Shadows in The Mind’s Eye is a complexly composed post-WWII novel that kept me turning the pages. There is so much to unpack about this book, and I am afraid I will not do it justice. Let me just say it kept me turning the pages while making me stop and ponder. Sounds contradictory? Perhaps. 😉 But I wanted so much to find out what was up and to understand what the characters were going through. The two main characters — Sam and Annie — are finding their way back to each other following Sam’s return from war. Sam returns with lots of demons and Annie has not shed all that she brought into their marriage years before. The relationship aspect of the novel gave it a wonderful intimacy, especially since the novel is told in Sam and Annie’s first person POV. As if that wasn’t enough, Tromp delivered an intensely vivid story with lots of tension and suspense and twists and turns. I never knew who to believe or trust. While Annie and Sam struggled with their relationship and their faith, they had a great example of reliance on the goodness of God in Dovie May, Sam’s mother. Although a secondary character, Dovie May provided a spiritual structure for the rest of the characters. There were also great historical details of Hot Springs, Arkansas in the mid-to-late 1940s that gave the novel a grounded sense of place and time.

Not your ordinary historical novel, Shadows in The Mind’s Eye is a personal glimpse into the struggles of returning WWII servicemen and the impact on family and community. It also is a riveting, suspense-filled story that will keep you up way past your bedtime! 😉

Highly Recommended.

Audience: adults.

This novel was an intense and completely captivating experience! The dialect and points of view from both Sam and Annie’s perspectives made it really come alive for me. My heart hurt for these two who so obviously still very much loved each other, yet there was an element of fear and mistrust from Annie toward Sam as certain things happened upon his return. Annie felt guilty for her fear, but didn’t understand how to overcome it and wasn’t sure how she and Sam would get past it.

Their daughter, Rosie, was precious and there were several side characters who were intriguing and very important in Sam and Annie’s lives. At one point in the middle of the book, I felt so concerned for Sam and angry on his behalf as well. Whether he was really seeing people on his land or whether his mind was tricking him, at that point I felt as if it was him against everyone. Yet, I kept reading and was rewarded with a very exciting and interesting second half of the novel. It really kept me turning the pages.

This was a fascinating time and setting to read about. I ended up really enjoying this book, which was like nothing I have ever read before.

(4.5 stars)

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Shadows in the Mind’s Eye is one of those debut novels that will cause many readers add the author to their must read list. I know I intend to do so.

It is a story of a young man eager to return home after serving in the war but he quickly learns that nothing is as he expected it to be. His beloved wife does not know how to react to the changes in him, his mother’s health has deteriorated since he left, and his brother has returned with unexpected injuries. And his precious daughter seems to know and love his best friend better. Not to mention that the best friend always seems to be underfoot. The devastating nightmares and sometimes extreme reactions to events precipitated by PTSD seem to form a barrier between him and his family.

Even as Sam and Annie work hard to save their marriage, mysterious things are happening on their farm that accelerate into danger for their family. Numerous plot twists and surprises flesh out this story where nothing is quite what it seems.

A wonderful hope filled novel that pulls the reader into the lives of Sam, Annie, and Rosie quickly, Shadows in the Mind’s Eye is a must read.

A gripping and gritty story about love, revenge, betrayal, and holding on for better or for worse.

I didn't want to put this book down for a second, it kept me guessing all the way up until the explosive conclusion and I loved every minute of it. I liked how the book alternated perspectives between Sam and Annie, their scars and ghost from the past hindering their reunion. Sam is a veteran who has seen countless horrors that haunt his nightmares, returning to fight another battle for his marriage and family. I admired his fierce devotion to his family, and willingness to sacrifice him self many times over for the ones that he loves.

Annie has always seen Sam as her hero, but the man who returns reminds her of her nightmares. I admired Annie for her strength and how she has grown while Sam was away, as well as her inner mama bear. There was intensity, yet vulnerability to both Sam and Annie, that brought a genuine rawness and gravity to their plight. Rosemary is a darling child, but one of my favorite characters had to be Dovie May, a woman of strong faith, and the most quotable character in the whole book.

