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For Rye
Renata Wakefield, a traumatised novelist on the brink of suicide, is drawn back to her childhood hometown following her mother's ritualistic murder. Before long, she becomes ensnared in the mysteries of Millbury Peak as one question lies Who killed Sylvia Wakefield? As the answer draws nearer, as madness continues to envelop the quaint country town, Renata will come to realise that the key to all this insanity lies with one man - the world's leading writer of horror fiction. His name is Quentin C. Rye, and he will guide her to the revelation that true madness lies within. Discovering that the darkness of her family's history runs deeper than she ever could have imagined, Renata Wakefield's eyes will finally be opened to one single, hideous truth, which will awaken a long-dormant evil.
- GenresHorror
328 pages, Paperback
Published April 9, 2021
7 people are currently reading
226 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
October 12, 2021
When I received the paperback of this book, it arrived in a blood spattered wrapper and I knew I was in trouble. The best part of that is, the book is actually a good one!
A suicidal author named Renata is unexpectedly called back to her hometown of Millbury Peak. Her mother has been murdered, the killer is loose and her ailing father needs care. Distracted from her dark intentions for now, Renata keeps her head down and does what needs to be done. She discovers that her mother was killed in a ritual way, one created by the horror writer Quentin C. Rye in one of his books. She then meets the author himself, and soon her life is changed forever. Why do Rye's horror books make her so uncomfortable? What could anyone have to gain from killing Renata's mother in such a way? You'll have to read this to find out!
There are several mysteries here and as the threads began to unravel, deep and dark secrets are revealed. These secrets are doled out on the regular, making the reader itch for the next revelation. I found the plotting and the pacing to be well done and never once did I get bored.
I did have a few problems with some of the character's actions, mainly Renata's, when she I also felt like the characters could have had a bit more meat to them, but then again, that might have affected the pacing, so what do I know? I'm just a reader.
For about the first half of this book, the horrors were mostly on the quiet side, but during the second half, gory stuff is going down. Make no mistake, it gets delightfully ugly!
Overall, I found FOR RYE an engaging read. With the short chapters and fast pacing the whole story flew right by. For the last third or so, I had trouble putting the book down at all. Twists and turns, lefts and rights, ups and downs, with characters morphing into altogether different beings...all these things had me reading late into the night.
I have always enjoyed discovering new-to-me authors, and Gavin Gardiner's FOR RYE is a discovery that I hope will have long term payoffs because I had a heck of a good time with this book! Sign me up for the next one!
Recommended!
*I received a blood spattered book from the author in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it!*
A suicidal author named Renata is unexpectedly called back to her hometown of Millbury Peak. Her mother has been murdered, the killer is loose and her ailing father needs care. Distracted from her dark intentions for now, Renata keeps her head down and does what needs to be done. She discovers that her mother was killed in a ritual way, one created by the horror writer Quentin C. Rye in one of his books. She then meets the author himself, and soon her life is changed forever. Why do Rye's horror books make her so uncomfortable? What could anyone have to gain from killing Renata's mother in such a way? You'll have to read this to find out!
There are several mysteries here and as the threads began to unravel, deep and dark secrets are revealed. These secrets are doled out on the regular, making the reader itch for the next revelation. I found the plotting and the pacing to be well done and never once did I get bored.
I did have a few problems with some of the character's actions, mainly Renata's, when she I also felt like the characters could have had a bit more meat to them, but then again, that might have affected the pacing, so what do I know? I'm just a reader.
For about the first half of this book, the horrors were mostly on the quiet side, but during the second half, gory stuff is going down. Make no mistake, it gets delightfully ugly!
Overall, I found FOR RYE an engaging read. With the short chapters and fast pacing the whole story flew right by. For the last third or so, I had trouble putting the book down at all. Twists and turns, lefts and rights, ups and downs, with characters morphing into altogether different beings...all these things had me reading late into the night.
I have always enjoyed discovering new-to-me authors, and Gavin Gardiner's FOR RYE is a discovery that I hope will have long term payoffs because I had a heck of a good time with this book! Sign me up for the next one!
Recommended!
*I received a blood spattered book from the author in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it!*
April 13, 2021
Before starting this book for real I had read two sample chapters provided by Gavin Gardiner, the author, and something about them stayed at the back of my mind.
For some reason I become enthralled by it. I counted the days for it to come out and as soon as it did I jumped right at it.
“Everywhere, knives; everywhere, eyes.”
Maybe it was the first line of the book, which I quoted right here.
Maybe it was the characters, or the setting.
I got my answer by reading it to the end. It was me.
The story, the way it’s written, somehow all of that...was me.
It’s just the kind of story that I’m pulled towards and that I somehow had left behind.
And “For Rye” got me in touch with myself again.
“A brutal and distressing strain of horror has been poured into the pages of this novel. Anyone reading should take a moment to consider whether this is a depth into which they should dive. I believe it is.”
But let’s stop talking about me and start talking about the book.
We start with Renata Wakefield, a romance author, as she returns to the home where she lived in her youth. The event that makes her return there after being away since her teens? Her mother’s death. With her she takes a peculiar object. A noose.
After this we meet Quentin Rye, an horror writer that’s helping Detective Hector O’Connel with the investigation. And then we meet Thomas Wakefield. I won’t measure my words when it comes to Thomas. Well maybe a little. I completely despise him.
But things are not all what they seem, and as we uncover more about Sylvia Wakefield's death, secrets from Renata's past are unearthed. Some of them literally.
“[…]in this book I’ve so lovingly crafted for you, you’ll find no one with which to sympathise, no relief from the artifice of human nature. For we are all beasts, wild and feral, scurrying for the upper hand at every expense. Scrambling for our lives.”
Be advised, Gavin Gardiner throws some cheap shots at us in this one.
We can never let our guard down and can never stay comfortable while going through these pages.
His writing his simple, yet exquisite. It doesn't only allow us to imagine what’s written, but also makes us feel like we're inside it. A funeral? You can smell the fresh earth. A movie set? You can hear the noises of it being set up. You can even smell Vicks. Just don’t question what it's for.
“‘Truth,’ she continued, ‘it can be a killer. No one’s out there for you, least of all God. You apologised for whatever’s happened to me. The truth happened to me, little moth.’”
More than anything this is a book about truth. And the truth isn’t pretty.
Gavin goes deep into what is inside us all. To that dark secret place we keep hidden, even from ourselves. He also shows us what might happen if we ever got in touch with it.
And believe me, it’s darker than you think. But beautiful at the same time. Why? Because it’s the truth.
But don’t take my word for it. Go see it for yourselves. Open the book. Read the first line.
And welcome the nightmare. If you dare.
For some reason I become enthralled by it. I counted the days for it to come out and as soon as it did I jumped right at it.
“Everywhere, knives; everywhere, eyes.”
Maybe it was the first line of the book, which I quoted right here.
Maybe it was the characters, or the setting.
I got my answer by reading it to the end. It was me.
The story, the way it’s written, somehow all of that...was me.
It’s just the kind of story that I’m pulled towards and that I somehow had left behind.
And “For Rye” got me in touch with myself again.
“A brutal and distressing strain of horror has been poured into the pages of this novel. Anyone reading should take a moment to consider whether this is a depth into which they should dive. I believe it is.”
But let’s stop talking about me and start talking about the book.
We start with Renata Wakefield, a romance author, as she returns to the home where she lived in her youth. The event that makes her return there after being away since her teens? Her mother’s death. With her she takes a peculiar object. A noose.
After this we meet Quentin Rye, an horror writer that’s helping Detective Hector O’Connel with the investigation. And then we meet Thomas Wakefield. I won’t measure my words when it comes to Thomas. Well maybe a little. I completely despise him.
