Knucklebones

by Marni Scofidio

Daere is like most of the ageing population in the run-down North Wales coastal town of Ffrynt: quiet, responsible, and born of a time when people had manners and knew their place. Not the sort to troll online bookstores, or stalk the object of her affection, or harbour grim secrets. Certainly not the sort to, when events don't go her way, head on a violent collision course with single mum Clary - once a treasured new neighbour, now the target of a dangerous obsession . . .

327 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2017

About the author

Marni Scofidio was born in San Francisco, California, and raised near Buffalo, New York. She has been resident in Britain since 1991. Her modern ghost stories have appeared in semi- and professional magazines and anthologies, including BEST NEW HORROR and YEAR'S BEST FANTASY & HORROR, in four countries. She has been nominated for a British Fantasy Society Award for Short Fiction. She holds a BA (Hons) Design, University of Wales. Scofidio is married to her Welshman and Wicked Stepmother to one stepson. KNUCKLEBONES is her first novel.

Of her work Chet Williamson (ROBERT BLOCH’S PSYCHO: SANITORIUM, MURDER IN CORMYR) wrote: ‘Knucklebones is a brilliant debut novel -- written with a poetic eye, filled with characters that truly live, and a pace that had me barrelling through the last half of the book. For decades, Marni Scofidio has written such incredible short stories that I've long wished for a full novel, and Knucklebones is even better than I dared hope. It's dark, chilling, and delicious, written with a unique and individual style. You'd be a knucklehead to miss it. A marvellous book.’

Bram Stoker Award-winning poet, short-story writer and novelist Mark McLaughlin (co-author of THE ABOMINATIONS OF NEPHREN-KA and THE BLASPHEMY IN THE CANOPIC JAR) also wrote: ‘Marni Scofidio is a world-class writer whose stories have appeared in prestigious “Best Of” horror anthologies. If you consider yourself an aficionado of dark fiction, please do not miss the opportunity to read her new novel, KNUCKLEBONES. Her literary works are exquisite macabre treasures to be cherished.’

Reviews

[Mark McLaughlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marni's short fright-fiction has appeared in Best Of horror anthologies, and with KNUCKLEBONES, she has written a brand-new 'Best Of' quality tale of novel length! Only a knuckleHEAD would ignore it! ;-) Be sure to check it out -- I see it's available as a Kindle, if you prefer digital reading material. If you mark it as 'To Read,' do yourself a favor and actually READ it at your earliest convenience. :-)

[Cefyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found Knucklebones moving - and let me tell you, not that much moves me! I never thought I'd particularly care about a woman with a disabled child - but I did, and I do. Without giving anything away, Scofidio's writing seems to nibble away at your soul, until finally, you see things as she does. She knows, and can make us see. This book has made me think - and I think I like it. You will too.

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

[I received a free copy of this book as part of the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program]

I wouldn't quite call this a page-turner, but the story certainly did draw me in and I was so curious to find out where it was all going. It's a more psychological book than I was expecting - reminiscent of an older style of tense cerebral thriller. Really interesting characters and I loved the Welsh setting. I generally enjoyed the switching points of view, but found it a bit jarring in places where there was suddenly a new (and ultimately minor) character whose head we were inside. For me, the ending felt a bit rushed, especially after the slower pacing of the rest of the book. Perhaps some of the harried frenzied feeling was intended by the author, but it seemed like quite an abrupt shift in pace. The ending spooked me though and I'm interested to see what #2 has to offer!

[Marty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well well, what a little gem we have here, served up as a maiden offering from Ms Scofidio. If you like your literature served up on the dark side then this offering is as dark as a dark thing that's studied dark at the university of Dark in Darkstown, Darksville, and so on, you get the idea. Opens with a bang, leaving plenty of questions, then quietly goes about its business building the characters that will figure in the breakneck paced crescendo. Some lovely twists and turns too. Give it a ride, you won't be disappointed.

[Mike Tassano · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marni Scofidio's "Knucklebones" is a seriously creepy story that more than repays the patient reader. Clary, her son Felix, and Daere are deftly drawn and though I could not foresee the end for anyone but the mailman (and the geranium), the rapidly rising tension brought the tale to a hopeful end. I cannot remember EVER thinking "oh, no, no, no" while reading a novel. And now I want to go stand in the sunshine and be grateful for my dull life.

[Des Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A page-turning novel-reader’s novel. A Horror novel that it never tries not to be; in fact it drops names. A work that is dreamcatching of some literary force. Lifecatching, too. And tantalisingly elusive and allusive, words where you hopefully find the Querent.

The detailed review of this book posted elsewhere under my name is too long or impractical to post here.
Above is one of its observations at the time of the review.

[Bean · Rating 4 out of 5]

One helluva debut novel. A real page turner. 4 out of 5 stars