First of all, I do not read a lot of horror novels, so I cannot comment on this novel’s overall adherence to the genre.
Did it scare me while I was reading it? Nope.
Will I likely have nightmares now that I’ve finished it? Most probably.
To me this read like a good thriller mystery, with a couple of pacing issues. Unfortunately, those pacing issues affected the plausibility of the main character, an Ivy League graduate with a doctorate in psychology named Parker H.
Mostly, I could have used a few examples of Parker being the “wonder boy” psychologist his colleague referred to him as. It is mentioned in passing that Parker is “doing well” with his other patients, but what does that mean? Is he really as smart as he thinks he is? Otherwise, I have to second guess a lot of his professional decisions. I can’t say much more without giving away a pretty key plot point, but about halfway through the novel, he leaps to a conclusion that no fan of the scientific method would ever leap to. I almost had to stop reading.
However, the novel’s antagonist is surprising, well developed, and is literally the stuff of nightmares. Honestly, I almost gave it four stars just for that.
If you are a fan of psychological thrillers with a touch of possibly supernatural darkness, this book is for you, and as it is Mr. DeWitt’s first novel, I will definitely be looking forward to more of his work.
Did it scare me while I was reading it? Nope.
Will I likely have nightmares now that I’ve finished it? Most probably.
To me this read like a good thriller mystery, with a couple of pacing issues. Unfortunately, those pacing issues affected the plausibility of the main character, an Ivy League graduate with a doctorate in psychology named Parker H.
Mostly, I could have used a few examples of Parker being the “wonder boy” psychologist his colleague referred to him as. It is mentioned in passing that Parker is “doing well” with his other patients, but what does that mean? Is he really as smart as he thinks he is? Otherwise, I have to second guess a lot of his professional decisions. I can’t say much more without giving away a pretty key plot point, but about halfway through the novel, he leaps to a conclusion that no fan of the scientific method would ever leap to. I almost had to stop reading.
However, the novel’s antagonist is surprising, well developed, and is literally the stuff of nightmares. Honestly, I almost gave it four stars just for that.
If you are a fan of psychological thrillers with a touch of possibly supernatural darkness, this book is for you, and as it is Mr. DeWitt’s first novel, I will definitely be looking forward to more of his work.