Probably my favorite Graham Masterton so far! It was so good, I read it in one sitting and I am already planning to reread it soon!!

This is not my first Masterton, and not even my first in this particular series. So here we have the typical Masterton hallmarks of visceral, gruesome violence, set against a bewildering mystery, with a slight infusion of paranormal elements towards the end of the book.

Jerry Pardoe and Jamila Patel are back, and while I thought Pardoe was a bit too much of a stereotypical cockney lad in the previous book, he has a bit more going on here. There's still the slightly forced cockney rhyming slang, but he develops a relationship with another character, which gives his character some much desired weight. Patel is still the more intrigueing character, but mostly because she feels more guarded, sometimes even nondescript. I'm starting to wonder if Masterton is just being careful with the character, which is fair enough.

The mystery works pretty well, it can be quite harrowing but keeps going at a good pace. The supernatural elements were the weakest part of the previous book, but are much stronger here.

An interesting entry in the series.

3.5 stars

Imagine being a cop and being assigned to aprehend a man suspect of stealing high end crayons, only to find get to the store and find a huge non verbal man dressed as a baby clown, smelling like sewer.

Now imagine being sent to investigate a disturbance in an abandoned London basement only to find three corpses, ripped to pieces, roasted and mostly eaten.

Unfortunely, Metropolitan Police detectives Jerry Pardoe and Jamila Patel, didn't have to imagine it as their reputation for their ability to tackle bizarre and apparently supernatural crimes placed them right in the thick of it. Upon arriving at latter crime scene, they find evidence that people have been living there and the crude devil drawn in the wall might indicate that these devil worshippers are part of a predatory, cannibalist cult.

I don't even know how to describe this book other than fantastic. It is the perfect blend of horror and police procedural; real and supernatural; disturbing and sad. I found myself having to put it down at times because I had reach my disturbance level, but itching to pick it back up because I was so invested.

Masterton created so many fleshed out, multidimensional characters on the both the good and evil side of the specturm, with some morally gray tossed in for fun. This is the most graphic book I have read, but surprisingly amazing. I hope to see these detectives in their next case.

This book is proof that you can still find a favourite of the year in December!


Disclaimer: In exchange for an honest review, I am thankful to Head of Zeus, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of The Shadow People

#TheShadowPeople #NetGalley #HeadofZeus
Thanks a lot for this amazing story, I'm a huge fan of Graham Masterton, and the third installment of adventures of my two favorite coppers. This is the most violent take of old and boring "a child from our mundane world become a wizard in a fantasy world". And The Shadow People are scary, but lovely folk with their old, old magic.

DNF at 40%

Thank you to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

So I’m not usually a big fan of police procedural type novels in the first place, but with the knowledge that the book was going to contain cannibalism and cults, I decided to give it a try anyway.

Oh goodness, I did not like this one bit. I tried to give it a chance, but I found too many things to be extremely problematic. The language used by some of the characters is highly insensitive and comes across transphobic and discriminatory.
The female characters are also described by their physical characteristics and not anything else. I found it to be incredibly demeaning, especially when one of the female detectives is actually more intelligent and more knowledgeable than the main character is.
I also found the POC characters to be written in an incredibly off putting way. It felt like they were made out to be a joke and just the scapegoat for everything.
All in all, it felt icky and I couldn’t continue to read it.

Unfortunately this was a DNF for me at 18%.

I love horror novels but this was a step too far for me with is scenes of cannibalism and crucifixion.

I also felt the language in the book was uncalled for - possibly to show some of the outdated views of some in the police force - and as soon as I read the line “So who do you think we’re looking for? A bunch of P***s? Sorry - people of Pakistani origin?” I knew I couldn’t carry on.

Thanks to Net Galley and Head of Zeus for giving me the chance to read this.

Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for the ARC

I seriously do not recommend this book for the faint of heart, but if you can handle a whole lot of blood and gore then pick this up!

It was a slow start, but once I started mapping out who the characters actually were I was hooked! Seriously such a gripping read!

Masterton has created a fully immersive mystery horror that takes you right into the investigation!

This book was brutal and not for the squeamish, but I loved it.

I didn’t know when I started this that it is a part of a series, but If I had not of known beforehand I don’t think I would have even noticed, so it’s not essential to read the other books ( but I have added them to my to-read list)
This has a great mix of supernatural and police suspense stories, with enough mystery to keep you wondering which way things will go.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good psychological thrillers, with some gory bits.

*Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.*

It’s safe to say, this shouldn’t be read by those of a sensitive disposition. I love gory reads but even this turned my stomach. On several occasions, I was winching, squinting my eyes, and trying to hold down my dinner!
Don’t get me wrong, this is a compelling read, but to say it’s gory is a total understatement.

DC Jerry Pardoe & DS Jamelia Patel are paired together once more for another case that ventures into the strange and twisted as they investigate a ritualistic cult that involves human sacrifice, cannibalism, and the worship of an ancient god who has been around since Neolithic times. It is up to this unlikely duo to solve this bizarre case.

I want to say this is a page-turner, but I have to admit, I was scared each time I did however I was desperate to know more. To find out what on earth was going on and how the dynamic duo might thwart such evil.
Pardoe and Patel have a fantastic relationship. A real case of opposites attracts and it’s great to see how they complement each other.

I give this 4 stars simply because I wanted to know how people were adjusting to the horrors they witnessed.

This is the goriest book I’ve read and nearly stopped reading it, so do heed the warning.

I'm excited (if a little nervous) to read more from Graham Masterton.

Thank you so much to NetGalley & Head of Zeus for an ARC ebook in return for an honest review.

Jerry Pardoe and Jamila Patel are police detectives. They have been called to work together on an did and perhaps supernatural case. Roasting meat was discovered in an abandoned factory. They were roasted heads. When Pardoe and Patel River at the scene, there are crane markings found which Patel tells Pardoe that it looks as if the killers were in a religious cult. As. The detectives learn more about the cult they find that it is ruled by n ancient god rules. It is a god that demands the ultimate sacrifice of taking people and eating them.

The novel I more than a simple horror novel, it is a archaeological puzzle. There are cannibals, a mind alternating drug and graphic violence. It is not a novel for the faint of heart. It’s shock and awe inspires me to keep reading. I have enjoyed the-other books that I have read by him. This one did not disappoint me. It is the third book of a series that I was not aware of but will be going back to the first two and read them. This is a book for horror fans.

As much as this whole book was very dark and taboo I loved it. It starts off by getting straight into the action and sets the tone perfectly within the first chapter by discussing burnt body parts. I will warn everyone that this book isn’t for the faint-hearted, it is so extremely and perfectly descriptive and graphic that it could easily put you off meat for life. I will never be able to look at gammon the same!

I like to be able to visually picture the book in my head whilst I’m reading, and I can happily say I managed this with The Shadow People. And I want to be the first one to say this would be an amazing dark drama series for the television, one I would watch in a heartbeat. There were so many little twists and turns and just when you think it can’t get any worse, it does!

Honestly I have nothing bad to say about this book. By the end all my questions were answered, nothing stuck out to me as being left unresolved and I felt satisfied or at least as much as I could with cannibalism and death. There is a small cliffhanger type of thing at the end which gives me hope that there may be a follow up book, I will keep all my fingers and toes crossed.

If you’re looking for a book full of roses and sunshine with happily ever afters, this is not the book for you. But if you love dark horror, gruesome twists and that weird uncomfortable feeling a book can sometimes have on you then please pick up a copy of The Shadow People!

This was a rough one to finish. Despite a couple of really tense scenes (any scene written from the perspective of a victim), the novel itself moves at a snail's pace with dull characters and a plot that's as uninteresting as it gets. Somehow manages to make an underground cult of cannibals really, really boring. Jerry is such a bland protagonist, and his incompetence makes me wonder why Patel wasn't the lead character (she seems more competent, knows a bit more about the history of the gods that inspire the cult, and overall engages in more action in the story). This one took me a good long while to finish, and I contemplated quitting many times.

This was a wild ride.

If you're sensitive to gory and graphic details, skip this one. There's self mutilation as well. I am a horror movie fan, so the gory details didn't bother me, but I would have preferred a heads up!

I enjoy Thrillers, so this was right up my alley. It's a combo of true crime, thriller, and supernatural. I had an arc copy, so the different font colors really bothered me. Not sure if it's in the final printed version or not.

There was one character that I felt was robotic in her responses, Jamila Patel. She was very knowledgeable, although I would have liked to 'see' more emotion from her. The religion aspect really intrigued me, so I'll be doing some research now to see how it compares.

I really enjoyed this book, despite reading it during the Christmas season. It ended with ​a cliff hanger so I really hope there's a sequel.

Title: The Shadow People
Written by: Graham Masterton
Pub Date: 01 Mar 2022
Published by: Head of Zeus
Genre: Horror | Mystery & Thrillers
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4325985383

I don't think I have ever hated a book so quickly in my life.
Not only are the characters sexist and misogynistic they are also discriminatory. Maybe I could excuse that if it was just the characters but even the narration has the same problems. As soon as we find out that the robber is wearing a dress they stop being the suspect and are only called "The man in a dress". It is not made any less trans-phobic by having the main character think about his new neighbor who he fancies though she is trans, if anything this is worse. The description of the female officer is so clechéd I couldn't find the mental energy to even imagine her. And surprise surprise she is a typical blond bimbo, which just insinuates that it's not hard to become a police officer.

The only real note worthy writing seemed to be the gore discovered in the factory and even that felt as is if the author was borderline racist. If a writer has to refer to the black and white minstrels to describe a burned face then that is a problem. "like some hideous parody of a 1950's minstrel show." That show was already a hideous parody of black people.

I don't know how Masterton manages to degrade, women, black people, trans-people and the mentally ill within 17 pages. Just waiting on the homophobia and ableisim.

