433 Pages
First published January 17, 2023
4/5 Stars
Hendrix's newest book tells the story of a woman who is called back to her hometown after the death of her parents. She leaves her five-year-old daughter with her father and makes the journey back to Charleston, where only her estranged brother and their puppet-filled childhood home is waiting. But soon, Louise realizes that what should have been a quick trip home is turning into her worst nightmare.
I was really torn when I first started reading this book. If you know me, you know that I love the haunted house trope and I was somewhat let down when I realized this book was about haunted puppets instead. Luckily, Hendrix is an extremely talented storyteller and my disappointment vanished rather quickly. The story is laced with humor and over-the-top horror, and I loved almost every single second of it. I quickly started to become emotionally attached to Louise and her brother, and I found myself rooting for them, even though they mostly argued. But then again, isn't that what most estranged siblings do?
When I finished reading this book, I really had to compose myself so I wouldn't cry. I was reading the ending out in public while waiting on my kids, and I really didn't want to have tears streaming down my cheeks. That would have been more of a horrific sight than a creepy puppet and an imaginary dog combined. Trust me.