Review: Kill Creek by Scott Thomas

The Finch house sits abandoned in the middle of the Kansas countryside.  It hasn't been inhabited in years, for it doesn't have the best history.  The last owners, the Finch sisters, had strict guidelines for how it should be cared for following their deaths.  Now known as one of the most infamous haunted houses, it's about to have guests for the first time in decades.

Sam McGarver is a well-known horror writer. His publisher keeps pushing him to churn out books on an annual basis to keep up with his readers' demands.  He's struggling in his efforts to write his next novel, so when he receives an invitation for a unique interview opportunity, he is intrigued.

McGarver, along with three other masters of horror, have been invited to spend the night at the Finch House. Not just any night, either, but Halloween night.  When the arrive, however, they awaken something that will torment them long after they've left.

 

I don’t actually recall how I discovered this title, but it seems like it was fate that I read it.  The timing was perfect (I’d just finished reading a very…unfulfilling book and I needed something that would sweep me away.  This one certainly met my challenge.  I’m a huge fan of horror, specifically tales of haunted houses.  As I read the premise, I did have a concern that this title was too closely mimicking the work of the great Shirley Jackson.  That concern lay unfounded. Ultimately, Thomas created a story-line so unique and captivating that I read this in a matter of a few hours.

Thomas’ writing is outstanding; I was instantly drawn into the lives of the characters and the various challenges they faced. I had fun trying to figure out if they were modeled after actual horror greats.  But most importantly, Thomas’ respect and understanding of the horror genre is what really makes this novel stand out.  It was a testimony to truly excellent horror that chills you to the bone without unnecessary gore.  Horror authors, in their true and genuine format, have never really been respected, instead forced to fit a mold that popular media will understand. Thomas covers all of this through his characters, an aspect that perhaps not all readers will pick up on, yet I certainly did.

Thomas’ novel is everything I love about horror and then some.  It chilled me to the bone in the very best of ways, and that’s hard to do! This is a must-read for all fans of horror.  Now, I just have to sit back and (impatiently) wait for whatever Thomas writes next! That this is Thomas’ debut novel just floors me! Highly, highly recommended!