Click Here To Purchase The Shadow Year

Author: Jeffrey Ford

Publisher: William Morrow

What a brilliant, atmospheric and thought provoking read about a young boy growing up in the 1960s.  Where do I begin? Everything about this mystery novel is perfect.

The beginning is evocative and totally captivating. The opening starts with the wonderful, observant line: “It began in the last days of August, when the leaves of the elm in the front yard had curled into crisp brown tubes and fallen away to litter the lawn.” 

I only wish I could write in the same manner as this author’s ability to phrase thoughts.

I loved his writing style from the first page until the last. He manages to conjure up a feeling of boyhood nostalgia and a dark foreboding sense at the same time.

One night a scream cuts through the silence while our character, a nameless boy, lies awake in bed. Who is that he panics?

The next day it is revealed that the next-door neighbour, Mrs Conrad, was spied on while she was changing into her nightgown. She turned and saw a face at the window.

Rumours start that there is a prowler on the loose who likes to spy on people and kidnap and murder kids.  

The young boy decides its time to do something and catch the prowler. He and his brother, Jim, and sister, Mary, hatch a plan. They take it upon themselves to become their own private investigators with the help of their dog, George.

Later our boy and brother Jim ask the son of Mrs Conrad, Franky, to join them.  The author likens Franky to Curly Howard from the Three Stooges.  

The foursome discover a footprint near Franky’s mother’s house but they do not know who it belongs to. It looks like its come from a sneaker but not from an adult because they believe “grown-ups usually don’t wear sneakers”

So the question lingers, just whose is it?

Over butter-and-sugar sandwiches they decide to tell Nan of their find. She tells them a ghost tale from the past …. This does have some meaning to the actual story in the end but I won’t give that part away.

I don’t think I have ever read a more exceptional book of this type. The way Ford conjures up scenery is so realistic and clever. I absolutely loved his descriptions:

“Streams ran through it (the deep oak-and-pine forest) as well as some rudimentary paths that we knew better than the lines on our own palms”.

The forest plays a big part in this tale as the lads (minus Mary) decide to check out the sewer pipe for clues. Franky disappears into the pipe - nobody knows where he has gone. Later our narrator is sent to find him. He does but then forgets to tell the others. They are in delight at finding a pornographic magazine and spend a good five minutes drooling over this. 

Jim’s creation - a model city of Botch Town - also “plays” a big part in this story especially when little Mary gets involved.  Jim is quite proud of his creation that he made from all sorts of junk he found on his travels. From an old shoe box to ice cream sticks, these all have their place within this “miniature world”.

Yet somehow when Mary starts to mess around with the set strange things happen. 

This novel is very funny in places too and had me laughing out loud, especially when I read the line about the neighbour enjoying the use of the pool: “Mr Farley really could do a dead man’s float.”

There is another funny part in this tale regarding teacher Mr Krapp (hint, hint) but you really should read it for yourself.

I found this novel creepy and surreal -make sure you read this if you don’t intend to read anything else this year.  

Ford has written a masterpiece that captures the fine line between reality and fantasy. It is reminiscent of Stephen King and Tobias Wolff, only better!

Chapters are just the right size for the reader to digest, keeping you on edge with never a dull moment. The front cover is eye-catching and reflects so well on the tale inside.  

Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful is all I can say. If you miss this gem, you’ll regret it. A novel just asking to be made into a film.

Click Here To Purchase The Shadow Year

The above review was contributed by: Jessica Roberts:  Jessica is a book reviewer for a local newspaper and has reviewed for a national women's magazine too. She has had various articles published in magazines and has now completed her novel. Jessica currently lives in West Yorkshire and enjoys walking in the dales and woodlands as part of her hobby as well as, of course, reviewing books. To read more of Jessica's reviews  CLICK HERE