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Strings
A vacation spent as a family in a charming seaside town seemed exactly what the Curry family needed, even if it had been a freak of nature that brought them there. Arthur would aid an old friend in research while Lilia painted beaches and meadows, the boys would swim and socialize, and eleven-year-old Ramona would collect curiosities. But something else was due to arrive at Blackswallow Beach that summer, something heralded by an increasingly bizarre menagerie of circus folk, and that something had its sights set on more than entertainment. For the ocean vast is dark and deep . . . to know, we'd never sleep . . .
- GenresFantasy
308 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 1, 2024
7 people are currently reading
28 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 24, 2025
This was a delightfully weird story of a family vacation gone horribly wrong in a Lovecraftian way.
Comparable media: The Haunting of Hill House (Netflix series) meets American Horror Story: Freakshow.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story with its haunting characters and poetically purple prose. The world McGrath built was immersive, detailed, and (even with its escalating insanity) completely believable. The Curry family members were all rich, damaged, and enduring as we are led down the same rabbit holes of madness that each one faced. The circus folk, like I said, were haunting, and as a horror writer myself, I was deeply impressed and found myself taking notes.
McGrath also effective wove in poetry to introduce different sections and Miss Peregrin like photos at the beginning of chapters, which also hinted at themes and characters in said chapter.
With its themes of family trauma, infidelity, and coming of age, Strings is a story that will stick with me.
I look forward to reading more from this talented indie author.
Comparable media: The Haunting of Hill House (Netflix series) meets American Horror Story: Freakshow.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story with its haunting characters and poetically purple prose. The world McGrath built was immersive, detailed, and (even with its escalating insanity) completely believable. The Curry family members were all rich, damaged, and enduring as we are led down the same rabbit holes of madness that each one faced. The circus folk, like I said, were haunting, and as a horror writer myself, I was deeply impressed and found myself taking notes.
McGrath also effective wove in poetry to introduce different sections and Miss Peregrin like photos at the beginning of chapters, which also hinted at themes and characters in said chapter.
With its themes of family trauma, infidelity, and coming of age, Strings is a story that will stick with me.
I look forward to reading more from this talented indie author.
September 9, 2025
I can promise you, my dears, it will be a summer to remember!
Wow, I'm not even sure where - or how - to start. "Strings" by author S.Q. McGrath is a meticulously executed and beautifully crafted tale that, to be very honest, scared the absolute excrement out of me. It reads like someone - and here I'm thinking maybe H.P.Lovecraft and/or Franz Kafka - has perhaps wanted to retell "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" and wants you to hear it narrated while you're strapped to some kind of ancient torture device. Still, even with its utterly terrifying mystique and dream-like qualities, it is presented with a magnificent collection of prose, even bordering on poetry. That is, when it's not actual poetry, which itself seemed almost teasingly macabre as it opened many of our opening scenes as we moved along.
Everything was fine. Fun and fine. Just fine.
Speaking of dreams, I had the feeling that I had somehow chanced upon someone's, no, not dream diary but more of a nightmare diary. I've never had sleep paralysis (knock on wood) but I can imagine it's a lot like this. Because throughout we seem to be confronted with the worst of the imaginations of the Curry family as they've scuttered down to a small coastal South Carolina "vacation town off the beaten track" for "one bizarre summer that may or may not have actually ever happened." It seems that like too many families before them, they're going to try and use the summer away from their home in Chicago to regroup and perhaps even once again become a more united family. Because we all know just how wonderfully relaxing family vacations are, don't we? That being said, I know I won't be renting a unit on the NC coast any time soon without having visions of some of the things that crawl out of the sea or, better said, seem to slurk and scamper from the shore back into the darkest depths of the ocean beyond. Oh, would you like some ice cream little girl? Perhaps some tender seal tartare instead?
The tenuously entertaining and whimsical summer had transformed into a nightmare…
It's somewhat bizarre - oh bollocks, it's a whole lot of bizarre - that this book essentially starts with the discovery of what is known as a rat king that has appeared in other books I've read before. This is then when several rats' tails become somehow so entangled and intertwined with each other that the mass of squirming bodies begins to resemble one mythical creature. If you don't want to sleep for the next week or so, go ahead and google an image if you doubt that this is in fact something that exists. Or think about the various teasing dreams and visions that each of the family go through as they're being slowly led into some kind of emotionally depraved trap, one intended to rend the very humanity from their physical and spiritual selves.
