Hey all! This week, I’ve read two creepy novels, which is unusual for me. I normally read a fun, lighthearted story after a creepy one, but during quarantine, CloudLibrary and my library holds list are making the determination of what I read next, so…I blame it on 2020.
First up, Verity by Colleen Hoover. I’m in a couple of book groups on Facebook and this one kept coming up over and over in early 2020, like to a point where I almost snoozed the groups because it seemed like that was the only thing anyone was reading. I finally broke down in mid-February and got it online for a steal. And then it sat in the app on my phone until now.
Verity Crawford is a bestselling writer in the middle of writing a series when she is traumatically injured in a car accident. Lowen Ashleigh is a reclusive author with mild success, an aversion to fame and attention, and a rapidly dwindling bank account. When Lowen is offered a gig by Verity’s husband Jeremy to complete the series that Verity was in the midst of writing, Lowen’s financial status requires that she take the job. At Jeremy’s invitation, Lowen is invited to stay at the Crawford home while she reviews and researches Verity’s notes for the remaining books in the series. While sorting through files, Lowen uncovers the draft of a new work by Verity; one that tells the story of the Crawfords’ life and tragedies. Lowen quickly becomes obsessed with the document, and with each chapter becomes more sure that Verity may not be as incapacitated as Jeremy believes. Suspicion ensues, questions are asked, accusations are hurled, and (spoiler alert)…
not everyone makes it out alive.
This was a quick read, and wrapped in a satisfactory way. Note that the, *ahem*, adult scenes in this one are thoroughly descriptive, so skip this one if sexy language is not your idea of a good time. I liked the story enough that I added other Colleen Hoover books to my TBR list.
Immediately following Verity, I was alerted that The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell was available, so I checked that one and dove in. Told in two timelines, this is the story of a bunch of kids who were WHOLLY let down by the so-called adults in their lives. In the present timeline, Libby Jones is the sole heir to a house with…a history, shall we say? in a posh London area. Adopted as an infant, she is believed to be the sole survivor of a group suicide pact and at age 25 comes into possession of the house where she was found as a baby by investigators. Desiring to know the story of what happened, Libby, alongside an investigative journalist, sets out to find the truth, after a tour of the boarded up house reveals that someone has recently been staying there.
Meanwhile, in the earlier timeline, Henry tells the story of the decline of his family, the usurping of the role of head of household by an opportunistic, charismatic, grifter named David who convinces Henry’s parents to let David and his family stay with them until they are able to find a home for themselves. But they never leave. And David’s demands of the family grow more and more absurd, and then unreasonable, and then dangerous.
This one wrapped a little anticlimactically for me, but I was pleased with the slightly obscure very last paragraph. The author is careful not to reveal the identities of all the characters until absolutely necessary, and I enjoyed guessing who people were and mentally patting myself on the back when I got it right. Not too scary for bedtime reading, which is just right for me.
I’d recommend either or both for a little ‘whodunit’ in your life. Sip on a Crown and Coke, alongside Lowen, to keep from jumping at the scary parts.
Jaclyn