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Jeremiah Lasbeck #1
Sickness Behind Young Eyes
Librarian Note: Alternate Cover Edition for ASIN: B0167MCPT8.
Jeremiah Cosgrove is a paranormal investigator who has spent his life searching for the supernatural. It doesn't matter how much horror he has seen though, because nobody will believe him. He has never been able to prove it, until now.
He gets a letter from a man desperate for help. A village is being haunted. Nobody dares speak of it, and those who do are visited by something terrible. A dark horror is at work here, and Jeremiah wants to get to the heart of it.
Ella is a university student obsessed with her work, but she's slipping. Her attempts to keep hold of her dreams lead her to a remote Scottish village with a dark history, where a tragedy has cast a shadow over the streets.
Beneath this village lies a horrific secret, and those who uncover it will wish they hadn't. What kind of evil is at work here, and what is terrifying the people so much? What's the deal with the creepy cottage and the woods that lurk just beyond it?
This is the beginning of a new horror series from the author of the Fear the Dead.
Jeremiah Cosgrove is a paranormal investigator who has spent his life searching for the supernatural. It doesn't matter how much horror he has seen though, because nobody will believe him. He has never been able to prove it, until now.
He gets a letter from a man desperate for help. A village is being haunted. Nobody dares speak of it, and those who do are visited by something terrible. A dark horror is at work here, and Jeremiah wants to get to the heart of it.
Ella is a university student obsessed with her work, but she's slipping. Her attempts to keep hold of her dreams lead her to a remote Scottish village with a dark history, where a tragedy has cast a shadow over the streets.
Beneath this village lies a horrific secret, and those who uncover it will wish they hadn't. What kind of evil is at work here, and what is terrifying the people so much? What's the deal with the creepy cottage and the woods that lurk just beyond it?
This is the beginning of a new horror series from the author of the Fear the Dead.
- GenresHorrorFictionParanormal
190 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 4, 2015
131 people are currently reading
363 people want to read
About the author
Jack Lewis
18 books98 followersI'm from Lancashire in the North of England, a bleak place that influenced Winterfell in Game of Thrones. I love a good story, afternoons in the sun with my wife, zombies, watching Game of Thrones, stroking dogs and medium-rare steak.
Check out my book series if you're a fan of horror or post-apocalyptic fiction:
Fear the Dead
An apocalypse series set in the North of England 15 years after the event, where we see how normal people survive the end of the world. Or sometimes, how they don’t survive…
Fear the Dead 1 - http://amzn.to/2flF3yQ
Fear the Dead 2 - http://amzn.to/2eRGO6h
Fear the Dead 3 - http://amzn.to/2eN3rp1
Fear the Dead 4 - http://amzn.to/2fM7Xqp
The Dying & the Dead
A post-apocalyptic series set in a world where a regime called The Capita has taken control of the mainland. The air is laced with infection, and people must wear masks to survive. Some survivors are born with immunity to the virus, and this lets them breathe the air unfiltered. The Capita hunts these people down in an attempt to make a vaccine for themselves.
The Dying & The Dead 1 - http://amzn.to/2eN5GJ0
The Dying & The Dead 2 - http://amzn.to/2fKXNZd
The Haunting of Towneley Manor
It has been ten years since Tamara walked the dark halls of her family home. Something bad happened to her in the manor when she was fourteen, but she can’t remember any of it. As Tamara unwinds the secrets of her family, she starts to discover what happened to her all those years ago.
The Haunting of Towneley Manor - http://amzn.to/2fKXMol
Check out my book series if you're a fan of horror or post-apocalyptic fiction:
Fear the Dead
An apocalypse series set in the North of England 15 years after the event, where we see how normal people survive the end of the world. Or sometimes, how they don’t survive…
Fear the Dead 1 - http://amzn.to/2flF3yQ
Fear the Dead 2 - http://amzn.to/2eRGO6h
Fear the Dead 3 - http://amzn.to/2eN3rp1
Fear the Dead 4 - http://amzn.to/2fM7Xqp
The Dying & the Dead
A post-apocalyptic series set in a world where a regime called The Capita has taken control of the mainland. The air is laced with infection, and people must wear masks to survive. Some survivors are born with immunity to the virus, and this lets them breathe the air unfiltered. The Capita hunts these people down in an attempt to make a vaccine for themselves.
