Bury Me in Shadows

by Greg Herren

After landing in the hospital after a bad breakup and an ensuing drug-and-alcohol binge, college student Jake Chapman is given two rehab, or spend the summer at his dying grandmother’s decaying home in rural Alabama. The choice is obvious. His grandmother’s land has been in Jake’s family since the early nineteenth century; the ruins of the old plantation house are a short walk through the woods behind her home. An archaeological team is excavating the ruins, looking for evidence to prove an old family legend—and there’s a meth lab just over the ridge. Once Jake is there, he begins having strange experiences—flashes of memory, inexplicable emotions—that he can’t explain, and he keeps seeing something strange out in the woods. As he explores his family history, he uncovers some dark secrets someone—or something—is willing to kill to keep hidden.

Genres: Thriller, Horror, Young Adult, Mystery, Paranormal

255 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 1, 2021

About the author

Greg Herren is a New Orleans-based author and editor. Former editor of Lambda Book Report, he is also a co-founder of the Saints and Sinners Literary Festival, which takes place in New Orleans every May. He is the author of ten novels, including the Lambda Literary Award winning Murder in the Rue Chartres, called by the New Orleans Times-Picayune “the most honest depiction of life in post-Katrina New Orleans published thus far.” He co-edited Love, Bourbon Street: Reflections on New Orleans, which also won the Lambda Literary Award. He has published over fifty short stories in markets as varied as Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine to the critically acclaimed anthology New Orleans Noir to various websites, literary magazines, and anthologies. His erotica anthology FRATSEX is the all time best selling title for Insightoutbooks. Under his pseudonym Todd Gregory, he published the bestselling erotic novel Every Frat Boy Wants It and the erotic anthologies His Underwear and Rough Trade (to be released by Bold Strokes Books in 2009).

A long-time resident of New Orleans, Greg was a fitness columnist and book reviewer for Window Media for over four years, publishing in the LGBT newspapers IMPACT News, Southern Voice, and Houston Voice. He served a term on the Board of Directors for the National Stonewall Democrats, and served on the founding committee of the Louisiana Stonewall Democrats. He is currently employed as a public health researcher for the NO/AIDS Task Force.

Reviews

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

After landing in the hospital after a bad breakup and an ensuing drug-and-alcohol binge, college student Jake Chapman is given two options: rehab, or spend the summer at his dying grandmother’s decaying home in rural Alabama. The choice is obvious. His grandmother’s land has been in Jake’s family since the early nineteenth century; the ruins of the old plantation house are a short walk through the woods behind her home. An archaeological team is excavating the ruins, looking for evidence to prove an old family legend―and there’s a meth lab just over the ridge. Once Jake is there, he begins having strange experiences―flashes of memory, inexplicable emotions―that he can’t explain, and he keeps seeing something strange out in the woods. As he explores his family history, he uncovers some dark secrets someone ―or something―is willing to kill to keep hidden.
Jake is trying to readjust to life after a terrible breakup and a hospital stay...the results of a drugs-and-alcohol binge. To help him recover, his mother sends him to his dying grandmother’s house in rural Alabama. Jake hasn’t been there in over a decade. What greets him is a dilapidated house, a suspicious roommate, and a town that is not exactly welcoming. There are rumors of a meth lab nearby, and an archaeological team is digging the ruins of a plantation house on the land. To make things even worse, Jake starts to experience visions and strange emotions that occur anytime and without any warning. He knows that he has to find out about his family history or his life could be in real danger. In one of his strange experiences he says, "In my head I heard a loud noise, and somehow, I was inside, running, terrified, through a darkened hallway. Must get away must get away don’t want to die oh my God I don’t want to die..." He hears lots of messages like this in his head.

The question now is, what happens when your past is all a lie? The book explores this question through the eyes of our 19-year-old Jake. From the struggles in his life, he might discover the truth behind his family’s secrets. Learn why his mother has kept him away from his grandmother for past 10-years. Why his uncle disappeared without a word many years ago. There are ghosts in this story, both real and imaginary.

The book does a really good job of portraying what it’s like for a young gay man to live in a rural southern town.... how fragile life and safety can be. Learning of the rundown, dirty house and the secluded location it was in, made it feel suffocating. Jake meets other gay men who are dealing with situations in their lives in their own ways, sometimes to their own detriment. It makes for a very sobering read. Not all the characters are likeable and even the ones that are, sometimes come across as homophobic. Oppression is fairly rampart throughout and racism is high on the radar. Non-white people get the same "cold shoulder" as the gay people simply for daring to live in this town. The entire story shows how difficult life was for both gay and black people in the past eras, and how progress still has some ways to go even now.

