Shadows of the Past

by Sharon Shinn

A writer who would rather live with ghosts than face her troubled marriage. A woman who receives calls over her cell phone from people who have recently died. A man who suddenly finds strange objects appearing in his life—and just as suddenly disappearing. These characters and more fill the pages of Sharon Shinn’s collection of seven short stories. Romance, mystery, and a little bit of magic follow each of them as they grapple with the past so they can move forward into the future. Chief Executed Officers is never before published. The other six stories have appeared previously in anthologies published 2004 through 2012. The Sorcerer's Assassin In the House of Seven Spirits Chief Executed Officers The Unrhymed Couplets of the Universe Can You Hear Me Now? The Double-Edged Sword Wintermoon Wish Enjoy the stories!

Genres: Fantasy, Short Stories, Mystery, Ghosts, Anthologies, Fiction, Science Fiction

198 pages, Paperback

First published April 20, 2021

About the author

I’ve been writing stories and poems since I was eight years old. My first poem was about Halloween: "What is tonight? What is tonight?/Try to guess and you’ll guess right." Perhaps this inauspicious beginning explains why it took me till I was in my thirties to sell a novel. It occurred to me early on that it might take some time and a lot of tries before I was able to publish any of my creative writing, so I pursued a degree in journalism at Northwestern University so I’d be able to support myself while I figured out how to write fiction.

I’ve spent most of my journalism career at three trade and association magazines—The Professional Photographer (which, as you might guess, went to studio and industrial photographers), DECOR (which went to frame shop and art gallery owners), and BizEd (which is directed at deans and professors at business schools). My longest stint, seventeen years, was at DECOR. Many people don’t know this, but I’m a CPF (Certified Picture Framer), having passed a very long, technical test to prove I understood the tenets of conservation framing. Now I write about management education and interview some really cool, really smart people from all over the world.

I mostly write my fiction in the evenings and on weekends. It requires a pretty obsessive-compulsive personality to be as prolific as I’ve been in the past ten years and hold down a full-time job. But I do manage to tear myself away from the computer now and then to do something fun. I read as often as I can, across all genres, though I’m most often holding a book that’s fantasy or romance, with the occasional western thrown in. I’m a fan of Cardinals baseball and try to be at the ballpark on opening day. If I had the time, I’d see a movie every day of my life. I love certain TV shows so much that knowing a new episode is going to air that night will make me happy all day. (I’m a huge Joss Whedon fan, but in the past I’ve given my heart to shows all over the map in terms of quality: "Knight Rider," "Remington Steele," "Blake’s 7," "Moonlighting," "The Young Riders," "Cheers," "Hill Street Blues," "X-Files," "Lost," "Battlestar Galactica"...you can probably fill in the gaps. And let’s not forget my very first loves, "The Partridge Family," "Here Come the Brides" and "Alias Smith & Jones.")

I don’t have kids, I don’t want pets, and all my plants die, so I’m really only forced to provide ongoing care for my menagerie of stuffed animals. All my friends are animal lovers, though, and someone once theorized that I keep friends as pets. I’m still trying to decide if that’s true.

Reviews

[Barb in Maryland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good collection of short stories by one of my favorite fantasy authors. Best part was that all of the stories were new to me.
My two favorites were the ghost stories. 'In the House of Seven Spirits' features a haunted house and a young woman tasked (by the ghosts!) in setting the spirits free. It's a very clever murder mystery.
In 'Can You Hear Me Now' our heroine is getting phone calls from dead people, one of whom is her father. I needed tissues for this one.

[katayoun Masoodi · Rating 3 out of 5]

good, relaxing and enjoyable. shinn's flowing writing and good short stories. i enjoyed ever one of them and it was relaxing as there was no pressure to read the next chapter and the next. there is nothing that would stay with me and i would want to go back and re-read but i enjoyed all the time spent on these short stories.

[Olga Godim · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a collection of seven short stories. All the stories except one have been published before in various anthologies. As Shinn is a speculative fiction writer, all the stories have a speculative fiction slant: magic or aliens or such, but most of the author's attention is on the characters, not on spec-fic bits and bobs.
Overall: an average genre collection.

[Nicole (bookwyrm) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an enjoyable short story collection. They were fun and cozy reads—even considering the murder mystery aspect of a couple of them. It felt perfect for curling up under a blanket to read these. They were mostly in the fantasy genre, though not entirely, and there was enough variety that the stories all felt fresh and fun.

[Matthew Galloway · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a satisfying collection and just what you'd expect of Sharon Shinn short stories -- an interesting glimpse at world building, usually a fun twist, often (but not always) a cozy feel, and a happy ending that often comes with a touch of romance.

[Roslyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Elena · Rating 4 out of 5]

always unequivocally love Sharon Shinn

Deducted 1 star because I felt the last story was the weakest of the book, and I was looking forward to revisiting the world of Truth Tellers and Safe-keepers here, the way Shinn took us back to Heart of Gold in the novella Blood from Quatrains.
Clever mystery in the first story, as soon as I finished it I bought the book and read the rest of it. Really enjoyed the ghost story and the one where objects kept appearing randomly ~always love to see Shinn’s unusual protagonists. Particularly as I age I love to read stories where older people are the main characters. Life doesn’t stop when your kids are grown and menopause is hovering palpably over you!

