I'm the center of attention in the walls inside my head: MY DARLING GIRL.

My Darling Girl by Jennifer McMahon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Gives a whole new meaning to the phrase "possessed by a demon"

Alison had a horrible childhood, growing up with an abusive, alcoholic mother, Mavis, who made her life miserable. She survived, going on to marry her cheerful husband, Mark, with whom she has two children, teenage Izzy and young Olivia. When Mavis' assistant reaches out with the news that Mavis is dying of cancer and wants to spend her final days with family, Alison is torn. She finally agrees, dreaming of closure with her mother. But when strange things start happening, Alison is convinced her mom is the cause.

This was such an eerie book! Even better, it's set around the Christmas holidays, making all the terrifying events even more awful against the backdrop of holiday pageants and movies and cookies. Alison is clearly (justifiably) traumatized by her childhood, leaving us to wonder if her suspicions toward her mother are true, or just paranoia. These feelings of paranoia weave across the story as weirder and creepier incidents occur once Mavis arrives at Alison's house. Alison begins to suspect her mother is not who she seems, going so far to wonder if she's possessed by a demon.

The plot sounds far fetched, but works surprisingly well. McMahon, as always, creates expert creepy, crackling tension. It's easy to fly through the pages of this one. The cast of characters is limited, but intriguing, and there's the dynamic of wondering whether Alison remembers her childhood correctly and then what exactly is happening with Mavis. The result is a terrifying, spooky read that also explores the issues of motherhood and family. 4 stars.

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She woke up with hope, but she only found tears: THE CHILDREN ON THE HILL.

The Children on the Hill by Jennifer McMahon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In 1978, Violet and Eric live in Vermont with their grandmother. To them, she's just Gran, but to others, she's the famous Dr. Helen Hildreth, a psychiatrist well-known for her work with the mentally ill. She does her work at the Hillside Inn, a massive facility next to their home. One day she brings home a patient, Iris, a scared and feral child. Violet and Eric bring her into their "Monster Club," where they catalog monsters and watch for them around the property. The three do everything together, including meeting at their clubhouse and hunting monsters--because they are everywhere. Cut to 2019, where Lizzy Shelly, the host of the podcast Monsters Among Us, travels to Vermont to investigate the disappearance of a teen. Lizzy knows that bad things can happen and monsters are very real--including her own sister.

This dark and brooding novel caught my interest right away. McMahon (always a favorite author of mine) presents a really different story here. It's told via excerpts from a book by a journalist written in 1980; excerpts from the book of monsters written by Violet, Eric, and Iris in 1978; Lizzy in 2019; Violet in 1978; and "the monster." This may sound like a lot but McMahon weaves together all the various storylines seamlessly. The chapters are short and between those and the varied format, the book is quite captivating.

I guessed one of the twists fairly early, but enjoyed reading to see if I was right. CHILDREN delves into some intense topics, especially mental health awareness, but also the meaning of sisterhood and family. The idea of monsters is complex--both the spooky kind and the kind that are true evil. I really enjoyed reading about the dichotomy.

Overall, this book is unique and delves into the meaning of evil and how it comes to be. It's dark and twisty and an enjoyable read. 4 stars.

I received a copy of this book from Gallery Books and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.


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The blood in you is the blood in me: THE DROWNING KIND.

The Drowning Kind by Jennifer McMahon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Haunting tale of sisters and familial dysfunction

Sisters Jax and Lexie grew up spending summers at their grandmother's home, Sparrow Crest. But the two have grown apart over the last year, with Jax upset that Lexie inherited Sparrow Crest. When she receives a series of calls from her sister one night, she assumes they are part of Lexie's bipolar illness. But Jax learns the next day that Lexie is dead, having drowned in the pool at Sparrow Crest. Once there, Jax realizes Lexie was researching the property's dark history, much of it tied to the springs that feed Sparrow Crest's pool. She picks up her sister's research, but soon stumbles on a terrible history tied to the water. Meanwhile, back in 1929, Ethel Monroe is newly married and hoping for a baby. She and her husband head to the Brandenburg Springs Hotel and Resort. There, the owner's wife tells Ethel the springs can grant wishes. Ethel makes her wish, never knowing the spring takes for everything it gives.

