Search This Blog







2025 Cover Lovers Reading Challenge (hosted by Yours Truly)

2025 Literary Escapes Challenge
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado (3)
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida (1)
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts (1)
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York (2)
- North Carolina (1)
- North Dakota
- Ohio (1)
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island (1)
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont (1)
- Virginia
- Washington (1)
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin (1)
- Wyoming
- Washington, D.C.* (1)
International:
- Australia (1)
- England (3)
- France (1)
- Puerto Rico (1)
- Scotland (1)


2025 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge



2025 Build Your Library Reading Challenge









Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Atmospheric and Chilling, The Winter People Another Creepy Hit From McMahon
1:00 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
I've tried to write a worthy plot summary for The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon (available February 11, 2014)—over and over and over. It's just not coming to me, probably because the one on the back of the book does it so well. Why bother reinventing the wheel? Besides, this one's a succinct, spine-tingling thing of beauty:
West Hall, Vermont, has always been a town of strange disappearances and old legends. The most mysterious is that of Sara Harrison Shea, who, in 1908, was found dead in the field behind her house just months after the tragic death of her daughter, Gertie. Now, in present day, nineteen-year-old Ruthie lives in Sara's farmhouse with her mother, Alice, and her younger sister, Fawn. Alice has always insisted that they live off the grid, a decision that suddenly proves perilous when Ruthie wakes up one morning to find that Alice has vanished without a trace. Searching for clues, she is startled to find a copy of Sara Harrison Shea's diary hidden beneath the floorboards of her mother's bedroom. As Ruthie gets sucked deeper into the mystery of Sara's fate, she discovers that she's not the only person who's desperately looking for someone that they've lost. But she may be the only one who can stop history from repeating itself.
Nice, right?
So, as much as I enjoyed The Winter People, I have a real love/hate relationship with Jennifer McMahon's books. Why? Here's how I explained it in my 2011 review of McMahon's Promise Not to Tell:
I've probably mentioned this before, but Jennifer McMahon's novels creep me out. From the freaky covers to the chilling plotlines to the haunting details—everything about them makes me want to dive into my bed, pull a blanket over my head, and chant, "It's not real. It's not real. It's not real." Seriously. Every time I finish one of McMahon's books, I vow not to pick up another one. Not to even look at another one. Because if there's one thing I've learned about this author, it's that if I so much as glance at one of her books, I will pick it up, I will skim the first page, and I won't stop until I finish the story. Even though it will give me nightmares for a week. That's how compelling they are.
Luckily, McMahon's newest isn't as creepy as some of her others. At least not in the same way. The Winter People is still chilling, still nightmare-inducing, still can't-look-away-compelling. It's just more subtly sinister, if that makes any sense. At any rate, it's a mysterious, atmospheric horror story that will keep you engaged until the last word—and haunt your dreams for much longer than that. Not to state the obvious here, but I loved it.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of Pet Sematary by Stephen King and Don't Breathe a Word by Jennifer McMahon)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (no F-bombs), violence/gore and depictions of underage drinking/illegal drug use
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-ARC of The Winter People from the generous folks at Random House via those at NetGalley. Thank you!
3 comments:
Comments make me feel special, so go crazy! Just keep it clean and civil. Feel free to speak your mind (I always do), but be aware that I will delete any offensive comments.
P.S.: Don't panic if your comment doesn't show up right away. I have to approve each one before it posts to prevent spam. It's annoying, but it works!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments
(Atom)


Reading
Something in the Walls by Daisy Pearce

Listening
The Brightwood Code by Monica Hesse


Followin' with Bloglovin'

-
Which Kindle Should I Buy? A Kindle Comparison33 minutes ago
-
-
-
-
-
Blood Over Bright Haven8 hours ago
-
Dream home?9 hours ago
-
-
14. First State of Being16 hours ago
-
Top Ten Tuesday ~ Established Couples17 hours ago
-
-
Rajasthan Trip19 hours ago
-
Miss Graham's Cold War Cookbook by Celia Rees20 hours ago
-
-
-
Top Ten Tuesday-Valentine's Reads23 hours ago
-
The Classics Club: The Classics Spin #4023 hours ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Bonded in Death by J.D. Robb1 day ago
-
-
-
-
Review: We All Live Here by Jojo Moyes5 days ago
-
Sunday Post #5615 days ago
-
January 2025 Reading Wrap Up1 week ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
I'm Still Reading - This Was My October2 months ago
-
Review: The Duke and I5 months ago
-
Girl Plus Books: On Hiatus6 months ago
-
-
-
What Happened to Summer?1 year ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
Are you looking for Pretty Books?2 years ago
-
-
-
-
-
-

Grab my Button!


Blog Archive
- ► 2021 (159)
- ► 2020 (205)
- ► 2019 (197)
- ► 2018 (223)
- ► 2017 (157)
This one creeped me out so much I had to actually put the book down while reading one night because I was sure it would give me nightmares if I kept reading. I loved it too, though!!
ReplyDeleteI know. Her books are so creepy, I don't know why I keep reading them!
DeleteI haven't read anything by McMahon, but I think I need to. Your review has me intrigued.
ReplyDelete