
To elaborate any more on the plot would do a disservice to a reader. Suffice it to say, the alternative reality that Carl experiences at night may not be part of his psychosis (or maybe it is) – and there is a real purpose for him to end up in this seaside local.
Many reviewers have compared this to a Lovecraft tale. I am not a fan of Lovecraft and I have not read many of his works. Therefore, to me, the story was quite unusual. The settings portrayed are unusual and haunting in their own right. Carl is richly drawn, and his actions and emotions ring true within the plot. The portion of the narrative that involves the “shrill keening” is absolutely spellbinding – and I thought that part of the story was gripping. In fact, I was disappointed that this section did not remain “on stage” for a longer period of time. I wanted to know what was happening in greater detail. On the opposite side of the coin, I felt the hospital sequence went on a tad too long (but this is a minor quibble). Overall, this is a solid 4-star review. Strongly recommended.