Review of "Horns: A Novel" by Joe Hill

Joe Hill doing a reading from his book

Joe Hill - like his father, horrormeister Stephen King - delves into dark and frightening themes in his fiction. In this novel, the devil tries to get his due.....and we cheer him on. 😎

*****

Ignatius Perrish (Ig) and Merrin Williams met in a Gideon, New Hampshire church when they were fifteen and were soon a couple. Due to a confluence of circumstances, a boy called Lee Torneau - who also had eyes for Merrin - became a third wheel in the relationship, and often tagged along with the lovebirds.



Skip ahead ten years and Merrin is at Harvard, Ig is at Dartmouth, and Lee is an aide to a U.S. Congressman. Merrin and Ig have plans for their future, which include good jobs, marriage, and children. Their agenda is shattered, however, when Merrin is found raped and murdered near the old foundry in Gideon.



 Ig is accused of the crime, but evidence is lacking and the cops let him go.....but never clear him. 



The following twelve months are miserable for Ig, both because of his profound grief and the hatred of the townsfolk - who believe him guilty. Even Ig's best friend Lee distances himself, because politics and scandal are a bad match.

Then, on the anniversary of Merrin's death - after a hazy night of drinking - Ig wakes up with horns protruding from his forehead. Oddly enough people don't run away screaming when they see the horns, but instead divulge their darkest thoughts. Even if men and women's sinful wishes aren't spoken out loud, Ig can sense them with a touch.



As Ig encounters friends, family members, a nurse, a doctor, a priest, police, shopkeepers, etc. each person reveals their most wicked desires and actions. Additionally, Ig can now influence people's behavior with sly suggestions and prompts. Afterwards, when Ig is out of sight - no one remembers seeing or speaking to him.

Because of the power of Ig's horns we learn a lot about some folks in Gideon, including:

- Ig's 'friend with benefits' Glenna binge eats supermarket donuts; she also got drunk one night and fellated Lee Tourneau in front of his friends.

- Ig's priest is a lecherous creep who's screwing Merrin's bereaved mother.

- An elderly clerk in a convenience store wants to kill his wife and join his mistress in Florida.

- A cops who constantly harasses Ig is gay and lusts for his partner.

- Ig's mother, father, and grandmother - though professing to believe him innocent - REALLY THINK he killed Merrin, and wish he was out of their lives.

- Ig's brother Terry knows who actually killed Merrin, and reveals the name of the perpetrator.

After this Ig is out for revenge, and as he pursues the murderer, Ig acquires more and more devilish characteristics - like control over snakes and the ability to rise from the ashes.....like a phoenix. Ig's nemesis is no slouch either, and proves to be a formidable opponent.





The story moves back and forth in time, so that - between sections set in the present - we go back to the past.....and see what various characters are up to. Over the course of the story we learn that Ig's father is a well-known jazz musician; Ig's brother is a popular television personality; Ig's relationship with Merrin started with a prank; Ig's friendship with Lee stems from a cherry bomb and a dare; Ig had hoped to do good in his life; and so on. We also discover that some characters have disturbing secrets.....and at least one is a delusional sociopath.



Though I was caught up in the plot and found the story compelling, the book moves too slowly (for me). The scenes are repetitive, so that we're told the same thing again, which I found plodding and tedious. Also, if you're expecting a Stephen King-like book, you should know that there's not that much horror in the tale. Instead, there's a rally for justice and redemption; character studies; religious overtones; and a spot of fairy tale magic.

I would have preferred a different ending, but I enjoyed the story and recommend the novel to Joe Hill fans and readers looking for something off the beaten track.

FYI: This book has been adapted into a movie starring Daniel Radcliffe.



Rating: 3 stars