Book Review; Near The Bone- Christina Henry

Page Count 336

Publication date April 2021

Publisher Titan

GoodReads link

Synopsis

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Mattie can’t remember a time before she and William lived alone on a mountain together. She must never make him upset. But when Mattie discovers the mutilated body of a fox in the woods, she realizes that they’re not alone after all.

There’s something in the woods that wasn’t there before, something that makes strange cries in the night, something with sharp teeth and claws.

When three strangers appear on the mountaintop looking for the creature in the woods, Mattie knows their presence will anger William. Terrible things happen when William is angry.

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Review

Anyone who has visited An Average Life before now will know how much I adore Christina Henry’s work. Her books are autobuys for me and instantly take top place on my TBR.

Near The Bone opens straight into the action with a tense, insidious atmosphere I’ve come to expect from Henry. I’m a lover of horror in the wilderness so the cold desolate mountain top was an ideal setting. The safety of a cabin is relative when up against an enormous monster.
Not that the cabin is safe for Mattie…

Mattie herself is well developed, I was irritated by her, I pitied her, sympathise with her, I hoped for her and I was endeared to her kind spirit and determination.

William is a fantastic antagonist, I can’t remember the last time I had such an immediate response to a character -I truly despised him from page one. For me he was far scarier than the threat of the creature in the woods.

My partner always says when we watch horror films it’s scarier when you don’t get a full view of the monster, just a glimpse or a movement so quick you can’t take it all in. Fear of the unknown. Henry wields this tactic perfectly in Near The Bone.
Having both characters and reader unsure of the creatures intentions, origins and whereabouts keeps the tension on a knife edge from start to finish.

I read Near The Bone in one sitting and as always, adored Henry’s story. I’ll be clinging to the hope this one day gets optioned for film, even if I’d faint from holding my breath so long!

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Check out my other Christina Henry reviews:

Book Review; The Ghost Tree- Christina Henry

Book Review; The Girl In Red- Christina Henry