My Five Word TL:DR Review : Slow Building, Atmospheric, Character Led

I’ve had a little time to reflect on The Drowning House and I think that has helped me to really get my thoughts into order, although I’m sure this review will still morph into a rambling mess.  So, to explain my short review above, this story does have a slow build up, which gives the author time to really set the scene.  There is certainly plenty of atmosphere and chills and some, lets face it, outright horror and yes, this is a character led story with a couple of childhood friends, flung back together, not in the happiest circumstances that brings all their petty rivalries and jealousies to the fore before they can knuckle down and band together.

The story gets off to an incredible start.  A terrible storm washes a derelict house up onto the beach, the owner of the beachfront, Mrs Culpepper appears to have died in shock, and her grandson Simon has disappeared mysteriously without a trace, but not before calling his childhood friend Melissa for help.  Melissa and Leo – the other prong of this threesome friendship – appear at the house and try to take a look in the immediately obvious places to see if they can locate Simon.  The local law enforcement are not really interested as Simon hasn’t been missing long enough to be classed as a missing person and they think he’s probably just staying with a friend, but Melissa and Leo know that he wouldn’t have simply abandoned his gran’s body on the beach.  They do eventually take a look round the abandoned house, although it’s dangerous and ominous in equal measure.  Baffled they return to Mrs Culpeppers house, determined to form a plan.

The story flits back and forth between the childhood versions of the three, spending seemingly idyllic holidays at the beach on this remote island.  It immediately becomes clear that Simon was the glue that held the three together and also caused an almost competition of who he would like the most between Melissa and Leo, eventually leading to them drifting somewhat apart, although both remained in contact with Simon.  Some of this resentment works itself into the story, the two almost competing again, determined to be the one to stay and find Simon, that is until they realise they’re going to really need each other.

The writing is superb.  Priest has such a way with words, the descriptions, the dialogue, her ability to create atmosphere and tension and lets not forget the eventual horror.  I did mention this is slow build and I did experience a little lull in momentum around the middle of the book, but then I gave my head a wobble and decided that patience is a virtue.  I feel like I’m always trying to rush to the end of the book with indecent haste rather than savouring the words and sentences and the feelings they provoke.  I can’t help but wonder when this happened really.  I feel like the pacing of a book has become the key focus and this isn’t necessarily the case, it’s also about the momentum and, well, yes, the build up.  Priest also has a way of not spoon feeding the reader, I don’t know if I’ve figured everything out about this story, even now, after giving it a deal of thought, but I like that this has made me think about it for so long after completion.  And this was the same with another recent read by this author, Cinderwich, which was incredibly thought provoking.  Anyway, I digress.

I loved the dual timelines, watching the three grow and eventually drift a little apart but determined to still hang on in there.  Observing the three in childhood it soon becomes apparent there is more to Simon’s gran than originally meets the eye, not to mention something very unusual about the house in which she lives.  All will eventually be revealed and I loved the twist in this respect.

This is a story that combines horror and the supernatural.  It’s not a slasher fest so don’t be expecting that but it is definitely horror soaked nonetheless.  I loved the inclusion of nordic type folklore and this strange almost unexplained evil.  To be honest, I’m not entirely sure I have a complete grasp of the ‘evil’ here but I don’t think that was the real point of the story (or at least that’s my take home from this).  At the end of the day this feels like a revisiting and settling of old scores, both on the part of Mrs Culpepper and the secrets she and her house were keeping, and also of these two old friends who came together in a most tetchy fashion until they realise their friendship is stronger that they thought and might be the only thing that keeps them alive.

So, to recap.  Two spooky houses, both haunted not only by the past but actual ghosts that have been tormented along the line.  A desperate search for answers.  An evil and goosebump inspiring character that is definitely trying to break through some boundaries, for which he needs to get into Mrs Culpepper’s house.  Two characters coming together and putting old rivalries to one side.  A frantic madcap rush, during a storm no less, to try and thwart something catastrophic.  Definitely not a ‘wham bam’ style story so if you want breakneck pacing then this might not be for you but I found myself desperate to know what was happening and I loved the writing and the chaotic ending.  It’s slightly bittersweet in certain respects but I’m not going to say why.

Anyway, I can’t wait to see what Priest comes up with next.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks.  The above is my own opinion.

My rating 4 of 5 stars