When I put out the call for books to buy for #IndieAugust 2019, I had one major request: no fantasy. But paranormal is another story. Something about monsters and haunted places has always appealed to me. Putting out such a specific call worked out in my favor. I ended up finding the best indie book that I’ve ever read. Below is my review of that novel: Book 1 of the Shadow Avenue series, The Hidden House by Vivi Dubois.
The Hidden House plot summary
Lionel Hartley is a loner teen who has been living on his own for the past few years. After his father died of cancer, his mother bought a house on Shadow Avenue and then took off, using work as an excuse to stay away. She checks in so sporadically that Lionel feels completely neglected. He makes the most of it, though, doing well in school, participating in extracurricular activities, gardening, and hanging out with a small group of friends who don’t pry.
Then one night, he sees a figure with glowing eyes staring at him through his bedroom window. This incident sets off a chain of events that introduces Lionel to his very bizarre street and the collection of paranormal characters who reside there. Now, despite being caught up in strange, and sometimes dangerous, circumstances, Lionel acquires the family that he has desired for a long time.
Characters you can root for
It’s no exaggeration to say that this is one of the best books that I’ve read this year. And I’ll repeat that it’s the best indie book that I’ve ever read. I don’t mean that as in “it’s good for an indie book.” It’s just a good book. Period.
First off, it’s actually scary, especially in the beginning. Dubois builds a traditionally eerie atmosphere on Shadow Avenue, starting with the creature with red eyes who Lionel finds staring at him through his window while he sleeps. Then, there is the fact that he never sees another soul come outside. The mail doesn’t get delivered, and cars never pass by. One night, he meets a pale boy his age standing in the yard across the street. This boy can only come out at night, and his protective mother seems a bit homicidal.
As you get to know these creepy characters, though, they start to grow on you. Essentially, they are just a dysfunctional family and latch onto Lionel for his sense of normalcy and morality. They want to be better for him, and he wants to be a part of a family again, even if that means surrounding himself with dangerous creatures. Lionel takes a beating for them, and sometimes from them, several times throughout the book, proving his commitment to this odd group. He’s an admirable character, and he makes these traditionally villainous characters admirable as well.
Everyone has a distinct voice as well, from the teenage boys to the doting mother to the otherworldly beings who have been around a long time. Every character’s dialogue and perspective is distinct and their actions realistic. Their behaviors are convincing, yet they never lose their supernatural characteristics.
A classic spin on traditional horror tropes
Every paranormal author likes to take a stab at reinventing the classic horror monsters. Their attempts tend to be hit or miss. Dubois’ attempt is a definite hit, keeping the creatures and their traditional horror rules essentially the same but with changes that suit the story. The rules aren’t bound by the plot. The plot is bound by the rules, making them fresh and interesting.
Twists and turns
Predictability can be a frustrating weakness in a story. This book kept me guessing from the first chapter. Yet, I was on board for wherever it planned to take me. I found myself desperate to get back to it whenever forced to put it down due to other obligations, and I was always surprised by how often it subverted my expectations while creating a better story than I could have imagined. Every detail was perfectly executed so that you could stay focused on the plot itself.
My only criticism
While this book is great in so many ways, the only imperfection I found was in the narration. There is an overuse of passive voice and a dozen or so glaring typos, especially as the story progresses. But having been the sole editor on my own books, I know how hard it is to miss those infuriating mistakes that seem to appear only after you hit publish. It’s rarely distracting, and to the casual reader, they might not even notice it at all.
How to buy
For the first time, I fully intend to read the sequel to the Shadow Avenue series, desperate to learn what happens next as the first book resolves its central conflict but leaves enough loose ends to warrant a sequel. There is still much to learn about Shadow Avenue and its inhabitants, and I can’t wait to see where it takes me next. It goes without saying that I highly recommend The Hidden House. As always, be sure to leave a review on Amazon and Goodreads.
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