Monsters We Have Made

by Lindsay Starck

A poignant and evocative novel that explores the bounds of familial love, the high stakes of parenthood, and the tenuous divide between fiction and reality.

Ten years ago, Sylvia Gray's young daughter, Faye, attacked her babysitter in order to impress the Kingman, a monster she and her best friend had encountered on the Internet. When the now twenty-one-year-old Faye goes missing, leaving her toddler behind, Sylvia launches a search that propels her back into the past and back into the Kingman's orbit. With the help of her estranged husband, her estranged sister, and a charismatic professor, Sylvia draws dangerously closer not only to Faye, but also to the truth about the monster that once inspired her. Will Sylvia be able to reach her daughter before history repeats itself? Or will it be Sylvia, this time, who loses her grip on reality and succumbs to the dark powers of this monstrous figure?

Both literary and suspenseful, Monsters We Have Made confronts the terrors of parenthood and examines the boundaries of love. Most importantly, it reminds us of the power of stories to shape our lives.

Genres: Horror, Fiction, Mystery, Audiobook, Thriller, Book Club, Adult

304 pages, Paperback

First published March 26, 2024

Reviews

[Mikala · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wait, I just understood the title because, like the daughter made up the monster but the mom made the daughter who kind of ended up being a monster. Do I need to re-read this one?

Slender Man -esque story.
fairytale vibes.

thoughtful writing and interesting characters with a new perspective on motherhood/parenthood I haven't often read.

there is a light mystery element, but mostly it's an examination of how much of a child is a reflection of their parents, the deceiving nature of stories, regret and grief.

[Amy Imogene Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an interesting, multilayered look at myth vs reality, truth vs lies, motherhood vs individualism and all the levels in between. Also a fictionalized reminder of the Slenderman crimes... anyone remember that??

Writing style: ★★★★★
Plot/Pacing: ★★★ 1/2
Enjoyment: ★★★★

From the book...
Ten years ago, Sylvia Gray's young daughter, Faye, attacked her babysitter in order to impress the Kingman, a monster she and her best friend had encountered on the Internet. When the now twenty-one-year-old Faye goes missing, leaving her toddler behind, Sylvia launches a search that propels her back into the past and back into the Kingman's orbit.

Monsters We Have Made is one of those hybrid, multi-genre creatures that I love very much but is a pain to recommend to large groups of readers.

Is it a literary fiction love letter to the obsessive complexities of motherhood?

Is it a heavily fictional yet achingly supernatural take on the "Kingman," a novelized version of the true-life internet horror mythos Slenderman?

Is it a folkloric mystery tale about finding a lost woman in the woods?

Being all of the above, you can see how the things that might resonate vs. turn people off are vast. But... I'd like to recommend this novel to my speculative friends. There's something here in this quiet novel of almost nonlinear musings and internal reflections that pulls on you like a loose thread in a shirt. The writing is fantastic—that helps—but even without focusing on the craft itself the story is one that I found personally captivating and hard to put down.

However, a note: while I've used Slenderman and the true crime case as a hook for this review—and it's definitely the inspiration for this novel's contents, that's very clear—the real-life case and this fictionalized interpretation of it are very separate. You can definitely read Monsters We Have Made with zero context of that real-life crime OR be an expert. Both are fine, as this novel does stand resolutely as its own entity despite clearly pulling from that genesis.

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[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are some novels, so rich in delectable prose, that I greedily gobble up.

Monsters We Have Made was one of those books.

Its lyrical rhythm was not the only stunning aspect. The way this story both pierced and filled my heart was impeccable. I was absolutely intoxicated, and the consequential hangover still lingers.

The author tackled the common trope of a missing person, but she did not lead readers down a well worn path. While there was a mystery quietly unraveling in the background, the story focused more on the roles parents (especially mothers) play in the choices their children make. It was also richly steeped in folklore with the invention of a new monster that played off the urban legend and real life horrific crime surrounding the Slenderman. In Monsters We Have Made, we become loosely familiar with the Kingman, a creepy internet fixture who influenced two young girls to brutally attack their babysitter. Years later, one of the perpetrators goes missing, and an unsettling, meaningful tale encompassing a mother’s love and guilt unfolds.