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anthologies always seem to read either faster or slower than straight on books (to me). This one went super fast and I liked every story in it, which is rare. Usually I really don’t like one or two. And while I love most of Shinn’s work, she’s written a few novels and short stories that I haven’t liked, so I wasn’t sure whether I would like, love, or feel meh about this collection. I liked it quite a lot and loved several of the stories. I loved the theme and the growth most of her characters undergo in their stories. I’m not sure anyone grows in the first story - I liked that just fine as a short story since it was intellectually interesting but without a single character I could like, meaning I wouldn’t have appreciated it as much if it had been longer. I really wanted more: more world, more culture stuff, more romance, more story with the third story and to a lesser degree with the last story. I wouldn’t have minded more with any of the others, though they did feel pretty complete. In honesty, all the stories came to satisfactory endings. Overall, a happy start to my 2026 reading.

[Rosario · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a collection of short stories. There's not a real theme, and they're a bit of everything. Some are contemporary, some are set in fantasy worlds. Some have been published before, some are new (but all were new to me).

It's a genuinely excellent collection. The stories all felt fresh and different. Not every single one was successful (Chief Executed Officers needed a bit more development, I think), but most were. Many really surprised me, not just with the plotting, but with how affecting I found them. I really can't decide which one was my favourite. Maybe the last one, Wintermoon Wish, for taking what I expected to go in a ho-hum direction, with an immature YA protagonist and turning it into something that made me cry? Maybe The Double-Edged sword, for its older, world-weary protagonist?

Highly recommended.

[annapi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seven stories, mostly fantasy with one sci-fi thrown in, and three of them are murder mysteries. It's a good collection that showcases Shinn's talent. Most anthologies end up being 3 stars for me, as good or excellent stories are balanced out by mediocre ones, but I loved most of this collection. Sharon Shinn is one of my favorite authors, and these shorts remind me why. A quick and easy read, and an easy 4 stars.

[Miriam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I never quite know how to rate short story collections. Do I go with my favorite? My least favorite? I would probably give the more traditional fantasy stories "Wintermoon Wish" and "The Double-Edged Sword" 4 stars, "The Unrhymed Couplets of the Universe" and "Can You Hear Me Now?" 3.5 stars, and the others 2 or 3 stars. There was some sex and language--nothing very graphic, but it did detract a bit from the reading experience for me.

[Candy Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Old friends and new

I have read all of the previously published stories. It's so nice to have them all in one place now. The new story was bittersweet but I enjoyed it. The stories range from very good to excellent. I've never been disappointed by one of her books. I'm in awe of her talent and jealous of her wide-ranging imagination.

[Kathy Sebesta · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is essentially a self-published book of seven of Shinn's short stories. While all are readable and In the house of seven spirits, my favorite was definitely The unrhymed couplets of the universe, a take on an alternate universe I haven't run into before. I had to buy my copy (not available from libraries), but it was worth it.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This a collection of short stories, none of which with any strong connection to any of the author’s earlier books. I liked most of the stories, several of which are unusual takes on murder mysteries (including one set in a magic college).

[Lif Strand · Rating 5 out of 5]

The seven stories in this slender volume by Sharon Shinn are just wonderful. Each one was better than the next, so that when I got to the end I was sorely disappointed to have reached the back cover so soon.

[Renee Babcock · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love it when a short story makes me want to read more in that world and a couple of the stories in this collection did just that. Shinn is one of my favorite writers and this collection was terrific. She has a way of writing that makes it easy to read her work.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cute, cozy selection of short stories. I liked that they held to a rough theme while having a decent amount of variety. Realistically, it's more like a 4.5 because it's not like every story is perfect. I'm rounding up because I can't think of a solid complaint I have against the book.

[Lizzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.6/5

"The Sorcerer's Assassin" 1/5
"In the House of Seven Spirits" 2/5
"Can You Hear Me Now?" 4/5
"The Unrhymed Couplets of the Universe" 2.5/5
"The Double-Edged Sword" 3/5
"Wintermoon Wish" 4/5
"Chief Executed Officers" 2/5

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Dichotomy Girl · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting group of short stories and one set in the world of her young adult series which I loved.

[Oshun · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of the stories I found pleasant and well plotted, others I absolutely adored. I would recommend it as an easy and comforting read.

[Joyce Scrivner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joyous and thoughtful

Good will in the characters and relationships. Even ghosts and ghouls

Short reads and comforting.

I'll look for more if her work

[Lady Jaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading these stories were comforting. I have no other way to explain it.

[The Sleeping Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sharon Shinn as always, is fantastic.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

I really enjoyed the variety of tales herein. Sharon Shinn is such a talented writer who can bring her characters to life.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Solid collection.

[Sherrie]

This was a great way to learn more about this author's style of writing/ Very easy to read and actually hard to put down. Love all of the various stories.

[Mai · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great stories, loved this book!