The Dying & The Dead 1 - http://amzn.to/2eN5GJ0
The Dying & The Dead 2 - http://amzn.to/2fKXNZd
The Haunting of Towneley Manor
It has been ten years since Tamara walked the dark halls of her family home. Something bad happened to her in the manor when she was fourteen, but she can’t remember any of it. As Tamara unwinds the secrets of her family, she starts to discover what happened to her all those years ago.
The Haunting of Towneley Manor - http://amzn.to/2fKXMol
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
October 18, 2015
O.M.G.. Have you ever been reading a book and your heart rate picks up just a little bit?....
October 29, 2015
I found Haunted Shadows 1: Sickness Behind Young Eyes by Jack Lewis while perusing the Kindle Unlimited new releases. This novella, the first in a series is not his first self-published novel; I was disappointed. I did not feel the horror or suspense expected from a paranormal tale.
Written in first person POV, it lacks the third person point of view from other characters and while the concept is good, it's narrative driven rather than dialogue driven causing telling rather than showing.
Mr. Lewis is in need of a good proofreader. This text is wordy and splattered with typos, tense confusion, and singular/plural pronoun errors. Also, in my opinion, there are too many 'as if' descriptive phrases.
What I did like was the basic character conflict and distrust between Jeremiah and Ella. Also, for a series, this short novel did have a complete ending.
Written in first person POV, it lacks the third person point of view from other characters and while the concept is good, it's narrative driven rather than dialogue driven causing telling rather than showing.
Mr. Lewis is in need of a good proofreader. This text is wordy and splattered with typos, tense confusion, and singular/plural pronoun errors. Also, in my opinion, there are too many 'as if' descriptive phrases.
What I did like was the basic character conflict and distrust between Jeremiah and Ella. Also, for a series, this short novel did have a complete ending.
March 26, 2019
Very Impressed by this introduction to Lewis and this series!
I don't believe that I have experienced any of Jack Lewis's works previously. And that is certainly my loss! Very descriptive and engaging storyteller! I was unable to put the book aside once beginning! The characters were relatable and their personalities shone through like a beacon. I am very hopeful the next installment goes into further depth of the main character's pasts. That intrigued me. But I definately intend to pick up the next one immediately!
I don't believe that I have experienced any of Jack Lewis's works previously. And that is certainly my loss! Very descriptive and engaging storyteller! I was unable to put the book aside once beginning! The characters were relatable and their personalities shone through like a beacon. I am very hopeful the next installment goes into further depth of the main character's pasts. That intrigued me. But I definately intend to pick up the next one immediately!
November 1, 2015
The story is told in first person POV by a university student named Ella. She ends up in a village in Scotland with paranormal investigator Jeremiah Cosgrove. There is a lot of dialogue between the two main characters, but their relationship is believable. I did enjoy the banter and conflict during their investigation of what or who is haunting the village. They are stymied by the locals who don’t want to speak of the past. This well-written tale has me looking forward to reading Haunted Shadows 2.
March 22, 2019
Is That Really The Ending?!!!????!!!! (Spoilers!!!!)
I really hate to give this book only 3 stars because the writing and the actual story was great but there was entirely too many unanswered questions. The actual haunting was never found to be real or not. Ellie claims the diary holds the answers and then proceeds to toss it in the fire. She consistently lies to Jeremiah under the guise that she's protecting him. According to the legend, once you acknowledge the spirit/witch & look at her, you're dead but somehow Ellie is still alive for the next 2 installments after doing just that. And it was also frustrating as the reader to get left out of some of the story. It is told from Ellie's POV, so Jeremiah is running around bribing people with whiskey and finding out more to the legend but none of the information he found out is shared with the reader or Ellie. The villagers start telling some of what happened but then get mad & clam up so you never find out what really happened....this is beyond aggravating. I don't know if the author had a page or word limit he had to adhere to or just didn't remember to follow up on these unresolved issues. This story had so much potential but seriously disappointed. I was hoping the next installment would clear things up but according to the excerpt, they're on to a whole new adventure. I hope the author reads some of these reviews and re releases this story the way it could be or either revisit it in a later installment. It's such a good story and it's sad that it wasn't executed properly. It definitely makes me hesitant to read anything else in this series.
