storyline/thriller vibe of this book is amazing. If you don’t like smut and want to skip over it, you’ll still have an incredible story to read here. There was some hinting around about their friend Dope so I’m wondering if he might get his own book too? I really hope so because he’s quite the mystery. Anyways, as usual, another J.A. Owenby book that I love and I think ya’ll will too. Check it out!
More reviews at www.introvertsbookclub.com
Spice: 4/5
Plot: 5/5
Primary Genre: Dark Romance
Blurb:
Some of us were born into darkness. Others were shackled. They drugged me. Chained me. Tore apart my mind until the pieces didn’t fit anymore. Then they gave me a name. Cleaner. K!ller. Son. Monster. Told me the blood on my hands was hers. Then they smiled and made me k!ll again. And they told me she never existed. But I’ve seen her. In dreams. In flashes of red hair and blood. And now she’s real—flesh and bone and terrified eyes. But they made one mistake. They didn’t bury her deep enough. Now she’s back. And even if she doesn’t remember me—My obsession remembers everything. She runs. I follow. She screams. I savor it. She looks at me like a stranger. And I try not to laugh. Because I know her body better than she does. I’ve watched her sleep. Touched her skin. Marked her without mercy. And now that I’ve found her again…There’s no version of this where I let her go.
You don’t have to love me, little ghost.
Lock the door. Scream my name. Run.
I’ve never needed permission to take what’s mine.
**Dear readers, this dark romance contains multiple storylines, and many exciting moving pieces that come together in one satisfying and unexpected HEA. If you enjoy a single storyline, this book might not be for you.
BEHIND THE SHADOWS is Kip and Holland’s story—a standalone pitch-black stalker romance and psychological romantic thriller of obsession, betrayal, and deadly lies. Perfect for readers who crave dark romance with a morally gray antihero, a forbidden captor/captive love story, and a heroine fighting to survive a monster who can’t be saved. No cheating, no third-act breakup, and includes an HEA. Check author’s website for TW/CW.
***While not required, it’s highly recommended to read the duet In the Shadows and Back in the Shadows first.
My Thoughts:
For starters, I’m kind of obsessed with this series so I highly recommend that you read the first two books when you have the time. They don’t HAVE to be read to understand this book but you’ll enjoy it, like, EXTRA if you read them. There are a ton of twists and turns in the ongoing Shadows storyline that are quite entertaining. I loved getting to know Kip better and his love interest/our FMC is a great character. Up front trigger warning, there are some deep dives into child abuse trauma and child sex trafficking/child sexual abuse trauma. This might sound kind of cheesy but Kip and Holland feel meant to be. They’ve got a ying and yang vibe about them that you’ll love. The storyline/thriller vibe of this book is amazing. If you don’t like smut and want to skip over it, you’ll still have an incredible story to read here. There was some hinting around about their friend Dope so I’m wondering if he might get his own book too? I really hope so because he’s quite the mystery. Anyways, as usual, another J.A. Owenby book that I love and I think ya’ll will too. Check it out!
More reviews at www.introvertsbookclub.com
October 26, 2025
Holy shit!! This book….Oh my! This series one dark and twisted mess and I am totally addicted. The first two books of this series center around Death. A vigilante serial killer who seeks justice for women and children feeding his darkness. This book however is centered around Kip, aka The Cleaner, aka Death’s best friend. However this book takes a deeper dive into the history behind Kip and how Safe Horizon came to be. But as the story continues the Devil you don’t know, makes a return and some secrets are revealed and let me tell you they are a doozy. The Pied Piper is playing a tune and is the one in control, more than we could’ve imagined.
In this dark and twisted book of fuck up, Kip’s past comes back to haunt him in the form of a fiery red head. Hollander is running from her past and thinks that Kip is her savior, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact he is the thing that nightmares are made of.
This book is full of darkness and horrors that will leave you reeling long after you’ve finished. These triggers should be considered beforehand and not taken lightly. Some of these triggers include sex trafficking, rape, murder, drug use, physical and psychological abuse, stalking and kidnapping.
Please read books one and two before beginning. Otherwise you’ll to have the most important details of understanding to follow the story along, as it is an intricate web. It is twisted and full of sinister events. It is full of blood and gore. It is scary, intense and deeply disturbing. The abuse is awful and something out of a horror movie. Let’s not forget Kip’s dark sexual nature.
Overall this book and series is highly addictive. I recommend it for all those really dark romance readers out there. It has all the elements of a dark romance. It has hot, sinful dirty sex, murder, sinister characters and twisted minds. I am hooked and can’t wait to see what is next for the three best friends. I have a feeling that Dope’s story may blow our minds.
