I received a copy of “The Shadow Dancers of Brixton Hill” as part of the Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Competition (SFINCS).
We follow the story from the point of view of Kate, who is the daughter of a circus owner. After her brother’s sudden death and her father’s ill health, Kate steps in to help with the business.
The story takes place in the 1930s, as the world was still dealing with the 1929 crash and Willson does a good job referring to that.
Kate travels to Brixton Hill to meet with an old associate of her father who is promising an astonishing new act for their circus, but soon the whole environment becomes strange and tense.
I was not particularly drawn to any of the characters, and I feel that the setting could have had a bit more development. I wish that Kate would have had time to investigate the nature of the supernatural phenomenon she witnessed.
This story has a heart-stopping conclusion that gives a Stephen King’s vibe, and if you’re looking for an intriguing and tense story with supernatural elements, this is for you.