The Wide Game

Name: The Wide Game
Price: 16.99 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781948374262

✍️ Michael West

Reader Score

4.6

(1 review)

$16.99

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A man returns home for a reunion and finds the horror he escaped is still playing.

Paul Rice travels to Harmony, Indiana, for his tenth-year high school reunion. His wife encouraged this trip, hoping it would help him move forward. Instead, he faces ghosts from his past, specifically Deidra and the events of the Wide Game. This was a day when fun turned into a fight for survival ten years ago. Meeting other survivors reveals that the entities involved are still active. They have not finished their game with Paul or his friends. The story focuses on the psychological impact of these memories and the realization that danger is ongoing. It is a tale of inescapable fate and supernatural pursuit.

Key Themes

High school reunion The Wide Game Lingering trauma

Literary Context

This novel sits within the contemporary horror genre, published by Hydra Publications in 2022. It draws on American small-town gothic traditions, using the specific setting of Indiana to create a sense of claustrophobia and isolation. The narrative reflects modern anxieties about unresolved pasts and the inability to escape one's history.

Difficulty

●●● Challenging

Recommended For Fans Of

H.P. Lovecraft · Stephen King · Shirley Jackson · Clive Barker

👻

Ghost Stories

🏛 Hydra Publications 📅 2022 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781948374262

📝 Description: The Wide Game

Michael West returns with a narrative that revisits the traumatic events of a high school reunion in Harmony, Indiana. The story follows Paul Rice, who attends his tenth-year gathering at the behest of his wife. His return to this boyhood home forces him to confront lingering memories of Deidra, his first love, and the terrifying incident known as the Wide Game. That event transformed a day of leisure into a desperate struggle for survival and soul. As Paul reconnects with other survivors from that fateful day, he uncovers a disturbing truth. The incomprehensible forces that previously toyed with him and his friends have not concluded their activities. They remain active, continuing to play their own game with the living. This work draws on traditions of supernatural fiction and gothic horror, focusing on psychological dread and lingering trauma rather than explicit gore. It suits readers who enjoy atmospheric tension and stories about past sins resurfacing. Those seeking fast-paced action or clear resolutions may find the ambiguity unsettling. The narrative structure relies on memory and present-day interaction to build suspense. West uses the setting of Indiana to ground the supernatural elements in a recognizable reality. The book does not offer easy answers but rather explores the persistence of fear. It is a study of how past horrors can dictate future lives, leaving characters trapped in an endless cycle of dread.

💎 Our verdict on The Wide Game

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Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Michael West crafts a compelling tale of psychological dread, grounding supernatural elements in the recognizable reality of Indiana. The narrative effectively utilizes memory to build suspense, focusing on the lingering impact of past trauma rather than relying on explicit horror tropes. This approach creates an unsettling atmosphere that resonates with fans of gothic fiction and cosmic horror. The story excels in portraying the persistence of fear and the ambiguity of unresolved danger. It is best suited for readers who enjoy complex emotional landscapes and stories about the consequences of past sins. Those seeking fast-paced action may find the pacing deliberate, but lovers of atmospheric tension will appreciate the depth of character exploration and the lingering sense of unease that defines the experience.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who appreciate atmospheric tension over explicit gore will find this narrative deeply engaging. It offers a compelling study of lingering trauma and the persistence of fear, making it ideal for those interested in psychological horror. The book suits fans of stories where past horrors actively shape present realities, providing a sense of ongoing dread rather than simple shock value. Those who enjoy ambiguous endings and complex emotional landscapes will gain from its exploration of how trauma can dictate future lives. It is particularly rewarding for readers who prefer suspense built through memory and interaction rather than fast-paced action or clear resolutions.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.6

Based on 1 reviews

Horror Reads editorial team

Michael West crafts a compelling tale of psychological dread, grounding supernatural elements in the recognizable reality of Indiana. The narrative effectively utilizes memory to build suspense, focusing on the lingering impact of past trauma rather than relying on explicit horror tropes. This approach creates an unsettling atmosphere that resonates with fans of gothic fiction and cosmic horror. The story excels in portraying the persistence of fear and the ambiguity of unresolved danger. It is best suited for readers who enjoy complex emotional landscapes and stories about the consequences of past sins. Those seeking fast-paced action may find the pacing deliberate, but lovers of atmospheric tension will appreciate the depth of character exploration and the lingering sense of unease that defines the experience.