Whatever this was, it felt so weird, so wrong …
Having said all that and also probably convinced you not to hire her as a baby-sitter, I am indeed glad to have finally read one of the books that I already own from McGrath who I discovered for myself on social media. Now perhaps I'll seem a little less like a stalker and can count myself among her book fans - noting her sublime and curiously hypnotic voice has already had me wondering if she also does narration. However, I'm not as convinced now that I should read more of her collection so soon after this offer - which again was really incredibly well-written but sheesh, I am still spooked after closing the book some hours ago. And no, I don't think that's because of any triggers that result by the presence (???) of clown-like beings (no issues) or even puppets. Because I'm not sure that either of those actually did appear in this story. The bearded lady, yeah sure, but then again, this story did take place in South Carolina! (yes, yes: we from The Old North State don't let rivalries go that easily)
It was as if what had happened had to be, as if some unseen hand had pulled the strings …
I will say this as a final (more or less) thought: I don't think this is the kind of book you read to understand. It is there to create an effect, a sense of some kind of survived tragedy or to at least take a closer look at the things that make you unnaturally and even inexplicably afraid. And so, if you don't mind, I'll end by asking if anyone would be willing to come rock me to sleep because I think my eyes will remain wide open for pretty much the whole night. Or loan me their most definitely creepy doll to hug for comfort… I mean, what could possibly go wrong?
"Did that … happen?"
"Yes… It did. But maybe … maybe not like we think."
Wow, I'm not even sure where - or how - to start. "Strings" by author S.Q. McGrath is a meticulously executed and beautifully crafted tale that, to be very honest, scared the absolute excrement out of me. It reads like someone - and here I'm thinking maybe H.P.Lovecraft and/or Franz Kafka - has perhaps wanted to retell "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" and wants you to hear it narrated while you're strapped to some kind of ancient torture device. Still, even with its utterly terrifying mystique and dream-like qualities, it is presented with a magnificent collection of prose, even bordering on poetry. That is, when it's not actual poetry, which itself seemed almost teasingly macabre as it opened many of our opening scenes as we moved along.
Everything was fine. Fun and fine. Just fine.
Speaking of dreams, I had the feeling that I had somehow chanced upon someone's, no, not dream diary but more of a nightmare diary. I've never had sleep paralysis (knock on wood) but I can imagine it's a lot like this. Because throughout we seem to be confronted with the worst of the imaginations of the Curry family as they've scuttered down to a small coastal South Carolina "vacation town off the beaten track" for "one bizarre summer that may or may not have actually ever happened." It seems that like too many families before them, they're going to try and use the summer away from their home in Chicago to regroup and perhaps even once again become a more united family. Because we all know just how wonderfully relaxing family vacations are, don't we? That being said, I know I won't be renting a unit on the NC coast any time soon without having visions of some of the things that crawl out of the sea or, better said, seem to slurk and scamper from the shore back into the darkest depths of the ocean beyond. Oh, would you like some ice cream little girl? Perhaps some tender seal tartare instead?
The tenuously entertaining and whimsical summer had transformed into a nightmare…
It's somewhat bizarre - oh bollocks, it's a whole lot of bizarre - that this book essentially starts with the discovery of what is known as a rat king that has appeared in other books I've read before. This is then when several rats' tails become somehow so entangled and intertwined with each other that the mass of squirming bodies begins to resemble one mythical creature. If you don't want to sleep for the next week or so, go ahead and google an image if you doubt that this is in fact something that exists. Or think about the various teasing dreams and visions that each of the family go through as they're being slowly led into some kind of emotionally depraved trap, one intended to rend the very humanity from their physical and spiritual selves.
