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Before the Devil Fell: A Novel
“Equal parts engaging and creepy, this twisty tale deftly examines how secrets and regret can continue to reverberate through generations. A suspenseful story that examines how families haunt each other in life and death; possibly too creepy for late-night reading.” — Kirkus Reviews
Will Connor returns to his hometown, a village north of Boston, to care for his injured mother. He’s kept his distance from the town since high school, but once home he finds himself reexamining a horrific incident that took place during one of his mother’s “spirit circles.” His mother had embraced the hippie generation’s fascination with New Age and the arcane, but the unexpected death of a close friend put an end to the meetings of the modern-day coven.
Or did it?
As Will looks deeper into his family’s history he discovers that her practices weren’t so much a passing fad but the latest link in a long tradition of New England witchcraft, which still seems to hold a strange power over the town. Will hopes that unearthing the facts about the death will put his questions to rest, but there are those willing to resort to violence to keep those secrets buried.
Will Connor returns to his hometown, a village north of Boston, to care for his injured mother. He’s kept his distance from the town since high school, but once home he finds himself reexamining a horrific incident that took place during one of his mother’s “spirit circles.” His mother had embraced the hippie generation’s fascination with New Age and the arcane, but the unexpected death of a close friend put an end to the meetings of the modern-day coven.
Or did it?
As Will looks deeper into his family’s history he discovers that her practices weren’t so much a passing fad but the latest link in a long tradition of New England witchcraft, which still seems to hold a strange power over the town. Will hopes that unearthing the facts about the death will put his questions to rest, but there are those willing to resort to violence to keep those secrets buried.
304 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 8, 2019
58 people are currently reading
870 people want to read
About the author
Neil Olson
5 books26 followersNeil Olson, the grandson of Greek immigrants, works in the publishing industry and lives in New York City with his wife.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
September 20, 2019
Before the Devil Fell is one of those books where the premise is promising, yet finds itself bogged down by details that cause the plot to unravel a bit at the seams. I'm the type of reader where oversights, such as problems having the ability to be solved by a few simple questions or baseline communication, can break a reading experience for me. While these issues did cause me to lower my rating, I still enjoyed the atmospheric element that the suffocating small town brought to the table. If you enjoy witchy stories during the fall season, I recommend you consider this one, as it's an easy, quick read with chills and thrills abundant.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
October 29, 2019
I love an atmospheric novel, and Before the Devil Fell delivers multiple layers of atmosphere.
Will’s mother has been injured, and he returns home to the small village near Boston to care for her. Will has not spent much time at home since high school. Something horrific happened during one his mother’s hippie “spirit circles.” A close friend died.
Will thought that chapter of his mom’s life was over, but maybe it isn’t?
Will finds out that his mother wasn’t just a hippie finding her way, but instead, their family practiced witchcraft long before he’s been on the earth.
Will wants to find out what happened to his friend, but what he doesn’t realize is he’s put himself in a dangerous position.
Wow, as I mentioned, the atmosphere of this village is eerie and haunting. I could feel the suppression, and it was hard to breathe at times because it all felt so real. I loved the witchy coven elements and the mystery. There’s a creepy darkness, too.
Overall, Before the Devil Fell is a haunting story perfect for fall reading where you can almost smell the leaves burning.
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
Will’s mother has been injured, and he returns home to the small village near Boston to care for her. Will has not spent much time at home since high school. Something horrific happened during one his mother’s hippie “spirit circles.” A close friend died.
Will thought that chapter of his mom’s life was over, but maybe it isn’t?
Will finds out that his mother wasn’t just a hippie finding her way, but instead, their family practiced witchcraft long before he’s been on the earth.
Will wants to find out what happened to his friend, but what he doesn’t realize is he’s put himself in a dangerous position.
Wow, as I mentioned, the atmosphere of this village is eerie and haunting. I could feel the suppression, and it was hard to breathe at times because it all felt so real. I loved the witchy coven elements and the mystery. There’s a creepy darkness, too.
