Will MacIean's "Apparition phase"

 

You can find this book here.

This is McIean's first novel. 

The story revolves around twins, Abi and Tim, who are both incredibly intelligent, but also have specific interests that differ from their peers. Both siblings are interested in ghosts and the supernatural and cocoon themselves in this world with each other. This; however, all changes when they decide to fake a photograph of a ghost and take it to school to scare someone, or at least see if it could be passed off as real. It is from this moment that lives change in terrifying ways for the siblings and rest of the family. 

The story itself is set in the 1970s. It's atmosphere is claustrophobic; highlighted not just in the relationship between Tim and Abi, but in the environments that are encountered between British suburbia and a Suffolk manor. Everything seems confined and dark, given the circumstances and lives of the characters. For the horror element of this book, it works. 

That sense of tension is a good element for a horror novel. Whether you think it is more supernatural horror or the idea of dread that suffocates characters that is this books strength, is up to the reader. This is because the novel seems to move very slowly through everything. Time has a part to play in this novel and helps move not just tension but the creepiness of the goings-on that happen to Tim and his family. For this reason, you might think the slower pace doesn't help the story.

There may also not be enough ghost-centred hauntings for the hard-horror fan. 

Links for you

Read-a-likes in the Library:

Damned

Andrew Pyper

The story centres on relationships with a set of twins; but the consequences of their actions and relationships are heavier throughout the book.

House on Cold Hill

Peter James

This book focusses on the traditional haunted house aspects; however, it does show the moves and difference between suburban/city life and the countryside in the United Kingdom.

Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor's "Faceless old woman who secretly lives in your home"

 

You can find this book here.

I'm old. Older than you can imagine. Probably older than I can imagine, and I have met nearly everyone in your family tree, going back well over a century" p. 7

This is an introduction to the protagonist of this novel. She is, as the title suggests, also a faceless old woman who secretly lives in your home. everyone's home. At the same time. Particularly in Night Vale. 

Now, before I get on with this book; if you do not know Night Vale, let me introduce you. It started as a podcast, and has become so much more. They are all horror-style stories within the show that kind of remind me of way back in the day when radio stations used to read novels by H. G. Wells or Comics from DC for everyone to hear. It's a very interesting series that has been going from 2012. This book is based off one of those podcasts. Feel free to listen to it here. It is the second in the list.

As a head's up, I have found the book to be just as good as the podcast series. Whilst you have to subscribe to hear all of the stories from Welcome to Night Vale, you can at least borrow this book for free!

The protagonist is far more developed in the novel than the podcast. You learn to understand her beginnings from the Mediterranean in 1792 to her connections to Craig in Night Vale in 2020. I do not want to give too much away because then it will spoil the history and creepiness this novel brings about. There are also some twists in this tale that you hopefully do not see coming.

The writing is very strong and it cements a sense of place for the multiple characters you encounter. There are also strong themes in regards to relationships and humanity and what that means, particularly when it comes to the life the Faceless Old Woman leads. Oh, and don't forget the humour. There is some of that in there too, reminiscent of the podcasters. 

If you are a fan of Welcome to Night Vale already, you might not like the fleshing out of the Faceless Old Woman, because it then may take the creepiness away from her. It didn't for me, but it might for you. This also isn't a book with strong scares or horror elements, so if that is what you are after, you are missing out here. 

Overall, I liked the read. It is familiar and yet not so in the places it describes in relation to the idea of it being our world, but not quite. The characters may not necessarily be fully developed every time, but they do work for the plot. This is definitely a plot-driven novel (though the action might be a little slower). So if you like a traipse through some light history (worldly and personal), this book should be given a go.

Links for you

Novels by Fink and Cranor in the Library:

Welcome to Night Vale

Series read-a-likes in the Library:

Twin Peaks

This one isn't so much a "read" as a "Watch" a-like. There is a book on this list that will help develop the series (old and new) if you are interested that will flesh out Twin Peaks, Like the Faceless Old Woman does (in part) for Night Vale.

Dean Koontz' "Devoted"

You can find this book here.

If you know of Koontz, this writing is like a lot of his others. To be honest, I found it a little gorier or adult than other books he has written, but you might have a different opinion. Or you might think I am right. Maybe we will see in the comments section?

The story itself covers a very short amount of time for a lot of the main characters: Megan Bookman, Woody Bookman and Kipp. In fact, it only spans a couple of days. The novel itself is separated into parts that show the time frames, even though a lot happens throughout the novel across this short amount a time. This means that even if there is a lot of content, the story moves rather quickly.

As far as plot goes: Megan Bookman’s husband died, leaving her alone with her autistic son who does not speak. They are trying to live their lives in safety, even though Woody believes that his father’s death was no accident, but in fact murder. Through looking for the people responsible for his father’s death, Woody and his mother’s lives become threatened by the same people. If this were not enough, there is also something else out there, something “becoming”, intent on Megan Bookman.

