Review: In the Vines by Shannon Kirk

Kerry Hammond is here to tell us about a new-to-her author and an atmospheric thriller that she couldn't put down. 

In The Vines by Shannon Kirk was published on July 17, in Hardcover by Thomas & Mercer publishers. It is the 3^rd book written by practicing attorney and writer Shannon Kirk; a standalone novel of psychological suspense.

In the Vines tells the story of Mary Olivia Pentecost, aka Mop, a young woman who comes from a very wealthy family. She is raised by a loving and eccentric mother, a kind father, and a quirky aunt. Mop’s whole world fell apart when her mother died two years ago. She lost contact with her boyfriend Manny and her aunty Liv, who shut herself away from it all. When Mop finally sees her aunt again, she is shocked at her state and it is soon very clear that she is hiding much more than her grief for the loss of her sister. As Mop starts to unravel Liv’s secrets, she learns more about the mysterious events that led to her mother’s death and her own life is suddenly in danger.

I think Kirk’s greatest accomplishment is her ability to create interesting, quirky, weird, and wonderful characters. I wanted to meet Mop and her mother and sit alongside them as they read together. I also wanted to visit Aunty Liv’s estate and explore the grounds. I might even say that the story had a gothic flair; the plot kept me guessing and I didn’t see any of the twists coming until they were right there in front of me. Kirk writes with a literary flair that got me a bit bogged down at times, but I enjoyed the tangled story she told and look forward to seeing what she dreams up next.  

This book was provided to Mystery Playground by the publisher. The review is fair and independent.