The Hollow Places by T. Kingfisher

The Hollow Places

by T. Kingfisher

A young woman discovers a strange portal in her uncle’s house, leading to madness and terror in this gripping new novel from the author of the “innovative, unexpected, and absolutely chilling” (Mira Grant, Nebula Award–winning author) The Twisted Ones.

Pray they are hungry.

Kara finds the words in the mysterious bunker that she’s discovered behind a hole in the wall of her uncle’s house. Freshly divorced and living back at home, Kara now becomes obsessed with these cryptic words and starts exploring this peculiar area—only to discover that it holds portals to countless alternate realities. But these places are haunted by creatures that seem to hear thoughts…and the more one fears them, the stronger they become.

With her distinctive “delightfully fresh and subversive” (SF Bluestocking) prose and the strange, sinister wonder found in Guillermo del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth, The Hollow Places is another compelling and white-knuckled horror novel that you won’t be able to put down.

Reviewed by kimbacaffeinate on

4 of 5 stars

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Kara, known as Carrot by her family and friends, returns to her beloved Uncle Earl’s Museum of Natural Wonders, Curiosities and Taxidermy, after her recent divorce. While she writes her fanfic and does designs for clients in the evenings, she spends her days inventorying the shop and unpacking shipments. The shop is a marvel of oddities, from an albino stuffed raccoon to a mermaid.

After her Uncle finds out he needs knee replacements, Kara agrees to run the store while he recovers. It is then that she discovers someone has punched a hole in the museum wall. Simon, the coffee shop owner next door agrees to help her close it up… only they discover a secret corridor and a locked door. The tale that unfolds was a creeptastic Lovecraftian tale that pulled me in as I clenched my fists and listened to horror that unfolds.

The story mixes a blend of humor, realisms, and the mundane to create an ebb and flow of laughter, sympathy, horror and heart-pounding moments that will leave you holding your breath.

Kara grows as a character and it was good to see her standing up for herself. When it came down to facing what lay beyond the wall she was clever and resourceful. I loved Simon and his weird eye. I would drink a glass of bourbon with him.

The willows, bunkers, and what happens were delivered in vivid imagery. Talk about fear of the unknown! Something in their feeds of you and either you die or become…

Hillary Huber did such a stellar job with the narration from voices to the creaking. The humor was goofy, but Huber grounded it. Her delivery helped lighten the tension and suspense.

What could be worse than a recent divorce? The corridor in Uncle Earl’s museum, grab your earbuds and listen. Fans of horror will want to add this to their shelves. I went and grabbed her previous title, The Twisted Ones, and invested in a new night light. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 21 October, 2020: Finished reading
  • 21 October, 2020: Reviewed