This is a sprawling, character-driven horror novel mixes crime, grief and the supernatural, but at nearly 600-pages, the pacing often drags. Still, the depth of character and atmosphere kept me engaged.
All tagged supernatural
Middle of the Night – Riley Sager
The ’90s flashbacks pop with life, but the present-day story plods along with frustrating choices and contrived reveals. Nostalgic and eerie in spots, yet ultimately feels phoned in.
The Midnight Knock – John Fram
“The Midnight Knock” starts with tense, noir-tinged horror and an irresistible mystery, but its overstuffed mythology can’t match the promise of its first half.
IT – Stephen King
Despite its length, “IT” stands as one of Stephen King’s most unsettling and complex works, effectively weaving psychological and supernatural horror with real-world brutality. Although King has made a career out of exploring dark and unhinged themes, “IT” pushes those boundaries.
Murder Road – Simone St. James
Expectation: Another twisty supernatural thriller from a rather reliable author.
Reality: St. James delivered a lazy, convoluted plot that asked more from the reader than should’ve been allowed.
What Moves the Dead – T. Kingfisher
Expectation: A queer retelling of Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Fall of House of Usher.”
Reality: Shortcomings of the gothic horror genre aside (for this reader anyway), there was nothing “moving” about this uninspired novella.
The Fisherman – John Langan
Expectation: A gory, nature-themed horror/fantasy centered around a fictional upstate New York urban legend.
Reality: An incredibly boring mishmash of genre tropes that overshadowed the few thrilling scenes and a likable main character.
The Plague Stones – James Brogden
Expectation: A fast-paced ghost story with a plot akin to “The Fog.”
Reality: At times uneven and ridiculous, the historical elements helped elevate the premise and the last third delivered.
The Book of Cold Cases – Simone St. James
Expectation: A fast-paced paranormal mystery with enough plot twists to give you whiplash.
Reality: At times too slow and too long, the story is entertaining enough but far from Simone St. James’ best work.
The Book of Accidents – Chuck Wendig
Expectation: An Americana-hued ghost story.
Reality: Heavy on ambition, light on originality. You’ve heard variations of this story before – and by stronger authors.
The House in the Cerulean Sea – T.J. Klune
Expectation: An overdone young adult romance about magical children.
Reality: A charming and queer-positive character-driven story that will keep adults and teens enthralled.
Home Before Dark – Riley Sager
What drove Maggie Holt and her family to flee Baneberry Hall after three weeks? Her parents refuse to say, but the best-selling account of the experience - written by her father - is an American horror story of vengeful ghosts and never-ending tragedy. Decades later, Maggie returns to Baneberry Hall determined to uncover the truth and redirect her narrative. But as she slowly unravels the mystery, she finds that her father’s book may not have been a lie after all.
Devolution – Max Brooks
A gory allegory about our reliance on technology and ecological dominance.