Within the Shadows

by Brandon Massey

Be Careful What You Wish For

At just thirty-one, Andrew Wilson has it all: close friends, a great house in an Atlanta suburb, and a successful career as a mystery writer. Only one thing is missing—a special person to share it with. Then one day he meets someone new, a woman who seems almost too good to be true.

Beautiful, smart, and sophisticated, Mika Woods is everything that Andrew has ever wanted and more—at first. After one night of passion, Andrew soon discovers that Mika isn't quite who she appears to be. Or even what she appears to be.

But it's too late to turn back. Mika has been waiting a lifetime for a man like Andrew. And what she wants, what she desires, she will have—no matter who has to die…

Genres: Horror, Thriller, Fiction, Suspense, Supernatural, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook

444 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 1, 2005

About the author

Here’s a little about me, Brandon Massey. (“Massey” is not pronounced “macy,” by the way. Think of “mass” instead.)

I was born June 9, 1973, in Waukegan, Illinois. I grew up in Zion, a suburb north of Chicago.

I originally self-published Thunderland, my first novel, in 1999. After managing to sell a few thousand copies on my own, Kensington Publishing Corp. in New York offered me a two-book contract, and published a new, revised edition of Thunderland in December 2002.

Since then, I’ve published up to three books a year, ranging from thriller novels such as The Other Brother, to short story collections such as Twisted Tales, and anthologies such as Dark Dreams.

My newest suspense thriller, Covenant, was published in November 2010.

I’ve got plenty more stories in the works that I’ll publish in the coming years.

I live with my family near Atlanta, GA.

Reviews

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good book! I didn't quite know what to expect as I have never read this author before, but what a great surprise as I was hooked after a few pages!

The book started out a little slow, but once I really got into it, then it just took off into a fascinating, creepy ride.

Andrew Wilson is a mystery writer and writes under the name of Mark Justice for a series of books. He has about anything he could possibly want with a house in Atlanta and great career. He doesn't have a woman in his life, except for his good friend Carmen, but he doesn't see her as anything but just a friend.

All that changes when he meets a woman named Mika and she wants him to be her soul mate. He plays along with her, thinking that she will be no more than a one night stand, but she ends up wanting more of him and she pursues him to no end. Nothing will stand in her way of Andrew and her as she goes to extreme lengths to have Andrew all to herself.

What he doesn't know is that Mika is not a normal person and things start happening that somehow ties into a haunting in his house. In the meantime, Andrew's father is having nightmares of a haunted mansion that involves Andrew, but his father will not mention it to Andrew as they are trying to mend a father/son relationship that has been strained for a few years. As time goes on though, his father decides that he needs to let Andrew know about his nightmares, which ties up the loose ends of everything going on with Andrew.

Thoughts:

The author did a great job of catching that horror atmospheric feel throughout the whole book and the characters just fell right into place.

This book was a mystery/horror grabber as the more I became involved in the storyline, the more I couldn't put the book down! There were a lot of twists and turns that I didn't see coming!

I will be reading more by this author in the future and I am giving this book four stars.

(I do have a warning: there is a small amount of graphic sex in the beginning of the book and there is some gory parts later in the book, but none of that deterred me from reading it.)

[Lois · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was decent. Kind of a supernatural thriller more than a horror. I'll definitely be reading by this author.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best horror novels I read for a long time! Andrew gets involved with a mysterious beautiful woman who names herself Mika. They have a great time together (excellent sex scene by the way) and everything seems to turn out fine. But Andrew has bad feelings about this new relatonsship and Mika seems to be extremely posessive. What about her background and is there a link to the strange accident he had with his father? Things get eerier and eerier. Andrew feels under surveillance and comes to grasp that Mika has some superhuman abilities. Can his father help him? Is there a way to get rid of this obsessive woman who sees in him an incarnation of her dead lover? The novel is a first class page turner if I ever came across one. You have to think about She by Rider Haggard and the author (I didn't read anything from him before) openly alludes to Stephen King in his book. I really like how he integrated the pen name Mark Justice into the story (had to think about Stark, the Dark Half by Stephen King) and the denouement at the end. The nightmarish ats made me think about Pet Semetary and Mika bringing down a stone rain on the village made me think about Carrie. I absolutely recommend reading this brilliant horror novel. It really keeps you on the edge of your seat. At the end you cry out for more and wish for a follow up. The ancient sacred place of power the Mouning Hill Mansion is built upon is a very strong motif. Must read!