I really hate to give this book only 3 stars because the writing and the actual story was great but there was entirely too many unanswered questions. The actual haunting was never found to be real or not. Ellie claims the diary holds the answers and then proceeds to toss it in the fire. She consistently lies to Jeremiah under the guise that she's protecting him. According to the legend, once you acknowledge the spirit/witch & look at her, you're dead but somehow Ellie is still alive for the next 2 installments after doing just that. And it was also frustrating as the reader to get left out of some of the story. It is told from Ellie's POV, so Jeremiah is running around bribing people with whiskey and finding out more to the legend but none of the information he found out is shared with the reader or Ellie. The villagers start telling some of what happened but then get mad & clam up so you never find out what really happened....this is beyond aggravating. I don't know if the author had a page or word limit he had to adhere to or just didn't remember to follow up on these unresolved issues. This story had so much potential but seriously disappointed. I was hoping the next installment would clear things up but according to the excerpt, they're on to a whole new adventure. I hope the author reads some of these reviews and re releases this story the way it could be or either revisit it in a later installment. It's such a good story and it's sad that it wasn't executed properly. It definitely makes me hesitant to read anything else in this series.
September 4, 2017
Decent enough read that I could recommend it, but nothing I would be actively following waiting for a second book.
I loved the POV that we had in the book. I liked the single consciousness feel, pretty much putting you in Ella's mindset and keeping you there. It does get a bit repetitive though, as other reviews have said, she is sick through out the entire book and the push and pull off getting her to do anything kind of grates the nerves. Specially with how the book ends.
Personally I'm not a fan of the "and everything was vaguely sorted" endings. It all seemed very textbook and rushed, something that didn't really leave me wanting more. When Ella calls up her professor to say she's dropping, I don't really know where the author was going with that. Her entire struggle through college, life and through this trip was everything she was/is. You don't feel any personal growth for her choosing to be in contact with friends again by giving up everything, but more that she is throwing everything away so she doesn't have to confront her past.
The 'haunting' part of the story was more build up, then actually putting the pieces together. You were only given "I know how to do this" without the character ever going through with it, which was frustrating obviously but gave the story good enough pacing. Again as other readers have pointed out you don't really know if things are actually happening because Ella is sick throughout their stay but it's not enough for her to actually seek out medicine or rest so you don't feel sorry for her as she gets worse.
So, perfect quick no-feelings-attached kind of reading.
I loved the POV that we had in the book. I liked the single consciousness feel, pretty much putting you in Ella's mindset and keeping you there. It does get a bit repetitive though, as other reviews have said, she is sick through out the entire book and the push and pull off getting her to do anything kind of grates the nerves. Specially with how the book ends.
Personally I'm not a fan of the "and everything was vaguely sorted" endings. It all seemed very textbook and rushed, something that didn't really leave me wanting more. When Ella calls up her professor to say she's dropping, I don't really know where the author was going with that. Her entire struggle through college, life and through this trip was everything she was/is. You don't feel any personal growth for her choosing to be in contact with friends again by giving up everything, but more that she is throwing everything away so she doesn't have to confront her past.
The 'haunting' part of the story was more build up, then actually putting the pieces together. You were only given "I know how to do this" without the character ever going through with it, which was frustrating obviously but gave the story good enough pacing. Again as other readers have pointed out you don't really know if things are actually happening because Ella is sick throughout their stay but it's not enough for her to actually seek out medicine or rest so you don't feel sorry for her as she gets worse.
So, perfect quick no-feelings-attached kind of reading.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 23, 2019
If you ever want to read a book that is absolutely brilliant and then completely disappointed, let me tell you that this is it.