In this dark and twisted book of fuck up, Kip’s past comes back to haunt him in the form of a fiery red head. Hollander is running from her past and thinks that Kip is her savior, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact he is the thing that nightmares are made of.
This book is full of darkness and horrors that will leave you reeling long after you’ve finished. These triggers should be considered beforehand and not taken lightly. Some of these triggers include sex trafficking, rape, murder, drug use, physical and psychological abuse, stalking and kidnapping.
Please read books one and two before beginning. Otherwise you’ll to have the most important details of understanding to follow the story along, as it is an intricate web. It is twisted and full of sinister events. It is full of blood and gore. It is scary, intense and deeply disturbing. The abuse is awful and something out of a horror movie. Let’s not forget Kip’s dark sexual nature.
Overall this book and series is highly addictive. I recommend it for all those really dark romance readers out there. It has all the elements of a dark romance. It has hot, sinful dirty sex, murder, sinister characters and twisted minds. I am hooked and can’t wait to see what is next for the three best friends. I have a feeling that Dope’s story may blow our minds.
October 30, 2025
ARC Review
4.75⭐️ 4🌶
J.A.Owenby does it again!! Let me tell you something. I have loved The Shadows duet and will continue to recommend them for those who love a dark stalker romance. Behind the Shadows gives the same vibes but more like a different shade of dark. This follows Kip from the duet and Holland and is a standalone but highly recommend reading the duet so you can understand and see more of the characters! I loved this one. I have a newfound appreciation and love for Kip. I knew I already liked him when he was a side character but now I just wanna bundle him up and never let him go.
You can tell Kip's darkness is different in the sense of his own trauma and struggles. Holland is also going through it with her own past that she is trying to get away from. They both are written really well and you can feel the raw and intensity they both feel.
I love that J.A.Owenby continues to write so captivatingly that I cannot help but get dragged back to this dark world. Mind you this is set in modern day but her writing makes me forget it is. I love how the more deeper you get in the book, the more sucked in you get into their darkness.
Thank you so much to the author and The Author Agency for the opportunity to read this as an ARC. All my thoughts and opinions are my own and left voluntarily.
4.75⭐️ 4🌶
J.A.Owenby does it again!! Let me tell you something. I have loved The Shadows duet and will continue to recommend them for those who love a dark stalker romance. Behind the Shadows gives the same vibes but more like a different shade of dark. This follows Kip from the duet and Holland and is a standalone but highly recommend reading the duet so you can understand and see more of the characters! I loved this one. I have a newfound appreciation and love for Kip. I knew I already liked him when he was a side character but now I just wanna bundle him up and never let him go.
You can tell Kip's darkness is different in the sense of his own trauma and struggles. Holland is also going through it with her own past that she is trying to get away from. They both are written really well and you can feel the raw and intensity they both feel.
I love that J.A.Owenby continues to write so captivatingly that I cannot help but get dragged back to this dark world. Mind you this is set in modern day but her writing makes me forget it is. I love how the more deeper you get in the book, the more sucked in you get into their darkness.
Thank you so much to the author and The Author Agency for the opportunity to read this as an ARC. All my thoughts and opinions are my own and left voluntarily.
October 27, 2025
A Monster Who Shouldn’t Be Loved… But You’ll Want Him Anyway
OMG Besties... I am wrecked. 😮💨 "Behind the Shadows" is not your “dark-ish” romance. It’s full-blown dark chaos wrapped in obs€ssion, pain, and the kind of love that should come with a warning label. Holland? My poor broken girl clawing her way through the nightmares they built her in. And Kip? Let’s just say if “morally black antihero” had a face, it’d be his... and you’d still want to touch it. 😏
This book dives deep into trauma, control, and a love that burns instead of heals. There’s sta£king, captivity, and blood play... but also this haunting pull between two people who should’ve destroyed each other but somehow fit in the madness. Just pure, twisted devotion and psychological twists that has you guessing till the end.
My Ratings: ⭐ 4.5/5 ▪︎ 🥵 3.5/5
🥀 For my rating scale breakdown, head over to my Goodreads &/or Amazon profile! 🖤
OMG Besties... I am wrecked. 😮💨 "Behind the Shadows" is not your “dark-ish” romance. It’s full-blown dark chaos wrapped in obs€ssion, pain, and the kind of love that should come with a warning label. Holland? My poor broken girl clawing her way through the nightmares they built her in. And Kip? Let’s just say if “morally black antihero” had a face, it’d be his... and you’d still want to touch it. 😏
This book dives deep into trauma, control, and a love that burns instead of heals. There’s sta£king, captivity, and blood play... but also this haunting pull between two people who should’ve destroyed each other but somehow fit in the madness. Just pure, twisted devotion and psychological twists that has you guessing till the end.
