Grey Dog

Starred review from January 22, 2024
Gish’s seething, gorgeous horror debut centers on 29-year-old schoolteacher Ada Byrd, whose tarnished reputation—the cause of which is better left unspoiled—drives her in 1901 to relocate from the comparatively bustling town of Willoughby to the small hamlet of Lowry Bridge, hoping to rebuild her life. Almost as soon as she arrives in the claustrophobic small town, however, she’s greeted by a series of odd and terrifying visions and dreams, including insect swarms and forest creatures giving horrific birth to human infants. Ada seeks answers from a mysterious widow shunned by many of the townsfolk, leading her down a path of both terror and self-discovery. Gish’s prose is as sharp as a scalpel, giving readers a precise portrait of Ada’s internal state as she grapples with the unique horrors of socially enforced womanhood at the turn of the century. In an impressive and effective touch, Gish never asks the reader to like complicated, prickly Ada even as she demands to be understood. The novel’s diaristic format lends itself perfectly to the revelations that unfold, and the ending will haunt readers long after the final page is turned. Calling to mind the folk horror of T. Kingfisher’s The Twisted Ones, this marks the arrival of a bold new voice.

Starred review from September 1, 2024

Gish debuts with an atmospheric historical horror in the gothic tradition that descends into truly terrifying places. In 1901, Ada Byrd takes a teaching position in the small town of Lowry Bridge, looking for distance from a scandal that cost her her last teaching job. She dutifully interacts with her young students, engages in church and social activities, and even makes friends. However, in the woods lives a creature Ada calls "the grey dog," an entity that torments Ada with terrifying yet enticing visions. These visions lead Ada out into the dark woods where the grey dog awaits. Told through journal entries and gorgeous prose, Gish's novel evokes other gothic stories of fractured minds, even as it tackles more issues like sexual assault and repressed LGBTQIA+ identity. Some, however, might argue that Ada's dizzying and disturbing transformation is not a descent into delusions but a step toward embracing freedom and independent thought. Thanks to Natalie Naudus's brilliant voicework, readers will hear (and perhaps even feel) Ada losing her grip on reality as the visions worsen, her resolve crumbles, and society's restraints are ripped away. VERDICT Gothic and feminist horror fans, especially those who love bloody folk horror, will be mesmerized.--James Gardner

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