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A review by spookshow
Behind the Door by Mary SanGiovanni
4.0
Don't open the door, never open the door...
This is one of the main rules of The Door that resides in the woods in Zarephath, Pennsylvania. No one really knows where the door came from, or when it came to be, they just know that it is. Stories have wound their way through generations of the townsfolk of Zarephath, if you have a problem, or a wish, write a letter, make sure that it is worded EXTREMELY carefully so as not to backfire, and go to the door. You must go to the door alone, and at night, slip your letter, sealed with a mix of wax and your own blood, under the door, and walk away. In three days, what you've asked, will come to pass, though not necessarily in the way you had hoped for.
The story opens with a small synopsis about the door and it's short, unknown history, followed by the introduction of some of the townspeople, each with a problem, and each wanting it fixed. We are introduced to a mother, Kari, who's twelve year old daughter died three years ago, suicide. Deets, a young man who accidentally hit and killed a young man while he was driving drunk. Toby, a young man, a pedophile, who preys on little girls, but wants the urges to go away forever. And Ed, an old man who works in the local hardware store, also a pedophile, and Toby's only friend. Toby hears about the door from Ed, Kari hears about it from Cicely, her older and only friend in the town she chose for her new start after her daughter's untimely death, as well as her marriage's. Kari toys with the idea of asking for her daughter back, however, this is soon quashed by Cicely and a story she tells, she saw what happens when people wish for the dead to come back to life when she was a little girl, and it was not pretty. Once Kari decides that she can no longer handle the pain associated with thoughts of her daughter, she writes her letter. Once delivered, three days later she finds that she is starting to forget her daughter all together, not at all what she had wanted. Running on panic and the need to remember, Kari goes to the door, not to use it for a second time, oh no, that is also not done, for those who use it a second time wind up dead, no matter what. Kari wants her letter back from "them" who reside behind the door. In a desperate action, not knowing what else to do, she opens the door...
I found this book definitely fit it's genre, horror. It gave the feeling of complete hopelessness, of wishes turned wrong, and what happens when those wishes and wants are rescinded. The oppressiveness of the atmosphere associated with that which got out, along with the things that joined it definitely invites unease. These creatures with no sure form, except, many mouths, moving eyes, and fluid bodies and bones, bringing to life that which the users of doors wished away.
The authors voice was very clear and concise, I found it a very pleasant and easy read. The inclusion of the pedophiles did elicit feelings of being uncomfortable as I didn't realise when I was first introduced to these characters that they would be remaining as semi-big players in the story itself, however, it wasn't enough to turn me off the story at all. The character's wrong doings to their victims is not really explored, though it is hinted at. If you find this subject something that you cannot stomach, maybe not the book for you as it does invite sympathy for one of these characters through his thoughts and his actions.
Kathy Ryan, she is the occult specialist called in by a retired sheriff, Bill Grainger. This is number two in the Kathy Ryan series, I haven't read the first one, but didn't feel like I'd missed much in Kathy's story, besides a bit of personal backstory. I was under the impression that Kathy would be the forefront character in this story, however found that not to be entirely true. She comes across as more a supporting character, which worked well for the story. I am incredibly intrigued to learn more about this character and her story, so am hoping that more of that comes to light in later books.
There wasn't really a mystery aspect to this story, which wasn't hinted at, but I've found to be quite common in accompanying the horror genre. It was a fast paced race against the clock, would the townspeople, the local sheriff's office and their called in expert on the occult, Kathy Ryan, be able to beat the door and monsters before they devour the town and everyone in it, in the guise of the town's most horrific secrets?
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is one of the main rules of The Door that resides in the woods in Zarephath, Pennsylvania. No one really knows where the door came from, or when it came to be, they just know that it is. Stories have wound their way through generations of the townsfolk of Zarephath, if you have a problem, or a wish, write a letter, make sure that it is worded EXTREMELY carefully so as not to backfire, and go to the door. You must go to the door alone, and at night, slip your letter, sealed with a mix of wax and your own blood, under the door, and walk away. In three days, what you've asked, will come to pass, though not necessarily in the way you had hoped for.
The story opens with a small synopsis about the door and it's short, unknown history, followed by the introduction of some of the townspeople, each with a problem, and each wanting it fixed. We are introduced to a mother, Kari, who's twelve year old daughter died three years ago, suicide. Deets, a young man who accidentally hit and killed a young man while he was driving drunk. Toby, a young man, a pedophile, who preys on little girls, but wants the urges to go away forever. And Ed, an old man who works in the local hardware store, also a pedophile, and Toby's only friend. Toby hears about the door from Ed, Kari hears about it from Cicely, her older and only friend in the town she chose for her new start after her daughter's untimely death, as well as her marriage's. Kari toys with the idea of asking for her daughter back, however, this is soon quashed by Cicely and a story she tells, she saw what happens when people wish for the dead to come back to life when she was a little girl, and it was not pretty. Once Kari decides that she can no longer handle the pain associated with thoughts of her daughter, she writes her letter. Once delivered, three days later she finds that she is starting to forget her daughter all together, not at all what she had wanted. Running on panic and the need to remember, Kari goes to the door, not to use it for a second time, oh no, that is also not done, for those who use it a second time wind up dead, no matter what. Kari wants her letter back from "them" who reside behind the door. In a desperate action, not knowing what else to do, she opens the door...
I found this book definitely fit it's genre, horror. It gave the feeling of complete hopelessness, of wishes turned wrong, and what happens when those wishes and wants are rescinded. The oppressiveness of the atmosphere associated with that which got out, along with the things that joined it definitely invites unease. These creatures with no sure form, except, many mouths, moving eyes, and fluid bodies and bones, bringing to life that which the users of doors wished away.
The authors voice was very clear and concise, I found it a very pleasant and easy read. The inclusion of the pedophiles did elicit feelings of being uncomfortable as I didn't realise when I was first introduced to these characters that they would be remaining as semi-big players in the story itself, however, it wasn't enough to turn me off the story at all. The character's wrong doings to their victims is not really explored, though it is hinted at. If you find this subject something that you cannot stomach, maybe not the book for you as it does invite sympathy for one of these characters through his thoughts and his actions.
Kathy Ryan, she is the occult specialist called in by a retired sheriff, Bill Grainger. This is number two in the Kathy Ryan series, I haven't read the first one, but didn't feel like I'd missed much in Kathy's story, besides a bit of personal backstory. I was under the impression that Kathy would be the forefront character in this story, however found that not to be entirely true. She comes across as more a supporting character, which worked well for the story. I am incredibly intrigued to learn more about this character and her story, so am hoping that more of that comes to light in later books.
There wasn't really a mystery aspect to this story, which wasn't hinted at, but I've found to be quite common in accompanying the horror genre. It was a fast paced race against the clock, would the townspeople, the local sheriff's office and their called in expert on the occult, Kathy Ryan, be able to beat the door and monsters before they devour the town and everyone in it, in the guise of the town's most horrific secrets?
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.