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Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite
Love & Death In The Miskatonic Valley by R.C. Davis takes place in the spring of 1955. Sterling Rice, a 24-year-old grad student at Miskatonic University, resides in Arkham and is the son of Professor Warren Rice, who thwarted the Dunwich Horror in 1928. Despite outsiders' portrayal of Arkham as dark, Sterling views it positively. He juggles dissertation writing, working as a dorm assistant, lighting campus lamps, and interactions with his ex-girlfriend, Sandra Heinz. Always with his dog Sarge, descended from the one that thwarted Wilbur Whateley, Sterling's life changes upon meeting Claudia Osborn, a biology student resembling an actress. Claudia consults Sterling about a painful topic, leading to a deepening bond between them. Amid the turmoil, including a library break-in and the theft of the Necronomicon, Sterling and Claudia face impending danger from both wicked individuals and the sinister 'Shadowman', united by their love.
Love & Death In The Miskatonic Valley by R.C. Davis ticks all the boxes I have when I look for intelligent and engrossing fiction, and Davis brings them to life through the narrative of Sterling Rice. The period details are well done but what makes Davis' work special is that the narrative could be comfortably placed in any decade, and that is what makes it work. Sterling is a fully fleshed-out character with complex emotions, especially in response to death, where Davis authentically explores Sterling's feelings of loss, loneliness, and the struggle to process grief. We feel for him because we know he can be playful, even when he is pushed, as well as uptight and judgmental, like Sandra. However, none of this would matter if we weren't reading on the edge of our seats and that is the constant readers can be assured of in this skillfully written and immersive work. Very highly recommended.
