Book Review - Penpal by Dathan Auerbach

Title: Penpal
Author: Dathan Auerbach
Genre: Horror/ Thriller
Published: 2012
 
Description: A man investigates the seemingly unrelated bizarre, tragic and horrific occurrences of his childhood in an attempt to finally understand them. Beginning with only fragments of his earlier years, you’ll follow the narrator as he discovers that these stranger and horrible evens are actually part of a single terrifying story that has shaped the entirety of his life and the lives of those around him.
 
Review: In “Penpal” we see a series of short stories, told by our narrator. These seemingly unrelated stories are part of his past and he is beginning to realize they might have a link.
 
The story starts of strong and manages to draw the reader into a nostalgic yet ominous childhood. The book greatest strength is its atmosphere. There are a number of genuinely creepy moments that gave me the chills. Dathan Auerbach managed to turn eeryday situations into something sinister.
 
Still, I was left with mixed feelings after finishing the book. The structure of the book is sometimes confusing. Because these were originally standalone stories, the chronology often feels fragmented. Additionally, the plot holes become increasingly noticeable as the story progresses. Some of the decisions made by the parents and the authorities are hard to swallow and only feel logical within the plot, not in reality. Although the climax hits hard emotionally, the gaps in logic leave a sense of dissatisfaction. It’s worth a try because of the chilling moments, but as a cohesive horror/ thriller, it falls short.
 
Rating: 2,5/ 5