Things Half in Shadow is written by an author that you’ve all heard of.
You’re probably looking at the book cover photo and going, “Nope. Never heard of Alan Finn.” And, I agree: most of you probably haven’t.
But I’m sure many of you have heard of Riley Sager, author of bestselling thriller novels like Lock Every Door, The House Across the Lake, and his latest, Middle of the Night.
Before Sager’s name was everywhere as a prolific author of thriller fiction, he was wrote Things Half in Shadow under the name Alan Finn.
Now, I enjoy Riley Sager. But, y’know what? I like Alan Finn a little better.
What’s Things Half in Shadow about?
Things Half in Shadow is a fantastic blend of historical fiction and supernatural suspense. Main character Edward Clark is an 1869 Philadelphia crime reporter writing an expose on spiritual mediums – as in, those who hold séances and speak with the dead.
When a séance he attends goes awry and the medium ends up dead, Clark finds himself a suspect, along with shim-sham medium Lucy Collins. He and Lucy team up to clear both their names, solve the string of medium murders plaguing the city, and hopefully write the newspaper story of the century.
What I loved about Things Half in Shadow
Things Half in Shadow is just fun. Like, when’s the last time you read a fun story? Sure, there’s murder! There’s intrigue! Okay, there are oppressive Victorian stereotypes. But, Finn makes Edward and Lucy’s adventure so enjoyable that you speed through it all. I honestly went into this book with lowered expectations, and I ended up loving the story.
I loved Edward Clark. He’s a good guy, and I really enjoyed finding out about his past, which is very interesting. And I adored Lucy Collins, the blackmailing medium he works with to solve the murder mystery. Their banter, their exchanges, and their simmering tension **wink wink** really bring the story alive.
If you read the back cover of Things Half in Shadow, the story sounds a little complicated. And, it is. There’s a lot going on, and you gotta keep up. But Finn’s writing is easy to follow, and before you know it, you’ve fallen into the novel and can’t wait to see what happens next. Apparently, Riley Sager’s always been a good writer.
How spooky is Things Half in Shadow?
Given that this books deals with the Victorian spiritualist obsession and séances, there are definitely some ghostly moments in Things Half in Shadow.
However, there’s so much sleuthing and so much history packed into this novel that I would more firmly place it in the historical fiction and/or mystery genre, with a smattering of the supernatural to help the story along.
Should you read Things Half in Shadow?
If you’re looking for a fun, original, and interesting read this spooky season (or any season!), pick up Things Half in Shadow. The premise reminds me a bit of The London Séance Society by Sarah Penner. But, in my opinion, Things Half in Shadow is the much better read.
It’s clear that Finn delved deep into research to write Things Half in Shadow. I’m actually a bit sad that he (apparently) no longer writes historical fiction, because he’s wonderful at it. His attention to Victorian American historical detail is wonderful, from the setting depicted to the language used to the events going on at the time. Everything read like a movie playing in front of my eyes.
A book lover’s plea to Alan Finn/Riley Sager:
Things Half in Shadow feels like it should be the first book in a series. And, maybe it was intended to be just that. The way Finn wraps a lot of things up at the end leaves the door very open for so much more to happen in the future.
While I’m not a huge fan of book series, I really wish Finn had written more books about Edward Clark because I really, really want to know what happens to him next.
Please, Riley Sager. Slip on your Alan Finn suit (okay, I realize that sounded a little weird) and pen a sequel to Things Half in Shadow. Because you cannot just leave me hanging like this!
What’s the book-inspired recipe for Things Half in Shadow?
Check back in for the book-inspired recipe: Victorian Mourning Cakes.