Whatever this was, it felt so weird, so wrong …
Having said all that and also probably convinced you not to hire her as a baby-sitter, I am indeed glad to have finally read one of the books that I already own from McGrath who I discovered for myself on social media. Now perhaps I'll seem a little less like a stalker and can count myself among her book fans - noting her sublime and curiously hypnotic voice has already had me wondering if she also does narration. However, I'm not as convinced now that I should read more of her collection so soon after this offer - which again was really incredibly well-written but sheesh, I am still spooked after closing the book some hours ago. And no, I don't think that's because of any triggers that result by the presence (???) of clown-like beings (no issues) or even puppets. Because I'm not sure that either of those actually did appear in this story. The bearded lady, yeah sure, but then again, this story did take place in South Carolina! (yes, yes: we from The Old North State don't let rivalries go that easily)
It was as if what had happened had to be, as if some unseen hand had pulled the strings …
I will say this as a final (more or less) thought: I don't think this is the kind of book you read to understand. It is there to create an effect, a sense of some kind of survived tragedy or to at least take a closer look at the things that make you unnaturally and even inexplicably afraid. And so, if you don't mind, I'll end by asking if anyone would be willing to come rock me to sleep because I think my eyes will remain wide open for pretty much the whole night. Or loan me their most definitely creepy doll to hug for comfort… I mean, what could possibly go wrong?
"Did that … happen?"
"Yes… It did. But maybe … maybe not like we think."
May 30, 2025
Another weird and wonderful horror book by S.Q McGrath. This time we have a family on holiday for the summer. The dad, Arthur, has found something unsettling and takes it to his pals at the local university. His wife, still angry at him for some mysterious reason. His twin boys and daughter, happy to see this little beach town they now get to call home for the summer.
And everything might have been okay... But then the circus turns up. Every family member gets an opportunity to meet with someone from the circus, or be part of the circus experiences/performances somehow... but these opportunities are far from sweet or fun!
Roll up, roll up, the horror has begun! And you deffo can't run!
Small town horror including a circus? Yes please!
S.Q McGrath always writes the best horror, so having a book including the circus was entirely my thing and I absolutely loved this. It was so spooky and eerie. So weird and unsettling. I loved spending time with each family member, someone different from the circus, and get up close and personal with these unusual people!
The ending was really wild. I had to really focus to appreciate exactly what was going on and how things were tying up. It didn't go how I thought it would, but that's not a bad thing! I would have never guessed the outcome and I loved how it all stayed weird. Does anyone really understand what happened in that small beach town when the circus turned up?! What was real and what wasn't? And please for the love of god don't go accepting ice creams from clowns.
My favourite character was Ramona. She was exactly like me as a child and I loved it.
If you're a horror fan and you haven't read a S.Q McGrath...well, what are you waiting for? Get to it! Otherwise I'll send the circus, or the rats... or the lobster people, or the clowns with ice creams...
Highly recommend! Five stars as usual for anything this author writes!
And everything might have been okay... But then the circus turns up. Every family member gets an opportunity to meet with someone from the circus, or be part of the circus experiences/performances somehow... but these opportunities are far from sweet or fun!
Roll up, roll up, the horror has begun! And you deffo can't run!
Small town horror including a circus? Yes please!
S.Q McGrath always writes the best horror, so having a book including the circus was entirely my thing and I absolutely loved this. It was so spooky and eerie. So weird and unsettling. I loved spending time with each family member, someone different from the circus, and get up close and personal with these unusual people!
The ending was really wild. I had to really focus to appreciate exactly what was going on and how things were tying up. It didn't go how I thought it would, but that's not a bad thing! I would have never guessed the outcome and I loved how it all stayed weird. Does anyone really understand what happened in that small beach town when the circus turned up?! What was real and what wasn't? And please for the love of god don't go accepting ice creams from clowns.
My favourite character was Ramona. She was exactly like me as a child and I loved it.
If you're a horror fan and you haven't read a S.Q McGrath...well, what are you waiting for? Get to it! Otherwise I'll send the circus, or the rats... or the lobster people, or the clowns with ice creams...
Highly recommend! Five stars as usual for anything this author writes!
January 26, 2025
Thank you to the author and the publisher or publishers for all your hard work! I'm leaving this review voluntarily and happily! Take a look!
I know i keep using the word "unique," but LISTEN! This book is very unique and unsettling. I had the hardest time putting the book down. I loved how each chapter was a letter from the alphabet and had pictures to corelate to them. Not only that, I love the circus, and it dealt with that and so much more. This book throws punch after punch, and you have no idea what's going to happen next. This book is definitely in my top five favorites. The ending is really sad, but not every book is going to have a happy ending. That's just life. If you enjoy weird, unsettling, twisted, and wtf, did you just read? This is definitely the book for you.
A family vacation, a circus, and a rat king? What could possibly go wrong? What's to say that something sinister isn't building behind the circus? Or perhaps it's nothing at all. It's just a bunch of greaks coming together to put on a show after all. Of course, there are whispers, dark things in the dark, and just secrets that are dying to come out.
