'The Between' by Tananarive Due is a haunting tale that follows Hilton James, a man haunted by his near-death experience as a child and the visions of his grandmother that plague his dreams. As Hilton navigates his successful life as a social worker and a family man, he is confronted with unsettling nightmares that blur the lines between reality and dreams. The novel delves into themes of psychological horror, alternate timelines, and the struggle to protect loved ones from unseen dangers, all while exploring the concept of choosing one's own reality.
The narrative of 'The Between' shifts seamlessly between Hilton's real-life struggles and his nightmarish dreams, creating a suspenseful atmosphere that keeps readers on edge. Tananarive Due's writing style is praised for its attention to detail, strong character development, and ability to draw readers into the psychological unraveling of Hilton James. The book poses thought-provoking questions about the significance of dreams, the impact of past traumas on the present, and the fine line between sanity and madness.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include discussions of insomnia, dreams that induce trauma, themes of racism, mental health struggles, and family threats.
From The Publisher:
"An extraordinary work of humane imagination . . . call it magic realism with soul."-Locus
"Finely honed . . . always engages and frequently surprises."-New York Times Book Review
A man risks his soul and his sanity to save his family from malevolent forces in this brilliant novel of horror and the supernatural from the award-winning pioneer of speculative fiction and author of the classic My Soul to Keep.
When Hilton was a boy, his grandmother sacrificed her life to save him from drowning. Thirty years later, he begins to suspect that he was never meant to survive that accident, and that dark forces are working to rectify that mistake.
When Hilton's wife, the only elected African American judge in Dade County, Florida, begins to receive racist hate mail from a man she once prosecuted, Hilton becomes obsessed with protecting his family. The demons lurking outside are matched by his internal terrors-macabre nightmares, more intense and disturbing than any he has ever experienced. Are these bizarre dreams the dark imaginings of a man losing his hold on sanity-or are they harbingers of terrible events to come?
As Hilton battles both the sociopath threatening to destroy his family and the even more terrifying enemy stalking his sleep, the line between reality and fantasy dissolves . . .
Chilling and utterly convincing, The Between is the haunting story of a man desperately trying to hold on to the people and life he loves as he slowly loses himself.
Ratings (9)
Incredible (2) | |
Loved It (6) | |
Liked It (1) |
Reader Stats (16):
Read It (8) | |
Want To Read (7) | |
Did Not Finish (1) |
3 comment(s)
Listened to the audiobook and definitely was a rollar Coster ride, was so invested in it. Don't think I've read anything from Tananarive Due before but will definitely pick up more if I can find. A rather addictive story line to listen to
Tananarive Due masterfully blends psychological horror with supernatural suspense in The Between, crafting a story that lingers in the mind long after the final page. The novel follows Hilton, a man whose childhood brush with death begins unraveling into nightmarish visions and an eerie unraveling of reality. What makes this book truly haunting is the way Due explores the fragility of the mind, the weight of generational trauma, and the blurred lines between psychological breakdown and supernatural interference.
The tension builds at a steady, nerve-wracking pace, leaving readers questioning whether Hilton’s experiences are real or the result of a fractured psyche. Due’s writing is deeply atmospheric, weaving Black history, spirituality, and horror into a story that feels both intimate and terrifying. The themes of grief, identity, and fate elevate this beyond a standard thriller—it’s a meditation on what it means to be haunted by the past.
Fans of slow-burning, cerebral horror with cultural depth will find The Between both gripping and unsettling. It’s a story that doesn’t just scare—it makes you think. Tananarive Due proves once again that horror can be as emotionally profound as it is chilling. Highly recommended for those who enjoy psychological thrillers with a supernatural twist.
Ending left me, 🙄
What can you read after
The Between?
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