I Finally Saw The Mousetrap
November 2024 Book Reviews
It's a new month with new book reviews... and new news! I am now writing for (among my usual haunts) Boss Rush Network, where I will be sharing many of my book reviews. After this month, a lot of my niche/genre reviews will go there. I'll still be doing book reviews over here monthly, since not every title I find is necessarily the kind of thing they're looking for. I'll also still be doing the TBR reviews I established last month. In other words, very little will change here, but there will be more elsewhere. And that's a good thing!
Thanks as always to the lovely authors and publishers who send me their books.
ELEVEN HOUSES
by Colleen Oakes
Available Now
Life on the haunted island of Weymouth is strange, but it's also the only life Mabel Beuvry has ever known. She's one of the island's Eleven Houses: families that stand against the dead as they travel from sea to shore, attempting to make their way to the mainland. Houses stand divided, taking the brunt of the dead's attacks house by house after each storm. And after House Cabot's refusal to help led to the death of beloved family, she's content to keep it that way. Until Miles Cabot arrives.
Miles is a rare outsider whose mother left the island and forgot her bonds to it, so his return means several lessons in everything it means to be from Weymouth. That means hazing from the fellow boys, but also difficult talks with Mabel as the two try to work out their quickly-evolving relationship. Not every encounter will be pleasant, though. There are things that even Mabel doesn't know about herself, and a lot of old wounds that need healing as the biggest Storm in decades threatens their shores.
Right off the bat, I wish publishers would stop comparing their books to Twilight in ad copy like it's a good thing. Twilight carries with it a lot of baggage concerning consent and uneven power dynamics, and it's not even the best example (or even a good example) of love across forbidden boundaries in YA fiction. Eleven Houses has a lot of difficult conversations throughout it, but they're ultimately in positive directions. Delicate issues of mental health, bullying, and gender divides are all handled with a compassionate touch without diluting the drama or the romance. Most of all, it's a very atmospheric book, with several flavors of Gothic horror woven among its many houses. It's a great choice for lovers of romance who also enjoy a dash of The Horrors.
EVERY ARC BENDS ITS RADIAN
by Sergio de la Pava
Available Now
Riv del Rio didn't travel to Colombia looking for a new case; rather, the poet/detective was seeking reprieve after a tragedy involving the woman he loves. But a case falls in his lap via a family friend. Carlotta Ochoa's daughter, Angelica Alfa, has vanished. As Riv and his cousins explore the missing persons case further, they discover an unpleasant truth: the powerful Exeter Mondragon is pulling the strings, preventing her investigation from being pursued. But Riv won't give up, even when all signs point to the brilliant young woman already being dead.
The further Riv digs, though, the more unsettling things he finds. Angelica possesses a phenomenal, practically incomprehensible, level of intelligence. Her father was involved in some bizarre business ventures of his own. And when Riv finally comes face to face with Mondragon himself, the situation explodes into a crisis far beyond a single missing person. What the detective now faces involves the nature—and the future—of existence itself.
Every Arc Bends Its Radian is a peculiar book, and that's a compliment. It begins as a somewhat philosophical detective story before going completely off the rails in its second half. The whodunnit (and the "why," although that's a far denser topic) is addressed by the end, but the mystery is a means to an end. This book courts ideas of faith, what it means to be human, and what role our ever-advancing technology plays in our evolution. If I have a complaint, it's that indications of speakers in long conversations are rare. This isn't an issue when Riv and a second character are debating back and forth, since there are only two players and their personalities speak for themselves. But in early chapters, when Riv is in conversation with both of his cousins and they are of similar minds, it becomes difficult to follow the thread of conversation. That aside, this is a surprising and challenging book that will thwart some readers while intriguing others. Personally, I'm in the second camp.
GRIMM CURIOSITIES
by Sharon Lynn Fisher
Available Now
Lizzy Grimm is, for all intents and purposes, the current proprietor of Grimm Curiosities. Her father has passed away, and her mother's gift for communing with the dead has left her unresponsive. As Christmas approaches and rent is long past due, two new visitors begin frequenting purveyor of oddities. The handsome young noble Antony Carlisle has a sister in a similar situation to Mrs. Grimm, and he and Lizzy soon form a close friendship despite their different social spheres. Meanwhile Mr. Stoke, apparently an old friend of Mr. Grimm, has come seeking a rare collection of anonymously-penned books about the paranormal.
