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alannahedstrom's review against another edition
4.0
A surprisingly entertaining book! I really enjoyed it.
kbranfield's review
4.0
4.5 stars.
With a narrative that seamlessly weaves between the past and present, The Storm King by Brendan Duffy is an atmospheric mystery that is full of secrets and revenge.
As a teenager, Nate McHale is the lone survivor of a car accident that killed his parents and younger brother. Raised by his beloved Grams, Nate and his close friends, Tommy Buck, Johnny Vanhouten and Owen Liffey set out to extract vengeance against the people they perceive have wronged them. These "Thunder Runs" occur during storms and they run the gamut from subtle to overt vandalism against a number of residents in their small town. With their high school graduation marking the end of their reign of terror, Nate leaves for college and never returns to Greystone Lake following a devastating loss.
In the present, Nate is happily married with a daughter and he has a successful career as a surgeon. Following the stunning discovery of skeletonized remains, Nate returns to his hometown to attend the funeral and quickly learns that his grandmother and his friends are being targeted by vandals. Taken in for questioning about the recovered bones, Nate stumbles onto an astonishing trove of information that he uses to investigate incidents in the present and a heartbreaking loss in his past.
With the flashbacks of Nate's teen years, a shocking portrait of Nate begins to emerge. He and his friends are relentless in their zest for revenge and their pranks are incredibly destructive. It is difficult to feel much sympathy for Nate as the depths of his rage and sly manipulation of his friends are exposed. When the object of his wrath changes focus, he and his friends ensure that anyone who slights them is punished for their "misdeed". The teens act as judge and judge and they do not hesitate to carry out the sentences they impose on their victims.
Upon his return for the funeral, Nate is somewhat surprised by the changes time has wrought upon his friends. He is also uneasy with questions the police chief asks him during an antagonistic interrogation. After he unearths the astounding compilation of data about the graduation night disappearance of someone very dear to him, Nate thinks he knows who is behind the vandalism and why. He is also certain he knows who is responsible for the tragedy that occurred on graduation night but his efforts to investigate are hampered by the worsening hurricane. Will he uncover the truth before it is too late? Will Nate unmask a dark and twisted killer before they strike again?
The Storm King is an engrossing mystery that keeps the pages turning at a blistering pace. Nate is an extremely intriguing character that initially is not easy to like, but gradually becomes a protagonist that readers will root for as he searches for the truth. With the hurricane approaching, the storyline takes on a high degree of urgency as all of the pieces finally begin falling into place. Although readers will most likely be able to accurately narrow down the suspect pool to a handful of likely culprits, Brendan Duffy masterfully keeps the perpetrator's identity tightly under wraps until the adrenaline-laced denouement.
With a narrative that seamlessly weaves between the past and present, The Storm King by Brendan Duffy is an atmospheric mystery that is full of secrets and revenge.
As a teenager, Nate McHale is the lone survivor of a car accident that killed his parents and younger brother. Raised by his beloved Grams, Nate and his close friends, Tommy Buck, Johnny Vanhouten and Owen Liffey set out to extract vengeance against the people they perceive have wronged them. These "Thunder Runs" occur during storms and they run the gamut from subtle to overt vandalism against a number of residents in their small town. With their high school graduation marking the end of their reign of terror, Nate leaves for college and never returns to Greystone Lake following a devastating loss.
In the present, Nate is happily married with a daughter and he has a successful career as a surgeon. Following the stunning discovery of skeletonized remains, Nate returns to his hometown to attend the funeral and quickly learns that his grandmother and his friends are being targeted by vandals. Taken in for questioning about the recovered bones, Nate stumbles onto an astonishing trove of information that he uses to investigate incidents in the present and a heartbreaking loss in his past.
With the flashbacks of Nate's teen years, a shocking portrait of Nate begins to emerge. He and his friends are relentless in their zest for revenge and their pranks are incredibly destructive. It is difficult to feel much sympathy for Nate as the depths of his rage and sly manipulation of his friends are exposed. When the object of his wrath changes focus, he and his friends ensure that anyone who slights them is punished for their "misdeed". The teens act as judge and judge and they do not hesitate to carry out the sentences they impose on their victims.
Upon his return for the funeral, Nate is somewhat surprised by the changes time has wrought upon his friends. He is also uneasy with questions the police chief asks him during an antagonistic interrogation. After he unearths the astounding compilation of data about the graduation night disappearance of someone very dear to him, Nate thinks he knows who is behind the vandalism and why. He is also certain he knows who is responsible for the tragedy that occurred on graduation night but his efforts to investigate are hampered by the worsening hurricane. Will he uncover the truth before it is too late? Will Nate unmask a dark and twisted killer before they strike again?
