Snowblind by Christopher Golden

In Christopher Golden’s first horror novel in more than a decade---a work reminiscent of early Stephen King---Snowblind updates the ghost story for the modern age.             The small New England town of Coventry had weathered a thousand blizzards . . . but never one like this. Icy figures danced in the wind and gazed through children's windows with soul-chilling eyes. People wandered into the whiteout and were never seen again. Families were torn apart, and the town would never be the same.Now, as a new storm approaches twelve years later, the folks of Coventry are haunted by the memories of that dreadful blizzard and those who were lost in the snow. Photographer Jake Schapiro mourns his little brother, Isaac, even as---tonight---another little boy is missing. Mechanic and part-time thief Doug Manning's life has been forever scarred by the mysterious death of his wife, Cherie, and now he’s starting over with another woman and more ambitious crimes. Police detective Joe Keenan has never been the same since that night, when he failed to save the life of a young boy . . . and the boy’s father vanished in the storm only feet away. And all the way on the other side of the country, Miri Ristani receives a phone call . . . from a man who died twelve years ago.As old ghosts trickle back, this new storm will prove to be even more terrifying than the last. Spellbinding in scope and rooted deeply in classic storytelling, Christopher Golden has written a chilling masterpiece that is the best work of his career and a standout supernatural thriller. With richly textured characters, scarred and haunted by the ghosts of those they loved most, Snowblind is rooted deeply in classic storytelling. Christopher Golden has written a chilling masterpiece that is both his breakout book and a standout supernatural thriller.

A real modern day ghost story, Snowblind by Christopher Golden is the story of one small New England town where people are haunted. The atmospheric story starts out with one frightful night where the danger lurked not in shadows behind closet doors or under the bed. The danger was not in isolated old houses. The danger here came with the snow. A monstrous winter storm that brought more to fear than just cold and ice descended on the town and left those who survived forever changed, mourning those lost and fearful for another storm that was more than just a vicious weather event.

The story then brings the reader 12 years later, showing snapshots of how life had changed for those who lost loved ones, and those who could not save victims of the storm 12 years earlier. It also showed a town on edge. The weather forecast is calling for another monster storm reviving memories of lives lost and people missing all those years earlier. Memories of the unsolved mysteries the last storm left. And memories that many would rather forget then remember, and certainly did not want to relive.

As the storm nears, some members of the town start acting strange or different. The memories of the last storm are growing stronger and more urgent. Pain and regrets grow fresh again. The story in this was great, especially for a winter read. I loved the haunting storm, trying to figure out what was going on. There was wonderful suspense, mystery and occasionally adrenalin. There was also a great range in characters, and relationships.

For most of the book, it is not a fast paced thriller. It is more slow and haunting. On the surface this is very much a ghost story, but if you look closer, I also feel that ultimately, this book was about life, death and relationships. Appreciating what you have and to let go of regrets.

Many thanks to the St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC in return for my honest review.