I had a love of horror/supernatural back in my youth. From James Herberts ‘Rats’ trilogy, the occasional Koontz, even some Lovecraft and many others I’ve forgotten. But none could compare in my mind to Uncle Stevie King, and when I discovered his works in my local library, that was me; He had a reader for life.

But there’s a fine line for me with horror - I don’t like too much gore or gratuitous violence. Like many fans of the genre, I like the chills, to be spooked, and of course the occasional shocking momment for you to appreciate the danger. King is a master at that.

So it’s no surprise that I thoroughly enjoyed this horror/crime/thriller from Stuart Neville, also a good Armagh man. I had read some of his detective fiction with Jack Lennon some years ago, so this seemed like a new departure and I picked it up when I saw it on Netgalley.

Crime Thriller

Firstly, this isn’t an out and out horror - I’d say it’s a crime thriller with horror elements. It’s a pursuit across the American West as a mother desperately tries to protect her daughter from a man determined to catch up with them.

The Woman is Rebecca and her daughter is Moonflower. They’re on the run, sleeping in their van and down to their last few dollars. There’s something very real and touching about their relationship - it’s completely believable. As the story unfolds, you start to understand just why their bond is so strong. But until then, there's a lot of intrigue - why is Rebecca so determined to keep her safe?

The man on their tail is Mark Donner, and he is neglecting his own family because of the single mindedness of his pursuit, determined to show that he was right all along, no matter if he loses colleagues and loved ones along the way. He’s relentless and one of those great, bloody single minded characters that you need in crime fiction.

Grip

I was all in within the first few pages of this. It’s one of those propulsive thrillers that grabs you because you become immediately involved with Rebecca and Moonflower - why are they on the run and why is Donner so grimly determined? As usual I’m being careful to avoid any spoilers but you don’t have to wait too long to understand the nature of the chase. This is a proper thriller and the pace doesn’t lag.

I liked the depth of the main characters - Neville does a good job of avoiding cliche. I believed Rebecca’s reasons for protecting her daughter, whilst understanding Donners motivations - this is vital if I’m going to be spending time with them.

It’s well written, but having read Stuarts previous fiction, not a surprise. He grabs you early doors and doesn’t let go - there’s no flab on the story line, every sentence/page propelling your forward. Just how I like my thrillers/crime fiction/horror.

Gore and Horror

Consider yourself warned. But like said previously - it’s not gratuitous. There’s a scene that comes about 40% (that’s my Kindle read) that is shocking, but it has to be for you to understand what’s going on. I’m writing this review a week after finishing the book, a steaming mug of Joe in front of me on a crisp Autumn morning - and that scene is still playing out in my mind. Job well done, Mr Neville.

Summary

This is a cracking cat and mouse thriller with a great pace to it. Believable characters to engage you and keep it real, with some brutal momments of violence to shock you. This brought me back to the days when I gorged on horror as a teen, and had me just as engrossed. Epic ending as well!

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Published on 13 November 2024 by Simon and Schuster.

375 Pages