Shadows in the Mind's Eye: A Novel

Written by Janyre Tromp

Narrated by Matt Godfrey and Sandy Rustin

Charlotte Anne Mattas longs to turn back the clock. Before her husband, Sam, went to serve his country in the war, he was the man everyone could rely on—responsible, intelligent, and loving. But the person who's come back to their
family farm is very different from the protector Annie remembers. Sam's experience in the Pacific theater has left him broken in ways no one can understand—but that everyone is learning to fear.

Tongues start wagging after Sam nearly kills his own brother. Now when he claims to have seen men on the mountain when no one else has seen them, Annie isn't the only one questioning his sanity and her safety. If there were criminals
haunting the hills, there should be evidence beyond his claims. Is he really seeing what he says, or is his war-tortured mind conjuring ghosts?

Annie desperately wants to believe her husband. But between his irrational choices and his nightmares leaking into the daytime, she's terrified he's going mad. Can she trust God to heal Sam's mental wounds—or will sticking by him
mean keeping her marriage at the cost of her own life?

Debut novelist Janyre Tromp delivers a deliciously eerie, Hitchcockian story filled with love and suspense. Readers of psychological thrillers and historical fiction by Jaime Jo Wright and Sarah Sundin will add Tromp to their favorite authors list.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Apr 19, 2022
• ISBN: 9781705057247

Janyre Tromp

Janyre Tromp is a developmental book editor who has worked in the publishing industry for more than twenty years, spending time in both marketing and editorial. When she isn’t writing, she’s a Bible study leader, writers conference speaker, ACFW member, wife, and mom of two kids and their menagerie of slightly eccentric pets. Visit her at janyretromp.com.

Reviews for Shadows in the Mind's Eye

[ibjoy1953 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK Shadows in the Mine's Eye is a wonderful debut novel by Janyre Tromp . From the very beginning the story has twists and turns that will throw you mind off goodtime. Just when you think you have everything under control, something else happens and you are back at square one. I finally realized I would never figure anything out right and just enjoyed reading to the end. And that I did. I felt so bad for Sam because no one believed him, so that meant everyone thought he was crazy. Even his wife. The PTSD that hit him when he got home from the war was leaning on him goodtime. Tromp does a nice job giving the vivid details of each scene, and this shows the extent of research she did before writing the book. There are many dark moments in the book, sometimes it is hard to read, but the story flows pretty good and those dark times you need to read to understand the story. And boy was it an ending you won't forget for a while. It may not be a good idea to finish the book in the middle of the night like I did. There is a lot of stuff going on in Shadows in the Mine's Eye by Janyre Tromp. Not only the twists and turns but a few surprises in the end as well. My only thing with the story is, I feel the author used God's name inappropriate a number of times throughout the story and that bothers me. Other than that, it is a really great debut for the author. If you enjoy a good suspense/mystery, you will really enjoy this one.

[fcplcataloger · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Remember this author's name! Janyre Tromp's first novel is a stunning depiction of a couple who believes that everything will be as it once was, as soon as the husband returns from the war. Sam Mattas does return, and it doesn't take long for his wife Annie to realize that things will never be the same again. Our society today is very familiar with PTSD but it wasn't a common diagnosis for the returning soldiers of WWII. Tromp poignantly describes Sam's struggles, his attempts to prove that he isn't the villain that he appears to be, and his wife's efforts to understand and accept this new normal. The story alternates between both of their viewpoints, so we're offered a powerful view of their many emotions.There are so many key elements to this story. Sam's psychological issues, along with Annie's bewilderment and fears, play out against the background of Hot Springs, Arkansas during the 1940s. I loved learning about the historic legacy of Hot Springs National Park, a popular resort area for the rich and affluent, but Hot Springs was also a place of corruption and illegal gambling. Much of the suspense and drama revolves around attempts to keep these activities hidden by bribing the local authorities and pointing fingers at others. Will Sam's erratic behavior cause him to become a scapegoat? Is Annie strong enough to hold their family together?If you're looking for historical fiction that is overflowing with faith, hope, and inspiration, you need to read Shadows in the Mind's Eye. Tromp's debut novel is a deeply emotional story that you won't soon forget!I received a copy of this book from Kregel via Read with Audra Blog Tour. There was no obligation for a positive review.

