I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Grownup by Gillian FlynnPublished by W&N on June 17, 2014
Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Short Stories, Thriller
Pages: 79
Format: E-Arc
Source: Netgalley
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A young woman is making a living, faking it as a cut-price psychic working at Spiritual Palms (with some illegal soft-core sex work on the side). She makes a decent wage - mostly by telling people what they want to hear. But then she meets Susan Burke. Susan moved to the city one year ago with her husband and 15-year old stepson Miles. They live in a Victorian house called Carterhook Manor, built in 1893. Susan has become convinced that some malevolent spirit is inhabiting their home, and taking possession of the stepson. She has even found trickles of blood on the wall. The young woman doesn't believe in exorcism or the supernatural, but she does see an opportunity to make a lot of money. However when she enters the house for the first time, and meets Miles, she begins to feel it too, as if the very house is watching her, waiting, biding its time....
The Grownup which originally appeared as What Do You Do? in George R. R. Martin's Rogues anthology, proves once again that Gillian Flynn is one of the world's most original and skilled voices in fiction.
In The Grownup there are a lot of twists and turns and unexpected moments. There is also a bit of physiological manipulation that it is impossible to see who is correct and which version of the story is the truth.
All the characters are spiteful, manipulative and deceitful… I think. Honestly I have no really idea what was truth and what was lies. Who was honest and how was dishonest.
And it was this lack of certainty that meant that I wasn’t keen on this book. Add to that the fact it is an open-ended book. One where you have to make the concisions yourself. And I much prefer my stories to be tied up in a bow.
Ambiguous to a degree, The Grownup is a story that will leave you questioning your own judgement.
Do you enjoy psychological thrillers? I’m blogging one on wordpress and would be honored to offer you a free review copy. Regardless, outstanding analysis! I look forward to seeing more of them in my reader.
Thomasmwatt.wordpress.com
Thanks for commenting 🙂 I enjoy psychological thrillers as long as I’m in the mood for them.
And good luck with your writing!
Thank you, Escapades!