Overall, Before the Devil Fell is a haunting story perfect for fall reading where you can almost smell the leaves burning.
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
September 6, 2019
Oh yeah. Totally creepy with plenty of twists.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This book was not what I was expecting at all. But I absolutely love reading stories that are so different than what the synopsis tries to tell us.
The author did a marvelous job weaving a story with so many little threads and hints of what was happening nd a foreshadowing of what was to come. I truly did not figure out anything until the ending. I was just absorbed in the storytelling.
The story is completely unique. I’m obviously not a expert in the writings of authors that tie witchcraft into their story. But I love the psychological build up and the bits and pieces that drop along the way that build into those suspenseful thrills we love.
The conclusion was unexpected but also very fitting. Those secrets eventually come out and get you!
There was several areas in this book that are definitely creepy. A lot of my updates I posted as I was reading it use that word specifically. But it’s also somewhat of a nod to the history of the eastern states. Stories that get passed from generation to generation fuel this novel.
Unique, engrossing, dark, and definitely a bit ominous! Loved this story!
* copy received for review consideration
Full review - https://amidlifewife.com/before-the-d...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This book was not what I was expecting at all. But I absolutely love reading stories that are so different than what the synopsis tries to tell us.
The author did a marvelous job weaving a story with so many little threads and hints of what was happening nd a foreshadowing of what was to come. I truly did not figure out anything until the ending. I was just absorbed in the storytelling.
The story is completely unique. I’m obviously not a expert in the writings of authors that tie witchcraft into their story. But I love the psychological build up and the bits and pieces that drop along the way that build into those suspenseful thrills we love.
The conclusion was unexpected but also very fitting. Those secrets eventually come out and get you!
There was several areas in this book that are definitely creepy. A lot of my updates I posted as I was reading it use that word specifically. But it’s also somewhat of a nod to the history of the eastern states. Stories that get passed from generation to generation fuel this novel.
Unique, engrossing, dark, and definitely a bit ominous! Loved this story!
* copy received for review consideration
Full review - https://amidlifewife.com/before-the-d...
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August 23, 2022This intriguing mystery has a great air of the supernatural about it, which makes the plot rather unique.
After living away from home for many years, Will Connor returns to his childhood village to help care for his ailing mother. He gradually notices that many of the residents are not too happy to see him; some are downright hostile. With help from his long-time friend, Sam, Will uncovers some unusual family history, including the practice of witchcraft.
If you're a fan of occult fiction, as well as mystery, give this book a try! -Louisa A.
After living away from home for many years, Will Connor returns to his childhood village to help care for his ailing mother. He gradually notices that many of the residents are not too happy to see him; some are downright hostile. With help from his long-time friend, Sam, Will uncovers some unusual family history, including the practice of witchcraft.
If you're a fan of occult fiction, as well as mystery, give this book a try! -Louisa A.
January 8, 2020
A witch cast a sleep spell on me
Because that's what i did reading this. I fell asleep.
One reviewer said "Not worth reading. And yet, I did. Gotta stop that."
Another said "I managed to make it halfway through before giving up. I was just so bored and not a fan of any of the characters."
I made a third of the way through and i did stop.
Will is dull, his mom is dull, Samantha is, you guessed it, dull as are the rest of the characters.
P.S. don't judge a book by its cover or title.
Because that's what i did reading this. I fell asleep.
One reviewer said "Not worth reading. And yet, I did. Gotta stop that."
Another said "I managed to make it halfway through before giving up. I was just so bored and not a fan of any of the characters."
I made a third of the way through and i did stop.
Will is dull, his mom is dull, Samantha is, you guessed it, dull as are the rest of the characters.
P.S. don't judge a book by its cover or title.
September 25, 2019
Before The Devil Fell is a promising mystery that will leave readers creeped out!
I was extremely excited to get my hands on this mystery by Neil Olson. I absolutely loved the setting and atmosphere to this creepy small town. There are plenty of moments that will leave you creeped out in this story.
