Reprieve – James Han Mattson
Expectation: Teens trying to survive a haunted house where the actors can actually do harm.
Reality: A dark exploration of the horrors that lie within us and around us.
My Take:
From the inequities of gentrification represented in “Candyman” to racial oppression reflected as zombies in “Night of the Living Dead” and the patriarchal construct of Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein,” horror has long been a haven for social commentary.
In the immersive and compelling “Reprieve,” James Han Mattson continues that legacy, with a story that makes a nice pairing with “Get Out” and the January 6 committee hearings.
Yes, there’s some gore and violence, but the horror here is a product of environment and circumstances. It’s small and repeated injustices left to fester that ultimately poison our characters, creating a chain of events with deadly consequences.
It is one of the most compelling books I’ve read this year, so I was surprised to see it so maligned on Goodreads. The chief complaint is that “Reprieve” is miscategorized, and I agree with that. I didn’t go in expecting a thriller, but I also didn’t anticipate it being a slow-burn character study about the American dream gone wrong.
It worked for me simply because it felt real and urgent. While set in 1997, it could’ve as easily taken place in 2022 when gender and racial politics and a cult of personality are on the ballot and stunts masquerading as policy dominate headlines.
For many readers this may feel too close to home, but I found it cathartic, which is why I, like so many others, appreciate the horror genre and its legacy of cultural criticism and commentary.
But without strong characters none of that matters. While multiple points of view are represented — most in the form of witness testimony — Mattson anchors the story with three main narratives all representing a different facet of Americana.
There’s Kendra, whose life has been upended after the death of her father. As one of the only Black students at her school, she struggles to find community in Lincoln, Nebraska.
There’s Leonard, the middle-aged hotel manager who is happy with his moderate success and loving girlfriend until his beliefs are challenged by someone he views as more important.
And, finally, Jaidee, an exchange student from Thailand studying at the University of Nebraska who has fetishized American culture since childhood but finds he’ll forever remain an outsider.
All of their fates intertwine at the Quigley House, a full-contact haunted house run by local svengali John Forrester, who offers teams of four the chance to win $60,000 if they can survive the mental and physical anguish he unleashes upon them. I found the Quigley House to be a metaphor for the United States. It’s rife with opportunity but capitalist pursuits could come at a great personal cost.
Even though you know how the story ends within the first few pages, I was enthralled by how Mattson pulled the pieces together. While this was a five-star read, it’s not perfect.
The first 20 percent was difficult to follow, and the character chapters are long and borderline repetitive. For some characters this was done to show slowly building mania, but there could’ve been some trimming. Additionally, the final chapter felt a tad unnecessary and inconclusive but it does address the ongoing repercussions of surviving trauma.
The audiobook was narrated by JD Jackson who gave a compelling performance. The bass in his voice could lull you into complacency or put you on edge depending on the character. I was particularly enthralled by his performance as Jaidee, Leonard and John. I’d highly recommend tackling this as an audiobook if you’re on the fence about investing the time.
If you liked Rumaan Alam’s “Leave the World Behind,” Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah’s “Friday Black,” P. Djèlí Clark’s “Ring Shout,” or Stephen Graham Jones’s “The Only Good Indians,” this will be up your alley.
Rating (story): 5/5 stars
Rating (narration): 4/5 stars
Formats: Audiobook (library loan)
Dates read: October 8 – October 12, 2022
Multi-tasking: Okay. I’d recommend activities that allow you to concentrate on the story. It’s character-driven, so if you miss the nuance, you won’t find it as engaging.
