'Buy my stepfather's ghost' read the e-mail. So Jude did. He bought the dead man's suit, delivered in a heart-shaped box, because he wanted it: because his fans ate up that kind of story. It was perfect for his collection: the genuine skulls and the bones, the real honest-to-God snuff movie, the occult books and all the rest of the paraphanalia that goes along with his kind of hard/goth rock. But the rest of his collection doesn't make the house feel cold. The bones don't make the dogs bark; the movie doesn't make Jude feel as if he's being watched. And none of the artefacts bring a vengeful old ghost with black scribbles over his eyes out of the shadows to chase Jude out of his home, and make him run for his life ...
Reasons to grab your earbuds and listen to Heart-Shaped Box
- Jude Coyne, an aging rocker buys a ghost on a whim to add to his macabre collection. When his package arrives it's a black heart-shaped that contain a suit. He laughs, and tucks it away but soon he begins seeing the ghost on an old man. The tale that unfolds develops into a creeptastic haunting that will send shivers down your spine.
- Jude and his goth rocker girlfriend, Georgia (Marybeth) are both a little rough around the edges and fairly cliché, but Hill will surprise you as he peels back their layers. My opinion of both of them changed as the story progressed, and I actually became quite fond of them.
- You love a good scare. This got dark with some disturbing moments. The tension and suspense built and I soon found myself holding my breath and turning on a few extra lights. Sometimes when I close my eyes those scenes come to mind. Eek! Never let it be said that Hill doesn't have a twisted imagination and his skill with a pen brings it all to terrifying life. Animal Lovers warning: a scene involving animals was painful for me as an animal lover. You have been warned.
- Hill explores the human psyche from Jude to the women who love him. He allows the reader to get them, connect and become invested in their outcome.
- The whole premise surrounding the ghost was fantastic!! The ghost himself was a powerful and frightening character. From Hill's vivid description of him to the things this ghost appears to be able to do and in fact does! I thought his history was rather clever and gave plausibility to the story for those prone to believe in the supernatural.
- The ending wrapped up really well, leaving the reader in a good place and even contains an epilogue.
- Stephen Lang offered a stellar narration from the characters individual voices to the way he aided in intensifying scenes and emotions. Hill's books lend themselves perfectly to audio and Lang delivered.
This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
Reading updates
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Started reading
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14 October, 2018:
Finished reading
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14 October, 2018:
Reviewed