Dead Petals by Alan I’Anson #BookReview

A murdered little girl whispers in the night.

What does she want?

And what does she know?

Gary and Fiona’s worlds are spinning into the abyss as they come to terms with the fact that their daughter may have been taken by the one they call the Goldilocks Killer.

But through the mists of pain and drunken apathy, Gary notices strange things are happening.

Maybe it’s just the booze.

Or could it be a message?

As the clues come together, Gary realizes the shocking truth, but does he have the strength to do what must be done?

Title: Dead Petals | Author: Alan I’Anson| Publisher: Self | Pub. Date: 8 April 2019| Pages:: 387 | ASIN:B07P5VDQBN | Genre: Thriller| Language: English| Starred Review: Yes | Source: Author/ Publisher

Dead Petals Review

Dead Petals is I’Anson’s debut novel that I have been excited to read for such a long, long time! Having read and loved a lot of I’Anson’s short stories (horror fans – Halloween Eddie’s is a MUST READ), a full novel had me very excited, and I needed to find the perfect time to read it.

Gary and Fiona are a happily married couple, with perfect daughter Charlotte (aka Charley). Nothing can touch them, tragedy only happens to ‘other’ people, it never gets close enough to happen to you. Until it does…

Dead Petals has a well-paced storyline that reveals just the right amount of information at a time to keep the pages turning and the curiosity piqued. The characters are incredibly believable (although Charley feels a little too perfect), and I connected with the characters enough to root for them and be determined to find a happy ending for them. Did I want to throttle Gary for a good portion of the book? Yes, yes I did (get your head in the sodding game Gary). But then, what do I know, I haven’t and touch wood will never be in a situation that Gary finds himself in.

I really enjoyed this book! It had a great mixture of the supernatural creeps mixed with the tragedy of kidnapping, and the trauma that is suffered upon losing a child that way. I loved the supernatural twists within the novel, they were my favourite elements that gave the novel the ability to stand out. I also had some wild theories throughout that didn’t come to fruition, and it was nice to be taken on a different path to what I expected!

I give this novel 4 moths, follow them if you dare (you should dare). I can’t wait for I’anson’s next novel!

Content warning for child death, though not explicit.

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