I at first wasn't sure where the author was trying to take this story but felt that there was a bit too many details that caused the overall plot to diminish for me.
I was hoping for the author to elaborate within the plot of aspect of the seven families and felt the characterization was a tad weak.
Overall, it wasn't a bad mystery just nothing that special in my opinion.
3 stars!
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Harlequin/Trade Publishing for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
Pub day; 10/8/19
Published to GR: 9/24/19
I was extremely excited to get my hands on this mystery by Neil Olson. I absolutely loved the setting and atmosphere to this creepy small town. There are plenty of moments that will leave you creeped out in this story.
I at first wasn't sure where the author was trying to take this story but felt that there was a bit too many details that caused the overall plot to diminish for me.
I was hoping for the author to elaborate within the plot of aspect of the seven families and felt the characterization was a tad weak.
Overall, it wasn't a bad mystery just nothing that special in my opinion.
3 stars!
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Harlequin/Trade Publishing for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
Pub day; 10/8/19
Published to GR: 9/24/19
January 14, 2020
Before the Devil Fell is a gothic horror tale that builds on the tension and fear of the unknown. Of places and memories locked away that are suddenly and painfully unleashed. Of the fundamental belief that home is the safest place to be...until it is not.
Summary
"...I saw the lantern.'
'You knew I would protect you, even though you had no reason to believe that then.'
'Sam.' His anger was gone, and he was exhausted. He could have fallen down on the threadbare carpet and slept right there. The blue disks of her eyes were hug and close, swallowing them.
'I was inside my circle,' she said firmly. 'I performed all the steps perfectly. And you came to me, just like I imagined. The thing is...' Her voice faltered and she broke eye contact. She must have taken a step back, but it seemed more like she simply shrank. 'The only thing is, you didn't come alone. Something came with you, out of that house..."
Will Connor had left his home in a small cozy village, north of Boston and found every excuse to never come back. The only thing left there for him was his mother and a garbled set of memories. But when he receives the call from a family friend that his mother had fallen and was in a coma, Will knew he would have to return. The small town he left behind seems to have changed very little from when he had left. The same families and the same lives. Only he had seemed to have changed. Or had he?
His mother and her group of friends had believed in magic, in an arcane art that binded them. But something had gone wrong when Will was young and on one night a horrific incident took place during one of his mother's spirit circles. An incident that ended with one man dead and Will changed forever. As Will investigates the incident that seemed to have left such an impact on his life he learns more about the small town and the people in it. About their past and the truth that they were not a group of drugged and intoxicated hippies playing with magic. That were in fact families long steeped in the traditions of New England witchcraft and that on that night, so long ago, they may very well have unleashed a power on the world they could not control. A power tied to Will.
Review
Gothic horror is too often thought of as a haunted home on the Moors in foggy England. But there is another gothic horror and that is American gothic horror. This deals with New England and the woods and witches and the underlying dread that fills a reader's soul. That is the world of Before The Devil Fell. This is Nathaniel Hawthorne and the Legend of Sleepy Hollow but not written for children. This is the sense of foreboding that causes the hairs on your arms to raise ever so slightly as the chill enters the room. Before the chill, never comes on its own. Before the Devil is good American Gothic, the kind of which is hard to come across now.
Neil Olson has created a sense of dread around an incident hat happened in one character's childhood and has shaped his own vision of Americana. As he peels back the layers of what happened to Will, the reader begins to sense that there is far more to this story's main character then what is first on display. In fact, is Will the actual victim in the events of that day and afterwards for years or Will somehow responsible. A possibility that even Will begins to question. Was his mother simply neglectful or was she involved in some sinister plot that would have her sacrifice her only child?
Neil Olson drives this novel with strong characters and atmosphere and questions of what is and what isn't the truth.
A really good read.
Summary
"...I saw the lantern.'
'You knew I would protect you, even though you had no reason to believe that then.'
'Sam.' His anger was gone, and he was exhausted. He could have fallen down on the threadbare carpet and slept right there. The blue disks of her eyes were hug and close, swallowing them.