I loved all the woven in stories that blurred the line between fact and fiction. They played a vital role in what I was left to consider with this novel, haunting me with questions that still occupy my mind.

While I was in awe of everything Starck managed to do with this book, I was especially impressed with the way she built the missing daughter’s characterization. For so long, I saw Faye through the perspective of others, and my entire concept of her character was molded through this. I was surprised by how easily the author challenged my perception when I finally met Faye herself.

The story embraced and illustrated human psychology so well, and I was mesmerized by all of it. Starck expertly revealed how erroneous assumptions can form based on opinions and gossip, and how perceptions of a person can differ dramatically, depending on who you ask. Is there truly a correct answer regarding who someone is?

It also spoke to me on a more personal level as a mother. While I may not be able to relate to what Sylvia endured with Faye, the concept of dissecting choices and mistakes as a parent was certainly familiar. Starck deftly demonstrated how the influence upon our children is far more intricate than the pointing finger of blame comprehends, and that we cannot guarantee our own successes by avoiding the mistakes we believe others have made.

I am immensely grateful to Vintage Books and NetGalley for my copy. All opinions are my own.

[Cassie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of course it is easier to love someone good than it is to love someone bad. But most of the time, we don't get to choose.

While clearly inspired by the real Slender Man stabbing, Monsters We Have Made is not a sensationalistic, salacious recounting of a violent crime committed in the name of an urban legend. It is, instead, a thoughtful, observant, and heartbreaking examination of motherhood, sacrifice, the bonds of family, and the power of myth.

Ten years ago, Sylvia Gray's preteen daughter, Faye, attacked her babysitter to impress the Kingman, a monster she and her best friend discovered in the dark corners of the internet. After spending the rest of her childhood in a juvenile detention facility, Faye is now 21 and estranged from her family. Meanwhile, Sylvia's marriage and self-worth collapsed long ago in the wake of Faye's crime, leaving her alone, bereft, and questioning every parenting decision she ever made. When Faye goes missing, leaving her toddler in Sylvia's care, Sylvia enlists her ex-husband and estranged sister to find her before it's too late. Because Sylvia has been watching the news, and she's seen the stories heralding the Kingman's return...

In stunningly gorgeous, lyrical prose, Lindsay Starck weaves a layered story about blame and guilt, regret, choices, and the complexities of parenthood. There's lots of thoughtful discussion surrounding the power of stories, the internet's ability to dilute or supersede the truth, and how much responsibility a parent owns for the actions of their child. Simmering in the background is a missing person mystery and an ominous mythical monster with a well-constructed origin story that blurs the line between fact and fiction. It's a quietly suspenseful book and a rich, literary character study that raises complex questions with no easy answers.

Monsters We Have Made is a well-constructed and thought-provoking dissection of the real people, and their real lives, that exist beyond the highlights of a sensational crime -- and about the myriad shades of gray that can color what seems on the surface to be a black and white issue. I picked it up for the Slender Man vibes -- but I stayed for the poignant, textured exploration of the vast human psyche.

[Lin Salisbury · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lindsay Starck lays bare every parent’s fear in her newest novel, MONSTERS WE HAVE MADE. When Sylvia Gray’s daughter, Faye, and her best friend attack their babysitter at the behest of the Kingman, a menacing internet figure who has a powerful influence over young people, they spend the rest of their childhoods in a juvenile facility. The crime destroys not only the family and the marriage, but Sylvia’s confidence in herself, leaving her to wonder what part she played in her daughter’s undoing.

After her release, Faye lives in a halfway house and wants nothing to do with her parents. When Faye goes missing, leaving a toddler behind, Sylvia enlists the help of her estranged husband and a sister whom she has not seen since Faye’s trial, to find her before it’s too late. She has read news reports of the Kingman’s return. He’s back and his darkness is encroaching on Faye and now Sylvia, too, it seems. She is terrified that she won’t be able to reach Faye before she or someone else is hurt.

