She Wakes

Jack Ketchum has written some very good horror books but they are not supernatural in nature. This one is and unfortunately it seems to miss the mark. The story concerns a group of characters, locals and tourists, in the Greek islands. While they interact with one another they get caught up in a series of supernatural events including, but not limited to, the dead beginning to walk and kill. This is all tied in to local myth and legend as the characters first confront what is going on and then have to find a way to deal with it. Multiple islands and viewpoints come into play until they finally guess what must be happening and how to solve it. The author paints a very good picture of the Greek islands, the residents, and the people who visit. Ketchum's skill as a writer is very evident here. It is not badly written in any way but it seems to lack something his other novels have. It might be the lack of frightening reality or it might be something else. It is not a bad book, just not like Ketchum's others so if you are looking for more of his signature style then you will not find it her. If you are looking for a good and subtle supernatural thriller then check it out.

What could be lovelier than Greece on a beautiful day? Gorgeous sunsets, romantic beaches, awe-inspiring ancient ruins. Oh, and don't forget the shambling, rotting, walking dead who are intent on rending and killing. And you might want to consider the powerful force that seems to be getting back into the swing of taking control and cutting a path of destruction. Other than that, things are just peachy in the land of mythological gods. I wasn't quite sure how Ketchum would handle a supernatural novel. He is so adept at creating the most heinous and believable--but still very human--monsters. I didn't need to worry. This is an unsettling story with interesting characters, and a villainess who packs a punch. I didn't want to stop reading, and to me, that's always a sign of a good story. Ketchum continues to prove that he is firmly in place as one of America's great horror writers. Bravo!