The Restless Dark is a book caught up in the fog of its captivating horror-thriller plot and intoxicating atmosphere.
Erica Waters has this mystical touch that infuses her books with magic. Her books are so deeply infused with this woody, mysterious and naturalistic power that blurs the line between fantasy and reality. Her writing is so elegant, yet unnerving and creepy at the same time. At this point, she is a YA horror author you have to keep on your radar.
Her blend of pulse-pounding mystery and that unnerving sense of something beyond your comprehension, combined with unapologetically queer characters, creates something you have not seen before. That representation is amazing to see, with these queer girls finding themselves and their own path through these horrific situations. In particular, I loved Lucy, Carolina and Maggie. They’re all intense and interesting characters, with plenty of layers to delve into. Waters keenly focuses on the impact of trauma in the book, with different ghosts of their pasts resurfacing to affect their psyches and provide insight into their motivations. This well-developed trio invites you to allow them into your hearts, only for them to break them once more.
This is an impressively well-constructed mystery with plenty of suspects, red herrings and the all important twists. It is tight, slick and keeps you on your toes. The way Waters weaves in ethical interrogation of true crime is a fantastic throughline. The exploitation of suffering and pain for entertainment is put on full display here, as well as the variety of reasonings people give for their enjoyment of the genre. It works as escapism, catharsis for personal issues, or a way to better navigate the world for some. Of course, there is also some sickening aspects to it, with a glorification of the killer and a disregard for the impact of revisiting these crimes may have for the victims. It is ultimately all about spectacle and what will create the biggest story. Waters showcases these murky territories expertly, allowing for nuance and development of ideas.
In The Restless Dark, there is always this sense of the uncanny permeating every page. You are constantly confronted with the underlying uneasiness of if this is ghosts or a more monstrous human influence behind some of the events. This fantastical questioning of the story adds that extra layer to the story that elevates it and perfectly compliments Waters’ lyrical writing. I love how much her books thrive in that thick and all-consuming atmosphere. They truly feel like campfire tales, shrouded in smoke and secrets. The layers to them are so enjoyable to unravel. Also, the setting itself comes to life, becoming a haunting presence looming over everything. Something here is clearly not right and that menacing presence pays off in some brilliant ways. The amplification of everyone’s darkest desires is a fascinating concept and allows some really dark moments to take place. That consummate sense of paranoia colours every page and starts to sink into your mind. Everyone here is an unreliable narrator, right down to the setting. That bone chilling unease is tied to the fleeting and unknowable nature of the place, creating so many questions that will never be answered.
The Restless Dark is a book that conjures those shadows in the night, full of darkness, mystery and something you can’t quite explain. For me, this makes for dynamite reading that I cannot get enough of.
The Restless Dark is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
Enter Cloudkiss Canyon at your own risk.
The Cloudkiss Killer is dead. Now a true-crime podcast is hosting a contest to find his bones.
Lucy was almost the serial killer’s final victim. Carolina is a true-crime fan who fears her own rage. Maggie is a psychology student with a little too much to hide.
All of them are looking for answers, for a new identity, for a place to bury their secrets.
But there are more than bones hiding in the shadows…sometimes the darkness inside is more frightening than anything the dead leave behind.
Perfect for fans of Sadie and Wilder Girls, this newest novel from Erica Waters follows three girls at a true-crime contest to find the bones of a lost killer—even as a mysterious force pulls at the contestants’ darkest desires.
