Lie in Wait

Name: Lie in Wait
Price: 11.99 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9780062424778

✍️ Eric Rickstad

Reader Score

4.5

(1 review)

$11.99

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A detective investigates a murder linked to a divisive legal case in rural Vermont.

Rickstad crafts a tense atmosphere where legal disputes turn deadly. The setting of Canaan, Vermont, becomes a character itself, reflecting the internal conflicts of its inhabitants. As the trial progresses, the town's unity disintegrates. The murder of the babysitter serves as the catalyst for Detective Sonja Test to uncover deeper truths about the community. The story does not rely on supernatural monsters but rather on human capacity for cruelty. It examines how prejudice can manifest in violent acts when social structures fail. Readers interested in character-driven horror and moral ambiguity will find this narrative compelling. The focus remains tightly on the psychological impact of the legal case on the town's residents.

Key Themes

small town violence legal injustice community division

Literary Context

Published in 2016 by William Morrow, Lie in Wait sits within the contemporary horror fiction market. It draws on American gothic traditions prevalent in rural settings. The narrative reflects ongoing cultural anxieties about justice and community cohesion in isolated Vermont communities during the mid-2010s.

Difficulty

●● Medium

Recommended For Fans Of

Stephen King · Tana French · Gillian Flynn

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Horror Fiction

🏛 William Morrow & Company 📅 2016 📖 464 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9780062424778

📝 Description: Lie in Wait

Eric Rickstad, a recognized author in the horror genre, presents Lie in Wait, a narrative set in the isolated Vermont hamlet of Canaan. The story begins with a high-profile legal case that fractures the community's tranquility. Anger and prejudice replace the former peace as old friendships dissolve under pressure. Violence looms over the town as tensions rise between residents. The plot accelerates when a teenage girl is brutally killed while babysitting at the home of the lead attorney involved in the contentious trial. Detective Sonja Test investigates the crime, concluding that the murder is directly connected to the divisive legal proceedings. The narrative examines how fear and suspicion can erode social bonds in a close-knit rural setting. Rickstad draws on traditions of gothic fiction and supernatural horror to explore themes of communal guilt and hidden darkness. This work suits readers who enjoy atmospheric thrillers rooted in small-town dynamics and psychological dread. It may not appeal to those seeking fast-paced action or urban crime settings. The book remains focused on the interplay between justice, vengeance, and the fragility of community trust in a remote pastoral landscape.

💎 Our verdict on Lie in Wait

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Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Rickstad crafts a tense atmosphere where legal disputes turn deadly. The setting of Canaan, Vermont, becomes a character itself, reflecting the internal conflicts of its inhabitants. As the trial progresses, the town's unity disintegrates. The murder of the babysitter serves as the catalyst for Detective Sonja Test to uncover deeper truths about the community. The story does not rely on supernatural monsters but rather on human capacity for cruelty. It examines how prejudice can manifest in violent acts when social structures fail. Readers interested in character-driven horror and moral ambiguity will find this narrative compelling.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

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Why this book is worth reading

Readers interested in character-driven horror and moral ambiguity will find this narrative compelling. The story offers a tense atmosphere where legal disputes turn deadly, examining how prejudice manifests in violent acts when social structures fail. It suits those who enjoy atmospheric thrillers rooted in small-town dynamics rather than fast-paced action or urban settings. By focusing on the psychological impact of a divisive case, the book reveals the fragility of community trust and the human capacity for cruelty.