Review: Episode Thirteen

3 stars. Aw man, I wanted to love this so much! As a bona fide found footage aficionado, this should've been a home run. But... I hate to say it... there's a reason why found footage is found footage, and epistolary novels don't necessarily try so hard to lean in that direction. I admire the attempt, and maybe it's more successful in audio, but this kind of at times felt like it just wanted to be a screenplay. If that won't bother you, go for it! 

It features the collected journal entries, interviews, raw footage transcripts and correspondence of the paranormal investigation team behind the fictional show Fade to Black: Matt, the leader, his wife and scientist (and Virginia Tech grad! Go hokies!) Claire, cameraman Jake, ex-police officer Kevin, and wannabe actress Jessica. Together they attempt to investigate historic Foundation House for the thirteenth episode, and season finale, of their show. With the future on the line, their reputations at stake, will the secrets of the house... bring them together... or tear them apart...? *fade to black*

I will say, I couldn't put this down. The short chapters propel things along quite well, and I really appreciated that it doesn't drag on and on and on. The fact that the house had already been investigated added an interesting mystery twist, and I loved the random incorporation of 60s/70s hippie culture. Honestly? That shit IS extremely creepy, now, looking back on it lol. I also enjoyed how each character had his or her own brush with the paranormal, and how each incident came back to (ahem) haunt them in the end.

And yet the characters were so, so, so incredibly flat. I didn't buy Matt and Claire's marriage for a second, and any attempt to color in the lines seemed really cheap and amateur. I think it must be truly so challenging to write distinct character voices in any book, especially one with multiple POVs in this format, but everyone basically sounded the same with a few tweaks here and there. It was just a little... lame.

Here's what I'd say: if you want sort of a popcorn, Blockbuster mash-up of House of Leaves, Annihilation, Grave Encounters, and maybe The Themis Files, you'll enjoy this book. Fair enough? I'll probably read this author again! I want more books that try something like this.

Anyway, go hokies.

Episode Thirteen on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads