Welcome back to Books With Cause. One year ago, I launched this site and uploaded my first review. Since then, I’ve endeavoured to post two reviews a week. A big thank you to everybody who’s checked out this site, whether you’ve been along for the ride since day one or if this is your visit. It means the world to me. With that in mind, let’s dive straight into my latest review.
Reading is consuming, just as much as anything else is. As consumers and customers, we know what we like, just as the manufacturers know what we like. I kind of liken it to McDonald’s. If you think about something like the Scream franchise, that is like fast food. When we go to see one of those movies, we know what we’re getting, and it scratches an itch. And that will never be a knock. I love a Maccies as much as anybody. I’d eat it more often if it weren’t for the price and the health risks.
Then, when an indie or cult horror movie comes out, that’s akin to the new steak place that’s opened down the road. You know a few people who’ve been there, and there have been mixed reviews. You can’t decide whether to give it a try or not because it’s expensive, and what if you don’t like it? I completely get it. And I know people who never leave their comfort zone because they’re afraid they won’t like it while they have the reassurance of the thing they know they like.
Maggie’s Grave by David Sodergren was a little like that for me. Although I can say that the stakes were nowhere near as high. I borrowed the book from my library, and I will try to read everything recommended by Goodreads’ Horror Afficionados. And this wasn’t my first time reading a Sodergren novel. Last year, in the early days of this site, I read The Haar, which was also recommended by Horror Afficionados, and I enjoyed it. And there are the similarities you’d expect to find between The Haar and Maggie’s Grave.
Our story begins in 1657 in the remote Scottish town of Auchemullan. Maggie Wall is killed under the suspicion of being a witch. She was pregnant at the time of her execution, and her baby was also killed because the villagers were not sure the baby wasn’t also a witch.
We then jump to 2019. Maggie Wall is nothing more than a story from old folklore, and her grave is a sight of public interest. Four friends are out bowling and drinking. Beth, Alice, Grady, and Steve. Beth and Alice are best friends, but they haven’t seen as much of each other lately as Alice has recently had a baby. She’s feeling the strain of being a single mother. Meanwhile, Beth and Grady have an on-off relationship, and neither is completely sure where they stand at the moment. An American girl enters the bar looking for a good time, and they decide to take her to visit the grave of Maggie Wall. Not the kind of night out I’d be looking for, personally.
They arrive at the grave, and the American girl, Courney, and Steve sneak off so they can have sex on Maggie’s grave. Yes. You read that correctly, but I will type it again just in case you are in any doubt. Courtney and Steve sneak off to fuck on Maggie’s grave. Something tells me that Steve is about to learn a lesson about why a man should never stick his dick in crazy. But that will soon be the least of Steve’s worries. Because Maggie Wall is about to wake up. She wants revenge. Beth and Alice are about to learn that the secrets of Auchenmullan are best left buried.
This was an enjoyable enough book. It felt a little like if The Wicker Man was a Hammer Horror film. There are elements of camp and fright which are bound to scratch that itch if it’s what you are looking for.
My Goodreads rating: ★★★☆☆(3 stars)
