If there is one word I would use to describe the new horror novel Nightjars, it would be disappointing. Maybe because I am used to reading mysteries and thrillers, I expect at least one twist before a book’s conclusion. Nightjars fails on that account.
When the photos start arriving showing Luke and his father doing horrible things, Luke thinks they may be photoshopped. Sure, he doesn’t remember much about his childhood but he would remember something this horrible, right? Then photos arrive with adult Luke doing unspeakable things. Since Luke is a blackout drunk, he doesn’t remember what he did. Could he be a murderer?
The dread is real when this story begins. The atmosphere is thick and it really sucks you in. But then there are 200 pages of more of the same before the foregone conclusion. It just seemed like not enough time was spent on plot. Nightjars would make a good two hour horror movie. But as a 350 page novel, it just failed to hold my attention. 2 stars.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an advanced review copy.