Firstly I’d like to thank A.M. Shine and Zoe at Head of Zeus for providing me an advanced copy of Grace in exchange for an honest review. Where do I start? What can I say about A.M. Shine that I haven’t said before. A.M. Shines writing is like a warm hug, around the neck. And wait is that hug getting tighter? Oh god no, oh what’s happening make it stop! Grace is a superb entry into what I have cleverly coined AMSIFCU (A.M. Shines Irish Folklore Cinematic Universe), I don’t know if the books are linked, but it’s very plausible and there’s nothing I’d enjoy more than for them to cross over at some stage. Grace takes place on the Isle of Croaghnakeela. A mysterious island off the coast of Ireland only spoken of in cautious whispers by mainlanders. no children have been born on the island in years and their only visitor is the weekly courier, that is until Grace gets a call that takes her to the island and without spoiling to much, lots of things go horrifically wrong, very quickly. This book has everything, it has mystery, brutality, cats, betrayals, pints. All the things a girl needs. Being honest I didn’t find this book as scary as I did something like Creepers but I also found the plot a lot more engaging, the pacing is impeccable and the cast of characters Shine develops in a relatively short book is unique, well considered and likeable (in a fashion). I always struggle to find a way to describe these books without spoiling it but if you like Demonic Possession Horror, Skinwalkers, Uncanny Valley, Thrillers, Gothic or Things that go bump in the night horror then this is right up your street. An easy five stars for me every day of the week and twice on Sundays. Well done Mr Shine and Congratulations on what I’m sure will be a successful release.

Grace was adopted and has never known where she came from, until she receives a phone call from a stranger. Her birth mother has died and left her house to Grace, on an isolated island - a place shrouded in mystery, guilt and evil. This was my first book by A.M. Shine, and I completely understand why everyone raves about their work. This story is dark, atmospheric and perfectly mixes physical and psychological horror. The island, Croaghnakeela, really comes alive during the story and I think the author has done so well to convey Irish folklore. "The land itself seemed to awaken as she'd scrambled home. Everywhere its shadows were rippling, restless and alive. Grasses, once so limp, had quivered with a sick excitement, licking at her ankles as she'd passed them by." The pacing is truly wonderful, you feel dropped into the action so quickly yet everything is still burning slowly. There are mysteries until the end, twists you don't see coming. The story is made so much richer by multiple POVs, I loved that we experienced this tale from so many characters. "Everyone that'd lived to a ripe age had lost someone they loved. Death was one of life's unmerciful absolutes - a one-way journey from which none returned, and it was dangerous to disrupt that rule." Grace is the type of book that stays with you long after you finish it.

A.M. Shine has quickly become one of my favourite writers, when I came across his Watchers series and I quickly want to pick up anything he puts out. Shine, well, shines when writing gothic horror, and is excellent with tone to create atmosphere, His characters are always charming (even when we need to hate them), overall, just excellent.