Review: The Family Plot
/
3 stars. This was really cute, and will definitely scratch anyone itching for a haunted house situation. I haven't read anything by Cherie Priest before, but I'm super excited to try some of her other books. The Family Plot almost read like a movie - like a very classic, mid-budget horror film with all the dependable scares and respectable twists.
On the verge of bankruptcy, family firm Music City Salvage decides to risk it all on an old estate in Chattanooga. Tough girl Dahlia, her cousin Bobby, her nephew Gabe and her inexperienced colleague Brad are assigned to the job, for which they decide to camp out until they can drive away with their money's worth. Obviously, expectedly, inevitably... things do not go to plan. Footsteps in the dust, locked doors, a random cemetery, and all-around evil vibes? Find out what happens when the group does not GTFO when they should.
I really liked Dahlia! What an excellent heroine - I rooted for her and loved her attitude and approach to things. I loved the entire group dynamic, actually... kind of an unusual cast of characters, which kept things fresh and fun and worth the investment. A lot of the details, some of which did definitely bog down the plot and screamed for editing, lent to the high stakes and made the story feel quirky and fleshed out.
I also loved the house! Priest does an excellent job describing the setting and making things atmospheric. My nose was itching when she talked about all the dust. Seems like she did her research on old houses too, and the salvage business. I feel like I learned something and gained a new appreciation for the worth of old things.
Ultimately, though, this felt like more of a mystery to me, and the scares were just okay - not really that scary. I'm still a little unclear about all the ghostly motivations and who did what/why/how. Like maybe the scary moments were written first, and then the author had to write up some characters and history to fit them? Regardless, this was a really fun read and I recommend it.