Ainslie Hogarth’s Motherthing is a strange little cocktail of domestic horror, dark comedy and a lot of mommy issues! It follows Abby, whose already complicated relationship with her mother-in-law takes an even darker turn after the woman dies.
You can listen to my full audio review of Motherthing below, or keep reading for four quick reasons why this weird book might be worth picking up.
1. It’s Very Weird
Motherthing starts off strange and only gets stranger. Just when you think you’ve figured out what kind of horror story you’re reading, Hogarth takes it somewhere else.
2. Motherhood Is the Real Horror
Mothers, mothers-in-law, childhood trauma and the desperate need to be loved all become part of the horror. The title Motherthing starts making more and more sense as you read.
3. It’s Darkly Funny
Despite some disturbing subject matter, the book has a bizarre sense of humour. Abby’s increasingly unhinged perspective makes even some of its darkest moments oddly funny. Although some stuff might just gross readers out. But that’s just the horror genre.
4. You Might Not Guess Where It’s Going
The supernatural elements aren’t overwhelming, but the story gets progressively more bizarre, building towards a climax that certainly wasn’t what I expected.
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