The Shadow Within

By: Eric Butler

Narrated by: Micah Cottingham

The Independent Book Review says, "Author Eric Butler turns a long-awaited trip home into a lustful, gruesome, and horrific summer. Be ready for it. This novel might just make you double-lock your doors tonight."

A relentless evil possessing an already depraved man...gruesome and perverse acts of brutality... Will anyone survive?

Centuries ago the natives captured and imprisoned a life force of pure evil and unending hunger. Thirteen years ago, an eight-year-old boy woke the darkness. It grows in strength every day and now the boy is a man. A man skilled in terror and violence, the very things the darkness needs to finally break free.

Jill, a city girl at heart, was surprised when the car came to a stop. Jack wasn't kidding when he said they were going to the boonies. A family vacation, her with Jack and his teenage kids, was not her idea of fun, but Jill was ready to take the next step. She wondered if this trip was Jack’s way to say he was ready as well.

As the man stalks through the countryside, unleashing panic and dread, will Jill be able to escape with Jack and his children? Or will the man soak the ground in blood and release...The Shadow Within.

©2019 Eric N Butler (P)2023 Eric N Butler

Sinister Small Town Horror

Eric Butler takes us on a soothing vacation to small-town America in The Shadow Within. Like many small towns, there aren't a lot of amenities available, law enforcement is minimal and the members are unprepared for major events, sinister forces influence the people, the land and people are cursed, and horrors lurk in the shadows. If this isn't your idea of what small towns are like, then we've been reading vastly different books. Nevertheless, when Jack and Jill go up this hill, there's little more than disaster and trauma awaiting them.

Jack heads to the countryside with his children and new girlfriend, hoping to introduce them to each other under relaxing and peaceful conditions at the family home he hadn't visited in years. Everything seems like it might be going well, and then Butler pulls the rug out from under you. Of course, you had to know this was going to happen. It's that kind of book, isn't it?

There's no way Jack and his family could be prepared for what happens when a monster comes home. A centuries-old evil presence that found a host within a troubled young man with a propensity for violence has returned to the place they were bound...and the kindred spirits delight in the graphic torture and murder of anyone who crosses their path.

Butler introduces you to his characters, lets you get to know them, and then proceeds to put them through absolute hell in the most captivating ways. He pulls no punches and forces you to witness the atrocities...sometimes after the fact, but often while they're happening. You may find yourself discomforted at times...but again, it's that kind of book, isn't it?

The narration from Micah Cottingham is fantastic, and it does the narrative justice.

Great Listen

If I had to guess, it's been about 2 years since I read this book. When I found out that it was now an Audible, I couldn't wait to listen to it. I really enjoy listeining to books I've already read for whatever reason (as long as it was a book I liked in the first place).
This is one of those books that is better listened to instead of being read. The voice of the book grew on me. The way she paused for effect, especially in times of suspense, was defintely worth the price of admission. I highly recommend this listen

Brace Yourself, You Never Know Where The Terror Is

From the beginning, Eric Butler takes your hand and says I have something to show you. He never lets go. Even after you finished the book, the story stays with you. The story is captivating,
thought provoking and if you like folklore and legends, this is your book. Eric Butler makes the unbelievable, believable.
He writes the way people really talk. The protagonists (heroes) of the book are ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances. The relationship between Jill & Jack is special. When writing about their love making, Eric does it with class. Very sensual and erotic. There are so many twists & turns in the book, the characters don't see them coming & neither will you.
*WARNING *
When Evil Becomes Incarnate, there is blatantly explicit sexual torture scenes. My advice is that if you are sensitive or things like this are a trigger for you, this book may not be for you. That being said, You must understand that its imperative to show what Evil Incarnate is capable of. Yes, there were times I cringed, winced & even cursed out loud.
I absolutely loved that the story has Strong Female Characters. I promise you that you will never see the last gut punch coming.
Eric Butler is fresh, unique, takes you where you've never been before. In my humble opinion Eric Butler is a brilliant & gifted storyteller.
The narrator was perfect for this story. Her tone,pitch, cadence made the story flow flawlessly. Being there are difficult explicit scenes, She read this entire book beautifully.

80’s slasher fans, REJOICE

First, I was given a free Audible code in return
for a review. There, the damn legalese is out of the way. Let’s get down to business. Eric Butler has written a novel of curses, blood, sex, an unstoppable killer...holy shit he wrote an 80’s movie...and it’s
freakin’ awesome.
A single dad brings his beautiful girlfriend and
his two (beautiful college age daughter, totally typical horny high schooler son) kids to a summer cabin in hopes to help the kids get to know the new girlfriend. Seems like a great time, yeah? HAH!!! FOOLED
YOU! Little does this small town know that one of the oldest families has a curse; and that presence is calling for blood to become a god.
Chaos, murder, blood (and various other bodily fluids) flow, body parts fly and the body count meter spins like a speedometer.
There were a few deaths I should have seen coming, a few deaths I wish hadn’t happened, and a last paragraph that made me want to throw my phone!
My only complaint is that the author didn’t flesh out the curse, the cursed family or why the curse exists. It is vaguely hinted at, but never truly explained.
I cannot recommend this book more, especially if you are a fan of 80’s slashers or Richard Laymon. The narrator does a great job, and the story is incredibly fast paced.

Carnage, mayhem and depravity abound!

Audiobook*

I enjoy listening to books on my commute, but found myself also listening while cooking, getting ready for bed and grading papers because I NEEDED to know what was going to happen! The story progresses rapidly with a cast of unforgettable characters that make this little town seem so incredibly real!

When a string of grizzly murders causes havoc in an otherwise idyllic community, those affected with never be the same! Is it a family curse? A crazed maniac? Both? How will anyone get out of this alive?

Carnage, mayhem and depravity abound!! Don’t read this with a weak stomach or a rape trigger.

Overall, gripping, well written and jaw dropping! You will not be disappointed!! The ending really got me!!

I also want to highly praise the narrator for a job well done!

5 stars!!

Story and narrator are outstanding!

I was very fortunate to win an audiobook of this story and it was amazing. I have never tried an audiobook before this, but the narrator was magnificent and kept my attention throughout the whole book. I kept putting it off yesterday because I was getting close to the end and I wasn’t ready for it to end as I wanted more, and still do! I will definitely be picking up more of this authors books. I would highly recommend this audiobook!
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Captivating and Brilliant

Eric Butler’s The Shadow Within is such a perfect homage to Richard Laymon. There’s everything you know and love about Laymon, mixed in with Butler’s special variety of horror. Being no stranger to Butler’s writing, I knew I was in for a treat when I started this audiobook. The storytelling is captivating, the characters are well developed, and the narrator, Micah Cottingham, did a brilliant job bringing the story to life. It’s crazy to think that something so well polished is the author’s first novel!

Very Entertaining

I found this book very entertaining. Great characters and reminiscent of Richard Laymon's work. A fun ride right to the end!