I usually try and read an author's books in the order they're published, but I managed to snag all of Kihn's books at once and, seeing that three of them are linked, decided to start with his second published (and stand alone) novel.

Likely a mistake.

Now I'm viewing the time I'll spend reading his other novels with some trepidation.

The reason for this is based solely on what I got out of this novel, Shade Of Pale. It's not a horrible book, and the story itself, in the hands of a more adept writer, would likely be really creepy and really engaging. I get the sense Kihn was reaching for more than he was capable of.

For such a short novel, this story is littered with far too many characters, none of which are given much more than cursory personalities--and all of that is told, not shown. Kihn, at least in this novel, is the master of telling and the master of the adverb. Unfortunately, he is nowhere near the master of dialogue, characterization, or pacing.

In fact, the protagonist, Jukes, is such a boring, self-doubting dork who gets pushed around by everyone he comes in contact with, it stretches the imagination far beyond the suspension of disbelief when he finally meets the strong, confident, beautiful and educated (if given to boring monologues about Banshees and shock) Fiona, there was literally no point where I believed their relationship. They came together only because the author wanted them to, not because he'd built the story and characters to support it.

The book also had a fair amount of filler. The entire IRA subplot could have been excised without impacting the story, and Jukes' examination of the cellar of the cabin was obviously to try and throw in a creepy scene, but it went nowhere.

And the Banshee? Underutilized. Her key scenes happened, for the most part, off-stage. Her actions often made little sense. Basically, an absolutely brilliant "monster" that Kihn seemed to not truly know what to do with.

I'm really hoping Horrorshow and its followups are much better. ( )

I received an ARC copy of this book from the publisher, Open Road, through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Open Road for letting me read an advance copy and for publishing a ton of great books.

Shade of Pale was originally published in the 90’s---this is a re-issue. For those of us that enjoyed the horror of that decade, this book is a lot of fun and I heartily recommend it. No cell phones—which creates tension and plot twists that would be impossible today. Classic rock references. Even the title itself is a reference to the Procol Harum song “A Whiter Shade of Pale.”

The Banshee is a creature, mainly, of Irish legend. She is a curse on certain Irish families---specifically the “old” or “original” families. Considering that the “Mc” of my names means that I happen to belong to one of those old clans, I thought about taking notes, you know, just in case. The folkloric and historical aspects of the Banshee legend is explored in fascinating detail. The anthropological and psychological underpinning are also very interesting. Even Saint Patrick makes an (historical) appearance.

I don’t spend time in my reviews telling the plot but I will say that many authors could learn a few lessons on how to pace a thriller from reading Shade of Pale. Kihn weaves four exciting story lines, each of which is a race toward a predestined confrontation with the Banshee and each other, into a compelling and absorbing narrative. I read the entire book in one sitting because there wasn’t a suitable stopping point. I love it when that happens.

Four stars. Took off one point because I found 2 characters to be annoying and unrealistic. The New York cop and the Black Rain terrorist were fantastic, however. Oh, and the Banshee was every bit as dangerous and deadly as promised but a lot more complex and interesting than I realized.

Shade of Pale was a ton of fun and a great way to spend an evening.
( )

Neither horrible nor brilliant, Shade of Pale is no literary masterpiece by any means; but it is a bit of easy to read fun that grips you and makes you want to know what happens next. ( )

I enjoy stories based on mythology, and Greg Kihn's Shade of Pale was no exception. The mythical creature at the center of this novel is the Irish Banshee, who traditionally wails in grief over a person's impending death, thereby allowing both friends and family to say goodbye and otherwise prepare for the loss of their loved one. Kihn's Banshee, however, is much more aggressive; her wail actually kills the men at which it is directed, in fairly gruesome ways. Not surprisingly, this ability makes her a formidable weapon, which some would like to control and wield against their enemies.

The Banshee is the common factor linking three main plot lines: the disappearance of a psychiatrist's sister; the strangling murders of several prostitutes; and the unexplained violent deaths of two men in New York City, whose only connection appears to be that they are both Irish. Kihn does a fine job at maintaining the suspense in all three plots while simultaneously weaving them together to create a satisfying finale. My only real complaint was his introduction of the "Banshee as weapon" idea, which provided some well-deserved gore at the end of the book but otherwise felt tacked on to the overall explanation for the Banshee's appearance in the New World. (Traditionally, the Banshee grieves for Irish emigrants at their ancestral family seat.)

There are a couple of minor factual gaffes, including a psychiatrist without a cell phone in 1997 and a battery-powered hand drill which is fully charged after the power to its charging cradle has been turned off for months, if not years. These glitches occur in the last 50 pages, though, so they do not significantly disrupt the reader's immersion in the narrative.

Verdict: Recommended for paranormal fantasy fans and crime thriller fans who don't mind a supernatural element.

I received a free copy of Shade of Pale through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ( )

Shade of Pale, written by a San Jose D.J. (whom I've never heard on the radio) takes place in New York but starts with the thesis: the banshee is real. It then carefully melds modern horror (a la Ringu or The Grudge) with a New York City based detective story. It has a few distractions in the form of an IRA subplot that can be skipped without losing anything from the overall flow of the story. ( )