Review: Daphne by Josh Malerman

Author: Josh Malerman
Publisher: Del Ray
Publication Date: August 2022

It’s the last summer for Kit Lamb: The last summer before college. The last summer with her high school basketball team, and with Dana, her best friend. The last summer before her life begins.

But the night before the big game, one of the players tells a ghost story about Daphne, a girl who went to their school many years ago and died under mysterious circumstances. Some say she was murdered, others that she died by her own hand. And some say that Daphne is a murderer herself. They also say that Daphne is still out there, obsessed with revenge, and will appear to kill again anytime someone thinks about her.

After Kit hears the story, her teammates vanish, one by one, and Kit begins to suspect that the stories about Daphne are real . . . and to fear that her own mind is conjuring the killer. Now it’s a race against time as Kit searches for the truth behind the legend and learns to face her own fears—before the summer of her life becomes the last summer of her life.

I know I have said in the past that I was done with this author.  I have not finished one book since Bird Box.  I was beginning to think he was a one hit wonder for me.  Since I am a glutton for punishment, I reluctantly started Daphne.  Boy, I was so pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this one.  I feel like the author who wrote Bird Box is finally back.  Maybe?  

As I said, I really enjoyed this one.  I thought it was spooky, creepy and terrifying. It was sufficiently gory and horrific. The mythology behind the ghost was interesting.  There were a couple of twists that I loved as well.  The characters were interesting and I enjoyed the multiple perspectives.  I also really liked that no one was safe in the book.  I was rooting for them all.  I don't want to give away too much.  I could see this turned into a movie.  I highly recommend this one.  Even if the last few books by this author have been lackluster for you. Give this one a try.

Joint Review: The Bird Box by Josh Malerman

by:  Josh Malerman
published by:  Ecco
publish date:  May 13, 2014

Something terrifying that must not be seen. One glimpse and a person is driven to deadly violence. No one knows what it is or where it came from.  Five years after it began, a handful of scattered survivors remain, including Malorie and her two young children. Living in an abandoned house near the river, she has dreamed of fleeing to a place where they might be safe. Now, that the boy and girl are four, it is time to go. But the journey ahead will be terrifying: twenty miles downriver in a rowboat—blindfolded—with nothing to rely on but her wits and the children’s trained ears. One wrong choice and they will die. And something is following them. But is it man, animal, or monster?


I was really impressed with this first book by Josh Malerman.  This book had me hooked from beginning to end.   The tense atmosphere is what sold me on this one.  I think I was hanging on the edge of my seat the entire time.  The one thing I didn't like is the fact that there was no explanation as to what the creatures were.  Or if, indeed, there were any creatures to begin with.  At times, it seemed like it was a mass hysteria kind of event.  However, I suppose that gives the reader something to ponder over.  



Unlike Autumn, I was a little hesitant to like Bird Box at first.  I didn't understand why Malorie doesn't have names for her kids.  Calling them "Boy" and "girl" got to me.  But, as the story progressed, I found myself getting suck in more and more.  This book is definitely creepy and big on tension.  I liked how the story unfolded by waffling back and forth between the past and the present.  One thing about the book is that it really makes you think about eyesight and what it would be like to have to survive in the dark.  I'm not sure I would be that brave.  This is a great debut and one I highly recommend.  I think this author has a bright future and I look forward to seeing what he has in store for us next!