Josh Malerman is an American author of novels and short stories. Before publishing his debut novel, Bird Box, he wrote fourteen novels, never having shopped one of them. Being the singer/songwriter of the Detroit rock band The High Strung, Malerman toured the country for six years, and he wrote many of the rough drafts for these novels in the passenger seat between cities on tour.
Eight-year-old Bela’s family is her world. There’s Mommy, Daddo, and Grandma Ruth. But there is also Other Mommy, a malevolent entity who comes out of her closet and asks her every day if she can go inside Bela’s heart. When Bela has an accident at the playground because of Other Mommy, her parents take her straight to the doctor. There, she reveals to her parents that she saw Other Mommy at the playground. Her parents haven’t heard Bela speak this name for some time and have always assumed it was an imaginary friend.
When Bela’s parents start sensing something wrong in Bela’s room and Other Mommy appears for them to see, they immediately flee the house with Bela. They seek the assistance of different individuals, but it seems no one can get rid of Other Mommy, and she follows them wherever they go. With each new appearance, Other Mommy is getting more restless, stronger, and bolder. Other Mommy is also growing tired of asking Bela the question over and over, and Bela understands that unless she says yes, her family will soon pay dearly. In a desperate act to get rid of Other Mommy once and for all, Bela’s parents risk exposing a dark secret that they hope will send Other Mommy elsewhere. But Other Mommy has her own surprises planned!
This is a spine-chilling modern horror story that will creep you out from start to finish. The story is told from the unique POV of a haunted and hunted 8-year-old girl named Bela. The story is horrifying from the onset as Bela innocently interacts with “Other Mommy,” an entity that floats across the floor, hovers up the walls, and asks to “come into her heart.” Bela struggles to connect with others and is far more perceptive than her own parents, whom she refers to incessantly and irritatingly as Mommy and Daddo.
The story includes many creepy moments, especially the scenes between Bela and “Other Mommy” conversing in her bedroom. The horrific description of the entity and the many forms it takes throughout the story will definitely send chills up your spine. Bella’s parents are quite insufferable characters, especially in their hosting of parties at the house while making their child engage with all their shenanigans. There is most definitely a strong theme of unhealthy dysfunctional families going on in this story. Because of all this, Bela feels further isolation and engages and trusts the entity much more than she should have. It’s the perfect recipe for a horror possession story.
Although this wasn’t a long book, some scenes and some of Bela’s inner monologues feel repetitive. Fortunately, the overall narrative is fast-paced, and the second half of the book is very eventful. The book concludes in an unexpected way that will definitely have you feeling very unsettled. But it is clearly the intention of the author, and after some time mulling over it, you may decide that this is a brilliant conclusion to this twisted tale!
Narrator Delanie Nicole Gill does an impressive job with this audiobook. Her portrayal of Bela is authentic, captivating, and full of terrifying moments. Gill not only manages to bring to life the voice of a haunted child, but she also escalates all the suspense with distinct, haunting voices for all the unsettled characters in the story. The narration is also well paced, with a constant creepy undertone suited to the genre. You’ll know that the narration in this audiobook is good when you can’t stop listening, despite how frightening the story becomes!
This modern horror story will likely be remembered as one of the most terrifying books of the year. But it’s also much more than that. It’s a story about the loss of childhood innocence, unhealthy dysfunctional families, the repercussions of bad parenting, spiritual entities, and the notion of karma and reincarnation. If you’re looking for your next creepy read that’s terrifying from start to finish and that will stay with you long after, this is the book! The audiobook is a great option for enjoying this one, as the authentic voices and creepy tone give the feel of listening to a horror flick. Whether reading the book or listening, you’ll be thoroughly entertained and creeped out!
