Don’t Fear the Reaper by Stephen Graham Jones

It pains me to give Don’t Fear the Reaper such a low rating, as I had such high expectations after reading My Heart is a Chainsaw.

Synopsis

This sequel picks up back in Proofrock, Idaho, four years after the events of the first book. Jade returns to town at the same time as serial killer Dark Mills South escapes his prison transport in the midst of a blizzard. Before his arrest, Dark Mills South was seeking revenge for the hanging of 38 Dakota men in 1862.

For the next 36 hours, bodies turn up left and right with no reprieve.

Review of Don’t Fear the Reaper

As I said, I loved Chainsaw. It required a lot of concentration, but it was worth it in the end. This book took just as much effort, if not more, but the payoff was not worth it, in my opinion. Jade was the heart and soul of the first book, but this one felt weighed down by too many POVs.

I enjoy literary fiction and horror individually, so combined, you’d think this would be the best of both worlds. However, the storyline was a bit convoluted. And I was lost for a good chunk of it.

If, like me, you don’t remember many details of the first book, I’d recommend refreshing your memory before starting this one. Some of it gets rehashed, but I had to dig deep to remember everything that happened prior.

Although I didn’t love this book, I will definitely read more from this author. It’s already getting rave reviews all around, so you will likely have better luck with it than I did.

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️

Expected Publication: 07 February 2023

Thank you to the publisher for providing an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

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For past reviews, click here.

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