Jess Lourey’s Unspeakable Things is a haunting blend of coming-of-age fiction and psychological thriller, set against the unsettling quiet of small-town Minnesota in the 1980s. Inspired by real events from the author’s hometown, the story captures the claustrophobic fear that lurks beneath a community’s wholesome facade and the unspeakable darkness that can thrive in plain sight.
At the center of the story is Cassie McDowell, a bright and perceptive thirteen-year-old girl whose childhood has already been marked by unease. She lives with her eccentric, free-spirited parents on a farm, in a family that appears normal only from a distance. Inside their home, things are far from ideal. Her father’s drinking, her mother’s denial, and the strange, adult parties they host create an atmosphere of secrecy and confusion that Cassie is forced to navigate much too young.
But when boys from the town begin to go missing only to return changed, withdrawn, and violent the sense of danger spreads beyond her household. The rumors that follow are wild, the tension in the community palpable. And when Cassie’s own sister begins to show the same disturbing behavior as the missing boys, Cassie realizes that the horror may be closer than anyone wants to admit.
Lourey tells the story through Cassie’s eyes, and it’s that perspective that gives Unspeakable Things its greatest strength. Cassie’s voice is sharp, vulnerable, and heartbreakingly honest. Her attempts to make sense of a world where adults are both protectors and predators make for an unforgettable reading experience. The result is not only a gripping mystery but a raw portrayal of innocence lost.
Reviewer Nilufer Ozmekik called the novel “disturbing, dark, and nail-biting,” praising Lourey’s ability to craft a suspenseful and emotionally charged atmosphere. She described Cassie as “smart, quirky, and heartbreakingly real,” a character readers will root for even as she faces unbearable truths. MarilynW, another reader, emphasized the book’s intensity, describing it as “a tension-filled thriller” that explores the horrors both inside and outside Cassie’s home.
However, not all readers were fully satisfied. Some, like Lawyer a former prosecutor specializing in child abuse cases criticized the novel for its lack of depth and realism in depicting the psychological and procedural aspects of abuse investigations. This critique points to the novel’s dual identity: while it is emotionally evocative and suspenseful, it leans more toward atmospheric storytelling than factual precision.
Despite its flaws, Unspeakable Things is undeniably powerful. Lourey’s writing captures the oppressive stillness of a town filled with secrets and the confusion of a child trapped between fear and survival. The story is both deeply unsettling and strangely beautiful, showing how silence can protect the guilty as easily as it destroys the innocent.
It’s a difficult read, but one that stays with you. Lourey’s decision to tell the story through a child’s point of view makes the horror even more personal and poignant. Readers should be aware that the book deals with sensitive and graphic topics, including sexual abuse and trauma. But for those willing to confront that darkness, Unspeakable Things delivers an unforgettable exploration of how truth and courage can emerge from the most broken places.
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