This is well layered read, intense and poignant, with honest, raw characters. Masterful storytelling pulled me in and didn't let go until I was finished, I loved the elements of a psychological thriller, as well as how it definitely kept me guessing and holding on tight for the answers. I couldn't have asked for anything more from this stunning and intense read, it checked every box for me and I can't recommend it enough!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Annie and Sam were childhood sweethearts, but after Sam has returned from the Pacific Theatre of WWII, he is changed man. As he tries to fit back in on the farm in the rural Arkansas mountains and get to know his young daughter, Rosie, he starts to see things on the farm that no one else does. Who is visiting the farm or is it just the ghosts of his troubled mind? As people begin to question his sanity, will Sam be able to save his family? Annie came from a well to do family, but the wealth comes from her father’s illegal activities. What happened to Annie’s mother? Will Annie be able to reconnect with Sam?

I really liked the unique plot and setting of this novel. I liked that it was set after WWII and covered PTSD in the returning soldiers. In the author’s note at the end, Tromp states that she based it on talks with her grandparents. I also haven’t read too many books set in Arkansas and I liked it. I didn’t know that Hot Springs was a den of mob activity back in the day. I thought it was all very fascinating.

The novel is told in alternating chapters between Annie and Sam’s viewpoints. The story is a slow build as we get to know Sam, Annie, their family and friends, but the ending is very action packed. I couldn’t put the book down once I reached a certain point!

Favorite Quote:
“One thing I know for certain is that memory’s a slippery thing. It changes and morphs, solidifying only at the insistence of the most powerful things.”

Overall, Shadows in the Mind’s Eye is a fascinating historical suspense novel.

Book Source: A Review Copy from Kregel Publishing as part of the Audra Jennings PR Book Tour. Thank-you! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Shadows in the Mind’s Eye is an amazingly impressive debut.

I have a confession—sometimes when reading past books, I skip over paragraphs of internal monologuing. BUT the narrative in this book is SO gripping and the writing voice is SO distinct and engaging, that I found myself rereading passages because the words were beautifully strung together. No skipping here, folks. Just me sighing over masterfully penned lines.

The plot was twisty. It totally kept me guessing. Who was the bad guy? WAS there a bad guy? Or had Sam imagined all of it?

And that leads me to Sam and Annie. You guys, my heart rooted for this couple to survive. To survive the trauma of their pasts, the outward threats against them, and even to survive adjusting to a new normal after such a brutal war. It just seemed that everything was against them, and yet Annie fought through, clinging to scraps of hope. She was a heroine to be admired.

I highly recommend this beautiful story of perseverance and grit during even the blackest of times.

*I received a copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Shadows in the Mind’s Eye was just so good! Fans of Jaime Jo Wright will love this book as it had a similar feel. It was so eerie and I want to say creepy but not in a bad-scary-clown kinda way but more in like a causing-goosebumps-while-reading kinda way. The mountain superstition added such a deliciously haunting element to this psychological thriller that kept me turning pages and reading the book in one sitting! The first person writing style was a little hard to get into at first but once I got used to the mountain drawl, I really appreciated the effort taken by the author in writing it that way. Set at the end of WWII, it was so heartbreaking to read about PTSD before people really understood it or knew how to treat it. I loved the strength and endurance of the main characters and their romance was so beautiful, sad and sweet, pulling at all the heartstrings just right.

Tromp's debut was a pleasant surprise and I especially enjoyed the Southern voice she adopted. It's the 1940s in the small town of Hot Springs and Sam Mattas has just returned from war suffering with combat fatigue (which we now know as PTSD). He arrives unexpectedly to an empty house which sets the scene for much of the early tension of the story.

Annie, his wife, returns from town to find Sam asleep in the barn and even though warmly welcomed it's clear not all is as it should be. Annie has been well supported in Sam's absence by his brother, Peter, and best friend, Doc and immediately he senses he's the misfit. Sam also returns to his daughter, Rosie, who he hasn't met, she being born soon after his departure for war.

The first half of the story focuses on the tension between Annie and Sam as they seek to settle into their new lives together. But his combat fatigue keeps getting in the way making both of them question his sanity and her safety. Doc's strong friendship with Annie also adds cause for unease.

In parallel, there's this undercurrent of corruption that is rife within the town and how Sam, at one point, was involved in it to some extent being employed by Annie's father, The Judge, who happens to be up to his eyeballs in no good working for the Mayor who encourages it. Or is he?

A lot can happen in 3 years; people change, towns change.

A story that starts as a relatively sleepy small town tale of a marriage reunion suddenly takes off in the second half to a thrilling suspenseful one that makes the reader keep turning the pages. It's tremendous writing as the twists and turns keep on coming. Who are the good guys and who can you trust?

