Book Review: Shadows in the Mind’s Eye by Janyre Tromp

When Sam Mattas returns home after serving in World War II, he and his wife hope life will go back to normal. But the ghosts of war haunt Sam, and he and those closest to him begin to question his sanity.

I am a huge fan of World War II history, so when I was given the opportunity to receive an advanced copy of this book, I jumped at the chance. And I’m glad I did.

There are plenty of stories that take place during the war, but this one starts after the victory celebrations are over, and the survivors have to move on and pick up the shattered pieces of their lives.

Shadows in the Mind’s Eye began as a slow burn, with an atmosphere of mystery and suspense that intensified with each chapter. It worked up to a page-turning climax that would have kept me reading until 2 or 3 AM if not for some serious self-control on my part.

Yeah, okay. Self-control had nothing to do with it. I’m a slow reader by nature, taking in every word, every nuance. Which can be frustrating, especially when a story heats up. With this book, it worked to my advantage, allowing me to settle into the story and really spend time with the characters. A few chapters from the end, a pang of regret hit me. If I continued reading into the wee hours, my time with Sam and Annie would be over, and I wanted one more evening with them. I enjoyed my time up the mountain on the Mattas farm and certainly found myself rooting for Sam and Annie to overcome the obstacles they faced.

With two psychologists in my family and another who could have been one, I’m not unaware of the effects of PTSD. But this story helped me see more closely some of the struggles of those who suffer with it, and how it affects those they love. Janyre Tromp dealt with it in a realistic and compassionate way.

This book clearly had a Christian world view, but I would have liked to see the main characters—who questioned if God cared about them when things got rough—show greater recognition of His goodness at the end. It’s hinted at, but it’s not spelled out as clearly as their doubts. But that might be in keeping with the current trend in Christian publishing to avoid preachiness. It did not take away from my enjoyment of the book or the overall message that God is good.

The story is filled with gems of God’s wisdom, most of them the advice and faith of the endearing Dovie May, Sam’s mother. I’ll leave you with one, but you’ll have to read the book to get the rest. 🙂

“The same God who made rainbows and sunshine also made the thunder and lightning…I have to believe He knows what He’s doing.”

Shadows in the Mind’s Eye releases on April 19, 2022. But don’t wait! Preorder now. Click on the title below to go to Janyre’s site to learn more about the book and the author.

Or you can find the book here.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Shadows-Minds-Eye-Janyre-Tromp/dp/0825447399

Christian Book: https://www.christianbook.com/shadows-in-the-minds-eye-novel/9780825447396/pd/5447396

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/shadows-in-the-minds-eye-janyre-tromp/1139844881