Book: ‘Twas the Night
Author: Kevin Johnson
Thank you, NetGalley and Harper Audio, for an advanced audio copy.
Another solid Christmas book for the season and this one is about as far from cozy as you can get.
As someone who has watched the 2005 movie Santa’s Slay more times than I care to admit, I went into this one completely ready for what it was offering and it did not disappoint.
‘Twas the Night follows Halley Belanger, a sharp and skeptical reporter investigating a string of child disappearances across Maine. Every town seems to have been hit except one, a strange little village called Yule where it is always Christmas and the residents worship Santa Claus like a god. Naturally, Halley heads straight there.
What she finds is a town drenched in gingerbread smiles and sinister secrets, and a version of Santa Claus that has absolutely no interest in giving you presents. The folk horror vibes are strong here and Johnson balances genuine scares with a dark sense of humor that works really well.
For a debut novel this is seriously impressive. The pacing is sharp, the twists keep coming, and the ending is a lot of fun. If you are looking for something to scratch that dark Christmas itch this season, this one is exactly what you need.
Final Score: 4/5
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