The first 80-85% of this book is great. It’s an atmospheric horror that reminded me of The Woman in Black, but is very much its own story. A slow-burn start turns into brilliant, terrifying, double-twist psychological horror. There are times when you’re not sure if the protagonist is going crazy, and both you and she doubt what she’s telling you. It’s only late in the book that you start to get some kind of confirmation about whether the story of the town is true or a hoax, or something in the middle.
And then, in the middle of what feels like is going to be climatic confrontation, the whole thing....stops.
No really, it just stops. I went back and read the scene three times, sure I had been going too fast and missed something. But it’s true—one move that should have been part of the finale turns out to be the last action, and then it’s over, with questions still unanswered and the horror unresolved. I felt supremely disappointed, and the whole thing left me so annoyed that I took two full stars off. There was so much talent and potential here, that seeing it all squandered was incredibly disappointing.
The first 80-85% of this book is great. It’s an atmospheric horror that reminded me of The Woman in Black, but is very much its own story. A slow-burn start turns into brilliant, terrifying, double-twist psychological horror. There are times when you’re not sure if the protagonist is going crazy, and both you and she doubt what she’s telling you. It’s only late in the book that you start to get some kind of confirmation about whether the story of the town is true or a hoax, or something in the middle.
And then, in the middle of what feels like is going to be climatic confrontation, the whole thing....stops.
No really, it just stops. I went back and read the scene three times, sure I had been going too fast and missed something. But it’s true—one move that should have been part of the finale turns out to be the last action, and then it’s over, with questions still unanswered and the horror unresolved. I felt supremely disappointed, and the whole thing left me so annoyed that I took two full stars off. There was so much talent and potential here, that seeing it all squandered was incredibly disappointing.
March 30, 2019
Needs a lot of editing and proofreading. Please!
Words are omitted, strange (British?) grammar prevails and this gem
“Jeremiah sat with his legs crossed and his right cheek propped up on his elbow.”
I’d love to see someone rest his cheek on his elbow. We know what you meant, but in the moment it takes to reconcile the mental image with reality, momentum is lost and readers become frustrated. Please find a competent editor - the concept was good but the numerous mechanical errors make this story a chore to read. AGL
Words are omitted, strange (British?) grammar prevails and this gem
“Jeremiah sat with his legs crossed and his right cheek propped up on his elbow.”
I’d love to see someone rest his cheek on his elbow. We know what you meant, but in the moment it takes to reconcile the mental image with reality, momentum is lost and readers become frustrated. Please find a competent editor - the concept was good but the numerous mechanical errors make this story a chore to read. AGL
April 13, 2019
Too wordy!
I usually try to find something good to say about every book I read. This is the exception. Too many repeated words and phrases. I scanned through over half of the book because I was tired of repeating the same text. I love horror and fell for the title before I read the reviews, never again. Wish I could take back the time I spent on this book. I won't be recommending this author to any of my friends or enemies.
I usually try to find something good to say about every book I read. This is the exception. Too many repeated words and phrases. I scanned through over half of the book because I was tired of repeating the same text. I love horror and fell for the title before I read the reviews, never again. Wish I could take back the time I spent on this book. I won't be recommending this author to any of my friends or enemies.
March 18, 2019
I just don’t get it. There was no character development, the storyline was juvenile at best, and it was like a potpourri of horror elements and suggestions all thrown together (most of which mimicked much better stories out there). What was the point? Even the “supposed” main character was entirely pointless...
May 13, 2019
Suspenseful Yet Lacking Something
This seems to have met all of the criteria of a really good horror story. The suspense built steadily, culminating into......nothing. Right to the end. I came to the absolute height of heart stopping...and....throw the book in the fire and everything stops. No more tension between the characters. No emotions. I was disappointed.
This seems to have met all of the criteria of a really good horror story. The suspense built steadily, culminating into......nothing. Right to the end. I came to the absolute height of heart stopping...and....throw the book in the fire and everything stops. No more tension between the characters. No emotions. I was disappointed.
October 18, 2019
A grad student and a crumudgeonly paranormal investigator go on a trip to scotland to check out a local urban legend. That's about all you need to know. The writing is very descriptive and does a wonderful job of building tension. The only problem is, there's no payoff. The ending simply wasn't satisfying after all the build-up.
