Devil House by John Darnielle

Devil House by John Darnielle
⭐⭐⭐

Devil House follows the story of Gage Chandler, a True Crime author investigating and writing a novel about a double homicide at (what later becomes known as) the Devil House. As he begins his investigation, he uncovers deeper layers hidden beneath the local rumors surrounding this murder case, and the truth leaves him feeling untethered and unsure of himself.

This book has really divided its readers - people have either loved it or hated it! I fall somewhere in the middle of the spectrum. The story is interesting and generally, the book has a lot to say about true crime, not only as a genre, but also as a source of entertainment. I loved what this book stood for and the points it was trying to get across. 

Despite enjoying the discussion on sensationalism and true crime though, I definitely have criticisms - one of which is that for 70% of the book, I was so bored. A couple of times I even reconsidered my decision to read it, but clearly, as you can see from my rating, I stuck with it until the very end. It is extremely slow and there is barely any suspense in the story. This book is also so disorganized, and it took away from my overall enjoyment of the narrative. Devil House isn't terrible, because the meaning behind it is very important, but this book is not pleasurable to read. 

Our narrator is constantly trying to meld the present day with the past, which can make the story a little murky at times, especially as you get deeper into it. There is also an entire section of the book that makes little to no sense. It totally removes you from the story and the reason for including it is still unknown to me. 

With that said, however, at a certain point, the meaning of the story is revealed to us, and it was at this point that I realized the entire narrative had been leading to a deeper conversation about sensationalism within the genre of True Crime. By no stretch of the imagination could this be considered horror, though. The story is a ghost story of sorts, as it tells the story of victims being haunted by their trauma, as well as the world's need to retell it.

Overall, I gave this book 3 stars because it served as a great analysis of sensationalism and how society feeds off of blood and tragedy for entertainment. It's definitely not a must-read, though it was very thought provoking!

Curious Toys by Elizabeth Hand

Curious Toys by Elizabeth Hand
⭐⭐⭐

This was one heck of a book. Set in the early 1900s, this narrative stars Pin - a fifteen year old girl who lives in an amusement park and disguises herself as a boy. When young girls begin to go missing and start to turn up murdered, Pin enlists the help of Henry Darger, one of the earliest and most famous outsider artists, to help solve these dastardly crimes and find the killer. 

Curious Toys highlighted so many political issues in our world. Elizabeth Hand comments on capitalism, homophobia, misogony, racism, pedophilia, abusal of power, body dysmorphia, ableism, and even sexual assault - and she does it all with such grace and finesse. It was such a treat to see how the author effortlessly implemented these themes throughout the story.

I gave this book 3 stars but it's honestly one of my favorite books I've read this year. There are only two things that I can criticize, the first being the rushed ending. The whole story is perfectly paced, but as we near the ending, the climax and resolution feel as though they were thrown together quickly. Also, the final pages, which take place after the killer is revealed, are really disappointing and unsatisfying. In addition to that, the killer's identity was very predictable. It was so obvious that I mistakenly thought it was supposed to be a redherring!

The story of Curious Toys was so magical, and it's such a bummer that the ending was so frustrating. This is such a special story though and it's a great example of historical fiction done right!

The Chain by Adrian McKinty

The Chain by Adrian McKinty
⭐⭐⭐

The Chain by Adrian McKinty hooked me in from the very beginning. With a premise full of potential, this was a thriller that I was really looking forward to! 

On what should be a perfectly normal weekday, Rachel Klein's daughter Kylie doesn't make it to school. As Rachel is on her way to a potentially devastating doctor's appointment with her Oncologist, she receives an anonymous phone call. Kylie has been kidnapped and unless Rachel abducts another child, both she and her daughter will be killed - Rachel has no choice but to continue The Chain. 

This story had so much potential, however, I can only give it three stars. I was totally invested in the story for the first part of the book. I resonated with Rachel's devotion to her child and her willingness to do whatever it takes to secure her safety. It felt real and like this could possibly take place in our society today, but as the second part of this story begins, the plot becomes nonsensical and unrealistic, sometimes bordering on predictable as well. It starts with a bang and maintains that intensity for the entirety of the novel though, which is definitely a plus in my opinion. 

I liked The Chain just fine, but the ending disappointed me very much. It felt like two different stories that were stapled together. If this premise interests you, I see nothing wrong with picking this book up, but don't get your hopes up - this one won't be the "Next Best Thriller," but it was enjoyable nonetheless! 

The House on Vesper Sands by Paraic O'Donnell

The House on Vesper Sands
by Paraic O'Donnell
⭐⭐⭐⭐

The House On Vesper Sands by Paraic O’Donnell follows the story of three incredibly different individuals who just so happen to be investigating the same mystery - but for different reasons. The story begins with a seamstress employed by the famous Lord Strythe ending her life and in doing so, she sets off a series of events that our three main characters work tirelessly to make sense of. 

