Book Review: ‘The Atrocities’ by Jeremy C. Shipp

Written by Jeremy C. Shipp

When Isabella died, her parents were determined to ensure her education wouldn’t suffer.

But Isabella’s parents had not informed her new governess of Isabella’s… condition, and when Ms Valdez arrives at the estate, having forced herself through a surreal nightmare maze of twisted human-like statues, she discovers that there is no girl to tutor.

Or is there…?

Plot summary taken from Amazon product description.

I’m in love with novellas lately. They have all the strengths of a novel and the compactness of a short story. They seem to be the newest trend in horror publishing. The newest novella on the market was put out by Tor.com. And, as is the norm, it’s an incredible piece.

Jeremy C. Shipp’s novella ‘The Atrocities’ is a cosmic horror with all the trappings of a Gothic. You have a quiet governess. A creepy mansion. A secret that our protagonist must decipher. But that’s where Jeremy’s story veers away.

The setting–an artist’s mansion in the center of a hedge maze– is wholly unique. His description of the statues and paintings help create a nightmare setting that constantly surprises.

The events of the novella never go quite how you would expect. When the story wraps up I was entertained, but a little let down. I’m not saying the ending was bad. It just felt abrupt. The house was so original and atmospheric that I wanted to spend a little more times in it’s halls.

‘The Atrocities’ is worth your time. It’s hard to find such craft and atmosphere in this short of a piece.