What a great read for those who don't mind a little gore in their books. The plot and story line that had me turning the pages to see what would happen next. If it was a movie, I would have covered my eyes at some passages. Would definitely read another book by the author.

This book should come with one of those parental explicit content warning labels you used to see on CDs, lol. Seriously, if you are squeamish you might want to give this one a pass, because there is gore and the descriptions are indeed explicit. Which I am fine with because in a story that revolves around a cult of cannibals you really should expect some serious gore. If you’re wondering you can handle it, just use the book preview feature to read the first chapter where Masteron gives you a good idea of what to expect from the rest of the book.

Now I should say that before I started reading The Shadow People I didn’t know it was the third book in a series. I’m happy to report that it absolutely can work as a standalone novel, but I’ll definitely be going back and picking up the previous books.

As the books product description indicates, the story revolves around DS Jamila Patel and DC Jerry Pardoe attempting to hunt down whoever is abducting, cooking, and eating people off the streets of London. It’s a wild story with intense action, serious creep factor, and brilliantly disturbing descriptions that you probably won’t want to read anywhere around meal time, lol.

I will say as an American, this book is definitely quite British, and I liked that a lot. What do I mean by that? Well I’m referring mostly to the dialogue. Not quite sure how to describe it other than to say I think there is a wonderful almost lyrical complexity to everyday speech we don’t really experience here in the states which I really enjoy. Also that there is a fair amount of English slang, which meant I always read with my phone close at hand so I could look up the odd phrase or two I wasn’t familiar with.

Looking at Graham Masterton’s body of work I am shocked I’d never read any his books before, but now that I have I’ll be working my way through his back catalog. Thanks to Head of Zeus and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review an eARC of The Shadow People.

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-shadow-people-graham-masterton/1139707917?ean=9781800243347&bvnotificationId=eb7edbac-8ad1-11ec-8ccd-0a6a64ba0809&bvmessageType=REVIEW_APPROVED&bvrecipientDomain=gmail.com#review/200436585

A BURNING PYRE
The smell of roasting meat alerts police to squatters in an abandoned London factory. But when they arrive, the place is empty... except for a gruesome pile of scorched human heads.
AN ANCIENT RITUAL
DS Jamila Patel and DC Jerry Pardoe have solved bizarre crimes before, but nothing as spooky as this. Arcane markings on the factory wall lead them to a terrifying cult in thrall to a Neolithic god. A god who demands the ultimate sacrifice from his followers.
A CULT OF CANNIBALS
Now Londoners are being abducted off the city streets, to be mutilated, roasted and eaten. Can Patel and Pardoe save the next victim from this hideous fate? Or will they themselves become a human sacrifice?

This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.

I was provided an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. This is my own hone\st voluntary review.

Having read and loved all of Masterton‘s brilliant Katie Maguire series, I had high expectations for this even knowing that the genre was more horror than crime procedural. Sadly, there was absolutely nothing about The Shadow People that I enjoyed.

I DNF‘d at about 30% after becoming increasingly incensed by the misogynistic and racist “banter” of the investigation team. It was neither amusing nor witty but a real turn-off. In fact, the dialogue in general read like something a teenager would write.

Nor could I warm to either of the two main characters, DC Pardow and DS Patel, who came across as flat and uninteresting. It would have helped if their partnership had had some kind of spark, but even that seemed very sterile.

I didn’t mind the gore or the idea of a cannibalistic cult. In fact, it was a great premise with lots of potential. My feeling, though, was that Masterton invested too much in sensationalizing this aspect at the expense of injecting authenticity into the characters and story.

I am really very disappointed and find it hard to believe that this is the same author who created Katie Maguire. It’ll be a long time before I pick up another Masterton book.

Thank you NetGalley for a copy of the shadow people in exchange for an honest review. I really liked this one! Kept me on the edge on my seat!

I was pulled right in from beginning to end, it's been awhile since I was so into a book that I've read it in 1 setting. Must read!!

