Review: The Haunting of Paynes Hollow by Kelley Armstrong

★★★★★ #TheHauntingofPaynesHollow #Outnow #KelleyArmstrong #BuyitNow #NetGalley

Is there anything Ms. Armstrong cannot write? This is a standalone paranormal suspense that sucks me in and keeps me on the edge of my seat. A definite page turner which kept up all night. The book hangover is strong with this one. The story starts out innocently enough with Samantha and her deceased grandfather. She is estranged from the family and wants nothing to do with them since her father's death. A father she adored and one that her world revolved around until it all came crashing down. I am already dreading the family drama until something doesn't add up. This is a tale of horror, betrayal, and family secrets. Full disclosure, I did not read the blurb and to say I was confused would be an understatement. I enjoyed every second of it.

Samantha aka Sam comes with a nasty family history that started out so well. Her childhood was idyllic until a boy stalks her. Honestly, I do not understand the mindset of a stalker. In instances in the news, in real life, and what I read in books, I see a reoccurring theme. This may come across as blaming the victim. This is not my intention. What I do observe and what I have read is that stalkers will pick target they find are easy, for the most part. I have never been more thankful of being a difficult, opinionated, abrasive, and a bit scary. Hah. I digress. Sam's stalker is the catalyst that tears her family apart.

What I enjoyed about this journey is that no one's hands were clean. Everyone in this story is more or less part of this dirty secret and there is blood on everyone's hands. The claims of victim hood by Sam's mother, family is at times trying. I get that Sam's grandfather was a chauvinistic jerk. He was condescending and patronizing. But what if, he was this way because he was disappointed in his progeny? What if he too was unable to communicate effectively and be mature about it? We all know playing favourites is all too realistic and destructive. What if family members decided to break the cycle and not play?

This story speaks to me, because in some ways, I see a lot of my grandfather in Sam's grandfather. My perspective of him and understanding of him is vastly different than his children and most of his grandchildren. It is not that I find Sam's grandfather or mine perfect or justified in their behaviour. But once I understood their motivation, the game changed. It did for me and I see it does for Sam.

The twists and turns in this story to uncover an unholy family secret is at time both thrilling and disturbing. I love this disturbing and creepy aspect of it. Just because we do not believe in the supernatural does not mean they can not affect us. This suspense thriller is highly recommended to readers who enjoy a bit of the mystical tied into family drama.

*provided by NetGalley