"Todd Brown brings a classic Southern Gothic story into the podcasting age with When Shadows Burn. Perfect for fans of Twin Peaks and Shirley Jackson alike, the novel explores the chilling history and underbelly of a small town shaped by disappearances and murders. Here, rumors of aliens and vampires mingle with a sharp, unforgettable cast. Brown's work will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page." -Jennifer Wright, bestselling author, columnist, former political editor-at-large for Harper's Bazaar, featured in The New York Times and The Washington Post
"Todd Brown creates a cast of colorful, intertwined Virginians reminiscent of Stephen King and Mike Flanagan. And while there are dark secrets buried in the Martian house, the biggest secret in Raven's Cross is how quick it is to judgment and condemnation." -Mishna Wolff, national bestselling memoirist of I'm Down, Sundance screenwriter, and writer of Werewolves Within
"When Shadows Burn leaves you stunned. Not just because of the mystery, murder, and the unknown, but also because Todd Brown weaves into the story a powerful reflection on discrimination and survival. I appreciate how it shines a light on those living their truth daily, in a world that too often meets authenticity with hatred." -Tal Anderson, Netflix's Atypical, HBO's The Pitt, and neurodiversity advocate
"When Shadows Burn feels like the best kind of thriller. The threats may not be what you expect, the mood is eerie and paranoid, and the buildup is relentless. Fully grounded in a contemporary world that feels like it could be Anytown, USA, this book refocuses the lens on which nightmares could be real." -Emily Woo Zeller, Golden Voice, Audie "Best Voice of the Year," Independent Audiobook Awards' Best Female Narrator
". . . a haunting, beautifully written psychological thriller. Todd Brown brings Raven's Cross vividly to life, with unforgettable characters and a twist unlike anything I have ever read before. For anyone who's lived through or wants to understand the fight to find love and safety in a world that fears difference, this book is essential." -Calysta Bevier, LGBTQ+ singer-songwriter, America's Got Talent Golden Buzzer recipient, and cancer survivor
"When Shadows Burn is an engrossing supernatural thriller about the cult of small towns and the lengths people go to in order to belong." -Clarion 4/5 Stars
"There's something quietly brilliant about the way When Shadows Burns unfolds-not as a scream but as a slow, knowing whisper from the end of a dark hallway. This is a novel that leans in close, smells like mildew and woodsmoke, and asks not 'Are you afraid?' but 'What exactly are you trying to forget?' Todd Brown's debut reads like a love letter to the eerie and a reckoning with the everyday horrors we politely look away from." -OneTribune, Atlas Stories Award Recipient