Gideon, a Cambridge dropout who finds himself in a predicament where impersonating a police sergeant seems perfectly reasonable, Inspector Cutter, the lead investigator of the novel, and Octavia, a strikingly observant female journalist trying to find success in a male dominated industry, set up the cast for this wonderful mystery. I find it uncommon to read a book where every character is enjoyable for completely different reasons. The perspective often shifts between Gideon and Octavia, and each character has a very distinct voice and way of viewing the world and the situation in front of them. 

I adore historical fiction, so very early on in the story I found myself sucked in. Not only is this a page turner, but Paraic O’Donnell did a beautiful job of weaving in occult themes throughout the novel. The twists fit well within the story, were believable, and very well paced as the book progressed. This is definitely a slower burn but worth all of the setup the author sets into place. 

By far, however, the characterization as well as the character development and dialogue were my favorite parts of The House On Vesper Sands. Gideon, Cutter, and Octavia are the hearts of this story in every way. 

I gave this novel 4 stars instead of 5 for only one reason. The story was well written but the ending feels rushed in the final 50 pages or so. I am not the biggest fan of the Sherlockian habit of closing the case with lengthy dialogue that ties up all the loose ends. It’s just not a very natural ending. 

Nonetheless, The House On Vesper Sands is a great story with characters that stick with you. I highly recommend it for anyone who enjoys historical fiction or murder mysteries. I hope we get a sequel! 

Billy Summers by Stephen King

Billy Summers
by Stephen King
⭐⭐⭐

Billy Summers left me feeling very conflicted. On one hand, I really enjoyed the story as well as the characters - I found myself genuinely caring for both Billy and Alice. On the other hand, however, I feel as though I may have read a different book than the mass majority of other readers who have thoroughly enjoyed and claimed that Billy Summers is King’s best work in years. 

Let me preface this by saying that I am a massive Stephen King fan, and I personally feel that his best book in years is The Outsider. I highly recommend that one! I have high expectations for King, and this one just fell short. 

Much of what I would like to include as examples in this review would be spoilers, so I am choosing to be incredibly vague intentionally! I feel as though this book was written as a script - like King wrote it with the sole purpose of making a television show or a film in mind. He follows the overwritten and overplayed trope of a hitman giving his last hurrah. Just one more job before he leaves it all behind. What could possibly go wrong?

The character development is well done, as usual. At this point it is well known that this is Stephen King’s most well-honed skill. The amount of research done on the Iraq war, the mafia, and small town America was by far the shining star of the story. Unfortunately, it doesn’t change the ‘badly acted cop TV show on cable television’ vibe I got from the dialogue in the book. 

The dialogue feels inauthentic and even a bit robotic. Often in the story, King utilized dialogue as a tool to replay and remind readers what was said or done previously in the story. It wasn’t horrible, but it definitely caused Billy’s story to feel unrealistic. It brought me out of the story a few times as well. 

As a fan, the little mentions of previous books was thoroughly enjoyed but King could have taken it a little further. I feel like that could’ve really enhanced the story and that it was a missed opportunity on his part. 

Overall, I gave Billy Summers 3 stars (more like 3.5), because it was an enjoyable story. The research was well done, I cared about the characters, and the story was decent enough to want to find out what happens. But this doesn’t feel like a Stephen King novel. Some people find that wonderful, but I feel different about it. It was an okay book.

Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe

Say Nothing
by Patrick Radden Keefe
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

As an American of Irish descent, I have often heard about the Troubles and the IRA, but admittedly, it has always been in passing and never in much detail. That being said, a lot of what happened and is chronicled in Say Nothing was a complete surprise to me! From the very first chapter, this book was a page turner! 

The sheer volume of research that Keefe must have done for this book is massively impressive. The attention to detail is what makes this historical novel so outstanding. Not only is this book teeming with information, but Keefe did an impeccable job with not overwhelming you. At no point in this book does the author simply list facts in sentence form (which is unfortunately quite common in this genre), nor does he force so much down your throat at once that you cannot follow the story easily. From beginning to end, Say Nothing is a masterpiece of historical recollection. 

The best part of this book by far was Patrick Radden Keefe's ability to humanize the terrorists belonging to the IRA. He gives a background to every individual that had a role in these awful events (that took place over the course of 30 years!). He gives you insight into how the IRA consisted of many members who had humble beginnings as Socialist Pacifists. The road to terrorism was a wild one, but it becomes clear, as you read through the chapters, just how easily groups such as the IRA are able to suck in those who are blinded by their desperation. 

I would highly recommend Say Nothing to anyone interested in the general topic of history. I personally believe that stories about homegrown terrorism have become incredibly vital as white terrorism is becoming more and more prevalent in the United States. This is definitely a must read!

The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman

The Man Who Died Twice
by Richard Osman
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

Ah, Thursday Murder Club #2. I was really excited to read this one. It is very rare for me to like a sequel more than the the first in a series, but in the case of The Man Who Died Twice, this is exactly what happened. I love stories starring strong and funny women who are completely unapologetic about who they are, which is why this series will always hold a special place in my heart. 

