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Ghostly Shadows #2
Certain Danger
What are those voices from the past? And why are they screaming at her? It all started when she witnessed a car crash. A brutal smash which left a gorgeous young couple dead. But for Alice, it reawakened strange memories of childhood: a sinister old house, a dead boy in the woods and an other-worldly power lurking forever in the darkness. Desperate to make sense of the bizarre pictures in her mind, Alice's enquires lead her to a hidden away clinic in the Surrey Hills. Within those walls though, are the terrifying secrets she's been running from her whole life.Now, for Alice, the truth could not only break apart her sanity, it could destroy the whole world...A brand new British horror tale perfect for all fans of James Herbert, Clive Barker, Iain Rob Wright and Hammer/Amicus films of the 1970s.What are Ghostly Shadows?They are that strange flicker you glimpse from the corner of your eye; that sound you're certain you hear in the dark of night in an empty house; they're the feeling of dread which races up and overwhelms you completely. Ghostly Shadows are all that's scary, disturbing, creepy and unsettling. Every fear and anxiety bound together, nebulous in form, but completely inescapable.For me, Ghostly Shadows are the connective tissue for all my writing. Every one of my novels, novellas and short stories - be they horror or noir - is joined together through these Ghostly Shadows. There are a thousand such tales lurking in my consciousness, and I intend to write them all.Certain Danger is the second of the Ghostly Shadows novellas. A brand new horror anthology series. The other three Ghostly Shadows novellas: Death at the Seaside; Won't You Come and Save Me, Oh Soldier and Call of the Mandrake are for sale on Kindle and in paperback now. While the first five Ghostly Shadows Shorts: Foliage; The Strange Fate of Lord Bruton; The Widow Ravens; Algernon Swafford - Private Investigator and Sacrifice at St. Nick's are also available on Kindle.
160 pages, Paperback
Published June 14, 2019
33 people are currently reading
41 people want to read
About the author
F.R. Jameson
37 books221 followersF.R. Jameson was born in Wales, but now lives in London with his wife and young daughter. He writes both historical thrillers and supernatural thrillers.
His books are, at the moment, mostly sorted into two different – but complimentary – series. The first, ‘Screen Siren Noir’, currently comprises of three novels: ‘Diana Christmas’, ‘Eden St. Michel’ and ‘Alice Rackham’. All of which tell the stories of beautiful British film stars caught up in Noir tales of blackmail, obsession, scandal and death. He is currently working on both the fourth and fifth books in the series.
The second series is more disturbing and scary, and lives under the moniker: ‘Ghostly Shadows’. Right now there is only one book published, a tale of supernatural revenge – ‘Death at the Shadows’. However, 2019 will bring four more entries to terrify and intrigue.
His blog - https://frjameson.com/ - is regularly updated with information about his writing, as well as film and book reviews. You can follow him @frjameson on Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest, and you can find him on Facebook.
His books are, at the moment, mostly sorted into two different – but complimentary – series. The first, ‘Screen Siren Noir’, currently comprises of three novels: ‘Diana Christmas’, ‘Eden St. Michel’ and ‘Alice Rackham’. All of which tell the stories of beautiful British film stars caught up in Noir tales of blackmail, obsession, scandal and death. He is currently working on both the fourth and fifth books in the series.
The second series is more disturbing and scary, and lives under the moniker: ‘Ghostly Shadows’. Right now there is only one book published, a tale of supernatural revenge – ‘Death at the Shadows’. However, 2019 will bring four more entries to terrify and intrigue.
His blog - https://frjameson.com/ - is regularly updated with information about his writing, as well as film and book reviews. You can follow him @frjameson on Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest, and you can find him on Facebook.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
March 27, 2020
Riveting...
Horror knows no bounds as we follow the story of young Alice who is having troubling dreams which are beginning to take over her day life as well as her night life. But that's the thing about these dreams, they're really not dreams at all. They seem to be memories of a long forgotten past for Alice. Can Alice overcome the demons that wait for her in the corners of her memories?
