PLOT SUMMARY:

Every small town has ghosts. King’s Branch has Marla.

A reclusive young woman who lives with her mother in a creepy Gothic house, Marla Gorman is the stuff of urban legends. Some believe she’s a prisoner. Others claim she’s a witch.

The evening of the first murder, Detective Carl Lancaster sees Marla leering at him from her bedroom window. He sees her again at the exact moment a second man is killed. And though Marla was nowhere near either murder site, Carl is convinced she’s connected to the crimes.

To Carl, Marla is a menace. To social worker Annie Frost, Marla bears a bizarre connection to her past. To Dylan Ellison, a struggling college student, Marla might be the companion for whom he’s been longing.

But none of them understands Marla’s true nature. She’s about to plunge them—and everyone in King’s Branch—into an unspeakable nightmare and teach them the true meaning of terror.

GRADE: A-

REVIEW:

Strange deaths begin to plague the small town of King’s Branch, and Detective Carl Lancaster finds himself at a loss. He can’t figure out what—or who—is behind the growing body count. One thing keeps nagging at him: every time someone dies, Marla seems to be somewhere in the periphery. The problem? Carl can’t prove a thing.

Marla is a recluse who lives in an old, unsettling house with her mother, Irene. The townspeople have always been wary of the two women, but as the deaths pile up, Carl finds himself drawn back to their doorstep again and again. The closer he gets to the truth, the more disturbing the mystery becomes.

Marla was a fascinating, deeply creepy read, filled with just the right amount of small-town lore and dark secrets. Fans of Stephen King will feel right at home, especially those who enjoy stories where an entire town seems to be hiding something.

The audiobook was especially well done. The two narrators brought an added layer of tension and unease to the story, making the already creepy atmosphere even more unsettling.

Highly recommended for anyone who loved Carrie but wished she were even creepier.

*Thank you so much to NetGalley & Blackstone Publishing for the audiobook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

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