Book review: Dark Hollow, by Briane Keene

Brian Keene is without question one of the strongest horror writers in the field.  He's written numerous novels and won two Stoker Awards, and he doesn't show any signs of slowing down.  Dark Hollow is a good read that most horror fans will probably enjoy, but it's not the best example of Keene's writing ability.

The plot for Dark Hollow is genius -- something from ancient Greek mythology comes to life in present-day suburban Pennsylvania and starts terrorizing the residents.  It's up to a local mystery writer and his closest neighbors to stop the evil before it's too late.

The story is told in first person point of view, narrated by the mystery writer, Adam.  In order for the ending to work the way it does, the story has to be told in first person, but there are points throughout the book where the writing sounds a little contrived or cliched.  It may be Keene's intention, but it detracts from the story.

The first-person narrative starts off slow and takes a while to get into, but as the book progresses it gets better and more involving.  The climax is action-packed and well-paced, and the story's resolution is wrapped up very nicely (while still leaving something to the imagination).

This book also has several inconsistencies which are missing from most of Keene's other works.  One character hates to gossip, then a little while later he's trading rumors with neighbors; a grill is parked on the main character's patio, and then somehow it's in the shed where it's been stowed all winter; someone drains a beer and then a paragraph or two later takes a sip from it.  These aren't major issues, but they do draw the reader away from the story.

Keene is a great descriptive writer, and his talent is clearly shown as he describes both the deep dark forest and the insides of an abandoned farmhouse.  His talent for narrative isn't fully realized in the first-person retelling of this story, however.  For a better example of Keene's potential, read his first novel, The Rising, or its sequel, City of the Dead.

Dark Hollow can be purchased online as a mass-market Leisure paperback from most of your typical booksellers.  The book includes a bonus preview of one of Keene's other novels, Ghost Walk.

(Originally posted on Helium.com, July 2010)