THE CARETAKER

MARCUS KLIEWER

The Caretaker, by extraordinarily imaginative writer Marcus Kliewer, is rapidly becoming one of my go-to horror writers. The book is unique: it reads like a thriller, yet it is definitely one of the scariest books I have ever had the privilege to read. We find Macy Mullins, a young woman trying to take care of her sister, who accepts a job out in the woods. This is reminiscent of Stephen King and his famous book, The Shining; here, Macy is required to complete a bizarre set of preliminary protocols she has no problem with, but the longer she does so, the more upset she becomes. Readers may well be reminded of Nick Cutter and Riley Seger, but I believe this book is a cut above. The story is very, very scary, and it moves along like a freight train. You will end up caring for the main character, Macy, and hoping against hope that she comes out on top. The Caretaker is Kliewer's second effort, and both are outstanding and should be read immediately.