25. We Have Always Lived in the Castle

by Shirley Jackson (214 pages)

Rating: 4

Mary Elizabeth and Constance, along with senile uncle Julian, are the only surviving members of the Blackwood family. The rest of the family died under somewhat mysterious circumstances which implicate Constance, although she's been acquitted. Together, Mary Elizabeth and Constance live out their lives in a routine way hiding from the nearby villagers who hate them. And then cousin Charles comes and things begin to change.

I might not call We Have Always Lived in the Castle horror per se. I would certainly describe it as chilling or disturbing. I can't really see it fitting well in any other genre, so I suppose horror will do. In any case, Jackson does a wonderful job of building a believably creepy person. However, as is the case with most of her novels, it was a little slow.

I recommend it for a somewhat disturbing read.