The Unusual Possession of Alastair Stubb
3/5
This was an entirely odd read, but not unpleasantly so. I took awhile to get into it and even after the story gripped me, I couldn't tell if I was hugely engaged or just coasting along to find out what would happen next. Either way, the desire to continue reading is always a positive thing, but the oddity here is whether I was doing it because I wanted things to become less weird and coalesce into a coherent story or because I was trying to figure out if they could become less weird and coalesce into a story – if you get my drift. Which I am sure you do not and that is probably reflecting then adequately the ambiguity this story left me with. The novel revels in its Gothic-ness and that is great. Citing David Reviews:
The book is in two parts and in the first part we meet Eleanor being released from the The Grinding Sanatorium for the Delusional. She has been mentally unstable after the death of her stillborn son Alastair and is now back in the care of her husband William Stubb. They live in his father Theodore’s manor house in the village of Muchmarsh. Old Theodore is a conniving and lecherous once being an actor and experienced in the art of hypnosis. Everything about the manor is unnerving from the family to the house-staff, the house itself and the chapel through the garden. Things in the manor soon become chaotic as Theodore turns his advances to his daughter-in-law Eleanor. He hypnotizes, assaults her and leaves her pregnant without her memory of the events. When William finds what his father has done he and Eleanor plan a terrible revenge. What occurs after leaves them all, especially the fragile Eleanor, in a frightful state. The second part of the book begins thirteen years later and centers on Alastair Stubb, who is Eleanor’s son from her rape by Theodore. The boy and William Stubb live together and when Alastair starts asking where his mother is, it’s the beginning of his unraveling. He begins to lose control as he gradually becomes possessed by the spirit of Theodore, talking and acting unlike himself. The finale of the book tumbles into madness becoming a thrilling and frightening horror show.
100% Gothic madness and awesomeness for sure, but I have to say that I found the division between parts disconcerting and abrupt. More skillfully done and this could have been a stellar novel, but as is it is more so-so. But mad props for the Dickensian naming conventions and sheer Gothic abandon. If you are looking to revel in some old school Gothic horror from a modern writer (and where else are you going to find this?) then this is the book for you. Otherwise it is an average read. Thanks much to NetGalley, Urbane Publishing, and David John Griffin for a review copy. You can also read this review on Goodreads if you want to discuss!
