In the Shadow of St. Anthony: Being a somewhat detailed account of the coming of age of Tommy Santalesa, the neighborhood wiseass.
A manipulative musician hunts for his friend, finding supernatural horror in SoHo.
Tommy Santalesa is a shallow individual who maintains his place in a band by exploiting long-term friendships. He steals partners and belittles talented peers. After Frank Balistrieri disappears, Tommy searches SoHo and finds him drained of life. The situation escalates when police pursue the guitarist for unknown reasons. Tommy faces a dilemma involving medical care versus a wooden stake. Hernon writes this as a somewhat detailed account of these events. The book examines how self-interest can shift toward selflessness under extreme duress. It uses the backdrop of a deserted city to heighten the sense of isolation and dread.
The story is set in Manhattan's SoHo district during August. It engages with American urban horror traditions, blending contemporary band dynamics with classic vampire lore elements like wooden stakes and drained victims. The narrative reflects on modern relationships within creative groups.
📝 Description: In the Shadow of St. Anthony: Being a somewhat detailed account of the coming of age of Tommy Santalesa, the neighborhood wiseass.
💎 Our verdict on In the Shadow of St. Anthony: Being a somewhat detailed account of the coming of age of Tommy Santalesa, the neighborhood wiseass.
📖 Why choose it
Why this book is worth reading
Readers who appreciate character-driven horror will find this work particularly engaging, as it focuses heavily on the psychological transformation of its protagonist. Tommy Santalesa’s journey from a shallow, manipulative schemer to an unexpected rescuer offers a compelling examination of how self-interest can shift toward selflessness under extreme duress. The book is ideal for those who enjoy supernatural fiction that integrates moral dilemmas into its plot, specifically the tension between personal ambition and duty. By setting the story in a deserted city backdrop, Hernon heightens the sense of isolation, making it suitable for audiences seeking atmospheric dread rather than lighthearted comedy or traditional ghost stories.
⭐ Reader reviews
Reader rating
Hernon crafts a narrative that effectively blends coming-of-age elements with supernatural horror, creating a unique tone of urban isolation. The story succeeds in examining betrayal and survival through the lens of Tommy Santalesa’s moral reckoning. The backdrop of humid, deserted SoHo streets enhances the gothic atmosphere, allowing the supernatural threat to feel both immediate and overwhelming. This approach suits readers who prefer psychological depth alongside traditional horror tropes like vampires and malignant shadows. While it lacks the whimsy of lighter genres, its focus on the tension between ambition and duty provides a serious, engaging experience for those interested in how extreme circumstances force personal growth and moral clarity within a confined, dread-filled setting.
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🏛 Books from this publisher Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
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