Monday, October 23, 2023

Six thrilling books that blend folklore & horror

Allison Epstein earned her MFA in fiction from Northwestern University and a BA in creative writing from the University of Michigan. A Michigan native, she now lives in Chicago, where she works as an editor. When not writing, she enjoys good theater, bad puns, and fancy jackets.

She is the author of historical novels including A Tip for the Hangman, the newly released Let the Dead Bury the Dead, and the forthcoming Our Rotten Hearts.

[My Book, The Movie: A Tip for the HangmanThe Page 69 Test: A Tip for the HangmanQ&A with Allison EpsteinMy Book, The Movie: Let the Dead Bury the DeadThe Page 69 Test: Let the Dead Bury the DeadWriters Read: Allison Epstein]

At CrimeReads Epstein tagged six of her "favorite books that delve deep into folklore for their twists and turns, with truly terrifying results." One title on the list:
Small Angels, by Lauren Owen

This was one of my favorite reads of 2022, and I will continue to shout about it as long as I’m given the opportunity. For Chloe, Small Angels is the perfect little church on the edge of the woods, the ideal place for her long-awaited wedding. For Kate, the sister of the groom, Small Angels is the site of the most horrifying event of her life. As wedding preparations continue, the dark spirit from that tragedy is stirring again—and this time, Harry refuses to be ignored. For a certain kind of nerd (i.e., me), I can describe the plot as “literally an English murder ballad come to life” and you’ll be hooked. But all readers who like their ghost stories to be both heartbreaking and genuinely terrifying should run, not walk, to the nearest bookstore.
Read about another entry on the list.

The Page 69 Test: Small Angels.

--Marshal Zeringue