But things are starting to shift, and not just as Lizzy navigates her feelings for Antony. Lizzy begins sharing her mother's gift, seeing ghosts around York. The books Mr. Stoke craves start leaving storage and arranging themselves around the shop. And A.A., the anonymous author of Mr. Grimm's collection, turns out to be closer to home than anyone expected. As Antony and Lizzy try to heal their beloved family members, a decades-old conspiracy—with roots in something more ancient still—emerges.
Grimm Curiosities is a stunning romantasy of manners. For most of the novel, the paranormal remains just under the surface, rearing its head only occasionally until the doors literally burst open and a whole new world spills into Victorian York. If you're a fan of Bridgerton but wish it had a bit of dark fantasy threaded through, this is a perfect read. And as we venture into the dark winter months, it's tonally appropriate, too!
THE SEA HOUSE
by Louise Douglas
Available Now
Mila Shepard is in the business of finding people, but her latest job at Toussaints Detective Agency is a struggle even for her. She's been entrusted with a woman's last wish: the late Elisabeth Quemener has bequeathed a package to her old friend Astrid Oake. But there's no sign of who or where Astrid is, or even that she exists. Every time a new lead pops up, it just raises more questions. Meanwhile, Mila is struggling with a mystery closer to home, as more information surfaces about her niece Ani's late parents.
Mila's investigation uncovers decades of injustice: an apparent murder/suicide, school and hospital cover-ups, and dubious cybersecurity. Even when she gets to the truth, there's still more to uncover—much of it strangely echoing the strife in the life of the now-sixteen-year-old Ani.
If The Sea House is your first Mila Shepard book, you can still slide easily into the central mystery. It reads easily as a stand-alone, while still hinting at an overarching story beyond the bounds of the book that can be appreciated to some degree. The story of the week is, at least for a new reader, far more compelling than Mila's story. That isn't to say Mila's story isn't compelling or is too difficult to follow. All the relevant information is there, but it does become evident as the story goes on that we're missing out on some characterization for these recurring characters. That said, Astrid's story speaks for itself. As a solvable mystery, the pieces fit together cleanly; as a novel, it's compelling and tragic. And even once the mystery itself is solved, there are little loose ends that get tucked in neatly—even some the reader may have forgotten.
STAR TREK: SONS OF STAR TREK
by Morgan Hampton and Angel Hernandez
Available November 12
The Day of Blood has passed, and the younger generation of Starfleet is going through it. Jake Sisko has just been reunited with his family, Quark's nephew Nog continues to contend with being the first Ferengi in Starfleet, and Worf's son Alexander remains under suspicion after his time with Kahless. It seems that only divine intervention could break them out of their respective quandaries... and that's what they get. Well, not exactly.
QJ, the son of the same Q we (and many Starfleet captains) know well, snaps his way into the young men's lives. With a few snaps, he transports all four of them to the Starfleet of another dimension: one perfectly situated to address everyone's lingering issues. Familiar faces fill different roles and deceased people live on, allowing the young men the context and closure they need. But there's a problem: QJ's "selfless" stunt has consequences he doesn't appear to be able to undo, and this god-like youth must face the fact that he might also be here to learn a lesson.
This volume contains all four parts of the Sons of Star Trek comic miniseries. While looking out for cameos is fun (Lower Decks enjoyers will be very pleased) and the story itself has a heartwarming upshot, my favorite part of this edition was actually the father/son artwork at the back of the book. It's a great story to be sure, especially for Sisko and Q fans, but those four stills are the icing on the cake.
BOOK PREVIEW - Black Archive #73: Under the Lake/Before the Flood by Kevin Decker and Ryan Parrey
The time prior to my trip to London was pretty busy in terms of getting ahead on work, finishing a book (more on that later), and other work. Among that was some editing for last month's new Black Archive, covering Under the Lake and Before the Flood and penned by Kevin Decker and Ryan Parrey.
I stepped up as secondary editor for this one because, frankly, I love a Twelfth Doctor story. And this one is an old favorite for a lot of little reasons put together. The Archive itself is, once again, a reminder that no two writers will ever write an Archive the same—even on the same or similar stories.
Decker and Parrey take a very scientific, philosophical approach to the bootstrap paradox in their book. (For those who aren't familiar with this story, it hangs by some pretty huge bootstraps.) If you've ever wanted to see the natural of time travel in Doctor Who fully documented, complete with diagrams, crack this one open. It's an extremely dense read, but one that I enjoyed, as someone who tends to analyze stories as storytelling first and foremost. It's always fascinating to see where other people bite into the huge club sandwich of Doctor Who, whether that be philosophy, science, or personal experience.
This is, of course, not all this Archive delves into. Most books in the series take a multifaceted approach, covering several aspects of the story. This one does the same, touching on Arthurian literature as represented in the person(?) of the Fisher King. And there's an entire chapter on disabled representation in this story, as well as in television in general.
