The Elementals By Michael McDowell

Imagine Beldame - a secluded narrow strip of glistening white sand jutting into a blue sea.  Imagine a glassy lagoon on the beach. The lagoon is deep and treacherous. You may take a dip... if you have a death wish.

Three majestic Victorian houses stand on this sandy spit. One owned by the McCrays, one by the Savages - the oldest and richest families in Mobile, Alabama. And then there is the "Third House".

Over the years, a dune of powdery white sand has consumed the "third house"...filled up its rooms, blocked up its windows. It's a place of mystery, tragedy and evil.

During a particularly hot Alabama summer, the Savages and McCrays retreat to this secluded piece of land. As the mercury soars, whatever lives in the "third house" stirs. It's not content to be just left alone.

Michael McDowell's The Elementals is horror story, an adventure and a family saga packed into one brilliant gem. It is one of the best novels I have read. 

As a horror story, it's atmospheric, slow-burn and thoroughly scary. But it's not your typical haunted house story. We, horror fans have overdosed on tales of possessions and evil spirits. We know there's nothing a good old exorcism can't fix. But whatever has taken over the "third house"is never clearly defined. It's beyond comprehension and therefore seems beyond our power to defeat. What's most interesting is that it seems inextricably linked to the dark past of the Savages. 

Michael McDowell's characters are so delicately etched out that it was easy for me, sitting continents away, to understand and feel for them. The dynamics and dialogues between the characters is in itself highly engaging. You will feel for the characters, care for them, you will wish they never enter the "third house".  Such is the power of Michael McDowell's storytelling.   

It's a downright shame that not many people know about it. Thanks to Valancourt publishing, it's back in print and on Kindle. Let's give this gem all the love it deservers.

You are probably not going to read anything like this is a long long time.

I read the Kindle version of The Elementals from Amazon - Rs 518; the paperback is quite expensive at Rs 1299.

There's also an audiobook version available for free on Youtube.