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regans's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
beardedbarista's review against another edition
3.0
Thanks to PRHAudio for this complimentary audiobook! This book was entertaining but kind of in a way you watch a TV series at the tire repair shop because it is on the tv. A bit on the ridiculous side having a poltergeist in a fast food burger place. And documentary style telling was ok in the begin but almost would have preferred a 1st person telling. I dunno? What did you think??
the_sassy_bookworm's review against another edition
2.0
⭐⭐ — Great cover on this one!
I feel like I should have enjoyed this one more than I did. The ending was fantastic, but by god was it a slog to get there.
ohshanada's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
majban's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
stophie12's review
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
csistek's review against another edition
4.0
The entire premise of this book is a chef's kiss in itself. I love subversive formats like this, especially when it comes to horror.
The introduction alone was so good that I made my brother read it and then I read it out loud to my parents because it was fascinating. I just loved it.
However.
Even though I thoroughly enjoyed this book, the ending was... a bit unsatisfying. Like eating a fast food burger when you're famished. It starts off tasting amazing because you haven't eaten all day and it's hitting all the right spots and the seasoning is honestly quite good--but then you get to the last couple of bites and the magic gets lost. You start cringing a little. And I did just that--cringe--when I finished the last line of the book. This last line was one that a book reviewer I trust deeply said made them "shiver" and now I just wonder if it was actually a shudder because of how corny it was. I honestly think Kraus could have left off the final chapter and it would have been a perfect ending where the second-to-last chapter leaves us.
That said, I definitely give this one a recommend because it was just such a fun ride. I really found myself several times setting the book down to instinctively look up articles and videos from the footnotes--it's just that convincing.
The introduction alone was so good that I made my brother read it and then I read it out loud to my parents because it was fascinating. I just loved it.
However.
Even though I thoroughly enjoyed this book, the ending was... a bit unsatisfying. Like eating a fast food burger when you're famished. It starts off tasting amazing because you haven't eaten all day and it's hitting all the right spots and the seasoning is honestly quite good--but then you get to the last couple of bites and the magic gets lost. You start cringing a little. And I did just that--cringe--when I finished the last line of the book. This last line was one that a book reviewer I trust deeply said made them "shiver" and now I just wonder if it was actually a shudder because of how corny it was. I honestly think Kraus could have left off the final chapter and it would have been a perfect ending where the second-to-last chapter leaves us.
That said, I definitely give this one a recommend because it was just such a fun ride. I really found myself several times setting the book down to instinctively look up articles and videos from the footnotes--it's just that convincing.
mcribsy13's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Blown Away
raforall's review against another edition
5.0
Star Review in the May 1 issue of Booklist and on the blog: https://raforall.blogspot.com/2022/05/what-im-reading-ghost-that-ate-us-by.html
There Words That Describe This Book: verisimilitude, immersive, escalating dread
As a good a true crime book as I'll Be Gone in the Dark except NONE OF IT IS REAL. And yet, people who love True Crime will love the realism here.
Less wink and nod meta than Chasing the Boogeyman by Chizmar because there is very little of Kraus' life here except being from Iowa and understanding the people. It is not a bio with a crime-- it is a true [fictional] crime with so much realism that it is immersive, but also adds a level of creepiness. I think it is more like Reprieve by James Han Mattson.
And, and this is key to me giving a star review, he stuck the landing. He stuck it so much you could read the last page first. Don't do that, because it is better if you don't. but when you get to the last page, you will be glad you read the entire book. And you will have a whole body shiver. What more could you ask for a horror novel.
There Words That Describe This Book: verisimilitude, immersive, escalating dread
As a good a true crime book as I'll Be Gone in the Dark except NONE OF IT IS REAL. And yet, people who love True Crime will love the realism here.
Less wink and nod meta than Chasing the Boogeyman by Chizmar because there is very little of Kraus' life here except being from Iowa and understanding the people. It is not a bio with a crime-- it is a true [fictional] crime with so much realism that it is immersive, but also adds a level of creepiness. I think it is more like Reprieve by James Han Mattson.
And, and this is key to me giving a star review, he stuck the landing. He stuck it so much you could read the last page first. Don't do that, because it is better if you don't. but when you get to the last page, you will be glad you read the entire book. And you will have a whole body shiver. What more could you ask for a horror novel.