Source: brandonmassey.com I cannot recall where I read about Brandon Massey but I'm glad I did because it pushed me to borrow his book Within the Shadows from my public library and it's a read that is well worth your time and energy.
One of the things I liked best about Massey's book was that his 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.
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