This is a spectacular read! This is the second story in the Ghostly Shadows series which is an anthology series.
For a novella, this short read packs quite a punch when it comes to descriptions. This book is very well written and descriptive to a great degree however not so descriptive that it makes you lose interest. The gore scenes are so well described that you can survey the scenes in your mind quite vividly which of course increases the horror aspect of the read.
The build-up is slow but steady and the ending makes the read all worthwhile for the readers who love horror. The unexpected twists are not only surprising but well-thought-out and put into play.
I tip my hat to the author for this one and thank him for the wonderful adventure he took me on with this book. I also ask that you please let me know once the movie drops! 😉 Definitely recommend!
Horror knows no bounds as we follow the story of young Alice who is having troubling dreams which are beginning to take over her day life as well as her night life. But that's the thing about these dreams, they're really not dreams at all. They seem to be memories of a long forgotten past for Alice. Can Alice overcome the demons that wait for her in the corners of her memories?
This is a spectacular read! This is the second story in the Ghostly Shadows series which is an anthology series.
For a novella, this short read packs quite a punch when it comes to descriptions. This book is very well written and descriptive to a great degree however not so descriptive that it makes you lose interest. The gore scenes are so well described that you can survey the scenes in your mind quite vividly which of course increases the horror aspect of the read.
The build-up is slow but steady and the ending makes the read all worthwhile for the readers who love horror. The unexpected twists are not only surprising but well-thought-out and put into play.
I tip my hat to the author for this one and thank him for the wonderful adventure he took me on with this book. I also ask that you please let me know once the movie drops! 😉 Definitely recommend!
August 23, 2021
This is the second story in the Ghostly Shadows series box set collection from F. R. Jameson coming out on September 7th.
A creepy story of a young woman who starts having dreams and creepy visions of a young boy from her childhood after witnessing a fatal car crash.
It isn't until she reaches a research facility that she discovers the disturbing past she forgot about.
The buildup with creepy moments mixed in definitely held my interest and had me wondering where the story was going to go. I also really liked how it ended up turning out.
A great quick read that I had a hard time putting down.
A creepy story of a young woman who starts having dreams and creepy visions of a young boy from her childhood after witnessing a fatal car crash.
It isn't until she reaches a research facility that she discovers the disturbing past she forgot about.
The buildup with creepy moments mixed in definitely held my interest and had me wondering where the story was going to go. I also really liked how it ended up turning out.
A great quick read that I had a hard time putting down.
Read
June 21, 2019Let me just blow my own trumpet and announce that I have a brand-new book out today. A terrifying novella that combines the Lovecraftian with the supernatural and is entitled CERTAIN DANGER.
I’ve always wanted to start a book with a car crash. A big auto smash that is loud, violent and nasty. An incident to really begin a story with a bang. The old Hollywood maxim of you open with an earthquake and build from there.
So, here it is: Chapter One there’s a big, gruesome car crash. The singer of 1970s rock band, Certain Danger, dies in a Mini driven by his girlfriend in broad daylight on Cheam Cross.
It’s witnessed by the central character, Alice, and awakens terrible things within her. Sensations which are not only dreadful for her, but possibly for the whole world.
What did the singer’s strange final word mean? Who is the little boy who has invaded her dreams? And how does it all connect with the dilapidated, mysterious private clinic out in The Surrey Hills?
Even if I do say so myself, this is a gripping story, one filled with tension and growing dread. With the added bonus of a character written to be portrayed by the late and absolutely wonderful Peter Cushing.
This weekend it’s 99p/99c only and well worth checking out!
Happy reading!
I’ve always wanted to start a book with a car crash. A big auto smash that is loud, violent and nasty. An incident to really begin a story with a bang. The old Hollywood maxim of you open with an earthquake and build from there.
So, here it is: Chapter One there’s a big, gruesome car crash. The singer of 1970s rock band, Certain Danger, dies in a Mini driven by his girlfriend in broad daylight on Cheam Cross.
