- Title:
- Buried
- Author:
- Sian B. Claven
- Release:
- February 15, 2020
- Format:
- Audiobook
- Narrator:
- Christopher Shelby Slone
This review primarily covers the audiobook version.
This book starts up with the author talking it up something fierce. Two thoughts crossed my mind. Either this is going to be the best damn horror book I’ve listened to in a while. Or I’m going to have a field day tearing it apart.
As much as I love to shit all over things people hold dear; Bravo. This story is something else. It really did live up to the hype. It’s one of the best short stories/horror stories I’ve listened to/read.
The characters use words like “smelt it” (smelled it) and torch (flashlight). This led to much confusion on my part. The inconsistency of the narrator confused the hell out of me. The narrator would occasionally do a European accent. If he can do a European accent, then why doesn’t he narrate the book in that accent. If he can’t, then why wasn’t a European narrator chosen?
Adding to my annoyance with the narrator, he says “19o2”. O isn’t a number. It’s 1902. Adding to my overall annoyance, the audiobook is plagued with this obnoxious background music.
Maybe it’s time I get to that praise I hinted at, at the start of this review. This story is twisty, twisted, and exciting. It continually keeps you engrossed with stories and history of the mansion and the family that owns it, followed by the predicament the characters are in after an untimely cave-in.
There were a couple of characters named “Andrew Jackson” and Michael Jackson” which I found amusing. I don’t know if those were intentional or just a coincidence, but my personal stance is; If it’s amusing, it’s canon.
The story made me wonder. Some of the best stories I’ve listened to since I started reviewing have been short stories. 3 of them have been horror. Tempting Fate, Santa of the Dead, and this one. Are they good because they don’t stick around long enough to lose their thunder or is it something else. I really can’t praise this story enough. It’s brilliant.
NOTE: This copy was provided to me free of charge as a digital review copy. The opinions stated in this review are mine and mine alone, I was not paid or requested to give this book a certain rating, suggestion, or approval.