Alan Ryker ‘In the Shadows of Children’ Review

Written by: Paula Limbaugh

Alan Ryker has just given us another reason to sleep with the lights on!  This insanely spooky offering from Darkfuse is part of their new novella line. In the Shadows of Children tells the story of two brothers, one living, one not or at least not in the ‘normal’ sense of the word.

“You have the life I should have, and things that don’t exist are envious of things that do.”

Aaron left his childhood home to attend college. His younger brother Bobby would call him, fearful of things at home, things that Aaron had no memory of. After telling Bobby not to call him anymore unless he can talk of other things, conversation between the two brothers become just a formality until that last phone call.  The one in which Bobby states “It has to end” and then he disappears without a trace. Aaron has never returned home since that day, but now 15 years later, all that has changed. Aaron’s mom has just passed away and Aaron needs to take care of matters at home.

There is a pervasive feeling of doom in the home and not just because mom died there. No, it’s something else that keeps niggling at the back of Aaron’s brain.  Soon Bobby begins appearing before Aaron in their old bedroom closet. At first Aaron is happy with the second chance to be with Bobby, but slowly Bobby begins to turn malevolent and soon an unveiled threat is made against Aaron’s son.

This is a story of Sack men and nightmares, how believing can make the unimaginable a reality. This is a darkly told tale that may trigger some deep-seated memories of your own childhood, remember the bogeyman? A great read! Available 11/11, it can be pre-ordered here.

Rating: 4/5