Book Review

Our resident Horror guru shares another spooky novella with us.

The Bear Who Wouldn’t Leave ( Release Date: February 2017)

Sometimes evil looks like a fuzzy teddy bear….

Still grieving the untimely death of his dad, ten-year-old Josh Leary is reluctant to accept a well-worn stuffed teddy bear from his new stepfather. He soon learns he was right to be wary. Edgar is no ordinary toy, and he doesn’t like being rejected.

When Josh banishes him to the closet, terrible things begin to happen. Desperate to be rid of the bear, Josh engages the help of a friend. As the boys’ efforts rebound on them with horrifying results, Josh is forced to accept the truth—Edgar will always get even.

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My Thoughts…

Moncrieff delivers in this fast-paced read. It’s one of her earliest books, and one that packs a punch.

We embark on a familiar tale of an evil childhood toy, something that is as haunting and real as thinking about the Bogeyman under the bed. Not only is this fluffy bear a terror, but so is the stepfather who gifts it to Josh in the first place. Both evils are one and the same, making the stuffed animal all the more menacing. We are immersed in this terrifying saga, contemplating the supernatural as well as the dark side of human nature, all in one fell swoop. It’s the pairing that makes this story so good. Not to mention the voice of the main character, which is a pleasure to read, as it all comes full circle in the concluding chapter, which is my favorite part. Along the way, I kept turning the pages, wanting desperately to know what Josh was going to do to get rid of the bear, and his nightmare. The writing kept me hooked, as well as the unexpected turns, as I didn’t always know what was real and what was a dream. Isn’t that how life is sometimes? Or, at least horror fiction…

I highly recommend this suspenseful and satisfying novella, which is one of Moncrieff’s best works. I can’t wait to devour her latest releases City of Ghosts and The Girl Who Talks to Ghosts. So much to read, so little time…

My Rating… A

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J.H. Moncrieff