Just like in the first book, Elizabeth is the main player here, with the parade of her fellow elderly friends at her tail. Throughout this mystery, we meet a few new characters, all of which are fun and interesting additions. The previously existing characters also go through some deeper evolution and the character development added a lot of depth to the characters, which was one of the major lacking points of the first book in my opinion. Joyce's little intermissions were also just as wonderful as before and the growth of her and Elizabeth's friendship in this story made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

I'm not going to go too deeply into detail about the story because the mystery was genuinely amazing and it kept me guessing until the very end. I also found this sequel much funnier than the first installation. I definitely feel like Richard Osman found his groove with The Man Who Died Twice. It was really fantastic and I enjoyed the way the story unfolded! I can't wait for #3 in this series!!

Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood

 *TRIGGER WARNINGS* themes of murder, racism, misogyny, mental illness, sexual assault, medical procedures, abortion, death

Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood
⭐⭐⭐⭐

In the year of 1843,  Grace Marks, a sixteen year old Irish-Canadian maid, is convicted of murdering her boss, Thomas Kinnear, and his housekeeper (and mistress), Nancy Montgomery. Grace's fellow coworker, James McDermott, was also convicted and subsequently executed for the crime. He swore until the day he died that Grace was the mastermind behind the murder and had promised her love (and body) to him in return for his help. Although Grace is sentenced to death as well, the judge decides to commute this punishment and instead sentenced Grace to life in prison. In 1872, after almost 30 years incarcerated, Grace is pardoned and released, and sent to New York where she disappears forever. Alias Grace is Margaret Atwood's interpretation of the story and everything that takes place before, during, and after Grace's crime, incarceration, and pardon. 

This is an entirely true story and I was shocked that, despite how popular this story was during the 1800s in North America, I had never heard of Grace or her story before. It turns out that this is most likely due to the fact that a lot of the documentation related to the case was lost or destroyed. It is said that Margaret Atwood discovered this story and became obsessed with not only the crime and the case, but also with the question of Grace's innocence (or guilt). Grace is also, simply put, a fascinating and impressively intelligent woman. 

Grace's story is riddled with bad luck and trauma. She survives abuse, sexual assault, the deaths of those she loves, as well as possibly suffering from an unknown mental illness, and all of that is aside from being convicted for a crime that she may or may not have been guilty of committing. 

I loved all of this story with the exception of Dr. Simon Jordan. Simon is Atwood's invention to aid in entering and understanding Grace's psyche. He was a rather unreliable narrator, though I believe this may have been intentional. He's a progressive thinker and at times, he holds very feminist opinions, but on the other hand, he can be extremely old fashioned and misogynistic. He also hates every woman he interacts with yet sexualizes them, fantasizes about them, and tends to believe he's fallen in love with them. This happens literally three to four times in the book. If his unpredictability was intentional, then it was a genius way of comparing Grace's mental unreliability to the very doctor who is supposed to be a stable representation of sanity. 

Following Grace's story from beginning to end was an emotional rollercoaster. At times, you sympathize with her, but then at other times, her character can be terrifying and manipulative. By the end of the story, you're left to decide Grace's innocence or guilt completely on your own. 

There are so many fascinating philosophical discussions throughout this book, ranging from topics such as mental illness, ethics, morals, and religion. Alias Grace is a remarkable example of how wonderful historical fiction can be when it's done right. I highly recommend it!

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

 *Trigger Warnings - self harm, themes of death, murder, child death, child abuse, child cruelty

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Sharp Objects seems to be a very controversial novel - I've seen people adore it just as much as I've seen others swear that this is the worst book they've ever read. I actually really enjoyed this book even though generally, it is definitely an uncomfortable reading experience. 

In Sharp Objects, the narrative follows Camille, a journalist in her thirties who gets sent home to her small town to pursue the story of a string of child murders. Very early on, we become aware of some of the trauma that she carries within her as well as the tumultuous relationship she has with her mother. Once Camille arrives home, her inner world shatters as she's confronted by all of her demons, the ghosts of the past, and her neurotic mom. 

I enjoyed this book mainly because of how interesting it was. It was unique in all of its unpleasantness. In my personal opinion, the plot of the story is not the real narrative here. This is more of a comment on mental illness, genetic trauma, and toxic relationships that you can't escape from.

Camille is an extremely unreliable narrator and I loved that! Very often, mental health can warp our experiences and sense of perspective when it comes to our daily lives. This is extremely prevalent when it comes to Camille's point of view. As a reader, we can't clearly interpret everything that she observes and experiences because she may not be seeing the true reality, which also adds to the mystery of whodunnit. 

I really enjoyed Sharp Objects! I thought the depiction of mental illness, though dramatized, was decently accurate. A lot of femme-lit as of late has brought into question the portrayal of the "hysterical" woman. I definitely stand behind the efforts to normalize mental illness in general, but it does seem to be misused as way to invalidate the emotions of women a little too frequently. For that reason, I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend for anyone who enjoys psychological thrillers!