Full disclosure – I was provided an advanced reader’s copy of this book by the author or their representative but have voluntarily provided a review. All opinions are my own
The walls have eyes…. and fur
Johnny has a special connection with R-City Street. The beloved children’s program has been a part of his life for as long as he can remember as his grandfather was a puppeteer for one of the major characters. When he was younger, he used to love visiting the set, until a freak accident shut the entire show down. Now, years later, Johnny has returned to the old familiar neighborhood to clear out his grandfather’s apartment. When he is sleeping in grandpa’s old room, he feels like he’s being watched and is shocked to see Swoomie – the puppet his grandpa used to man – standing over his bed. Telling his cousin about his experience she is skeptical, but when they spy a piece of Swoomie’s fur by the wall they investigate and discover a hidden passage. The apartment building used to be the set of the beloved children’s show but when the show was shut down, the set buildings were converted to living quarters for the loyal cast and crew. Johnny, desperate to believe that grandpa is not dead, wants to explore the passageways as he is sure his grandpa will be at the end, but his cousin is not so sure. As the pair descend into the musty closed in walls in search of the unknown they discover that there is a lot more to the brownstone than a television set turned apartment building. The deeper they go into the labyrinth, they encounter characters thought long gone, but these are not the beloved childhood friends they remember, and they are out for blood.
What do you get when you take Sesame Street and infuse it with unhealthy doses of Five Nights at Freddy’s, Poppy’s Playtime and a sprinkle of The Twilight Zone? With “I Found Puppets Living in My Apartment Walls”, Ben Farthing has taken a universally beloved concept and has infused it with a sinister vibe. What starts as a trip to clean out his grandfather’s apartment turns into a rescue mission and a fight for his very life with characters Johnny once considered childhood friends. While not a unique concept, Farthing’s tale is worthy of a read and a check inside your closets. Using a setting that is very similar to a popular children’s show really helped to pull me in and easily imagine the action. Even when the story got “weird” it was still not a stretch for me to stay right on the action. I was first introduced to Farthing via his Horror Lurks Beneath series, and I was immediately a fan of his perspective and storytelling. In fact, there are certain elements of “I Found Puppets Living in My Apartment Walls” that was reminiscent of “It Waits on the Top Floor“, although I only realized this after reading the story.
If you are a fan of improbable horror and strange situations that only become more bizarre as you read this would be a good quick creepy title. Here’s hoping for an “I Found Puppets In My Local Wal Mart” or other such title to potentially make for a truly apocalyptic follow up.
Jennly Reads 