A review by evangeline_miller
The Girl Next Door by Jack Ketchum

Did not finish book.

The Girl Next Door uses the same literary device that Stephen King consistently employs, the frame narrative. Basically, an older guy reminiscing about the past, and usually framing a coming-of-age story. Not that I disliked Ketchum’s writing style, but the abuse endured by Meg and the amount of detail used to describe her torture wasn’t balanced out by any redeeming aspects, IMO. Without those scenes, there isn’t much going on here, which is the biggest issue I have with the novel. The main character, David, is a very bland narrator and, as one of the fictional parts of this true-crime-inspired novel, could have been more interesting to follow. Just not for me.