Don’t you ever get tired of the same old native authors you’ve been reading for a while now? Isn’t there a tiny voice somewhere within your mind nagging you for a proverbial ‘someone new‘? Do you wish to comply with the request but are just unsure of the next step? If the answer is yes to any, all, or even none of the above, bear with me. Foreign novels can be wonderful journeys, and allow me to be your tour guide.
Summary
This story follows the more prominent habitants of Black Spring, a small town grown from an even smaller Dutch settlement, with a slight emphasis on the Grant family. Despite its picturesque scenery Black Spring is anything but an oasis of peace and calm. It harbors horrid secrets and the misdeeds of the past return to haunt it every day – quite literally. Katherine van Wyler, a seventeenth-century woman with eyes and mouth sewn shut roams the streets and homes alike whenever she pleases. There are only a few rules our (anti)heroes need to abide by when it comes to her. Rule #1 – don’t broadcast her existence if they want to live in peace. Rule #2 – don’t remove her stitches if they want to live at all. And finally, rule #3 – once they permanently reside in Black Spring, they can never leave.
Thoughts
The premise of the novel is rather compelling and, cleverly outlined throughout the very first pages, locks the reader in for the long run. Right in the beginning we’re introduced to an appalling apparition whose gruesome likeness is in sharp contrast with her treatment – though some do find her frightening, for the most part, the townsfolk regard her as an ordinary nuisance. Like the boozy aunt at Christmas – everybody knows she’s an embarrassment, it’s an open secret, but they look the other way tolerating her for the short time frame she’s there with the family. And, that she is. A nuisance, I mean, as every resident’s life must revolve around her or it doesn’t revolve at all. Have an extended leave from town? Suicidal thoughts and urges arise. Upset her spirit? Natural disasters and an assortment of other devastating events ensue. Remove the stitches? Also suffering and/or death become(s) the probable prospect. As a mean to ensure all of this is avoided, a mobile application is installed on every phone that provides Katherine’s location based on real time feedback but it also monitors the user’s activity as her existence simply cannot get out. This piece of information awoke some faint 1984 vibes within me and as the story goes, it appears I’m not the only one. Certain members of the Grant family believe in free will and the freedom of speech, though I feel like they weren’t ready to pay such price for it in the end. The plot carries on in a steady stream with just enough turns to keep us invested but the finale seems a bit rushed to me, personally. Perhaps this is due to the translation. Supposedly, the first Dutch edition has a different ending than the English version.
Even though the diction was outstanding to me, I must mention the structure of the sentences bore what I reckon is a typically European literary trait – complexity to the point of senselessness, forcing the reader to re-read parts in order to be able to proceed. I have no complaints about the tone, though. That was brilliant throughout the entire course of the book, keeping the goosebumps constant and the level of terror unwavering. A welcome silver lining for the paragraph-long wordage.
Conclusion
To sum up, HEX is a book with great potential, mostly delivering to the expectations. Moreover, the novel possesses the rare ability to absorb the reader completely despite its stylistic shortcomings. I would definitely recommend it to people who love quality writing and a good spook.
About the Author
Olde Heuvelt is an award-winning Dutch author and avid mountaineer currently living in the Mediterranean area. His internationally best-selling novel HEX was published in over twenty-five countries around the world and is currently in development for TV by Gary Dauberman. According to his Instagram account, he’s marrying his partner this year and the wedding will be officiated by Catriona Ward.
What are your thoughts regarding the book? Have you already read it? Or will you? Either way, please feel free to drop a few words in the comments. Stay caffeinated and well-read until next time – Your bookish friend, Nat