A review by karlakayjenniges
It Lurks by Daniel Dean

dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.0

 Christmas, a time when creating memories should be happy and comforting, A time spent with family, friends, or who is most important in life. 

For John and Caitlyn, Christmas was challenging. Time with family was an unpleasant experience. Leaving early, not wanting to be there anymore, they head out in a bad storm thinking that they could make it home safely. As the storm becomes more daunting, strange happenings begin to occur, resulting in crashing their car. As the hours pass by, they realize their situation is becoming dire and they must figure out what they should do to survive. Leaving the car and heading out into the woods, they come upon a cabin. Hoping to stay warm and safe inside, they realize that the real nightmare is just beginning. 

"The storm turned angry as the seconds ticked by, but Mother Nature didn't distribute her wrath evenly. Instead, she targeted them." 

There is something lurking outside, haunting and sinister. 

"The snowman sat just ten feet from the cabin window."

This is an entertaining novella. There are some creepy elements, but mostly I felt that this is a "mind bender." The characters are separated from their reality, but they never really have an answer as to why it's all happening. This leaves everything open to one's own interpretation and it has an open ending, which really keeps one thinking about what the hell just happened and why. 

A fun winter read that may give one a different opinion of snowmen lurking in other people's yards!