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3.57 AVERAGE
3.57 AVERAGE
dark
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
When fading true crime author Lucas Graham receives an invitation to interview the enigmatic leader of a suicide cult, he jumps at the chance to revive his career and, hopefully, his marriage. At the insistence of Jeffrey Halcomb, in exchange for the exclusive interview, he moves with his daughter, Virginia, to the west coast, taking up residence in the house where, Thirty years earlier, Halcomb was found the only survivor of what appears to be a mass ritual suicide/murder.
With a new book on the way and a change of scenery, this seems a good chance to mend a broken father/daughter relationship, but once in the house, strange things happen, plans are inexplicably changed, and both Grahams find themselves in familiar territory, continuing to drift apart as Lucas dives into his work. Virginia, alienated by her parents' fighting, cut off from her friends, and reeling from a terrifying experience, discovers the history of the house, and begins doing research of her own.
On one level, this is a good, solid ghost story. On another, it is a study of loneliness and the power of needing to belong. Throughout the book, characters are drawn into Halcomb's circle, oftentimes with tragic consequences, and it is interesting to watch as the author lays bare their inner struggles.
With a new book on the way and a change of scenery, this seems a good chance to mend a broken father/daughter relationship, but once in the house, strange things happen, plans are inexplicably changed, and both Grahams find themselves in familiar territory, continuing to drift apart as Lucas dives into his work. Virginia, alienated by her parents' fighting, cut off from her friends, and reeling from a terrifying experience, discovers the history of the house, and begins doing research of her own.
On one level, this is a good, solid ghost story. On another, it is a study of loneliness and the power of needing to belong. Throughout the book, characters are drawn into Halcomb's circle, oftentimes with tragic consequences, and it is interesting to watch as the author lays bare their inner struggles.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I’m going to forget this book babe cause I barely know what the fuck happened
As someone who has read Brother, I was by no means expecting a happy ending.. but I imagine I’ll still be in a state of mental hibernation this time next week. What just happened. At 440 pages, Within These Walls is quite the commitment in comparison to Seed, The Shuddering etc.. but an investment worth making- as it was every bit as enjoyable.
True-crime writer Lucas Graham is forced to choose between his marriage and his career upon receiving a letter. In 1983, Jeffrey Halcomb was charged with two cases of ritualistic murder, and 8 charges of aiding and abetting- when he was found surrounded by the bodies of his devoted followers, in the house of congressman Terry Snow. Ever since, he has remained silent- refusing to comment. Until 2014, when Lucas is given the opportunity to write about Jeffrey’s heinous crime.. whilst staying in the house it occurred in… with his pre-teen daughter. What could go wrong right?
On the surface, Within These Walls is an atmospheric and terrifying read. I mean.. you’ve got true crime, cults, a haunted house, ghosts, messy relationships and a Ouija board- what more could one want? At its core however, Ahlborn delivers a stark study on the human mind, and how it can be manipulated- both generally and in terms of religion.
The characters, whilst having made some pretty irritating decisions at times, practically leapt off the page. It’s impossible to not feel all the feels when reading Ania, and this is no different. The relationship between Lucas and Jeanie, and how it changed throughout the course of the novel is something I could picture myself writing an essay about- and Jeffrey Halcomb is one of the most terrifying.. yet interesting antagonists I’ve come across.
Some reviewers have said the last 40 pages seem quite convoluted, and I can honestly see it. It definitely gets complex, but results in an epic Jekyll v Hyde style final battle between good and evil- and I was a total sucker for it.
To conclude.. this woman can do NO wrong… other than The Neighbours (sorry not sorry).
True-crime writer Lucas Graham is forced to choose between his marriage and his career upon receiving a letter. In 1983, Jeffrey Halcomb was charged with two cases of ritualistic murder, and 8 charges of aiding and abetting- when he was found surrounded by the bodies of his devoted followers, in the house of congressman Terry Snow. Ever since, he has remained silent- refusing to comment. Until 2014, when Lucas is given the opportunity to write about Jeffrey’s heinous crime.. whilst staying in the house it occurred in… with his pre-teen daughter. What could go wrong right?
On the surface, Within These Walls is an atmospheric and terrifying read. I mean.. you’ve got true crime, cults, a haunted house, ghosts, messy relationships and a Ouija board- what more could one want? At its core however, Ahlborn delivers a stark study on the human mind, and how it can be manipulated- both generally and in terms of religion.
The characters, whilst having made some pretty irritating decisions at times, practically leapt off the page. It’s impossible to not feel all the feels when reading Ania, and this is no different. The relationship between Lucas and Jeanie, and how it changed throughout the course of the novel is something I could picture myself writing an essay about- and Jeffrey Halcomb is one of the most terrifying.. yet interesting antagonists I’ve come across.
Some reviewers have said the last 40 pages seem quite convoluted, and I can honestly see it. It definitely gets complex, but results in an epic Jekyll v Hyde style final battle between good and evil- and I was a total sucker for it.
To conclude.. this woman can do NO wrong… other than The Neighbours (sorry not sorry).
Took me awhile to figure where I left off but glad I finished it. I mostly liked the back & forth-ness of present to past. You got about three different view points of the story. Made it all the more interesting. :)
Full of misogynist tropes and parodies of characters. The shrewish wife, the misunderstood teen, and worst of all, the “woe-is-me” dad, who’s “just trying to do his best for his family.” Am I really supposed to empathize with any of them? What was the point here?
Bloated. Repetitive. Unlikeable characters.
The book had a promising set up and then was an absolute drag through the middle section. For a cult leader, Jeff sure wasn’t portrayed as charismatic or likable; we were just told he was.
The ending was creepy and done well, which saved this one from being an overall loss for me.
The book had a promising set up and then was an absolute drag through the middle section. For a cult leader, Jeff sure wasn’t portrayed as charismatic or likable; we were just told he was.
The ending was creepy and done well, which saved this one from being an overall loss for me.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Murder