Come Closer

Come Closer © 2003 Sara Gran Soho Press ISBN: 1-56947-328-5
Come Closer tells the story of Amanda, a happily married woman who likes her life. But disturbances begin to upset her. Odd noises haunt the apartment, and without medical explanation Amanda suffers occasional blackouts. Other odd occurrences seem to be controlling her life. Amanda begins to wonder if there's a rational explanation for all of this. She reads a book on demon possession and believes she has been possessed. This book is very well-written, with crisply drawn scenes and characters. The novella length is just right; anything longer would have been tedious and would have forced the story. Since I don’t believe in demons and possession, however, I read Come Closer as a spoof, but it’s billed as a serious horror story about a woman suffering (and enjoying) being possessed. Stewart O'Nan author of The Night Country wrote in his review, "...after reading this spare and menacing tale, the reader has to agree...Sara Gran has created a sly, satisfying (fast!) novel of one young woman possessed not only by a demon but also by her own secret desires." This is Sara Gran's second novel. Her first, Saturn's Return to New York was praised for its wit and intelligence.