But things are not all what they seem, and as we uncover more about Sylvia Wakefield's death, secrets from Renata's past are unearthed. Some of them literally.
“[…]in this book I’ve so lovingly crafted for you, you’ll find no one with which to sympathise, no relief from the artifice of human nature. For we are all beasts, wild and feral, scurrying for the upper hand at every expense. Scrambling for our lives.”
Be advised, Gavin Gardiner throws some cheap shots at us in this one.
We can never let our guard down and can never stay comfortable while going through these pages.
His writing his simple, yet exquisite. It doesn't only allow us to imagine what’s written, but also makes us feel like we're inside it. A funeral? You can smell the fresh earth. A movie set? You can hear the noises of it being set up. You can even smell Vicks. Just don’t question what it's for.
“‘Truth,’ she continued, ‘it can be a killer. No one’s out there for you, least of all God. You apologised for whatever’s happened to me. The truth happened to me, little moth.’”
More than anything this is a book about truth. And the truth isn’t pretty.
Gavin goes deep into what is inside us all. To that dark secret place we keep hidden, even from ourselves. He also shows us what might happen if we ever got in touch with it.
And believe me, it’s darker than you think. But beautiful at the same time. Why? Because it’s the truth.
But don’t take my word for it. Go see it for yourselves. Open the book. Read the first line.
And welcome the nightmare. If you dare.
June 3, 2021
What an excellent debut novel.
If you are a fan of psychological horror, really intense thrillers and some messed up stories, you need to give this one a try.
We follow Renata, a woman at the verge planning her own suicide when she receives a call from the police department to inform her that her mother was just murdered.
Renata is forced to go back to her hometown and face the demons of her past. To make things worse, her mother's death was a ritualistic murder and an investigation starts to find out who killed her and why.
We also get to know a lot more about Renata and her childhood through bone chilling flashbacks exposing her hardships growing up with her family in this town.
A rollercoaster of emotions, twists and turns that will keep you engaged and turning pages to find out more. Even though we might have perhaps too many things going on at the same time I still enjoyed the story, the characters and it kept me guessing who was lying, what was true and I had no idea how it all was going to end.
Also check out my full spoiler free reading vlog:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swF9I...
If you are a fan of psychological horror, really intense thrillers and some messed up stories, you need to give this one a try.
We follow Renata, a woman at the verge planning her own suicide when she receives a call from the police department to inform her that her mother was just murdered.
Renata is forced to go back to her hometown and face the demons of her past. To make things worse, her mother's death was a ritualistic murder and an investigation starts to find out who killed her and why.
We also get to know a lot more about Renata and her childhood through bone chilling flashbacks exposing her hardships growing up with her family in this town.
A rollercoaster of emotions, twists and turns that will keep you engaged and turning pages to find out more. Even though we might have perhaps too many things going on at the same time I still enjoyed the story, the characters and it kept me guessing who was lying, what was true and I had no idea how it all was going to end.
Also check out my full spoiler free reading vlog:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swF9I...
June 14, 2021
I'm still a little speechless when it comes to For Rye. It's overwhelmingly good.
On the brink of suicide, a down spiralling novelist Renata Wakefield is dragged back to her home town of Millbury Peak after the ritualist murder of her mother. Renata finds she is not the only writer that's arrived in the sleeping rural town. What possible role can world-famous American horror writer Quentin C. Rye play in solving the murder? Confronted with the brutal horrors of her childhood, Renata finds herself amidst the festering secrets and lies of the past and growing treacherous deceptions of her now deteriorating present.
This is a psychological horror of mammoth proportions, and certainly not for the fainthearted. It's brutal, violent and shockingly graphic, but the author does it in a way that a very dark poetry seeps in.
As a debut novel, you never quite know what to expect, but it's soon apparent that the author crafts with an innate talent. The prose and composition are electrifying, sending sparks, shivers and seat-gripping fear into the reader. You want to put it down to take a breath, but there is no way, so you keep going with your heart in your mouth.
I devoured this book in just over a day. I was left slightly traumatised with it playing on my mind, so there is no doubt the author achieved his goal. Bravo.
On the brink of suicide, a down spiralling novelist Renata Wakefield is dragged back to her home town of Millbury Peak after the ritualist murder of her mother. Renata finds she is not the only writer that's arrived in the sleeping rural town. What possible role can world-famous American horror writer Quentin C. Rye play in solving the murder? Confronted with the brutal horrors of her childhood, Renata finds herself amidst the festering secrets and lies of the past and growing treacherous deceptions of her now deteriorating present.
This is a psychological horror of mammoth proportions, and certainly not for the fainthearted. It's brutal, violent and shockingly graphic, but the author does it in a way that a very dark poetry seeps in.
As a debut novel, you never quite know what to expect, but it's soon apparent that the author crafts with an innate talent. The prose and composition are electrifying, sending sparks, shivers and seat-gripping fear into the reader. You want to put it down to take a breath, but there is no way, so you keep going with your heart in your mouth.
I devoured this book in just over a day. I was left slightly traumatised with it playing on my mind, so there is no doubt the author achieved his goal. Bravo.
May 8, 2021
As a fellow author, I first hesitated to buy books from some authors, because it's generally looked down on by the public when other authors recommend the books of someone they've read from before. Now, I don't read horror, I'm not a fan. However, For Rye had been in development for quite a long time when I discovered it, and that's when I met Gavin Gardiner through the means of Instagram. I hesitated because horror novels are not my genre, I'm a romance author. So, I took a neutral approach to it to try and read it and then review it after having read it. I can only say, proudly, that For Rye is not only a novel that's written in such fantastic style that at times I find myself comparing the written style to old-fashioned classical writers due to some specific passages, but also has a strong beginning that hooks you from the first few lines without spoiling it: It has to do with knives.
And! It's a book that everyone should read. I highly recommend it as a customer, author, writer, and reader. Props to Gavin Gardiner for giving me a whole week of an enjoyable read filled with different plot-twists, as well as horrifying moments where I got dragged in a bit too far and had to stop reading.
And! It's a book that everyone should read. I highly recommend it as a customer, author, writer, and reader. Props to Gavin Gardiner for giving me a whole week of an enjoyable read filled with different plot-twists, as well as horrifying moments where I got dragged in a bit too far and had to stop reading.
April 17, 2021
When we first meet Renata Wakefield she is on a train bound for Millbury Peak, returning home for the first time in twenty-five years to attend the funeral of her recently deceased mother, who was found murdered in the now abandoned church formerly presided over by her abusive father. In her luggage, she carries only two things. Her train ticket, and a noose.
What follows is a harrowing tale of family and loss, murder and betrayal. As Renata tries to simultaneously comes to terms with her mother’s untimely death and caring for her ailing father, she finds herself drawn into a deadly game of cat and mouse with a murderer whose knowledge of her past sparks dangerous memories that Renata thought long since buried.
While marketed as a psychological thriller, ‘For Rye’ puts the reader very firmly in horror territory, with scenes of startling violence and shocking brutality. The books lead is a bold choice for the main protagonist in many respects, and the reasons why that is the case morph and change as the book progresses. In fact, ‘For Rye’ has a great many twists and turns in store for its reader and while Gardiner deftly sows the seeds early on for the mayhem which is to come, the direction the book ultimately goes is far from predictable.
The set-up will be one that horror readers will find familiar. A seemingly ritual murder in a small town. Throw in a famous horror writer, an abandoned church and a creepy cemetery and there is a lot here that suggest cosy, recognisable horror tropes. These only serve to lull the average horror reader into a false sense of familiarity before the book goes in an unexpectedly dark and ultimately wildly volatile direction. The story shifts from a small-town murder mystery to a much more gritty, almost Ketchum-Esque grounded, ultra-violent horror fest, with flashbacks throughout offering a downbeat coming of age tale.