The ideas in this book were intriguing, but the promised "mystery" is almost non-existent, and the story's pacing is uneven at times. In spite of that I still did enjoy this book.... or rather I just really HAD to know how or if, Jake survived. This IS NOT something that everyone will enjoy. It does mostly show the worst traits of humanity, but also it also shows that there is the potential for something better. In whole the book is about the secrets and the trauma that makes the real world equally as bad and as scary as the supernatural one.

[Philip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really wonderful paranormal YA novel about family secrets and the toll they take. Love Greg Herren's two adult murder mystery series. Bury Me in Shadows continues his exploration of the deep South and the lives of gay men focusing this time on a college student.

[Whitney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into "Bury Me in Shadows" with no expectations - I'd never read Greg Herren before, and wasn't even passingly familiar with his work. After reading "Bury Me in Shadows", I expect that to change. "Bury Me in Shadows" was an absolutely wonderful horror piece that fits pretty well in that nebulous New Adult slot - it's not quite adult horror but the protagonist is 19 and in college. I was hooked from pretty much chapter one when the country between Birmingham and Tuscaloosa Alabama is described - you see, I live in Northern Alabama. I know exactly the area that was so perfectly described - I know its people, I know how it feels in the heat, I know the ramshackle kind of old homes being described. And so few authors nail it. It's clear that Herren is familiar with the area, and has the same kind of hesitant warmth toward that I do - it's a lovely place, full of people set in their ways, and full of people who are more progressive toward the LGBTQ+ community. The danger is in knowing who is who.

Which is one of Jake's many problems: after a drug-fueled rager that nearly ends his life, Jake goes to live with his grandmother for the summer to help prepare her aging old home for her eventual death. Not only does he keep getting strange feelings every time he walks inside the house, he's forced to deal with meth-making neighbors, unsettling discoveries, and a potential love interest who isn't out of the closet. When a skeleton is discovered in the ruins behind his house, Jake starts piecing together some family secrets that may threaten his dull summer away from the city... and his life.

This book is a solid mix of horror and thriller, with a nice little dollop of who-dun-it. It deals with the homophobia, racism, and the general problems of a small, Southern town, but it also has characters who are friendly, progressive, or at least conservative-but-kind. In other words, the South of Herren's story isn't homogenous, but a mix of individuals. I greatly enjoyed the atmosphere of this book, as well as the relationships Jake develops as the story progresses. My only quibbles are that sometimes individual conversations are repeated (Jake asks someone: 'was growing up here hard for you?' three times; I think this was a minor editing issue). Additionally, I could see the "solution" of the mystery about halfway through the book and it was difficult having Jake not quite put the pieces together until later.

But all's said and done - what a spooky, densely atmospheric book! I really enjoyed my time with "Bury Me in Shadows".

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC! I will be featuring it on my Bookstagram before its release date.

[Kristin Sledge · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars and a beaming review! Pick this one up if you're in the mood for a spooky mystery Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Jake needs an escape from reality. After overdosing his mother gives him two options: rehab or his grandmother's house in Alabama. Choosing what he feels is the lesser of two evils, Jake goes to Alabama after not visiting for over ten years. His grandmother had a stroke and doesn't communicate well, and there are massive meth dealers next door; add on top of it some researches excavating an old plantation on Jake's grandmother's land without her permission and you've got a recipe for trouble. When Jake starts to feel presences other than his own along with feelings that don't belong to him, what family secrets will he uncover? And are these secrets a threat to his future as well as his past?

Bury Me in Shadows is like an ogre, it has layers. Layers that you would assume would clash and make one mess of a book, however Herren is a master at weaving these unrelated layers into a multifaceted mystery. Hidden secrets from generations ago, organizations long thought forgotten, and self discovery are just some of the pieces you will find digging their hooks into you. Truly appreciating all the author has done would spoil the story for everyone, but just know this: the characters are second to none, there are more mysteries than meet the eye, and sometimes those meant to protect you are your biggest foes.

5 elated stars for Bury Me in Shadows, I look forward to reading more by this author in the future. Heavy recommendation for those who enjoy family mysteries, a good supernatural story, or even a redemption story. Age recommendation is 14+ as there is very adult situations Jake faces, but handled graciously by the author.

[Paloma Caballero · Rating 4 out of 5]

English.

