Book Review: All Hallows by Christopher Golden

“Nothing in these woods could be more dreadful, more terrifying, than the selfish cruelty of ordinary people.”

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Set in Coventry, Massachusetts, on Halloween night in 1984, All Hallows follows the families who inhabit Parmenter Road as they embark on what is supposed to be a fun and entertaining evening. Intertwined by friendships, proximity, and secrets, the families begin to unravel as trick-or-treaters take to the streets, a quartet of strange and terrified children join the throng, a mysterious clearing appears in the woods, and long-kept secrets come to light that threaten to destroy the neighborhood and families alike.

All Hallows is a wonderfully atmospheric tale that immediately wraps the reader in deliciously spooky, cozy, and chilling fall/October/Halloween vibes that quickly morph into unease and terror. Told through alternating viewpoints as it moves through the night, the novel opens with the Barbosa family as they ready “Barbosa’s Haunted Woods” for the final time. Also planned for the evening is the “Koenig Halloween Bash,” and while both events purport to bring the neighborhood together for camaraderie and fun, they may also possess the power to drive it apart, especially with unknown sinister forces afoot.

A terrifying, suspenseful, violent, gory, and wild ride that oozes dark mystery rooted in fascinating folklore, this novel masterfully crafts a story where humans are flawed and fallible, few are actually as they appear, and nothing is quite as it seems. A creepy and gripping read at any time of year, All Hallows is tailor-made for Spooky Season and Halloween lovers, and it’s one that this reader will revisit many more times in the future.

❤Amanda

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