“A blackly comic tale about two children you would never want to meet. Set in the Cornish town of Fowey, all is not as idyllic as the beautiful seaside town might seem. The body of a young woman is discovered in the nets of a fishing boat. It is established that the woman was murdered. Most are shocked and horrified. But there is somebody who is not – a twelve-year-old girl. She is delighted; she loves murders. Soon she is questioning the inhabitants of the town in her own personal investigation. But it is a bit boring on her own. Then Miles Giffard, a similarly odd twelve-year-old boy, arrives in Fowey with his mother, and they start investigating together. Oh, and also playing games that re-enact the murders. Just for fun, you understand…”
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Content Warning: graphic murder, death, animal cruelty, moderate child abuse, physical abuse, gore, minor alcoholism, domestic abuse, sexual assault
A book about two twelve-year-olds that is definitely not for kids, Monsters tells the story of a 12 year old as she becomes invested in local murders, along with her new friend, 12 year olf Miles, who finds himself in Fowey on holiday, accompanied by his far too overbearing mother.
Our nameless protagonist is spending her summer living at her aunt and uncle’s hotel after her parents died in a boat accident. She’s a child who is known to the locals as weird, she’s always around town somewhere, and the hotel regulars don’t seem to like her much, just as she isn’t too fond of them, so when Miles comes along, she is releived that someone her age will be around for the summer.
I went into this one not knowing much about it; I bought it after seeing the cover on Instagram. Yes, I heavily judge books by their covers, and I thought that this was a young adult book, and while it could potentially be for those who are at the older end of the YA target, it was not what I was expecting content wise.
Both our protagonist and Miles are not you’re normal children, and as you read this book, you think our protagonist is going to be a bad example on Miles, but the more you read, the more you realise that, actually, it is the other way around, much to the protest of Miles’ mother and the other adults at the hotel. Miles is much better at hiding his true self than his new friend, and as much as his mother thinks he’s her harmless little boy, she would be surprised at his behaviour when she is not around.
I did end up enjoying this one a fair bit, even though I thought I would have more, but that happens sometimes. I do like how Emerald tells a story, and I had no idea she had published books and wasn’t just a screenwriter! I know her from Promising Young Woman, which is one of my personal rollercoasters of infuriation. One day, I might write about it, also maybe not, who knows?
All the love,
Jade x
Tea Stains and Book Spines 