March 16, 2019
concept good. ending disappointingly abrupt. reader left dangling. no interested in reading another by author unless they get an editor.
repeated misspellings got really annoying - passed instead of past, span instead of spun. annoying enough to make me wish i hadn't bothered.
repeated misspellings got really annoying - passed instead of past, span instead of spun. annoying enough to make me wish i hadn't bothered.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 8, 2019
Great images - SPOILERS
This is definitely a creepy story filled with great images. Occasionally the author over plays certain aspects, such as the cold. For me, the ending was a bit of a let down. Burning the diary as a way to put an end to the haunting felt a little cliche. Also, for a horror story everything wrapped up too tidy and neat. I would have liked a lingering hint of darkness to end on a darker note. Still this was a well paced and enjoyable read.
This is definitely a creepy story filled with great images. Occasionally the author over plays certain aspects, such as the cold. For me, the ending was a bit of a let down. Burning the diary as a way to put an end to the haunting felt a little cliche. Also, for a horror story everything wrapped up too tidy and neat. I would have liked a lingering hint of darkness to end on a darker note. Still this was a well paced and enjoyable read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 5, 2022
☠️😱
I liked this story and I bought the second in the series.
Only thing I didn't like was that I felt like jeremiah wasn't even the main character, it was more centred in his 'sidekick'. Both characters I did like though 😊.
I liked this story and I bought the second in the series.
Only thing I didn't like was that I felt like jeremiah wasn't even the main character, it was more centred in his 'sidekick'. Both characters I did like though 😊.
March 16, 2019
Good read
Good read .The story was not scary but still a page turner. The characters were off and interesting at the same time. I recommend.
Good read .The story was not scary but still a page turner. The characters were off and interesting at the same time. I recommend.
March 22, 2019
Spooky
Atmospheric to say the least. I could feel the cold and wind. Lovers of a ghost stories will enjoy this. Hope I never stumble into this village. I
Atmospheric to say the least. I could feel the cold and wind. Lovers of a ghost stories will enjoy this. Hope I never stumble into this village. I
March 24, 2019
Great story
I could not put the book down. From the first page to the last - kept me fascinated. Would totally recommend.
I could not put the book down. From the first page to the last - kept me fascinated. Would totally recommend.
March 30, 2019
Disapointing
Disappointing read. Dumb conclusion. Was a waste of time. Glad I got it free. Also seemed poorly edited or some very odd word choices.
Disappointing read. Dumb conclusion. Was a waste of time. Glad I got it free. Also seemed poorly edited or some very odd word choices.
May 1, 2019
Spooky & scary
Great read. I really enjoyed the story. Something very creepy about it, please give it a chance. Can’t wait for book 2, will definitely read every book in this series
Great read. I really enjoyed the story. Something very creepy about it, please give it a chance. Can’t wait for book 2, will definitely read every book in this series
April 24, 2019
Fun read.
July 3, 2019
This book kept me on the edge of my seat it was really interesting and different. They are hunting down an urban legend to see if there is any truth behind it.
March 5, 2020
Creepy
This was a good book. Very creepy and well written. I enjoyed the scary moments and the building tension. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.
This was a good book. Very creepy and well written. I enjoyed the scary moments and the building tension. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.
June 1, 2020
Nice spooky read with lots of atmosphere.
January 29, 2021
Haunted Shadows
Took a 🌟 off for needing more. Information is the key here. What did she think it was. Don't leave people guessing the what, when and hows, or why.
Took a 🌟 off for needing more. Information is the key here. What did she think it was. Don't leave people guessing the what, when and hows, or why.
November 2, 2015
Despite the tension, a bit of a letdown
Ella is a student who has spent too much of her lonely life studying the paranormal. Now she has a chance to accompany renowned paranormal investigator, Jeremiah Cosgrove to a bleak village to look into claims of a missing girl and superstitions the girls ghost is the root of so much trouble, but the town is reluctant and even hostile to discuss it. Ella is also assigned by her mentor, Professor Higson to try to find out more about Cosgrove's investigation techniques and the mystery of a previous student in his charge. Ella and Cosgrove are seriously flawed people. Both dealing with their own insecurities and paths of life they have taken. This novella gives excellent dynamics in paranormal research and human psyche. I really liked that element as well as the constant aura of fear. It will unnerved readers. It did me. But without any spoilers, I felt ultimately let down. That's my opinion, you decide for yourself.