It’s witnessed by the central character, Alice, and awakens terrible things within her. Sensations which are not only dreadful for her, but possibly for the whole world.
What did the singer’s strange final word mean? Who is the little boy who has invaded her dreams? And how does it all connect with the dilapidated, mysterious private clinic out in The Surrey Hills?
Even if I do say so myself, this is a gripping story, one filled with tension and growing dread. With the added bonus of a character written to be portrayed by the late and absolutely wonderful Peter Cushing.
This weekend it’s 99p/99c only and well worth checking out!
Happy reading!
June 26, 2019
From gore to psychological menace & back again, F R Jameson's latest novella dishes up a nice helping of horror.
The opening car crash sets the tone for things to come & the story certainly went in a direction I wasn't expecting. It's yet another fine story from this talented author.
The opening car crash sets the tone for things to come & the story certainly went in a direction I wasn't expecting. It's yet another fine story from this talented author.
July 1, 2021
I was really drawn into this psychological horror novella. Solid premise and loved the build up of suspense the pacing.
June 20, 2019
Wow, what a fantastic book. I really enjoyed the build up and anticipation of not knowing where the story was going to take me. F.R. Jameson has that special skill as an Author to surprise and take the story in a direction that I wasn’t expecting. Which is always a great thing. I like the characters, especially Alice who seems so easy going.
Alice Whitstable had a happy and easy life working in a clothes shop, and casually dating an older guy named Geoff. Things weren’t too bad until she started having bad dreams, and even worse when those dreams started to flow into the daytime hours while she was awake. Alice didn’t have the perfect childhood growing up and at an early age she found herself in foster care. However, the dreams she was having seemed to be more like memories, and she was sure that something might have happened to her friend Paul at the Butterfly Clinic, were they spent part of their time growing up. Alice is certainly going to be surprised when she finds out what really happened in her past. Without doubt, this is an enjoyable book that I would certainly recommend. 5/5 Star Rating.
Verified Purchase Amazon Australia
Alice Whitstable had a happy and easy life working in a clothes shop, and casually dating an older guy named Geoff. Things weren’t too bad until she started having bad dreams, and even worse when those dreams started to flow into the daytime hours while she was awake. Alice didn’t have the perfect childhood growing up and at an early age she found herself in foster care. However, the dreams she was having seemed to be more like memories, and she was sure that something might have happened to her friend Paul at the Butterfly Clinic, were they spent part of their time growing up. Alice is certainly going to be surprised when she finds out what really happened in her past. Without doubt, this is an enjoyable book that I would certainly recommend. 5/5 Star Rating.
Verified Purchase Amazon Australia
June 22, 2019
Witnessing a deadly accident could impact the trajectory of your life, but generally not to the extent it does for Alice in Certain Danger by F.R. Jameson.
To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.
Alice hasn't had the easiest of upbringings, moving between foster homes as a child, but as an adult she seems to have fallen into a comfortable pattern of living with a job she enjoys and a casual relationship with a man she likes. While going about her day, Alice witnesses a horrific car accident that left an attractive young couple dead, with the man inexplicably staggering onward after going headfirst through the windshield before dropping dead at her feet. In the aftermath of the car crash her suppressed past begins to resurface. Haunted by nightly and then waking dreams that seem to rehash unsettling childhood memories of a sinister house and a dead boy, Alice tries to make sense of it all, which leads her the Butterfly Clinic. Hoping to get answers within the walls of a place that looks familiar, Alice might just get a bit more than she bargained for.
A gripping, eerie story that builds slowly and captures reader interest, it winds from a commonplace tale of life in the wake of witnessing a horrific accident to one of a far more chilling and haunting nature. Quick to read, the pacing fit well with the length of the novella and the events it presented; the text reveals important bits surrounding the supernatural elements of the narrative in a sufficient manner to have it situated well within the world created. Though the exchange between Alice and the doctor worked fairly well within the circumstances that were established, it did have a feel of being a bit on the info-dump heavy side rather than a more organic sharing of information between characters.
*I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.