I have been wanting to read this book for so long but there is no way I am spending my time reading a grotesque piece like this. I might give it two more chapters but if the main character and narration continue in the same way I am soooo DNFing this ................. for lack of a better word book.

Ok well got to page 32 and nope. Jeff is not only misogynistic his a creep. Thinking that it's not fair that he works with a good looking female cop because he can't tell her "how attractive" he finds her. Wow, he even goes on about how he thinks she secretly wants him to kiss her. His inner monologue is so gross it makes me glad that there are work place sexual harassment procedures. Are we supposed to actually like this guy? Both the transphobia and misogyny have continued as well as the ableism so I'm out. This will be staying a one star and I think that is being kind.

There were also unfinished sentences and spelling mistakes in the 32 pages I read. Also if this is adult why does it give off YA vibes. If it is not for YA I suggest a new cover, along with a rewrite. (Harsh but true). Getting this book was definitely a case of "Careful what you wish for."

So this book has literally left me wanting more. This is the first in this series that I have read and now I am going in to read the others. I literally could not stop reading this, had to physically tear myself away in order to actually do practical things daily. It was simply put one of the best books I’ve read this year if not the best. The plot was so fast paced that I felt like I was on the ride of my life, the characters were well thought out and in all honesty relatable. I am speechless really. This book is a highly recommend for me.

The cover is what initially drew me to this book and I can't deny that it was great. I would highly recommend.

Ok completely honest here. I liked the writing and the characters but this was a DNF for me due to the subject material which turned my stomach.

For those who enjoy the horror genre, I would give this a go, but I did not want to give the subject too much brain space.

Apologies and I gave it a try. Thank you to Netflix and the publisher for an ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley, Head of Zeus, and Graham Masterton for the advanced copy of The Shadow People in exchange for my honest review.

(3.5 stars rounded up)

DS Jamila Patel and DC Jerry Pardoe are (begrudgingly) known for their ability to solve strange and seemingly supernatural crimes. They've been asked to join forces once again when several bodies are discovered dismembered, burned, and eaten in a London basement. The scene in the basement leads them to believe this may be the work of a cult, and as more people are kidnapped and cannibalized, Jamila and Jerry discover they have uncovered a cult whose ancient god has not been worshiped since the Neolithic age.

It takes A LOT to shake me when it comes to books. I mean A. LOT. I can honestly say this is the first book that has done just that. Graham Masterton writes so well that I had a visceral reaction to some of the more graphic scenes, and I 10000% loved it. As an added bonus: there was a cult involved, which I also enjoyed tremendously.

The first half of the book was so depraved and disturbing that I was genuinely hooked., but the second half leaned a little too heavy on the police procedural aspect, which is something I typically enjoy, I just wanted more of the cult-y stuff.

All in all, a fantastically disgustingly great book and I will FOR SURE be reading more from Masterton in the future. The Shadow People will be on bookshelves in the US on March 1, 2022! (Kindle version available now)

After finishing this book I had to sit for a while trying to decide whether I actually liked it, my conclusion was that this one wasn’t for me. There are good points and bad points to this book but personally the bad outweighed the good.
The premise had me sold from the outset, a cannibalistic cult that worship a goat headed demon - sounds a blast! However the execution was poor to say the least. None of the characters in this book were likeable and there were a lot... so many that I could not keep track of all the different DCI’s, PC’s etc. While we were given bits and pieces of the main characters backgrounds I just felt like it wasn’t enough to make me care. Following on from that there was a lot of jargon and slang used throughout which often muddied the waters and I think would certainly make it difficult for someone who isn’t from the UK to follow. The final point, and for me this was a major disappointment, was the way that many of the characters seemed to treat being inclusive as one big joke. There were many things written about mental illnesses, the trans community and people of colour that genuinely made me uncomfortable to read. Many times a character would say something offensive followed by “oh I shouldn’t say that should I?” Which left me thinking why did the author feel the need to include it in the first place? If there was a reason for this it certainly wasn’t clear to me and just felt in very bad taste. I do have another Masterton sat on my bookshelf however I do now feel a little reluctant to pick it up.

Thank you to Net Galley and Head of Zeus for the advance reading copy.

I received a free copy from Netgalley, here is the blurb

"Det. Sgt. Jamila Patel and Det. Con. Jerry Pardoe have reluctantly acquired a reputation in the Metropolitan Police for their ability to tackle bizarre and apparently supernatural crimes. Now they have been called back together after three bodies are found in a London basement... bodies which have been taken apart, roasted and eaten.

The markings on the wall suggest this might have been done by some kind of religious cult – and as more people are kidnapped and cannibalised, Patel and Pardoe realise they are dealing with a group of devil-worshippers invoking an ancient god who has not been worshipped since the Neolithic age"

I have read pretty much all of Graham Masterton's books as he is one of my favourite authors. I have read all the books in the series featuring Jamila and Jerry and although I did enjoy it it was not my favourite of the series. I found although there was a lot of gore in this book there was not enough of the supernatural apart from at the end. As always a good read from Graham Masterton but not my favourite.