Jarring & Captivating: The ‘Geisters by David Nickle (book review)
If you think you know ghosts, think again. In The ‘Geisters, multiple award-winning author, David Nickle, crafts a world where humans know that poltergeists exist, and what they do to them is unimaginable.
I picked this book up at Ad Astra a while back, based on a recommendation by author Matt Moore. I’d attended a panel on what horrifies us. Matt said that the beginning of The ‘Geisters upset the expectation of reality, a fundamental part of a good horror. Given that I have a huge respect for Matt’s opinion, I forked over my money to ChiZine and dove in.
What followed was a bizarre adventure that didn’t end as I expected it would.
Get Under Your Covers Before You Go Under This Cover
Ann LeSage is a woman who used the visual imagery of her role-playing world to trap the thing that plagued her childhood, a dangerous poltergeist she called the Insect. With her past behind her, and the Insect controlled with the help of an odd doctor, Ann is ready to begin a new adventure as she marries successful lawyer Michael Voors.
But not is all as it seems: the Insect’s powers have grown…and the same people who pursue Ann hunt the Insect. Ann hasn’t escaped the influence of her poltergeist. Clearly, the Insect can’t be trusted, for it’s caused more than one death. Who can Ann turn to for help?
Written with straightforward, yet eerie, panache, the timeline The ‘Geisters jarringly jumps between Ann’s past and present. I found that the jumbled chronology complimented the life-threatening events that challenge Ann – it’s unsettling in a good way.
The ‘Geisters isn’t long, and I sense there is more untold than revealed in its 252 pages. I’d love to know more of the world’s supernatural mechanics. Sadly, that is a secret Nickle keeps to himself. Unless we have a sequel?
This story is original, not a pastiche of poltergeist tales. Nickle draws readers in early and takes them on unexpected twists. Set in Toronto (yay home grown!), it catches you quickly, then makes you question everything you know about poltergeists as you fly through the pages.
Trigger warnings? You betchya, they’re all in there. The Insect ain’t no Casper. Also contains psychosexual violence.
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