BLOG TOUR: “A Shadow on the Lens” by Sam Hurcom (Review)

I’m delighted to take part today in Compulsive Readers’ blog tour for “A Shadow on the Lens” by Sam Hurcom.

“A Shadow on the Lens” by Sam Hurcom

Hardcover, 288 pages

Published Sept. 5, 2019, by Orion Publishing Group

My synopsis

When a forensic photographer is called to investigate the brutal death of a young woman in a small town in turn-of-the-20th-century Wales, he gets far more than he bargained for. No one wants Thomas Bexley there, which is not very surprising. But far more unexpectedly, he falls violently ill as soon as he arrives. He struggles through his sickness to look into what happened to Betsan Tilney and develop his photographs of her body and the crime scene. Do the photos reveal something more sinister than a “simple” murder, or is Thomas just losing his mind?

My review

“A Shadow on the Lens” blends my favorite genres, historical fiction and suspense thriller, quite well. I was fascinated by the idea of a book set in the early days of forensics and forensic photography. This book really delivered on that front. I enjoyed the layers of suspense involved. There is more than just murder in this book; there is corruption. And there is a tinge of paranormal activity, which I don’t normally go for. But it was interesting to try and figure out whether Thomas was being haunted by Betsan or was just hallucinating in his delirious state. I won’t tell you which, but I will say the story arc and ending were a bit of a surprise.

I received an advance digital copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

About the author

Sam Hurcom was born in Dinas Powys, South Wales in 1991. He studied Philosophy at Cardiff University, attaining both an undergraduate and master’s degree. He has since had several short stories published, and has written and illustrated a number of children’s books. Sam currently lives in the village he was raised in, close to the woodlands that have always inspired his writing.
A SHADOW ON THE LENS is Sam’s debut novel. Courtesy of Goodreads