Synopsis: After receiving a phone call informing him of his mother’s death, Ray Sanders returns to his small hometown of Maple Grove to tend to her burial. After returning home, however, a series of disturbing dreams and weird occurrences set out to drive him mad. With the help of a local girl he barely remembers, Ray must face an ancient evil that has plagued his family for generations.
A horror novel set in a small Alabama town of one man's fight against an ancient evil.
Excerpt
Suddenly, near the bottom of the door, the wood begins to splinter and crack. A hole opens up; small at first, then as Ray watches with frightened enthusiasm the hole widens; white splintered wood and saw dust drifts down to the faded green linoleum in slow motion. A furry head pokes through, nose twitching, and eyes as dark as coal. Then comes the body, as big as a house cat and it tumbles to the floor, convulsing and bloody and trailing a tendril of blue-gray smoke. Ray has a moment to think his next course of action through but ignores it. He goes over to the dieing rodent, not sure exactly why, but believes it has to do with curiosity. Curiosity killed the cat. You remember that old saying don’t you? He kneels down next to it and studies it as a lab student may study a frog he or she is about to dissect.
The rat is much bigger than any he had ever saw and from the tip of its nose to the tip of its tail it is soaked in blood; its little paws no more then nubs and its sharp little beaver teeth chipped and jutting from a crimson mass that had been its gums. As he watches the rat’s eyes go from black to white and more of that blue-gray smoke spews out and a smell like rotting meat burns his nose.
Professional Reviews
Ghostwriter Literary reviews
Shadows and Secrets
AUTHOR: James M Watts
Shadows and Secrets is a terror narrative set in an undersized Alabama town. Ray Sanders gets a disturbing phone call in the middle of the night and is informed of his mother's death. Ray returns to Maple Grove to tend to her funeral arrangements. Upon returning home, things begin to happen that threaten Ray's sanity and he’s pushed to the depths of his emotions and physical being. He has to figure out the strange happenings so he can keep his sanity. He ascertains the reality of his family's past, and the secrets that have been hidden for a very long time. Ray is required to make a stand. He must stand against a wicked and evil opposition that is unknown. He has to put a stop to this evil that has beleaguered his family for generations. In the end Ray finds a deeper strength inside himself to keep his emotions together and he discovers a way to put an end to the chaos that has plagued his family in the past, and putting a stop to the damage that it tries to lay upon his future generation as well.
This book is a must read! If I say any more it will destroy this unique and original ending. Don’t miss out on this amazing fictional horror adventure that will leave you wanting more. I give Kudos to James M Watts, for a fast paced thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat even after the story is finished. WOW! Excellent read.
Reviewer: Tabitha
ISBN: 1-60474-816-8
Genre: Horror
PublishAmerica
A.W. Nutter (author)
Shadows and Secrets
James M. Watts
Shadows and Secrets by James M. Watts is a book of fiction that kept this reader on the edge of his seat waiting to see where the author was going to take me. I enjoyed Mr. Watts descriptions by association scattered throughout the manuscript. His words painted a picture for my minds eye. The characters Ray, Liz, and Judd, to mention only a few, were brought to life with each one displaying their own personality. The conclusion, while unexpected was most satisfying. A well written book, this avid fan of fiction truly enjoyed reading.
The fortunate inherit riches, prestige, positive notoriety. Those not so lucky bear legacies filled with poverty, infamy or, worse yet, the unhinged insanity and murderous urges of their ancestors.
