Review: “Through The Peephole”
I have to admit — this was a bit of a strange read for me. The author was looking for her reader tribe, and while that may not be me personally, I was happy to read and review. She classes it “sad, scary stories for children” and since I enjoyed R. L. Stine and other typical children’s fiction in that genre as a child, I figured I would give it a try.
The Premise
Mother leaves her two children, Marcus and Gabe, home alone, making them swear not to open the door for anyone — no matter whom. Marcus is fiercely protective of his little brother, and spends the evening battling with his wits against a strange bony girl creature he sees through the peephole. As time wears on, various characters show up trying to convince him to open the door. Meanwhile, there is a spidery voice in his head that frightens him to the core, telling him there is already someone inside the apartment. There are traces of this unknown person: large men’s shoes, footprints, and a man singing while he shaves. And amidst all of this, his little brother may be hurtling into danger if Marcus doesn’t make the right decision whether or not to open the door.
The Pros
The story kept my interest and I read it through quickly (it’s pretty short), eager to get to the end. I enjoyed the tension building: the reader feels Marcus’ frustration at feeling like he is being tricked by the bony girl, and also his devotion to his little brother. I also looked forward to the payoff of the horror, and the language kept this flow going with sentences like: “This is how terrible things usually start: with one disobeying little child” and “This room seems so closed that Mother’s scent is a prisoner in it, not a happy resident“. The way it is written seems like a child’s voice as the author, and that was refreshing to have a story written in this way. The language weaves in and out with a nice fluidity that seemed like this story would serve well as a “ghost story” read out around a campfire for teenagers, perhaps. The story’s twist was truly unexpected. At one point I actually imagined it the other way around (you have to read it to understand).
The Cons
I liked the premise, but there was a bit lacking for me to give this perhaps an extra star. There is a prologue that warns that all will never be explained: “Secret by secret, a story can grow a shadow as important as the story itself.” I loved this in theory and was eager to dive in despite that disclaimer, but the actual execution left me with far too much to ponder. I’m also still trying to figure out who the ideal reader may be. An adult may be wary of reading a story to a child where there seems to be abuse or neglect (these children seem very young to be left alone), and a child may not fully appreciate the artistry behind the way it is told and the eventual “big reveal”.
Conclusion
Overall this was an interesting story about the power of imagination, curiosity, and fear — and the cocktail of emotion this combination brings. The author was right in classifying her story as a “sad, scary story” for children. There are elements here that would truly frighten children, and it can lead to nightmares. But there are also lessons to be learnt, and these lessons are positive — just not all fully revealed, so it was unsettling. There is a lot to like here, if you are the ideal reader. I would recommend to a preteen or teenager who likes scary stories.
