Friday, September 23, 2011

Review: The Bone Key: The Necromantic Mysteries of Kyle Murchison Booth by Sarah Monette

Synopsis (Goodreads):
The dead and the monstrous will not leave Kyle Murchison Booth alone, for an unwilling foray into necromancy has made him sensitive to-and attractive to-the creatures who roam the darkness of his once-safe world. Ghosts, ghouls, incubi: all have one thing in common. They know Booth for one of their own . . .
My Thoughts:  What a gorgeous, well-written ride this was.  The creep factor is high, but it's not gory.  This is the type of book that makes you check in the corners of empty rooms and dive for the covers when the lights go out.  This is the type of book that lingers long after you've finished.

Sarah Monette has crafted something extraordinary here.  A series of short stories all revolving around Kyle Murchison Booth and his brushes with the paranormal, Booth isn't your typical hero-type.  He's quiet, he doesn't like the company of others and he tends to stumble over himself in social situations.  As each story unfolds, you see a little more deeply into what makes Booth tick.  He's not brave but neither can he let something go if he can help.  This becomes something of a theme for him.  If he can do something, he has to do something.

Each story is wonderfully atmospheric - in fact, the different settings are nearly characters themselves.  From a house haunted by the spirit of a malevolent girl to a forgotten room in the bowels of a museum, each setting is unsettling.

Althugh there were times I wanted to shake Booth and snap him out of his fearfulness, he ended up being a character I loved spending time with.  I'm sad now that I've finished the book.  In my opinion, that makes this some damn fine writing.

More books by Sarah Monette

Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

2 comments:

  1. I am just so unutterably glad you liked this. It's a brilliant, detailed set of mysteries and I hope the author writes more in the series.

    ReplyDelete
  2. odd: The settings were so fantastic. I loved the imagery and the idea of the dead stalking poor Booth until they find peace of some sort. *shivers*

    ReplyDelete