The Storm King is an engrossing mystery that keeps the pages turning at a blistering pace. Nate is an extremely intriguing character that initially is not easy to like, but gradually becomes a protagonist that readers will root for as he searches for the truth. With the hurricane approaching, the storyline takes on a high degree of urgency as all of the pieces finally begin falling into place. Although readers will most likely be able to accurately narrow down the suspect pool to a handful of likely culprits, Brendan Duffy masterfully keeps the perpetrator's identity tightly under wraps until the adrenaline-laced denouement.
geofroggatt's review against another edition
4.0
Does anyone else have certain tropes that are always guaranteed to draw you in? General plots, storylines, or relationship dynamics that guarantee you're going to pick up a book or check out a movie or television show? One of my favorite tropes is when a character with a dark past returns to the place where it all began, only to have all hell break loose. The Storm King fits into that outline perfectly. Nate McHale has assembled the kind of life most people would envy. After a tumultuous youth marked by his inexplicable survival of a devastating tragedy, Nate left his Adirondack hometown of Greystone Lake and never looked back. Fourteen years later, he's become a respected New York City surgeon, devoted husband, and loving father. Then a body is discovered deep in the forests that surround Greystone Lake. This disturbing news finally draws Nate home. While navigating a tense landscape of secrets and suspicion, resentments and guilt, Nate reconnects with estranged friends and old enemies, and encounters strangers who seem to know impossible things about him. Haunting every moment is the Lake's sinister history and the memory of wild, beautiful Lucy Bennett, with whom Nate is forever linked by shattering loss and youthful passion. As a massive hurricane bears down on the Northeast, the air becomes electric, the clouds grow dark, and escalating acts of violence echo events from Nate's own past.
Content warning for rape (described briefly), mentions of sexual assault, suicide, murder, child abuse and fatphobia. The Storm King provides readers a mix of flashbacks, present day narratives and journal entries as we seek to uncover the mystery surrounding the disappearance and ultimate death of a girl long-lost. Author, Brendan Duffy, strategically interlaces this variety in writing style in an attempt to keep the reader at suspense throughout his storytelling. However, I felt I was initially working far too hard to keep all the storylines straight as the reader is ripped from present day, to flashbacks, to the story of the town’s mysterious sisters, to the journal entries of the missing Lucy Bennett and back. An otherwise intriguing suspense is distracted as it is tangled amongst one too many storylines and writing styles. I must admit that the initial confusion was only in the first half of the story, and once I reached the second half, everything started coming together and became clear, and the story really picked up for me then. I found that it defied genre boundaries, which I liked. It is suspenseful, but I wouldn't market it as a straight-forward mainstream thriller. The story itself is a slow-burn mystery, a delectable piece of crime fiction, and a coming-of-age story, all wrapped into one narrative. I loved Nate McHale as a protagonist, even if I felt that his characterization was stronger in the flashbacks than it was during the present day storyline.
The atmosphere was unique and was crafted very well. This book would be more impactful for readers if they chose to read it during a thunder storm. Part of me feels like this book could have benefitted from being 10% shorter, but I do think that it needed to be as long as it was for the mystery to be as good as it was. I liked the dynamics between the characters (in the past and in the present) and the exploration of the history of the town itself was intriguing. I loved that the characters were depicted as morally grey, especially during the flashbacks. It felt very real to growing up and life in a small town. Nate and Tom’s friendship was a highlight for me. The juvenile “vigilantism” in this book was also an interesting aspect to this story. I love that there are so many moments exploring what the characters in the past hope to be and what the characters in the present could have been, it really gave weight to the story and made the characters feel like people I could know in real life. It really showed the way that life takes people in directions they can never anticipate. I love the way that the tragedies in the town became urban legends amongst the citizens. More savvy readers will be able to anticipate the first twist reveal, but I only started to put the pieces together a second before the actual reveal, so I was very satisfied with it. The second twist wasn’t as compelling for me but the way that it connected back to Nate was interesting and fleshed out the story and his character. The third twist was decent and disturbing, I didn’t see it coming but I do feel like it could have been written more effectively in terms of foreshadowing. Maybe there was more foreshadowing for the third twist in the beginning of the novel, but I didn’t notice it so it didn’t make the third reveal as effective for me personally, even though it fit the story and was written well. I loved the way that everything was revealed to be connected. I would love to see this story adapted into a prestige HBO limited series. I highly recommend this book for fans of small town mysteries.