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s a really good story with a great surprise twist at the end. I would technically call it a horror/paranormal novel as it has supernatural elements…but it’s also very much a suspense novel. The characters are very likable… except for Mika. No more said about her. You’ll have to find out for yourself. There is quite a bit of semi-explicit sex and less-explicit violence…but unless the reader is very sensitive to either of these things…it shouldn’t distract from the story. This is the second book I’ve read by Brandon Massey, and I have to say that he writes a book that is creepy s well as having just the right amount of horror…and is more than capable of giving plenty of scares.

[Monique · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am really liking this author..he is an African American thriller/horror author which in itself is respectable and rare but he has this way of telling a story that makes you really want to read..This is a second novel that I have picked up by him and as with the first Thunderland there are elements of the supernatural but an all around tame thrilling novel that takes you on a scary ride you dont want to stop until the last page, read in two days and thought about it every minute I wasnt reading it...The story is one we have read before...a successful man (Adam) meets a too-good-to-be true beautiful woman (Mika) that he falls hard for, reveals too much of himself too and goes home with on the first night to mind blowing sex. Just as Andrew begins to think that maybe he could be the one that Mika is looking for and that he could fall in love with Mika shows her true colors as a clingy, psycho crazy lady that believes Andrew is her soulmate and that they are meant to be together..forever....It is from this basic framework that everything else revolves and you are introduced to his best friend Eric, his close friend and secret love Carmen and his estranged father..together they must stop Mika and discover why she is so crazy, what powers she has and how all this relates to the troubled past Andrew and his father have..I enjoyed the unbelievable aspect of the book and it was nice that it wasnt too serious and just tried to tell a good story and I think it did that, there are passages that are kinda cheesy and kinda silly but overall I really had a good time...Mika was truly a character you wanted to know more about and the ending though predictable was satisfying with a clever twist..Brandon Massey is a talented author that tells stories that actually draw you in and I appreciate that..will definitely look for more works by him, great fast entertaining stories..

[*~CONN!3~]

This was a well put 2gether read...the flow everything just fit, I loved this read, its one of my fav's by this author

[Rayna Swan · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 but I’ll round it up to 3. I think it started off good & just got really ridiculous. Also I feel like there were 3 different stories happening at once. 🥴

[B. Truly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a thrilling read! I haven’t read many male written books, but I love Mr. Massey’s writing style. This novel was well-written. Very descriptive with an underlining tone of humor—just my style.
I liked that this book also had a bit of romance dabbled in.

I wasn’t sure what Mika was, and I wasn’t disappointed when we learn the truth about what she is. It was refreshing that the paranormal aspect was different and not the same vampire or witch theme. There was thought put behind it, which made the story seem as if it could really happen. Native ritual grounds and I do believe that some people have a 6th sense. I have some very intuitive dreams that I try not to look too much into.
I could easily see this novel made into a suspenseful movie. A psychotic, obsessive, uncanny woman who will stop at nothing to have the man she thinks is destined to be hers. She gave a new meaning to the word soul mate. And if you looked up the definition of bat-shit crazy, then you would see a picture of Mika.

From the first page, the story catches your interest. It’s well-paced with different elements of mystery trickling in, to keep you on your toes. It’s wrote realistically & I feared the character’s outcome.
Once the climate unfolds, there are drastic things that occur. I held onto the hope that since this book has paranormal elements, what happened could be fixed. I’m glad it worked out in the end or it would have been disappointing. I love characters that are put through hell, but I prefer a somewhat happy ending.
I don’t give many full 5 stars. I normally just round up, but Within the Shadows deserves all 5 stars. I highly recommended it. I’m now a fan of Mr. Massey & there are several more books of his on my list to read.

[Rochelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5
I really enjoyed listening to this book. It's a supernatural, suspenseful, thriller. It was giving Lifetime Fatal Attraction movie in the beginning, but that was to set up how crazy Mika was, and crazy she was. She was doing way more than boiling rabbits though.

Loved all the supernatural, spiritual and forgiveness themes. The reveal about why Mika thought Andrew was her soul mate was a nice twist. I almost cried at the end with what happened with Carmen, Eric and his dad.

I was yelling at the phone as if I were watching a movie. Most enjoyable Brandon Massey book to date.

[Sage · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! First book I've picked up by this author, but I am halfway through and thoroughly enjoying the story! I started it at around 7 p.m. and read until 2 a.m. What a great writer - his characters and plot are so juicy. And quite honestly, it's one of the few horror books lately that has hooked me within the first chapter with unsettling situations. There are absolutely no dull moments in this book. Oftentimes, the beginning of a horror story is super slow and gives you maybe one or two scares, but this one? Right from the get-go, things get creepy! My new "after Stephen King" favorite! Definitely try this book - you will be hooked on Brandon Massey, trust me. I am!

