I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A young man struggling after the tragic loss of his wife and son goes to a haunted island in hopes of reuniting with them, only to become entangled with two others who all feed on each other’s memories and guilt in author Jennifer Anne Gordon’s “Beautiful, Frightening, and Silent”.
The Synopsis
WINNER KINDLE AWARD FOR BEST HORROR/SUSPENSE 2020 WINNER Best Horror 2020 – Authors on the Air Awards, Finalist for American Book Fest’s Best Book Award Horror 2020Finalist for Book of the Year – Authors on the Air 2020
“I read this book over several weeks, early mornings before my family woke, and I loved every moment, savoring sentences, taking screenshots of passages to revisit, and shaking my head in admiration. The writing is incredibly beautiful, rhythmic, and precise, and Gordon’s use of objects laden with emotion is masterful–watch for her teacup, rope, and red crayon; watch her weave and stuff and loop those red hairs, how they come back, how you’ll find them in your own pockets. This is horror in love with life, and an author in love with language. You will encounter scenes you won’t forget. Be ready.”
– Diane Zinna author of The All-Night Sun
Adam, a young alcoholic, slowly descends into madness while dealing with the psychological scars of childhood trauma which are reawakened when his son and wife die in a car accident that he feels he is responsible for. After a failed suicide attempt, and more group meetings that he can mention. Adam hears a rumor of a Haunted Island off the Coast of Maine, where “if someone wants it bad enough” they could be reunited with a lost loved one. In his desperate attempt to connect with the ghost of his four-and-a half year old son, he decides to go there, to Dagger Island, desperate to apologize to, or be condemned by, his young son. Adam is not sure what he deserves or even which of these he wants more. While staying in a crumbling old boarding house, he becomes involved with a beautiful and manipulative ghost who has spent 60 years tormenting the now elderly man who was her lover, and ultimately her murderer. The three of them create a “Menage-a-Guilt” as they all come to terms with what it is that ties them so emotionally to their memories and their very “existence”. Beautiful, Frightening, and Silent is a poetic fever dream of grief, love, and the terrifying ways that obsession can change who we are.
The Review
One thing that I’ve always loved about Jennifer Anne Gordon’s books has been the author’s ability to weave a tale that is both chilling and emotional at the same time. The best books in the horror genre are often woven in a way that allows readers to see the terror and horror that usually lurks in real life, with ghost stories frequently being able to mirror life’s tragic events. That makes this author’s books standout performers, as the narrative elevated the tension in these types of stories to new heights both on a scare factor and an emotional level.
The author’s world-building and haunting atmosphere draws the reader in, and the tense psychological factor at play here as the characters intertwine their journey together really brings out the theme. That theme, the journey of loss and the pain that comes with grief, keeps the reader thoroughly invested in these dynamic characters and their arcs.
The Verdict
Thoughtful, chilling, and entertaining author Jennifer Anne Gordon’s “Beautiful, Frightening, and Silent” is a must-read gothic horror and psychological thriller. The author’s poetic writing style and depth of imagery will transport readers instantly and connect them to the characters and their unique emotional journey, which many could relate to. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
About the Author
JENNIFER ANNE GORDON is a professional ballroom dancer and choreographer by day, and a curly haired neurotic writer by night. She is an actor, a traveler, a photographer, a lover of Gothic Horror, and a dog mom. She lives in the wilds of New Hampshire with her partner on and off the dance floor. Her novels include the Kindle Award for Horror 2020 Winning book, Beautiful, Frightening, and Silent, as well as the historical Gothic novel From Daylight to Madness (The Hotel #1) as well as When The Sleeping Dead Still Talk (The Hotel #2). She also has a published collection of her artwork, titled “Victoriana {mixed media art of jennifer anne gordon}.
for benevolent stalking purposes you can visit her website http://www.JenniferAnneGordon.com