I also hear you say, “Where is Kipp in this plot?” Well, Kipp is there, as important as Megan and her son. But I don’t want to give away anything special about Kipp. If you read the novel, you’ll love him as much as I do anyway 😊

The book is a thriller / light horror novel, so I don’t want to give away all the horrors involved. If you have read any of Dean Koontz’ other work, you will see similarities between this and others. For example, the theme of how everything always seems to universally work out in strange ways; as if the way chance or coincidence works is also a character that plays with the motions and choices of actual characters in his books. You will also have a very distinct definition between good and evil characters: these are always well-defined and not much grey exists in-between.

If you like more grit in this type of story; sorry, but this will be missing from ‘Devoted’. However, I have always enjoyed how the world moves in Koontz’ work so I recommend giving this one a shot. It is slightly darker, as I have said, than other novels I have read of his; but nothing that will turn any stomach. Also be aware that some of the writing is repetitive. He does re-explain things you have already learnt a couple of times. This may become frustrating, particularly if you aren’t a fan of Koontz. Or maybe even if you are.

I still think the book is solid Koontz, with elements of his classic writing style in there. If you have never read a novel of his before, maybe don’t start (or end) here; but, it is a light and quick read that will get you through an evening or two.

Other versions of the same novel can be found on our catalogue here.

Links for you:

Koontz in the Library:

A big little life (nonfiction)

City

Life expectancy

Koontz in cloudLibrary:

Innocence

Anthologies in the Library:

Flight or fright

Dark visions

Koontz has no work in these anthologies. they are both edited by Stephen King (and others), and are short, sharp stories that hold to elements of over-arching themes found in Koontz' work at times.

Scary out there

This is edited by Jonathan Maberry and contains short, sharp stories that hold to elements of over-arching themes found in Koontz' work at times. be aware that some in this anthology will be written as poems.

Author read-a-likes in the Library:

Broken lands

Jonathan Maberry

The library does have other Maberry books. Be aware that the genres may be different between these authors; however, the writing is similar in terms of being fast-paced, action-packed and focusses on the battles between good and evil. Also note that Maberry may be a darker, heavier writer than Koontz.

C. J. Tudor's "The chalk man"

This book can be found here.

Tudor’s ‘The Chalk Man’ is a pretty fast read, and whilst I am going to review it as much as any other book I have read … cloudLibrary classed it as part of the genre “Horror”. Depending on your definition of the genre, you may or may not agree with this when you read it.

Eddie is a kid, part of a “gang” of youths who find a dead body when they are young and then need to deal with the consequences of this once they are older. Seems like a simple storyline; and it is, because we have heard this many times before (even Stephen King’s ‘Dreamcatcher’ does this in part). However, this book has a very different feel to it, even though it follows common tropes. 

The reason I believe this novel is different is because of the characterisation. I found the characters; not exactly interesting per se, but so damaged and flawed that the situation, consequences and the writing sat with me much longer. Perhaps this was why it was placed in horror? The mentalities, attitudes and lives of these characters are so flawed, so pained at times, and seemingly so … off … that perhaps this is the horrifying element all along. Not anything violent that actually happens in the novel: it is the psychology of the characters themselves that is off-putting or creepy. It was what made the book interesting. And sad (not in a crying way, but in a “oh, humans are so pathetic and tormented way”, you know?). It’s also what I take away from this novel the most.

The story itself changes chapter by chapter through the past and present. Mainly between 1986 and 2016. This really worked and made the novel even poetic and cyclical by the end. 

“Everyone has secrets, things they know they shouldn’t do but do anyway.”

You may not see it now, but you will if you read this novel. 

If anyone says they could not connect with the characters; that makes sense. Because it is filled with dark humour and the characters are all flawed, broken and well, human. But the story itself is well written and complete; you have everything you need by the novel’s end. I just kept going back to its cyclical nature and found this part the most enjoyable.

Links for you:

Tudor in the Library:

Other people

Tudor in cloudLibrary:

Taking of Annie Thorne

Title read-a-likes in the Library:

Bone keeper

Luca Veste

Both novels are menacing and have a murder of the past that leaves a mark on individuals into their older selves. However, Veste is more police procedural.

Lying game

Ruth Ware

This was chosen because of the flawed nature of characters and the psychological impact of past events on characters.

Good daughter

Karin Slaughter

Chosen because characters were flawed and shows the impact of small-town life.

Author read-a-likes in cloudLibrary:

Into the water

Paula Hawkins

Girlon the train

Paula Hawkins

Hawkins' work is similarly creepy, complex and nonlinear. These works also focus on the psychology of characters and their unlikeability.