Oh my goodness, she’s done it again, this is another winner from the hugely talented Rachel Harrison. In this one, she explores the meaning of family and the ties that bind, but not necessarily in a way you would expect, oh no, this is much more original and creative. This is Vesper Wright’s story, she is 24 and is currently working as a waitress, running the gauntlet of some customers to whom she has to be unerringly polite. She hides her true feelings with a laugh, but there is rage building there and after one disastrous incident, she’s fired. Still, I guess it gives her time to figure out who or what she wants to be. Most unexpectedly, she receives a wedding invitation and a plea to return home to Virgil, New Jersey. She escaped from there six years ago and although she’s not sure of her motives, she does decide to home. One thing is for certain she won’t get a warm welcome from her movie star mother, Constance. What she doesn’t anticipate is learning a terrifying secret about her family and herself, and what that signals for her future. So, Vesper is back in Virgil, the black sheep, or is she?

Well, all I can say is, if the BIG SECRET doesn’t pull you into the storytelling I don’t know what will! I lose count of the amount of times I gasp during this utterly glued to the pages read or utter the odd naughty. It’s fantastic in every possible way. It’s claustrophobic, it sends shivers down the spine, it’s weird, it’s occasionally yucky, there is oodles of tension, it’s dark, brutal but never, ever, dull. You have absolutely no idea what is going to happen next and I love that in my books! Of course, there is humour and it’s the snort with laughter kind!

The characterisation is excellent, especially of Vesper, who, while she is vulnerable, she is also one brave woman, although at the start it’s uncertain if she is broken or the reverse. As for her mother, Constance, cold doesn’t quite cover it, but her characterisation is so good. I’ll leave the joys of the rest of her family to future readers…

Despite the horror show that unfolds there are some vivid descriptions that are almost movie worthy, and that is the impression the author gives for much of the novel. It’s the blockbuster kind too. I love the way it builds revengefully as we go to hell and back, what a book! Rachel Harrison is one of the most inventive writers around right now, and I can’t wait to read what she comes up with next. Where do I sign??

PS Sweet Child O’ Mine, yep, sure puts a whole new spin on that. I don’t think I’ll ever hear that song again without bursting out laughing. Clever.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Titan Books for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

Post to Goodreads and X on 1/1/24 and to Amazon and Waterstones on 23/1/24.

Vesper left her home when she turned eighteen. Her mother is a Horror film star and she is oblivion to her father. Some years later, a mysterious wedding invitation arrives at her doorstep of her beloved cousin. But when she go there to attend the wedding, she discover some dark family secrets and the truth unveils with dangers ahead. The story takes a dark turn and the ending was so unpredictable. The book is filled with twists and unexpected things.Dark truths unveils and then destiny takes an evil turn. Will she reckon with her family’s beliefs? Or she will find a way out of it?

There were warm moments and memories. Some characters were warm while some were cold and distant. The writing is gripping. The small town religious setting is interesting. The religious beliefs sets everyone apart. I felt the mother and daughter relationship could have been better. It’s a real page turner with unexpected twists.

Many Thanks to the Publisher, Netgalley, and Author.

This book was wild. It starts out slow with a woman talking about leaving her religious upbringing only to be invited back for the wedding of her best friend and her ex. While she’s there, she continues to investigate her mother the scream queen all while sneakily trying to find her father. Things become strange when no one seems to know how she got invited to the wedding. Beware, this is a slow burn.

Well I definitely inhaled that one. Not my first Harrisonbread but this felt different from the other books I've read.
For me this felt like a slow burn with day to day detail than I thought there would be. Vesper left home at 18 and has been invited back for her cousins wedding. There are many reasons why she left home and with her fleeting visit back it starts to piece together. Although the issues that Vesper has are slowly making sense, I completely felt her frustrations with her family, they were so mysterious and weird, and it would have been so much easier if they told her the truth.

As I said it was a slow burn for me but when the final scene took place it gave a really weird and creepy vibe. Another well-written book by Harrison. I love this author

My favourite Harrison novel by far, largely down to the wonderfully opinionated and snarky Vesper whi has to come to terms with being the Devil's spawn - literally! I loved how Harrison shows the community of Hell's Gate as perfectly ordinary...apart from their wildly rapturous adoration of Satan and willingness to ritually sacrifice Vesper to bring about the apocalypse. A suitably dark and engaging read for the run-up to Halloween. In my eyes, Harrison can do no wrong!

After reading another of this authors books and living it I was very excited to read this book. I really like the author she writes short, interesting horror with a good sense of humour and the pacing is always spot on
I enjoyed this story of family, secrets and religion. This was quite creepy without being scary and was easy to read in one sitting

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc