The Heavy Shadow: A Supernatural Noir

by Jeret Christopher

"London is tuned to a dead station."


Kasra is a man of two worlds. By day, he’s a struggling stage magician in a smoke-filled Brixton pub. By night, he is a "Walker" one of the few capable of slipping out of his skin to navigate the Grey, the spectral margin of the spirit realm.


When he witnesses a soul harvested by a man in a charcoal coat, Kasra is pulled into a conspiracy that threatens to rewrite reality. Julian Vane is building a "Choir" of the dead a broadcast signal designed to welcome the King of Rags, a deity of stolen memories.


With the help of Maya, a grieving daughter, and Baba Javad, an ancient master, Kasra must hunt the signal to the highest point in the city. To lock the Door, he must survive the Viper’s Coil a technique that can turn a ghost into a weapon, but may leave the man a hollow shell.


Set against a rain-slicked London, The Heavy Shadow is a supernatural noir exploring the intersection of technology, sound, and the supernatural. In a city of eight million people, only one man can see the frequency of the end.

65 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 31, 2025

About the author

Jeret Christopher is an IT professional and musician who explores the intersection of technology, sound, and the supernatural. Drawing on a background in technical systems and musical theory, he crafts stories where the digital and the spiritual collide.

His debut novella, The Heavy Shadow, was born from a fascination with the "ghosts in the machine" and the hidden frequencies of the urban landscape. By day, he navigates the complex logic of modern technology; by night, he explores the atmospheric textures of sound and prose.

Jeret’s work is heavily influenced by a specific visual aesthetic: Limited Palette Cel Shading and Dual-Tone Lighting. He lives and works at the heart of the digital age, always listening for the signal in the noise.

“London is tuned to a dead station.”

Connect with Jeret and follow his journey through the Grey here on Goodreads or via the links below:

Official Store: Buy The Heavy Shadow

Reviews

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing gives me greater pleasure than finding a new author and dipping my toes into a different genre for me.

I found this novella original and enticingly written. You are quickly drawn in this dark and sinister backdrop that we otherwise know as London. The city is transformed in this piece to a gateway into oblivion, with wonderfully descriptive written encompassing a strict colour palette and embracing musical notes and sound frequencies.

A platform like NetGalley provides the opportunity to select different titles and try new things; for me this keeps one’s reading fresh and open to challenges. Short stories and novellas are an added bonus as you feel able to give the process your full attention without too much time lost on your other projects or expanding TBR shelf.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I found the text and story original. Full of interesting ideas and tense set piece confrontations where good and evil struggle in a spirit dimension. Yet it appears grounded in a reality that remains chilling and leaves the darkened alleyway forever a shadowy door into the unknown.

The writing grabbed my attention and the descriptive language regarding this cast of strange characters like photographic snapshots. This isn’t a rehash of what has already out there. This is a thoughtful and intelligent story, imaginative and with a pervading sense of an alternate reality just on turn of the dial.

The cover is brilliant and captures something of what the writing brings to body and soul.

I loved the use the capital city, the tones and sounds blending the ordinary with the supernatural.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

London set urban fantasy novella. Entertaining read. Being a novella there are some parts skipped over rather quickly, but it is a complete story. A fight between good and bad, in the light of the day and the darkness of the Grey, where monsters roam and a Being wants to break through. Kasra has a battle to fight, whither he wants to or not. Thank you to Notion Press and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

[Abigail L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Heavy Shadow is a supernatural noir set in a rain soaked London where the ordinary world brushes dangerously close to the afterlife. Kasra, a stage magician performing small shows in a Brixton pub, hides a far more unsettling ability. He can step into the Grey, a liminal space between life and death that allows him to witness things most people never should. When he sees a soul violently taken by a powerful figure, Kasra becomes entangled in a conspiracy that threatens memory, identity, and reality itself.

What I truly enjoyed about the story is its careful balance of atmosphere and momentum. London feels alive on the page, pulsing with static, shadows, and unseen forces. The supernatural elements are layered thoughtfully, building tension rather than overwhelming the narrative. As Kasra is drawn deeper into the conflict, the stakes rise in a way that feels personal as well as catastrophic, forcing him to confront the cost of using his gift and what he is willing to sacrifice to stop something far worse from crossing over.

By the final chapters, the novel becomes as much about choice and consequence as it is about ghosts and gods. The Heavy Shadow delivers a gripping blend of mystery, emotional weight, and eerie imagination that will stay with readers long after the final page. It is the kind of story that rewards close attention and invites readers to linger in its world, even when the shadows grow heavy.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book grabbed me by the collar and did not let go. Dark London streets, creepy ghost rules, a magician who can literally walk into death, and a villain who made my skin crawl. I loved how intense this story felt without getting confusing or trying too hard. I was hooked on Kasra from the start and found myself rooting for him even when everything around him felt doomed. If you like eerie vibes, fast moving danger, and stories that feel cinematic in your head, you need this book in your life. 👻⚡📖

[Paige Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Static in the Shadows
The Heavy Shadow is a dark, clever, pulse pounding story that blends ghosts, grit, and heart into something I could not stop reading.