Around two years ago, I had the opportunity to read McCammon's "They Thirst." It was my initial encounter with the author, and the experience was rather mixed. I did enjoy certain aspects of the book, but I also felt that it was overly long. My edition consisted of 600+ pages, and I couldn't help but think that it would have been much more effective if he had trimmed 200 pages. Additionally, I was somewhat annoyed by the fact that many plot elements and characters were introduced seemingly haphazardly, only to be forgotten about until perhaps a two-page moment 300 pages later, at which point they were unceremoniously killed off. Despite these complaints, however, I was still impressed by the many moments of brilliance that I found within the book, which led me to want to give McCammon another try.

Usher's Passing, on the other hand, suffers from none of the problems that I had with They Thirst. In fact, rather humorously, at 410 pages, it is approximately 200 pages shorter than They Thirst, which makes me feel even more justified in my previous statement regarding page counts.

In the beginning of Usher’s Passing, an agent informs our protagonist that his newest book is a jumbled mess with an excessive number of characters and a plot that seems to meander in too many directions. I found this quite amusing, as I couldn't help but think that McCammon was perhaps a little afraid that he was actually describing his own book. Interestingly, this also serves as some nice foreshadowing of future events in the book. Indeed, the book does have a rather large cast of characters and the plot does seem to be all over the place. However, despite this, it is still a thoroughly delightful read from start to finish.

Like They Thirst, there are many seemingly random moments in Usher's Passing that feel almost like plot detours. However, unlike the other book, McCammon manages to tie it all together beautifully by the end. The book operates as a sort of "what if" sequel to Poe’s Fall of the House of Usher, exploring the idea of what might have happened if the Ushers were real people and the family line continued from another brother. It is a gothic tale filled with hidden family secrets, as the prodigal son/black sheep of the Usher family returns home for the death of his father and to discover who his heir will be. The story also involves a host of other elements, such as the Pumpkin Man, a hideous entity who kidnaps children in the woods, a panther-like creature that serves as its familiar, a coven of witches, psychics, magic, a cursed/haunted lodge, and much more. As I mentioned earlier, the plot is a bit jumbled, but McCammon manages to juggle all of these elements with great skill and finesse. There were moments when I sat there thinking in retrospect about how bizarre some of the turns were, but the story flows so well that I didn't even notice until I put the book down for a while.

This is truly a perfect October read. It captures so many classic Halloween tropes, yet it does so in such a playful and original way that it never comes off as cliché. It is a great read from start to finish and I would highly recommend it to all horror fans.

As a brief sad note, I couldn't help but feel that McCammon put a bit of himself in Rix, our writer protagonist. Rix questions his choice as a horror novelist throughout the book, and considering that McCammon seems to look back at some of his own horror novels with a certain amount of distaste (keeping several of them out of print and focusing now only on historical fiction), it seems like a rather sad bit of realistic foreshadowing, as if he already didn't care for some of his works.

Still, there is nothing to be ashamed of here. Usher's Passing is a solid 4/5 stars and a great addition to any horror lover's bookshelf.

Not my favorite by McCammon but still pretty good.

He really is a very fine writer, with a great and vivid imagination. His words seem to dance on the page, creating a world that is both familiar and yet full of surprises.

There was a nice twist at the end that I didn't expect. It was like a sudden turn in a road that you thought you knew well, but it led to a completely unexpected destination.

However, at times it was a bit slow going. The story seemed to meander a bit, and I found myself losing interest for a moment.

Overall, though, it was well worth the effort. The characters were well-developed, and the plot, despite its slow moments, was engaging enough to keep me reading until the very end. I would definitely recommend this book to others who enjoy a good mystery or thriller.

Perfect Tone and Atmosphere For Spooky Season

I am a die-hard fan of Robert McCammon. His works like "Boy's Life", "Swan Song", and the Matthew Corbett series are among my all-time favorite books. I was eager to explore more of his standalone horror novels. After having a great experience with "Mine" and an okay one with "They Thirst", I had high hopes for this one, and it truly delivered.

This book presents an imaginative take on what the "real life" family that inspired "The Fall of The House of Usher" could have been like. It combines elements of family drama, southern gothic horror, creature feature, and a touch of magic. McCammon masterfully blends these elements to draw the reader in and make them fully immersed as they uncover the troubled history of the Usher family and their insanely creepy family compound, Usherland. The tension steadily builds along with the mystery until everything is revealed in a dramatic, shocking, and highly satisfying manner.

If I were to offer any criticism, I would say that the book has a somewhat slow start, and there are some really unlikable characters, including Rix, the main character. However, by the halfway point, I was completely hooked and couldn't stop reading. I needed to find the answers along with Rix as we delved deeper into the mystery. The climax and conclusion were so outstanding that I had no choice but to give it a full 5 stars.

My second time reading this gothic epic was an absolute delight, and it felt as fresh as if it were my first encounter.

Robert McCammon truly outdid himself in telling this darkly fantastic story. His writing is of the highest caliber, with every word carefully chosen to draw the reader into the eerie and mysterious world he has created.

The plot is intricately woven, filled with twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. You never quite know what's going to happen next, which adds to the overall sense of excitement and anticipation.

But perhaps the most impressive aspect of this novel is McCammon's ability to create real and dynamic characters. Each one is unique, with their own flaws, desires, and motivations. You can't help but become invested in their stories and root for them as they face the many challenges and obstacles that come their way.

Overall, I would highly recommend this gothic epic to anyone who loves a good mystery, a touch of the supernatural, and a well-written story. Edgar Allan Poe would have been proud.