This truly was a fantastic read. I loved how the book flowed and the pictures used. Not only that, i loved all the different characters and just the writing style. I can keep going. This truly was a favorite read for me and definitely was in my top five for this year. Can't wait to read more from this author.
I know i keep using the word "unique," but LISTEN! This book is very unique and unsettling. I had the hardest time putting the book down. I loved how each chapter was a letter from the alphabet and had pictures to corelate to them. Not only that, I love the circus, and it dealt with that and so much more. This book throws punch after punch, and you have no idea what's going to happen next. This book is definitely in my top five favorites. The ending is really sad, but not every book is going to have a happy ending. That's just life. If you enjoy weird, unsettling, twisted, and wtf, did you just read? This is definitely the book for you.
A family vacation, a circus, and a rat king? What could possibly go wrong? What's to say that something sinister isn't building behind the circus? Or perhaps it's nothing at all. It's just a bunch of greaks coming together to put on a show after all. Of course, there are whispers, dark things in the dark, and just secrets that are dying to come out.
This truly was a fantastic read. I loved how the book flowed and the pictures used. Not only that, i loved all the different characters and just the writing style. I can keep going. This truly was a favorite read for me and definitely was in my top five for this year. Can't wait to read more from this author.
August 3, 2025
This is a superb horror novel. It's the second book I've read from this author and am surprised why she remains unknown to most readers. So don't hesitate to check out her books.
This story is an absolute creepfest about a family on vacation in a seaside town. And they're really going through some stuff, all of which we'll be privy to over the course of the book. It starts when the father, Arthur, finds a rat king. So rare they're believes to be an urban legend. But this find provides the family enough extra money for this much needed vacation with sun, surf, and a quaint little town.
Of course, that's going to go horrifically downhill soon after. Seems a carnival of sorts has come to town replete with a "freak show" in tow. These characters are going to provide a good amount of terror in the book because there's something not right. As this family gets sucked into the sinister macabre intentions of this carnival and the town itself, things will just start to unravel in a dread inducing manner.
Beautifully written with an almost lyrical prose in places, this novel delves into the cosmic/supernatural horrors with an unwavering eye towards scaring the pants off the reader. Which it does so mission accomplished! It's eerie, terrifying, and has twists galore. I highly recommend it.
This story is an absolute creepfest about a family on vacation in a seaside town. And they're really going through some stuff, all of which we'll be privy to over the course of the book. It starts when the father, Arthur, finds a rat king. So rare they're believes to be an urban legend. But this find provides the family enough extra money for this much needed vacation with sun, surf, and a quaint little town.
Of course, that's going to go horrifically downhill soon after. Seems a carnival of sorts has come to town replete with a "freak show" in tow. These characters are going to provide a good amount of terror in the book because there's something not right. As this family gets sucked into the sinister macabre intentions of this carnival and the town itself, things will just start to unravel in a dread inducing manner.
Beautifully written with an almost lyrical prose in places, this novel delves into the cosmic/supernatural horrors with an unwavering eye towards scaring the pants off the reader. Which it does so mission accomplished! It's eerie, terrifying, and has twists galore. I highly recommend it.
February 21, 2025
A surreal beach house Kafkaesque vacation circus dreamscape from the depths of some kind of “Old Greg” hell. Every chapter has a disturbing metaphysical presence which guts epistemology like a juicy fish. And yet, there’s a reality to such shadow play. A child and her doll. A broken relationship. Teenagers attempting to find their first touch; their first kiss. The wounds of the past festering a necrosis upon the present.
The aesthetic of this book feels something like an old family projector movie within an Orson Wells black and white feature where every character holds the shadow of a hunger artist; a gruesome Pinocchio. The imagination and imagery that went into this book is a testament to McGrath’s story telling. And once again, oh, that ending!
Two secrets or a promise to enter.
I adore this book!
The aesthetic of this book feels something like an old family projector movie within an Orson Wells black and white feature where every character holds the shadow of a hunger artist; a gruesome Pinocchio. The imagination and imagery that went into this book is a testament to McGrath’s story telling. And once again, oh, that ending!
Two secrets or a promise to enter.
I adore this book!
January 25, 2025
A normal beach vacation becomes a nightmare with creepy circus people and it is nothing short of fabulous. I loved it!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews