Book Review: THREADS OF SHADOW

by | Aug 21, 2025 | Book Reviews, Reviews, The Horror Review News | 0 comments

Threads of Shadow
P. A. Sheldon
Independently published (April 26, 2024)
Reviewed by Carson Buckingham

Threads of Shadow is Paul Sheldon’s second book in his Wendlelow Mysteries trilogy, and it was well worth waiting for. Though you certainly can read them out of order, as you do get some backstory from the first book, for the best effect, I strongly recommend that you read this series in order.

Elspeth McGinnity, the folklorist and central character from Sheldon’s first book, Fireside Horror, has disappeared, causing the shadows surrounding the odd little Shropshire town of Wendlelow to deepen without her steadying influence.

Returning to Victorian-era Wendlelow was like coming home after the first book, since everything is already familiar. But this book is built around Casper Trenchton, a resident we were introduced to in the first book and come to know well in this one.  Throughout adolescence, he was a miscreant and a bully, but as time and the years move on, readers cannot help but reevaluate previous opinions and end up with a great deal of sympathy toward Caspar. All he wants is peace and quiet, but he gets little of that when he accepts employment with enigmatic Dr. Mogfadian to be a bodyguard to his niece, Julie, both of whom are pretty strange folks. Caspar begins with indifference toward his charge but gradually comes to regard her as a little sister and becomes fiercely protective of her—even from her uncle, who has nefarious plans in mind for Julie.

Sheldon has a most interesting style, in that he takes nine short stories and weaves them together to form an interconnected, cohesive whole at the end—and he does this masterfully. The first book in this trilogy, Fireside Horror, which I have also reviewed on Hellnotes, is handled the same way, making it an easy and engaging read on a ‘dark and stormy night’ (thank you, Edward Bulwer-Lytton!).

Do yourself a favor and pick up Fireside Horror and Threads of Shadow today—you won’t be sorry. And with Christmas coming, both books make a wonderful gift for those horror/mystery aficionados on your list! They are available on Amazon.

5 stars!

About Carson Buckingham

Professionally, Carson Buckingham has made her way in life doing all manner of things, most of which involve arson. She is currently employed as a freelance writer on a work release program. In her spare time, she studies forensics, in hopes of applying her new knowledge to eluding the authorities more effectively the next time. She is originally from Connecticut, but now resides in Kentucky—and Connecticut is glad to be rid of her.

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