[becky_l-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

“Sometimes God uses broken things to save us … Ain’t no light that can get through something solid. It sneaks through the broken places.”Broken… that is what so many characters are, in Janyre Tromp’s debut novel, Shadows in the Mind’s Eye. WWII is over, but as the surviving men return home, many face the kind of difficulties that own Sam Mattas and his family.Wives and other family not going to war attempt to keep the family homestead going, waiting for their men’s return. When Sam Mattas reappears, his wife and family are left to wonder how to navigate the much less-than-ideal- situation God allows. Is God still to be trusted? Does God have a plan for this mess?This psychological thriller is immersed in the Southern mountain culture, with the heart of truth only revealed after much emotional upheaval (including on the reader’s part!) First-person narrative, alternating between Sam and Annie, made me want to choose sides, then switch repeatedly until my head was spinning. Characters are so multi-faceted and fluid that I found myself identifying with even some of the “villains.” I must admit this novel reminded me of some great classics- not easy to enter into for a while, but once I did, I felt like I had discovered a treasure by the end!My favorite character is Dovie May. Elderly, life has not been kind to her, yet she remains full of faith, optimism, and encouragement for others to keep pressing forward. Wisdom is certainly on her tongue.I received a copy of this book from the I Read with Audra Tour via Net Galley. No positive review is required, and all opinions are my own.Notable Quotable:So many, but I will give my fave:“We think everything eventually goes back to what we want it be. That everything’ll be happy and familiar, the good winning. We never want to travel beyond the point where everybody’s happy. But life’s everything after, and the question is, what are you going to do with the truth life drops in your lap?”

[stardust_fiddle · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A brilliant debut novel with a little bit of something for everyone--historical fiction, romance, suspense, relational drama, social issues--narrated alternately by both Sam and Annie in the first-person. There are a lot of twists in this one, and I couldn't put it down! My mom would have really enjoyed it, too. Very highly recommended, and I hope to see more novels from Janyre Tromp in the future!

[harley0326 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

With each page I became more emotionally involved and couldn’t put the book down. Sam tugged on my heart so much the moment he stepped in the house where his wife was. It had been a long time since he had see her smile and his heart pounded with anticipation. Even though he was happy to be home from the war, he still felt out of place. The war did something to him that causes him to react to every noise, every strange movement and even words that sound different. I know he must be thinking that he was crazy but he has to overcome this darkness that is surrounding him. Annie is thrilled her husband is home. She has been anticipating this moment forever it seems. With a smile on her face she greets Sam and feels safe in his arms once again. She hides the truth of being sad and lonely. How long has she been depressed? She senses that Sam has changed but she is not sure she has the strength to fight her own demons. The author delivers an emotional journey with Sam and Annie as they struggle to reconnect. I could feel their hesitation at sharing with each and at times they want to scream that they need help. Dovie May is a woman who doesn’t mince words but gives compassion when needed. I love how she knew that Annie was struggling with the changes going on in her life. To me she was the glue that held the family together. There were times she could have been harsh, but her gentle yet firm spirit became the calming factor in this family deep with problems. I would love to have a Dovie May in my family. She knows how to diffuse a situation with grace and unconditional love. The story is filled with truth and healing. Finding joy in the midst of sorrow is hard but it is where healing begins. Sam and Annie go through trials as they find their way back to happiness. I loved reading how they shared their innermost thoughts with each other and grew in their relationship with each other. As danger starts to set in around the farm, Sam needs to convince everyone that something illegal is going on but will anyone believe him? The story gets intense as Sam realizes that he has not been hallucinating about the shadows he has been seeing. The question is who can he trust with what he has discovered? The author gave me shivers as I was a witness to evil that visited the farm. Get ready for an adventure where darkness tries to take away healing and twists in the story give way to danger. I received a copy of this book from the publisher and Read with Audra Blogging Program. The review is my own opinion.“It’s where things is broke that the joy shows through.”

