Published by Berkley Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, thriller
Format: ARC, eBook
Survival is the name of the game!
Mattie is trapped on a mountain trying to survive — from what and from whom?
Mattie cannot remember a time before she and her husband William lived on the mountain. But what she does remember is not to make her husband upset – EVER! When she finds the mutilated body of a fox in the woods, they begin to suspect that perhaps they are not alone on the mountain after all. Soon Mattie and William hear noises in the night – loud shrill noises. The forest gets quiet. Sshhh…do not make a sound! The animals know something is not right. Survive.
Soon three strangers show up, with cameras, investigating a strange sighting in the woods. They say they are cryptozoologists in their spare time. Mattie knows their appearance on the mountain will go over like a lead balloon with her husband. He has the whole Hulk vibe “you wouldn’t like me when I’m angry.”
Near the Bone had me from page one. While some are calling this a simple story, I think it is a straightforward story about monsters. The part that grabbed me the most was not knowing. The author, for most of the book, allows the readers imagination to take over. Nothing is scarier than the monster we create in our mind. We do not know what is really out there. Is it a bear? If not a bear, what? Is it some other creature? Why, what big claws you have!
Be warned as I stated above there is more than one monster in the book. One we know of right from the beginning and one that is lurking, out of sight, watching, waiting, choosing the right time…… Which monster is the scariest? The monster in front of us or the one hidden in the darkness?
This book does deal with uncomfortable and heartbreaking issues including domestic violence. There is more but I will leave it at that.
This book sucked me in, chewed me up, and spit me out. I believe may be polarizing for some. For me, I loved the themes of survival and monsters. I also had Mattie to root for. I clung to hope, silently wishing she would survive. But will she? Will any of them make it off the mountain?
Be afraid of things that go bump (shriek, howl, bellow) in the night!
This was my first book by Christina Henry, and I look forward to reading more of her books. This really hit the spot and proved to be a fast, dark, and creepy read.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.