My only real issue is that the book is perhaps overly busy, with a few too many subplots and side characters who are somewhat unnecessary to the overall plot. Some pacing and narrative choices feel a little odd, but then that may well be the point. When your narrator, the readers guide through the book, opens the story discussing how she is suicidal and we see her mental state gradually decline from there, it’s hard to deny that a challenging approach to how the story is told doesn’t feel somewhat apt in the context.
‘For Rye’ may hint at being standard psychological thriller fare early on, this is a very different beast once the story gets going. This is a relentlessly bleak love letter to the horror genre. Not an easy read, and certainly not for the squeamish, but a bold and memorable book, big on ideas and bursting at the seams with creativity and unpredictability.
You can read more reviews of new and upcoming horror releases at https://www.myindiemuse.com/horror-li...
I also promote indie horror via Twitter and Instagram - @RickReadsHorror
What follows is a harrowing tale of family and loss, murder and betrayal. As Renata tries to simultaneously comes to terms with her mother’s untimely death and caring for her ailing father, she finds herself drawn into a deadly game of cat and mouse with a murderer whose knowledge of her past sparks dangerous memories that Renata thought long since buried.
While marketed as a psychological thriller, ‘For Rye’ puts the reader very firmly in horror territory, with scenes of startling violence and shocking brutality. The books lead is a bold choice for the main protagonist in many respects, and the reasons why that is the case morph and change as the book progresses. In fact, ‘For Rye’ has a great many twists and turns in store for its reader and while Gardiner deftly sows the seeds early on for the mayhem which is to come, the direction the book ultimately goes is far from predictable.
The set-up will be one that horror readers will find familiar. A seemingly ritual murder in a small town. Throw in a famous horror writer, an abandoned church and a creepy cemetery and there is a lot here that suggest cosy, recognisable horror tropes. These only serve to lull the average horror reader into a false sense of familiarity before the book goes in an unexpectedly dark and ultimately wildly volatile direction. The story shifts from a small-town murder mystery to a much more gritty, almost Ketchum-Esque grounded, ultra-violent horror fest, with flashbacks throughout offering a downbeat coming of age tale.
My only real issue is that the book is perhaps overly busy, with a few too many subplots and side characters who are somewhat unnecessary to the overall plot. Some pacing and narrative choices feel a little odd, but then that may well be the point. When your narrator, the readers guide through the book, opens the story discussing how she is suicidal and we see her mental state gradually decline from there, it’s hard to deny that a challenging approach to how the story is told doesn’t feel somewhat apt in the context.
‘For Rye’ may hint at being standard psychological thriller fare early on, this is a very different beast once the story gets going. This is a relentlessly bleak love letter to the horror genre. Not an easy read, and certainly not for the squeamish, but a bold and memorable book, big on ideas and bursting at the seams with creativity and unpredictability.
You can read more reviews of new and upcoming horror releases at https://www.myindiemuse.com/horror-li...
I also promote indie horror via Twitter and Instagram - @RickReadsHorror
October 5, 2022
If you love dark, twisted psychological horror with a visceral, gruesome vein -- you will love FOR RYE, just as I did. It's difficult to know how to write a review of this complex and creepy novel without giving away spoilers. I went into this novel completely blind, meeting each of Gardiner's characters in turn as strangers who became more and more familiar and if possible, I urge any prospective readers to go into this narrative in the same fashion. It makes the jarring twists and turns -- especially towards the novel's end -- all the more shocking and satisfying.
The protagonist, Renata, is an author of romance novels with an incredibly dark past. She is drawn back to her home village by the horrific murder of her mother, a murder that seems inspired by the horror writings of author Quentin Rye whom Renata finds herself fascinated by and ultimately drawn to. Again, without spoilers, it is the subtle and macabre cat and mouse game between these two characters -- both possessing hidden secrets, motives, and an unfathomable capacity for darkness -- that makes up the eerie magnetism of this novel's narrative. Gardiner has an uncanny talent for gruesome, gut-wrenching details, but this is not where the true horror of his narrative lies: instead, like Shutter Island and Ari Aster's films, it's the way that these gruesome details interweave with psychological darkness that makes up the truly haunting nature of this novel. The final chapter, possessing not only the novel's climax but its final plot twist, will stick in your mind for some time and change your conception of the rest of the narrative. If you love horror novels that get under your skin, read FOR RYE.
The protagonist, Renata, is an author of romance novels with an incredibly dark past. She is drawn back to her home village by the horrific murder of her mother, a murder that seems inspired by the horror writings of author Quentin Rye whom Renata finds herself fascinated by and ultimately drawn to. Again, without spoilers, it is the subtle and macabre cat and mouse game between these two characters -- both possessing hidden secrets, motives, and an unfathomable capacity for darkness -- that makes up the eerie magnetism of this novel's narrative. Gardiner has an uncanny talent for gruesome, gut-wrenching details, but this is not where the true horror of his narrative lies: instead, like Shutter Island and Ari Aster's films, it's the way that these gruesome details interweave with psychological darkness that makes up the truly haunting nature of this novel. The final chapter, possessing not only the novel's climax but its final plot twist, will stick in your mind for some time and change your conception of the rest of the narrative. If you love horror novels that get under your skin, read FOR RYE.
July 22, 2021
Absolutely fantastic!
Full review coming soon.
Full review coming soon.
May 7, 2021
This one absolutely blew me away. This read set itself up steadily enough that when I least expected it, it let me have it with zero remorse! Do NOT let your guard down with this read! That is my words of caution you would do well to heed. I'm telling you- you're gonna think you know, but you don't...and it is delicious when you do.
Short synopsis: Renata Wakefield returns home after 30 years after her mother is brutally murdered. She hopes to find her mother's killer, but will find all sorts of chilling truths, truths that maybe would have been better left alone....
⚡Setting: idyllic from the outside/creepy from the inside
⚡Characters: Shocking/superbly written & nobody's truths will be left uncovered
⚡Plot: Revenge served searing hot
⚡Flow: slow burn first half, second half a barreling steam engine, Choo-choo!
Short synopsis: Renata Wakefield returns home after 30 years after her mother is brutally murdered. She hopes to find her mother's killer, but will find all sorts of chilling truths, truths that maybe would have been better left alone....
⚡Setting: idyllic from the outside/creepy from the inside
⚡Characters: Shocking/superbly written & nobody's truths will be left uncovered
⚡Plot: Revenge served searing hot
⚡Flow: slow burn first half, second half a barreling steam engine, Choo-choo!
September 6, 2021
Gavin Gardiner's debut oozes so much of the love its author has poured into it that I am not sure I can describe it. It has been clearly more than carefully planned and its elements will eventually grind together into a final flash like the clockwork of a time-bomb. It has its couple of flaws, but despite them, it is a truly impressive debut that both the genre and the indie scene should wear on their sleeve.
I will first mention what I think it could be better and then what I think it works really well, as I don't want you to leave this review with a bad taste in your mouth about this novel, because as I said, this book is really well crafted.
So, there are two things that I didn't particularly enjoy in this novel. The first is that - whether we're talking books, films or videogames - I have an incredibly soft spot for fresh, original stuff I have never seen. Gardiner brings fresh elements to the plate (which I will discuss later,) but - while I understand that we all are influenced by pop-culture and that especially for a debut it isn't easy not to use some - we also see a few tropes in this book.
Some time ago, reviewing another horror, I wrote that if horror was a medical condition, it would be amnesia. This was because I was tired of picking up horrors (videogames especially, for some reason) and have any old plot development excused by amnesia, to the point that it became a pet-peeve of mine. 'For Rye' is a case in point, when it comes down to this.
