Synopsis:
REAP WHAT YOU SOW
In the wake of a series of panic attacks, isolated and introverted Carina takes a friend up on an offer: go to Greentree, Oregon, escape her abusive ex, and start a new life.
But upon arrival, the town is stranger than Carina could have ever imagined.
For one, they still have a video store. For two, everyone is rich.
For three, what’s up with all these scarecrows?
As Greentree’s secrets begin to unravel, as the autumn sun bends below the corn, as scythes sharpen in the night—a violent revolution stirs.
Review:
“A Spectre Is Haunting Greentree,” by Carson Winter is a black-mirror-esque, fever dream, in which an idyllic town, (as they often do) turns out to have a grisly secret. An unearthing of violence and mystery, “A Spectre Is Haunting Greentree,” is a paranormal escapade that is a quick, easy and unsettling read. It’s not quite a young adult novel, with some gory scenes, but shouldn’t terrorise readers- if you’re looking to dip your toes into the murky horror waters, give this one a go. I waited until the cover had been revealed to post this review, but worth the wait it was, Stefan Koidl did a fantastic job… feast your eyes. With secrets, suspense and scarecrows aplenty, “A Spectre Is Haunting Greentree,” is coming from Tenebrous August 15th.
Having left her abusive ex-husband, Carina (suffering from relentless panic attacks) knows she needs to leave town. So, when her generous best friend Emily offers up a house in Greentree she’s been converting into a B&B, she jumps at the chance. She quickly gets to know the Mueller family, Emily and Wilbur, and their angsty teenage daughter Hazel, and Greentree itself seems to be a charming, tightly-knit community, straight from a Norman Rockwell painting. Sure things are a little dated, the people have their quirks, and there are scarecrows everywhere… but at least she’s safe. Right?
The characters are really quite impressively written, particularly that of Hazel. At first represented as a stereotypical snarky teen, who’s going through her “goth,” phase, she quickly flourishes into an ample, if somewhat reluctant, aide. Her unapologetic demeanour and sharp tongue distinguish her from the rest of Greentree, as well as providing some much needed comic relief. She is somewhat of a foil for “Jessica,” who she works alongside at Greentree’s unusually popular VHS store. Whilst Jessica (also a teenager) is brain-washed and complicit in the bizarre goings-on in Greentree, as well as an obedient and loyal employee, Hazel is rebellious and anti-authority.
My only qualm is really based on personal preference. I found the plot and elements of the writing to be quite conservative. Whilst this, as I said earlier, means it’s a great read for less seasoned horror readers, I couldn’t help but yearn for more scares, more gore, and really I suppose, for the entire thing to be taken a step further.
That’s not to say that there’s not a lot to be said about “A Spectre Is Haunting Greentree.” There’s some really quite profound commentary at play. Carina is ultimately under threat from three things, her abusive ex, Steve, the elite and coveted “Kings of Commerce,” that essentially run Greentree, and the scare-crows, who may well be sentient… but no spectre.
It seems to me that we’re instead dealing with a metaphorical haunting. I would suggest the spectres in question are capitalism, perversion of power, and secrecy. The best word to sum up Greentree is actually from “Kilitilan,” which is spoken near Papua New Guinea. “Motika,” roughly translates to “A known truth left unspoken.” In everyday life, this would be the idea that we don’t discuss the fact that no one likes using the bathroom straight after a shower, because you slide around uncomfortably on the toilet seat. In “Greentree,” this is the decidedly far more sinister fact that everyone knows something is off, yet these concerns go unspoken- resulting in utter carnage. Ultimately, Winter has written us a warning about the harm that unchecked power can cause, in relation to Carina’s abusive relationship as well as within broader communities. The real horror isn’t the blood-thirsty scarecrows (although admittedly they are a strong contender) nor is it the sly nod and wink the “pillars of the community,” share…as it often is in real life, the truth is the scariest thing of all.
In “A Spectre Is Haunting Greenwood,” by Carson Winter you’re transported into violence and depravity, in which the veneer of a small town conceals its dark and eerie history. A quick, unsettling but equally introspective read, it’s definitely worth picking up.
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