Spoiler Free Book Review

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This is the second story I’ve read by Michael McDowell and he’s quickly becoming one of my favorite horror authors. The southern gothic atmosphere his writing creates is perfection; I could feel the oppressive Alabama heat and humidity seeping into my pores as I turned the pages. 

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The Elementals is a slow burn, but I really enjoyed getting to know the characters and the quirks in their personalities and relationships with one another. I adore Big Barbara, Odessa, and India. The relationship between Luker and India is shockingly entertaining and I cracked up at any conversation between either of them and Big Barbara. 

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While the intricacies of the Savage and McCray families got my attention, Beldame is what kept me hooked. There are brief moments of something sinister coming from the third house early on, but the dread and tension rackets up to a terrifying level by part four when all hints at subtlety are gone.

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The Elementals is such a unique take on a haunted house story; it can have you laughing out loud one minute and hiding under the covers the next. I can see how the characters and writing style might make this one divisive amongst readers, but I loved everything about it and would highly recommend it to horror fans.