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A review by soobooksalot
We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Have you ever found yourself reading a book at a most inappropriate time?
Me - I was making my way through Marcus Kliewer's We Used To Live here one fine night. By night, I mean the actual pitch dark of very early a.m. With no one else home but the dog. I rather freaked myself out.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for my gifted copy for review!
You see, some of those associated with a house in the woods, at 3709 Heritage Lane, see things that may not be rooted in reality. Previous inhabitants. And current homeowner Eve Palmer.
Eve reluctantly allows the Faust family, headed by patriarch Thomas, into the house she and partner Charlie just purchased to reno and flip.
Thomas used to live in the house. Wants to show it to his wife and kids. Fifteen minutes, tops. (The introverted extrovert in me, meanwhile, inwardly screeching "noooo!")
We Used To Live Here isn't overly gorey or violent - it's fantastic descriptive imagery of our MC's experience, and of the house. Basements with creepy hallways, attics with shadowy figures, mysterious housing contents, unsubstantiated family histories and memories.
And one of my favourite devices, the inclusion of "real documentation" relating to the unfolding plot. (Think book excerpts in Carrie.)
Supernatural, psychiatric, or something else?
Easy five star debut right here - highly recommended!
For release on June 18.
Me - I was making my way through Marcus Kliewer's We Used To Live here one fine night. By night, I mean the actual pitch dark of very early a.m. With no one else home but the dog. I rather freaked myself out.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for my gifted copy for review!
You see, some of those associated with a house in the woods, at 3709 Heritage Lane, see things that may not be rooted in reality. Previous inhabitants. And current homeowner Eve Palmer.
Eve reluctantly allows the Faust family, headed by patriarch Thomas, into the house she and partner Charlie just purchased to reno and flip.
Thomas used to live in the house. Wants to show it to his wife and kids. Fifteen minutes, tops. (The introverted extrovert in me, meanwhile, inwardly screeching "noooo!")
We Used To Live Here isn't overly gorey or violent - it's fantastic descriptive imagery of our MC's experience, and of the house. Basements with creepy hallways, attics with shadowy figures, mysterious housing contents, unsubstantiated family histories and memories.
And one of my favourite devices, the inclusion of "real documentation" relating to the unfolding plot. (Think book excerpts in Carrie.)
Supernatural, psychiatric, or something else?
Easy five star debut right here - highly recommended!
For release on June 18.
Moderate: Homophobia, Mental illness, Blood, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail