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A review by panikos
Hare House by Sally Hinchcliffe
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This was a strange read, and I can understand why the overall ratings are not that high, but I enjoyed it a lot. I was roped in right from the start by the book's irresistable atmosphere - Hinchcliffe's description of the countryside is so palphable, and she's brilliant at sowing unease and tension into her prose. Even though the characters are difficult to pin down, and nor are they particularly nice people, I was entranced by them. The protagonist is very carefully drawn. When I first started the story, I wondered if I could fully trust what she was saying, but grew very sympathetic towards her the more I read. Her loneliness was convincing and infectious, and I longed for her to find the companionship she so desperately craved.
Yet towards the end of the book, I started to question her again. Was she really telling us the whole truth? Why was she behaving in such a strange way, without fully explaining why? How much could we trust what she'd said about her past? Once I started mistrusting one thing she'd said, I began to rethink everything that had happened before, and that made for a really intersting reading experience. I'll be turning this book over in my mind for a long time. For instance, I've only just now realised that we never learnt the narrator's name - that detail was witheld without me even noticing.
I can see why the ambiguity would bother a lot of readers. If you're looking for a clear cut horror story with answers and a neat ending, this isn't the read for you. I usually find open endings a bit hit-or-miss, but in this particular case, it was a hit for me. I like that it's hard to tell exactly what happened, and it feels very much in keeping with the themes of the novel - the way that rumours and suspicion can run away with people, making you assume the worst of them. I read the book hoping for answers, but I wasn't angry to be denied them; it was the bolder narrative choice, and I personally think it paid off. The unreliable narration is part and parcel of the story.
So if you don't mind ambiguous endings, and if you love spooky old houses, unpredictable characters, and wintry landscapes, give this one a try.
Yet towards the end of the book, I started to question her again. Was she really telling us the whole truth? Why was she behaving in such a strange way, without fully explaining why? How much could we trust what she'd said about her past? Once I started mistrusting one thing she'd said, I began to rethink everything that had happened before, and that made for a really intersting reading experience. I'll be turning this book over in my mind for a long time. For instance, I've only just now realised that we never learnt the narrator's name - that detail was witheld without me even noticing.
I can see why the ambiguity would bother a lot of readers. If you're looking for a clear cut horror story with answers and a neat ending, this isn't the read for you. I usually find open endings a bit hit-or-miss, but in this particular case, it was a hit for me. I like that it's hard to tell exactly what happened, and it feels very much in keeping with the themes of the novel - the way that rumours and suspicion can run away with people, making you assume the worst of them. I read the book hoping for answers, but I wasn't angry to be denied them; it was the bolder narrative choice, and I personally think it paid off. The unreliable narration is part and parcel of the story.
So if you don't mind ambiguous endings, and if you love spooky old houses, unpredictable characters, and wintry landscapes, give this one a try.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Car accident, and Mental illness