MONSTERS WE HAVE MADE is a powerful literary novel of suspense that examines the boundaries of parenthood, the cost of love, and the influence of stories. A novel written for our time, when parents are being held accountable for the crimes of their children and we are examining the powerful and damaging sway social media has over our young people. Based loosely on the 2017 attack by a Waukesha teen who claimed to be under the influence of a fictional internet meme, the Slenderman, when she lured a classmate into the woods and repeatedly stabbed her, Starck examines the lives affected by such crimes, the victims and families and individuals who live in the after.

This is Lin Salisbury with Superior Reviews. Listen to my interview with Lindsay Starck on Superior Reads on March 28 at 7pm and the 30th at 6am on WTIP Radio 90.7 Grand Marais, and on the web at www.superiorreads.com .

[Peter Karlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is not a horror novel. This is a missing person story. One where a mom looking for her daughter drives to one place, then another, and then another, while people openly tell her everything she wants to know, with zero conflict, and send her on her merry way to the next step. And all while we seemingly get every single thought the mother has ever had in her entire life. It literally leaves no space for the characters infinitely more central to the Slenderman inspired premise.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just the literary mystery that I have been craving! I loved how this one explored motherhood, marriage, and (fittingly) the monsters that we can create and what we believe in. So chilling, and will be thinking about that ending for a very long time.

[J R · Rating 4 out of 5]

really fun, literary, and very obviously based on that awful Slenderman incident. thanks so much for the arc.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5⭐️ The flowery writing got in the way of a decent story but I was going to give it 3 stars until the scooby-doo moment (you’ll know it if you read it). Silly.

[Steph · Rating 3 out of 5]

TL;DR Review - I liked this, but think it’s one of those not perfect for me but might be perfect for you books.

Full thoughts:
This is a story about a crime committed by two young girls inspired by a monster they discovered on the internet (think Slenderman). The writing is beautiful with an erie, wistful and reflective tone, but it was a bit too flowery for me. I had expected something a bit darker but it’s more of an introspective look at the aftermath of a crime upon the perpetrators family. I’d recommend this if you’re looking for vibes vs a detailed plot.

I loved the use of mixed media to tell the story of the crime itself between chapters in part 1. I thought that worked really well and helped to break up the chapters in the present. It wasn’t as successful for me with the book excerpts in the later parts.

The first half quickly grabbed and held my interest but things stalled out halfway and began to drag. Part of this was due to a LOT of monologuing from Sylvia as she remembers things from the past and also imagines sights/sounds/smells of things that could have happened. This only works for me in small doses and was too much here. The phrase “I imagined” got old fast. There are some other repetitive aspects, such as frequently mentioning the smell of someone’s breath (hot breath, sweet, smelling of pine even 🤷🏼‍♀️) and a lot of descriptions that didn’t add to the story (she could smell the ghost of ancient potpourri: rancid and sweet).

Perhaps because it takes place so long after the crime and the family is estranged, but the writing had an aloof quality to it and left me wanting to feel a more emotional response. The writing was long meandering sentences that veers toward purple prose.

I do think that there are many who will love it, I just wasn’t the perfect reader for the writing style. I did enjoy aspects of it, especially in the first half, and would recommend to literary fiction readers looking for a poetic vibe. I’ve included a small sample of the writing below, name redacted and no spoilers. If that seems like a style you’d enjoy you definitely should pick it up, because I do think it’s a great idea with an interesting take on the genre.


✍🏼 Examples of writing style ✍🏼

1 - NAME crossed the flat top of the peak slowly, leaning into the wind, listening to the keening of the latticed steel beams as she approached. The rungs of the ladder that ran up the side were cold to the touch, and the skin of her fingers adhered to them, so that she had to pull her hand back gingerly each time she needed to reach for the next hold. She began to work her way higher, her body retracting and expanding like the centipedes she and NAME used to observe inching across cracked sidewalks. The wind roared and the tower sang and the steps vibrated underfoot, and it was hard not to believe that she would die right there, that her fate had fally come for her, that her day of penance had arrived.