I really enjoy Jennifer McMahon's books and while this probably wasn't up there with THE INVITED or BURNTOWN for me, it's certainly an eerie and atmospheric read. I can tell you one thing: I would not set a foot anywhere near those creepy, black springs. Wishes or not!

"There are very old stories about the springs. Some say it's a door between worlds."

THE DROWNING KIND alternates between present day, as Jax tries to figure out what happened to Lexie, and the 1920s/1930s, as Ethel and her husband, Will, visit the Brandenburg Springs Hotel and Resort and grapple with the aftermath of their trip. I liked the back and forth, which slowly revealed important plot pieces. This isn't a fast-moving book and not a lot really happens, per se. Setting aside Ethel's portion, it takes place over only a few days. If you're looking for a fast moving thriller, this one probably isn't for you. But it's spooky and tense and honestly chilling at times. The water (springs) becomes its own living, breathing, creepy character.

This one is like a puzzle, moving between the past and present, and a bit of mild horror film, trying to figure out what on earth is going on with the water. (No baths for me while reading this.) It grapples with the decisions we must make as parents--and sisters. The bond between Jax and Lexie is strong, even with Lexie drowned and the sisters estranged.

Overall, this is a very haunting, eerie read, steeped in history and familial tension. It's certainly scary, but it's also packs emotional depth. 3.5 stars, rounded up here. (Trigger warning for self-harm.)

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Gallery/Scout Press in return for an unbiased review.

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Where I keep all my yesterdays: THE INVITED.

The Invited by Jennifer McMahon

My rating: 4.5+ of 5 stars


Helen and Nate have a nice, settled life as teachers at a private school in Connecticut. But they also have aspirations for a simpler life. So using their savings and an inheritance, they buy 40+ acres in the tiny village of Hartsboro, Vermont and decide to build their own dream house themselves. Helen, a history teacher, wants a house and land with history--and she gets her wish when she discovers the story of Hattie Breckenridge, a woman who apparently lived (and died) on their property over a hundred years ago. Marked by the villagers as a witch, Hattie was killed, leaving behind her young daughter, Jane. Helen becomes fascinated with Hattie's past and begins trying to find out what happened to her--and her family members. But a series of more and more weird events start happening once they move in. Is it just the people of Hartsboro, who don't like outsiders? Or is it Hattie? And are Helen and Nate in danger?

I just love Jennifer McMahon's books and she's someone whom I will read anything they write. This was such a good book that drew me from the very beginning. I started it while on vacation in Vermont, so I was really excited that it happened to take place in Vermont--a place I'd never been until this year. McMahon's descriptive language makes it so easy to visualize her (often eerie) settings, as well as her characters.

Along with Helen and Nate, our slightly hippyish couple, we have Olive, a teenage girl from Hartsboro, and her dad and aunt, plus various Hartsboro townsfolk. Olive was a very compelling character; she's been abandoned by her mother and is teased and bullied terribly by her schoolmates, since the town all believes her mom ran off with another man. Her bereft father isn't much help, leaving her to raise herself or rely on her aunt. She has one friend, Mike, who is a good guy, but annoys our feisty heroine with his wimpy-ness. It's hard not to fall for Olive, believe me. Even Helen will grow on you, too. And no matter what, they are so easy to picture.

The novel is told from a variety of points of view, but mainly Olive and Helen. We learn a lot about each of them. As I said, it drew me in from the beginning and kept me reading. As with most of McMahon's books, it's layered with that creepy, mysterious edge. In many ways, it's a proper ghost story. But she always manages to write it so that instead of rolling your eyes, you feel a little creeped out, or find yourself looking over your shoulder at night. Hattie herself plays a really strong role in this book, and I liked how well the story set up the idea of how much people (and small towns) fear what they don't know.


"What people don't understand, they destroy."


