"We Already Dug the Grave" by Emma C. Wells

 

 

 

 

 

 

 







"We Already Dug the Grave" by Emma C. Wells is a dark (and creepy) southern gothic thriller following two estranged sisters with skeletons in their closet, literally. The premise sounded promising, but unfortunately it didn’t live up to my expectations. More on that later.

The story takes place in a fictional town in Appalachia. After a traumatic event in their childhood, the two sisters, Milly and Frances Robinson, are taken to live with their eccentric aunts, Ruth and Hattie May. The Robinson women share a family inheritance: the ability to divine the future by reading leftover tea leaves. Of the two sisters, only Milly inherited the Sight. Oh, and they also have another, far more sinister family tradition, but I'll let you discover that for yourself.

After another traumatic event in their teenage years, Milly is forced to run away and break contact with her family. Stuck in a crappy job and having trouble divining the future, she tries to get by, still keeping track of her sister. On the surface, Frances’s life seems perfect, but not everything is as it seems. Years later, Frances shows up on Milly’s doorstep asking for help. Together, they return to the only place they ever called home, a place full of long-buried secrets, uncomfortable truths, and death.

The narrative is told in first person from Milly’s POV, with a dual timeline of "Then" and "Now. The book explores themes of abuse, choices, sisterly and family bonds, love, loyalty, and moral conflict. The Appalachian setting, with its witchy undertones, supernatural elements, and gothic atmosphere, was one of the book's strongest aspects. The layers of secrets slowly unravel until everything is revealed. 

The characterization is excellent. Even the morally questionable characters felt fully realized rather than one-dimensional. Milly was impulsive and at times too naive, whereas her sister was far more calculating. I loved the aunts, but disliked one of the main characters (I won't tell you whom) due to her terrible attitude and questionable choices.
   
I am very ambivalent about the book. On one hand, it was engaging and well written. On the other hand, it lost a bit of steam in the middle, and while I guessed the twist halfway through, that wasn't what bothered me. I found the resolution regarding abusive men morally troubling. While I understood some of the characters' actions, the story ultimately crossed a line for me, and I wasn't entirely convinced by how it handled accountability. It seemed to blur the line between understandable acts of self-defense and repeated, deliberate killing without adequately addressing the ethical consequences. 

In short, what ultimately didn't work for me was not just the slow pace, but also the way the book resolved its moral conflicts. Because of my reservations, I rate the book 3 out of 5 stars. If you like family secrets, supernatural elements, and morally gray characters, you may like the book more than I did. 
 
* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc.  All opinions are my own.  

* For more info about this book: "We Already Dug the Grave" by Emma C. Wells

"Death on the Island" by Eliza Reid

 

"Death on the Island" by Eliza Reid is a slow-paced locked-room mystery set in the Westman Islands, Iceland. It is the first in a planned series featuring some of the characters introduced in this book.

Nine people gather at chef Piotr's restaurant for a diplomatic dinner, each with their own reasons for being there. Among them are Kristján, the grieving mayor; Hanna, a former local artist; Graeme, the Canadian ambassador, and his wife Jane; Kavita, the deputy ambassador, and her husband Rahul; Linda and Thor, owners of a fish factory; and Ben, a famous author.

The plot thickens when one of the guests dies after drinking Piotr’s signature cocktail, the Flaming Viking. To make matters worse, a violent storm traps them on the island. When an inexperienced officer is assigned to the case, Jane takes it upon herself to investigate with the help of another guest. The clock is ticking, and no one is safe.

Overall, it was an okay read, but unfortunately, it didn’t fully work for me. The book started out strong - with a suspicious death - but it quickly lost its momentum. I loved the premise, the atmospheric setting, the Christie-esque locked-room setup, and the twists. However, I expected more suspense and tension. The slow pace, combined with extensive backstories, made it less gripping than I had hoped. While the character backstories added depth, they also slowed the narrative down significantly.

The book had all the ingredients for a great mystery - an exotic setting, an intriguing locked-room setup, and a group of strangers trapped with a murderer - but the execution fell short. Too much telling (about the island’s history, the characters' pasts, and the back-stabbing) and not enough showing made the reading experience tedious at times.

I also wasn’t a fan of how justice wasn’t fully served. I’m growing tired of stories where culprits walk free. What is it with this new trend of letting wrongdoers off the hook? In the end, I rated this book 2.5 out of 5 stars, rounding up to three, mainly because, despite its flaws, the book had its moments.

I didn't rate it higher because, at the end of the day, the story didn’t hold my engagement as much as I had hoped. The mystery didn’t have enough suspense to keep me fully invested. It’s a decent start to the series, but with a tighter plot and better pacing, it could be much stronger.

To sum, a promising premise that doesn’t fully reach its potential. A good pick if you enjoy slower, character-driven mysteries, but if you’re looking for a tense, edge-of-your-seat thriller, you might want to look elsewhere.

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc.  All opinions are my own.