2 - Fingers tapped against the kitchen window: the branches of the black cherry tree bumping along the glass. Sunlight slid through its leaves and cast emerald rays into the sink. Outside, a royal-blue sky draped over the rose garden and the wishing pool and, beyond the fence, the tangled woods of the park. I could tell, from the swaying treetops, that the wind was picking up.

[A · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Monsters We Have Made" is a scary and sad book about families, parenting, and the human mind. I could relate to Sylvia's search for her missing daughter Faye because I'm a mom too. The book made me think about how stories can affect our lives and how easy it is to get confused about what's real and what's not.

I was surprised by how much technology can change our thoughts and beliefs. The writing is vivid and keeps you on the edge of your seat. It's a mix of thriller and deeper thinking that makes it hard to put down.

After finishing the book, I was left with many questions and thoughts about my own life. That's what makes it so good - it stays with you and makes you think. If you want a book that will keep you guessing and make you think deeply, read "Monsters We Have Made".

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I may give this five stars after I let it sit with me.

I really, really enjoyed the way this was written. It took a second for me to get used to the non-linear narrative; to not automatically associate the short, jumbled scenes with choppiness. But once I grew more comfortable with it, boy was I impressed. Starck is so intentional with every piece of how this narrative is strung together and I can’t imagine the story having as much gravity if it’d been done any other way.

I originally picked this up because I remembered reading about the Slenderman stabbing case from a few years back, from which this obviously takes reference. I was curious to see if this was able to go beyond capitalizing off the familiarity of a real life tragedy, and I can securely say it does. It almost feels like the familiarity of the premise is another tool used to hone this story.

Words words words, blah blah blah. Not a bad read by any means, definitely something worth chewing on.

[raya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scary, but a great book. I loved the writing style.

[Caroline Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

A true hidden gem. This was excellent!

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up here. So different and well written for a fictional true crime premise. It’s about so much more than ‘the crime’ here. Loved this one! Short but packed a huge punch.

[anna leonard · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book sucked the breath out of me. gorgeous exploration of what a monster can be, how the stories we carry with us continue to grow and morph our reality. constant pondering about what it means to have a child — the responsibility we take for our children and how inexplicably tied we are to the people and things we create. can these bonds be severed? would we want them to be severed? how far will we go to rectify our own timeline? can a family truly be destroyed? or will we always be part of something, someone else’s story? i cried at the beauty in the ending, the questions i was still left with. i can only wonder if this story will continue within me, too.

my one complaint is that the cover is goofy as fuck so i thought the story would suck and blah blah blah don’t judge a book by its cover wah wah i don’t care it did make me put off reading this HAHA but i think this story is without flaw and if you read it and you disagree i don’t care at all

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of Monsters We Have Made.

** Minor non-spoilers ahead **

When Sylvia Gray finds herself the caretaker of her granddaughter unexpectedly, she and her ex-boyfriend journey to find their daughter, Faye.

Fifteen years ago, Faye attacked her babysitter on behalf of a monster she discovered online.

Now, it appears the Kingman has returned, a resurgence of attacks made on his behalf and Sylvia fears Faye knows more about the monster than she has revealed.

Based on the premise, I was hoping for a suspenseful narrative, but the narrative proved to be more thoughtful than I expected, which is a good thing.

As Sylvia retraces her daughter's steps with the help of her estranged sister and ex-husband, she ponders the extent to which a parent carries the responsibility of their child's actions.

Can we ever be absolved? How much of what our child does reflect on the parents? Is it possible to love too much?

The premise is just as much about love and fear as it is about how fiction can quickly blur into reality if enough people believe in it.

All we have to do is look at the proliferation of fake news and conspiracy theories circulating online right now.

Where do parents draw the line with their children? Do we ever stop wondering how they will turn out?

How much influence do we have in who and what they will become?

As Sylvia follows in her daughter's footsteps, Faye reaches her own conclusions as to what propelled her to commit that brutal attack over a decade ago, and how to come to terms with what she did.

The writing is good, and it flows, though it took me a few pages to adapt to the author's writing style.

Most of the narrative comes from Sylvia's POV, and we're in her head a lot so there's a lot of monologuing about her past and present.