My Ratings: ⭐ 4.5/5 ▪︎ 🥵 3.5/5
🥀 For my rating scale breakdown, head over to my Goodreads &/or Amazon profile! 🖤
October 30, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💀 Dark, Twisted, and Impossible to Look Away From
Behind the Shadows by J.A. Owenby is a pitch-black, psychological dark romance that blurs the line between desire and danger.
Kip isn’t your typical hero — he’s the kind of man who lives in the darkness and drags you right into it with him. Holland, broken but strong, becomes tangled in his world of obsession, secrets, and survival. What follows is a gritty story full of betrayal, trauma, and the kind of chemistry that burns even in the shadows.
Owenby doesn’t hold back. The writing is sharp and immersive, and the characters are hauntingly real. This isn’t a sweet love story — it’s an emotional descent that tests the boundaries of trust and forgiveness.
⚠️ Trigger Warnings: violence, captivity, psychological manipulation, trauma, stalking, blood play, and other extreme content.
If you crave dark, emotional, morally gray romance where redemption is earned in blood and pain — this book is for you.
Behind the Shadows by J.A. Owenby is a pitch-black, psychological dark romance that blurs the line between desire and danger.
Kip isn’t your typical hero — he’s the kind of man who lives in the darkness and drags you right into it with him. Holland, broken but strong, becomes tangled in his world of obsession, secrets, and survival. What follows is a gritty story full of betrayal, trauma, and the kind of chemistry that burns even in the shadows.
Owenby doesn’t hold back. The writing is sharp and immersive, and the characters are hauntingly real. This isn’t a sweet love story — it’s an emotional descent that tests the boundaries of trust and forgiveness.
⚠️ Trigger Warnings: violence, captivity, psychological manipulation, trauma, stalking, blood play, and other extreme content.
If you crave dark, emotional, morally gray romance where redemption is earned in blood and pain — this book is for you.
October 27, 2025
Leg shakingly twisted and delicious
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
I will never get over J. A’s books. They always leave me reeling!! This one was no exception!
Kips origin story is a horror filled twisted masterpiece with some romance and delicious leg shaking spice mixed in.
Kip is completely unhinged, completely obsessed with the pied piper and completely in love with Holland (in his own sick and twisted way)
I absolutely will never look at a cross the same again
FQOTB: “I’m working tonight to keep myself busy and not break into your home and watch you sleep” - Kip
😂😂😂😂 he’s so unhinged I love it.
SFQOTB: “If we burn, we burn together” - Holland
I’m literally so obsessed with this book.
Top 8 best reads this fall!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
I will never get over J. A’s books. They always leave me reeling!! This one was no exception!
Kips origin story is a horror filled twisted masterpiece with some romance and delicious leg shaking spice mixed in.
Kip is completely unhinged, completely obsessed with the pied piper and completely in love with Holland (in his own sick and twisted way)
I absolutely will never look at a cross the same again
FQOTB: “I’m working tonight to keep myself busy and not break into your home and watch you sleep” - Kip
😂😂😂😂 he’s so unhinged I love it.
SFQOTB: “If we burn, we burn together” - Holland
I’m literally so obsessed with this book.
Top 8 best reads this fall!!
October 29, 2025
Hot, brutal and addictive!
This series is pretty intense, definitely not for the faint of heart. Please heed the trigger warnings, then if it's right for you,dive into the danger and intrigue. This series is the darkest offering from J. A. Owenby. There are individual love stories with an underlying long term plot. Hot, brutal and addictive!
This series is pretty intense, definitely not for the faint of heart. Please heed the trigger warnings, then if it's right for you,dive into the danger and intrigue. This series is the darkest offering from J. A. Owenby. There are individual love stories with an underlying long term plot. Hot, brutal and addictive!
October 30, 2025
Dark Romantic Thriller
This Kip and Holland’s story. It’s as dark as her previous series, but with more twists and revelations! Death, Ella, and Dope all make an appearance. Kip and Holland were made for each other and I’m excited to continue to read about them! It doesn’t leave on a cliffhanger, but you know more is coming!
This Kip and Holland’s story. It’s as dark as her previous series, but with more twists and revelations! Death, Ella, and Dope all make an appearance. Kip and Holland were made for each other and I’m excited to continue to read about them! It doesn’t leave on a cliffhanger, but you know more is coming!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews