
'The Girl Next Door' by Jack Ketchum is a disturbing and dark novel based on a true story of torture and abuse. The plot revolves around Ruth Chandler, who starts to take a dislike to Megan, leading to verbal abuse escalating to extreme torture with the involvement of Ruth's children. The story is narrated from David Moran's perspective, a fictitious neighbor who witnesses the disturbing events and tries to help Megan. Ketchum's writing style is described as graphic and detailed, drawing readers in and horrifying them with the events depicted in the book.
The book delves into the ugliest sides of human behavior, showcasing the depravity and cruelty that people are capable of. It explores themes of child abuse, torture, and the darkness that can reside within individuals and society. The narrative is engaging, emotional, and harrowing, with a focus on the power dynamics and the impact of the horrific events on the characters involved.
Genres:
Tropes/Plot Devices:
Topics:
Notes:
Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
The book contains severe content warnings for child abuse, physical violence, psychological trauma, and themes of cruelty.
From The Publisher:
A teenage girl is held captive and brutally tortured by neighborhood children. Based on a true story, this shocking novel reveals the depravity of which we are all capable.
This novel contains graphic content and is recommended for regular readers of horror novels.
Ratings (55)
Incredible (8) | |
Loved It (14) | |
Liked It (23) | |
It Was OK (4) | |
Did Not Like (3) | |
Hated It (3) |
Reader Stats (155):
Read It (57) | |
Currently Reading (2) | |
Want To Read (66) | |
Did Not Finish (1) | |
Not Interested (29) |
1 comment(s)
Obviously brutal given the case it’s based on, it’s also beautifully written which adds to how disturbing the story is. A must read.
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.