Another thing is evil-gloating, a.k.a. the less-than-positive character detailing their nefarious design in a lengthy speech (which to be fair happens just the once;) and - finally - what's with all these zealot characters that are cropping up lately? I think this year alone I must have read 7-8 books with a character who is a religious man, finds everything to be blasphemous, is a dildo who will never miss a chance to snarl or belittle another character while using a grandiose register and - mysteriously - is never told to piss off but treated with reverence. I know it's not fair making Gardiner the scapegoat for a character trope used by a lot of other people, I am just saying that this is one of the books in which you will find this kind of character.
The second thing that wasn't really my cup of tea was the pacing. And I must be precise here: the pacing of just the first quarter of the book, then it gets really gripping. But in the first quarter of the book, while the scene is set and we get to know the characters, we are introduced to the already discussed religious zealot character and - keeping the spoilers to a minimum - we are told he is a prick. Then we have a flashback showing us him being a prick, then a present conversation in which he is a prick, then another flashback in which we're shown how much of a prick he is and at some point - I want to be honest - I almost stopped reading the book because I get it: the guy isn't someone you want to get stuck in a lift with. I genuinely thought that the whole story was about him being a piece of shit until the resolution. I am glad I kept reading, I really am, but I think this was something I should mention.
The positives outweigh the negatives:
First of all, to balance the use of tropes I talked about earlier, Gardiner does something very original and that is not granting the reader any comfort. We won't find anyone to root for in this novel, and in a world full of characters that are ridiculously cool and flawless all the time, I genuinely appreciate it and I must praise him for it. Not only this is something that I've seen very seldom, but I think that to see it done in a debut novel is almost as rare as a white fly.
The prose. Boy, Gavin Gardiner can write. The prose has nothing to envy to the big literature names and he has a way to keep it subtle also when it writes gory, brutal stuff. I mean, don't worry: it is gory, that's not what I am saying. What I am saying is that - sometimes - when I read this genre my mind goes back to the good, 'ole Garth Marenghi's quote: "Blood! Blood! Blood! BLOOD! BLOOD! Blood!" because sometimes
you read a book written by someone who clearly thought it was so edgy to describe violence, like a toddler who learns the word "fuck" for the first time. Gardiner doesn't do that, at all. He writes well and keeps it classy.
Pairing up with with the prose, the editing must be praised, as well. It's really professionally done and in a scene in which authors self-publish something and then tell you "I know it's not properly edited," it should be praised.
The plot is good, but more than anything how it is told is what should impress. As I said, it's like clockwork in a time-bomb that we don't realise it's actually ticking until it explodes in our face. The novel structure in this one is really one of the best around and I think Gardiner had spent many, many hours cussing and thinking how to bring everything together. There is definitely love and dedication in these pages.
All in all, a knockout punch of a debut that should put Gardiner on the radar of all those who love the genre. I mentioned a couple of flaws, but if this is the debut, I can't wait for what the man is going to bake for us once he has a couple of novels under his belt.
I will first mention what I think it could be better and then what I think it works really well, as I don't want you to leave this review with a bad taste in your mouth about this novel, because as I said, this book is really well crafted.
So, there are two things that I didn't particularly enjoy in this novel. The first is that - whether we're talking books, films or videogames - I have an incredibly soft spot for fresh, original stuff I have never seen. Gardiner brings fresh elements to the plate (which I will discuss later,) but - while I understand that we all are influenced by pop-culture and that especially for a debut it isn't easy not to use some - we also see a few tropes in this book.
Some time ago, reviewing another horror, I wrote that if horror was a medical condition, it would be amnesia. This was because I was tired of picking up horrors (videogames especially, for some reason) and have any old plot development excused by amnesia, to the point that it became a pet-peeve of mine. 'For Rye' is a case in point, when it comes down to this.
Another thing is evil-gloating, a.k.a. the less-than-positive character detailing their nefarious design in a lengthy speech (which to be fair happens just the once;) and - finally - what's with all these zealot characters that are cropping up lately? I think this year alone I must have read 7-8 books with a character who is a religious man, finds everything to be blasphemous, is a dildo who will never miss a chance to snarl or belittle another character while using a grandiose register and - mysteriously - is never told to piss off but treated with reverence. I know it's not fair making Gardiner the scapegoat for a character trope used by a lot of other people, I am just saying that this is one of the books in which you will find this kind of character.
The second thing that wasn't really my cup of tea was the pacing. And I must be precise here: the pacing of just the first quarter of the book, then it gets really gripping. But in the first quarter of the book, while the scene is set and we get to know the characters, we are introduced to the already discussed religious zealot character and - keeping the spoilers to a minimum - we are told he is a prick. Then we have a flashback showing us him being a prick, then a present conversation in which he is a prick, then another flashback in which we're shown how much of a prick he is and at some point - I want to be honest - I almost stopped reading the book because I get it: the guy isn't someone you want to get stuck in a lift with. I genuinely thought that the whole story was about him being a piece of shit until the resolution. I am glad I kept reading, I really am, but I think this was something I should mention.
The positives outweigh the negatives:
First of all, to balance the use of tropes I talked about earlier, Gardiner does something very original and that is not granting the reader any comfort. We won't find anyone to root for in this novel, and in a world full of characters that are ridiculously cool and flawless all the time, I genuinely appreciate it and I must praise him for it. Not only this is something that I've seen very seldom, but I think that to see it done in a debut novel is almost as rare as a white fly.
The prose. Boy, Gavin Gardiner can write. The prose has nothing to envy to the big literature names and he has a way to keep it subtle also when it writes gory, brutal stuff. I mean, don't worry: it is gory, that's not what I am saying. What I am saying is that - sometimes - when I read this genre my mind goes back to the good, 'ole Garth Marenghi's quote: "Blood! Blood! Blood! BLOOD! BLOOD! Blood!" because sometimes
you read a book written by someone who clearly thought it was so edgy to describe violence, like a toddler who learns the word "fuck" for the first time. Gardiner doesn't do that, at all. He writes well and keeps it classy.
Pairing up with with the prose, the editing must be praised, as well. It's really professionally done and in a scene in which authors self-publish something and then tell you "I know it's not properly edited," it should be praised.
The plot is good, but more than anything how it is told is what should impress. As I said, it's like clockwork in a time-bomb that we don't realise it's actually ticking until it explodes in our face. The novel structure in this one is really one of the best around and I think Gardiner had spent many, many hours cussing and thinking how to bring everything together. There is definitely love and dedication in these pages.
All in all, a knockout punch of a debut that should put Gardiner on the radar of all those who love the genre. I mentioned a couple of flaws, but if this is the debut, I can't wait for what the man is going to bake for us once he has a couple of novels under his belt.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 9, 2021
Not what I expected going into the book but a pleasant dreadful yet intricately written surprise. Well done!
July 10, 2021
This novel is as painstakingly intricate as the knotted noose on the cover, and Gardiner has weaved his rope with masterful intent. Readers are left to hang, gasping for air & wanting more.
I'm a sucker for rich, textured prose, and you'll find it in this book. Words are chosen carefully and there is no wasted motion. The protagonist is a writer, and for me personally, one of the most relatable writer characters I've ever had the pleasure of reading. I've never been able to identify with writers that are super outgoing & extroverted...because that just isn't my way. For me writing is an almost meditative solitary act, and the same is true of Renata Wakefield. A reclusive woman who prefers to be apart from the herd, and to say that she has skeletons in her closet would be major understatement.
So many themes played with here...deception, manipulation, repression, and revenge that shakes the human condition. Gardiner's story never relents, and I never wanted it to. This is a book to remember.