The characters are rich in their portrayal and Tromp demonstrates her story telling skills with the deftness in which we are kept guessing.

I was very fortunate to receive an early ebook version of the story from Kregel via NetGalley as a result of being part of Audra Jennings PR Blogging tour. This had no impact on my review.

Shadows in the Mind's Eye by Janyre Tromp

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
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Story Notes

I'm so very glad I found this book! It was all the things I love in a story - danger, grit, love, family - paired with an excellent plot that defies the fact that this is Janyre's debut novel. I loved the way she crafted her story carefully, drawing you into the lives of her characters so deeply that you couldn't put it down until you finished it. I read it in four hours one afternoon and still feel like I haven't quite processed it all yet. It definitely deserves a reread and I know I'll read it several more times before I get everything straight in my brain. Nothing was left unanswered I just devoured it so quickly I might have missed something, haha! But that's the best books. The kind that you could literally just turn back to the front after you read the last page and start over again. And you wouldn't feel bored because it's just so good to read a book with excellent plot, depth, characters to cheer for and a love story that is both heartbreaking and incredible. I'm definitely recommending this one to any and everyone as I know they will enjoy it as well as I did. Congratulations, Janyre, this is certainly one to be proud of writing!

I received this complimentary ARC from Janyre and Kregel Publications. I am not required by anyone to write a positive review but am most pleased to do so. I will receive no fiscal compensation for this review and the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.

Many readers have loved this book. But for me, it didn’t “hit the spot,” so to speak. I’m not a big fan of first-person point of view, and to have two first person points of view was difficult for me to enjoy. I couldn’t form an attachment to either character. I felt I was being forced to think what the author wanted me to think rather than have that opinion grow as the story unfolded.
About the middle of the book, the action picked up and several unexpected twists were revealed, but instead of surprising me, they threw me out of the story. Having read several reviews before I began reading, I was nervous that I could handle the “phycological thriller” everyone toted this book to be, but I didn’t have any problem, so don’t let that be a deterrent if “scary books” make you nervous.
Also, I didn’t like the constant reference to devils and demons, or the use of several minced oath swear words. Otherwise, the book is good. The book is light on faith elements, so this would appeal to both Christians and Non-Christians. The story contains a redemption arc, which made the last chapters enjoyable.
Every book is not for every reader, so I encourage you to give this book a try if the things I mentioned above don’t bother you. This book may be your next favorite read.
I recommend this book for readers of suspense, World War II, and books with married characters.

“Sometimes God uses broken things to save us … Ain’t no light that can get through something solid. It sneaks through the broken places.”

Broken… that is what so many characters are, in Janyre Tromp’s debut novel, Shadows in the Mind’s Eye. WWII is over, but as the surviving men return home, many face the kind of difficulties that own Sam Mattas and his family.
Wives and other family not going to war attempt to keep the family homestead going, waiting for their men’s return. When Sam Mattas reappears, his wife and family are left to wonder how to navigate the much less-than-ideal- situation God allows. Is God still to be trusted? Does God have a plan for this mess?

This psychological thriller is immersed in the Southern mountain culture, with the heart of truth only revealed after much emotional upheaval (including on the reader’s part!) First person narrative, alternating between Sam and Annie, made me want to choose sides, then switch repeatedly until my head was spinning. Characters are so multi-faceted and fluid that I found myself identifying with even some of the “villains.” I must admit this novel reminded me of some great classics- not easy to enter into for a while, but once I did, I felt like I had discovered a treasure by the end!

My favorite character is Dovie May. Elderly, life has not been kind to her, yet she remains full of faith, optimism, and encouragement for others to keep pressing forward. Wisdom is certainly on her tongue.

I received a copy of this book from the I Read with Audra Tour via Net Galley. No positive review is required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotable:
So many, but I will give my fave:

“We think everything eventually goes back to what we want it be. That everything’ll be happy and familiar, the good winning. We never want to travel beyond the point where everybody’s happy. But life’s everything after, and the question is, what are you going to do with the truth life drops in your lap?”

With each page I became more emotionally involved and couldn’t put the book down. Sam tugged on my heart so much the moment he stepped in the house where his wife was. It had been a long time since he had see her smile and his heart pounded with anticipation. Even though he was happy to be home from the war, he still felt out of place. The war did something to him that causes him to react to every noise, every strange movement and even words that sound different. I know he must be thinking that he was crazy but he has to overcome this darkness that is surrounding him.

Annie is thrilled her husband is home. She has been anticipating this moment forever it seems. With a smile on her face she greets Sam and feels safe in his arms once again. She hides the truth of being sad and lonely. How long has she been depressed? She senses that Sam has changed but she is not sure she has the strength to fight her own demons. The author delivers an emotional journey with Sam and Annie as they struggle to reconnect. I could feel their hesitation at sharing with each and at times they want to scream that they need help.

Dovie May is a woman who doesn’t mince words but gives compassion when needed. I love how she knew that Annie was struggling with the changes going on in her life. To me she was the glue that held the family together. There were times she could have been harsh, but her gentle yet firm spirit became the calming factor in this family deep with problems. I would love to have a Dovie May in my family. She knows how to diffuse a situation with grace and unconditional love.

The story is filled with truth and healing. Finding joy in the midst of sorrow is hard but it is where healing begins. Sam and Annie go through trials as they find their way back to happiness. I loved reading how they shared their innermost thoughts with each other and grew in their relationship with each other.

As danger starts to set in around the farm, Sam needs to convince everyone that something illegal is going on but will anyone believe him? The story gets intense as Sam realizes that he has not been hallucinating about the shadows he has been seeing. The question is who can he trust with what he has discovered? The author gave me shivers as I was a witness to evil that visited the farm. Get ready for an adventure where darkness tries to take away healing and twists in the story give way to danger.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher and Read with Audra Blogging Program. The review is my own opinion.

“It’s where things is broke that the joy shows through.”

“And sometimes God uses broken things to save us.“

Shadows in the Mind’s Eye by Janyre Tromp is one of those stories that lingers in your soul, long after you’ve read the last word.

After reading the first line – “Darkness had long ago swallowed the Greyhound bus moving down the road so slow that it might as well have been going backward.” – I knew I was in for a treat when it came to Tromp’s writing voice. I could hear Sam and Annie’s voices as we see the story from their alternating perspectives, and I sometimes almost felt as though Dovie May were peeking over my shoulder with a twinkle in her eye to check on my progress, to see if I finally knew what she knew. I wanted to read each sentence out loud & savor it, but I was so captivated by all of it that I couldn’t slow down long enough to do so. This will definitely be a re-read for me so that I can just take my time and absorb every nuance.

I’ve read several books about veterans with PTSD, but it’s rare to read about it so vividly in a post-WW2 setting, in Appalachia no less. Sam is a broken hero, returning from the horrors of war with nightmares following him. Coming home to a wife who still has her own nightmares from her childhood, a daughter he’s never met, a farm on the brink of failure, an ailing mother, a brother who also bears the scars of war, a best friend who isn’t that happy to see him back, and a town in the grip of power-hungry bullies. That’s enough to make anyone turn tail and head for the hills. Yet Sam is determined that healing will come, that they can return to normal, that HE can make it all better, that he’s not crazy. And Annie is torn between loving her husband as he is and protecting herself and their little girl. The author captured each of these emotions, fears, and resilient spirits so tangibly that I viscerally felt them as I read.

Bottom Line: If there was such a genre as ‘hope-filled noir fiction’, Shadows in the Mind’s Eye would fit in nicely. The West Virginia mountain setting complements, even encourages, the haunting fog of suspicion, of uncertainty, of suspense that swirls through the story – keeping the characters and readers on their toes. The characters are tragically-flawed – almost every single one of them in their own ways – seemingly without redemption in sight. But, as Dovie May would say, light shines in the broken things – and in the broken people. Janyre Tromp has exquisitely painted this truth across the complex canvas of her debut novel, and you absolutely must not miss it.

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

This one was amazing. Charlotte Anne and Sam have a long journey ahead of them. He returns from war a little broken and bruised. Annie has been leaning on Sam's friend, Doc who wasn't able to go to war due to disabilities left over from Polio. Even though the war is over, there are new battles for this family in Arkansas. Sam is left not knowing who to trust and Annie is not sure she can trust Sam due to his battle fatigue.

Written from Annie and Sam's perspectives, this one left me guessing at each twist and turn. The end will have you reeling from the reveals.

