Synopsis

It’s the winter of 1975, and Portland, Oregon, is all sleet and neon. Duane Minor is back home after a tour in Vietnam, a bartender just trying to stay sober; save his marriage with his wife, Heidi; and connect with his thirteen-year-old niece, Julia, now that he’s responsible for raising her. Things aren’t easy, but Minor is scraping by.

Then a vampire walks into his bar and ruins his life.

When Minor crosses John Varley, a killer who sleeps during the day beneath loose drifts of earth and grows teeth in the light of the moon, Varley brutally retaliates by murdering Heidi, leaving Minor broken with guilt and Julia filled with rage. What’s left of their splintered family is united by only one desire: vengeance.

So begins a furious, frenzied pursuit across the Pacific Northwest and beyond. From grimy alleyways to desolate highways to snow-lashed plains, Minor and Julia are cast into the dark orbit of undead children, silver bullet casters, and the bevy of broken men transfixed by Varley’s ferocity. Everyone’s out for blood.

Review

Horror is a genre I only read occasionally, but Coffin Moon is a good one to pick up if you’re a bit of a novice. It actually feels more like an adventure thriller, as the horror itself (although brutal at times) is not particularly scary. It’s gross, creepy and believable, but – as someone known to faint watching theatre with a slight hint of blood – pretty tame.

The story starts off slowly, with a lot of almost unnecessary detail. Then BOOM murder, vampires and revenge! We go back to the slow burn in Part II and then BOOM more murder, vampires and revenge. Some of the characters I’d warmed to died pretty early on which is a shame, but Julia is an interesting child. Her and Duane’s relationship felt similar to Let the Right One In (but a more paternal love), and the back stories made for an interesting dynamic, although Duane is not likeable in any way. Julia on the other hand is relatable; her past trauma making her strong, emotionless and determined, yet her need for revenge is not glorified, and feels quite accurate for a child who has seen so much.

John Varley could have been a really interesting character, but the narrative jumped about a bit and this lost some impact. Johann is actually fascinating as a character and this kept me invested. His end felt a bit swift and without ceremony, but perhaps that was the point. Adeline and the Children’s Museum deserves a bit more time as well as her character is super creepy, like a child-like Miss Haversham which I loved.

The ending is a little rushed and almost too easy, leaving the door open for a sequel. Coffin Moon is enjoyable, but could have done with a faster pace, or else more fleshing out of the characters to create more drama with the story.

Thank you to Black Crow Books for my advanced copy. Opinions my own.