4 out of 5 stars
On Amazon (universal link)
On Goodreads
How I discovered this book: Amazon browse
In a Nutshell: Low key horror, family drama about demonic possession
This is a solid 4* book (I did contemplate an extra half star). Jack lives with wife Aimee and daughters Abby and Charlie. At the age of six, Charlie begins to display some worrying traits - Aimee and Abby are disturbed and confused by this, but Jack knows what is going on - he sees himself in his daughter.
As the story develops we see how Jack uncovered the awful truth that he is the victim of demonic possession. This is nothing like The Exorcist; it's much more subtle. The plot moves through Charlie's increasingly erratic behaviour, and is interspersed with tales from Jack's childhood; slowly, slowly, the truth about why he left his childhood home and what happened to his parents, is revealed. The pace of the book seemed a little slow at points during the middle (one big event would have made all the difference), but I didn't get bored with it, at all. The last chapters are great, and wrap it all up so well; I was glad the author dared to make the ending all it should have been, and not go with a cop-out HEA.
Ms Ahlborn writes in a most engaging fashion, and Charlie is truly terrifying ... in a subtle, low-key way. It would make a terrific film or limited series. I'd read another book by her, for sure; I definitely recommend if you like this sort of story.
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