Just finished the book - VERY IMPRESSED! It's horror, supernatural, romance, obsession, thriller - all rolled into one really interesting story. The ending - WOW! F***ING WOW!

I am on a quest to read every book by Brandon Massey. He's a great writer who will have you glued to the book from page one!

[Rebecca Ansardi · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5. I got this book years ago while visiting my grandparents at a used bookstore in Marietta, GA. I vaguely remembered some things about it but wanted to reread. I enjoyed it a lot. I really like the pacing. Loved the supernatural elements brought into it and the tension throughout just by Mika's character. I do believe he was her soulmate reincarnated but like he said at the end: That was his past, and Carmen is his future. Mika's child-murdering psycho self didn't deserve him anyways!

[TISHA · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was really good. Just imagine if Fatal Attraction and the Supernatural got together and had a baby, it would be called "Within The Shadows". All of the characters were likable in the beginning, but something weird kept nagging at me with the character Mika. I soon found out what it was, but never expected it to be what it became. The father and son dynamic pulled at my heart strings up until the very end. This book also showed me that having good friends in your corner means a lot, and that love (knowingly or unknowingly) can get one through a lot. I don't want to give away too much, if anything about the story. If you're ready for an edge of your seat ride, then this audiobook is for you.

[Di · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a “cover read” for me. Meaning i didn’t read the synopsis but only look into the cover to assume that this is a scary one.

The story though is not what i expect looking at the book cover.

A lot of the things that happened pissed me off. But at the same time it seems like this book has it’s charm that make you want to keep on reading.

And to be honest, this is the first time i didn’t get scared of a the supernatural. And instead i feel sad for a ghost!

All in all, this book is an action packed and fast paced book you’ll enjoy if you’re into a light horror.

[*~CONN!3~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite story by Brandon Massey

[Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me at the edge of my seat…..Brandon is an amazing author who’s ability to put the reader in the midst of the story is amazing!!!!

You like thriller? Must read
You like awesome? Must read
You like a story that will grip you? Must read

[Brianna Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! What a FANTASTIC novel! I've got goosebumps from the surprise twist at the end! This book starts out strong and keeps going. All of the loose ends are tied up, there are no unresolved questions. The book begins with the "Prologue"---a 31 year old man named Andrew and his 50 year old father Raymond are on their way home from a short golfing trip. They have recently begun to reconnect, after Raymond basically ignored Andrew for most of his life. They are driving through a thunderstorm, and Raymond starts acting strangely and drives onto an exit ramp and down a deserted road. They end up in an accident. Raymond is knocked unconscious, and Andrew can't get a signal on his phone to call for help, so he goes into a decrepit, haunted looking mansion looking for a phone. After meeting a strange man there, and not finding a phone, Andrew is able to get a signal and get help for his father.
The novel then picks up a few weeks later. Raymond has been having nightmares, (or visions), since the accident. Andrew has strange things happen in his life, too. It appears he is suddenly being haunted and he also meets an insanely beautiful woman around the same time. This woman , Mika, is not who she initially appears to be. She becomes obsessed with Andrew, thinking he's her soul mate. She will not take no for an answer.
The main characters in this book , except for Mika, are likeable and sympathetic. Andrew is a good, decent guy. Raymond is a man who owns up to the fact that he was a terrible father and is doing his best to make up for it. Carmen and Eric are Andrew's two best friends. These are all people who the reader will care about and root for.
Even though technically this is a horror novel, because of the supernatural elements, I would call it more of a "suspense" novel. There is some violence, but it's not over the top. Relationships are a sub-theme, or maybe even the major theme, in this novel. The relationship between Andrew and his father, between Andrew and Carmen, between Andrew and Mika. Also, when it comes to Mika, Andrew and the other characters try to figure out what's motivating her, what's behind her obsession and actions. It turns out that there is a fascinating back story to Mika.
This book has a very inventive, original plot. As I was reading, I had absolutely no idea where the story was going. It was very well thought out and put together. Everything actually made sense, in the context of the story.
And just wait till you get to the last few pages! There's a real shock of an ending!

