"Something is wrong in Niceville" is the title of the overview of this novel on B&N.com. I have to add that something is wrong with NICEVILLE because the book never seems to gel.
There is an enormous cast of characters, none of whom are completely fleshed out or particularly engaging and the story line is very muddy, jumping between protagonists. There is an underlying tone of horror or the supernatural, but even this is muddled and not fully clarified or solidified, simply running like a dark thread throughout the novel. It's like the author couldn't decide between writing a mystery or a horror story and decided to do both. Kind of a Stephen King-ish feel, without ever satisfying.
When I start reading a book and invest my time, I feel compelled to try to at least give it my best shot and finish reading to the end. However, with NICEVILLE, I was tempted to walk away more than once, and, after laboring through the story, I wish I had.
ISBN 978-0-307-95858-9
Pub. Date: To be released June 12, 2012
400 pages
Hardcover and eBook
