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Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite
Bernard Doucette’s The Seasonal Killer opens with retired Brett Dubois agreeing to tell journalist Monroe Jackson what happened in New Valley during the summer of 1981. At twelve, Brett spent his days roaming the suburban woods with four close friends who called themselves the Subpar Squad. Their summer changes after a late-night shortcut takes them behind the home of resident Eugene Dibbs, where they see him hauling a heavy black bag to his car. A pale arm slipping from the bag makes the boys question what they witnessed. Soon, news reports announce that a young woman has been found dead. The timing brings Brett back to that night, while the group’s failed attempt to alert the police leaves them unsure about what comes next. Curiosity soon turns to an investigation that puts their quiet neighborhood under suspicion.
Bernard Doucette’s The Seasonal Killer is a terrific coming-of-age mystery. Doucette makes 1981 New Valley wonderfully immersive, like afternoons spent at the mall arcade before stopping at Sam Goody, then evenings wandering through town with no parents able to track anyone by phone. His humor is genuinely funny, especially as Jason insists on calling serial killers “seasonal killers” and refuses to surrender the term. Doucette is fantastic at turning ordinary suburban places into sources of suspense, such as the boys crouching behind Eugene’s hedges while Jason’s potato-chip bag seems impossibly loud. One of my favorite moments comes as Eugene returns Jake’s lost flashlight and casually mentions Jean Lane, instantly making the boys understand that he knows where Jake lives. Doucette delivers an exciting mystery filled with memorable scares and wonderfully funny friendship. Well written and full of twists, readers who enjoy dark mysteries with a strong 1980s setting will adore this.
