Remains

Warren debuts with an unsatisfying horror novel chronicling the strange happenings in a small town in an unnamed Southern state. Mike Kendall is obsessed with the mysterious death of young Randy McPherson, who vanished when they were both children. He returns to his hometown to look for answers and calm his burdened psyche. However, Placerville is rife with its own peculiar brand of corruption and mystery, and Mike soon finds himself rediscovering the unpleasant truths of who he is and what the town means to him. Warren capably crafts a strong sense of place; Placerville is Southern gothic on an expansive scale. Mike is a likable troubled hero, and his grappling with questions of family and sexual identity are believable. What the story lacks is coherence. The first half is devoted to set dressing, and the second follows too many narrative threads. Each of these separate narratives could have done well on its own, but they’re too underdeveloped here to be truly suspenseful. Mike’s exploration of his sexuality has resonance but is never a focal point. The clumsiness overwhelms the poignant aspects of an intriguing tale, preventing it from delivering on its promises. (June)