I love a good small-town horror. They captivate readers by exploiting the paradox of familiarity and fear – much like a home invasion film but on a much more grand scale. The tranquillity of small towns, akin to Stephen King’s Derry or Green Town as envisioned by Ray Bradbury, is disrupted by the introduction of the uncanny, making the familiar suddenly terrifying. Once the initial freakishness has settled in and we ride the hill down into the uncanny valley; the true strangers appear. This juxtaposition creates a chillingly immersive experience. Historical events, as I am also a sucker for a real-life community museum, add layers of realism, making the story more compelling. Every character is potentially a victim or villain at this point. Every corner, a dark one.
This is coming soon after some of my recent reads. Grey Dog, which is already on the show; Whithered, which is coming soon; The Haunting of Velkwood, which I enjoyed so much I want to read it again already! I’ve a few more books to tuck away before digging into Small Town Horror by Ronald Malfi but it was an instant-buy today on release day.