The Vessel

I feel a little disappointed with this review, because this is a very rare instance of me not LOVING something Adam Nevill has written. He's still one of my favourite writers, will continue to be so and I'm still going to read everything that he writes. I think the reason is because once I got to the end of 'The Vessel' my overwhelming thought was, 'is that it?'. There is a short essay at the end of the novel where Nevill shares his writing process which is often a treat in his books which somewhat validates why I didn't particularly enjoy this novel as much as I could have.

It's fair to say that I think Nevill has a very cinematic style at times (and a couple of his books have been made into films) and I don't think that's a bad thing. Particularly when action ramps up, he has an incredibly visual eye, and manages to depict action and movement that makes you feel that you're in a brilliantly shot horror film (especially when we reach the 'this is getting a bit mental' stakes). My challenge with 'The Vessel' was that I felt acutely aware I was reading a 'one hour 'Tales of the Unexpected' style TV drama'. With so many chapters in the book I could see how it would be filmed, shot and I felt I was following a camera rather than getting deep into the character's psyche. That doesn't make it a bad book by any means but at times I wanted the story to breathe, to slow down (I am surprised this book is described as a 'slow burner' in places because it isn't slow at all!)

I also felt it was somewhat cliched and drawing on very familiar tropes, particularly around pagan / folk horror / covens which have had a 2020's resurgence. It's a knock when I notice it, but also one of my favourite tipples anyway so I shan't be too harsh here, but I am thinking if I hadn't already made the link to the 'TV-style' I wouldn't be noticing some of the novel's tropes and ideas as a problem.

These things aside, there are many things in the novel that Nevill gets perfectly right. He is simply the best at capturing 'the horror of everyday life'. It's going to sound weird this, but he writes with a sensitivity and awareness of poor and working class lives. When incredibly privileged people in the media tells others to 'pull their socks up' because 'they' got a job / bought a home / found a business they have no idea how trapped some people are. The main character Jess is a single parent, a survivor of domestic abuse, has a low income and is in care work. Her daily juggle will resonate with many readers. Rushing for buses, calling in favours for childcare, getting shit for being late, substandard housing, a demeaning job and a child getting bullied and hurt at school. It's not an easy read, because the horror is realising how trapped she is no matter how hard she tries to get out.

I also think there is a really interesting juxtaposition between the drudgery of small town working class life (perhaps most evocatively expressed by Jess waiting at a bus stop on a grey, drizzly morning whilst a dog shits in full view and their owner just walks on) and the somewhat always sunny, dreamy idyll of the village where Jess works. A place where elderly women in sun hats trim hedges and the gardens and lawns are vibrant. One can almost smell the flowers and hear the bees buzzing around. I did think it got a bit 'Midsomer Murders' at times but it works.

Jess's ex and abuser Tony is an ever present threat. He seems a little one dimensional. The things he says and does will be familiar to those who have lived with or experienced domestic abuse environments. I do think a longer novel would give time for Tony's anger to simmer longer and build a greater threat because it does feel a little rushed.

Dot, the elderly person who Jess cares for is at the heart of the book and I certainly won't spoil things but some of the scenes with her in have the odd scary moment (and again, I was thinking 'would look good on TV'). It's a short book, so it doesn't take long to work out the back story and some of the scenes in Dot's garden feel magical, one can almost see the haze on the camera lens....

I did enjoy the book, it's a quick read and there's plenty in here for fans of Nevill to hook into. I'm just not sure if this was the right stylistic choice for the story.