[lifeofliterature · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wow! This new to me author does not shy away from tough subjects and great complexity and depth to her characters. I felt like I was able to get to know them all on a deeper level just purely through her descriptions and the circumstances they faced. Added to this is the mystery underlying most of the story and the result is a novel that is hard to put down! I stayed up late reading the book as I needed to know the answers to the storyline. I loved the way the author brought the readers into the story and made every chapter engaging and enthralling. I really enjoyed this novel and I cannot recommend it enough! I will be looking for more by this author for sure!I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

[amybooksy · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Shadows in the Mind's Eye is a great debut for novelist Janyre Tromp. For me, it was an emotional tale that had me wanting to grab some tissues. It is a powerful story of redemption and healing. I personally felt a connection to Sam and the trauma and nightmares he endured. I wanted to keep reading to find out how it would all end for him and Annie. I liked the addition of suspense and mystery, too. Shadows in the Mind's Eye will be getting a very well deserved five plus stars from me. I highly recommend it for readers who enjoy reading clean historical fiction. I will be looking for more like this by Janyre Tromp in the future. She has found herself a new fan. I received a paperback copy of Shadows in the Mind's Eye from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

[virginia51-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is a wonderful debut novel. Sam is a soldier home from WWll who cannot wait to get home to his wife Annie and their daughter Rose. You can tell that Sam has What we would now know as PTSD. This story shows how he tries to work through it and how his wife Annie feels as the days go by and this is not the Sam she remembers. I love the twists and turns the characters go through with each other and other family and other friends. Sam has to work through how Doc seems to treat his wife and child. This is hard to put down and will make you cry. I received a copy of this book from Read with Audra for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

[jbarr5 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Shadows in the Mind's Eye by Janyre TrompThis story is about Sam and he's just returning from the war with a lot of PTSD problems.His wife Annie has a few tricks she's learned to ease the pain from him. I was hoping to learn these techniques to help others and they do work.When he's out and about the family's orchard grounds because he hears noises and sees shadows he is in fight mode, maneuvers he never forgets.He sees and hears too much and others harm him. Annie doesn't believe he's hallucinating. Over time Sam has put himself where he shouldn’t be and Annie helps him to leave the area to hide out.Her dad is helping but he never told her things that happened in the past that really put her in harm's way.Like how the escape goes and how others have come to seek them out to help. Others who she thought were friends are there to harm her. Love that Sam had taught her how to take care of herself and their daughter Rosie and to keep them safe til he can go to them.Annie retains the knowledge and has no clue about the drugs and who they've effected.Like learning all the details of the things in the past, Sam's best friend Doc and his own brother Pete try to help but they get injured. Wild adventures in Arkansas. Lots of resource material at the end and acknowledgements and about the author are included.Received this review copy via Kregel Publications via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion. #ShadowsintheMindsEyeANovel #NetGalley

[alekee_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This story deals with the aftermath of WWII, and a young man who comes home to his wife and a daughter he has never met. This could be any war, dealing with the trauma of being away at war, and how things have changed and yet remained the same.Charlotte Anne Mattas has longed for her husband Sam to return to her and their Peach farm, and restart their family life together.Something funny is going on on their farm and Sam wants to find out what! Will anyone believe him?As we go along with the cast of character the author has gifted us with, you will be second guessing whom to trust and whom is really there to help.This is a page turner, and now I am looking for more from this author!I received this book through Read With Audra and the Publisher Kregel, and was not required to give a positive review.

[Ann Bush · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Coming home from war is hard enough, but the things this veteran encounters are unexpected and quite a story!