Alice hasn't had the easiest of upbringings, moving between foster homes as a child, but as an adult she seems to have fallen into a comfortable pattern of living with a job she enjoys and a casual relationship with a man she likes. While going about her day, Alice witnesses a horrific car accident that left an attractive young couple dead, with the man inexplicably staggering onward after going headfirst through the windshield before dropping dead at her feet. In the aftermath of the car crash her suppressed past begins to resurface. Haunted by nightly and then waking dreams that seem to rehash unsettling childhood memories of a sinister house and a dead boy, Alice tries to make sense of it all, which leads her the Butterfly Clinic. Hoping to get answers within the walls of a place that looks familiar, Alice might just get a bit more than she bargained for.
A gripping, eerie story that builds slowly and captures reader interest, it winds from a commonplace tale of life in the wake of witnessing a horrific accident to one of a far more chilling and haunting nature. Quick to read, the pacing fit well with the length of the novella and the events it presented; the text reveals important bits surrounding the supernatural elements of the narrative in a sufficient manner to have it situated well within the world created. Though the exchange between Alice and the doctor worked fairly well within the circumstances that were established, it did have a feel of being a bit on the info-dump heavy side rather than a more organic sharing of information between characters.
*I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
September 12, 2019
Certain Danger by F.R. Jameson is an intriguing little novella. Quick and easy to read, it immediately grabs your attention and keeps you gripped.
The second story in an anthology entitled Ghostly Shadows, it begins with an horrific car crash that tragically claims the lives of two young people. Witness to the accident, Alice begins to recall deeply buried childhood memories which lead her to the mysterious Butterfly Clinic, in the Surrey Hills, in search of answers. Why can she remember a dead boy in the woods and a strange presence encompassing her? What has she been running from for all her life?
Weirdly enjoyable and just about long enough to get my teeth into, I was pleasantly surprised by this excellent novella. I've made no bones of the fact that I'm not a big fan of anything less than a full-length book, but once in a while you come across a little gem and this is exactly what happened here.
I felt the story got a bit too bizarre (even for me!) when the walls started moving. I don't want to give away spoilers so I wont say any more. Overall it was a solid read and worthy of a place on anyone's bookshelf or e-reader.
Book Source: Review copy from the author.
Read my review on my blog: https://bit.ly/2mfibGZ
The second story in an anthology entitled Ghostly Shadows, it begins with an horrific car crash that tragically claims the lives of two young people. Witness to the accident, Alice begins to recall deeply buried childhood memories which lead her to the mysterious Butterfly Clinic, in the Surrey Hills, in search of answers. Why can she remember a dead boy in the woods and a strange presence encompassing her? What has she been running from for all her life?
Weirdly enjoyable and just about long enough to get my teeth into, I was pleasantly surprised by this excellent novella. I've made no bones of the fact that I'm not a big fan of anything less than a full-length book, but once in a while you come across a little gem and this is exactly what happened here.
I felt the story got a bit too bizarre (even for me!) when the walls started moving. I don't want to give away spoilers so I wont say any more. Overall it was a solid read and worthy of a place on anyone's bookshelf or e-reader.
Book Source: Review copy from the author.
Read my review on my blog: https://bit.ly/2mfibGZ
January 11, 2022
To see more reviews check out MI Book Reviews.
I got an ARC of this book.
I will admit, I did not read the description blurb fully. I saw certain key words and that was all I needed. Thankfully my wonderful habit of grabbing books based on covers or based off a few key words did not bite me this time.
This is one of those horror books that would clearly make a wonderful horror movie. It would make a movie so well that it reminds a lot of The Hatred (the last horror movie I watched actually), but better. While the movie took forever to warm up and was often just jump scares with no resolution at the end, the book was filed with intrigue and mystery. The book follows through to a conclusion that has more of an ending that felt like things were resolved, while also being horrifyingly open ended. The main other similarity between the two was the idea of a being/totem of pure hatred existing and what that would cause is the main plot. How everything was handled and how things played out were so drastically different. I would like to think that they both exist in the same universe. Much more horrifying that way.
