A review by go2hellstephanie
The Dinner by Herman Koch

dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The Dinner unsettled me in ways I wasn't expecting, even for a thriller novel. A story that takes place over the course of one dinner couldn't be that bad, right? 

Being in the mind of Paul Lohman became more and more uncomfortable as more was revealed of the crime
his son committed
that sparks the plot for the book. His attitudes, seemingly normal if not a bit aggressive, at the beginning of the book became more unsettling and horrifying as I read further and more was revealed. There were several moments where I had to close the book because of the discomfort I felt.

I was surprised at how much horror I felt at the end of the novel, even after I thought most things had been revealed. It's a testament to Koch's skill in writing that dawning dread.

It was a great read--perfectly horrific without excessive gore. 
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