Family trauma, when written well, is fast becoming one of the largest sub genres in horror writing and film.
It can be an easy get-out clause for bad things happening, but when something is written as well as Play Nice by Rachel Harrison it immediately grabs you and won’t let go until it’s told you it’s deep and dark secrets.
We focus on Clio, one of two siblings who has inherited a home from her recently deceased mother – the problem is it’s kind of haunted…
Harrison revels in this multi-layered tale that shows how generational trauma can affect not just the person in question, but all those around them.
There is a beauty in the abiguity around what actually happened in the past in Clio’s childhood home, and you will be fast turning pages to find out.
The best part of Play Nice is the fact everything is not always as it seems and Harrison likes to play with tropes and invert them where best serves the story.
Clio is a fascinating character who isn’t perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but this is why she’s so interesting to follow.
An easy comparison would be Grady Hendrix’s How to Sell A Haunted House, but I would argue Harrison’s story goes to some much darker places and has more of an edge.
There is also a strong feminine message here around listening to women’s concerns and not gaslighting them to fit certain ideals. Harrison doesn’t do this in a preachy way, and the feminine rage at times, only adds to the story.
Play Nice was one of my favourite reads of the year to date, and could possibly be yours too.
Play Nice by Rachel Harrison is available now in various formats from Titan Books.
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