Abandon by Blake Crouch

Started: 24.5.26

Finished: 25.5.26

Paperback

We've just had a really hot (for the UK) late May Bank Holiday (around 30 degrees celsius), and I've just read two books back to back set in freezing cold locations - I think that may have been a subconscious reaction, as I'm not a big fan of the hot weather.

Abandon was a remote mining town in the American West, where all the inhabitants vanished without a trace on Christmas Day in 1893. In the present day, a group including a historian and two paranormal investigators set out to try to uncover the mystery of what happened. Miles from civilization, and in the middle of a harsh blizzard, the group realise that they are not alone in the town.

I couldn't imagine what had happened to the residents of Abandon back in 1893; I was hoping for some kind of supernatural occurrence, but the reality was actually far scarier than I'd thought. I enjoyed the dual timelines, especially when they began to kind of mirror each other towards the end. Although I don't think this is based on a true story, it's certainly inspired by the history of ghost towns in the American West, and I would definitely recommend this to fans of The Hunger by Alma Katsu, and The Terror by Dan Simmons. 

The White Road by Sarah Lotz

Started: 23.5.26

Finished: 24.5.26

Paperback

I've tried to keep my star ratings* simple by not using half and quarter stars, but if I did, this would definitely be either a 4.5 or 4.75. It was almost a 5, until it just dragged a little bit in part three. To be honest, I could forgive that and still round it up to a five. This is all to say that I loved this book! 

It follows Simon who, along with flatmate and colleague Thierry, runs a website where they capture footage of dead bodies. Simon is the adrenaline junkie of the two, with some climbing experience from his youth, so he's the one 'out in the field'. After a caving trip goes badly wrong, Thierry convinces him to join an Everest climbing party, so that he can record some of the deceased climbers who remain on the mountain. Again, this does not end well.

Although Simon is a bit of a jerk, he's a jerk with something of a conscience, haunted by his mistakes. Realising that what he's doing is morally and ethically wrong, he tries to make amends, but is it all too late?

The beginning of the book, with the spelunking trip, brought to mind the real life horrors of Nutty Putty (IYKYK). The Everest part reminded me of Thin Air by Michelle Paver, and even, in parts, of Dark Matter, my favourite ghost story, so that's high praise from me!

*I don't use them on this blog, but I do on Pagebound, Storygraph and Goodreads.

'Salem's Lot by Stephen King

Started: 23.5.26

DNF: 23.5.26

Paperback

When I told my other half that the next SK book that I was going to read was Salem's Lot, he said something like "ooh, you can't beat a good vampire story". My heart sank. I really don't like vampire stories... So I'm not going to force myself to read over 700 pages of something that I'm not really interested in...

We Used To Live Here by Marcus Kliewer

Started: 22.5.26

Finished: 23.5.26

Paperback

At last, a finished book! I really enjoyed this, the story was gripping, and I loved the little 'reader participation' bits, with working out the Morse Code and the capitalised letters. The psychological thriller aspect was so creepy, a (mostly) normal family coming into your house and then just not leaving. Towards the end it started to get very weird, almost a bit 'cosmic horror' (or cosmic thriller, if that's a genre), and is it too much of a spoiler to say I got a few Shutter Island vibes? Definitely left me with more questions than answers, but it was a good read, nonetheless. 

Breaking From The TBR... Kind Of

I've got three books left from my May TBR choices, but they're all on my kindle. My book buying has got a bit out of hand lately, and the shelves are overflowing, so I think I really need to focus on reading physical books that I can put on Vinted when I've finished them, so that I can start whittling them down. 

My last few choices have unfortunately been DNFs; I might have a break from the TBR prompts and just choose a book that I really want to read, and hopefully lift myself out of this slump...

Graveyard Shift by M.L. Rio

Started: 20.5.26

DNF: 22.5.26

Paperback

TBR Prompt: Under 300 pages

Well, I seem to be in a bit of a reading slump at the moment, because I couldn't even finish a book that's only 108 pages! It's a silly reason for not continuing, I suppose, but I didn't like the way the characters were speaking to each other, or some of the nicknames they used - I was confused just a few pages in. And things being referred to as The Lump, and The Hole... I don't know, it was just bugging me. Fungi and a rat on the cover are a clue, and I think I'm done with botanical horror for now...

The House On Cold Hill by Peter James

Started: 18.5.26

DNF: 20.5.26

Hardcover

TBR Prompt: From the top shelf (of my bookcase)

Oh dear, it's another DNF! As much as I love a good ghost story - and this was a haunted house ghost story - it just wasn't holding my interest.

In The Woods by Tana French

Started: 18.5.26

DNF: 18.5.26

Paperback

TBR Prompt: Grey book

Another DNF, another one that could've been the last prompt because I'd been putting this off too. Not for me.

Box 88 by Charles Cumming

Started: 17.5.26

DNF: 18.5.26

Paperback

TBR Prompt: Book I've been putting off

Well, with a TBR prompt of "book I've been putting off" there was always a chance that I wasn't going to get far with this, and I'm afraid I DNF'd it just a couple of chapters in. Not my cup of tea.

Carrie by Stephen King

Started: 16.5.26

Finished: 17.5.26

Paperback / library book

Stephen King Challenge Book 1

I feel like everyone knows the plot already, but in short, Carrie is a girl with telekinetic powers, which become amplified with the late onset of puberty. Bullied by the other kids at school, and beaten down by her religious fanatic of a mother, she finally exacts her revenge on those who have hurt her. Written in the style of various reports from investigation commissions, witness statements and personal accounts, with flashbacks to the events discussed, this was a quick, easy read. I've seen the original film (Sissy Spacek) so I had occasional images from that in my mind as I read the book.