Ella is a student who has spent too much of her lonely life studying the paranormal. Now she has a chance to accompany renowned paranormal investigator, Jeremiah Cosgrove to a bleak village to look into claims of a missing girl and superstitions the girls ghost is the root of so much trouble, but the town is reluctant and even hostile to discuss it. Ella is also assigned by her mentor, Professor Higson to try to find out more about Cosgrove's investigation techniques and the mystery of a previous student in his charge. Ella and Cosgrove are seriously flawed people. Both dealing with their own insecurities and paths of life they have taken. This novella gives excellent dynamics in paranormal research and human psyche. I really liked that element as well as the constant aura of fear. It will unnerved readers. It did me. But without any spoilers, I felt ultimately let down. That's my opinion, you decide for yourself.
November 14, 2015
Searching for truth behind an urban legend
I enjoyed the book for the most part, and I really liked the main characters, they definitely had personality. Certain things about the book bothered me though. The main character, Ella is sick throughout most of the book and the haze she sees things through becomes annoying. It works at first because it helps set the atmosphere, but eventually I just found it to be annoyance. And when she's told for the hundredth time to go lay down and have a rest because she looks like hell, I wanted to slip some valium in her drink because she's too damn stubborn to listen to reason. Because of her sickness we are never sure if anything supernatural actually happens or if she's just delusional from the fever. I know this is deliberate on the part of the author to help set the atmosphere, but it ends up being too much.
I enjoyed the book for the most part, and I really liked the main characters, they definitely had personality. Certain things about the book bothered me though. The main character, Ella is sick throughout most of the book and the haze she sees things through becomes annoying. It works at first because it helps set the atmosphere, but eventually I just found it to be annoyance. And when she's told for the hundredth time to go lay down and have a rest because she looks like hell, I wanted to slip some valium in her drink because she's too damn stubborn to listen to reason. Because of her sickness we are never sure if anything supernatural actually happens or if she's just delusional from the fever. I know this is deliberate on the part of the author to help set the atmosphere, but it ends up being too much.
November 7, 2015
This being one of the few books I've read in the horror genre I have to say its almost like an adult version of a Goosebumps story line. It wasn't bad, some of the imagery was truly unsettling and a couple of times I did genuinely shiver but nothing that would keep me up at night. Some of the descriptions were a little overused (i.e: my insides turned to water) which was disappointing and some of the side stories were never wrapped up (what happened to Thomas?!?) but overall it was a good story. I am intrigued enough to read the next story in the series.
October 20, 2015
Fantastic
I have spent many years reading zombie books (fear the dead is excellent btw) but never really thought to read anything else. Well as I loved jack lewis's fear the dead series I thought I'd take a punt on this. OMG I couldn't put it down. Such a fantastic well written book. You really must try it. Thank you so much Jack.
I have spent many years reading zombie books (fear the dead is excellent btw) but never really thought to read anything else. Well as I loved jack lewis's fear the dead series I thought I'd take a punt on this. OMG I couldn't put it down. Such a fantastic well written book. You really must try it. Thank you so much Jack.
April 15, 2016
Haunted Shadows 1 : A Ghost Haunting
This book is strangely , dark and haunting. You get the images so strongly , it's scary. The MYSTERY is both THRILLING AND SUPERNATURAL. I WANTED TO PUT IT DOWN BUT HAD TO KNOW , TO FINISH IT. THE SERIES CONTINUES...LOOKING FORWARD TO ANSWERS..I RECOMMEND!
This book is strangely , dark and haunting. You get the images so strongly , it's scary. The MYSTERY is both THRILLING AND SUPERNATURAL. I WANTED TO PUT IT DOWN BUT HAD TO KNOW , TO FINISH IT. THE SERIES CONTINUES...LOOKING FORWARD TO ANSWERS..I RECOMMEND!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews