Things can change fast in Texas, especially the weather.
Uninvited and unwelcomed, Dan’s estranged mother Margo shows up at his doorstep moments before a freak snowstorm hits their small Texas town. The arctic storm comes fast and hard, trapping Dan and his wife, their teen daughter, and her boyfriend inside with the malicious old woman who seems hell-bent on destroying everything her son and daughter-in-law have built together. Long-buried family secrets are exhumed, causing tensions to flare and tempers to erupt. As things spiral out of control and anger consumes the household, inside is Hell. But outside in the snow, there’s something far more sinister. Something full of rage. Something violent. And that something has a taste for blood.
"A multi-layered thriller that'll chill your blood faster than a freak blizzard, Matt Micheli's The White proves there are scarier things than being trapped at home with family." - Jessica McHugh, Bram Stoker & Elgin Award nominated author of A Complex Accident of Life and Strange Nests
“The White is a fun one-sitting romp dealing with high-tension family dynamics and the arrival of a freak snowstorm offering more than just a chill.” – Mark Towse, author of Nana and Crows
Things can change fast in Texas, especially the weather.
Uninvited and unwelcomed, Dan’s estranged mother Margo shows up at his doorstep moments before a freak snowstorm hits their small Texas town. The arctic storm comes fast and hard, trapping Dan and his wife, their teen daughter, and her boyfriend inside with the malicious old woman who seems hell-bent on destroying everything her son and daughter-in-law have built together. Long-buried family secrets are exhumed, causing tensions to flare and tempers to erupt. As things spiral out of control and anger consumes the household, inside is Hell. But outside in the snow, there’s something far more sinister. Something full of rage. Something violent. And that something has a taste for blood.
"A multi-layered thriller that'll chill your blood faster than a freak blizzard, Matt Micheli's The White proves there are scarier things than being trapped at home with family." - Jessica McHugh, Bram Stoker & Elgin Award nominated author of A Complex Accident of Life and Strange Nests
“The White is a fun one-sitting romp dealing with high-tension family dynamics and the arrival of a freak snowstorm offering more than just a chill.” – Mark Towse, author of Nana and Crows
“HELL HAS FINALLY FROZEN OVER,” Dan said, glaring at his mother who he hadn’t seen or heard from in at least a year. He sucked on his teeth, almost repulsed by the sight of her standing at his front door, unannounced and unwanted, wearing some gawdy coat with fluffy fur around the collar and a hat that came straight from Jackie O’s closet, always the fraud, trying to present some phony image of prestige. She looked like she had aged two-fold since the last time she so eloquently graced them with her presence, the copious amounts of concealer and blush unable to hide her rapidly-thinning, wrinkling skin. “You have no reason to be here,” Dan said. What he felt inside—what he really wanted to say—was that Margo had no reason to live. She was a scourge on this Earth.
Margo smirked, not necessarily disagreeing with her son’s statement. She found herself questioning her own existence quite a lot as of late, oftentimes not coming up with a single reason or purpose other than to continue forward because she didn’t know any other way. Giving up showed weakness and weakness was an unforgivable sin. “Well, Daniel—” she eyed her son, squinting slightly, thinking about what to say next. “I’ve missed you, too.”
Dan's estranged mother, Margo, shows up unexpectedly at his door, and her sudden arrival is not met with hugs and kisses. They've been apart for a year, and it's apparent it's not long enough. Their tone and words are filled with hate and disdain towards each other.
She claims she's there for one reason, to see her granddaughter, Tori. Dan reluctantly allows his mother into his home, where she unleashes snide comments on his wife's (Lily's) housekeeping skills, appearance, culinary skills, and even the dinnerware. Despite Margo's criticism and rudeness, Lily vowed not to sink her level. Where most people would've snapped back, Lily resigned herself to the fact Margo wasn't going to change.
While Dan and Lily disapprove of Margo's behavior, sixteen-year-old Tori finds it amusing. She welcomed grammy with open arms, a stark contrast to Margo's welcome from her son and daughter-in-law.
The day turns bad to worse as arctic blizzard rocks the area. Trapped inside with no power, internet, water, heat, and the houseguest from hell, you'd think the day couldn't get worse...you'd be wrong. Time to face the past and also time to face whatever lurks in the snowstorm, leaving bodies behind in its wake.
The violent and gruesome assaults shocked me to my core! Evil has taken root, and the events unfolding in this brutally cold weather left me speechless, especially the final pages.
The White by Matt Micheli would be scary no matter the weather, but it was a million times more frightening since my state has been hit with snow and ice. As I was reading it, I kept looking out the window and wondering if something evil could be awaiting me in the storm. This book caused uneasiness to settle in my bones, and I loved it.
If you love horror stories, long or short, you'll want to pick up a copy of The White!