The fact that this book lined up so well with the last horror movie I watched, but I was still turning the pages as quickly as I can shows just how much mastery Jameson has over language and horror. It just made this book more impressive to me. So if you weren’t a fan of The Hatred, this book is significantly better. If you were a fan, imagine what this book could do for you. If you have never seen it, I would recommend this book over the movie. I think that covers all the groups.
If you are looking for a book that can give vivid images that haunt and disturb, then this book might just be for you. The depictions of the violence and the gore were so well done. My stomach was turning from reading. I was really impressed with Jameson’s ability to convey such horror.
There was a big flaw in the book for me. Relying on rape as a form of horror for a woman is both aggravating and played out. There were no graphic rapes on the page, but they were referenced in a graphic enough way that they could be triggering. This book could have easily been a five star read for me, but that is a huge pet peeve when it comes to horror.
I got an ARC of this book.
I will admit, I did not read the description blurb fully. I saw certain key words and that was all I needed. Thankfully my wonderful habit of grabbing books based on covers or based off a few key words did not bite me this time.
This is one of those horror books that would clearly make a wonderful horror movie. It would make a movie so well that it reminds a lot of The Hatred (the last horror movie I watched actually), but better. While the movie took forever to warm up and was often just jump scares with no resolution at the end, the book was filed with intrigue and mystery. The book follows through to a conclusion that has more of an ending that felt like things were resolved, while also being horrifyingly open ended. The main other similarity between the two was the idea of a being/totem of pure hatred existing and what that would cause is the main plot. How everything was handled and how things played out were so drastically different. I would like to think that they both exist in the same universe. Much more horrifying that way.
The fact that this book lined up so well with the last horror movie I watched, but I was still turning the pages as quickly as I can shows just how much mastery Jameson has over language and horror. It just made this book more impressive to me. So if you weren’t a fan of The Hatred, this book is significantly better. If you were a fan, imagine what this book could do for you. If you have never seen it, I would recommend this book over the movie. I think that covers all the groups.
If you are looking for a book that can give vivid images that haunt and disturb, then this book might just be for you. The depictions of the violence and the gore were so well done. My stomach was turning from reading. I was really impressed with Jameson’s ability to convey such horror.
There was a big flaw in the book for me. Relying on rape as a form of horror for a woman is both aggravating and played out. There were no graphic rapes on the page, but they were referenced in a graphic enough way that they could be triggering. This book could have easily been a five star read for me, but that is a huge pet peeve when it comes to horror.
May 10, 2020
I do admire strong female protagonists. When such an individual is "ordinarily" a retiring and unassuming person who tries in general to be "invisible," product of an extraordinarily gory childhood, who suddenly [in a rather Jekyll and Hyde transition, but without the potion] becomes a powerful person animated by---well, please discover for yourself--I feel that "Casper Milquetoasts" everywhere have suddenly been vindicated.
After reading the book, but before composing my review, I saw a comment by the author, F. R. Jameson, that one role here was written for portrayal by the late lamented and much admired actor Peter Cushing. Light bulb moment! The entire story then replayed in my mind, and I totally agree. Mr. Cushing would have been exceptional in this particular role [which you, reader, should discover for yourself].
After reading the book, but before composing my review, I saw a comment by the author, F. R. Jameson, that one role here was written for portrayal by the late lamented and much admired actor Peter Cushing. Light bulb moment! The entire story then replayed in my mind, and I totally agree. Mr. Cushing would have been exceptional in this particular role [which you, reader, should discover for yourself].
September 26, 2019
This is a must-read!!!
I think this is one of the best books I have read in a long long time. I couldn't put it down. The twist with the boyfriend really took me by surprise, so unexpected! I would recommend this book to anyone that likes horror and surprises!
I think this is one of the best books I have read in a long long time. I couldn't put it down. The twist with the boyfriend really took me by surprise, so unexpected! I would recommend this book to anyone that likes horror and surprises!