This book was quite a surprise to me. I chose it because the synopsis promised a good mystery and ghost story, but when I started reading it I found something very different (although yes, it does have a bit of that).
The plot takes place in a town in Alabama (for those who do not know, Alabama has very important places for the civil rights movement) where our protagonist will find a dark family history that he did not know, ruins that keep a mystery, visions of times gone by and the horror of finding yourself trapped in a prejudiced town where everyone seems to be your enemy.
First I have to emphasize that we are facing a very environmental narrative, the descriptions of the town, the smells, the climate, the sensations, everything is quite absorbing. I liked this detail because it helps to be transported within the story and understand the protagonist.
The book makes good use of both the location and the ignorance of Jacob to talk about many important issues: racism, slavery, homophobia, classism, etc., and it entangled everything in a paranormal plot. From this point I think that what I liked the most was that it is very anchored to reality.
The book has its ups and downs, some parts were a bit slow or repetitive, but in the end it ends up being a pretty good experience and in which I can ignore some details that did not convince me to enjoy reading. I really liked the book because of the way it is developed, I really enjoyed it, I give it a 4/5.




Español.

Este libro fue toda una sorpresa para mí. Lo escogí porque la sinopsis prometía una buena historia de fantasmas y misterio, pero cuando comencé a leerlo me encontré con algo muy distinto (aunque sí, tiene un poco de eso). 
La trama transcurre en un pueblo de Alabama (para los que no saben, es conocido entre otras cosas, por tener lugares importantes para el movimiento por los derechos civiles) dónde nuestro protagonista se encontrará con una oscura historia familiar que desconocía, unas ruinas que guardan un misterio, visiones de tiempos pasados y el horror de encontrarse atrapado en en un pueblo lleno de prejuicios donde todos parecen ser sus enemigos.
Primero tengo que recalcar que estamos ante una narrativa muy ambiental, las descripciones del pueblo, los olores, el clima, las sensaciones, todo es bastante absorbente. Este detalle me gustó porque ayuda a transportarse dentro de la historia y entender al protagonista. 
El libro aprovecha bien tanto la ubicación como el desconocimiento de Jacob para hablar de muchisimos temas importantes: racismo, esclavismo, homofobia, clasismo etc, y lo enredó todo en una trama paranormal. De este punto creo que lo que más me gustó fue que está muy anclada a la realidad. 
El libro tiene sus altos y sus bajos, algunas partes eran un poco lentas o repetitivas, pero al final termina siendo una experiencia bastante buena y en la que puedo ignorar algunos detalles que no me terminaron de convencer para disfrutar de la lectura. El libro me gustó bastante por la forma en la que está desarrollado, lo disfruté mucho, yo le doy un 4/5.

[Sie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, that was a wild ride of a book. The writing was good, even if it did feel like it dragged in places and had some repetitiveness. I did appreciate the way the story handled racism and homophobia. I genuinely appreciate when these things aren't glorified or softened, and Greg Herren did a good job of showing the reality of such things.

Jake was a fairly likable character, even if I wanted to grab him by the shoulders and shake him like a ragdoll a few times. Okay, more than a few times. My dude, stop going out into the creepy ass woods by yourself. You're a city boy, you're gonna get hurt.

Kelly was a little more up and down, but, in the end, he does prove to be a good guy, and I'm glad he was able to show that while also keeping history from repeating itself.

The way the story is layered with the past and present was well done, the juxtaposition between events and the use of familial dopplegangers was definitely a nice touch.

I will admit that there is a good amount of discomfort in this book, but topics such as racism and homophobia should cause discomfort. That's the point. You can't accurately discuss these topics in any meaningful way without it. But, it could also be triggering to some folk (the use of slurs and the details of lynchings and the klan especially), so I would recommend making sure you are in a mental state where you can either handle it or be able to put the book down if you need to. No story is worth your mental health.

[Aina · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up. Bury Me In Shadows is about college student Jake who discovers the truth behind his family’s secrets amidst his personal struggles. There are ghosts, literally and metaphorically, in this story.

I thought the book does a great job portraying what it’s like for a young gay man to live in a rural Southern town. Jake is really naive at times, though that could be chalked up to his age. The description of the rundown, dirty home and secluded location made it feel even more suffocating. The book also explores oppression through a racial lens, where Black people get the same cold treatment just for living in that town. It shows how difficult life was for gay and Black people in the past, and how progress still has some ways to go even now.

The mystery is not as complex as I wished it is, and I wasn’t fully convinced by how the various storylines connect. I also felt the characters’ voices could be more distinct with less repetitive conversations. But I still enjoyed this book. It is a solid addition to queer representation in horror.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a review copy.

