I've wanted to read the Blackwater series since I read about it in Grady Hendrix's invaluable tome Paperbacks from Hell, and I have no shame about admitting that I wanted to read it based solely on the covers. Because holy hell, look at those covers.

I'm happy to report that what lurks beneath those covers is an eerie, atmospheric Southern Gothic tale of creeping water and creeping dread, dripping with family drama and small-town gossip. McDowell's writing is so good; so restrained up until the moment when he needs to give it some gas and rev his horror engine a bit. To be frank, I do not know what the readers saying that this isn't scary or isn't really a horror novel are talking about.

I'm glad that I have five more volumes of this saga to go.