It's very rare that a book makes me hold my hand to my mouth in horror and disgust, but this one did (not necessarily in a bad way). It was a really good and original story, well written. I'm glad I don't live on my own though, as not sure I'd be able to sleep again! This is the only Graham Masterton book I have read, but I am going to rectify that if they are all as good as this one.

This book is a gore-fest!! And it's good that it is because for a book that has a storyline revolving around a cult who worships a Neolithic god/demon by offering up humans as sacrifices and eating them, you really can't expect a tame version of what is described here. It is good that I have read Clive Barker so I could handle the gore once I began reading this book... the author does not waste time and the horrific, gory action begins from the first chapter itself with graphic detail!

It also turns out that this is the third book in the DS Jamila Patel and DC Jerry Pardoe paranormal police procedural series although I think I might wait a while before I try reading the previous books... I can handle gore but in small doses. This book, however, can be read as a standalone.

My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Head of Zeus and the author Graham Masterton for the e-Arc of the book.

Publication date is 1st March 2022.

I'm not easily shocked, I love my thrillers to be dark, twisted and sinister. I follow many crime scene cleaning accounts on Instagram and there's usually a murder podcast in the background if I'm cooking, in the bath or just relaxing. So when I found myself putting The Shadow People down thinking 'wtf did I just read?' a few pages in I knew I was in for an absolute rollercoaster.

The Shadow People is a story which blurs the lines between so many genres effortlessly - thriller, horror, gore, supernatural and police procedural, it just keeps coming. It intrigued me, revolted me, turned my stomach, fascinated me and kept me fully gripped until the very last page. It isn't possible to read this book without having an absolute myriad of reactions, both physical and emotional.

This is an essential read for all horror, gore and creepy thriller fans, just make sure you're reading on an empty stomach.

(This is book 3 in a series, but I found it worked perfectly as a stand alone read, however I'll definitely be going back for more!)

Firstly, I would like to thanks Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Tw: cannibalism, graphic violence and gore, murder, brutal torture and explicit content

Be warned, this book is very violent in description and they may made you squeamish because of the cannibalism. I felt sick at some point reading this because of how brutal the scenes were and im not kidding. I didnt know this book is the 3rd book in a series but somehow it worked as a standalone. Im all in for the weird religious cult and the nihilistic sadism the whole things are. Its fascinating to read to what extent these people go for their belief.

Its very interesting to read despite the amount of gore and violence. I like it and i wouldnt say i enjoyed it but i do find it very intriguing. Will definitely check out more from the author.

Very Different and Unusual................................

The Shadow People by Graham Masterton is a very unusual book which we do not come across. An extremely scary plot with sharp twists and turns are going to hook you up right from beginning. The climax was a cherry on the top. Although, the plot got a little bit flat in the middle, but, it picked its pace and everything was fired up again. The plot encircles around cannibalism, Satan worship and horror. I really liked the book and would like to read more from the author.

I would, definitely, give the book 5 stars. Thanks to Netgalley and Head of Zeus for giving me an opportunity to read and review the book.

Know that this has gruesome scenes and a lot of gore. So much so that it overwhelmed what might have otherwise been a good procedural, Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I DNF but fans of horror might give it a try.

What an interesting read. This book involves so many factors that it is nearly impossible to describe them all. I have read this book with fascination and fear. Cults are so bad for people involved with them and yet, it is difficult to understand how people become enmeshed in this type of society. This group of people were reduced to cavemen type just by the use of an experimental drug. I was amazed at how fast humans can revert to savages and not even realize they were different. An incredibly frightening book.

The Shadow People by Graham Masterton is the third book featuring police detective Jamila Patel and Jerry Pardue. They are called in to investigate when there has been a crime is unusual or seems supernatural. This installment features gruesome murders that seem to be committed by a cannibalistic cult that worships a Neolithic god. The cult members kidnap and torture people. The treatment of the victims is definitely not for the faint of heart. It is gory and detailed.

Overall, this is a typical Masterton story. I enjoyed the story because of the historical and religious elements. I won’t reveal what they are because I don’t want to spoil the story.

