Supernatural Happenings

Hemlock Island by Kelley Armstrong: A Book Review

Genre: Thriller

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Armstrong writes a story were mysterious things are happening to a property located on an island in Lake Superior. Thinking that it is vandalism, the owner of the property, along with her ward, ex, past BBF, and two “intruders” (previous friends and brother) go to check out what is going on. While there they start questioning their sanity and eyes as slowly dead bodies being to appear (only to still move once dead). Stranded and trapped until morning, the group must survive – if they can – as the forest seems to come alive around them – craving their blood.

Putting the book down, all I can think is wow. With two district twists in the story, I did not see either of them coming. The story was brilliantly done throughout instilling suspense and fear. As a reader, through the suspense, you start to wonder if the characters are losing their minds as well as wondering what is happening to them. You also start to wonder what did happen as the tension between the characters is palpable.

However, I am still torn on the ending. Armstrong writes a supernatural well into the story. Its ingrained with every fiber she spins and such, the end that brings that supernatural element to the point makes sense; however, I kind of wish that the ending wasn’t supernatural, but rather the mind breaking. Not because it would make the story better, but because I tend to enjoy thrillers more when that is the case. Because the supernatural element is written so well into the story, though, this would be impossible, so instead I have another wish. I wish that more effort was put into “IT”. I would have loved to see flashbacks to its beginning; how it came to be; etc. The way Armstrong wrote it, it sounded a lot like an Elemental. In the paranormal world, Elementals are beings who were never human and are connected with some aspect of nature (i.e. Water, Fire, Earth, Air) in which they protect and are typically tied to one location. No one quite knows where they come from. As such, I wish that Kelley would have put some kind of story to it either was some kind of ritual done with previous occupants or with the death of a previous occupant that was a witch and cursed her killers that caused her to come back as an elemental – really any backstory would have been interesting. Is it necessary? No, it’s fine without. I do think if Armstrong had done this, though, the book would be a 5 star book rather than a 4.

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 Other books like the one reviewed:

The Sanitarium by Sarah Pearse

The Golden Couple by Greer Hendricks

I’ll Be Waiting by Kelley Armstrong

Holly by Stephen King

After that Night by Karin Slaughter

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Plot:	8 / 10
Characters:	10 / 10
Writing:	9 / 10
Editor:	10 / 10
Total	37 / 40

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