* For more info about the book: "Death on the Island" by Eliza Reid

"How to Survive a Horror Story" by Mallory Arnold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Locked-room mystery, predator house, creepy setting? This book has it all. How to Survive a Horror Story by Mallory Arnold is a chilling tale about a group of horror authors  trapped in a man-eating mansion.

Seven authors enter the manor, but not all of them will make it out alive. They’re invited to the reading of the last will of legendary horror author Mortimer Queen, only to find themselves locked inside his mansion. Mortimer seeks revenge from beyond the grave, holding them accountable for their past misdeeds.

To escape, they must play a dangerous game, solving riddles that force them to confront their pasts. Success moves them to the next level; failure leads to the house devouring them —literally. As seasoned horror writers, you’d think they’d know the rules for survival, but will they make it? Before you can say “Jack Robinson,” the body count rises, and creepy moments abound.

Revenge is a dish best served cold, and this tale takes that motto to heart. Written in the third-person present tense, the story introduces us to Scott Clay, Buck Grimm, Petey March, Chester Plumage, Winnie Roach, Crystal Flowers, and Melanie Brown, along with their connections to Mortimer. Their personalities and histories unfold through their interactions, conflicting accounts, and short stories interspersed between the chapters.

We also meet Felix (a gay character), and the housekeeper.  And let me tell you — none of the characters are likable. They all have skeletons in their closets. That said, the “crimes” that brought them to Mortimer’s black book vary in severity, and some seem much less deserving of their fates. And let’s be honest, Mortimer wasn’t exactly a saint himself. His idea of justice feels excessive.

With themes of trust, revenge, toxic relationships, abuse, and moral conflicts, the author weaves a gripping tale. After a slow start where the characters are introduced, the plot picks up, and I raced through the rest. The author’s writing style works well, and the characters are fleshed out. Even the ones I initially liked turned out to be just as bad as the others. The quirky character names fit their personalities and actions, adding moments of humor. I also appreciated the nods to Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None.

While I didn’t entirely agree with the book’s message that authors need life experiences to write good stories, the idea isn’t without merit. The execution was uneven at times — inconsistent pacing, shallow characters, and repetitive backstories — but the story kept me hooked. This isn’t heavy horror (which I appreciated, as I’m not a die-hard horror fan), but it delivers plenty of creepy moments. The creepy undertone lingers throughout, even if it’s not overwhelmingly scary.

Overall, this was an intriguing and suspenseful read. I was eager to discover who would survive and what sins landed each character in Mortimer’s black book. With an engaging premise and a reasonably satisfying conclusion, I recommend it to fans of light horror looking for a thrilling ride. To know how to survive — or not survive — a horror story, read this book!

*Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc.  All opinions are my own.

*For more info about the book: "How to Survive a Horror Story" by Mallory Arnold

 

"The Drowning House" by Cherie Priest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"The Drowning House" by Cherie Priest is a dark paranormal horror novel. As a fan of haunted house stories, I was immediately drawn in by the premise. Haunted houses, ghosts, and ancient evil? Count me in! Unfortunately, it didn’t live up to my expectations.

When a mysterious house washes up on the Pacific Northwest beach near the home of Simon Culpepper and his grandmother, Mrs. Culpepper, she drops dead, and everything goes south. Simon sends a message to his two childhood friends, Leo and Melissa, asking for their help, and then disappears. When Leo and Melissa arrive on Marrowstone Island, there is no trace of him. The two must put their differences aside to find their dear friend, and what follows is nightmarish as the old rivals are thrown from one ordeal into the next.

I enjoyed the story overall, but it didn't keep me overly excited. The narrative is written in the third person, shifting between past and present, between Leo and Melissa. While I appreciated the dynamic and the strengthening of the friendship between the two, I didn't find myself caring for either of them. Melissa came across as abrasive, and Leo's plans to sell the house (he is a realtor) while his friend is still missing didn't reflect well on him. Moreover, some of their sniping was a bit exhausting. However, their backstories, as well as the tense atmosphere and the freaky supernatural aspect, added depth to the story.

I enjoyed the sections from the past and the way all the pieces fell into place. The author doesn't give us all the information at once; bit by bit, she uncovers more and more pieces from the past and connects the dots. I also appreciated the setting and the creepy atmosphere. The characterizations were interesting, and the suspense was nicely maintained until the great reveal at the end. The tense atmosphere of supernatural elements was excellently woven throughout the storyline, as well as the themes of grand struggle against supernatural evil forces, friendship, loyalty, and loss.

Unfortunately, the book fell a bit short in the execution department. I found the pace of the first half of the book too slow for my liking, although I did enjoy the sense of impending danger. It started well, lost momentum, and then picked up the pace in the second part of the tale. Although the book wasn't overwhelmingly scary, there were definitely some creepy parts. Despite the slow start, the story eventually grew on me. This is a slow-burning tale that builds up to an impressive crescendo. Therefore, I give it 3 out of 5 stars. I recommend the book to horror fans who love a bit of the supernatural thrown in and don't mind a slow-paced read.

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc.  All opinions are my own.

* For more info about the book: "The Drowning House" by Cherie Priest