Brutal, beautiful, haunting. These words do little to actually convey what you'll experience reading this novel but they'll have to do, inadequate as they are.
Tananarive Due continues to excel with this novel of racism, haints, and one of the absolute most horrific villains you'll ever read in a horror book. Yes, in case you're wondering, the true evil in this book are humans.
This story is set in a fictional town in Florida around 1950. This is a town where civil rights have no bearing on how people of color are treated. They are considered barely human and are treated as such at every opportunity.
When black twelve year old Robert kicks a white teenager for harrasing his sixteen year old sister, Gloria, this is all it takes to be jailed and sentenced to six months at a boy's reformatory. A place with a violent past and present and it's no secret that it's evil, most would say haunted.
And they are correct. The abuse, torture, and even murders of these boys throughout the years are going to be revealed and Robert is going to be subjected to some of these horrific acts.
And then there's the haints. Spirits of dead boys who were unjustly murdered on the property. Robert can see them even if most others can't.
Gloria is doing everything and anything she can to get her brother out but the law is not on the side of a poor black girl. Even with help from her godmother and others, things look dark indeed.
The thing about this novel is how the author weaves these different narratives together, expertly drawing out every bit of emotion the reader has right along with the characters. You'll feel anger, fear, sympathy, and even hope at times as you read.
The warden of this reformatory is the most vile disgusting character you'll read in a horror book. I can't tell you how many times I yelled aloud and cussed him out. He is despicable and Tananarive has written him, I believe, with the intention of being hated and despised. And it works!
There are branching stories that round this book out beautifully. And the most chilling parts are how people of color are treated. Because these are things that have happened and things that are still happening today (although not as directly). And the haints are not written like a typical ghost. They operate under their own rules which makes them seem mysterious. Are they helpful or hurtful? Yes... and yes. You'll understand once you read this.
This is truly a book that needs to be read and experienced. It hits you in all of your emotions and is stone cold frightening at the same time.
Obviously, I highly recommend it as it is easily one of the best horror books of the year.
Dave from Horror Reads
