Horror is most effective when the supernatural is paralleled by something relatable. Jack Torrance in Kubrick's version of The Shining is scary not because the hotel drove him crazy, but because he was already an agressive, angry, abusive parent and husband. The hotel just turned up the heat. So when he picked up that axe, it was a way for the story to magnify the evil of his abuse.

This is why I was so optimistic about This Thing Between Us. Horror is the perfect genre to explore grief, loss, and loneliness. And there's a lot to appreciate here. Some of the surreal moments are quite memorable, and it covers a lot of thematic ground, which I enjoyed.

Unfortunately, something about the book just didn't completely work for me, although I'm having a hard time putting a finger on exactly what my problem was. The horror elements popped in and out, but maybe there needed to be more of a crescendo? Or maybe I just wanted more personality from the main character? I'm really not sure.

Either way, it was an interesting read and worth checking out if you enjoy the genre. I could see this working for people, and who knows, maybe I'll revisit later and it will strike more of a chord at that point.