Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book. This books subjects and detailed descriptions of terrible things really put me off. I couldn't get through it let alone finish the book.

This was a very difficult read so for all those thinking or wanting to read please check out any TW and topics touched. This read was eerie in so many ways. I think I’d be picky on who I recommend this read to but Thankyou for the ARC

Well written and so descriptive that I actually felt like I was there with the characters. It took a while to get into, but on the whole I really enjoyed it

tw:%20Extensive,%20gory%20abuse%20of%20all%20kinds%20(explained%20below)%0A%0AEvie%20Day%20is%20back%20in%20her%20hometown,%20helping%20her%20grandmother%20clean%20out%20her%20grandfather%E2%80%99s%20things%20after%20his%20recent%20passing,%20when%20she%20stumbles%20across%20a%20strange%20photo%20she%20remembers%20seeing%20once%20as%20a%20child%20and%20that%20made%20her%20grandfather%20extremely%20upset.%20Now,%20as%20an%20adult,%20Evie%20is%20recognizes%20that%20it%E2%80%99s%20a%20photo%20of%20a%20woman%20standing%20next%20to%20a%20small%20coffin.%20Determined%20to%20find%20out%20her%20beloved%20grandfather%E2%80%99s%20connection%20to%20the%20photo,%20and%20why%20he%20would%20keep%20such%20an%20upsetting%20image,%20Evie%20begins%20to%20investigate.%20But%20she%20quickly%20finds%20herself%20in%20over%20her%20head,%20and%20into%20something%20much%20darker%20than%20she%20could%20ever%20have%20imagined.%0A%0AThe%20story%20is%20told%20through%20two%20POVs%3A%20Evie%E2%80%99s%20and%20a%20mysterious%20person%20named%20Charlie%20who%20recounts%20their%20experience%20to%20a%20therapist%20of%20growing%20up%20in%20a%20mysterious%20%E2%80%9Corganization,%E2%80%9D%20which%20traffics%20in%20the%20worst%20kinds%20of%20abuse%20of%20dark%20materials.%0A%0ASo,%20yeah%20this%20book%20really%20hooked%20me%20and%20I%20was%20really%20eager%20to%20figure%20out%20what%20was%20going%20to%20happen%20in%20both%20sets%20of%20stories,%20especially%20as%20they%20converged.%20And%20WOW,%20that%E2%80%99s%20all%20I%E2%80%99ll%20say%20there.%20No%20more,%20no%20less.%20This%20definitely%20a%20book%20where%20the%20less%20you%20know%20going%20in,%20the%20better.%0A%0ABut%20one%20thing%20you%20SHOULD%20know%20is%20that%20there%20is%20very%20extensive,%20gory%20abuse,%20mostly%20involving%20children,%20both%20physical%20and%20sexual.%20Also,%20some%20animal,%20though%20not%20much.%20It%E2%80%99s%20very%20upsetting%20in%20some%20cases%20and%20made%20me%20put%20the%20book%20down%20at%20parts.%20It%E2%80%99s%20what%20took%20it%20from%20a%20five-%20to%20a%20four-star%20read%20for%20me.%20I%20understand%20that%20the%20book%20involves%20an%20organization%20that%20involved%20this%20type%20of%20abuse%20and%20that%20it%20made%20the%20investigation%20more%20meaningful,%20but%20the%20descriptions%20were%20very%20graphic.%20It%20was%20off-putting,%20and%20I%20wouldn%E2%80%99t%20blame%20anyone%20who%20couldn%E2%80%99t%20read%20the%20book%20because%20of%20it.%0A%0ASo%20it%20was%20a%20very%20good%20book,%20but%20with%20a%20caveat.%20Hopefully%20the%20author%20continues%20to%20create%20great%20storylines,%20but%20with%20more%20tact.

Hidden in the Shadows by A.D. Vancise

I tried…really really tried to overcome my squeamishness but could not do so. I skimmed to about 25%, read the end, and opted to not finish because…this book is dark and deals with issues I am unwilling to read graphic depictions of – pedophilia, torture and murder of children, satanic cults, murders, and all of these in just the first part. The world is filled with too much darkness for me to want to read this type of story. Even the end was dark and gritty with a barely surviving person that may go on to show up in future books…and no matter what the sleuthing provided and perhaps some eventually saved…I won’t put my time into or fill my mind with more of what has already been lodged there. On the positive side, I guess, is that the writing is excellent and it is easy to visualize all that takes place though…I would really NOT have been able to “see” some of what was written and might have been able to read the story if references and not graphic scenes were provided.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atmosphere Press for the ARC – This is my honest review.

Rating is not easy…but…I would say a 2 for me and for someone who loves this type of writing they will give it a 5.

Stars 1-2

Sadly This book really wasn't for me. While the writing was okay sadly this book passed my normal barriers for what I could enjoy reading it was more like a horror book and am not a fan of horror books or movies. The blurb drew me into this book as it so so interesting and the blurb is what made me want to read the book. I have never read this author before and I don’t think I will picking up books by them again. I think this book should of come with content warning page as there is so many tiggers in this book ie Child abuse murder rape and trafficking, with some animal abuse for good measure, some times graphic and horrific detail. Had this been mentioned in the blurb I wouldn’t have picked this book up at all. Thank you to net galley and the publisher for this advice copy Xxx

My thanks to the Author publisher's and NetGalley for providing me with a Kindle version of this book to read and honestly review.
I read the BLURB on this book and was interested and intrigued to follow Evie's story, which takes up approximately three quarters of the book.
However fellow readers the other quarter before the stories come together features,
WARNING : Child abuse murder rape and trafficking, with some animal abuse for good measure, in at times graphic and gruesome detail. Had this been mentioned in the BLURB, I would not have touched it with a barge pole, but having started a book I always try to finish, though at times it is a tough read.
Evie however is a quality character brave clever fearless and according to the Authors notes will appear in more books. I trust the BLURB for these will be more accurate.

I understand the author is primarily a visual artist and this makes absolute sense as her descriptions of often dark scenarios are truly evocative. This is done very cleverly and may be too much for some readers but I think it works well and serves to embed the reader in the context and events of the book,

Twisty story set in a small town full of dark secrets.Not really my cup of tea but had it's moments.

This book really wasn't for me and I am not excessively squeamish. While the writing was decent, this passed my normal barriers for what I could enjoy reading. If you enjoy horror movies, etc., you might enjoy it.