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Casting Shadows Everywhere: A Dark Psychological Thriller Kindle Edition

by L.T. Vargus (Author), Tim McBain (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
3.5 out of 5 stars 1,105 ratings
Killing someone is a lot harder than you'd imagine. Physically harder, I mean. On TV a guy strangles someone for like 5 seconds and the body slumps to the ground in a heap of dead just like that. In real life, it takes so long you wouldn't believe it.

"Catcher in the Rye meets Fight Club." "Fantastic psychological journey." "Holden Caulfield on steroids!"

Jake saw something unspeakable when he was nine. An act of violence. Brutal. He doesn't know it, but this trauma will play a key role in shaping him later in life.

Now, he's fifteen. A wimp. He flinches. Always. He's too timid to make a move on Beth, the buxom girl of his dreams, and too busy getting face-slammed into lockers by bullies to do much else.

He seeks the guidance of the biggest bad ass he knows, his cousin Nick.

Nick is a professional burglar and makes Jake his apprentice. They stalk suburban neighborhoods night after night, ransacking houses for jewelry and sweet valuables.

Nick teaches Jake the finer points of breaking and entering along with his dark philosophy -- that there is no right or wrong in the world, just a series of events that happen without meaning.

At first, adopting Nick's callous worldview helps Jake get over his fears and confront his tormentors, but he also unleashes an aggression in himself he never thought possible. And as he learns more about his cousin, he realizes that Nick's crimes go way beyond burglary.

In the end, Jake must face not only the monster in his cousin but also the one in his own heart.

Casting Shadows Everywhere is a dark and twisty psychological thriller perfect for fans of Gillian Flynn, Lucinda Berry, A.J. Finn, and Paula Hawkins. Scroll up and grab it now.

Praise for Casting Shadows Everywhere:

"'Casting Shadows Everywhere' is beautifully written; a little terrifying, sometimes sad, filled with funny observations on everything from tacos to the workings of the brain, and occasionally profound. In a word, it is 'excellent.'" -Mike Billington

"Sharp and clever. Catcher in the Rye meets Fight Club." -Amazon Customer

"All of it weaves together into a compulsive read that is at times horrific, at other times a mystery, and at all times a deep searching of the heart and soul in an effort to understand why in the world we're on this planet." -Mary A. Madsen

"The Perks of Being a Wall Flower meets American Psycho." -Brian Ellis

"A disturbingly dark coming of age story that explores idealization, heroism, competition, love, hate, and possession." -Melanie

"The book is a psychological page-turner, and in many respects reminds me of a very dark 'Catcher in the Rye.'" -Howard Lipman

"There's an incredible twist along the way that raises the stakes to a new level, followed by another equally amazing twist that unites all the apparently unrelated elements of the story. I can't tell you more about these twists without spoiling the surprise, but rest assured, they open up profound questions about the interplay between our rational thoughts, our deepest fears and our most secret desires." -Paul Grieve

"This book touched me, inspired me, and drew me in like nothing else I have read in a very long time. I highly recommend it for what it represented to me. A walk into the dark. And a view of the light at the end of the forest." -Kindle Customer

"This is a remarkable new voice on the literary scene; the best of what can come from indie writers. Vargus seamlessly weaves genres into one heart-thumping roller coaster ride of a story with cutthroat insight into humanity." -Mary A. Madsen
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  1. Print length
    265 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    March 7, 2019
  4. File size
    1.1 MB
  5. Page Flip
    Enabled
  6. Word Wise
    Enabled
  7. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07PFRZF96
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Smarmy Press
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 7, 2019
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ 2nd
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.1 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 265 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.5 out of 5 stars 1,105 ratings

About the authors

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  1. L.T. Vargus

    L.T. Vargus

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    L.T. Vargus grew up in Hell, Michigan, which is a lot smaller, quieter, and less fiery than one might imagine. When not click-clacking away at the keyboard, she can be found sewing, fantasizing about food, and rotting her brain in front of the TV.

    L.T. Vargus now lives in New Mexico with her special man friend/writing partner, Tim McBain.

    She likes YouTube videos of cute animals, mystery novels, punk rock, and pizza.

    http://ltvargus.com

    See more on the author's page
  2. Tim McBain

    Tim McBain

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    People say your author bio should tell the world why you write. I write because life is short, and I want to make something awesome before I die.

    http://timmcbain.com

    See more on the author's page
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Customer reviews

3.5 out of 5 stars
1,105 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book compelling for teens and adults alike, with a plot that keeps readers guessing and well-done descriptive writing. They appreciate the entertaining voice of the protagonist and its stream-of-consciousness style that makes them think, while finding it refreshingly funny and not dull at all. The dark content receives mixed reactions, with some appreciating its unexpected side while others find it too intense.

