Book Review: “The Graveyard Apartment” by Mariko Koike
“The Graveyard Apartment” by Mariko Koike (2016)
Genre: Horror, Fiction, Mystery
Page Length: 325 pages (hardcover edition)
Synopsis:
A terrifying tale of a young family who move into an apartment building next to a graveyard and the horrors that are unleashed upon them.
One of the most popular writers working in Japan today, Mariko Koike is a recognized master of detective fiction and horror writing. Known in particular for her hybrid works that blend these styles with elements of romance, The Graveyard Apartment is arguably Koike’s masterpiece. Originally published in Japan in 1986, Koike’s novel is the suspenseful tale of a young family that believes it has found the perfect home to grow in to, only to realize that the apartment’s idyllic setting harbors the specter of evil and that longer they stay, the more trapped they become.
This tale of a young married couple who are harboring a dark secret is packed with dread and terror, as they and their daughter move into a brand new apartment building built next to a graveyard. As strange and terrifying occurrences begin to pile up, people in the building begin to move out one by one, until the young family is left alone with someone… or something… lurking in the basement. The psychological horror builds moment after moment, scene after scene, culminating with a conclusion that will make you think twice before ever going into a basement again. (description from Goodreads)
Review:
Looking for a spooky horror novel to read for the month of October, I settled upon reading The Graveyard Apartment. I’m always looking to read more books in translation and I’m such a fan of J-horror movies that I thought this would be a good read for me. The cover art alone Is enough to send shivers down your spine with its ominous vibe and the blend of dark colors.
From the very first pages of the novel and the description of our family’s setting you know something creepy/unsettling is coming their way. An unfortunate incident kicks off the followed by the unexplained events, makes the reader wonder why isn’t this family even remotely suspicious.
Even in the early part of the book, the basement (which is the hub of paranormal activity), seems by far the scariest part of the novel. I’m still creeped out by basements to this very day, so I understood Miaso’s uneasiness with the basement’s dark corridors and emptiness. Instead of hitting you with constant jump scares, J-horror (just like their movies) tends to be slower paced, building upon the tension and slowly leading up to the final climax of the plot-which is the horror I really appreciate. It added to the reading experience and even when I read certain parts in the daylight I was still creeped out.
This spine tingling tale will send shivers down your spine with the constant darting shadows, gusts of chilly wind, and whispering voices will put you on edge. I usually don’t read too much of the horror genre just because I tend to get too spooked and this novel got to me (like a horror novel should). It had all the key elements of a solid horror novel and even cleverly plays into the horror trope. The whole building is one ominous place with a mysterious history, there is a group of characters on a quest for a survival, and many things that go bump in the night!
I enjoyed the characters, but was also frustrated by their actions from learning the building’s history (I would have moved out ASAP) and ignoring all the troubling incidents that seemed to occur. As the novel moves on the overwhelming sense of foreboding sets in as the residents flee one by one. It had me on edge as to what would happen next.
That’s all I can say without ruining the ending, but I highly recommend this book! I will check out more of Koike’s works in the future!
Final Verdict:
