The Taken Horror Book Review

After reading three of Pinbrough’s horror novels I get a sense of her comfort laying in small village or town settings. Her strengths are apparent in the well placed sense of dread and creepiness woven from the beginning, she builds up good characters, places them in an interesting setting, makes the reader involved in their life and then sneaks in something malevolent, waiting to break it all apart. It’s almost hard to read but I guess that’s how authors get us to care.


Small rural town of Watterrow, England, has been nestled in a peaceful cloud lasting thirty years, but with an approach of a huge storms something dark and cruel has decided to come along and stir trouble for elders and their grown children. Thirty years ago, a small girl, Melanie Parr, has mysteriously disappeared; she simply vanished of the face of Earth in a great storm. Her short life was not filled spreading joy, she was a nasty, cruel child who played mean tricks and turned her friends against each other. She was someone that nobody liked and never really mourned even when no one knew what happened to her; in people’s minds she was best forgotten. Forgotten that is until she appeared again in the storm, stirring childhood fears into reality for few who knew her. Now she is back and hungry for revenge, something has happened to her and she will make everyone involved pay for her early demise. Adults are now in the mercy of a child, and a mean one who isn’t ruled by logic but hate and anger.


The book was a fast read; I inhaled it in two sittings while my boyfriend caught up on his weekend naps - best time to read! I liked the main character of Alex a lot, I thought she was well crafted even if we didn’t get to know her well or too long but she made the book enjoyable for me. Overall it wasn’t super scary, but it had plenty of chills and the concept was intriguing even if not extremely strong. It was a nice way to spend an afternoon or two but it’s not something that will stand out to me in the long run. I think the book lost a little momentum at the end and couldn’t have been stronger but it wasn’t bad. The concept was interesting but was a little flaky, I think all the layers of the book added up to make a book but they didn’t make it solid, therefore the three stars. I’m still happy I read it though and I will read more of her in the future. So far after reading “The Taken”, “Breeding Ground” and “Tower Hill” by Pinborough, I definitely think “Tower Hill” has been her best yet, the other books were more of a platform for her wings to grow so she can spread them in the future because I think she had plenty of ideas left in her.


- Kasia S.