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116 customers mention "Readability"114 positive2 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as a riveting, lively, and compelling read that is enjoyable for both teens and adults.

"...We see that the character of Jake has depth - a love of reading and writing, especially studying about the inner workings of the human mind...." Read more

"...Yes, indeed, it leads a reader all over the place (through the shadows of Jake, Nick, Beth, Donnie, Tammie, Troy and all the other named characters)..." Read more

"...Everywhere, a young-adult novel by L.T. Vargus, is a compelling read for teens and adults alike...." Read more

"...There are plenty of decent books out there. A person just has to be selective and not settle for the filth that is so abundant...." Read more

105 customers mention "Story quality"84 positive21 negative

Customers find the book's story intriguing and suspenseful, with a plot that keeps readers guessing.

"...This book does much more than tell a good story - It describes an event; a process of "becoming" that every adolescent goes through, but not every..." Read more

"...Now, I will say it took on a lot of twists and turns; readers will be assured to find those elements behind the pages...." Read more

"...that raises the stakes to a new level, followed by another equally amazing twist that unites all the apparently unrelated elements of the story...." Read more

"...in the fact, and it is a fact, that good writing and a good, exciting story, does NOT have to include the foul language of the gutter...." Read more

77 customers mention "Writing quality"66 positive11 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, noting its well-done descriptive passages and crisp dialogue.

"...This one was written as a journal (diary) from the perspective eye of a youth (15 years of age)...." Read more

"...recommend the book and can say without hesitation that Vargus is a capable author, there were a couple of things that bothered me...." Read more

"...I'm a firm believer in the fact, and it is a fact, that good writing and a good, exciting story, does NOT have to include the foul language of the..." Read more

"...The descriptive writing is well done, and there are enough unusual twists and turns to keep you wanting more...." Read more

53 customers mention "Thought provoking"53 positive0 negative

Customers find the book thought-provoking, describing it as insightful with stream of consciousness lessons on life, and one customer notes how it perfectly captures the frenetic mind.

"...Jake likes Beth Horne in his class - she is smart, sharp, funny; not an airhead like the other popular girls in his school...." Read more

"...And it does shed light on the many life lessons there are to be learned. When it’s all said and done, there are some interesting theories." Read more

"...as he struggles to gain the respect and love of others, it poses interesting questions about the ambiguity of the lines we draw between right and..." Read more

"...I won't reveal the rest of the plot, but the book is a psychological page-turner, and in many respects reminds me of a very dark 'Catcher in the Rye..." Read more

35 customers mention "Character development"30 positive5 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, particularly noting the entertaining voice of the protagonist and how it stays consistent throughout the story. One customer highlights how it provides insight into charismatic gang leaders.

"...and Lynchian vibe of the story is well served by a cast of colorful characters that inhabit a dream-like world where the reader is left to ponder..." Read more

"...Although it's an interesting character portrait and a fascinating story of teenage choice points, there is horrible language, gruesome descriptions..." Read more

"...can insert humor when least expected, and creates characters who are flawed enough to be real and sincere enough to make the reader care about them." Read more

"...Casting Shadows that I enjoyed most, it would be the entertaining voice of the protagonist, young Jake, always believable, always intriguing...." Read more

33 customers mention "Humor"30 positive3 negative

Customers find the book humorous, describing it as refreshingly funny and entertaining.

"...Jake likes Beth Horne in his class - she is smart, sharp, funny; not an airhead like the other popular girls in his school...." Read more

"...For the entertaining and innovative way he caught my attention...." Read more

"...read for anyone who loves a good psychological thriller with an edge of humor, all delivered in a realistic package...." Read more

"...beautifully written; a little terrifying, sometimes sad, filled with funny observations on everything from tacos to the workings of the brain, and..." Read more

16 customers mention "Style"16 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's style, finding it interesting and not dull at all, with one customer noting its colorful descriptions and another mentioning the catchy red and black cover that suggests a noir novel.

"...The novel's synopsis was intriguing, and I liked the front cover. Overall Review..." Read more

"...The catchy red and black cover, featuring a long shadow, stood out, though the title gave me few clues to what I was in for...." Read more

"...The cover design suggest a noir novel, and in a way it is, but not in the traditional sense...." Read more

"...There's so much to like about this book. The style is catchy, intriguing...." Read more

16 customers mention "Dark content"10 positive6 negative

Customers have mixed reactions to the book's dark content, with some appreciating its unexpected side while others find it too intense.

