Permanent Shadows

The Strange Air #2

by Erick Mertz

Canyon County has a frightening secret.

Not everything is what it seems out on the prairie. August Melville, the new sheriff of Whistler's Grove, is about to discover how difficult upholding the law in your home town can be.

Bo-Rob's serves the best fried chicken in Canyon County. When a mysterious box is unearthed during the restaurant's remodel, a path into the area's strange history opens up. Sheriff Melville, just getting his feet wet in his new role as sheriff, finds himself thrust into an ancient cycle of hauntings that has plagued Whistler's Grove for generations.

Will Melville be able to unravel the strange pattern before an unsuspecting young man meets his doom? Or, is he destined to relive the futile cycle experienced by generations before him?

Discover the secret behind the Canyon County Shadows. Some are permanent.

If you enjoy reading authors like Dean Koontz and Stephen King then you'll love Permanent Shadows the first book in The Strange Air series of paranormal mysteries.

Genres: Paranormal, Fiction

400 pages, Paperback

First published November 9, 2021

About the author

Erick Mertz is an author, born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, a place he is still lucky enough to call his home. He writes a paranormal mystery series, “The Strange Air” , described as “Longmire” meets “The X-Files”, set in the fictional central Oregon town of Whistler’s Grove.
In a previous lifetime, while a student at the University of Oregon, he studied English literature and played records late at night on campus radio 88.1 KWVA. After school was finished, he worked in group homes and as a case manager for community based adults with developmental disabilities. This is an area where he continues to work.
If he’s not writing, you can probably find him worrying about the Portland Trailblazers, drinking a local beer, or exploring that glorious Pacific Northwest landscape with his wife, Lisa, and son, Elijah.

Reviews

[Billie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful addition to this thrilling series!
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building that adds so much to the story.
Such a thrilling read that I couldn't put it down.
Can't wait to read more of these.
Recommend reading.

I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.

[M.J. Edington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stealthy Writing, gradual creepiness.

This author has mastered the art of growing creepy stories from just outside mundane reality to a vibrant dread as the story unfolds. He captures the reader a little step at a time until the realization occurs that you've been hooked. It comes on gradual like, sneaking up on the unwary until the ability to put the book down has vanished in a cloud of stealthy rhetoric.
I truly enjoyed this book and think any reader will find it engrossing.

[David Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Permanent Shadows is one of those books that seems like a familiar story when you start and then suddenly morphs into something much more. I loved how the story was told from several points of view, especially through the archive of documents. To say I couldn’t predict what was coming next is an understatement, and that mystery lasted right up until the end.

[Josette Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was incredible! I felt I should be looking over my shoulder for a shadow. Of all the things that terrify me, shadows or something watching me are the worst. I always look for this type of book to read and then wonder why I have nightmares. Go figure! This book was another ‘make you wonder’ type. Superstitions get a start from somewhere and I have always wondered if there are real instances behind them or do we get ‘group hysteria’? Read this book…with the caution of looking over your shoulder.

[Hilda Baard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written page turner. I enjoyed this book from the first page to the last.

[Jeanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Permanent Shadows is a very creepy read. The characters are great, and the storyline is interesting in this horror novel. The only thing….I found it read more like a series of short stories. It felt a tad disjointed. Otherwise, a good read.

[Aviar Savijon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Permanent Shadows

A great book. A story that won't let you put it down. So much happening each page is excellence. I loved it!!!!!!!

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

It wasn't my favourite book but it was good, well written and interesting. At first I didn't think I was going to like it, but after I got into it I enjoyed it. I would like to read another book by Erick Mertz just to make up my mind about him as an author.

[AnnaLaura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Small town with a distinct supernatural vibe

Mertz engages his readers by creating a unique and troubling atmosphere of myth and the supernatural (one of my favorite things). Something isn’t quite right.

You’ll be drawn into the mystery of this quaint, fictional town. You’ll want to know how its people tick. These characters are eccentric, bold, and well written. You’re going to care about them and what might happen to them. This place is overflowing with secrets and it’s a mystery the reader wants to understand and solve, but when dealing with the supernatural some things may remain unknown.

I was immediately drawn in by Melville and invested in his day-to-day life, his struggles, and his experience as sheriff of this small town. There’s a lot to chew on in this novel. My favorite part of this book is the relationship between Melville and his brother, Lindy. Followed by his relationship with the town. The story unwinds as you’re drawn further and further into the mystery of this little town. In the end, you’ll know these people. You’ll care about them.

It’s a real nail biter as you wind through the story. You don’t want to miss this one. You’ll love Melville and this little town.

[Bobbi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could not put down

This series grabs you and does not let you go. I was sorry to see the story end. Hoping to read more about the shadows. If you enjoy a good paranormal tale you will love this book. Highly recommend as a great scary story to keep you wondering about strange instances people have encountered.

[Janet Burger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very incomplete

Not like a true book but a few chapters leaving you hanging off a cliff.
Extremely irritating!
I hate cliffhanfers!
They are a cheap trick to attempt to get you to buy another collection of chapters and another cliffhanger!

[Sienna S'Zell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Couldn't get into it. Too many disparate story lines.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting read

A n interesting premise for a series. It will be interesting to see where the rest of story goes and how the plot unfolds.

[karin whitehead · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good ghost story! This fits into my habit! A fast, easy to follow and fun read. Kept me on my toes. Would recommend to my reader friends.