'I was inside my circle,' she said firmly. 'I performed all the steps perfectly. And you came to me, just like I imagined. The thing is...' Her voice faltered and she broke eye contact. She must have taken a step back, but it seemed more like she simply shrank. 'The only thing is, you didn't come alone. Something came with you, out of that house..."
Will Connor had left his home in a small cozy village, north of Boston and found every excuse to never come back. The only thing left there for him was his mother and a garbled set of memories. But when he receives the call from a family friend that his mother had fallen and was in a coma, Will knew he would have to return. The small town he left behind seems to have changed very little from when he had left. The same families and the same lives. Only he had seemed to have changed. Or had he?
His mother and her group of friends had believed in magic, in an arcane art that binded them. But something had gone wrong when Will was young and on one night a horrific incident took place during one of his mother's spirit circles. An incident that ended with one man dead and Will changed forever. As Will investigates the incident that seemed to have left such an impact on his life he learns more about the small town and the people in it. About their past and the truth that they were not a group of drugged and intoxicated hippies playing with magic. That were in fact families long steeped in the traditions of New England witchcraft and that on that night, so long ago, they may very well have unleashed a power on the world they could not control. A power tied to Will.
Review
Gothic horror is too often thought of as a haunted home on the Moors in foggy England. But there is another gothic horror and that is American gothic horror. This deals with New England and the woods and witches and the underlying dread that fills a reader's soul. That is the world of Before The Devil Fell. This is Nathaniel Hawthorne and the Legend of Sleepy Hollow but not written for children. This is the sense of foreboding that causes the hairs on your arms to raise ever so slightly as the chill enters the room. Before the chill, never comes on its own. Before the Devil is good American Gothic, the kind of which is hard to come across now.
Neil Olson has created a sense of dread around an incident hat happened in one character's childhood and has shaped his own vision of Americana. As he peels back the layers of what happened to Will, the reader begins to sense that there is far more to this story's main character then what is first on display. In fact, is Will the actual victim in the events of that day and afterwards for years or Will somehow responsible. A possibility that even Will begins to question. Was his mother simply neglectful or was she involved in some sinister plot that would have her sacrifice her only child?
Neil Olson drives this novel with strong characters and atmosphere and questions of what is and what isn't the truth.
A really good read.
August 13, 2021
I was apprehensive at the description of 'creepy'. I don't do horror movies or Stephen King books. This was neither so I was a tad disappointed on the creep factor. But any Fan of the Supernatural will dig this tale. It kept me guessing until the end. Perfect for an October book club read.
October 8, 2019
I absolutely love the premise of this book. Small towns with ties to witchcraft, the unknown, everybody in everybody's business stemming back from decades of families that are tied to the town. This is one of those books I like to call a "surface read". (Ok, I kind of just made that up but that's gonna be a thing for me now I think.)
What I mean by that, is that it's a fun, witchy read that has a tiny bit of creep factor, but really just reads as the story is laid out. There's no big deep part to it - for example, I would've LOVED to have known more about the backstory of the families and how some of these things came to pass. More on the weird deaths that occurred when Will and Sam were younger. (btw, LOVE Sam!)
I also noticed that sometimes Abby would be Abigail - and I don't mean in the terms of whoever was speaking to her but when she was speaking to the same person, the dialogue would be back and forth between the names and for some reason that irritated me. A small nit I realize but something I noticed. I'm a big person about consistency (thank you paralegal job - insert eye roll).
I think that to just take the story as it is, it's a fun and easy read and on the lighter side of a thriller/witchy kind of read so if that's your jam - get your biscuit ready and slather it on.
What I mean by that, is that it's a fun, witchy read that has a tiny bit of creep factor, but really just reads as the story is laid out. There's no big deep part to it - for example, I would've LOVED to have known more about the backstory of the families and how some of these things came to pass. More on the weird deaths that occurred when Will and Sam were younger. (btw, LOVE Sam!)