If you are keen on denser reads where the authors really go into their expertise, this is one you'll enjoy. You will absolutely learn new things along the way (I always do, whether I'm writing or editing for this series). And while I can't promise you'll fully be able to wrap your head around the ethics and means of time travel after this, you'll absolutely have insight you didn't have before.
The Black Archive #73: Under the Lake/Before the Flood is available now from Obverse Books. As ever, I can't in good faith review something I had a hand in (albeit a very small one). But I can gently nudge you in its direction.
London 2024 Diaries
As I mentioned elsewhere, this month marks my first trip back to the UK in five years. (My last trip was 2019, do the math, etc.) I just got back late last night and spent a little bit of time in the evenings and mornings recording what I did. Because reader, it was a lovely trip, and just what I needed.
Big thanks to Mazz and Al, Dan, Liz, JC, Johnny, JJ, the Oxfam, Luke and Andy, and everyone who made me feel welcome during my time here. As I probably say somewhere way down there, you're all reminders of why I love this place so much.
20 October
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29 October
How Oxventure: Wyrdwood Uses Homebrew to Mess with Magic
Some things are small, such as Cressida Blackwater being a homebrewed human-elf despite the recent nix on half-species. Others play into a core aspect of the campaign: Magic Has Gone Very Wrong. And, as the game itself often reminds us, magic will have its due.
The Story
The Cadence Die
The Rolling Rite
October TBR Book Reviews: Chilling Autumn Reads
One of the issues with reviewing books for so many outlets is that I often don't get a chance to read the books I buy for myself. I've decided to make a change there—and one way I can force myself to do things I'll enjoy is to set a goal that involves other people. (Don't read too much into that.)
Once a month, or as often as I can, I'll be digging into my very large, very scary TBR pile (and book wishlist) along a theme. This month, it feels appropriate to try some spooky reads: murder mysteries, horror, and the like. These may be books recommended by friends, books written by friends, or things I've just had lying around.
DEATH AT THE DRESS REHEARSAL
by Stuart Douglas
A new book by a lovely friend who also happens to be the head of Obverse Books.
Edward Lowe and John le Breton are actors of an age. The stars of 1970s BBC sitcom Floggit and Leggit, the two are complete opposites both onscreen and in person. But when Lowe discovers the body of a young woman at the reservoir near the show's current filming location, the Northern actor and his posh co-star discover a surprising shared affinity: solving murder mysteries.
The local constabulary are convinced that the death is an unfortunate accident, but Lowe and le Breton are less convinced. In between filming, the two begin chasing down leads in the small town, uncovering a surprising link to a similar death during the War. Even so, everything seems relatively circumstantial—until more young women turn up dead, each with their own familial link to the past death. Now the actors are fighting against the clock, the locals, and occasionally each other to solve this mystery before another life is lost.
Death at the Dress Rehearsal has so many layers, all of them exceptional. The fictional Floggit and Leggit, and the production surrounding it, will be all too familiar to fans of a certain era of Brit-com. The mystery itself is exceptionally handled, with plenty of red herrings but no true dead ends. And if you think you know where the story is going... no you don't. For American readers in particular, this will feel like a dose of nostalgic mid-90s PBS at its best: both the comedy and the mystery. Lowe and le Breton are already shaping up to be the next great detective duo. If they don't get their own TV series, it will be a crime.
DOCTOR WHO: SCRATCHMAN
by Tom Baker and James Goss
I bought this book during my last trip to London five years ago; like many books I bought then, it's been languishing.
The Fourth Doctor has been called before a council of Time Lords to account for his actions—again. And he has a hell of a story to tell them. It starts in a small village on a small island, where the locals have begun turning into animate scarecrows. Accompanied by Sarah Jane Smith and Harry Sullivan, the Doctor tries to get to the bottom of this horrifying mystery. But the roots of this transformation extend past our universe and into the domain of the Devil himself.
Following a folk horror flavored first act, the second plunges directly into Hell. To save his companions and protect the universe, the Doctor must go toe to toe with the Scratchman in a series of larger-than-life games. The past and the future collide, and the very nature of fear itself is explored, as the Doctor and his companions navigate a hellscape designed to drive them to despair.
