ALL HALLOWS by Christopher Golden

Release Date: 01/24/2023

Published by St.Martin’s Press/ Macmillan

By Jenny Robinson

All Hallows brings Halloween out early this year and will be a must reread as we get closer to October. It is a story centered around Halloween night in a small Massachusetts neighborhood and written in a style where each chapter changes character point-of-view. It quickly dives into the inner workings and dynamics between all the neighbors while hinting at a bigger and more supernatural element that lurks in the shadows.

Set in 1984, it captures such a honest nostalgia for the time. In the early 80’s when blockbusters (Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, The Terminator, Ghostbusters, The Karate Kid, etc), were a social badge of honor, your pals were always just a bike ride and a street away. As a kid of the 80’s, I can confirm that this book captures what it felt like to be dressed and ready to scream “TRICK OR TREAT” at every door you could reach.

We are introduced to each of the residents chapter by chapter. The narrative is voiced by Tony (a struggling father who’s love for the holiday is locally famous), his wife Alison, 13 year old son Rick (with his best friend Billie) and his 17 year old daughter Chloe. We dive into Barb (a beguiled wife), her jack-ass of a husband Donnie, 17 year old daughter Julia and 11 year old son Charlie. We get the teenage point-of-view from the local goth Vanessa and a twisted perspective from the mind of Ruth (the very questionable next-door neighbor). Although there are more characters, these specific portrayals bring the street to life. There are a lot of people to follow, yet surprisingly the tale reads as if each are the lead to the story. It’s very easy to link the houses within the cul-de-sac and surrounding streets.

A good portion in the beginning of this book is just learning about all those back stories of each family and how they overlap. You learn a lot from the local gossip of who’s parents are set to get divorce, who may be cheating and with whom, and who has a crush on someone else. There were moments during the first quarter of the book that I felt as if a few of the characters may actually develop into real monsters. What I genuinely loved in the storytelling is that the voices of each felt honest to their age. The kids did not seem childish but real to the fears, hesitations and excitement within their view-point (which felt very familiar). The adults never seem to stand on firm ground, always second-guessing life’s decisions (which as an adult, I can relate to).

BUT… that was just the base of this horror map.

Enter…. THE CUNNING MAN.

Random new children start appearing in Tony’s haunted maze. They seek refugee with Barb and the neighborhood kids. All the new kids seem to be afraid of “The Cunning Man” yet the residents are so distracted by their own personal issues that a lot of the strangeness is passed over until it’s too late. Each supernatural event seems to get realistically lost in the drama flowing from house to house. Disguised in crowds of masked trick-or-treaters, the book picks up speed by keeping you guessing. Who is the “Cunning Man”? How do you get away? Where is he? While each character deals with personal conflicts, it’s easy to miss the odd creepiness building from house to house and especially within the forest.

I want to leave this review open ended (I know, I know. But wait…).

There is a formula a lot of scary tales take. I do not believe that this book is one of those. All Hallows twists your expectations, and punches you while you’re absorbed into the interesting lives of the nearby residents. I feel it makes the reader sad, angry, and creeped out in moments that are really unexpected. For me, the characters are immensely relatable. I don’t want to ruin that for anyone. Now… GO READ! Just beware of the time, and any new-comers in your party. This time, there really is something hiding in the shadows!

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