"...For sure, it was given a perfect title “Casting Shadows Everywhere.”..." Read more

"...At the core, he's a good kid, but with a dark side. A very dark unexpected side...one you should have seen coming, but refused to admit because..." Read more

"...and if you like fascinating psychological drama, Casting Shadows Everywhere will satisfy...." Read more

"...her voice is unique - and FUNNY, despite the dark content - and I'm a new fan." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • The Mighty Pen
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Surreal Romp Through An Adolescent Mind To The Brink . . .
    Reviewed in the United States on January 15, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    "Casting Shadows Everywhere" By LT Vargus & Tim McBain

    This book does much more than tell a good story - It describes an event; a process of "becoming" that every adolescent goes through, but not every adolescent chronicles like Jake, the main character, does in this story.
    He's trying to make sense of the world, and obtain a set of principles that define things, that he can live by. The journal that he keeps begins with a strangling that he witnessed when he was just 9 years old.
    Right away he discovers that the world is full of contradictions - things that are the way someone imagines them to be, and then the way that they really are.
    Feels that maybe he is born to be a "victim" not for anyone in particular, but just in general . . .He says he "never takes any action" but that he "only has words,"
    Believes he was predestined to play the role of the victim, has like an invisible mark on him that others could see. "Does the world really work the way they think it does, and I'm already stuck on the losing end of the deal?"
    Jake likes Beth Horne in his class - she is smart, sharp, funny; not an airhead like the other popular girls in his school.
    Then we meet Nick, Jake's alcoholic, sociopathic, ex-con cousin, who Jake calls "a man of action." Jake describes a Troy Summers bullying episode and tells Nick. Nick says "I'd be pissin' in his mouth after I knocked him out." This is a shocker and something new and interesting to Jake because of his "predestination" to be a victim.
    Nick asks Jake if he is ready for some life "lessons" that will show him what a farce everything is and what the world is really about. Jake agrees to follow Nick's direction and enter his world which will show him how things work.
    After an "initiation" where Nick has Jake shoplift "anything" from a WalMart Store, (Jake selects a package of colored markers), Jake feels a kind of giddy excitement, almost euphoria. None of the horrible consequences that ran through Jake's mind came to pass.
    Future "lessons" include petty home break-ins, which give Jake a similar "rush" or sense of euphoria, but has him questioning some of Nick's methods. This euophoria, or "rush" carries over to Jake's everyday life, including school and the college course he's taking in Introductory Psychology which he has a deep interest in. We see that the character of Jake has depth - a love of reading and writing, especially studying about the inner workings of the human mind.
    In school, Jake befriends a mildly autistic boy named Robert, who Jake describes as a "school friend" and nothing more. Robert asks questions of Jake that remind him of an innocent child learning about the world for the first time. Robert is a "barometer" of right and wrong to Jake, and after several "lessons" from Nick, Jake is threatened by a bully in school. Instead of just giving in to the bully and folding like a cheap deck of cards, Jake fights back, perhaps too roughly and scares Robert who was nearby and observed the whole violent episode. Robert is frightened and taken aback by Jake's behavior and stops talking to Jake for the rest of the novel. This makes makes Jake think . . . as if the "voice of innocence and civil behavior" has been frightened away. In my mind I got the image of a butterfly fluttering aw```ay - once it's gone, it's gone.
    Without throwing in any spoilers, Jake discovers a very dark side of his mentor Nick, which makes him very frightened to continue any lessons. Jake is driven to the edge by what he discovers about Nick, and almost drags his girlfriend Beth into the Shadows with him, from which there can be no return. Will Jake succumb to the powerful influence of Nick, or will there be another life lesson which will change Jake for the good.
    "Casting Shadows Everywhere" is a romp through the struggles of mid-adolescence, and the authors get into the mindset of Jake and his worldview very masterfully, while telling a great story. You should definitely put this book on your "must read" list!
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Nina, Author
    3.0 out of 5 stars Truly, something of a read!
    Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    To say, this is something of a read, is putting it lightly. The book is presented in a first person narrative; a YA, and non-fiction tale.
    For sure, it was given a perfect title “Casting Shadows Everywhere.” Yes, indeed, it leads a reader all over the place (through the shadows of Jake, Nick, Beth, Donnie, Tammie, Troy and all the other named characters). Better yet, there are shadows here there everywhere. This one was written as a journal (diary) from the perspective eye of a youth (15 years of age). And perhaps, that’s why it has such a unique way of how it has the readers traveling through the journey.
    While I was excited (at the on-set) about getting down to reading this titled story, it wasn't a particular read for me. For one, it would have been beneficial to know the read inside this journal would be bouncing wildly; and even at that widely. At times, I had to go back and read sections to make sure it was being followed as written. Another important factor was that I’d preferred to have known this tale contained sensitive language. Something that should have been identified early-on (maybe even at the intro part). Or did I miss something and it was there?
    True, it taps into the relationship of bullying and certainly there are lessons learnt through its read. Guess, it was an awesome and creative approach on how the writer elected to deliver its story. And for that, it says a lot for the writer’s crafty skills. Seemingly, we (as writers) are distinct in our own way. Overall, there are many fantastic reviews outlining details of the story. To uncover exactly what they are, I suggest reading for ones’ self and discovering. Now, I will say it took on a lot of twists and turns; readers will be assured to find those elements behind the pages. And it does shed light on the many life lessons there are to be learned. When it’s all said and done, there are some interesting theories.
    Helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Andy W Couch
    1.0 out of 5 stars I couldn't finish it
    Reviewed in Germany on July 27, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I saw the premise on Twitter and decided to pick up a copy on sale. Maybe I wasn't understanding correctly, but the book is pretty dark. The violence and cruelty of the first few chapters put me off from going further. I get that the book is actually about that, but be warned if you are squeamish at all.
    Report
  • Alain Miles
    5.0 out of 5 stars Creeping and tiptoeing into dark scary places
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 6, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    'Young Adult', the author labels it. But I'm not going to be buying 'Casting Shadows Everywhere' for any 14-year-old I know this Christmas. The story creeps and tiptoes into dark scary places where 'there ain't no right or wrong' and 'reality is the only true nightmare'. It's a dead-eyed view of morality. No role-models here. No happy endings.