This book is creepy but also gorey. Just the right balance to give the reader possible nightmares!!! Obviously not me!! I love these types of books!!
The thought of creepy, dirty cannibals running around in the shadows is almost believable but scarey!! .
I found this story fascinating! Graham has got the balance right of this situation that it could be a police case to solve with great relateable characters. I was engrossed from page one!!!All good reasons to read this book!! I can't wait to read more from Graham Masterson!!!
Many thanks to Netgalley for the free arc book for an honest review.
#Netgalley,#grahammasterson,#headofzeus.

Thank you to NetGalley, Head of Zeus, and Graham Masterton for the advanced copy of The Shadow People in exchange for my honest review. I normally don’t read a lot of horror so this was my first real experience with gore and gruesome descriptions. I loved it! I also loved the British humor. I imagined it a little like a Guy Ritchie movie and I mean that in the nicest way possible. It took a little time for me to get into the book but the second half was even better than the first. This is not a light read. Some things are truly so disgusting I gagged at one point. I read this was part of a series but I had no trouble reading this as a stand alone.

I was approved to receive an e-Galley ARC of The Shadow People, authored by Graham Masterson, from the publisher Head of Zeus and NetGalley for review consideration. What follows is my honest opinion given freely.

This became a DNF at 11%. I attempted to read past the police treating a trans suspect (referred to as ‘the man in the dress’) at the station with sub-human behavior, presented with no fanfare, and failed. I read fiction for many reasons, and do not shy away from darker story lines. This, however, felt like prejudice, and not part of an intentional addition to the story for the story’s enrichment. I’ve never been a big reader of Masterson, when I was barely double digits I remember my dad letting me read The Manitou and being terrified. He writes POC and women stereotypically (racist and sexist) often, which some could argue was how it was done when he wrote Manitou in the 70’s but Shadow People is coming out in 2022, it’s not okay now, and really should not have been okay then. I see many lauding this in reviews as wonderful because of the violence and gore, no mention of the problematic language. Either they are willing to look the other way, or they do not see it as problematic. As a reading community I think we should do better. What we purchase is showing support. I will not be requesting/reading from this author anymore. I support the LGBTQ+ community and the BIPOC community by reading/buying work by them and not reading/buying work by people that damages and disrespects them.

This had lots of gore, creepy, sinister, scary. It should probably have a warning label because of all the gore in it! Not for the faint of heart.

You know a book is good when it makes you scared of every bump in the night. This book blends a gripping story, a mystery and a perfect blend of scare to make you want to leave the lights on.

This horror/mystery is the third book following Det. Sgt. Jamila Patel and Det. Con. Jerry Pardoe as they team up to find a ritualistic cult of cannibals. A pile of bodies with evidence of cannibalistic activity are found in an abandoned building next to a painting on the wall that suggests these bodies were a possible sacrifice. The initial investigating officers are attacked but the criminals seem to disappear quickly, causing the police force to be concerned the criminals might be more organized than they originally thought. As the investigation continues and more people are abducted, Patel and Pardoe find connections that this group may be worshiping an ancient god who has been all but forgotten.

TW/CW: cannibalism, torture, police treatment

I was immediately interested in this book as soon as I read the description - who doesn't love a good cannibal cult story? And the book certainly does not hold back at all in regards to those elements. I think a lot of times the cannibal element would be used as the 'twist' where the investigating detectives would be completely stumped until one of them would have a lightbulb moment and say "what if they're eating the bodies". That was not the case here. We get a human BBQ in the opening scene and it only gets more graphic from there. We see, on page, in detail, the ritualistic way this cult butchers (for lack of a better term) the people they abduct. I think Masterton toes the line between graphic and over-done well and I personally never felt that the book veered into 'torture porn' category of violence but that line in the sand could absolutely vary from reader to reader. There was fantastic atmosphere built up around the cult and the police investigation and the creep factor was high.

