ARC Review: “Lone Women” by Victor Victor LaValle

“Lone Women” by Victor LaValle (2023)

Publication Date: March 21, 2023

Genre: Horror, Historical Fiction, Mystery

Page Length: 304 pages (electronic review edition)

Synopsis:

Blue skies, empty land—and enough room to hide away a horrifying secret. Or is there? Discover a haunting new vision of the American West from the award-winning author of The Changeling.

Adelaide Henry carries an enormous steamer trunk with her wherever she goes. It’s locked at all times. Because when the trunk is opened, people around her start to disappear…

The year is 1914, and Adelaide is in trouble. Her secret sin killed her parents, and forced her to flee her hometown of Redondo, California, in a hellfire rush, ready to make her way to Montana as a homesteader. Dragging the trunk with her at every stop, she will be one of the “lone women” taking advantage of the government’s offer of free land for those who can cultivate it—except that Adelaide isn’t alone. And the secret she’s tried so desperately to lock away might be the only thing keeping her alive.

Review:

Lone Women was an absolutely amazing read! I have heard a lot of buzz surrounding LaValle’s works, but this is my first time reading one of his novels and I was not disappointed. The story follows Adelaide Henry, a woman who flees everything she’s ever known with a few of her belongings. Traveling her way through the states she ends up in Big Sandy, Montana, a very small town where nobody knows her past and she can start anew again. But as she settles on her secrets and heavy baggage seems to wear her down and when the lies become unraveled can she run from her past.

It’s hard to know what you expect out of any horror novel but this one (while it does have some gore) Lone Women mainly relies mainly on suspense. The novel is detailed enough to place the reader in Adelaide’s shoes but also simplifies certain aspects to leave it up to the reader’s imagination. The latter is much more powerful as the parts that are unseen in a horror novel/film always leave you the most terrified. The novel excellently displays how appearance can be deceiving as more sinister things and people start to reveal themselves. The multiple point-of-views allow the reader to get into these characters’ heads and deepest thoughts. I loved the detailed descriptions used to describe the horror aspects, but LaValle makes things just vague enough to keep the reader on their toes.

“That’s why I’m warning you,” Eleanor said. “Whatever damage the demon does, they’ll come for you. And they will repay you a hundred times.”“I’m not scared of them,” Adelaide insisted, sounding more like a stubborn child. “You should be.”

I appreciated the title of Lone Women and how it plays into the plot. These women are seen as weird or outcasts because people don’t understand them. Each one bears a heavy weight but their tenacity, courage, and independence are what make them strong. This novel is so engaging from beginning to end. Each chapter had me fully engrossed. It’s hard to talk about this novel without spoiling it, but I do recommend going in blind to get the full reading experience. I can’t wait to read more of LaValle’s works. This novel delivered on the thrills and the chills. I highly recommend it!

Final Verdict: