Matt McAvoy Book Review

If you like creepy tales with a good, old-fashioned, fairytale horror premise, then this one might tick your boxes.  Perhaps for a family audience with slightly older children, Francine’s fun short story includes all the best traditional scary tropes: a mythical villain from an ancient bloodline looking to prey on children, in a remote, rural setting.  There are some great hints at folklore around witchcraft and trolls, as well as nice touches on old Scottish wives’ tales.  A quick read at less than a hundred pages, this is one to curl up with on a winter night, cozying up with no interruptions – the sort of book you plan making an evening of with a hot drink or a tipple – and you can certainly do worse.

I always enjoy books like this, and was also drawn to its length, although actually I think I would have liked to see a little more; I feel there was a great deal of extra legroom in this book, and with some layers added to the story it could have made a decent novel, and not just a novella – if only just a few words over the threshold.  The author is endearing, and writes for comfort and enjoyment, which is just what you want from fiction.  There is no ulterior motive, no graphic content, no underlying allegories or cautionary tales, other than perhaps the usual you might expect from a dark fairytale like this; it simply is what it wants to be, and what Francine wants it to be.  There are some great characters, too, who I would be interested to see more of.

I recommend this book for older kids and adults who like the genre, or those looking for a good way to fill a couple of hours.  Fun, exciting and, though not the most elaborate story, a great nod to the classic metaphors for fear and danger that we so loved growing up.  I’d be intrigued to see what this author creates next.