I picked this book up for a read along with a few friends and it’s a great one for the season: one part silly, one part spooky, one part WAIT WHAT?! The general consensus from the group was that we liked it, but maybe didn’t love it and that it was a bit of a slow build, some felt it was too slow, I was along for the ride. Someone who had read other Kingfisher novels was surprised at how differernt it was in tone, but I was in it from the beginning.
From the first page, I wanted to hang out with the protogonist Sam ASAP. She is a friendly, smart, irreverent, clever archaeoentomologist and has a penchant for drinking boxed wine, watching British mysteries and not taking herself too seriously. When an interruption in her daily life has her spending some unplanned time at her family home North Carolina she notices her mom is a bit…off. Between that and some vigilant vultures, it’s clear that things are not okay in her childhood home, which was originally owned by her cruel and withholding grandmother. At first, she’s only concerned that her mom is maybe exhibiting early signs of dementia, but the lack of bug activity on her grandmother’s rose bushes points to something more mysterious afoot.
I would call this book a tiptoe into spooky town, which I appreciated as it’s been a while since I read something creepy, I liked the slow pacing of this book. It was like you were easing into a very hot tub, bit by bit, and relaxing along the way, especially with Sam. I’d follow that character into a rom com, mystery, etc. She was a whole lotta fun.
That said, the ramp up was uneven, sort of a la Stephen King, where things move along at a slow pace until the last act and then it’s like hmm I wonder what is going to happen next…oh my gosh wait what is OMG WHAT EVEN IS HAPPENING AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
It’s definitely a fun romp to tackle and discuss with a few friends, particularly during spooky season. Also, the title? Once you read the book, it’s a real clever wink, and I appreciate that wordplay.