I love a tale that will mess with my mind and not give it all away. This one succeeded in keeping me guessing. Add in the Christian faith message and message of healing and you have a nearly perfect story. Sam and Annie are a flawed couple trying to come together again after he returns from WWII. Sam's mother adds the perfect guidance.

Annie's dad the Judge, runs the town and the two are set on avoiding owing him. However, all is not as it seems in the Arkansas town.

I was held captive until the end.

I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley and this is my honest review.

This book is a wonderful debut novel. Sam is a soldier home from WWll who cannot wait to get home to his wife Annie and their daughter Rose. You can tell that Sam has What we would now know as PTSD. This story shows how he tries to work through it and how his wife Annie feels as the days go by and this is not the Sam she remembers. I love the twists and turns the characters go through with each other and other family and other friends. Sam has to work through how Doc seems to treat his wife and child. This is hard to put down and will make you cry. I received a copy of this book from Read with Audra for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

This is quite a novel about how one family struggled when the husband returned from WW II, suffering from PTSD. The narrative mostly follows the adjustments and missteps made by Annie, the wife, and Sam, the husband, as they try to understand how to live with the changes in their marriage. There was much bickering between characters, something I had difficulty finding engaging.

The narrative flows at a methodical pace with lots of character reflection and remembering childhood events. The plot seemed a bit repetitive to me as misunderstandings occurred and were then dealt with. It was not until near the end of the novel that there was a good deal of action and suspense.

We follow the narrative from the alternating first person accounts of Annie and Sam. That is a technique hard to pull off and I would have preferred all third person for consistency in reading. It is hard to determine the character development, especially for Sam as we really have no idea of what Sam was like before the war.

Much is revealed near the end regarding what Sam was really experiencing upon his return. The explanation is quite involved, showing how complex the situation was. While I am not sure everything fit neatly in the end, I did appreciate an exploration of a man returning from the war and having to face adversity and criminal activity.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Wonderful inspirational historical fiction from Janyre Tromp. The hero returns from WW2 with PTSD to find everything changed, a little daughter he's never seen, and all kinds of problems impeding a reunion with his wife. Tromp weaves mystery and suspense on the level of Hitchcock into this satisfying page-turner. The setting is Little Rock, AR to which she does justice with great descriptions.

The real question is whether the hero will learn to trust his own mind, and likewise will his wife learn to trust him, all the while fighting a criminal mob? Highly recommend this one. I did receive a free copy from Kregel Publications but that did not influence this review.

Impressive debut!

A poignant tale of love, loss, forgiveness, and the very real pain of ptsd. This debut novel is beautifully written and honestly raw, while still being graceful and heartfelt. I really enjoyed this story and am looking forward to reading what Ms. Tromp releases next!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Sam has just come home from war and while he came home with minimal physical injuries, he definitely came home with PTSD, but this is a time before PTSD was diagnosable and your friends and family just thought you were crazy. Charlotte his wife is not sure what to do with the man who came home and this book is their post war story.

I appreciated this story for showing what injuries you can come home with from a war and the battle that lives on in the brain after someone comes home from war. The subject is needed in literature and I am glad the author wrote it. For me, the story was jumpy and the flow didn't completely work. While Sam's chapters flowed well, I thought Charlotte's didn't match in the beginning - she got a little too worried or reacted out of sync as I thought she would have, but in the end I felt as though they matched.

The mystery kept me reading in this book. Sam's story got me hooked and I wanted to figure out what he was truly experiencing and figure out if he was unreliable or if maybe there was a kernel of truth in what he was encountering. I loved Sam's chapters way more than Charlotte's and that was interesting for me as a wife, I thought I would connect and love her side of the story more!

This was my first Janyre Tromp and while not my favorite book of the year, by far not my least favorite. I would love to read more from this author and don't know where to go from here, have you read Janyre Tromp? What should I try next?

3.5 stars

It's hard to believe this is a debut release. The setting and characters were unique, and the suspense angle is there throughout, which I loved! The pace picks up as the story unfolded, which helps keep the reader engaged.

I don't always enjoy first-person POV, but this story was well done. And I appreciated the mix of suspense, romance, and redemption, all set against a historical backdrop.

Sam is a flawed, relatable character, and I was glad to see him in this book, as I haven't read many books about veterans with PTSD (and it's something we need to see more of in the book market!). Mental illness impacts so many, yet it's a topic that's often kept hidden in the background. Plot points tied up nicely, creating a satisfying ending. The book is appropriate for older teens and adults.