Book Review: The Vein by Steph Nelson

This post features affiliate links, which means that we’ll earn
a small commission if you make a purchase through these links.

“People disappeared all the time around Pate. There were ghost stories and theories about why. Of course, these were all made up by bullies and babysitters, but everything felt true in the dark.”

📚

The Vein is a riveting small-town generational mystery surrounding an Idaho-based silver mining community. The plot unfolds through myriad perspectives and multiple timelines: Pate, Idaho, in 1989, 1979, and 1962; and Spokane, Washington, in 1901.

The storyline’s present-day 1989 timeline opens with former detective Sylvia (“Syl”) Dixon as she returns to her childhood hometown of Pate to sell her grandmother’s house — formerly her childhood home, empty since her grandmother’s unsolved disappearance years earlier. Already uncomfortable, Syl reluctantly agrees when she’s asked to assist in the investigation of a desiccated body found in the town’s local mine.

What follows is a layered, atmospheric, creepy, disturbing, and page-turning tale of lies, secrets, horror, and loss surrounding nearly a century of mysterious disappearances, oddities, and unanswered questions. Why are photos displayed outside many Pate homes? Why does law enforcement appear to know more than they’re sharing with Syl? Is there any truth to the legend of a lost mine? And does any of this have to do with the disappearance of Syl’s grandmother?

This book is a fantastic ride from beginning to end. Through smooth and propulsive prose, the author masterfully interweaves multiple timelines, storylines, characters, locations, and viewpoints to form a cohesive and engrossing narrative firmly rooted in lore and legend underscored by history and mystery. Characters are well rounded, flawed, at times brutal and evil, and utterly human. The reader is hooked from the first paragraph right through to the final line, rapidly turning pages in search of truth and answers, rewarded with a wonderfully unique and inventive premise, one absolutely stellar character arc, and a searing final scene. Needless to say, this is one of my favorite reads of 2023, and a story that will linger in my mind for a long time to come.

This review is deliberately vague and sparsely detailed, as to share too much (or really any) detail would risk running into spoiler territory and preventing readers from enjoying the journey. All I can say is that this is a spectacular horror debut, everyone should read this book, and I can’t wait to see what Steph Nelson writes next!

Thank you to Sadie Hartmann and Dark Matter INK for allowing me to read and review a digital ARC of this forthcoming release.

❤Amanda

Disclaimer

Many books featured on this blog were purchased by us; however, we do accept publisher-, author-, and other source-provided copies (both advanced reader copies (ARCs) and finished copies) from publishers, authors, and other sources we deem to be a good fit for our reading preferences and blog. Posts and reviews that feature such copies are disclosed. For more information, refer to the Disclaimer & Disclosures section.

Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links, which means that when you click one of those links and make a purchase, we earn a small commission paid by the retailers, at no additional cost to you. These links will take you to books and other products that we like, trust, and believe will be beneficial to our readers. Affiliate programs use cookies to track visits in order to assign sale-related commissions; funds earned keep the Site up and running and allow us to continue to share reviews and other content. Thank you for your support!