A review by minimicropup
Big Bad by Chandler Baker

dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Resentful, voracious, odd  
 
We follow the POVs of a family of four: a working academic, a full time house-parent, and their two kids. They live in a renovated farmhouse in an isolated wooded setting and rent out part of their property as an AirBnB. 
🇺🇸 Set in Eugene, Oregon, USA 
 
🐺🐕 Growls, Howls, and Tail Wags: 
👍 The setting and the kid POVs were particularly good, especially as the story progresses and they go from being annoying little kids (to me) to characters I was rooting for as the family dynamics unfold. When we see events from their perspective it adds to the creepiness. 
 
🤷‍♀️ I was less interested in the adult POVs because theirs was more ‘omission’, ‘convenient hold-back’ suspense. We are in their heads and get their motivations for mundane things, but they hold back whenever they do something bizarre or recall some strange event from the past. I liked the gender role switch though, I thought that was well done and a little cheeky. 
 
🤭 I found the action scenes cheesy, but I tend to feel that way about reading most action/adventure/fighting scenes, so that may just be me. 
 
Mood Reading Match Up: 
  • Mythological/folklore family horror and drama 
  • Little kid sleuthing 
  • Action fight-for-your-life home invasion energy 
  • Creepy parents 
 
Content Heads-Up: Confinement. Animal attack. Gun violence/injury/gore. Death of a parent. 
 
Format: Kindle Unlimited 
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