I'm a sucker for rich, textured prose, and you'll find it in this book. Words are chosen carefully and there is no wasted motion. The protagonist is a writer, and for me personally, one of the most relatable writer characters I've ever had the pleasure of reading. I've never been able to identify with writers that are super outgoing & extroverted...because that just isn't my way. For me writing is an almost meditative solitary act, and the same is true of Renata Wakefield. A reclusive woman who prefers to be apart from the herd, and to say that she has skeletons in her closet would be major understatement.
So many themes played with here...deception, manipulation, repression, and revenge that shakes the human condition. Gardiner's story never relents, and I never wanted it to. This is a book to remember.
January 25, 2022
Bloody hell that was dark. You likely won’t be prepared for where this goes. This may look like a mystery thriller but don’t be fooled, it is undoubtably a truly horrific horror novel. This will likely have given Jack Ketchum nightmares. Any issues with it are minor: as a debut novel this is terrific and very, VERY bleak.
September 1, 2021
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
For Rye is a dark and twisting mystery story involving a reclusive romance writer, her mother’s bloody and brutal murder, and a famed horror writer whose words were found at the scene of the crime. With layers of secrets and darkness, revenge and avenging, this is not a predictable story. Our protagonist Renata Wakefield, foiled in her attempt to take her own life as her careers wanes, is now staying to fulfil a long held promise to her dear mother; to care for her abusive father on his death bed no matter what. But the appearance of the mysterious writer Rye, the forbidden writer that may just have sparked her love of story writing in first place, may have just given her a new reason to keep living – to find out just what this mysterious romance thing is all about.
Rye himself, the boisterous American among the reserved English, is fascinated with the death of Renata’s mother, staged to look like a scene from one of his own horrifying books. He wants to get to know Renata, to help her find her mother’s killer, to give her new life. Little does he know that Renata’s life is a lot more complicated than he knows, her past darker even than a mind like his could imagine. And when his adult daughter Sandie shows up unannounced and determined to bring Renata’s works to the big screen as her leading lady, the danger surrounding Renata hits a little too close to home.
For Rye pulls you in with shocking events and complicated characters, and holds you within it’s pages with superb writing, a mix of genres, and twist after twist. By the end of this story you will not know who to trust, who to feel sorry for, and just how Gardiner managed it in the first place.
For Rye is a dark and twisting mystery story involving a reclusive romance writer, her mother’s bloody and brutal murder, and a famed horror writer whose words were found at the scene of the crime. With layers of secrets and darkness, revenge and avenging, this is not a predictable story. Our protagonist Renata Wakefield, foiled in her attempt to take her own life as her careers wanes, is now staying to fulfil a long held promise to her dear mother; to care for her abusive father on his death bed no matter what. But the appearance of the mysterious writer Rye, the forbidden writer that may just have sparked her love of story writing in first place, may have just given her a new reason to keep living – to find out just what this mysterious romance thing is all about.
Rye himself, the boisterous American among the reserved English, is fascinated with the death of Renata’s mother, staged to look like a scene from one of his own horrifying books. He wants to get to know Renata, to help her find her mother’s killer, to give her new life. Little does he know that Renata’s life is a lot more complicated than he knows, her past darker even than a mind like his could imagine. And when his adult daughter Sandie shows up unannounced and determined to bring Renata’s works to the big screen as her leading lady, the danger surrounding Renata hits a little too close to home.
For Rye pulls you in with shocking events and complicated characters, and holds you within it’s pages with superb writing, a mix of genres, and twist after twist. By the end of this story you will not know who to trust, who to feel sorry for, and just how Gardiner managed it in the first place.
May 15, 2021
Renata Wakefield is a novelist on the brink of suicide. She has come home to her hometown of Millbury Peak following the ritualistic murder of her mother. While there one man Quintin C. Rye, famous horror fiction writer will assist in uncovering who murdered Sophia Wakefield and will lead Renata down a road of realization and revelation. Where she will come to see some secrets are better left buried.
This Story was a quite original and enjoyable read, considering it’s dark matter. It was atmospheric and bleak and anxiety inducing.
The scariest parts of this book for me is how people can be changed and their lives can be altered from what they were supposed to be to what people have made them. This book is about family ties, resentment, heartbreak, revenge, Love and loss and ultimately belonging or the lack there of.
The pacing was pretty slow until about the halfway mark and then things really picked up from there. I thought the writing was smart, the dialogue was well written and overall it was just a really good storytelling. The only criticism I really have is that some of the parts of the book where character interaction or flash backs weren’t happening seemed a little wordy and confusing at times. I’m going to rate this one ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I would recommend if you’re looking for a good psychological horror/thriller . Thank you to the author for sending this to me for review , I very much enjoyed it and I’m looking forward to seeing what you do in the future!
This Story was a quite original and enjoyable read, considering it’s dark matter. It was atmospheric and bleak and anxiety inducing.
The scariest parts of this book for me is how people can be changed and their lives can be altered from what they were supposed to be to what people have made them. This book is about family ties, resentment, heartbreak, revenge, Love and loss and ultimately belonging or the lack there of.
The pacing was pretty slow until about the halfway mark and then things really picked up from there. I thought the writing was smart, the dialogue was well written and overall it was just a really good storytelling. The only criticism I really have is that some of the parts of the book where character interaction or flash backs weren’t happening seemed a little wordy and confusing at times. I’m going to rate this one ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I would recommend if you’re looking for a good psychological horror/thriller . Thank you to the author for sending this to me for review , I very much enjoyed it and I’m looking forward to seeing what you do in the future!
May 30, 2021
This is a love story and a hate story. It is a fictional representation of the potential evil that lies inside each of us, given a certain set of circumstances. It’s a story about what happens when a lost soul finds hope, only to be pushed past the brink of madness where they teetered for so long. It’s what happens when a human being never feels loved, and worse, are abused throughout their lives, so they turn to silence and seclusion to comfort their paranoid mind. The enemy is the outside world, where everyone’s eyes are like knives.
I found this novel to be riveting, colorful, and full of surprises. Once I was one-third of the way through, I couldn’t put it down. (I’m a notoriously scatterbrained reader, so this is saying something). Every time I thought I knew what was going to happen, there was a plot-twist that blind-sided me, and kept me entranced.
I recommend any lover of suspense who isn’t squeamish about some gory, (and very detailed) scenes to read Gavin Gardner’s For Rye. I can’t wait for his next novel!
I found this novel to be riveting, colorful, and full of surprises. Once I was one-third of the way through, I couldn’t put it down. (I’m a notoriously scatterbrained reader, so this is saying something). Every time I thought I knew what was going to happen, there was a plot-twist that blind-sided me, and kept me entranced.
I recommend any lover of suspense who isn’t squeamish about some gory, (and very detailed) scenes to read Gavin Gardner’s For Rye. I can’t wait for his next novel!
August 6, 2021
I went into this with high expectations as I've only seen really good reviews about it and I'm happy to say it didn't disappoint! It follows Renata in the present day trying to find out the truth about her mother's murder but we also get flashbacks of her younger self where we learn more about her parents - these flashbacks broke my heart, I just wanted to jump in and give Ren a cuddle 💔 As the story unfolds you think you've worked it out but then you're wrong 😅 and even though I did guess one wee tiny bit correct there was so much more to come. I loved how the more you read the darker it gets and the ending is perfect 🙌🏻 If you enjoy psychological horror / thrillers then you should definitely give this one a try, and for it being a debut novel! It was clever, original and I look forward to what comes next.
May 17, 2021
Review to come
August 21, 2021
Gavin Gardiner - For Rye
“Midnight, midnight,
it’s your turn,
Clock strikes twelve,
Burn, burn, burn.”