Content warning for rape (described briefly), mentions of sexual assault, suicide, murder, child abuse and fatphobia. The Storm King provides readers a mix of flashbacks, present day narratives and journal entries as we seek to uncover the mystery surrounding the disappearance and ultimate death of a girl long-lost. Author, Brendan Duffy, strategically interlaces this variety in writing style in an attempt to keep the reader at suspense throughout his storytelling. However, I felt I was initially working far too hard to keep all the storylines straight as the reader is ripped from present day, to flashbacks, to the story of the town’s mysterious sisters, to the journal entries of the missing Lucy Bennett and back. An otherwise intriguing suspense is distracted as it is tangled amongst one too many storylines and writing styles. I must admit that the initial confusion was only in the first half of the story, and once I reached the second half, everything started coming together and became clear, and the story really picked up for me then. I found that it defied genre boundaries, which I liked. It is suspenseful, but I wouldn't market it as a straight-forward mainstream thriller. The story itself is a slow-burn mystery, a delectable piece of crime fiction, and a coming-of-age story, all wrapped into one narrative. I loved Nate McHale as a protagonist, even if I felt that his characterization was stronger in the flashbacks than it was during the present day storyline.
The atmosphere was unique and was crafted very well. This book would be more impactful for readers if they chose to read it during a thunder storm. Part of me feels like this book could have benefitted from being 10% shorter, but I do think that it needed to be as long as it was for the mystery to be as good as it was. I liked the dynamics between the characters (in the past and in the present) and the exploration of the history of the town itself was intriguing. I loved that the characters were depicted as morally grey, especially during the flashbacks. It felt very real to growing up and life in a small town. Nate and Tom’s friendship was a highlight for me. The juvenile “vigilantism” in this book was also an interesting aspect to this story. I love that there are so many moments exploring what the characters in the past hope to be and what the characters in the present could have been, it really gave weight to the story and made the characters feel like people I could know in real life. It really showed the way that life takes people in directions they can never anticipate. I love the way that the tragedies in the town became urban legends amongst the citizens. More savvy readers will be able to anticipate the first twist reveal, but I only started to put the pieces together a second before the actual reveal, so I was very satisfied with it. The second twist wasn’t as compelling for me but the way that it connected back to Nate was interesting and fleshed out the story and his character. The third twist was decent and disturbing, I didn’t see it coming but I do feel like it could have been written more effectively in terms of foreshadowing. Maybe there was more foreshadowing for the third twist in the beginning of the novel, but I didn’t notice it so it didn’t make the third reveal as effective for me personally, even though it fit the story and was written well. I loved the way that everything was revealed to be connected. I would love to see this story adapted into a prestige HBO limited series. I highly recommend this book for fans of small town mysteries.
usbsticky's review against another edition
5.0
Summary: When a body is found, a New York city surgeon goes back to his rural home town for the funeral while a storm is brewing. This book took many unexpected turns and had a little bit of everything. I don't often give out 5 stars but I really felt this one deserved it.
The writing was easy to read but not 100% easy to follow since the plot had one of those plot devices I hate: alternating timelines. And because the plot doesn't explain everything in the first place nor do the chapter headings explicitly tell you which time line you're in, you have to read a little bit in to figure it out.
And that's the whole way with the book. Because I didn't read the blurb on the back, I didn't know what the plot was going to be and the turn of events really surprised me. But because the characters and events were so mesmerizing and the writing easy to read, I gamely followed along.
You get an uneasy feeling as you read on. You don't want the book or the characters to go this way, but they do and you're forced to follow along because you want to find out more. At times, the prose was just beautiful, like poetry or music, like art but in writing. I seldom see this in thrillers and wonder why there was such artistry in a thriller but the author manages to pull it off.
And at times, it was pretty creepy. I wanted to stop reading at 3am but the book was at a place I didn't want to stop. I finally finished the book at 4am in a rush. The ending I'm afraid was a bit cliched and maybe a bit too long but it did stop quickly when it did.
Overall, it was unsettling, but good. This book could be made into a movie or short mini-series. I'm definitely going to take a look at this author's other works. I highly recommend this book.
I got this book as a free ARC.
The writing was easy to read but not 100% easy to follow since the plot had one of those plot devices I hate: alternating timelines. And because the plot doesn't explain everything in the first place nor do the chapter headings explicitly tell you which time line you're in, you have to read a little bit in to figure it out.
And that's the whole way with the book. Because I didn't read the blurb on the back, I didn't know what the plot was going to be and the turn of events really surprised me. But because the characters and events were so mesmerizing and the writing easy to read, I gamely followed along.
You get an uneasy feeling as you read on. You don't want the book or the characters to go this way, but they do and you're forced to follow along because you want to find out more. At times, the prose was just beautiful, like poetry or music, like art but in writing. I seldom see this in thrillers and wonder why there was such artistry in a thriller but the author manages to pull it off.
And at times, it was pretty creepy. I wanted to stop reading at 3am but the book was at a place I didn't want to stop. I finally finished the book at 4am in a rush. The ending I'm afraid was a bit cliched and maybe a bit too long but it did stop quickly when it did.
Overall, it was unsettling, but good. This book could be made into a movie or short mini-series. I'm definitely going to take a look at this author's other works. I highly recommend this book.
I got this book as a free ARC.
raeallic's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 This was a fantastic read. An evocative atmospheric thriller with an original plot and plenty of twists. Will be eagerly looking towards my next read by Brendan Duffy!
I'm considering bumping to a 5...months later I still find myself thinking about this one.
I'm considering bumping to a 5...months later I still find myself thinking about this one.
maeclair's review against another edition
5.0
A superb read. I’m a huge fan of books that feature past and present timelines. Mr. Duffy does an exceptional job carrying off both, twining them with an atmospheric lake setting steeped in local folklore. There are numerous characters and plot threads that populate this book, all satisfactorily fleshed out. The plot is multi-layered and had me guessing a several points.
Nate McHale returns to his home town when the remains of a girl he dated in high school are found—fourteen years after she went missing. Connecting with old friends resurrects grievances and memories of the past. Old secrets spill out, wounds are reopened, and something sinister seems to lurk at every turn.
The tension in this novel builds with the same brooding atmosphere of an impending storm. I enjoyed the author’s first novel, House of Echoes, but he really raises the bar with The Strom King. Vivid, imaginative, and tension-filled, I found it hard to put down.
Nate McHale returns to his home town when the remains of a girl he dated in high school are found—fourteen years after she went missing. Connecting with old friends resurrects grievances and memories of the past. Old secrets spill out, wounds are reopened, and something sinister seems to lurk at every turn.
The tension in this novel builds with the same brooding atmosphere of an impending storm. I enjoyed the author’s first novel, House of Echoes, but he really raises the bar with The Strom King. Vivid, imaginative, and tension-filled, I found it hard to put down.
bibliomaineiac's review against another edition
4.0
Awhile ago, I received an ARC of this book. It got misplaced due to life (which included some remodeling of my home.) I finally got a chance to read it. And I am so glad I did. Great writing. It left me somewhat guessing as to what was going on until all was revealed. While one of my guesses was close, it wasn't quite spot on. Which I liked. It's nice to have a mystery where you don't see everything coming at you.
quirkycatsfatstacks's review against another edition
4.0
I received a copy of The Storm King from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
The Storm King is Brendan Duffy’s second novel, and while I haven’t read his first yet (House of Echoes) I feel like I can safely say I like the way he thinks. This novel explores a lot of different concepts, while also delivering a thriller that’ll keep you on your toes. Things start off with you being pretty unaware of the main character’s (Nate) past, but over time the details are slowly revealed, finally giving us the full picture.
Warnings first: Both of the warnings for this novel happen towards the back of the book. A main character is revealed to have been raped and murdered, and then later we see it happen through the killer’s eyes. It’s pretty quick, but it is brutal and will likely be upsetting to anybody that would prefer not to read something like this. Another character’s dog is murdered; you’ll get a little bit of a warning before it happens, but it isn’t terribly detailed and it doesn’t come up again (which frustrated me a little bit, to be honest).
What is a story? Is it fact? Is it truth? A blend of the two? Or is it something else entirely? These are questions raised by The Storm King. Based in a town where stories are the stuff of legends, it’s almost understandable how every major event ends up taking up a life of its own. The town is full of them, and even our main character can’t avoid getting pulled into them.
I love how the concept of a story is explored in this novel; how it can warp and change with each telling; how it has the power to ruin lives. So many different angles are studied and pointed out to us, but they’re done in subtle ways. In a way, that was the real masterpiece of this novel. The thriller element was interesting to be sure, but it was this examination that really hooked me.
