This book review is provided as part
of the Shadows Over Somerset blog
tour, however, the standards and scrutiny applied to this review are no less
than those given to any other work presented through the views of The Rage Circus Vs. The Soulless Void,
your blog for all things horror!
What kind of story would you expect
from a writer who has interacted with the supernatural? With such a vast wealth of knowledge at his
disposal that he lectures as an expert in the occult and the paranormal, what kind
of tale could Bob Freeman tell? It could
be that as a regular lecturer, his writing could quickly deteriorate into an
encyclopedia entry, too bogged down by facts to allow the reader to dive into
the story. It could also be that a
lifetime of study would present some of the best of mythology to support a
strong cast of characters and a fast-paced, exciting story. While it may be a little convoluted at first,
it quickly becomes apparent that this story will not be any lecture, but a
thrill ride that you will not be able to put down.
Michael Somers is brought to
Cairnwood, an isolated manor in rural Indiana, to sit at the deathbed of a
grandfather he never knew existed. He soon finds himself drawn into a strange
and esoteric world filled with werewolves, vampires, witches… and a family
curse that dates back to fourteenth century Scotland.
In the sleepy little town of
Somerset, an ancient evil awakens, hungering for blood and vengeance… and if
Michael is to survive he must face his inner demons and embrace his family’s
dark past.
From the
very beginning the story is shrouded in mystery. While all starts to be revealed and explained
within the first quarter of the book, this does cause some initial issues for
the reader. With the large cast of characters
and so much that had to be discovered, I found myself having some difficulty
fully following what was happening and who each character was until the story
started flowing. However, once the
players in the drama started to become clearer, I was instantly hooked and felt
myself propelled through the story.
This novel
has something for every type of horror fan.
There is plenty of blood and action.
I can assure you that the vampires in this novel do NOT sparkle. The werewolves are brutal and we get
different types from humanoid creatures to full, run-on-all-fours wolves. The witches are deadly and powerful, yet also
very human. Perhaps the most impressive
aspect of all of this is that Freeman manages to make all of these fantastic
creatures feel very natural within the context of the story. Add to it that all of the creatures are not
just ambiguous fiends, but well-thought-out characters with backstories and
personalities beyond just their basic creature of the night.
For me, the
greatest strength of this novel was the amazing backstory given to the
characters. Each has a rich history that
interlocks through the ages to the rest of the cast bringing them all to the
present day encounter. The Cairnwood
family is given a legacy that carries down through the years and is presented
to the reader without overwhelming the reader with detail or bogging down the
story in unnecessary exposition. The
narrative is concise, but extremely descriptive and visual taking the reader
from one moment of intense action to the next.
To avoid spoilers, I won’t go into any great detail, but I will say that
Freeman manages a balance that will please both those who desire constant
action in their reading materials as well as those who want a solidly
constructed story and characters.
Shadows Over Somerset is a work that shows how fiction can
benefit from intensive research and preparation prior to the author ever
putting pen to paper. While it is true
that in this case, much of the folklore and mythology used by Freeman might
have been among that which he already had in his vast repertoire, given his
background as an investigator and researcher of the paranormal, but the reader
directly receives the benefits of this knowledge in the form of a fantastic
story. What makes the story even better
is knowing that Freeman plans on Shadows
Over Somerset being just the first in a series of Cairnwood Manor tales,
meaning we can look forward to further journeys into the realm of this amazing
world that Freeman has set up for us.
So, let’s
take a look at the Rage Circus breakdown:
Story
Concept - 5/5
Story
Execution - 4/5
Story Flow -
4/5
Character
Development (give-a-damn factor) - 5/5
Gripping
visuals/details - 5/5
Entertainment
Value/Story Engagement - 5/5
Editing
(including grammar and spelling) - 4/5
Overall –
4.57/5 – Journey into Cairnwood Manor and see what mysteries await!
Get your
copy today:
About Bob Freeman: Bob Freeman doesn’t just write and draw occult detectives,
he’s also a card carrying paranormal adventurer who founded Nightstalkers of
Indiana in 1983.
A lifelong
student of witchcraft, magic, and religion, Bob’s studies are reflected in his
art, both as an author and illustrator.
Bob lives in
rural Indiana with his wife Kim and son Connor.
He can be
found online at occultdetective.com
Author Links:
Website: www.occultdetective.com
Twitter: @OccultDetective
