The Devil Takes You Home: A Novel

I saw that this book was on the Stoker preliminaries list just released (2022), and I’d ordered my copy long ago – it had sat on my kindle since the release day – and Gabino was an author I’d seen collectively respected within the horror community – so now seemed as good a time as any to read this work, and learn a little about Gabino’s voice.

I took a few days to digest TDTYH after finishing it, to better collate my thoughts into a cohesive whole. It’s one of those books that reads easily, and is engaging, yet left me bereft – frustrated in fundamental ways that aren’t a reflection of the content flow or its author. Nor is the issue political – any political views from the characters are based on background and race, their experiences of the same. Their views remain true to their upbringing. That was all cool. Believable.

I guess I had issues accepting the character's reactions to child mutilation.

The book is a road trip. Gabino sets up two wonderful chapters from the get-go where we are fully invested in a child that is dying (and costing her parents a fortune in medical bills), who then succumbs to her condition. That emotional slap to the face of the main character, and his subsequent estrangement from his wife are the catalysts for him to seek illegal employment, to pay hospital bills, and win back his wife. The goal is a money truck – an attack on a gang-held delivery of cash. This also establishes a connection for the reader to the main character – we feel empathy for the guy due to loss and circumstance, and despite the incident that forces his wife to leave him. But that conflict of character was - for me - almost unbelievable.

The paranormal elements in the book add tension to the prolonged journey, and witchcraft and the supernatural are hinted at. The reader is slapped in the face at the close of the book - you'll either hate it or begrudgingly acknowledge the futility of your hopes.

I can’t say it was pleasant. I don’t think I would want to read it again – but I can admire its craft from afar. This is uncomfortable, but uncomfortable because of my disbelief in the gratuity of violence, perhaps?

I’m giving this 4 out of 5⭐ ‘s – and will hesitantly look forward to reading more from Gabino.