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the things I liked best about this book was that its hero, Andrew Wilson, wasn't a moron. Sounds ridiculous, but think of how many mystery/suspense/thriller books you've read where the hero or heroine does something completely banal and idiotic in order to advance the plot or inject some thrills or chills. An example would be a town that is currently under siege by a serial killer and our genius hero/heroine decides to go for a walk, alone, late at night, in precisely the area where the victims are being plucked, to think. I cannot tell you how many times I have read instances like this, and in books by well-known and respected authors. These type of things just boggle my mind. No one with an ounce of common sense would do something like that and it can very nearly ruin the book for me.

Mr. Massey, however, stayed away from such clichéd situations. While the overall arc was nothing new (man stalked by obsessive female), the background of the story, as well as the resolution certainly was.

I liked Andrew Wilson. He seemed like a good guy, a smart guy, who made a mistake. A terrible mistake, sure, but a human mistake.

I found Within the Shadows a relatively quick read and a pleasing one. As an Atlanta native, I enjoyed seeing restaurant and street names that I recognized and I could tell from Mr. Massey's writing that he actually visited Atlanta before writing about it. (In fact, he resides in Atlanta). And while Within the Shadows had a strong element of the supernatural, it was believable.


I will be adding Mr. Massey to my "must read" list and I encourage you to do the same.

[Luciano · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of those horror novels that has a difficult time staying in the genre. I found myself on at least a few occasions chuckling out loud about something that was happening in the story, when it was supposed to be making the hairs on my neck stand on end. The characters are fairly fleshed out and the dialogue is very realistic; but the author has the tendency of using this same phrasing to describe the gesture of the protaganist of the story; "he drew his hand across his face." He says this so frequently that I found myself getting pulled out of the story every time I ran across the phrase. I would expect a published author to be able to come up with, at the minium, variences of the phrase.

Not a great book, but not bad either.

[Rasheeda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed some of this book....the chapters involving Mika and Andrew's story. The parts of the story that deviated from that-- Carmen and Andrew's struggle to be more than friends was annoying and really took away from the suspense. It was like those scenes in movies where someone crazy is after you but you still have to have sex. Those parts made the book longer than it needed to be. Andrew was not a sympathetic character for me, I thought he was naive, smug, and still stuck on how beautiful Mika was even as she did some horrible things. At times in the book I was like, dude seriously? I was expecting a horror novel but to me it just wasn't enough to make me jump.

[Sharonbrown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Andrew Wilson has it all: a great house, a great job as a mystery writer, and all the money he can handle. But he's missing one thing: someone to share it all with. One day while writing at a small Georgia coffee shop, he meets Mika Woods, a sophisticated woman who seems to be the answer to Andrew's prayers. After a hot night, Andrew regrets his decision and wants to take things slowly. But slow is not her speed, and suddenly Andrew's world plunges into a nightmare as he discovers Mika is not all what she seems. Excellent horror, suspense!

[Kristi Benton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thrill ride with surprise ending

This books was not what I anticipated. It held me spellbound until the end. I have a new author to explore and I’m glad I stumbled upon this book.

[Adrienna · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5, get all good towards the end...why!

[Shasta · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very suspenseful book full of twists and turns. I loved it. Look forward to reading more from this author!

[Latonia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this author

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

No spoilers, just a summary and my thoughts.
https://youtu.be/03hqGH94zYE

[Tya C. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can definitely tell this book was written by a man lol, but overall enjoyable! Also, Sammy is the sweetest🥰

[Mia Buck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brandon Massey's Within the Shadows is a gripping blend of supernatural suspense, mystery, and emotional depth that keeps you turning pages late into the night. Known for his ability to weave thrilling narratives with strong character development, Massey does not disappoint in this haunting novel.

The story centers around Andrew Wilson, a successful writer who receives an unexpected and cryptic message about his long-lost father—a man he believed to be dead. As Andrew investigates, he is drawn into a chilling web of secrets, danger, and dark family legacies that go far deeper than he ever imagined.

Massey's writing is both vivid and atmospheric, with a strong sense of place and mood. He does an excellent job balancing supernatural elements with very human fears—loss, betrayal, identity, and belonging. The pacing is steady, building tension gradually until it erupts in a dramatic, satisfying climax.

What stands out most is Massey’s command of psychological suspense. He doesn’t rely on cheap thrills; instead, he creates a sense of dread through detailed storytelling and emotional realism. The spiritual and moral undertones layered throughout the book add a compelling dimension, encouraging reflection long after the final page.

While some secondary characters could have been more deeply developed, and a few plot points felt slightly rushed toward the end, Within the Shadows is still a powerful, well-written novel that blends the eerie and the emotional in a way that’s signature to Massey’s style.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do not typically read supernatural thrillers, so I had to suspend disbelief while reading this without rolling my eyes at some of the absurd situations. "A ghost and a psycho chick. What a weird combination." Definitely.

