I'm reading through three lists of best horror with two
friends (DeAnna Knippling and M.B. Partlow), posting reviews as we go. (For
more information, including a list of the books, see this post.) To see the books I've reviewed so far,
you can view the list at the end of this post where I rank them. I'm far enough
in that I figured continuing to add the titles to this first paragraph would
take up too much room.
This week I'm reviewing In Silent Graves, by Gary A. Braunbeck.
This book started out promptly with a severe loss for the main character. Since it's on the back cover blurb, I'll go ahead and say that his wife and unborn child die. His daughter's body is then stolen from the morgue, and he is haunted by a man with a facial disfigurement.
For a book that is gruesome at times, Braunbeck knows how to wrench the heart. Robert Londrigan is living the high life before he's sent plummeting into a spiral of horror. He has no chance to get over his loss, because he's being haunted by a smartass phantasm with no initial explanation as to why. The last few chapters were surprisingly touching (though also grotesque.) At the heart of the tale is a love story that has spanned a greater time than even Londrigan had imagined.
It slowed down in the middle once it was revealed to the reader what was happening to him and why. There was a mythology introduced that took bits from already existing mythology and expanded on them. Time was twisted and deeper questions were raised than I expected. There was a lot in play in this book, which made it a slower read during the introductions and explanations, and a little confusion at times. But where he went was definitely interesting.
There was character growth for Londrigan as he came to terms with the reality behind the facade he'd been seeing his entire life. He saw what was important to him and actively pursued it. Secondary characters were well developed; there were a few I became fond of.
A few things made me wonder if it was necessary to go there, though what disturbed me most wasn't what disturbed DeAnna most (I haven't spoken with M.B. since I finished it, so I can't say what bothered her.) What I can tell you is that both warned me in advance that there were disgusting and bothersome parts, so I went in prepared.
I can say I think Braunbeck is a good writer. What I can't say, still, is how I felt about the book, though I've tentatively added it to my rankings below, subject to change.
My new rankings:
1. The Handmaid's Tale (Margaret Atwood)
2. The Bottoms (Joe R. Lansdale)
3. Coraline (Neil Gaiman)
4. Those Who Hunt the Night (Barbara Hambly)
5. The Wolf's Hour (Robert McCammon)
6. Berserk (Tim Lebbon)
7. Best New Horror, Volume 1 (edited by Stephen Jones
and Ramsey Campbell)
8. In Silent Graves (Gary A. Braunbeck)
9. The Imago Sequence (Laird Barron)
10 The Cipher (Kathe Koja)
11 Drawing Blood (Poppy Z. Brite)
12. The Doll Who Ate His Mother (Ramsey Campbell
13. Hotel Transylvania (Chelsea Quinn Yarbro)
Once again, I'm not sure what my next book will be. This one was steered by having the physical copy on hand. I've run out of books I have possession of from the list, so it's whatever I find next.
Have you read Braunbeck? This book? What's your favorite Braunbeck? If you've read any of the books above, how would you rank them?
May you find your Muse.