September 22, 2021
Loved this one! Following Alice back to the Butterfly Clinic was suspenseful and down right gory but I really enjoyed myself. I was really engaged the whole way through and that ending was frickin great.
September 2, 2021
Witnessing a horrible accident can change something within you and that's what happens with Alice. On her way home from work one day, she sees a horrific car accident which ends up killing the two in the car. The passenger is thrown through the windshield. She thinks he's dead. But then he gets up and mutters a single word to her and collapses.
It awakens memories within her. Her childhood is a jumble of foster homes after the death of her mother. But she starts to remember a clinic, somewhere in the Surrey Hills. Determined to know what happened to her there, she decides to investigate.
Certain Danger is a slow build read which packs a punch in its conclusion. There's plenty of twists to keep you guessing. The ending was a rollercoaster of violence and revenge. I enjoyed every second of it!
It awakens memories within her. Her childhood is a jumble of foster homes after the death of her mother. But she starts to remember a clinic, somewhere in the Surrey Hills. Determined to know what happened to her there, she decides to investigate.
Certain Danger is a slow build read which packs a punch in its conclusion. There's plenty of twists to keep you guessing. The ending was a rollercoaster of violence and revenge. I enjoyed every second of it!
June 25, 2019
This book was a suspenseful, intriguing, and all around amazing story. I just couldn't stop reading until the end. I will definitely be reading more of this series.
October 8, 2019
Alice Whitstable was living a normal life, working at a local clothes retailer, dating a man 15 years her senior, and living with three roommates. Then came the day she witnessed a horrific car accident of a famous musician from the band Certain Danger. From that moment on, the trajectory of her life changed drastically.
She began having dreams that felt more like long-lost memories than dreams. Her patient, kinda-sorta boyfriend lovingly helped guide her through the first few days and seemingly found an answer to helping her long-term.
I don’t want to spoil anything else because I loved this book. This is the second of F.R. Jameson’s “Ghostly Shadows” series of books. They are more of an anthology series of loosely connected stories in novella format so do not need to be read in any particular order to make sense of them.
The stories are perfectly paced, with realistic characters, and a plot that doesn’t stop moving. Once you start reading, you probably won’t be able to put it down until you have finished reading the whole story.
If you enjoy a good supernatural story, without the horror, this is definitely a book for you. It is one of those rare supernatural stories that prioritizes character, plot, and substance over whatever supernatural events happen to be occurring in the plot. Pick this one up and thank me later after you have to read the other books in this series.
I received a free copy of this book, no strings attached, from the author.
She began having dreams that felt more like long-lost memories than dreams. Her patient, kinda-sorta boyfriend lovingly helped guide her through the first few days and seemingly found an answer to helping her long-term.
I don’t want to spoil anything else because I loved this book. This is the second of F.R. Jameson’s “Ghostly Shadows” series of books. They are more of an anthology series of loosely connected stories in novella format so do not need to be read in any particular order to make sense of them.
The stories are perfectly paced, with realistic characters, and a plot that doesn’t stop moving. Once you start reading, you probably won’t be able to put it down until you have finished reading the whole story.
If you enjoy a good supernatural story, without the horror, this is definitely a book for you. It is one of those rare supernatural stories that prioritizes character, plot, and substance over whatever supernatural events happen to be occurring in the plot. Pick this one up and thank me later after you have to read the other books in this series.
I received a free copy of this book, no strings attached, from the author.
September 10, 2019
Wow! The second book started off a little slow, but sure picked up speed. It was nicely written. The story line was right on. Once I picked up the book to read, I couldn’t stop reading it. I didn’t see the ending, and was very surprised how it did end. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did. I can’t wait to read the next one.
“I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book and was not required to leave a review.”
Thank you for sharing your book with me.
“I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book and was not required to leave a review.”
Thank you for sharing your book with me.
August 31, 2019
This story concerns the recovery of lost memories after witnessing a horrible accident. The reader is lead down a path of slow understanding until the truth breaks out with blinding horror. No spoilers here, just read the book.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews