[Book Review] Shepherd’s Warning- Cailyn Lloyd

On the surface, Cailyn Lloyd’s debut novel Shepherd’s Warning seems like a classic haunted house story, but there is far more to it than that. When Lucas MacKenzie’s mother passes away, he and his wife Laura inherit a mysterious country home. The home is mysterious largely because Lucas’ mother never once spoke of it to her family, and the inheritance came as a complete surprise. Still reeling from the death of Lucas’ mother and some other personal losses, the MacKenzie family is hoping to be able to make a fresh start in this unexpected new place. Unfortunately, before long it starts to become clear why the home was abandoned for so long. As things get weirder and darker, Laura has to come to terms with what she is up against if she has any hope of saving her family. 

From page one, Lloyd demonstrates an uncanny ability to pump tension into seemingly innocuous situations. There is something about her writing that really draws in the reader. The book is a slow burn, but despite the pacing I stayed incredibly engrossed in the story. I think that a large factor in that is the way that Lloyd writes the protagonist, Laura MacKenzie. Laura is a strong woman, but plagued with doubts and anxiety. At every turn, she is constantly fighting against herself. Despite these internal struggles, she keeps going for her family. I think that being privy to Laura’s fears and anxieties really added palpable tension and kept me racing along. The plot might have crawled along, but Laura’s thoughts and fears and questions raced at a mile a minute. 

Perhaps the most unique aspect of Shepherd’s Warning is the reason behind the haunting. As I mentioned, this seems like a cookie-cutter haunted house story, but it’s not. Lloyd manages to craft her own spin on the haunted house tale that’s not quite like anything I’ve read before. I don’t do spoilers, so you’ll just have to read it and find out exactly what I’m talking about. But I will say that the dark force at work here is cool as hell and quite a refreshing take. 

Speaking of things that are cool as hell, let’s talk about the namesake of the book. Kenric Shepherd is the dude who gives the titular Warning. I really enjoyed this character. Shepherd is a professor of Medieval Studies, specializing in early English languages; the best in the field. He’s probably the best because he was there when these languages were originally spoken. Sort of an unfair advantage, you might say. See, Shepherd is a mystic, part of an age-old loosely organized group of shamans and magic-workers called the Elders. Shepard has been alive and honing his magical craft since sometime in the eighth century. Not really sure what’s kept him alive for so long, Shepherd moves around every so often to avoid suspicion. All of that is pretty cool to begin with, but to top it all off, Shepherd has learned a new, modern form of magic. In his free time, he is a skilled computer hacker. Overall, Shepherd is a pretty awesome character, and I wish that he had a larger role in the story. 

Shepherd’s Warning is a powerfully riveting, yet slow-burning new take on the haunted house story. Lloyd crafts interesting and intricate characters. Laura is strong but flawed; Shepherd is mysterious and intriguing. The plot has a lot of the dressings of a classic haunting, but presented in an entirely new way. Fans of hauntings, magic, and mysterious will love this one. If you’re looking for a lightning-paced thrill ride, this is certainly not the book for you. However, if you’re interested in tense, character-driven stories with interesting twists and fresh ideas, you’ll be right at home with Shepherd’s Warning.

You can purchase a copy on Amazon for $0.99 (Kindle), $12.45 (Paperback). Also available free with Kindle Unlimited, and available on Audible.

About the Author

_{Photo and text from https://www.cailynlloyd.net/}

A lifelong writer, Cailyn Lloyd, spent three years living in a truly haunted house and experienced firsthand the nuances of strange and eerie places. Quinlan’s Secret is her second novel, the highly anticipated sequel to Shepherd’s Warning and the second in The Elders trilogy.

In addition to writing, Cailyn is an accomplished weather photographer. Her work has appeared in newspapers, textbooks and publications including Life Magazine. She is also a composer and musician with three album releases to her credit. Cailyn lives near the Kettle Moraine State Forest in Wisconsin and when she’s not writing spooky stories, loves hiking with her dogs and hanging with her grandchildren.

Check out her website here.