Customer Reviews

Mischief #3 (The Hollow)

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The third novel of "The Hollow" series, un-enticingly titled "Mischief", is a second-wind of life for the series. It captures the dark tone of the first novel, "Horseman", fixes some major problems that kept the second novel, "Drowned", water-logged and matures and pleases in other ways. While it doesn't quite have the original charm of the first book, "Mischief" does entertain in ways that the second novel failed at. These pros and cons wedge the third novel in between the previous two for quality and make it an enjoyable, fast novel.

What I was most pleased to see with the third outing is that I can officially understand where it is going in terms of genre placement. I now see that this is not an extreme horror series nor is it disguising itself as a mystery series. It is simply a novel of intrigue and suspense in the paranormal sense. Let me explain: the storyline for round #3 centers on supporting character Mark Hyde and his anger management going out of control. But the paranormal events that plague Sleepy Hollow frame Mark's temper and make him a likely suspect in crimes for which he is innocent. Where is the mystery in that? Or the horror? Well, that's exactly the point: they're not there. Book 1's mystery was the basis for the series: why are all these paranormal events occurring when Shane and Aimee Lancaster moved into town? Book 2 had a murder mystery storyline that was too apparent if it wanted to be mysterious and therefore was not enjoyable. Book 3 doesn't suggest a mystery and is enjoyable because it's not fronting as one. The real joy is in the suspense: can and how will Mark be cleared of these crimes if he's innocent?

Which leads to my next point of interest: the characters of the novel. The first two novels set up the characters with cliches, stereotypes, and artificiality. The third novel gives everyone more weight and credibility unlike before. As the series expands so too do the subplots: Shane and Stasia pursue a romance, Aimee conflicts back and forth on whether or not she's ready for her dad to start dating again, and Mark Hyde (who becomes the central character rather than supporting) grows out of the big-bully portrait the first two novels painted him in. It's all surprising to see that the characters have outgrown their one-dimensional selves into something more rounded.

But it's not character development that enticed us as readers to the series in the first place now was it? Of course not. What did entice us was the paranormal aspect: the ghouls and goblins that roam Sleepy Hollow in the novel. So far the series has faced imps, water nymphs, hell-hounds, ghosts, talking trees, and the big man himself, The Headless Horseman. The monsters of "Drowned" were disappointing and "Mischief" really isn't an improvement. The only creature that makes it to the novel is the legendary "gremlin". Until actually stated they were "gremlins" I assumed the creatures causing trouble were the imps from the previous novel. This was after the last chapter of "Drowned" implied the imps were making a bigger comeback, but I was wrong (although they do have yet another chapter of their own in this book). The difference between the imp and the gremlin is not explained but I believe that is because there really isn't one. The gremlins are creative critters in ways that the other ghouls weren't and really make the title "Mischief" an extreme understatement.

While the major point of the series is once again missing (that being the incorporation of the lore of Sleepy Hollow into the storyline) "Mischief" is the shortest of the three novels so far ("Enemies", the forth, is even shorter) and that is a good thing considering the first two were a little too long. "Mischief" manages to fit just right (even if the climax is stretched). So sit back, relax, and take in the dark charm of "Mischief", a surprising refreshment.

I am purely guessing here that the forth novel, "Enemies", will be the last for the series. It has that "conclusion" sense to itself. With "Mischief" ending on a note of foreboding, we can only hope that the best is yet to come.