Compound Fracture by Andrew Joseph White is one of the most unhinged horror novels that you will ever read. I enjoyed this book thoroughly and deem it as a must-read for this coming fall.
When a young socialist trans teen comes out to his parents, Miles Abnernathy escapes to a party with stolen photographic evidence that the county’s Sheriff Davies was responsible for the mining “accident” that resulted in injuring his dad and the death of others. Miles is determined to finally fix the blood feud that plagues Twist Creek, West Virginia.
This blood feud traces back to a hundred years ago when Miles’ great-great-grandfather, Saint Abernathy, started a miners rebellion that was soon ended by a public execution by the hands of law enforcement. Miles becomes the feuds’ latest victim when the sheriff’s son and his friends follow him in the woods and almost beat him to death.
When Miles wakes up in the hospital, he is met by a ghost who is a soot-covered man who he has never seen before, and Sheriff Davies who is threatening him into silence. Miles refuses and murders one of the boys who hurt him, which leads him to learn about other people in Twist Creek who also want Davies out of his seat.
Miles is a wonderful protagonist who is going through an intense journey of self-discovery while also fighting for his life. There are so many layers to his character that are explored thoroughly and thoughtfully. Every character in this story has so much depth and is very dynamic.
Andrew Joseph White writes about cycles of violence and complex family dynamics. He is not afraid to write about politics and the nuances that come with it. This book will have you at the edge of your seat, and there is an even balance of horror and thriller.
If you have loved his previous works, or are just looking for a good thriller/horror novel for the upcoming fall season, be sure to check out Compound Fracture by Andrew Joseph White.
By Merryn Overbeck, ‘28
