Nightwatching

A superb novel of suspense that alternates between the terrifying present and the complex past that led up to this moment. A woman, sleeping near her two young children in a Colonial home in Massachusetts town, hears what she thinks are footsteps. Could there be anything scarier? Except this is an old house, always creaking. Perhaps it’s her imagination. Then, thanks to the nightlight, she sees a man, a huge man, slowly climbing the stairs, as “his fingers wrap the banister like white spider legs.” What should she do? A blizzard rages outside, making escape impossible. Then she remembers that the house has a tiny, hidden room, and she hustles the children and herself into it, while still worrying how they will be able to survive. Sierra keeps the adrenaline pumping, but takes breaks from the primary narrative to explore the woman’s life, from a less than happy marriage to an abusive relationship with her father-in-law to a patriarchal society that refuses to believe her. This unique, thinking-person’s thriller would be great for a book discussion, there’s so much here to unpack.