Renata Wakefield, a romance novellist,is brought back to her hometown following following the brutal murder of her mother. Before learning of her mother’s death she was considering suicide and brings the noose she was intending on using with her. Coming home brings back a lot of bad memories for her, as she’s forced to take care of her invalided father. A former vicar, he terrorised a young Renata throughout her childhood until she was placed in a mental institution. She’s also introduced to the town's other famous author, Quentin C. Rye, a horror novelist. He vows to find the killer, especially as the killer used a poem from one of his novels as part of the crime.
For me this was a book of two halves. In the first half Renata, with the help of Quentin, rediscovers love and learns to live again. Throughout there are flashback chapters as a young Renata retells her life with her violent, religion obsessed father. Not going to sugar coat it, the man was a prick. The second half is the complete opposite and is fueled by hate and a lust for revenge, and has a lot of scenes of violence. If you ever wondered how to describe two ladies wrestling in the innards of a semi decomposed corpse, this book has you covered. Overall it’s a great book and I heartily recommend it to all horror fans.
🖋🖋🖋🖋
“Midnight, midnight,
it’s your turn,
Clock strikes twelve,
Burn, burn, burn.”
Renata Wakefield, a romance novellist,is brought back to her hometown following following the brutal murder of her mother. Before learning of her mother’s death she was considering suicide and brings the noose she was intending on using with her. Coming home brings back a lot of bad memories for her, as she’s forced to take care of her invalided father. A former vicar, he terrorised a young Renata throughout her childhood until she was placed in a mental institution. She’s also introduced to the town's other famous author, Quentin C. Rye, a horror novelist. He vows to find the killer, especially as the killer used a poem from one of his novels as part of the crime.
For me this was a book of two halves. In the first half Renata, with the help of Quentin, rediscovers love and learns to live again. Throughout there are flashback chapters as a young Renata retells her life with her violent, religion obsessed father. Not going to sugar coat it, the man was a prick. The second half is the complete opposite and is fueled by hate and a lust for revenge, and has a lot of scenes of violence. If you ever wondered how to describe two ladies wrestling in the innards of a semi decomposed corpse, this book has you covered. Overall it’s a great book and I heartily recommend it to all horror fans.
🖋🖋🖋🖋
April 9, 2021
Suicidal and struggling romance novelist Renata “Rennie” Wakefield returns to her rundown childhood home, back to her father, Thomas Wakefield, following the brutal murder of her mother.
Throughout the books, we follow current events of ‘who murdered Sylvia Wakefield’ and also chapters of flashback to Renata’s less than perfect childhood. I both loved and hated these flashback chapters; loved them because of the little glimpse of mystery that lead to the current events and questions that run throughout the novel. Hated them because we see the fanatical, religious and manipulative Thomas Wakefield, who’s treatment of his young daughter, Renata, reminded me of Margaret White in Carrie; I really disliked that man, he made me mad, so when those flashbacks chapters arrived, I knew I was going to be angry at that man! The flashbacks were my favourite part.
As the book progresses, we delve deeper into Renata’s mind; it gets darker and darker and I loved that! Those last few chapters were dark and Gardiner wrote some great scenes of horror!
I thought the novel was really well thought out and all the interlinking questions/mystery and events, came to one hell of a climax.
I’ve come to realise that I really like religious themed horror story lines and this one didn’t disappoint.
Throughout the books, we follow current events of ‘who murdered Sylvia Wakefield’ and also chapters of flashback to Renata’s less than perfect childhood. I both loved and hated these flashback chapters; loved them because of the little glimpse of mystery that lead to the current events and questions that run throughout the novel. Hated them because we see the fanatical, religious and manipulative Thomas Wakefield, who’s treatment of his young daughter, Renata, reminded me of Margaret White in Carrie; I really disliked that man, he made me mad, so when those flashbacks chapters arrived, I knew I was going to be angry at that man! The flashbacks were my favourite part.
As the book progresses, we delve deeper into Renata’s mind; it gets darker and darker and I loved that! Those last few chapters were dark and Gardiner wrote some great scenes of horror!
I thought the novel was really well thought out and all the interlinking questions/mystery and events, came to one hell of a climax.
I’ve come to realise that I really like religious themed horror story lines and this one didn’t disappoint.
May 8, 2021
For Rye conceals its horror in disintegrating relationships and obstinate pasts. The story follows Renata Wakefield, a romance writer forced to come out of seclusion to look into her mother's gruesome murder. Back in her hometown, she runs into Quentin Rye, writer of the macabre. Through their (d)evolving relationship, Gavin shows us a remarkable tableu of human capability for deviance. This is one of the best books I've read in a long time that handles the moral gray with jaw-dropping expertise.
Gavin is definitely someone who pays conscious attention to the devices of his craft. He knows just which buttons to push to make you uncomfortable. He has taken efforts to really understand how horror affects the reader and it shows.
For Rye is not very easy to digest but it's well worth a read. Where middles of books run the risk of sagging, For Rye turns into rocketship towards the halfway point and speeds along a disturbing journey to the end, and you are left holding on for dear life.
Gavin is definitely someone who pays conscious attention to the devices of his craft. He knows just which buttons to push to make you uncomfortable. He has taken efforts to really understand how horror affects the reader and it shows.
For Rye is not very easy to digest but it's well worth a read. Where middles of books run the risk of sagging, For Rye turns into rocketship towards the halfway point and speeds along a disturbing journey to the end, and you are left holding on for dear life.
June 1, 2021
This story blew me away, I Loved the author's sinister poetic approach and the words he used to describe in the book. What an awesome twist best one I’ve read so far this year.
Renata Wakefield currently living in an institution after wanting to take her own life. We meet Detective Hector O’Connell who visits Renata with the horrible news of her mother’s brutal death she would have to make her return to the town she hated so much growing up in Millbury Creek. Renata who is suffering from depression and PTSD is forced to go back and attend her mother’s funeral while detective O’Connell figures out who killed her elderly mother in such a way. The author creates a flashback in the book so we really get a feel of the way Renata was brought up and what caused her a lot of her pain and issues as an adult. Now back in Millbury Creek many secrets to be revealed to Renata and to put some justice in her mother’s murder.
Renata Wakefield currently living in an institution after wanting to take her own life. We meet Detective Hector O’Connell who visits Renata with the horrible news of her mother’s brutal death she would have to make her return to the town she hated so much growing up in Millbury Creek. Renata who is suffering from depression and PTSD is forced to go back and attend her mother’s funeral while detective O’Connell figures out who killed her elderly mother in such a way. The author creates a flashback in the book so we really get a feel of the way Renata was brought up and what caused her a lot of her pain and issues as an adult. Now back in Millbury Creek many secrets to be revealed to Renata and to put some justice in her mother’s murder.
May 1, 2021
An engrossing, torrid tale
For Rye is a disturbing deep-dive into the damaged psyche and the ever-surprising levels of suffering humans are capable of inflicting upon one another.
Yet it is also a deliciously grotesque tale of revenge. Gardiner skilfully drags us to hell and... well, he never really brings us back. The writing is as sharp as the knives in their eyes, the horror builds and builds until it starts to hammer you like a relentless storm, and in here are memorable characters that will surely stay with you long after you finish reading.
If you love psychological horror with a good helping of the depraved, I can’t recommend For Rye highly enough. Heck, if you love horror or even have just a passing interest, read it.
For Rye is a disturbing deep-dive into the damaged psyche and the ever-surprising levels of suffering humans are capable of inflicting upon one another.
Yet it is also a deliciously grotesque tale of revenge. Gardiner skilfully drags us to hell and... well, he never really brings us back. The writing is as sharp as the knives in their eyes, the horror builds and builds until it starts to hammer you like a relentless storm, and in here are memorable characters that will surely stay with you long after you finish reading.