    But what a beginning for L.T Vargus! For me, this is the debut novel of the year.

    Jake is a gangling, angst-ridden 15-year old who knows he's a pussy, one of life's victims. If there's a bully on the scene, it's Jake that gets picked on. He knows he'll never have any luck with girls, not even Beth, who doesn't tune out when he starts talking about video games. What Jake needs is someone to help him stand up for himself. What he gets is big cousin Nick.

    Under Nick's expert tutelage, Jake gets practical lessons in street-crime. Starting with shoplifting (Gelly Roll Stardust Bold Galaxy pens), moving onto house-breaking ... and beyond.

    But Nick's a philosophical hoodlum: each lesson reinforces his nihilistic beliefs: 'None of it means nothin'. There is just things that happen ... When we drop bombs on people, that is good. When other people drop bombs on us or blow shit up, that is evil. It's all a joke. It ain't real.'

    Does it work? Hell yes. The act of crime shows Jake that anything really is possible, makes him 'feel alive as a man can feel'. He starts beating up on the bullies. He gets to date Beth - even though he still agonizes about whether to sit next to her or across the table at 'Pasta Pasta'. Things are looking up.

    The whole story's told through Jake's journal, and Vargus does an outstanding job of capturing the authentic tone, style, nuances of a smart, streetwise 15-year-old. Never once does she falter or step out of character. Sometimes there's inspired imagery, but the words are always Jake's not some third-party author's:
    'We were silent for a moment, the sky blackening around us like burnt chicken skin.'

    Impressive too was the story construction. No formula narrative, this: Vargus is happy to let the diary meander through apparently unrelated episodes and experiences - lessons from Jake's psychology class, hanging out with the semi-autistic kid, descriptions of dreams - and it's only as the story ends that we realize every little patch has been expertly quilted together.

    What I'll remember most, though, was the challenge to my comfortable moral assumptions. Like Jake, I know it's all wrong, but Vargus gets me to sense the thrill of living on the dark side. I found myself nodding along with some of Nick's perverse logic. Can I agree with Jake's summary towards the end? (modified to comply with Amazon review guidelines)

    'Life is way too f****** short, so leap straight for the goddamn jugular while you've got the chance, I say.'

    I don't know.
    Report
  • Montserrat de la Fuente Juan
    5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome thriller!
    Reviewed in Spain on November 12, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    I've been very impressed by this book, which is very well-written, with a consistent story, brilliant character descriptions through their own personalities. I highly recommend it and wait for the second novel by the author.
    Report
  • L.B.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on December 24, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Très bon livre. Bien écrit.
    Report
  • Kimmygirlnz
    4.0 out of 5 stars Not my usual read but I'm so glad I tried it
    Reviewed in Australia on July 7, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    This was such a different read for me but I really got into it & enjoyed it. It's really well written & I learnt some interesting facts as well as cracked up laughing often.
    I don't really know how to review it without giving anything away but if you read the synopsis & think it sounds interesting, give it a try. It's worth it :)
    Report

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