Scratchman is based on a concept conceived of by Tom Baker and Ian Marter during Baker's first season as the Doctor. Adapted and ghostwritten by James Goss (one of the best Doctor Who novelists currently working) with Baker acting as consultant, this is a pitch-perfect book. The Doctor, Sarah Jane, and Harry's voices ring out loud and clear, especially in the Doctor's first-person narration. As the book comes to a close, it becomes a musing on the franchise as a whole, past and future. What is the Doctor afraid of? Why does he keep fighting? And what does it really mean to be the Doctor? This book manages to be both terrifying and playful the whole way through, and it's the exact sort of Doctor Who story I personally love. This may be my new favorite tie-in book for the show.
THE FINAL GIRL SUPPORT GROUP
by Grady Hendrix
This book came in a care package from friend and coworker Paul Chapman.
In Lynnette Tarkington's world, horror villains—and their final girls—are real. Slasher franchises are fictionalized takes on very real killings, with their plucky survivors becoming celebrities in their own right. But killing a killer takes an emotional toll, which is where the Final Girl Support Group comes in. But this week, one of the survivors has decided she's terminating her membership. And another member has been quite literally terminated.
Now, Lynnette—whose trauma has left her mostly friendless and extremely vigilant—is convinced that someone is out to take out the entirety of their group. But between her status as a "fake" final girl, her paranoia, and some leaked files, no one is willing to trust her. Now, Lynnette must use everything at her disposal to survive, all while protecting new final girl Stephanie from the horrors the rest of them have endured. But the true danger may be closer than anyone thinks.
I wasn't sure what to expect with The Final Girl Support Group, but I can see why it took off. It's always nice to see a female lead allowed to be flawed, much less many, many female leads. Lynnette is an absolute mess; she's also the narrator. But she's one of several examples of what trauma can do to a person both inside and out. It's a skillful pastiche of several slasher genres, but also takes into account that trauma does not necessarily make you noble. It can make you messy, unpleasant, paranoid, and not fun to be around. You'll like it if you're a horror aficionado; you'll love it if you've Been Through Stuff yourself.
GARTH MARENGHI'S TERRORTOME
by Garth Marenghi
While I was already a Darkplace fan, this book was brought to my attention by Mach Dent.
As a book reviewer, I read a lot of good books. I also read a lot of... less good books. And just as Garth Marenghi's Darkplace hit just right with its pastiche of poorly-produced television, Garth Marenghi's TerrorTome is a note-perfect parody of frankly awful books by people who believe they are God's gift to writing. Penned by Matthew Holness as his horror writer, dreamweaver, and visionary, plus actor, it's also a reminder that writing terribly on purpose takes a unique level of talent.
TerrorTome is actually a trilogy of books starring Nick Steen, a thinly-veiled author stand-in for Marenghi himself, as he and his strong but often misguided lady editor Roz Bloom navigate the horrors haunting Stalkford. After a torrid psychosexual relationship with a cursed typewriter, Steen discovers that the inner workings of his mind are coming to life. His heroes, his monsters, and even his darker selves threaten to destroy the world. How will he fix it? And, more importantly, could this have been prevented if Roz had listened to him?
This book is definitely written for those who have seen and enjoyed Garth Marenghi's Darkplace. If you haven't, you can probably still appreciate the inherent satire. But so much about this book is even better when you have a clear picture of the man behind it. If you are a Darkplace fan, and especially if you're an editor or reviewer who's had to slog through difficult reads, you'll love this book. It's both shocking and impressive how perfectly he nails not only the common mistakes, but also the kind of ego that refuses to fix them.
STARVE ACRE
by Andrew Michael Hurley
Richard and Juliette Willoughby's young son Ewan died suddenly, and both of them are navigating the resulting grief very differently in Richard's family home of Starve Acre. Richard, given paid time off from his teaching job to "do research," has immersed himself in digging up—both literally and metaphorically—legends of an old tree once used for hangings. Juliette has turned to local occultists in hopes of finding some sort of solace. But both of them discover something much darker lingering on their land.
As Richard remembers Ewan's final months—his odd changes, his violent moods, and his claims of being spoken to by a being called Jack Grey—something else begins to take hold. Juliette's friends reveal a truth she is unwilling to divulge, but also sense something sinister at work in the house. And then there's the hare Richard finds at the foot of the tree, whose presence defies all logic but which refuses to be sent away.
Starve Acre is one of those books I've been putting off for no reason other than no time, but I absolutely regret not having read this sooner. It's a very personal story, and not just because its core cast is very small and it takes place largely within one family's house and land. As an allegory for grief, it's a sobering reminder that how we cope (and what we do to ourselves) is not a monolith. As an entry in the genre of folk horror, it's a terrifying story whose influence is large enough to spread to a whole town and small enough to fit in a baby carriage. An absolute must-read, and one that should move quickly to the top of your list.