HOMESICK

by Richard M. Simms ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 22, 2013

In Simms’ horror novel, a largely unseen evil stalks and terrorizes a family in small-town America.

Thirteen-year-old Tyler Allen and his older cheerleader sister, Erica, haven’t exactly warmed to their newstepfather, Dick Allen. Erica finds him unnerving, and Tyler, for whatever reason, just seems to hate him. It hasn’t been that long since Dick moved the family into a new home, where virtually everything, from the pipes to the appliances, is antiquated. The situation is bound to lead to problems down the line, but it’s not the house’s age that causes the siblings dismay—it’s its history. Tyler finds out about the building’s past when he stumbles across a journal written by a pregnant woman who previously lived there. She tells of her seriously disturbed father, and of falling for the son of her family’s house caretaker. Erica, meanwhile, hears other rumors at school about the house’s prior tenants—a father and daughter who, along with her boyfriend, wound up “butchered.” Are the Allens living in a haunted house, as Erica’s gossipy friends suggest? That might explain the strange noises they keep hearing and Erica’s intermittent feeling that someone—or something—is watching her. A sudden accident inside the house leads to the family unearthing more secrets and finding upsetting signs of violence. As much as the Allens want to solve these mysteries, however, their first concern may be to simply stay alive. After all, no one can guess what malevolent being might lurk in the basement or in the dark tunnels it contains.

Simms’ creepfest quickly establishes a somber atmosphere early on, initially created through a string of unanswered questions—about the “slime” that someone’s tracking through the house, for example, or something startling that one character has stashed in a closet. All the while, whether the thing that’s tormenting the Allens is supernatural, or something tangible and realistic, remains unclear, although the novel does ultimately unravel that mystery. Along the way, the cast is well defined and engaging, which makes readers more invested when suspenseful moments occur. Rachel, for instance, seems to have married Dick out of a sense of security, rather than genuine love; Dick, however, is more than he appears—and he’s not the only character who has secrets. Other players enter the story without having a clear and immediate connection to the main plot, such as a curious “old man,” and journalist Charles “Charlie Beez” Bezelkowski, who may have a lead on a missing person case. Simms maintains a steady pace throughout, with consistent narrative shifts providing many of the characters with their own time in the spotlight. Horror fans surely won’t be disappointed by the final act, in which the danger dramatically escalates and more than one character meets a shocking demise. The author further develops the story with a satisfying explanation of the antagonist, a rock-solid epilogue, and at least one very effective red herring.

An engrossing and energetic tale that skillfully provides readers with plenty of frights.

Pub Date: Nov. 22, 2013

ISBN: 9781494257392

Page Count: 182

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Review Posted Online: Dec. 8, 2023

Review Program: Kirkus Indie

Categories:

SUSPENSE | THRILLER | SUSPENSE