[ 505 ]

[katara]

Silent Came the Monster: A Novel of the 1916 Jersey Shore Shark Attacks by Amy Hill Hearth

Series:
N/A

Genre:
Historical Fiction, Historical, Horror, Mystery, Sharks, Animals, Nature, Thriller, Based on True Events, Early 1900s, 1910 decade, Shark Attack, Dual Points of View

Publication Date:
May 16, 2023

Pages Numbers:
350

Read Date:
July 1st, 2023

Date Finished:
July 3rd, 2023

Rating:
4.2/5

Blurb:

"Sharks are as timid as rabbits." So says a superintendent of the Coast Guard, dismissing the possibility that a shark could be the culprit in an unprecedented fatal attack on a swimmer at the Jersey Shore.

It's July 1916, a time when little is known about ocean creatures, and swimming in the sea is a relatively new pastime. Americans up and down the East Coast are shocked and mystified by the swimmer's death. Little do they know that this is only the beginning.

A prominent surgeon at the shore, Dr. Halsey, after examining the wounds of the first victim, is the only person who believes that the creature is a shark and that it will strike again. But the public as well as the authorities--and even those who witnessed the attacks--don't believe him. Dr. Halsey finds himself fighting widespread confusion, conspiracy theories, defiance, and outright denial of the shark.

Seeking the input of commercial fishermen, Dr. Halsey learns that they have long been concerned about a creature they call the beast. The local Native Americans, the Lenape, have their own beliefs as well.

The shark attacks occur in an already fraught time. A brutal war rages in Europe, and Americans are divided about becoming involved. Meanwhile, an unprecedented outbreak of "infantile paralysis" (polio) creates widespread panic. Into this scenario, the sea monster arrives. But what is it? Theories range from a huge mackerel to a giant sea turtle, or even a German submarine.

The story of the 1916 Jersey Shore shark, believed to be a great white, changed the way Americans think of the seashore, reminding us once again that nature plays by its own rules.

Review:

Based on the true events that happened during the Summer of 1916, this fictional tale follows a doctor and several characters as they navigate through the attacks of a shark from the shores of New Jersey to the creek waters.

Prior to the 1916 attacks, sharks were not known to attack along the shores but this particular shark had possibly seen its meals frolicking in the waters unaware, and what hungry would not pass up such a delectable meal. No one actually knew what kind of shark it was and most were far too busy with the polio outbreak and the possibility of the United States entering into World War I. No one wanted to believe that a shark would set its sights on the human population. Unfortunately, they would learn how wrong they are as bodies begin to pile up from young adults to children playing in the creek. Out there is a sea monster that needs to be destroyed before it even thinks of claiming another victim.

I remember this story being told when the History Channel actually played historical events. I am not sure what the program was called but I remember the story played numerous times. Children and adults playing in the waters and creeks belonging to New Jersey. It would be one of the deadliest attacks to be marked during the first half of the new century. While most believe that it could be a great white, others believed that it could be a bull shark as those are the ones most likely to attack humans as food.

Although the author was meticulous in her research, I ended up skimming the last portions of the book. I did not feel like we needed backstories to come of the characters and most overstayed their welcome. I just could not find any connection with the characters like I had wanted. The dialogue felt forced and the characters were not all well-fleshed out. Some even went MIA afterward like their character had done its purpose and nothing more was needed from them.

Final Thoughts:

The events of 1916 would be the premise for Peter Benchley's Jaws. I will recommend this book if you want to see the backdrop to the events. The characters are just there to push the narrative along but they really don't seem to do much for the story.

[ 506 ]

[katara]

Sundial by Catriona Ward

Series:
N/A

Genre:
Horror, Gothic, Dark, Suspense, Thriller, Psychological Thriller, Contemporary

Publication Date:
March 1st, 2022

Pages Numbers:
292

Read Date:
July 3rd, 2023

Date Finished:
July 3rd, 2023

Rating:
DNF'ed @ 40%

Blurb:

Sundial is a new, twisty psychological horror novel from Catriona Ward, internationally bestselling author of The Last House on Needless Street.

You can't escape what's in your blood...

All Rob wanted was a normal life. She almost got it, too: a husband, two kids, a nice house in the suburbs. But Rob fears for her oldest daughter, Callie, who collects tiny bones and whispers to imaginary friends. Rob sees a darkness in Callie, one that reminds her too much of the family she left behind. She decides to take Callie back to her childhood home, to Sundial, deep in the Mojave Desert. And there she will have to make a terrible choice.

Callie is worried about her mother. Rob has begun to look at her strangely, and speaks of past secrets. And Callie fears that only one of them will leave Sundial alive…

The mother and daughter embark on a dark, desert journey to the past in the hopes of redeeming their future.

Review:

When I approached friends and TikTok's book community for my next read, this book came highly recommended. The book would start out slowly, I had been told, but the last forty percent of the story is when it starts picking up. The book had a lot of trigger warnings especially when it came to lovers of animals. I could handle that. I had read worse books in the past.

This book bored the hell out of me. The characters and storyline were bland and the plot dragged like a dead body being dragged across a long hallway. Seriously, no matter how hard I tried to soldier on, I just could not find a reason to continue this book any longer. It was not worth the disappointment. Not worth waiting for the big climatic end everyone was talking about.

So, at forty percent, I decided to call it quits. I am hoping to come back to this book in the future but I don't know if I ever will.

Final Thought:

Before picking up this book, there are some trigger warnings that you will need to be aware of beforehand. There is animal abuse, graphic depictions, self-harm, suicidality, drug abuse, mental illness, infidelity, etc. Please make sure that you can handle these before you try reading this book.