Gypsum

Name: Gypsum
Price: 17.99 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781949472790

✍️ Chris Rellim

Reader Score

4.4

(1 review)

$17.99

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A family confronts both a vengeful spirit and a racist neighbor in their new home.

Steven Dobrowski ignores his wife Keisha's warnings about strange occurrences in their new house. He becomes obsessed with the property, refusing to leave despite escalating dangers. The situation worsens when an angry spirit taunts him into harming his family. Simultaneously, a physical antagonist targets them for their racial makeup. This dual threat creates a suffocating atmosphere of dread and paranoia. Rellim uses this setup to explore how external hatred can amplify internal spiritual corruption. The narrative focuses on the breakdown of trust within the Dobrowski household as Steven succumbs to manipulation.

Key Themes

racial hatred spiritual possession family betrayal

Literary Context

Published by Beacon Publishing Group in 2019, this work addresses modern American anxieties regarding race and housing. It reflects contemporary tensions surrounding mixed-race families entering established communities. The text situates itself within the tradition of social horror, where supernatural elements mirror real-world bigotry.

Difficulty

●● Medium

Recommended For Fans Of

Stephen King · Matthue Guinn · Paul Tremblay · Kali Wallace

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Horror Fiction

🏛 Beacon Publishing Group 📅 2019 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781949472790

📝 Description: Gypsum

Chris Rellim’s Gypsum presents a domestic horror narrative centered on Steven Dobrowski and his family. They relocate to a new residence, unaware that the property holds malevolent spiritual forces. Initial disturbances appear minor but escalate into dangerous threats. Keisha, Steven’s wife, urges immediate evacuation to protect their three mixed-race children. Steven refuses, driven by an obsession with the house he believes they deserve. The story intertwines supernatural terror with racial hatred. An entity in the physical world targets the family due to Keisha being African-American and the children’s mixed heritage. This neighbor commits vandalism and issues threats alongside the spiritual attacks. The angry spirit taunts Steven, eventually persuading him to commit evil acts against his loved ones. Rellim structures the plot around this dual assault, blending ghost story tropes with contemporary social conflict. The narrative does not offer easy resolutions. It examines how prejudice and supernatural malice can converge to destroy a family from within. Readers who enjoy psychological thrillers mixed with racial tension will find this compelling. Those seeking traditional haunted house tales without social commentary may prefer other titles. The book relies on the specific dynamic between Steven’s denial and the external bigotry he faces.

💎 Our verdict on Gypsum

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Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Rellim crafts a potent narrative where supernatural malice converges with human prejudice to dismantle a family from within. The book excels in building a suffocating atmosphere of dread, effectively using the dual threat of a vengeful spirit and a racist neighbor to heighten paranoia. Steven’s obsession with his home serves as a chilling focal point for the unfolding tragedy. While it lacks easy resolutions, this ambiguity strengthens its impact on themes of denial and corruption. It is best suited for readers who value psychological depth and social critique within their horror fiction. Those seeking traditional ghost stories may find the heavy emphasis on racial dynamics less appealing, but for others, it offers a profound and unsettling exploration of how hate destroys domestic sanctity.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

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Why this book is worth reading

Readers who appreciate horror that engages with contemporary social issues will find this book compelling. It offers a unique blend of supernatural terror and racial tension, exploring how external hatred can amplify internal spiritual corruption. The narrative is ideal for those interested in the breakdown of trust within a family under duress. By intertwining ghost story tropes with modern conflict, it provides a suffocating atmosphere of dread. It suits audiences who enjoy psychological thrillers mixed with social commentary rather than traditional haunted house tales devoid of such depth. The specific dynamic between denial and bigotry creates a distinct reading experience for those seeking meaningful engagement with horror themes.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.4

Based on 1 reviews

Horror Reads editorial team

Rellim crafts a potent narrative where supernatural malice converges with human prejudice to dismantle a family from within. The book excels in building a suffocating atmosphere of dread, effectively using the dual threat of a vengeful spirit and a racist neighbor to heighten paranoia. Steven’s obsession with his home serves as a chilling focal point for the unfolding tragedy. While it lacks easy resolutions, this ambiguity strengthens its impact on themes of denial and corruption. It is best suited for readers who value psychological depth and social critique within their horror fiction. Those seeking traditional ghost stories may find the heavy emphasis on racial dynamics less appealing, but for others, it offers a profound and unsettling exploration of how hate destroys domestic sanctity.