The Haunting of Velkwood by Gwendolyn Kiste
From Bram Stoker Award–winning author Gwendolyn Kiste comes a chilling novel about three childhood friends who miraculously survive the night everyone in their suburban neighborhood turned into ghosts—perfect for fans of Yellowjackets.
The Velkwood Vicinity was the topic of occult theorists, tabloid one-hour documentaries, and even some pseudo-scientific investigations as the block of homes disappeared behind a near-impenetrable veil that only three survivors could enter—and only one has in the past twenty years, until now.
Talitha Velkwood has avoided anything to do with the tragedy that took her mother and eight-year-old sister, drifting from one job to another, never settling anywhere or with anyone, feeling as trapped by her past as if she was still there in the small town she so desperately wanted to escape from. When a new researcher tracks her down and offers to pay her to come back to enter the vicinity, Talitha claims she’s just doing it for the money. Of all the crackpot theories over the years, no one has discovered what happened the night Talitha, her estranged, former best friend Brett, and Grace, escaped their homes twenty years ago. Will she finally get the answers she’s been looking for all these years, or is this just another dead end?
Award-winning author Gwendolyn Kiste has created a suburban ghost story about a small town that trapped three young women who must confront the past if they’re going to have a future.
Review:
Thank you to Saga Press, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, for the free copy for review.
When I read the synopsis of this book, I knew I had to read it. We’ve all read (or at least heard) about haunted buildings and/or ghosts, but I’d never read a story about an entire neighborhood that became a ghost… stick with me here.
The story follows Talitha Velkwood, a survivor of a haunting night that turned everyone and everything in her neighborhood into ghosts. When she is contacted by a man named Jack – a paranormal enthusiast and researcher – who asks her to return to the neighborhood and report back, Talitha sees this as an opportunity to get answers. The night of the event, she and her childhood best friends Brett and Grace had just left to go back to college – narrowly escaping whatever it was that took their families. Now, the neighborhood sits where it always has, but there’s a strange sort of veil around it that prevents anyone from entering – anyone except Alitha, Brett, and Grace.
Alitha and Brett have avoided Velkwood Street ever since the incident. Grace went in once but returned a changed person, refusing to talk about what she had experienced. Talitha, who is now in her 40s, is single and struggling to get by. That night still haunts her, and she would love to find out what happened to her mother and her 8-year-old sister, Sophie. As she reluctantly returns to face the past, she must accept the truth of what really happened leading up to that fateful night.
Kiste’s narrative is gripping and atmospheric, drawing readers into a world where reality and the supernatural collide. The tension builds as Talitha and her former friends, Brett and Grace, confront their past traumas and the eerie events that continue to haunt them. The author masterfully weaves together elements of horror, mystery, and psychological thriller to create a story that keeps readers on the edge of their seats.
What I especially loved about this one was Kiste’s ability to delve deep into the complexities of her characters. Talitha is a flawed, directionless, and relatable protagonist who struggles with guilt, fear, and a desire for closure. Brett and Grace are equally compelling, each carrying their own burdens and secrets. As the trio unravels the mysteries of what happened on Velkwood Street, they are forced to confront not only the supernatural forces at play but also the darkness within themselves.
The novel is a tapestry of eerie and unsettling imagery, from the ethereal figures that haunt the neighborhood to the decaying remnants of a town suspended in time. Kiste’s evocative prose breathes life into the Velkwood neighborhood, instilling a sense of dread and foreboding that lingers. There are also no clear rules between the two realities. When Alitha first enters, she thinks she is only gone for an hour, but when she crosses back to “now,” she learns she has been gone for three months. The next time she enters, she again goes in for an hour but returns less than a minute later. The lack of “rules” in this alternate reality upped the tension and the stakes because each time Alitha entered, things got just a little bit darker.
I also loved the themes of not being able to run from your past and how, no matter how hard you try, you can never fully escape where you came from. I’ve mentioned before that I was born and raised in a very small, rural town in Idaho. I left (escaped?) in my early 20s, and even though I’ve changed in many ways and no longer fit in there, it still calls to me in weird and mysterious ways. Even though I’ve moved on and changed dramatically, it’s still home. We can never really leave, can we?
This book is a haunting and captivating read that will appeal to fans of atmospheric horror and psychological suspense. Kiste’s skillful storytelling, haunting atmosphere, and intricate characterization make this novel a standout. With its blend of supernatural elements and deeply human emotions, this is a compelling exploration of the ties that bind us to our past and the ghosts that haunt us. It’s a quick read and one I would definitely recommend.
