When a novel gets a review proclaiming it is “Scary as hell and hypnotic. I couldn’t put it down…” it draws interest. When this review comes from the master of scary books himself, Stephen King, readers can count on a captivating and frightening new novel. This is the description and review found on copies of “Broken Monsters” by Lauren Beukes.

This story takes place in Detroit and follows five vastly different characters, with a central storyline following homicide detective Gabriella Versado. A body found in the woods is half boy and half deer, somehow fused together. Unfortunately for Detective Versado, this is only the first in a series of strange bodies. Beukes keeps readers on their toes with constant plot twists until it’s so turned around all hopes of stability are lost, forcing readers to be swept into the madness felt by the characters.

One of the more terrifying aspects of “Broken Monsters” is the unsettled feeling created by Beukes. She is talented in her depiction and mindset of each character. All five characters are easily distinguishable as their minds and actions are all vastly distinctive, yet they share the fear and feeling of being haunted. Granted, they are followed by different metaphorical demons, but this only serves to make the novel even scarier.

Each character’s subtle torture helps give distinction to their voice while also allowing the reader themselves to be constantly haunted by the multitude of hovering demons. Beukes doesn’t hold back in her mission, building suspense and creating a mindset that gives itself over to demons, hallucinations and overall fright that culminates in one uncontrollable storm as the novel comes to an end.

“Broken Monsters” exposes the humanity of terror while simultaneously commenting upon social ideas of technology, social media, art and the somewhat grotesque aspects of our world that captivate our attention. Beukes has succeeded in creating a thriller that will haunt the mind and leave the heart racing.