Thirteen Storeys
By Jonathan Sims
Review by Mida
When a reclusive billionaire dies during a crowded party, everyone present is a suspect. But with no witnesses coming forward, the case grows cold. Until now.
This book, taking the form of a collection of short stories (hence the name) explores the residents’ lives of this very spooky building. Sims crafts an unsettling narrative from the ground up, focusing on the day-to-day lives of each inhabitant as they unknowingly move toward the doomed party that looms at the end. My favourite thing about this book is that while at first, the individual stories seem detached from each other, we catch glimpses of main characters in the background as they orbit their neighbours’ lives. It makes for excellent rereading, as you start to pick up on seemingly innocuous details that weave themselves into a portrait of a truly haunted building. A fascinating story of poverty, power and desperation, read in easily digestible chunks. This is one of my favourite horror stories of all time!
Perfect for fans of A House With Good Bones.