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[KD · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to #NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books Inc for the ARC of #BuryMeinShadows!
I tore through the last 60 percent or so of the book in no time but I just couldn't connect to the first 40ish percent. I could tell it was going somewhere interesting and I needed to get answers to my questions so I kept with it. I'm still left with some unanswered questions though and they mostly surround Dewey.

I deducted from my rating for the fact that it took me so long to connect to the narrative and because I found a lot of the narrative to be... repetitive. It's like the reader is supposed to be shocked by the fact that Jake's has visions even though it's already been well established that he has them. The shock value just goes away eventually. Of course, every new piece of information that we get on past events is something to latch onto but the medium is no longer something that needs so much emphasis. I don't regret reading this book but it won't go on my "I'll be reading this again" list.

[S Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read many of Greg Herren's books - always fun. But I thought this was one of his better written ones. Great for someone who wants light mystery. As with many books of this genre, I dislike the constant repetition of facts and descriptions, as if we need to be constantly reminded who's who and what's what. Not terribly bad in this book, but still a pet peeve and some of the descriptions here did appear a few times too many. The general outcome was not difficult to predict, but the telling was satisfying and with a slight twist or two at the end. But I still can't figure how the main character managed to walk quietly through the house while wearing flipflops!

[Kathy B · Rating 1 out of 5]

Read this for a mystery book discussion and the majority of us didn't like it. It was as if the author couldn't decide if he wanted to write a mystery, a gothic novel, or a gay romance, so it felt very disjointed. Having written a paper on Gothic novels in grad school, I would classify this as Gothic rather than a mystery. It was a slog for a good part of the book. I don't know if I'll read anything else by this author. He's well known and well respected and I had looked forward to this book, only to be vastly disappointed.

[Rob Lesher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book on vacation. Greg Herren is a favorite of mine. He has two detective series set in NO which I adore. This is a southern gothic stand alone novel with deep characters impacted by the past. I mean the long past. Filled with ghosts and unresolved relationships. Good story telling and atmosphere.

[Michael Rutkowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mystery or ghost story? Doesn't matter how you classify it, it was a good read. The descriptions of the area of the country and the people who live there was spot on. I have been a fan of Greg Herren's for many years and I don't expect that to end.

[Avid Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this stand-alone story by Greg Herren; well rounded, believably flawed characters, heaps of atmosphere and hints of the supernatural. Fabulous.

[Mary G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was an enjoyable story with a touch of the paranormal.

[Coltostallion · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was a little hit-and-miss for me. I'm not usually big on YA but I had been intrigued by the plot, but it reminded me of the issues I do have with YA.

[Rohan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is so timely I adored it. The messages about racism and homophobia really hit home. A great pride month read

[Merel · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book was a trip, but I'm not sure yet if it was a good kind or bad kind

[okshane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this intriguing paranormal gay story! I was always wondering what was going to happen next and I thought the pacing was really peaceful and good.

[moira · Rating 4 out of 5]

5/5 stars

trigger warnings: racism and racial violence, homophobia, use of the f slur

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was simply amazing. Going in I didn't really have an idea what to expect but i was positively surprised by the plot. The book captivated me from the beginning and I couldn't put it down. It was original and thrilling and had a sort of eerie vibe to it that I loved.

I could empathize with and understand the main character Jake well. In my opinion he was an accurate representation of a young queer person that is still growing up and learning. The struggles he had to face as a gay guy in a mostly homophobic area were not glossed over which I appreciated.
Throughout the book I felt myself rooting for him. All in all he was a lovable character.

This novel is perfect for fans of the mysterious and supernatural. In addition to that people with a special interest in the history of America (more specifically in the Civil War) will enjoy this novel!

[Rob Osler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was spooky and immersive. Jake, a troubled college guy, winds up staying for a summer at his grandma's creepy, steamy, back-woods-Alabama house that has seen better days. In fact," seeing the past" figures predominately in this well-crafted story as no sooner does Jake move into the house than he starts reliving memories, seeing apparitions, and feeling ill. Ghost story? Family drama? Murder mystery? Romance? Historical? Dark and sinister suspense? Yes x 6. And so much more. Greg Herren manages to weave elements of several genres into one highly successful yarn that hooked me at page one, kept me on the edge of my seat throughout, and left me shaken, yet hopeful, at the close.

[Samuel White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read!

A really good ghost story horror book. I finished it in two days and loved every minute of it. Give it a read.

[Brit Bucklee · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5