IN THE VINES by Shannon Kirk
Thomas & Mercer; 7/17/18
CBTB Rating: 4.5/5
The Verdict: twisted psychological suspense
As a crime fiction reader, what could be better than finding a psychological thriller that is so effective and immersive in its portrayal of an unhinged mindset that it actually makes you start to feel just a bit unhinged yourself? Finding a book that does this effectively is never easy, but today’s featured title does it in spades. IN THE VINES by Shannon Kirk will make for twisted, page-turning summer reading - a shocking and purely entertaining psychological suspense novel for the reader who doesn’t want to just see the deterioration of the story’s main characters, but wants to feel it, too. Kirk has written an immersive, addictive story of toxic family secrets and the fallout of their surfacing. From its atmospheric backdrop (a seaside New England estate, now falling into disrepair) to its vivid, impactful writing and (let’s not forget) genuinely twisted central mystery, IN THE VINES delivers the total package - and makes for the perfect addition to your summer reading list.
Plot Summary:
Family ties so strong you can’t escape…
Mary Olivia Pentecost, known as Mop, was born into one of the wealthiest families in the country—and one of the most guarded. Now, two years after her mother’s mysterious death, Mop is seeking closure on the disquieting tragedy by returning to the New England seaside estate of her cloistered Aunty Liv—once her closest relative and confidante.
But behind the walls of the isolated estate, the shadows of the past are darker than Mop imagined. The puzzles of the family history are not to be shared, but unearthed. With each revelation comes a new, foreboding threat—and for Mop, the grave suspicion that to discover Aunty Liv’s secrets is to become a prisoner of them.
How well do we know the people we love? How well do we want to know them? The answers are as twisted as a tangle of vines in this throat-clutching novel of psychological suspense.
If you’re an avid CBTB reader, you're likely to have come across reviews for books I consider “popcorn reads” - that is, purely entertaining and totally binge-worthy psychological suspense novels. IN THE VINES has all the entertainment value of a “popcorn read,” but it has a much stronger bite. Imagine crossing a juicy suspense story surrounding a wealthy family’s secrets with a deranged main character and stomach-turning revelations—that’s the potent blend Shannon Kirk serves her readers in IN THE VINES. There’s nothing subtle about IN THE VINES, and I’m quite confident that’s exactly how the story’s Aunty Liv would want it.
Much of this story’s exceptionalism is rooted in Kirk’s rich, vivid prose. Kirk writes with assuredness, detailing her characters’ darkest secrets, the story’s stunning ocean-front locale, and everything in between - all with the same amount of precision and care. Kirk’s writing is so detailed, in fact, that I did find myself going through a bit of an adjustment period at the outset of this book—perhaps my previous book had been of a much sparser writing style, but I did need to give myself a chapter or so to adjust my mindset and fall in line with Kirk's richly-developed writing. Once I did, I was completely, utterly hooked. (That being said: if you are looking for a more sparse crime novel, this won’t be the right choice!) Kirk’s writing is, further, a fantastic example of how a book can be addictive without being a speed-read. IN THE VINES is certainly accessible and gripping - I could hardly set this book down once I got into its rhythm - but I didn’t find myself speed-reading it. Instead, I wanted to savor each and every sentence Kirk strung together. Even in her descriptions of the most horrific things, there’s such beauty and precision—observing her use of language became a whole other source of entertainment for me, on top of IN THE VINES’ killer plot.
And when I say “killer plot,” I really do mean killer. IN THE VINES delivers the kind of genuinely deranged plot that’s been missing from my psychological thriller reading list lately. Sure, there might be broken hearts and relationship betrayals here, but most of all, there’s pure, utter insanity. Kirk’s story descends into madness alongside its characters—readers will feel the book gradually building towards what they will correctly assume can only be an explosive finale, and they won’t be disappointed. Kirk walks that fine line between pleasingly dramatic and just plain over-the-top - a very fine line indeed, but one that readers will find she consistently falls on the right side of. There will be shocking twists, horrific reveals, and some genuinely stomach-turning moments of gruesome revelations, but Kirk wraps this entire story up in a measure of consistency and authenticity that somehow makes even the most dramatic moments of this story feel right. That is to say: Kirk doesn’t pull any out-of-left-field shocks, but instead leaves breadcrumbs (very disturbing breadcrumbs, at that) for readers to follow in pursuit of the truth. IN THE VINES is the perfect storm of family horrors and tragedies, and Kirk masterfully juggles the many elements that combine to make this story so genuinely shocking and entertaining.
At the center of this storm is one of the most disturbing, disturbed, and somehow endearing characters I’ve read in ages: Aunty Liv. I know we’re (of course) supposed to root for Mop, our protagonist - and I did root for her, don’t get me wrong - but my loyalty really lies with the deranged, tragic figure of Aunty Liv. There’s a moment early on in IN THE VINES that so perfectly encapsulates what I loved about this book, and about this character: for reasons that will become clear to the reader, Mop finds herself at her aunt’s estate after years of being away. The estate grounds are in beautiful condition: well-tended gardens, green, manicured lawns, the works - and at the heart of it stands Aunty Liv, hair frazzled, teeth broken and missing, disfigured by all manner of scars. This contrast of natural beauty and interpersonal brokenness is yet another element that makes IN THE VINES so thoroughly compelling—and it’s a contrast that plays out throughout the novel. From Kirk’s gorgeous writing about twisted topics to the physical contrast between home and inhabitants, IN THE VINES plays with these unexpected pairings to fantastic effect. If there's anything better suited to summer crime fiction reading than a picture-perfect, seaside New England estate hiding dark secrets within it, I'm just not sure what that might be.
In short: your summer reading list just grew by one book. IN THE VINES will deliver all the entertainment and drama you require from a summer read, with a healthy side of deranged, twisted character development and vivid atmosphere. Highly recommended!
Plus: Read An Excerpt From IN THE VINES Here!
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. All opinions my own.
Book Details:
Paperback
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer (July 17, 2018)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1503900754
ISBN-13: 978-1503900752
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Love crime novels that put a fresh spin on the serial killer thriller? Looking for a suspense book that reads a bit like an episode of Criminal Minds? I’ve got the book for you. This week, Lisa Unger - a prolific New York Times bestselling author with 17 novels under her belt - has released a harrowing “popcorn read” of a thriller: THE STRANGER INSIDE. This gripping character study takes readers inside the mind of a villain with terrifying authenticity, examining the fallout of a brutal crime through the inner lives of its survivors. Following a young mother living in suburban bliss, but harboring a dark past, THE STRANGER INSIDE doesn’t ask “whodunnit”—instead, it asks “whydunnit,” and the answer will be revealed to the reader bit by tantalizing bit over this book’s 380-odd pages. Lisa Unger is a master at crafting truly palpable tension, and her skill at plotting and suspense-building ensure that readers will be glued to the pages here, even long after the killer’s identity has been revealed. THE STRANGER INSIDE will prove to be a surefire hit for crime fiction readers looking for a page-turning, richly developed thriller with serious entertainment value. My only complaint? That now I’ve got to wait patiently to see what Lisa Unger does next.