Unspeakable Things

I went into Unspeakable Things expecting a thriller, but what I got was something much heavier and more memorable. The story unsettled me in a way very few books have. Instead of relying on constant twists, it slowly builds a feeling that something is terribly wrong, and that sense of dread never really lets up. I appreciated how authentically the author captured the perspective of a young girl, even though some scenes were difficult to read. Be aware that this book deals with serious topics involving child abuse and trauma. It’s emotionally intense, but never felt exploitative to me. My only complaint is that I wanted a little more closure at the end. Even so, it’s one of those rare books that stayed with me long after I finished it. Definitely recommended if you enjoy dark, character-driven suspense.

I devoured this book. It was interesting and kept my attention from beginning to the end (which says something, as I have ADHD). I think the ending was a little rushed and I still have a few questions, but I’m sure it’s one of those, “Put the pieces together in your mind” sort of endings. Overall, I would recommend!

Generally I don't write book reviews. I've found that when discussing a book I've enjoyed, there are many who agree and many who don't with my opinion, which is fine, as that is the way it should be. I came back to review these reviews, because when I first read them - good and bad - it made me so curious as to why there is such a wide divide in opinons. Either this book is loved or it's not. After reading, I can only say I agree with everyone. Ms. Lourey has an excellent skill of description and flow. Her writing makes you want to turn to the next page. I live in a rural MN town (there are many) so there were similarites I could connect with. I could hear the cicadas and smell the musty basement of Spring. Many of her sentences I read more than once with admiration of the way they touched the five senses. It's one of the main reasons I could not stop reading. As well, back in the '80s we lived in an old farm house that had a basement with a dirt floor and limestone walls and neighbors were a half mile down the gravel road. My son was Cassie's age then, was the first on the bus and the last to get off; and he loved the same T.V. shows that we watched together on one T.V. in the house with bad reception. We lived check-to-check - my check - as I was employed and my then-husband raised a few animals to sell or butcher - I had plucked quite a few chickens and picked a lot of eggs. We were considered almost dirt poor, so it was difficult to buy my son all the things his friends had. His father was also an occasional mean drunk, and if we could have afforded it, he would have been like that every day. Simply many, many similarities - another big reason I couldn't put the book down, which I read within a day. Considering the book is written for young adults, I felt it was tactfully worded with only inferred references to issues that should be brought to the light of those who usually choose to ignore the horrendous things that happen every day in every place across the globe, and small towns are no acception. It was yet another reason I saw the importance of this book. But there were equal reasons I didn't enjoy it. Cassie was such a sweet, bright girl, yet so very immature for her age and too nieve to have lived in that environment as long as she had without growing up faster. Ms. Louery could have given her a few more smarts. I suspect in most small rural towns (at least in mine) if that many things happened to just one family, Social Services would be knocking at the door by the time a child was a few months old. After all, small towns are also fish bowls - it's difficult to keep secrets secret. Two swingers parties a year?!! A party like that would be put to rest after the first was attempted. We held harvest BBQs that drew in probably 50 vehicles, but when that occurred, we were sure to invite or at least clear it with the neighbors or we would have had the county sheriff at the door (not a police sargeant) due to a neighbor's complaint that the traffic or the music was disturbing a dairy farm's cows. And if there was a keg involved, my son was away overnight at a babysitter's. Never would I put my child in the position that Cassie was put in, and if I had, like I said - you can't hide much forever in a small town and it would not have lasted long. In a way, I feel a bit offended on behalf of Paynesville, MN, which Lilydale is supposed to be modeled after. It makes small town people look stupid. And I just have to point out that no way does one live in MN with the most horrific storms and tornados and not ever be allowed in the basement. That just does not happen! (slight spoiler alert) There were other unbelievable things - out of character - such as the mother's jealous rage over one brief flirtation between the dad and aunt that occurred in front of her girls, yet it didn't bother her that her daughters were bartending and greeting guests while watching the nudity and the infidelity of their parents at these parties. It just didn't make sense. By the time the story ended (if you can call it an ending) I was extremely disappointed. I actually checked to make sure I didn't miss a chapter or two. Way too many loose ends! It was like driving down the highway at a nice pace and right when you think you're almost to where you're headed, you suddenly run into a brick wall. There were interesting backstories with most not resolved by the time the predator was revealed. Not cool! As well, I found discovering who the predator was no surprise, because I guessed that person in the beginning. Usually when I read a mystery, I guess the villian in the beginning and I am so very wrong by the end. That is what makes a great mystery! Overall, I think it's a good first draft and shame on the editors who didn't insist on a rewrite with a punch of reality - more of this and a lot less of that - so readers could connect believable dots. Or perhaps a sequel is in order to answer what happened to all the backstories. (And, yes, I would definitely have to read it, if only to find closure.) So, putting the unrealistic issues aside, I did enjoy while reading, but I finished the book feeling cheated by too many untied strings.