It's funny, I could guess where a lot of this book was leading, yet it in no way diminished my enjoyment of it. I could see how that might annoy some, but it didn't bother me in the least. I was completely immersed in the characters, the eerie ghost story, and trying to piece together all the plot pieces. Hattie's story--and that of her descendants--is fascinating. There was just something about this book that I loved: that intangible piece that makes you a part of the story, keeps you flipping the pages, and makes you feel both sad and amazed when you finish the book. 4.5 stars.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher, Doubleday, and Edelweiss in return for an unbiased review (thank you!).

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There's a place in the sun that she's never been: BURNTOWN.

Burntown by Jennifer McMahon

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


As a child, Miles watched in horror as his mother was murdered before his very eyes. Despite that awful event, Miles grew up into a well-respected professor, as well as an inventor. He married his wife, Lily, and they had a family, daughter Eva and son Errol. Miles loves to tinker in his workshop while Eva watches and assists. Miles best invention, however? A machine built off plans supposedly from Thomas Edison and handed down to Miles: it allows you to speak with your deceased loved ones. But Miles' hard-fought happy adult life ends when a terrible storm hits his family home: at the same time, the machine turns itself on, warning them of danger. Shortly after, Eva awakes and is told by Lily that Miles and Errol are dead. Their home has been lost in the "Great Flood," and they can never return. Eva reinvents herself as Necco, and she and her mother find a new life among the homeless of Burntown. But then Necco's mother dies and a series of events shows that Necco is in grave danger. What exactly happened the night of the Great Flood? And will Necco ever be safe again?

The premise of this book probably sounds absurd, but please, don't let it deter you. I've read a handful of McMahon's books over time now and liked them all, but I really, really enjoyed this book. Many of her books have a blend of paranormal, fantasy, etc., and this one was no exception, expertly weaving in fantasy and supernatural flavors into a surprisingly riveting mystery.

The novel starts off a bit convoluted--there are a lot of narrators--and you have to suspend your disbelief at times for the plot to work, but it's really worth it. Necco is a wonderful character, and she's surrounded by this intriguing group of people, including Pru, a cafeteria lady/circus fanatic; Theo, a high school student finding her way; and Mr. Marcelle, a delivery man who helps out his private investigator brother. McMahon seamlessly weaves together these characters--and many more--into a mesmerizing tale that is part ghost story, part mystery, part love story. I honestly couldn't put this book down: I stayed up late to finish it.

This novel isn't your usual mystery or your usual supernatural tale, but it's certainly worth reading if you like one or both genres. There's a sweetness to it, as well as a completely compelling plot that will pull you in immediately.

You can read my review of McMahon's novel, THE NIGHT SISTER, here.

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All of the bright colors that live inside of me are now just tiny pieces of what used to be.

The Night Sister by Jennifer McMahon

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


As children, Amy, Piper, and Margot were thick as thieves until an incident at the Tower Motel, where Amy and her family (including her mother and aunt) grew up, tore them apart. Now Piper and Margot, her sister, have moved on. Piper has moved away, while Margot lives in the same town with her husband, Jason. But when Margot calls Piper in the middle of the night, with some horrible news about Amy and her family, the two sisters are forced to revisit their childhood, and the incident at the Tower Motel that ended their friendship with Amy. What exactly happened to Amy and her family? And is it related to Amy's mother Rose and her sister Sylvie?

As seems to be the case a lot late, this novel weaves its story through a variety of perspectives, including Piper, Rose, and even Margot's husband, Jason. This means jumping back and forth in both perspective and time period. It does this frequently enough that, while suspense does build, it's a little hard to get into the characters or even story momentum at times.

McMahon has a track record of bringing in spooky elements into her books. I'm torn on whether this one almost would have been better with just the human element. Or, conversely, I would have liked to have seen her run with the supernatural aspect a little bit more. As the story was written, you had to suspend your disbelief a bit (so be prepared for that; if that's not your style, you won't enjoy this book). However, it was so lightly woven in that it almost seemed like everything could be pushed onto to other elements. Hard to explain, but I would have liked to have seen the book fall more in one direction or the other.

Still, it was an interesting story and definitely creepy. I certainly found myself a little skittish that night in bed, after finishing the novel.



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