The Shadow of a Monster

SHADOW OF A MONSTER

The Making of James Wilfred Rowland

This prequel is a dark and gripping psychological thriller exploring the origins of James Wilfred Rowland, a man shaped into a predator by cycles of abuse and manipulation. The story unfolds through a series of pivotal moments in James's life, leading to his descent into darkness.

The story begins in the 1970s with an eight-year-old, James, witnessing his father, Ross, a violent alcoholic, exert brutal control over his wife and then the family. Ross's sadistic teachings of power and dominance set the stage for James's troubled development. Despite the compassionate efforts of Enid McNolty, a teacher who tries to guide him toward a better path, Ross's abuse tightens its grip, and James begins mimicking his father's violence.

As the years progress, Ross escalates his cruelty, targeting James's siblings and driving him to the breaking point.

James transforms into a cunning and manipulative individual in his late teens, ultimately becoming the monster he loathed. In the end, James Wilfred Rowland embarks on a life of predation, but not without first exacting revenge on those who made him.

Abuse, fear, manipulation, and a demented definition of power underscore this chilling origin story.

The End...I mean, The Beginning