★★★★★ 4
Creepy, unpredictable and an all-around great read!
Format: Kindle
The power of our choices has never been more evident than in this novel. This book is filled with both good, and bad, decisions that lead to terrifying consequences. Right from the start, our protagonist, Eve, has to make a choice — should she let the family who showed up at her front door inside her home or send them back into the cold? Inevitably, Eve’s inability to say no and need to please others outweighs Stranger Danger and soon the family of five is wandering through the isolated Victorian house.
The book warns early on, “Once you let them in, they’ll never leave.” For sure once she let them in, things were never the same. The visit seems innocuous enough until things start to change. Subtle changes, the kind that makes you second guess yourself, slowly emerge and, as time goes on, transform into the kind that makes you question reality.
Eve, too, transforms throughout the book. Her character bounces through bouts of paranoia, insecurity, impulsiveness and courage, never fully landing on one attribute, although paranoia always seems to be lurking in the depths of her mind. She constantly questions her own perceptions of what is and what was and the intentions of even the most innocent interactions.
The book goes beyond the fear of what goes bump in the night and harnesses the fear of the unknown, keeping us on the edge of our seats. Nothing is as it seems. And it is scary! Kliewer’s frightening images and heart stopping encounters stay with you long after you’ve closed the book. At times, I found myself gripping my Kindle tightly and reading at lightning speed as if I, too, am escaping the sinister situations Eve faces.
All in all, this is a good read. It’s quick and easy and Kliewer sets the stage with plenty of backstory, foreshadowing, suffocating tension, and creepy moments that all manage to tie into the moment a strange family shows up at her door. However, upon finishing, I found myself left with several unanswered questions (the only reason it got 4 and not 5 stars), which can be uncomfortable for readers who need everything wrapped up on a nice neat bow. But if you can handle a little ambiguity, take the time to read this book. Trust me, it's worth your time. And it may leave you questioning if things really are as they seem or have you hesitating before taking that trek down to the basement. For me, I may reconsider answering the door should a family of five come knocking.
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Reviewed in the United States on July 15, 2024
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