Bitten by Books
The tremendous Things Half in Shadow grabs the reader with its very first sentence, refusing to let go for the duration of the novel. Our narrator, journalist Edward Clark, begins by describing his visit to the scene of a dead young woman, called there by his friend, Inspector Barclay, in the hopes that Edward will print the story with a photo which will lead to identifying the woman. This effort becomes unnecessary when the dead woman’s mother and sister arrive at the scene, with the mother’s surprising news that her daughter’s ghost appeared to her, stating that she was dead.
At work at the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin, Edward answers his editor’s questions about the story, which leads to a new assignment he gets asked to consider: exposing the city’s mediums as fakes. At first, Edward balks at the idea, but when his future father-in-law declares that Edward should indeed take on the task in order to rid the city of the scourge, he decides to do so.
Edward’s first stop, later that evening: Mrs. Lucy Collins. After the seance, Edward tells Lucy he knows her tricks and plans to expose her. When her offers of monetary bribery do not sway Edward, the next day Lucy resorts to other tactics-threatening to expose the secret Edward has hidden for several years regarding his true identity. Ultimately, feeling as though he has no choice, Edward reluctantly agrees to visit other mediums in the city with Lucy, exposing them in his article, thereby creating more customers for Lucy. When the first seance they attend together ends in a death, and the two find themselves fellow suspects, they determine to prove their innocence by rooting out the killer.
Finn expertly blends mystery, history and the supernatural in this thoroughly engrossing and entertaining tale, its sense of immediacy providing the reader a ringside seat to the action. The Philadelphia of 1869 comes alive, proving the ideal setting for both the underlying plot and the supernatural aspects of the riveting story. The dexterous melding of elements results in a unique novel that fits into multiple genres with ease.
Edward, a sympathetic, likeable protagonist, does not always make the best choices, especially in his efforts to keep his secret hidden, but he demonstrates a sense of justice and fairness in regards to others. The secondary players add dimension, and in some cases, humor, to the narrative, coming across as distinct individuals.
Recommending the superb Things Half in Shadow for fans of mystery, historical fiction, and paranormal fantasy, this reviewer fervently hopes that at least a sequel will be forthcoming.
Book Stats:
- Paperback: 448 pages
- Publisher: Gallery Books (December 30, 2014)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1476761728
- ISBN-13: 978-1476761725
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Summary : Edward, a sympathetic, likeable protagonist, does not always make the best choices, especially in his efforts to keep his secret hidden, but he demonstrates a sense of justice and fairness in regards to others. The secondary players add dimension, and in some cases, humor, to the narrative, coming across as distinct individuals.
