The Turn of the Screw by Henry JamesMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
Taking a stab at slow-burn horror, Henry James delivers a chilling payoff in "The Turn of the Screw."
Told from the perspective of a governess terrorized by ghosts as she cares for sweet but unruly children, the book is a chilling dive into psychological horror. The actions of the demonic spirits can't compete with the devastation the mind can wreak on itself.
After a sluggish buildup, the story really hits its stride, delivering a resonant and haunting conclusion.
Emma Thompson's narration in the Audible edition is a masterstroke, speeding up her pace and raising her sense of urgency during the more frantic moments and slowing down into somber tones during buildups.
While most of the book is a slog, it's worth struggling through the slower moments to get to the masterstroke ending. "The Turn of the Screw" is short enough to maintain its sense of urgency even when it stalls.
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