This book. Wow this book. I saw the movie years ago, read up on it once I found out it was based off true events and haven’t had the courage to read the book until now. I have to say that I absolutely devoured this book. I couldn’t put it down and even lost sleep over it. Even though I knew what was going to happen, reading it was a whole other experience.

This book shattered my heart and soul and I was left feeling numb after. Please heed the warnings as while there are books out there that are way more graphic, there is just something about the way this one was written, that made it so much worse. Maybe it’s because it’s based off a true crime. I don’t know. But man. This book now officially owns my entire being.

The book is loosely based off the real murder of Sylvia Likens but Sylvia’s story was so much worse. But this review isn’t about that but I would love to read more about her, as a way to pay homage to her memory. Since she had no one looking out for her like Meg did in this book.

Meg and her sister Susan end up staying with their aunt and cousins after their parents die. Aunt Ruth seems cool at first but after a while, things take a drastic turn for the worse. Meg stands up for herself a little too well and ends up in the basement. Man this basement. When I got to the chapter that says something like and I’m not quoting “They ended up in the basement”. I got chills.

If you’ve seen the movie, you know what happens and I have to say that this is one of the best book to movie adaptations I’ve read since Silence of the Lambs.

Hands down this is by far my favourite book of 2025. Not because the story is great. Because it’s not. Not in the least. But the details, the story telling, hearing the story from the eyes of David, the atmosphere, everything about this book, made for an epic, depraved ride and it’s one I’ll never forget.

But I promise you, I will never read this book again.

Can be read in KU – https://amzn.to/4jjX9PP