An excellent book that keeps you guessing all the way through. Great description of each character in the story! Many small plots to unravel as you reach the end. I had a hard time putting the book down. It’s been awhile since I’ve read a book that was as captivating as this one. I’ve read many of Jess Lourey’s books and while most were good this one had background information which caused me to be more interested than some others.

This is, perhaps, the vaguest story I’ve ever been exposed to. If you’re looking for a straightforward read that communicates explicitly, this likely will not work for you. Much of what the narrator experiences is told through obscure references and you, the reader, are left to decipher each implication. I think, however, as long as you have the life experience to guide you through the story’s coded message, you’ll be aptly haunted by this dark, convoluted tale. I found the way it was written to be quite effective in conveying the guarded mindset of the narrator looking back on the experiences she had while on the cusp of her teenage years. In a small town in Minnesota, boys are being abducted and molested. They return, but they are not the same. Cassandra (Cassie) tries to make sense of these events while fearing her father, hating the strange parties her parents throw, and dreaming that a boy named Gabriel will save her from the unhappiness her home life brings. Jess Lourey writes with raw, disquieting ferocity and I was truly enamored by her prose. It was both breathtaking and terrifying, as so much of it was true to life. She skillfully depicted Cassie’s growth and understanding as she learned that heros are not always what she once believed them to be and that small-minded prejudices can do great damage. The story, itself, is well-done. It’s a slow-burn with far more drama than mystery but the circumstances of Cassie’s life are overwhelmingly unsettling. Personally, I loved that this book was packed full of unspeakable things and that the author chose to let readers work it all out in their own minds. The main thing that I didn’t care for was the inconsistency in the maturity of the storyteller. As a narrator reflecting back on her life, Cassie’s observations sometimes felt unbelievably young - often even younger than the twelve year old version of herself that she was telling us about - and, at other times, she seemed so much older and wiser. It kept throwing me off, as I couldn’t figure out how old the actual narrator was supposed to be, although I knew she definitely was not meant to be a child. I was also a bit dismayed by the predictability of the main villain although, in truth, there are multiple monsters in this book, some more apparent than others. Aside from that big reveal in the end, I did enjoy the way this book closed. I can’t imagine a more fitting way to bring Cassie’s story to an end. Unspeakable Things is well-worth the read, especially with the right expectations in mind. It is not a thriller, although promoted as such, and while mysterious, the actual mystery sits on the back burner most of the time. If you like cryptic, dramatic tales and don’t mind the potential for triggers, I do believe you will enjoy this story.

FYI: Subject matter is dark and adult. Sexual situations are inferred, not graphic. Language is clean. There are a few scattered grammatical/formatting/spelling errors. When I reached the last page of the appropriately titled UNSPEAKABLE THINGS, my December FIRST READS selection, I had tears in my eyes. Those tears were for what was going on in the story, as much as for the realization I was saying goodbye to Cassie. I'm going to miss the novel's plucky, irrepressible, funny, whip-smart narrator. Cassie, at age twelve, is already wise beyond her years. There is also so much she has to learn. As the book opens Cassie is looking forward to a long Summer, turning Thirteen, and leaving Seventh grade in the reveiw mirror. This will be the summer of learning and understanding. By summer's end, circumstances will force Cassie to leave behind any lingering, idyllic illusions she has about people, and see the darkness that hides in plain view, both in her community and her own family. This is a subtle story, where little is actually spelled out, but much is inferred. The author does a masterful job of slowly revealing the horrors that are taking place in this small Minnesota town. There is someone preying on the children of Lytteville and Cassie, who is a big fan of Nellie Bly , decides to follow in her footsteps and investigate the matter. Cassie is determined to find out who is responsible for brutally raping several boys, her and her sister go to school with. Cassie has a habit of being sneaky, eavesdropping and snooping through other people's things. She may be getting some of her information second hand, but there is no denying that these victims, who say the perpetrator wore a mask, are acting very strangely. Cassie has known these boys her whole life, but now she is afraid of them. Even her kind hearted older sister is not as sweet as she used to be. The reader is in the dark about the secrets that Cassie's family is hiding. Because we know Cassie, we know that something is terribly wrong, and the family is hiding something truly awful. What we do know is that Cassie is afraid of her father, a mean drunk, that the entire family tip toes around on eggshells. The author slowly reveals the disturbing ways in which the family's life is impacted by the absolute control Cassie's father exercises over the family. He is moody, angry, and unpredictable. He is also a raging alcoholic, a Vietnam Vet, with self diagnosed PTSD, a talented struggling artist, a big fan of pornography, and known to throw some of the county's biggest parties. Predicting and appeasing his moods, is a skill set his wife and daughters have gained through necessity. The excessive secrecy about all things "family", is only one of the things they use to avoid any attention being brought on the "family." They are expected to tow the line and fly under the radar. It is a difficult life for a child straddling adulthood, and every word of it rings true. Cassie is a joy and the book is a fast read. It is well written and I thought it was outstanding.

It's the last days of the school year and Cassie McDowell can't wait for summer to begin. Because this summer she's going to make Gabriel her boyfriend. He's the best looking and sweetest guy in her school and she has a plan to make him hers. But the summer starts off with news that someone is abducting and abusing local boys. Not only that, but Cassie's got her own troubles at home. Troubles she longs to get away from. Which is why she decides she's going to investigate and solve the case of the abused boys. And when Gabriel becomes the next victim, she's more determined than ever to save the boy she loves. Readers have been praising Unspeakable Things for a while now and it's been in my TBR just as long. But I did know that the subject matter was not exactly rosy, so I delayed diving in...until I read the sample at the end of Bloodline! Unspeakable Things is set in and on the outskirts of Lilydale in 1983, the same town but almost two decades later than Bloodline. Cass and her family live on a farm in the country (that's what we would have called it growing up). Her mother is a teacher and her father is an artist. They're known for their parties, which both Cass and her sister, Sephie, loathe. And for good reason, though we don't find out the details until much later. Cass is superstitious and somewhat fearful. She spends her nights under her bed (when she wants to sleep long) or in her closet (when she wants to sleep short). And it's clear from the start that her home life isn't exactly a happy or safe one. But the 80's setting means that Cass and her friends kind of roam wild. She goes anywhere her bike will take her and has the freedom, outside of finishing household/farm chores, to spend her time pretty much as she likes. Perfect for some tweenage detecting! As mentioned, this is not a light read. Nor is it a YA book even though our narrator is on the cusp of turning 13. There's a lot of heavy material squeezed into this book, made more disturbing by the fact that it's relayed via the eyes of someone who understands too much. This is the kind of book that so perfectly showcases a writer's talent and I think it's clear that Lourey is an immensely gifted author! Overall, this is the story of a child experiencing something she should never have had to face. It's a gripping story, one I read in one sitting (which I know is terrible to say when you consider how much sweat and effort goes into writing a book!) but I just could not tear myself away from Cass's story until I found out how it would all turn out. I do want to note that because of the content, this is definitely not a book for everyone, but I thought the subject in question, which is in fact based on a series of crimes that occurred when the author herself was young, was handled well without being gratuitous or overly graphic.

Unspeakable Things was dark, heavy, and emotionally exhausting in a way that only very powerful storytelling can be. This is not an easy read by any means. Please, please check your trigger warnings before diving in because this book covers a lot of very difficult subject matter. So much happens in this story that at times I had to stop and just sit with what I read. It’s sad, raw, and painfully honest. The author does not hold back, and the weight of everything the characters go through really stays with you long after you put the book down. This is one of those books that you don’t necessarily “enjoy,” but you appreciate for how boldly and realistically it tells its story. It’s impactful, unsettling, and unforgettable.

Cassie McDowell’s life in 1980s Minnesota seems perfectly wholesome. She lives on a farm, loves school, and has a crush on the nicest boy in class. Yes, there are her parents’ strange parties and their parade of deviant guests, but she’s grown accustomed to them. All that changes when someone comes hunting in Lilydale. One by one, local boys go missing. One by one, they return changed—violent, moody, and withdrawn. What happened to them becomes the stuff of shocking rumors. The accusations of who’s responsible grow just as wild, and dangerous town secrets start to surface. Then Cassie’s own sister undergoes the dark change. If she is to survive, Cassie must find her way in an adult world where every sin is justified, and only the truth is unforgivable. Oh wow did I love this book. Written from the main character's POV, Cassie, who is a thirteen year old but this is not a childish book. Because Cassie is a child and innocent in many ways we see her draw incorrect conclusions about people and things that have happened, but at the same time the way she sees the world around her is unique and compelling and we're taken on her journey as she navigates the sometimes very dark world of adults. The dialogue between the children and adults or children to children is excellent. The writing is superb and so descriptive is makes your toes curl, it is creepy and dark. I loved sentences like, 'I jumped so high that I left my skin behind. ' I can just imagine a thirteen year old saying that, or, 'I was panting like a scared dog.' Yes the ending could have been better but I don't care because I enjoyed every nail biting moment I read this book.

I bought the book because how much people hyped this book on social media. Unfortunately i have to agree with the other 1 Star reviews. There is absolutely nothing happening at all until the last 4 chapters which is a total of 13 pages. I have to say that i really liked the book being written in the POV of a 13 year old girl. But i feel its more like a following of her life. I also like the way it was written BUT the title, the cover and the "scare" on the back of the book dont match whats written for the first 286 pages. Again ... nothing happens.

Captures perfectly the sonic, pulsing, ever-present dread of a child growing up in an abusive household, headed by a narcissist supported by his enablers; and in a place where kids must grow up fast as the adults continually fail them

I struggled a little bit getting into this but it was a decent read and I definitely am glad I read it.

This will keep you in the edges if your seat and will make you chew all your nails out. This is a hybrid of a psychological thriller, stark reality and unending suspense. I could relate to young Cassie and could picture every other character in their environment . A fabulous work