I’ve listened to Michael David Wilson on This is Horror since my introduction to the indie horror community. He’s been a formative part of my fiction-related education as it pertains to all things spooky. A debut novella from a trusted publisher that had garnered fantastic early reviews was a no-brainer. Getting to it in a timely fashion was a little tougher, though.

Thankfully, I eventually found the time to move this slim volume to the top of the pile, and it was a treat. Wilson takes full advantage of the cinematic type of storytelling that novellas seems to be the perfect vehicle before. The book jumps in, wheels turning, and the reader is not allowed to stop for a rest until the last page has been turned.

The book follows Freddie, a teacher who receives an odd bit of Spam, that he’s understandably intrigued by. A girl in a Hello Kitty mask acting… unusually. The pervasion of all things technological and social media-based by the titular girl in the video begins to dominate Freddie’s headspace and curiosity turns to paranoia turns to fear.

To say more is to wander unashamedly into spoiler territory, and that’s no good because this review is going to wind up with my whole-hearted recommendation to go buy. The pacing is exciting, relentless. The story is unsettling and Wilson conveys that deep sense of unease to the reader. The ending is unforgettable, and leaves some aspects, not so much to the reader’s imagination, but unresolved in a nod to the way the real world works.

Between The Girl and the Video and the upcoming They’re Watching, co-written with Bob Pastorella, Wilson has added his name to my list of insta-buy authors.