Title: Broken Sigil
Author: William Meikle
Genre: Horror, Novella, Dark Fiction
Age Group: Adult
Rating: 4 stars
Review copy provided by the publisher through Netgalley.
There are houses like this all over the world. Most people only know of them from whispered stories over campfires; tall tales told to scare the unwary. But some…those who suffer…know better. They are drawn to these places to ease their pain.
If you have the will, the fortitude, you can peer into another life, where the dead are not gone.
Broken Sigil deserves five stars in terms of originality. Now, if the execution had been better, I would’ve been in seventh heaven. However, as it stands, the plot is refreshing and original, but the characters lack depth and emotion. This is one of those books that simply can’t be told adequately in a novella, at least not if you ask me. Had there been less characters, it might have worked.
Joe Connors, our MC, is your average, run down the mill homicide detective. Betrayed by his wife having an affair with his best friend, and then passing away in a car accident when she fled from their home, the last years haven’t exactly been rewarding for him. However, now said best friend (and his ex-partner) has passed away – got shot by a rookie cop alarmed by his behavior – and it’s up to Joe to figure out what’s going on.
As Joe starts to investigate the building in which his ex-partner was murdered, he stumbles upon an ancient and dark secret. This house isn’t like all others…it harbors something far more sinister, and that something that could possibly help him connect with what he’s lost…
Joe is a bland character. He’s average – the kind of cop you see on three different TV shows. But it doesn’t matter. His personality, or lack of it, is completely overrun by the plot, which is, in all honesty, very, very good. The idea behind it, the premise, is so refreshing and original. Unfortunately, since we don’t connect to Joe because of his bland personality, nor to any of the secondary characters, it’s not as intriguing as it could be. If this were a novel, and the characters were more flashed out, I would’ve devoured it. Now, I’m a tad bit dissapointed, but overall, I did enjoy the book.
The writing is, as usual from this author, very solid. The book is very atmospheric, with haunting imaginary, and a dark, somber mood. A quick, but spine-chilling read.
Hmmm, maybe if I went in with low expectations of the characters I may be able to overlook their blandness. I’m intrigued about the plot though.