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A review by redcoatmom
Cardiff, by the Sea: Four Novellas of Suspense by Joyce Carol Oates
3.0
I'd never read any of JCO's books but kept hearing her name pop up in articles, Jeopardy, and crosswords.
I checked this out from a library display centered around "mystery and suspense".
I personally don't think of these stories in this collection as mysteries, per se. They are more like psychological suspense? I'm not sure what to compare them to.
Honestly, they were good stories...a bit weird and atmospherically creepy. Not my usual thing but I gave it 3 stars for the writing, which was excellent, and plots, which were unique.
The first novella could easily have been developed into a larger book. I'm wondering if it wasn't, possibly, the writer's intention to do just that but she changed her mind. There are so many characters in it that could have been fleshed out more, adding some layers to the suspense.
The other novellas one can ascertain that she intentionally wrote them as novellas. Their subject matter was disturbing and dark. Not my cup of tea.
If one is into Koontz, one might like these stories. They are similar but without full-on horror. Creepy is the only word I, personally, can describe them as.
I checked this out from a library display centered around "mystery and suspense".
I personally don't think of these stories in this collection as mysteries, per se. They are more like psychological suspense? I'm not sure what to compare them to.
Honestly, they were good stories...a bit weird and atmospherically creepy. Not my usual thing but I gave it 3 stars for the writing, which was excellent, and plots, which were unique.
The first novella could easily have been developed into a larger book. I'm wondering if it wasn't, possibly, the writer's intention to do just that but she changed her mind. There are so many characters in it that could have been fleshed out more, adding some layers to the suspense.
The other novellas one can ascertain that she intentionally wrote them as novellas. Their subject matter was disturbing and dark. Not my cup of tea.
If one is into Koontz, one might like these stories. They are similar but without full-on horror. Creepy is the only word I, personally, can describe them as.