Homewreckers by Aron Beauregard

A child is taken over by an entity, known to the reader as a shadow that is larger and more menacing than a child’s shadow, and in good demonic possession fashion, he says and does terrible things that horrify his parents. Much of this story is wrapped in the interpersonal relationships and thoughts of the two parents. So much so that it wasn’t until the middle of the book that the interesting backstory of how and why possessions were happening, was revealed. After finishing this book, I’m still stuck in trying to process the meaning of so many pages devoted to the husband and wife drifting apart while their son, does and says horrible things. It wasn’t bad to read, I just feel like there was more meaning that I’m not getting. Because once the demonic storyline develops more and a twist with a new character is revealed, the story just flies. I stayed up all night finishing the book once I hit the second half of it.

I’ve read a lot of extreme horror but there is something of a slow burn and melancholic feel to Beauregard’s writing. It’s like nothing else I’ve read. It’s like watching a car crash in slow motion, you don’t necessarily want the passengers to die but you aren’t going to not watch it happen. I definitely recommend this book and if you can put your finger on any meaning in the encapsulation of the story with the dynamics of the two parents, let me know.