findingmontauk1 's review for:

The Bright Lands by John Fram

5.0

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Wow - so if this is a debut novel then sign me up for whatever comes next! In this nearly-500 page book, John Fram delivers a dark and gritty thriller akin to Gillian Flynn with supernatural horror elements resembling something we might see from Stephen King. This story explores a small town that, on the outside, is obsessed with their high school football team (I can relate with that upbringing - so much that even alumni in their 60s are raging mad on Facebook groups that there is even talk about changing our mascot name in light of current situations). But beneath the surface, literally and figuratively, there is a seductive and dark power. It seems everyone has secrets in this town, both past and current. And many are trying as hard as they can to protect these secrets. But what are the secrets - how dark and terrible are these secrets? What happened to the star quarterback? What are the Bright Lands?

This book is completely intoxicating and you may find it hard to put down. The chapters alternate between different POVs and are pretty quick which helps keep the flow and pace moving along quite nicely. The Bright Lands perfectly blends crime fiction, horror, thriller, supernatural, and suspense! 5 stars!