I also noticed that sometimes Abby would be Abigail - and I don't mean in the terms of whoever was speaking to her but when she was speaking to the same person, the dialogue would be back and forth between the names and for some reason that irritated me. A small nit I realize but something I noticed. I'm a big person about consistency (thank you paralegal job - insert eye roll).
I think that to just take the story as it is, it's a fun and easy read and on the lighter side of a thriller/witchy kind of read so if that's your jam - get your biscuit ready and slather it on.
January 12, 2020
“Until an hour before the Devil fell, God thought him beautiful in Heaven.” Arthur Miller
“It means we don’t change. Going someplace different didn’t make them different people.”
“Bibamus, moriendum est.”
Drink, for we must die.
“It means we don’t change. Going someplace different didn’t make them different people.”
“Bibamus, moriendum est.”
Drink, for we must die.
January 18, 2020
Sometimes I finish a book because it's the last in the stack and I need to go to the library. That's the case with this, otherwise, I would have given up.
December 7, 2019
Horror, mystery, and suspense are a few of my favourite things (along with raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens but that's another story entirely.) This book was eerie and spooky without being overtly terrifying. It was more of a subtle, slow build of dread and a nice little bit of uncertainty about the validity of the supernatural. I wasn't quite sure if these people were just crazy, drug addled hippies or if hinky stuff was actually going on. There seemed to be possibly ghosts and demons and most definitely there were witches but it took me a while to determine what was happening, or had happened, and what was delusion. The mystery was twisty and ended up being surprising and unpredictable. Subtle hints were dropped that led to the conclusion but I didn't put them all together until the end. It was wrapped up in a satisfying way that drew the many threads together in a way that made sense. I really enjoyed this one!
I listened to the audiobook and the narration was excellent. It's a really good story to have read to you like a creepy old campfire tale. It added to the ominous atmosphere.
I listened to the audiobook and the narration was excellent. It's a really good story to have read to you like a creepy old campfire tale. It added to the ominous atmosphere.
August 26, 2019
3.5 Stars RTC
July 26, 2019
I got an early copy of this book, and really enjoyed it! Below is my blurb for the book:
"Heavy with foreboding from the very first page, Before the Devil Fell is a novel you'll want to read with the lights on! Like most truly terrifying novels, this book is as much about the evil of which mankind is capable as it is about the supernatural. Don't miss this tense, dark, deftly written novel - it's a perfect addition to fall reading lists!"
"Heavy with foreboding from the very first page, Before the Devil Fell is a novel you'll want to read with the lights on! Like most truly terrifying novels, this book is as much about the evil of which mankind is capable as it is about the supernatural. Don't miss this tense, dark, deftly written novel - it's a perfect addition to fall reading lists!"
July 15, 2021
Neil Olson knows how to grab your attention on the 1st page while keeping it all the way till the last sentence!.
I absolutely loved this book, there was a combination of great characters as well as the perfect amount of information for the story line all mixed together.
Will only remembers only bits and pieces of what happened that horrible night when he was 5 and no one will talk about it even when he starts to have vivid dreams now that he's older. When. A horrible accident happens he is forced to come home to help take care of his mother when there he is determined to find out the truth no matter what the cost is with the help of his oldest friend Sam a girl who is called weird because of her ties with the old coven and her still uses in madgic. But is he ready to take on the curses, History of witch craft and betrayal?
Be ready to stay up all night to finish this book becouse once you start you won't want to put it down.
I absolutely loved this book, there was a combination of great characters as well as the perfect amount of information for the story line all mixed together.
Will only remembers only bits and pieces of what happened that horrible night when he was 5 and no one will talk about it even when he starts to have vivid dreams now that he's older. When. A horrible accident happens he is forced to come home to help take care of his mother when there he is determined to find out the truth no matter what the cost is with the help of his oldest friend Sam a girl who is called weird because of her ties with the old coven and her still uses in madgic. But is he ready to take on the curses, History of witch craft and betrayal?
Be ready to stay up all night to finish this book becouse once you start you won't want to put it down.