If you love psychological horror with a good helping of the depraved, I can’t recommend For Rye highly enough. Heck, if you love horror or even have just a passing interest, read it.
June 28, 2021
Brilliant writing and a touching premise for readers and writers alike. The setting of Renata's father's house and her other childhood haunts we discover when she returns to her hometown are chilling. The opening chapter is the strongest and most compelling I've read in a long while.
February 27, 2022
3.5 stars
August 16, 2022
This stuck with me. When you think there's a shred of hope it gets darker and grittier.
I thought this was going to be a slow read, but no matter how harrowing things got I kept turning the pages drawn in by the compelling mystery Renata needs to solve.
The ending is haunting.
I thought this was going to be a slow read, but no matter how harrowing things got I kept turning the pages drawn in by the compelling mystery Renata needs to solve.
The ending is haunting.
July 9, 2021
On the brink of suicide, romance novelist Renata Wakefield returns to her hometown after her mother’s death. She meets horror writer Quentin C. Rye, who will guide her to discover long-forgotten family history.
For Rye is super dark! The prose needed getting used to at first for me but soon I was invested in Renata’s story. Through flashbacks, we learn about her abusive childhood and how it links to her current situation. Her father is a vicar who is obsessed with religion and treats her badly in comparison to her brother. I thought the description of Renata’s mental state is done well, especially when it shows what happens to a person who pushed to their limit. Her relationship with Quentin has surprising developments and their interactions led to some suspenseful moments. The book deals with trauma, secrets, and the nature of evil. It all leads to a shocking and gruesome ending. Not for the faint-hearted!
CW: suicide attempt, domestic abuse, child death, graphic violence, animal cruelty
Thank you to the author for a review copy.
book blog | twitter | instagram
For Rye is super dark! The prose needed getting used to at first for me but soon I was invested in Renata’s story. Through flashbacks, we learn about her abusive childhood and how it links to her current situation. Her father is a vicar who is obsessed with religion and treats her badly in comparison to her brother. I thought the description of Renata’s mental state is done well, especially when it shows what happens to a person who pushed to their limit. Her relationship with Quentin has surprising developments and their interactions led to some suspenseful moments. The book deals with trauma, secrets, and the nature of evil. It all leads to a shocking and gruesome ending. Not for the faint-hearted!
CW: suicide attempt, domestic abuse, child death, graphic violence, animal cruelty
Thank you to the author for a review copy.
book blog | twitter | instagram
December 13, 2021
“My love, these are just bruises. He would never hurt us, not really.”
Renata Wakefield not only survived but thrived in remote isolation gaining an income through penning her romance novels. She would have been happy to live the rest of her life in this manner, never to see another soul, until tragedy strikes—her mother’s body is found burned inside of her hometown church. Now, Renata must return to Millbury Peak to care for her abusive, geriatric father while seeking answers to the question—who killed Sylvia Wakefield?
A tale as old as time—revenge. I LOVE a good revenge story and this novel tickled me in all the right places. The characters were HATEFUL and it made the course of revenge all the more delicious. What I love about this story is that there are no good guys. Gardiner does an excellent job of injecting realism and understand into these characters as well as loads of hate—there are no good guys and it really messes with your mind. I found myself repulsed with the acts I wanted to transgress despite how unjustified they were. I just wanted people to suffer and Gardiner delivers.
One thing to note is that the writing, although beautiful, is dense. I don’t mind and actually enjoyed this but if you’re looking for something fast-paced and quick, you may not find that in this slow-burn, traumatic tale. If you’re looking to invest time and care into characters and a horrifying storyline, I highly recommend For Rye. The final words of this book still give me chills. 😱
Renata Wakefield not only survived but thrived in remote isolation gaining an income through penning her romance novels. She would have been happy to live the rest of her life in this manner, never to see another soul, until tragedy strikes—her mother’s body is found burned inside of her hometown church. Now, Renata must return to Millbury Peak to care for her abusive, geriatric father while seeking answers to the question—who killed Sylvia Wakefield?
A tale as old as time—revenge. I LOVE a good revenge story and this novel tickled me in all the right places. The characters were HATEFUL and it made the course of revenge all the more delicious. What I love about this story is that there are no good guys. Gardiner does an excellent job of injecting realism and understand into these characters as well as loads of hate—there are no good guys and it really messes with your mind. I found myself repulsed with the acts I wanted to transgress despite how unjustified they were. I just wanted people to suffer and Gardiner delivers.
One thing to note is that the writing, although beautiful, is dense. I don’t mind and actually enjoyed this but if you’re looking for something fast-paced and quick, you may not find that in this slow-burn, traumatic tale. If you’re looking to invest time and care into characters and a horrifying storyline, I highly recommend For Rye. The final words of this book still give me chills. 😱
April 13, 2021
Like most of the debut novels I receive, For Rye came to my attention via email. Our fearless leader asked if anyone was interested. Now, I enjoy horror novels, but my experience with them has been limited to a single Stephen King novella, a handful of Dean Koontz novels, and as many ghost stories as I can consume. I am a sucker for anything paranormal, even though it scares the shit out of me. I digress.
When I read the synopsis for For Rye, I’ll admit it—I was skeptical. It sounded like your run-of-the-mill murder mystery and even though I could smell the ending from a mile away, I was still interested. It would be fun, even if it was a tad predictable.
DON’T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER, TORI.
Anyway, I reached out to the author to discuss an ARC. He was so nice. I was convinced that he couldn’t write a horror novel because he was so nice. Books, covers, you know the drill. While I initially requested a physical ARC, I was finally able to receive one electronically. Boy, am I glad I didn’t have to wait. But we’ll get to that in a moment. Gradually, slowly. For Gardiner.
From the first line of the book, I immediately connected with our protagonist, Renata. I won’t spoil anything, although I’m dying to talk about this book with someone, but I will say that she has an almost obsessive repetitive notion going through her head constantly. I suffer with Borderline Personality and Bipolar 2 Disorders, and one of the things that characterizes these illnesses are a tendency to dwell on thoughts like this with an obsessive-compulsive-like fury. For me, intrusive thoughts play like a broken record: constantly skipping beats and playing back when I’m not thinking of anything close to them. For Renata, it’s similar, but hers come with flashes of pain that readers can easily interpret as migraines. Renata’s suicidal tendencies were, in all honesty, one of the reasons I agreed to review the book. For so long, I have craved a character that thinks even a little bit like I do. They’re so hard to write, though. I’ve tried. It never comes out quite right. But Gardiner did what so few have ever been able to do, and that is part of what makes For Rye so special. I may be overstepping or misdiagnosing Renata here, but she exhibits classic symptoms of a person with Borderline Personality Disorder. And this disorder often stems from childhood abuse, which brings me to my next topic….
Thomas Wakefield. I want to talk about Quentin Rye as well, but I’m saving him for last so I can put a spoiler warning at the end of the article. Thomas Wakefield is a preacher—a zealot of the highest order. He is without doubt a fascinating character, but he is about as charming as a blister on the webbing of your toes. He is abusive to both Renata and Sylvia, her mother, and is openly disdainful toward Renata as an adult, even when she attempts to care for him. There is clear favoritism that factors in later, and a shocking reason why that makes LOADS of sense, but none of it justifies what he puts Renata through.
