This is McDowell's take on a soap opera. The title and synopsis create transparency: you know who's bad and what they're planning to do. Classic McDowell shines through regardless, showcasing his signature style, elusivity and dread effortlessly shadowing the prose. There aren't many surprises but it doesn't matter, the ride from point A to point B is a fun one.

Wicked Stepmother seems to take itself less seriously than the rest of McDowell's backlog, allowing room for comedic relief through the characters, namely Verity. Heavy characterization allows the reader to form strong bonds with each of the siblings, simultaneously letting hatred of the Larners marinate. While the actions from the mom and son duo become more extreme as the book progresses, due to McDowell's depictions I would have despised them all the same no matter what they did. They're painted as foul, spineless leeches and I believe it.

The dissimilarity between the Hawkes and the company they keep is intriguing. The siblings live lavishly, having only known a lifestyle of extreme wealth and comfort. Verity's husband a lowly dealer, Jonathan and Cassandra's partners being members of the same punk band starkly contrast their upbringing. Reading about the siblings (ok and Apple) slaying corporate jobs by day and moshing in seedy bars by night was heavily enjoyable.

Louise's presence creeps up on the children, starting as small annoyances, shifting to ghastly encounters. She interjects when they least expect it, cold and calculating in her actions. Her progression is slow and steady, tensely tightening, winding the children up in her evil tendrils one by one. Until they finally snap.