I have officially finished a story that began in 1991. Three books that took more than 34 years to finish has drawn to a close. My Shadows of the Past trilogy is finally complete. I didn’t actually spend that much time writing each book. It was really a matter of letting myself get side tracked between each one. (Squirrel LOL).
Adversary, the very first book I ever wrote, and the first in the trilogy, took me three years to complete. In contrast I wrote Parasite, book two in three months. Last year I decided I was going to finish this trilogy once and for all and began work on Assimilation.
By the end of this week, I plan to release all three. Each one has been reworked to fall into line with the story, updated with new covers and brand new descriptions that will make sense now that everything is done. I do hope you’ll check them out, and if it’s something you like to read maybe you’ll give me a chance with the first book.
Adversary
Synopsis: Haunted by the violent death of his wife, Washington, D.C. homicide detective Sam Hardin struggles with his relationship with his two children, and the bottle. Called to investigate a murder he discovers a connection to an alleged mob boss, and the theft of an ancient artifact discovered in Antarctica. The artifact, a knife, contains an alien power that affects anyone who comes into contact with it.
Jack Griffith served his country in the middle east, losing a leg in the process, and was recently diagnosed with cancer. While clearing a clogged sewer drain he is stabbed by the stolen knife and becomes possessed by an ancient entity that seeks to end the rule of man. His transformation leads him on a violent rampage. His fury focused on a brain damaged four-year-old he believes is the embodiment of his old adversary who holds the secrets of the universe.
The boy’s death could open the passageway between the shadows of the past and present day, allowing old gods to rise to power once again. The only thing standing in his way is Sam Hardin. Guilt, redemption, and the supernatural weave together as Sam and Jack’s paths converge in a climactic showdown from which only one of them will survive.
Parasite
Synopsis: When bullied teen Anthony finally stands up to his tormentor Randy, a violent confrontation leads to a tragic accident. Something ancient and inhuman awakens in the aftermath. As Randy’s broken body is invaded by a bizarre, otherworldly parasite, a wave of grotesque transformations and unexplained violence sweeps through Garret County, Maryland.
Deputy Sam Hardin, haunted by his own past encounters with the supernatural, is drawn into a spiraling nightmare as children go missing, birth defects surge, and a strange, predatory animal stalks the woods. Meanwhile, a prospector in Tennessee stumbles upon a buried alien machine, and a series of grisly incidents across the country hint at a spreading infection that threatens all of humanity.
Told through the intersecting lives of traumatized families, desperate law enforcement, and ordinary people caught in extraordinary circumstances, Parasite explores the terrifying consequences of an ancient evil unleashed. As the parasite’s influence grows, turning victims into hosts and spawning monstrous hybrids. Sam and his gifted son Frankie must confront the horror head-on, racing against time to contain a threat that could spell the end of mankind.
Blending small-town drama, cosmic horror, and relentless suspense, Parasite is a gripping tale of survival, sacrifice, and the dark secrets lurking beneath the surface of everyday life.
Assimilation
Synopsis: In the Pacific Northwest, a mysterious alien infection threatens to consume humanity from within. Haunted by the loss of his family, ex-cop Sam Hardin and his gifted son Frankie are on the run, hunting the monstrous creatures unleashed by an ancient artifact. They cross paths with a cast of survivors—a determined crime scene analyst, a traumatized boy, a battle-hardened Marine, and everyday townsfolk—they must confront not only the relentless, shape-shifting enemy but also the darkness within themselves.
When a small town is sealed off by a force field and overrun by infected townspeople and monstrous offspring, the survivors make a desperate last stand at Peskins’ gun shop. With resources dwindling and hope fading, Sam and his allies devise a daring plan to destroy the alien machine fueling the invasion. Sacrifices are made, alliances are tested, and the line between human and monster blurs as the group fights for survival.
As the military closes in and the truth about the infection emerges, the survivors must decide who to trust, and what they’re willing to become to save the world. In the aftermath, the battle continues in the shadows, hinting that the threat may never truly be gone.
Assimilation is a harrowing tale of courage, loss, and the enduring will to resist extinction, perfect for fans of Stephen King and Michael Crichton.
I would also like to thank Sharon Rivet from the Indie cover group on Facebook for the killer idea.
Richard Schiver 