She's a relatable character, though there was something about her character that came off as submissive I didn't like.

I liked how the author brings the whole family together as a unit to search for Faye because at times like these, only family understands what you're going through and family is who you need.

This was a thoughtful read about family relationships, the bond between parent and child, and the fictions we create with one another (not just online) to survive.

[Lorin (paperbackbish) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the first half, second was a snoozefest.

[Diane Dachota · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Lyrical retelling of the Slenderman story, this story is about a mother trying to come to terms with a daughter who committed a terrible crime. The author has a beautiful way with words and the descriptions of the scenery, weather and details of the characters was compelling. At times however, the purple prose got in the way of advancing the plot.

Sylvia's daughter Faye was just nine years old when she and a friend named Anna attacked their babysitter while walking in the woods near her home. The babysitter survived but Faye was placed in a juvenile detention center and stayed there until she was eighteen. The girls claimed they were told to do this crime by a character named 'The Kingman" who they heard about on social media. The story begins when Faye, now 21 leaves her toddler daughter behind in a gas station parking lot and Sylvia and her estranged husband must take the girl and try to find her mother.

I thought it was a bit of a mistake to have Faye so young when she committed this crime and I can't imagine any parent turning their back on their very damaged child to the point where Sylvia wouldn't even give her a hug in the courtroom. The last part of the novel gets into an almost fantasy realm as Sylvia tries to follow the possible trail of Faye as she accompanies a college professor in search of the island in Minnesota where the Kingman is supposed to have lived. The author does supply a twist at the end but it was obvious from the clues about the two girls and their lives.

[Kristyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's pretty easy to tell that this book is based on the Slenderman stabbing if you know anything about that. It's much different than that case though, so don't worry about it being just a rehash of that. Faye and Anna stabbed their babysitter because of the Kingman who they were going to go live with. The book is told through multiple POVs by Sylvia and Jack, Faye's parents, as well as Faye herself. I'm not sure if I would consider this horror exactly, it feels a lot more like literary fiction to me. It is dark, but not in the way I expected it to be. It focuses a lot on loss and grief, but stuff about the Kingman is definitely a big part of the book. I wasn't ever scared by this, but I loved it all the same.

If you are interested in the Slenderman case or internet born monsters, you might enjoy this one.

[Mary Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow wow
wow

i will be talking about this book for a long time, as it easily is going into my list of favorite read books.

beautiful beautiful writing - poetic and captivating - the power of relationships with family and friends captured is such a truly honest and emotional way. The overall story and mystery itself just wow!! Cant stop thinking WOW

realizing that.. i enjoy some speculative fiction! And i love this author!!

[F Jasmine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inspired by the urban legend/creepypasta of Slenderman. This story is mainly told through the viewpoint of the mother of Faye. We know from the beginning that Faye committed a violent crime as a child. Now, in her twenties with a child of her own, Faye goes missing, and her mother sets out to find her. 3.5 stars rounded down

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ I really enjoyed the writing style. While I did enjoy the book as a whole, it was a very slow-paced, quiet, and literary story. I thought the ending was unexpected (in a bad way) and didn’t match the vibe of the first half of the book so it almost seemed goofy, but overall there were a lot more positives than negatives so I rounded my rating up.

[Ben Arzate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full Review

Monsters We Have Made is an entertaining read and emotionally resonate. It works well as a mystery with a monster possibly lurking somewhere near the end, and a story about an alienated family trying to mend their wounds. I think this novel is well worth picking up and I’d like to see what Lindsay Starck comes out with in the future.

[Zoë · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Elizabeth Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found this in a little free library box. This was really good! Spooky, but full of heart and beauty

[Katelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars - Beautiful prose and reflective chapter ending sentences. I wish the ending was as dynamic as the rest of the story.

[Paul Dickerson]

Beautifully written and genuinely scared me a little.

[Alesha 📚 · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was engaging and kept me reading, but left me feeling very confused..

[Kathleen Cleberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

My second Lindsay Starck book and, while I preferred the fable quality of Noah’s Wife to this mystery, the writing is beautiful in both.