

Too long delayed
I am ashamed that I reached the age of 44 before reading one of McCammon's novels. Having devoured this one as my penance, I must now read them all.
Too long delayed
I am ashamed that I reached the age of 44 before reading one of McCammon's novels. Having devoured this one as my penance, I must now read them all.
Updated a reading goal:
Read 150 books in 2026
Progress so far: 50 / 150 33%
Updated a reading goal:
Read 150 books in 2026
Progress so far: 50 / 150 33%

Added to listHorror: Demented Domicileswith 217 books.

Added to listThere Might Be Cupcakes Podcastwith 610 books.

Deleted stars for an otherwise enjoyable read—and a well-narrated one—for two reasons:
* an unbelievably too-pat and happy ending—people don’t behave that way. (Source: I have advanced degrees in psychology and counseling, with post-grad work in these subjects of grief and loss, and crime.) I was really enjoying myself until then, and the book ran off the road.
* the author thanks Ashley Flowers in the acknowledgments, an unethical podcaster and author. Many details can be found here: https://www.reddit.com/r/CrimeJunkiePodcast/comments/rb0ihp/flowers_not_just_plagiarism/ For me at least, the professional network an author claims is important. It speaks to their work.
So I won’t be reading any more of the author’s work—there are just too many other books waiting for me.
Edit to add a third reason upon reflection:
* approaching the grande finale, I could barely tell two of the characters apart. They had extremely similar thoughts, feelings, and motivations. Despite having a different narrator for each, they might have well been the same.
Lowered my rating to two stars.
Deleted stars for an otherwise enjoyable read—and a well-narrated one—for two reasons:
* an unbelievably too-pat and happy ending—people don’t behave that way. (Source: I have advanced degrees in psychology and counseling, with post-grad work in these subjects of grief and loss, and crime.) I was really enjoying myself until then, and the book ran off the road.
* the author thanks Ashley Flowers in the acknowledgments, an unethical podcaster and author. Many details can be found here: https://www.reddit.com/r/CrimeJunkiePodcast/comments/rb0ihp/flowers_not_just_plagiarism/ For me at least, the professional network an author claims is important. It speaks to their work.
So I won’t be reading any more of the author’s work—there are just too many other books waiting for me.
Edit to add a third reason upon reflection:
* approaching the grande finale, I could barely tell two of the characters apart. They had extremely similar thoughts, feelings, and motivations. Despite having a different narrator for each, they might have well been the same.
Lowered my rating to two stars.