David Sodergren does it again. I swear this man doesn't miss.
Rotten Tommy follows Becky, an autistic woman who falls into a dark rabbit hole after she uncovers several VHS tapes of a depraved, never-released TV show hidden inside the walls of her home. But what do they have to do with her mother? And why is there also a missing child poster with her photo? And what does all of that have to do with the fictitious town of Rumplejack?
Figuring out the answers takes you on a chaotic and slightly gory journey to a weird town that will constantly have you saying 'what the fuck' in increasingly hysterical intervals. Only Sodergren can blend psychological horror with a strange, almost whimsical darkness that makes you think you want to stay, only to realize that you're ankle-deep in blood and, no, things are actually deeply disturbing, and it's way past the time to go home.
Just know that disturbing doesn't necessarily mean blood and gore with this one. While there are satisfying gooey bits, it's the slow way he chips away at your sanity by unapologetically throwing you into a nightmare world filled with bizarre sausage-eating hand puppets and expecting you to keep up or become one of the slaughtered that brings you to the brink of a mental breakdown - but man, it's the most enjoyable breakdown you can
Like with most Sodergren novels, the writing is sharp, the pacing is spot-on (even if it is a slow burn), and Becky's arc is as emotional as it is disgusting.
Rotten Tommy is perfect for fans of creepypastas, cursed video tropes, Candle Cove, and horror that has heart as well as guts.
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