May 19, 2022
Will doesn’t travel back home to the small New England town he grew up in very often. His relationship with his mother is strained, and the locals don’t like it when he returns. Because when he does, people die. Is Will responsible? Does he have a devil inside him? That’s just the question he’s forced to face when he returns home to care for his mother after a suspicious accident. Who can he trust? His mother? The members of her spirit circle? The strange and alluring girl next door? What really happened on that strange night when he was 5 years old and a man was struck and killed by lightning just feet from his bedroom door?
I liked the story and characters. THe plot comes together well and has a twist or two at the end. You might see them coming, but I didn’t. A good, spooky read.
I liked the story and characters. THe plot comes together well and has a twist or two at the end. You might see them coming, but I didn’t. A good, spooky read.
August 16, 2019
3.5 stars
Will was happy to escape his hometown. When his mother becomes sick, he goes back. It is hard for him to accept the truth of what is happening to him and who the people he grew up with really are. While there, truth about his childhood slowly unravels.
It was the mystery that kept me interested. At first, I wasn't sure if the paranormal aspect was real or imagined. There was a life changing event in Will's childhood. More and more clues about what really happened were gathered as the story went on. The conclusion was good. I was surprised by who the bad guy was.
I received this from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Will was happy to escape his hometown. When his mother becomes sick, he goes back. It is hard for him to accept the truth of what is happening to him and who the people he grew up with really are. While there, truth about his childhood slowly unravels.
It was the mystery that kept me interested. At first, I wasn't sure if the paranormal aspect was real or imagined. There was a life changing event in Will's childhood. More and more clues about what really happened were gathered as the story went on. The conclusion was good. I was surprised by who the bad guy was.
I received this from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
October 29, 2019
I managed to make it halfway through before giving up. I was just so bored and not a fan of any of the characters.
January 5, 2020
Not worth reading. And yet, I did. Gotta stop that.
January 17, 2022
I enjoyed this and after the last two completely terrible horror books I read I was very happy that this didn't disappoint. I hope I can find his other books.
April 14, 2022
Really enjoyed this book. Chaotic until the very end and also a slow burn of wondering what could happen next and who to suspect.
June 8, 2022
I have read this book many, many times. I LOVE this book!!!!
This was the first book I have read since 1st grade and I'm so happy that I read this one instead of another.
This was the first book I have read since 1st grade and I'm so happy that I read this one instead of another.
March 25, 2020
An atmospheric and entertaining supernatural thriller.
Will Conner returns to his childhood home to care for his mother, who's recently had an accident. While he rekindles his friendship with his childhood neighbor, Sam, the small town brings back memories of a tragic and mysterious event that forever changed his relationship with his mom and that prompted him to leave town as soon as he was an adult.
This novel somewhat puzzled me. I could not stop reading it, I enjoyed the town's secrets and witchy vibes, the atmosphere was amazing and the story made sense. Yet I kept feeling underwhelmed. The novel was giving me what it promised, and although I expected more horror, nowhere in the book it said it was a horror book, it was mainly described a supernatural suspense, which it was. I finally pinpointed that the problem with the book is that it doesn't have any real conflict. Will's relationship with his mother never plays out as strained as the characters talk about, they seemed very relaxed with each other. He has terrible dreams and visions, but they never seem to affect his life. And because of that, much of the prodding and investigation doesn't really have a strong reason. After the first third of the novel builds up so much, things don't happen as much as they are said, often by means of "I should have told you this years ago", over and over, without any pressure since there's nothing at stake, no lives to be saved, no person in danger.
So while the revelations are interesting and surprising, they do not come in surprising unexpected ways. With that being said, the book is wildly entertaining, I was never bored, and it packed several good twists that I did not see coming. I also applaud its commitment to the supernatural premise, since so many books recently draw you with the promise of lore and quickly drop it in favor of a more traditional mystery.
Will Conner returns to his childhood home to care for his mother, who's recently had an accident. While he rekindles his friendship with his childhood neighbor, Sam, the small town brings back memories of a tragic and mysterious event that forever changed his relationship with his mom and that prompted him to leave town as soon as he was an adult.
