What could have been a run-of-the-mill psych thriller is elevated by atmosphere.
I know that sounds a little convoluted, but in the case of this book, I truly felt that the location played a huge part in making this a better than average story.
It was easy to be sympathetic to the family at the center of this story. Anybody who has ever moved knows how difficult it can be to adjust to a new location.
When you move from the city to the countryside, it becomes even more difficult. There’s a different attitude, different way of thinking, and (often) the locals have a commonly-held opinion about “city people.”
(I’ve been on both ends of this stick, so it all seemed familiar).
Fortunately, I’ve never had someone actively try to terrorize me or my family as happens to Ben and Deborah.
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3sXZZid
I thought the author did a great job of weaving the story so that it was never quite clear if there was a personal vendetta (due to Deborah’s job) or if it was a crazy townsperson.
Some of the tactics made me cringe, as I could imagine the horror that they would produce in real life. I’m not going to give details, because they could be considered spoilers. But the tactics do get VERY personal.
As I mentioned at the beginning, the location adds to the atmosphere. It’s not that they’re totally remote because they’re close to town but going from a city to that can be jarring and put someone on the defensive.
I also think that with the Irish countryside there’s an added level of remoteness. That could be my memory of a visit decades ago, but with the history and mysticism that are connected to the land, there’s an additional level of eeriness.
The book was a page-turner and the whole plot wraps up satisfyingly. I know this review seems vague, but I really can’t share what the family goes through and how they deal with it without giving stuff away.
And I hate doing that. So, I’m just going to say that this is a good psych thriller that plays up atmosphere in a most effective way.
About Kevin Lynch:
Kevin is a Guidance Counselor by day and a thriller author during his off hours. He puts an original slant on some common experiences and creates engaging stories with a personal twist. Kevin lives in Ireland with three great kids and a wife who makes him laugh, which is really all he could ask for.
