REVIEWS
The unhinged versus the undead
October is spooky season, of course, and a great time to warm your cockles with a terrifying horror story. The underrated genre ranges from schlocky slashers to psychological hauntings and all points in between, and this week we have two literary examples that demonstrate the diversity at play in modern horror.
First up is Motherthing by Canadian author Ainslie Hogarth, which comes with the excellent tagline: ‘She’s dead in the basement… and she’s refusing to leave’.
Welcome to the marriage of Abby and Ralph Lamb, who live with Ralph’s mother Laura until she slits her wrists downstairs. The news of her death is a secret relief to Abby, who never got on with her mother-in-law, but when Ralph claims to see his mother’s ghost giving him instructions, their relationship is thrown into turmoil all over again.
Abby is a terrific narrator, an engaging and believable mix of caustic, dark humour and genuine love for her husband. She has her own issues with motherhood
