Deep in the forests surrounding Lake Winnipesaukee, something ancient stalks its prey. Once it was a man. Now a Wendigo. A demon of hunger and cold, the creature prowls the wilderness, driven by an insatiable craving for human flesh. But the monster in the woods is only part of the nightmare.
Robert Radnor, known throughout Boston as “The Phenomenon” for exposing fraudulent mediums, spirit-talkers, and occult charlatans, has come to the Big Lake seeking a quiet summer with his wife, Jo, and her sister, Isobel. Their destination is Miramar Hall, the sprawling lakeside estate of Radnor’s former Civil War commander. Yet the moment they arrive, Rob senses something deeply wrong.
The family that rules Miramar Hall hides secrets older than the house itself. Strange happenings plague the surrounding forest. And whispers of a terrible creature begin to surface—something hunting in the dark woods beyond the lake. As Radnor digs deeper into the mystery, the lines between superstition and reality begin to blur. Corruption, greed, and long-buried sins converge in a deadly conspiracy that may awaken forces far more dangerous than any ghost story. And somewhere in the forest, the Wendigo waits.
Overall, this was a really enjoyable story with a lot to like about it. The central premise is immensely likable, focusing on this really solid and well-developed family coming to this sprawling estate for a chance to escape their past series of controversial propositions that require the vacation, setting everything up as a fun starting point for them to stumble upon the ensuing chaos with the creature being in the same location. This allows us a chance to get to know the family and learn about how they've come to be in this state with his success debunking other forms of paranormal showcases, so that there's a bit of familiarity with it that can be mined for some intrigue once they become aware of the creature prowling the woods around them.
That's where the book really comes alive when it starts to bring more clues to the context regarding whether there's something out there in the second half, where it starts to bring the creature into more dynamic attacks. Using the mystery angle about the creature's existence and presence in the woods makes for a fun start to bring everything together, which helps to start getting the tension ready for the final confrontation, featuring some great action description about the brutality and savagery of the incidents. There are some unconventional lore changes for the wendigo and its backstory, which might not be much of an issue for some out there, but it does pop up as one of the only drawbacks possible here, as the rest of the book is a fun, breezy read, causing this to stand out.
5/5
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