Shifting Shadows by Betty Woodcock
Matt and Lorna appear to be a happily married couple, both professional with three young children but this is where any normality ends.
Matt is ambitious and hopeful for promotion before he secretively discovers that he is on the redundancy list after the company is facing an economic downturn and it needs to shed a third of its workforce. He describes it as a "freefall to hell." He sees a job advertised in Yorkshire and convinces Lorna that he must apply even if it means relocation from their Kent home, a big upheaval for all the family. Matt describes the opportunity as a "miracle" and a "Godsend." Well-needed. Perfect timing.
"I was right to get out before the bomb of redundancy dropped, before the shock waves spread."
Protest marches and strikes ensue but fortunately, Matt has successfully secured a deputy managerial position at Grafton engineering.
Settling into a new job became problematic for Matt. Open hostility and resentment of this southerner invading their territory are evident. Duggie, the boss, warns him that Frank the book-keeper is "up to summat." He sure is but he is not the only one. The plot thickens.
Embezzlement, an arson attack and a break-in are some of the delights that poor Matt has to deal with without losing his head. Rather like being thrown in the deep-end when you can't swim! And that's not all.
Simultaneously, the family move into a huge house and early on in the story we are conscious of Matt's paranoia over the noises, slamming of doors, footsteps and the sound of a child sobbing. There is something "menacing" and "brooding" about their new home.
"Goosepimples skittered along my arm" and there always seemed to be a constant "stale fetid air." The cellar is likened to a "medieval dungeon" with "rusted manacles on the walls." Plenty of omens, images of darkness, shadows and a chill in the air transporting us into the world of the supernatural. And of course excitement.
From then on we have moments of melodrama and sinister occurences especially with 3 year old Tracy's "self-absorbed behaviour" with the malevolent spectre, Seth the boy and the "fend" which results in her wailing screams and dangerous behaviour when the spirits use her body as a medium and she tries to strangle her baby brother, Martin.
Psychologically, Matt hits rock bottom and tries to fight to keep his family safe and retain his sanity which is in dispute amidst one catastrophe after another. He comes into constant conflict with Lorna who is sceptical about the existence of any ghosts. The tension is excellent and there are climaxes that will rock your comfort zone.
The exorcisms and the revelation of a secret, hidden room housing the dead body of a child holding a prayer book are terrifyingly gruesome images of the supernatural. At this point Betty Woodcock plunges us into the realms of horror.
"I felt like a Kamikaze pilot bent on self-destruction." Life was tough on poor Matt.
What will become of Matt and Lorna? Their children?
Will they survive?
You'll have to read it for yourself to find out won't you?
Available on ekindle from Amazon.
Matt is ambitious and hopeful for promotion before he secretively discovers that he is on the redundancy list after the company is facing an economic downturn and it needs to shed a third of its workforce. He describes it as a "freefall to hell." He sees a job advertised in Yorkshire and convinces Lorna that he must apply even if it means relocation from their Kent home, a big upheaval for all the family. Matt describes the opportunity as a "miracle" and a "Godsend." Well-needed. Perfect timing.
"I was right to get out before the bomb of redundancy dropped, before the shock waves spread."
Protest marches and strikes ensue but fortunately, Matt has successfully secured a deputy managerial position at Grafton engineering.
Settling into a new job became problematic for Matt. Open hostility and resentment of this southerner invading their territory are evident. Duggie, the boss, warns him that Frank the book-keeper is "up to summat." He sure is but he is not the only one. The plot thickens.
Embezzlement, an arson attack and a break-in are some of the delights that poor Matt has to deal with without losing his head. Rather like being thrown in the deep-end when you can't swim! And that's not all.
Simultaneously, the family move into a huge house and early on in the story we are conscious of Matt's paranoia over the noises, slamming of doors, footsteps and the sound of a child sobbing. There is something "menacing" and "brooding" about their new home.
"Goosepimples skittered along my arm" and there always seemed to be a constant "stale fetid air." The cellar is likened to a "medieval dungeon" with "rusted manacles on the walls." Plenty of omens, images of darkness, shadows and a chill in the air transporting us into the world of the supernatural. And of course excitement.
From then on we have moments of melodrama and sinister occurences especially with 3 year old Tracy's "self-absorbed behaviour" with the malevolent spectre, Seth the boy and the "fend" which results in her wailing screams and dangerous behaviour when the spirits use her body as a medium and she tries to strangle her baby brother, Martin.
Psychologically, Matt hits rock bottom and tries to fight to keep his family safe and retain his sanity which is in dispute amidst one catastrophe after another. He comes into constant conflict with Lorna who is sceptical about the existence of any ghosts. The tension is excellent and there are climaxes that will rock your comfort zone.
The exorcisms and the revelation of a secret, hidden room housing the dead body of a child holding a prayer book are terrifyingly gruesome images of the supernatural. At this point Betty Woodcock plunges us into the realms of horror.
"I felt like a Kamikaze pilot bent on self-destruction." Life was tough on poor Matt.
What will become of Matt and Lorna? Their children?
Will they survive?
You'll have to read it for yourself to find out won't you?
Available on ekindle from Amazon.
COPYRIGHT 2012. Permision must be obtained from the author to use this review.
Thanks for such a perceptive review. You really understood Matt's problems. As a friend said, "If I'd not already bought this, I would now!" Thanks for your time, much appreciated.
ReplyDeleteFrom the writer Betty Woodcock. January 2013.
Delete