Andrew is a successful novelist with everything going for him. The only thing missing from his life is someone to share it with. A chance encounter with a beautiful woman leads to a night of passion and a life of obsession. Mika enchants Andrew but then won’t release her grip on him. When he realizes how dangerous she is, his attempts to thwart her are met with rage and violence.

Meanwhile, Andrew’s estranged father is acting strangely since a recent car accident. Could the accident and the subsequent nightmares have something to do with Mika’s sudden presence in Andrew’s life? You bet they do. Without spoiling anything, the whole supernatural spin on the plot was wild.

Besides the paranormal aspect of the story, the book did have its flaws. The dialogue was a bit cheesy, and I got annoyed with all of the characters constantly calling each other “bro.” However, the author did a good job conveying a sinister atmosphere. As strange as this book was, I was moderately entertained.

[Vivienne Neal · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Absorbing Thriller with a Bombshell Ending

The author does not disappoint when it comes to weaving a gripping novel with ghostlike undertones. The setting is Georgia, with its versatile, authentic characters, great exchange of ideas, and vivid and descriptive sceneries. Andrew Wilson, best-selling author and a perfectionist when it comes to his home, work, and privacy, is about to face a dangerous dilemma after his father, Raymond West, swerves his car to avoid hitting a deer, causing an accident near an eerie mansion. The plot becomes a game of cat and mouse where layers of the past begin to stalk the father. When Mika appears, Andrew will experience desire, bizarre goings-on, secrets and lies, betrayal, manipulation, intimidation, and resentment. This compelling, page-turning saga with its many twists and turns will keep you speculating from start to finish, reminding us that sometimes it is better to leave well enough alone.

[Scented Pages · Rating 4 out of 5]

Andrew is a little more complicated and complexed of a character than the rest of them. This book was the perfect blend of real life horror (a crazy stalker women) with the supernatural elements making it more of a supernatural thriller .
We have Andrew, his dad Raymond, his best friend Carmen and their other friend. I forget his name. He's pretty irrelevant. And last, but certainly not least Mika.
And MIKA is Sugar Cat.
Grace from Nana was was Cougar Honey Cat.
But MIKA was FAST and hot with the Sugar Cat and it was so funny! LMAOOO!
She was crazy but i liked her back story and lure. See that's how I kind of wished he would have handled the 7 sisters in Nana with just maybe a chapter of some sort of back story with them, from the 40 years of absenteeism Grace put Monica through. I wish we knew a little more of what she was doing during that time involving her 7 other daughters.
MY GIRL is this story was Carmen. At first I didnt want to like Carmen, but I did.
The ONLY time I was on Mika's side was in the beginning of her and Andrew's relationship when she asked about what the NATURE of his relationship with Carmen would be.
*eye roll*
Idda wanted to know the SAME. She was like:
"Well if she's pretty , single and already your BEST friend then why aren't you with HER???"
VALID! THAT was a VALID and warranted question!
PAST THAT THO GIRL SHE WAS TRIPPIN TRIPPIN!!!
But Andrew's DAD was my favorite character in this book. Bless his heart. That nigga really died TRYING. He REALLY put forth an EXPLOSIVELY valiant effort at the end. But, you know what...GOOD FOR HIM. Better late than never I guess.
What i took from the domestic side of this one was on FATHERHOOD and how intimidating and scary it can be for some men who are afraid of failing at fatherhood. Afraid of messing a kid up. Some men are so afraid to messing up that they end messing up because they're afraid to mess up. Chile...i guess. EVERY parent has those fears, you still dont get to walk away and just F-off somewhere cuz you're scared. We all are. Still Sound like excuses to me. But like i said, that nigga died trying. So.... 5/5stars! LMAOOOO

My favorite quote from this book come from Carmen's thoughts: ""Years of dating had taught her a painful lesson: NEVER ASSUME ANYTHING WITH A MAN. Don't think that just because he calls you every day, as if you were his women, that you REALLY are his women. Don't believe that if he showered you with attention, as if you were the most special women on earth meant that he viewed you as any more special than the women he'd seen the night before. Don't presume that making love to a man meant that he had any love for you."
And this book had cats in it but they were evil. Russian blues, but I dont like it when cats are portrayed as evil beings in books and media because it perpetuates stupid untrue myths, and superstitions around kitty cats that stpid people still hold as true and give them reasons to do and think stupid shit about cats