The multi-POV in this book was done really well to amp up the tension and pacing of the story. The book is told mainly by alternating between the police investigation and then from a POV inside the cult. We also get some brief scenes from the POV of the cult victims but those don't last very long. I really enjoyed the choice to set up the POV this way because there is no real question in the reader's mind as to what is going on. The reader has (mostly) all the information and the thrill and tension is seeing how these two sides clash and which will come out on top. Getting a POV from inside the cult was really interesting because we can see the inner workings and structure of this pretty complex system. The police have, as I think most people would, written off the cult as all being insane. The POV choices allow the cult members to be more humanized than if the story was told solely from the police POV. And, to be clear, at no point was I rooting for the cannibal cult to win, but it was nice to not have them be so black-and-white evil and actual have some nuance. Masterton does a great job of knowing when to switch these POVs to amp up the tension because the reader knows how each side is progressing in their own mission. So ending a cult POV chapter with plans of when they'll take their next victim only to switch to the police POV who have no clue about the impending attack really worked well for me.

The actual police investigation felt a little lacking for me. For the first 70% of the book, the police are basically two steps behind. They have some clues, some theories, but mostly just a whole pile of questions with no real way to answer them. Then, suddenly, everything comes together perfectly for the investigation to be wrapped up quickly. I think if the exact same solutions were used, but just spread out a little more throughout the narrative, it would have felt more organic. However, the fact that we get three big breaks in the case pretty much at the same time was really convenient and not satisfying. Also Patel and Pardoe are pitched in the book as being some sort of expert duo who are really good at cracking the bizarre cases but I didn't see anything special about them or the investigating style at all. I was sort of expecting a X-File Scully/Mulder pairing type of dynamic but that isn't really the case. They just seemed a little less likely to dismiss the more 'out-there' theories than some of the other officers but not to any degree that they'd get called in off their other cases to work as a specialized team. I thought they had some good banter and seemed to work well as a partnership but they just felt like a regular detective partnership that got handed a weird case.

I also wanted to talk about the tone and police interaction in this story. I did read an ARC, so there is a chance some of this will change before final publication but this is my feelings about what I read. The tone had a very "good ol' boys" feel to it that made it read a little dated to me. The story is set in present day London so maybe the tone and attitudes includes are entirely accurate. However, as a reader in America the story felt a little dated. For example, early on a character makes a comment that due to recent political shifts, they have been told to be more politically correct when referring to suspects. Then there are multiple instances of one character describing a suspect as "having a screw loose", then another character would give them a look and the first character would sort of roll their eyes and correct to "mentally disordered" or "mentally unstable". This happened often enough that it stood out and I kept waiting for one of the older detectives to make a comment about how "these young people these days and their PC language" type complaint. Also, the way the police make borderline derogatory remarks about homeless people and mentally ill people throughout the book again just made it feel a bit old fashioned. I've read plenty of police procedurals - many set in London - where this sort of language and attitudes were not included so it really stood out to me. There was also one scene early on where the police were trying to force a non-verbal suspect to take a shower but the suspect was resisting getting into the shower stall. So as an alternative, they took the suspect out into the parking lot and washed him with the hose where they wash the cars. I didn't pick up on any real plot reasons that would rationalize treating the suspect in this manner so it just came off as abusive.

Based on the description of the book, Patel and Pardoe are brought in to investigate cases that may have a supernatural aspect to them. Since it was mentioned in the description, I was expecting this aspect to play a much bigger role in the investigation than it actually did. I was expecting some sort of hints that maybe something supernatural was happening, maybe a theory that gets thrown around the investigation team but is laughed off initially. Something along those lines would have been great. If I had to stretch, the supernatural element at the beginning would be the odd painting on the wall by the human BBQ. However, that seemed like such a stretch to get these two 'specialized' investigators together a painting. I did really like where we eventually get with the supernatural side of the investigation, but I wanted more of it earlier. Again, I was hoping more for an X-Files type of situation I suppose.

Overall, I did like this read but it had some key parts that didn't quite hit for me. I loved the horror elements and the atmosphere Masterton crafted. The POV choices and narrative structure worked well to enhance the pacing and tension in the story. However, the tone and some characters felt dated to me, I thought the investigation wrapped up a bit too quickly, and I wanted more supernatural breadcrumbs earlier in the story.

Thanks to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for the ARC

Expected publication date is March 1, 2022