By: Miguel Angel Hernandez Jr.
Publisher: Soaring High Publishing
Publication Date: September 28, 2026
ISBN: 978-1959354482
Reviewed by: Lily Andrews
Review Date: November 2, 2026
Miguel Angel Hernandez Jr.'s Shadows in the Rain promises a high intensity reading experience through standalone mystery shorts that hit the ground running, atmospheric settings that feel like characters in their own right, and twists that recontextualize everything.
From "Soaked," to "NeonFall," to "Burner Line," Hernandez drops us straight into the deep end, before leaving the stories to teach us how to swim. In this collection, he gives us several protagonists including Jerry Crowder, a detective whose gaze carries a weight that "destroys intentions and reconstructs motives." You come to him with a story about yourself; he takes it apart and gives you a truer one. He operates on a psychological level, not just a forensic one. Like a moth to a flame, he's compelled by something he cannot explain, something that exerts a pull he cannot resist. But unlike him, Ethan Cross watches, logs, calculates, and moves quietly. His implant, a military-grade hardware, sees through other people's fears and composure. He's not squeamish about truth. He's procedural, and has a clear-eyed relationship with his own competence. There is also Lucas Knight. He doesn't leave when the monster dies or when the case gets closed. He only leaves when the pattern is complete. He has a hunter's instinct which helps him see the thing everyone else would miss.
Each one of these characters bring a totally different energy, keeping the collection fresh. We do not get just new plots, but whole new personalities to ride along with. That gives our brains a different kind of workout each time. Think of Sherlock Homes or any other cozy mystery series. The author keeps delivering the same voice, the same detective, and rhythm. Hernandez flips that because he trusts the variety more than the brand of a single hero. The result? A collection that never lets you get bored. This is the exact kind of book that mirrors how people actually read. They read on commutes, on lunch breaks, and in bed. Short, complete stories are what they reach for. In those times and moments, they don't want commitment to a long series but something with a wide emotional and stylistic range. Hernandez knows this. He also understands that reader’s time is valuable and so he refuses to waste it. He doesn't make them do homework, and he doesn't ask for loyalty. Instead, he allows them to skip without missing crucial details. He also allows them to mix and match. They can start anywhere and don't get punished for it. That's respect, and it's what readers often long for.
Quill says: Shadows in the Rain is paced like a playlist, not an album. There's no slow burn, just a direct drop into the action. The tension ratchets up fast, the twists hit, and the reader is out as quickly as they came in. Every story closes a door but cracks open a window, leaving the reader unsettled, leaning towards whatever's waiting on the other side. It's a rewarding book, the kind you finish and immediately want to hand to someone else so that they can feel the same thing you did.
For more information about Shadows in the Rain, please visit the author's website at: iammahjr.com/
