Dead Eleven by Jimmy Juliano
On a creepy island where everyone has a strange obsession with the year 1994, a newcomer arrives, hoping to learn the truth about her son’s death–but finds herself pulled deeper and deeper into the bizarrely insular community and their complicated rules…
Clifford Island. When Willow Stone finds these words written on the floor of her deceased son’s bedroom, she’s perplexed. She’s never heard of it before, but soon learns it’s a tiny island off of Wisconsin’s Door County peninsula, 200 miles from Willow’s home. Why would her son write this on his floor? Determined to find answers, Willow sets out for the island.
After a few days on Clifford, Willow realizes: this place is not normal. Everyone seems to be stuck in a particular day in 1994: they wear outdated clothing, avoid modern technology, and, perhaps most mystifyingly, watch the OJ Simpson car chase every evening. When she asks questions, people are evasive, but she learns one thing: close your curtains at night.
High schooler Lily Becker has lived on Clifford her entire life, and she is sick of the island’s twisted mythology and adhering to the rules. She’s been to the mainland, and everyone is normal there, so why is Clifford so weird? Lily is determined to prove that the islanders’ beliefs are a sham. But are they?
Five weeks after Willow arrives on the island, she disappears. Willow’s brother Harper comes to Clifford searching for his sister, and when he learns the truth–that this island is far more sinister than anyone could have imagined–he is determined to blow the whole thing open.
If he can get out alive…
Review:
Before reading this book, I knew very little about it. All I’d heard was there’s an island where everyone is obsessed with the year 1994, and it’s creepy. For some reason, I had it in my head that this was some rando island in the middle of the ocean where someone was doing some sort of social experiment a la “Lost”. I wanted to check it out but kept putting it off. I finally made room for it this month, and I am so happy to say that this one was NOTHING at all like I expected. I was sooooo wrong on the premise. From start to finish, this book had me hooked with its creepy atmosphere, original premise, and engaging characters. I couldn’t put it down! For the record, it is nothing like the TV show “Lost”.
The story centers around Willow Stone, a grieving mother who discovers the words “Clifford Island” written on the floor of her deceased son’s room. Intrigued and determined to find answers, Willow does some research and finds that Clifford Island is an island in the Great Lakes – just off the coast of Wisconsin, so she embarks on a journey to the island to find the connection to her son.
Clifford Island is anything but normal. The residents are all friendly but seem to be stuck in 1994, wearing outdated clothing and avoiding modern technology. Their strange behavior becomes even more perplexing when Willow discovers that they watch the OJ Simpson car chase every evening.
Willow meets Lily Becker, a high school senior who cannot wait to get off the island. She is convinced everyone is being brainwashed and is determined to expose the leaders of the island of mind control, but is that really what’s happening, or is there a more sinister reason that the people of the island remain firmly planted in 1994? When Willow disappears, her brother arrives on the island, determined to find her, and with Lily’s help, the two will either blow the lid off of the alleged mind control or they’ll unwittingly unleash something far more sinister than either of them could ever imagine.
One of the things that I loved the most about this book was the original premise. The concept of a secluded island where time stands still is both fascinating and chilling. The way the author builds suspense and gradually reveals the island’s secrets kept me on the edge of my seat. I was constantly guessing and second-guessing, never knowing what was going to happen next. I couldn’t wait to find out why everyone was told to keep their curtains closed at night and figure out what, exactly, the “dead things” that some claimed to see really were.
The characters in this book are all well-developed and relatable. Willow’s determination to uncover the truth about the message in her son’s room and her subsequent disappearance is gripping. Her brother, Harper, is a strong and resilient character who eventually becomes the driving force behind unraveling the island’s mysteries. Lily, with her rebellious nature and desire for the truth, adds a touch of complexity to the story. All of the supporting characters have a purpose in the overall story, each one playing an important part in the creepy mystery surrounding Clifford Island.
I also loved the style of the book. The story is told from multiple points of view – mostly Willow, Harper, and Lily and it jumps back and forth in time. Peppered amongst the narrative are snippets of interviews and letters between various characters that help unravel the mystery. It was structured in a way that made for a truly immersive experience and made it difficult to put the book down.
Another aspect that I appreciated about this book was the more I read, the creepier it got. As the mystery unravels and the multiple narratives close in, the tension amps up, and the chills descend and don’t ease up until the very last word.
My only minor complaint with this one was in the reveal of why and how Willow was drawn to the island. I can’t say more about it without giving some really big plot points away. I will say it seemed like a bit of a stretch, but I was able to put it aside for the most part and enjoy the rest of the book.
People have been all over the place with this one. Some either love it or hate it. I am definitely on the love train with this one. I love when I go into a book feeling like I’ll likely come out at best in the middle of the road and then end up being blown away. If you’re looking for a creepy and suspenseful story, look no further than Dead Eleven.