Nate, the golden boy, has many secrets. Considering the worst day of his life became one of the town’s stories, I can’t really say I blame him for those secrets. The thing is though, when one keeps a secret so do the others. All of Nate’s childhood friends have secrets, and they’re haunting them still. That is how this story begins.
While this novel did drag at times, on the whole I really enjoyed it. It took me about three chapters to really become invested in what was happening, but once I did I was hooked. At first I was put off by not knowing the details of everything they were talking about, but as things got revealed that irritation faded. By the end I was practically gobbling up the pages, in order to see what happened next.
There are enough twists and turns to keep anyone’s interest, particularly once you get about a third of the way through the novel. Once you hit that point, it’s like jumping on a roller coaster. The events occur rapidly, bouncing from one to the next. Considering this, it’s really a miracle that Nate was able to put the pieces of the puzzle together at all, let alone in time (I know, I know, he sort of had some help in the end, but you get what I mean).
I loved Duffy’s writing style; it was detailed but not excessive, and while there were a few bits I feel we could have lived without (seeing the murder from the killer’s perspective really wasn’t necessary, since all the pieces had been laid out by then) I still greatly enjoyed it.
For more reviews, check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
The Storm King is Brendan Duffy’s second novel, and while I haven’t read his first yet (House of Echoes) I feel like I can safely say I like the way he thinks. This novel explores a lot of different concepts, while also delivering a thriller that’ll keep you on your toes. Things start off with you being pretty unaware of the main character’s (Nate) past, but over time the details are slowly revealed, finally giving us the full picture.
Warnings first: Both of the warnings for this novel happen towards the back of the book. A main character is revealed to have been raped and murdered, and then later we see it happen through the killer’s eyes. It’s pretty quick, but it is brutal and will likely be upsetting to anybody that would prefer not to read something like this. Another character’s dog is murdered; you’ll get a little bit of a warning before it happens, but it isn’t terribly detailed and it doesn’t come up again (which frustrated me a little bit, to be honest).
What is a story? Is it fact? Is it truth? A blend of the two? Or is it something else entirely? These are questions raised by The Storm King. Based in a town where stories are the stuff of legends, it’s almost understandable how every major event ends up taking up a life of its own. The town is full of them, and even our main character can’t avoid getting pulled into them.
I love how the concept of a story is explored in this novel; how it can warp and change with each telling; how it has the power to ruin lives. So many different angles are studied and pointed out to us, but they’re done in subtle ways. In a way, that was the real masterpiece of this novel. The thriller element was interesting to be sure, but it was this examination that really hooked me.
Nate, the golden boy, has many secrets. Considering the worst day of his life became one of the town’s stories, I can’t really say I blame him for those secrets. The thing is though, when one keeps a secret so do the others. All of Nate’s childhood friends have secrets, and they’re haunting them still. That is how this story begins.
While this novel did drag at times, on the whole I really enjoyed it. It took me about three chapters to really become invested in what was happening, but once I did I was hooked. At first I was put off by not knowing the details of everything they were talking about, but as things got revealed that irritation faded. By the end I was practically gobbling up the pages, in order to see what happened next.
There are enough twists and turns to keep anyone’s interest, particularly once you get about a third of the way through the novel. Once you hit that point, it’s like jumping on a roller coaster. The events occur rapidly, bouncing from one to the next. Considering this, it’s really a miracle that Nate was able to put the pieces of the puzzle together at all, let alone in time (I know, I know, he sort of had some help in the end, but you get what I mean).
I loved Duffy’s writing style; it was detailed but not excessive, and while there were a few bits I feel we could have lived without (seeing the murder from the killer’s perspective really wasn’t necessary, since all the pieces had been laid out by then) I still greatly enjoyed it.
For more reviews, check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
thisdarkmaterial's review against another edition
2.0
Does anyone else have "pet tropes" when it comes to the stories they read and watch? General plots, character types, or relationships that guarantee you're going to pick up a book? One of my pet tropes is when a character with a dark past returns to the place where it all began, only to have all hell break loose. The Storm King fits into that outline perfectly. I spent half of the book trying so hard to love it, to find a redeeming characteristic that would get me past whatever wasn't working in my head.
Then I finally realized why I didn't like it and everything clicked into place, just not as positively as I'd hoped.
Nate McHale, the central figure whose perspective dominates the narrative, is monotonously unlikable. I don't need the main character of every book I read to be a Good PersonTM. In fact, characters who never struggle with doing the right thing are often boring, particularly when playing a central role, because that kind of conviction just isn't realistic to me. Yet for the majority of The Storm King Nate remains a self-centered, callous, and emotionally distant man whose attitude is primarily justified by a childhood tragedy. There is little development of this mindset within the text itself, with most of the variation coming as degrees of anger. The fault with Nate isn't his dark nature; instead, a lack of dynamism until the final 100 pages prevented me from ever feeling invested in him.
The supporting cast fares a bit better, though we hear from them so little in comparison to Nate that it does little to cut through the monotony. By far the most intriguing character is the young woman whose body is found near Greystone Lake. Sidelined by Nate's preoccupation with himself, she functions as barely more than a human guilt trip, another woman whose main contribution to a plot is that she died. It's a forgivable plot device when bolstered by an otherwise outstanding novel, but serves only as another shortcoming here.
I also did not enjoy Duffy's prose and found it littered with sophomoric, and sometimes downright strange, metaphors. Examples include:
There was a menagerie of suffering in the cages of Nate's soul, and this town held all the keys.
In the carousel of disaster, Nate knew that everyone gets their turn.
Not every attempt ended in disappointment however. Lines like, "The browns of rot and greens of growth shaded the house into the palette of the forest as smoothly as a bird's nest," suggest genuine talent that would benefit from a firmer hand at the editing stage. The feeling of loose editing extends to the book's structure as well. It jumps frenetically between perspectives, time periods, and formats from beginning to end, crossing the line from an engaging variety to sloppiness.
An excellent setting is what works best for The Storm King, which takes place exclusively in a small community in upstate New York. Fringed by woods and abutting an eerie lake, the town's spooky aura only grows as a hurricane barrels up the East Coast. The storm parallels Nate's increasing desperation and rising anger, the rain-heavy clouds and his temper both bursting forth with spectacular energy in the finale. A too-neat ending that brushes away inconvenient loose ends is more in line with the novel's beginning, but for a brief time in the third act Duffy shows off a great knack for thrills. It isn't quite enough to salvage The Storm King, but it just might presage a mystery author on the rise.
I received a free eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley for review purposes. This did not inform or influence my opinion in any way.
Then I finally realized why I didn't like it and everything clicked into place, just not as positively as I'd hoped.
Nate McHale, the central figure whose perspective dominates the narrative, is monotonously unlikable. I don't need the main character of every book I read to be a Good PersonTM. In fact, characters who never struggle with doing the right thing are often boring, particularly when playing a central role, because that kind of conviction just isn't realistic to me. Yet for the majority of The Storm King Nate remains a self-centered, callous, and emotionally distant man whose attitude is primarily justified by a childhood tragedy. There is little development of this mindset within the text itself, with most of the variation coming as degrees of anger. The fault with Nate isn't his dark nature; instead, a lack of dynamism until the final 100 pages prevented me from ever feeling invested in him.
The supporting cast fares a bit better, though we hear from them so little in comparison to Nate that it does little to cut through the monotony. By far the most intriguing character is the young woman whose body is found near Greystone Lake. Sidelined by Nate's preoccupation with himself, she functions as barely more than a human guilt trip, another woman whose main contribution to a plot is that she died. It's a forgivable plot device when bolstered by an otherwise outstanding novel, but serves only as another shortcoming here.
I also did not enjoy Duffy's prose and found it littered with sophomoric, and sometimes downright strange, metaphors. Examples include:
There was a menagerie of suffering in the cages of Nate's soul, and this town held all the keys.
In the carousel of disaster, Nate knew that everyone gets their turn.
Not every attempt ended in disappointment however. Lines like, "The browns of rot and greens of growth shaded the house into the palette of the forest as smoothly as a bird's nest," suggest genuine talent that would benefit from a firmer hand at the editing stage. The feeling of loose editing extends to the book's structure as well. It jumps frenetically between perspectives, time periods, and formats from beginning to end, crossing the line from an engaging variety to sloppiness.
An excellent setting is what works best for The Storm King, which takes place exclusively in a small community in upstate New York. Fringed by woods and abutting an eerie lake, the town's spooky aura only grows as a hurricane barrels up the East Coast. The storm parallels Nate's increasing desperation and rising anger, the rain-heavy clouds and his temper both bursting forth with spectacular energy in the finale. A too-neat ending that brushes away inconvenient loose ends is more in line with the novel's beginning, but for a brief time in the third act Duffy shows off a great knack for thrills. It isn't quite enough to salvage The Storm King, but it just might presage a mystery author on the rise.
I received a free eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley for review purposes. This did not inform or influence my opinion in any way.