Rabbits in the Garden [Kindle Edition]

Jessica McHugh (Author)

Book Description

At twelve years old, Avery Norton had everything: a boyfriend who was also her best friend, the entirety of Martha's Vineyard as her playground, and her very own garden to tend. By thirteen, it was all over.The discovery of a secret crypt in the basement starts the Norton family down many unexpected avenues, including one that leads to Avery's arrest for murder and her subsequent imprisonment in Taunton State Lunatic Asylum. Set in 1950s Massachusetts, Rabbits in the Garden follows Avery Norton's struggle to prove her innocence and escape Taunton with her mind intact.

Editorial Reviews

Review

• "This is horror the way it should be - crawling under your skin slowly, from page one till the very end, and turning the world as you know it into something scary and unfamiliar." - Majanka Verstraete, I <3 Reading
• "This is one of those haunting books that is hard to read, but begs to be read. It is daunting, bigger than life, and a journey once you start will change you forever..." - Goodreads.com

About the Author

Jessica McHugh is an author of speculative fiction that spans the genre from horror and alternate history to epic fantasy. A prolific writer, she has devoted herself to novels, short stories, poetry, and playwriting. She has had twelve books published in four years, including the bestselling "Rabbits in the Garden," "The Sky: The World" and the gritty coming-of-age thriller, "PINS." More info on Jessica's speculations and publications can be found at JessicaMcHughBooks.com.

Product Details

• File Size: 295 KB
• Print Length: 226 pages
• Publisher: Post Mortem Press (February 14, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B004LZ53L6
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #317,399 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Mind Spinning, Twisted Excellence! August 22, 2011

By JlHaslacker0

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

McHugh's books is a read the whole thing in one sitting kind of book!! All the twisted events taking place makes you keep turning the pages. You think you are going to stop at the next chapter but then something even more crazy than what just happen is introduced and you just want to continue. After finishing the book, I was still thinking about the storyline and characters hours after! Excellent Must Read

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Great for nightmares! October 11, 2011

By Melissa

Format:Kindle Edition

RABBITS IN THE GARDEN, by Jessica McHugh, was a book I wanted to read as soon as I heard about it. I don't often read suspense/horror stories (I've got a sensitive disposition and am prone to nightmares), but there was just something about this one that pricked my attention.

This book follows Avery over a six-year span. Although the beginning of Avery's story is innocuous enough, the reader quickly learns that all is not what it seems in the Norton household. While I don't want to give away any spoilers, there is one incident between Avery and her mother in the garden that sets the tone for the rest of the story. It is one of those moments that seemingly comes out of the blue and thwacks you over the head with a stick, and I really felt like my shock over what had just happened mirrored Avery's.

Jessica does a good job of keeping the reader in suspense. Just when you think you know what's going on with the characters, she pulls the proverbial rug out from under your feet. I read the Kindle edition while walking on the treadmill, and there was a time I was so surprised by a turn of events, I actually almost fell off!

I think what I liked most about RABBITS IN THE GARDEN is that Avery's time in Taunton felt a bit reminiscent of one of my favorite movies, GIRL INTERRUPTED. I enjoy reading books that focus heavily on character emotion and motivation, and not just plot. RABBITS IN THE GARDEN is just as much a story about the relationships Avery builds with the other girls while inside Taunton, as it is about her struggle to escape the institution.

My only nit-pick about the book is that transitions were not always well executed. Sometimes a significant amount of time passes from one paragraph to another, and such a jump would take me out of the story for a few moments. Other times the characters would be talking to each other in one place and end up across the room or driving in a car with no word about how they'd gotten there in the first place. However, these minor details did not detract from the overall story.

I enjoyed this book and give it 3.5 out of 5 stars.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Best of McHugh thus far! June 29, 2011

By Jenny

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Wow. Simply WOW!!

I'm thrilled with Rabbits in the Garden! I'm not very good with words, but I can definitely say this is my favorite Jessica McHugh novel so far! (Although I'm on edge waiting for Danny Marble to be released!)

This is an intense story that can only be described as mesmorizingly crazy. It grips you with every page, making you question the sanity of all the characters and even yourself at times.

I will be reading and rereading this book for years to come. Thank you McHugh! Can't wait for the next big release!

More About the Author

Jessica McHugh is an author of speculative fiction that spans the genre from horror and alternate history to epic fantasy. A prolific writer and member of the Horror Writers Association, she has devoted herself to novels, short stories, poetry, and playwriting. Jessica has had twelve books published in four years, including the bestselling "Rabbits in the Garden," "The Sky: The World" and the gritty coming-of-age thriller, "PINS." More info on her speculations and publications can be found at JessicaMcHughBooks.com.