I was not outright abused as a child. I wasn’t neglected or locked in dark cellars for hours on end, left to mess myself and cry. But I have been through a lot of things, and it has resulted in PTSD. I don’t say this as an attempt to gain your sympathy. I want to try to convey what I was feeling during my time with Renata. When she was locked in a cellar by herself with nothing but moths to keep her company, I was reliving my own nightmare of being buried in dead moths. When she was facedown on the floor at five years old under her father’s boot, I was watching my mother throw a chair at my sister. For Rye is not an easy read for anyone with mental illness, but I will tell you this: it was one of the most cathartic experiences of my life. Gavin Gardiner gave me a character that I could see myself in: she was broken, manipulated, meek. And I was rooting for her to come back strong and solve this mystery. I was ready to see her get her life back.
And then shit hit the fan.
THE FOLLOWING SECTION CONTAINS MINOR SPOILERS FOR FOR RYE. VIEW AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION.
With the reveal of Quentin’s treachery, Renata snaps. No one can blame her. She trusted him, and he betrayed her. Everyone she loves betrays her. With the constant question of where her brother is and why her nightmares are getting worse the longer she stays in Millbury Peak, her life and her psyche begin to unravel. Instead of rooting for Renata, I pitied her. I prayed she would see reason (“When did Saruman the Wise abandon reason for madness?”) and come to her senses. Violence erupts and unfortunately, the recipient is an innocent teenage girl: Rye’s daughter.
It’s an interesting dichotomy, I think. We have Rye and Sandie on one hand and Renata and Thomas on the other. Rye obviously loves his daughter very much, and Thomas never had anything but contempt for Renata at the best of times. So when these two daughters clash, we see what Renata could have had if she had been born with a father that loved her. We also get a glimpse of that in a different way, but that’s too spoiler-y for this review. Renata sees this, too, and comments on it often. I think a lot of the reason she targets Sandie is jealousy. Yes, she hates Rye, but she also hates Sandie for everything she is that Renata isn’t. Beautiful, vivacious, young. Loved. Most of all, loved. She sees that and, in her mind, believes she must take it away.
I want to touch on one more thing before I wrap up this obscenely long and rambly review. There is this idea of victimhood that gets explored in the novel. Obviously, Sandie is solely a victim. She did no wrong. But then we have Renata, Thomas, Sylvia, and Quentin. Sylvia isn’t an evil person by any means. She is a battered wife. But by being silent, she was complacent in Renata’s abuse, and therefore her hands are not clean. So she was both a victim and perpetrator. Renata’s, Quentin’s, and Thomas’ crimes are a little more cut-and-dry. But still, they are victims in their own rights. I think the idea here is that adults are never innocent. There is always some darkness, some secret, some driving force that makes us vile creatures tick. For Rye offers up great opportunity to discuss whether or not goodness can be whittled out of men and women. Ultimately, I think it can. And in Renata’s case, it was.
When I read the synopsis for For Rye, I’ll admit it—I was skeptical. It sounded like your run-of-the-mill murder mystery and even though I could smell the ending from a mile away, I was still interested. It would be fun, even if it was a tad predictable.
DON’T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER, TORI.
Anyway, I reached out to the author to discuss an ARC. He was so nice. I was convinced that he couldn’t write a horror novel because he was so nice. Books, covers, you know the drill. While I initially requested a physical ARC, I was finally able to receive one electronically. Boy, am I glad I didn’t have to wait. But we’ll get to that in a moment. Gradually, slowly. For Gardiner.
From the first line of the book, I immediately connected with our protagonist, Renata. I won’t spoil anything, although I’m dying to talk about this book with someone, but I will say that she has an almost obsessive repetitive notion going through her head constantly. I suffer with Borderline Personality and Bipolar 2 Disorders, and one of the things that characterizes these illnesses are a tendency to dwell on thoughts like this with an obsessive-compulsive-like fury. For me, intrusive thoughts play like a broken record: constantly skipping beats and playing back when I’m not thinking of anything close to them. For Renata, it’s similar, but hers come with flashes of pain that readers can easily interpret as migraines. Renata’s suicidal tendencies were, in all honesty, one of the reasons I agreed to review the book. For so long, I have craved a character that thinks even a little bit like I do. They’re so hard to write, though. I’ve tried. It never comes out quite right. But Gardiner did what so few have ever been able to do, and that is part of what makes For Rye so special. I may be overstepping or misdiagnosing Renata here, but she exhibits classic symptoms of a person with Borderline Personality Disorder. And this disorder often stems from childhood abuse, which brings me to my next topic….
Thomas Wakefield. I want to talk about Quentin Rye as well, but I’m saving him for last so I can put a spoiler warning at the end of the article. Thomas Wakefield is a preacher—a zealot of the highest order. He is without doubt a fascinating character, but he is about as charming as a blister on the webbing of your toes. He is abusive to both Renata and Sylvia, her mother, and is openly disdainful toward Renata as an adult, even when she attempts to care for him. There is clear favoritism that factors in later, and a shocking reason why that makes LOADS of sense, but none of it justifies what he puts Renata through.
I was not outright abused as a child. I wasn’t neglected or locked in dark cellars for hours on end, left to mess myself and cry. But I have been through a lot of things, and it has resulted in PTSD. I don’t say this as an attempt to gain your sympathy. I want to try to convey what I was feeling during my time with Renata. When she was locked in a cellar by herself with nothing but moths to keep her company, I was reliving my own nightmare of being buried in dead moths. When she was facedown on the floor at five years old under her father’s boot, I was watching my mother throw a chair at my sister. For Rye is not an easy read for anyone with mental illness, but I will tell you this: it was one of the most cathartic experiences of my life. Gavin Gardiner gave me a character that I could see myself in: she was broken, manipulated, meek. And I was rooting for her to come back strong and solve this mystery. I was ready to see her get her life back.
And then shit hit the fan.
THE FOLLOWING SECTION CONTAINS MINOR SPOILERS FOR FOR RYE. VIEW AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION.
With the reveal of Quentin’s treachery, Renata snaps. No one can blame her. She trusted him, and he betrayed her. Everyone she loves betrays her. With the constant question of where her brother is and why her nightmares are getting worse the longer she stays in Millbury Peak, her life and her psyche begin to unravel. Instead of rooting for Renata, I pitied her. I prayed she would see reason (“When did Saruman the Wise abandon reason for madness?”) and come to her senses. Violence erupts and unfortunately, the recipient is an innocent teenage girl: Rye’s daughter.
It’s an interesting dichotomy, I think. We have Rye and Sandie on one hand and Renata and Thomas on the other. Rye obviously loves his daughter very much, and Thomas never had anything but contempt for Renata at the best of times. So when these two daughters clash, we see what Renata could have had if she had been born with a father that loved her. We also get a glimpse of that in a different way, but that’s too spoiler-y for this review. Renata sees this, too, and comments on it often. I think a lot of the reason she targets Sandie is jealousy. Yes, she hates Rye, but she also hates Sandie for everything she is that Renata isn’t. Beautiful, vivacious, young. Loved. Most of all, loved. She sees that and, in her mind, believes she must take it away.
I want to touch on one more thing before I wrap up this obscenely long and rambly review. There is this idea of victimhood that gets explored in the novel. Obviously, Sandie is solely a victim. She did no wrong. But then we have Renata, Thomas, Sylvia, and Quentin. Sylvia isn’t an evil person by any means. She is a battered wife. But by being silent, she was complacent in Renata’s abuse, and therefore her hands are not clean. So she was both a victim and perpetrator. Renata’s, Quentin’s, and Thomas’ crimes are a little more cut-and-dry. But still, they are victims in their own rights. I think the idea here is that adults are never innocent. There is always some darkness, some secret, some driving force that makes us vile creatures tick. For Rye offers up great opportunity to discuss whether or not goodness can be whittled out of men and women. Ultimately, I think it can. And in Renata’s case, it was.
June 24, 2021
Was okay. Didn't really blow me away like some of the reviews suggested
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