Praise
The Mask of Verdon is a brisk read that can easily be finished in one sitting on a dark and stormy night or while one relaxes beside a fireplace. The novella reminded my myself of a classic Twilight Zone or Tales from the Crypt episode. My only criticisms would be the setting and villain could have been fleshed out further.
One sentence review of this work would be a suspense filled mystery, but fleeting in some of Its attempts. The Mask of Verdon like previous works mentioned in these reviews can be finished at a brisk pace. Unfortunately I would not argue that is its greatest strength, but I digress. The story sets up an exceptionally interesting narrative, a psychologist returning home after investigating the death of a patient. Our protagonist delves deep into the mysteries of his own town which he has attempted to separate himself from, but in some cruel twist of fate this attempt only leads him closer to dark arcane secrets most are not privy to.
The piece works best when it leans into the mystery and setting. The book oozes unsettling and strange. It feels like a modern take that has all the horror of Lovecraft, with the suspense and gothic allure of Poe. I would say its biggest issue is its lack of commitment to a slowburn style. When you are allowed to be steeped in the protagonist's thoughts and unraveling of the town mystery you will feel captivated. Yet, like a runner with inconsistent pace the book will turn from this slowburn to going at a breakneck pace, and back again. Which makes the story lose some of its emotional weight. Character relationships that would have benefited from a slow development go from acquaintance to romantic unusually fast with little real explanation. Characters that are in the middle of being developed are suddenly killed off not in a way that leaves you sad but unsatisfied which loses the horror punch, turning it into a jab. It stings, but could have been more effective. Then again it will still return to the slowburn style, which may feel jarring experience.
That being said, it is still an enjoyable read. It is not bad by any means, but there is certainly noticeable lost potential which I believe sits it firmly in the three out of five star category.
An unwavering anticipation lingers as the pages turn. While the heart of the mystery becomes clear within the first few pages, the full extent of its darkness unravels through past demons that haunt the people of Verdon. The book beautifully blends the unsettling characteristics of thrillers, horror, and introspection with witty banter and the quirky characterization of those entangled in Verdon’s secrets. The writing flows effortlessly, drawing you into a world that comes alive within a few but well-crafted pages.
We all have secrets to hide behind; it takes courage to remove the mask and face them.
When I first picked up the novelette, I didnt't know what I was getting into. Not usually the novelette reader, I have to say that I enjoyed reading every single page of it. In my opinion the author manages to deliver King-esque suspense while creating a story that is not only inspired by psychology, folklore, and dark vibes but creates a full circle experience. The only thing I didn't like was the length of it, as I prefer more pages to a story.