The Hollow Places

Bookseller recommendation

“I do not recommend listening to this audiobook while driving down the Pike in the dark after your shift at the bookstore because this is one of the most creepy, terrifying books I’ve ever listened to. While horror is not my usual genre, the main characters were so relatable and endearing that I had to follow them to the end. Even when I was yelling at my car speakers when they couldn’t see what was right in front of them. Kara, or "Carrot" as she is know by her uncle, is a freshly-divorced 30-something who has managed to find mostly-stable ground working and living at her uncle’s curios museum, the Glory to God Museum of Natural Wonders, Curiosities, and Taxidermy in North Carolina. And then she finds a hole in the wall. Which leads to a hallway that shouldn’t be physically possible. Which leads to a locked bunker with a body inside. Which leads to a new world, filled with water, and bunkers, and willow trees. But of course, there’s much more than meets the eye. With more curiosity than common sense, Kara and her best friend, Simon decide to explore. And discover the meaning of the ominous graffiti they find, "Pray they are hungry." If you, too, wish you could celebrate Halloween year-round, this is the book for you.”

— Cassie • Wellesley Books

Bookseller recommendation

“This book was a trip! I did not know what I was getting myself into when I started this audiobook. Get ready for an adventure into the weird world of T. Kingfisher and her fantastically creepy telling of a woman's return home after divorce. Kara has been welcomed by her uncle to stay in an empty room in his Wonder Museum, a weird and wonderful place with taxidermy real and imagined animals, collections of strange ceramics, and bizarre folk art. Kara (Carrot) agrees to help her aging uncle maintain the museum and while he is out for surgery, a series of strange occurrences lead her to a bunker in between the walls. But Kara and her friend, the coffee shop barista next door, quickly discover that this bunker world is more terrifying than it seemed and they aren't fully sure how to deal with it. Kingfisher's narration is full of nervous energy; Kara and Simon's relationship is quirky with plenty of quips that keep the story light, even when they are in the depths of fear and despair. Hillary Huber's voice relays the nervousness and the humor perfectly, this book is best read at night, under a moonless-sky with the willow branches brushing against your window.”

— Jessica • BookBar