Children’s book author Alison never liked Christmas. She especially hates it this year, as her abusive, estranged, and dying mother, Mavis, has moved in with her. Alison tries to look on the bright side, hoping that, at the very least, her daughters will be able to get to know their grandmother before it’s too late. However, soon after Mavis moves in, the holidays turn from cheerful to chaotic as supernatural terrors are visited upon the family, and Alison begins to wonder if her mother is not who she says she is. As the awful truth becomes clear, Alison must fight to keep her daughters safe. McMahon’s (
The Children on the Hill) latest is a creepy and sinister novel that explores mother-daughter relationships, generational trauma, and the paranormal. Hillary Huber and Kitty Hendrix provide a narration that adds nuance, deftly handling the slow change from irritated to sinister as listeners discover just how far a mother is willing to go in order to protect her family.
VERDICT Full of twists, turns, and plenty of suspense, this slow-burn horror novel has depth and plenty of holiday chills. Fans of McMahon’s other works will not be disappointed.
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