This novel somewhat puzzled me. I could not stop reading it, I enjoyed the town's secrets and witchy vibes, the atmosphere was amazing and the story made sense. Yet I kept feeling underwhelmed. The novel was giving me what it promised, and although I expected more horror, nowhere in the book it said it was a horror book, it was mainly described a supernatural suspense, which it was. I finally pinpointed that the problem with the book is that it doesn't have any real conflict. Will's relationship with his mother never plays out as strained as the characters talk about, they seemed very relaxed with each other. He has terrible dreams and visions, but they never seem to affect his life. And because of that, much of the prodding and investigation doesn't really have a strong reason. After the first third of the novel builds up so much, things don't happen as much as they are said, often by means of "I should have told you this years ago", over and over, without any pressure since there's nothing at stake, no lives to be saved, no person in danger.
So while the revelations are interesting and surprising, they do not come in surprising unexpected ways. With that being said, the book is wildly entertaining, I was never bored, and it packed several good twists that I did not see coming. I also applaud its commitment to the supernatural premise, since so many books recently draw you with the promise of lore and quickly drop it in favor of a more traditional mystery.
January 9, 2020
I didn’t know what I was getting into when I picked this one up - all the information I had was from the book jacket.
So I was surprised when it turned out to be an atmospheric read, full of twists and turns. I like to think I’m pretty good at predicting endings, but this one - that Muriel was the cause of so much suffering - was a surprise. And yet, it made sense! All of the clues had been carefully laid out in the previous pages.
Only four stars because I felt like the story slumped a little in the middle; there was a lot of dialogue about what happened, and not enough showing what happened. Maybe this story would have been better served were it told in flashbacks instead of talking.
Still, the ending was appropriate and the writing good enough that I was spellbound (get it?) until the end. I wouldn’t hesitate to pick up another of Olson’s works.
So I was surprised when it turned out to be an atmospheric read, full of twists and turns. I like to think I’m pretty good at predicting endings, but this one - that Muriel was the cause of so much suffering - was a surprise. And yet, it made sense! All of the clues had been carefully laid out in the previous pages.
Only four stars because I felt like the story slumped a little in the middle; there was a lot of dialogue about what happened, and not enough showing what happened. Maybe this story would have been better served were it told in flashbacks instead of talking.
Still, the ending was appropriate and the writing good enough that I was spellbound (get it?) until the end. I wouldn’t hesitate to pick up another of Olson’s works.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 9, 2024
1.5 stars. I picked this book as an October read and because the topic seemed interesting to me. It is not a well-written book. The character development was mid to poor, transitions don’t make sure. Several times there were these “ah ha” moments from a character that I still never connected as to what the “ah ha” was. There were too many characters to really follow well. It felt like a book that had potential, but never was edited. As I progressed through the book, the star rating in my head just kept dropping (I feel bad for the harsh review but I felt like I wasted my time with this one…)
August 16, 2024
This was a fun little book that felt more mystery/thriller than horror. I'm not sure if it is even categorized as "horror" per se, but it does have some spooky elements that I liked. It was fast-paced, and the plot kept me interested. Not sure if I will revisit it in the years to come, but it was a fun time.
December 14, 2024
The book overall was enjoyable to read. Although captivating, the book struggled to give the characters depth to enlist the feeling of resonating with the personalities. Also, the story seemed to end abruptly, with a very murder mystery feel, straying from its horror/thriller genre. I give it two stars for entertaining me for a couple of nights with its surprisingly eerie inducing text.
January 2, 2020
Made it about half way and just couldn't make it anymore. Very boring.
July 30, 2019
Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for this ARC. This is a spooky tale about witchcraft. Will Conner goes back to his hometown after his mother has an accident. He soon begins to remember and wonder about one horrific night in his childhood. It seems the whole town knows something he does not. Something about him? About that night? He and his childhood friend set out to discover what really happened and what it means for Conner.
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