Joe Hart’s, Lineage: A Supernatural Thriller, is a novel inspired after the author read, Stephen Kings, The Shinning. I’m guessing here, but I think Hart wanted to emulate Stephen King territory in terms of atmosphere and plotting. The good news is that is comes close to invoking King’s narrative and style back when King was his nadir (Salem’s Lot, Pet Semetary, etc.). The bad news is that at times, Lineage echo’s King’s propensity as of late to ramble on and stall the momentum of tension that he has built. The question begs as to whether Lineage is worth the time or effort despite its shortcomings, and my answer to this would be…absolutely.
Lineage is a ghost/haunted house tale that mostly takes place in present day Minnesota. The main character, Lance, is a horror writer who, after having several successful novels, has developed writers block. Discovering a house that he has been dreaming of recently, Lance purchases it, moves in, and his writers block suddenly vanishes. He has started a new novel and the book seems to be writing itself but the ending remains elusive. However, since he’s moved into the house strange sounds and visions occur nightly, and they seem to be connected to a room with a locked door that won’t open. As you might guess, these strange sounds and visions soon turn deadly and Lance’s life, as well as his friends and new girl are all in danger.
Lineage is basically constructed as a three act story. The first act, a recounting of Lance’s youth, might be one of the most harrowing and affecting stories on child abuse that I have ever read. While the abuse is not overly gratuitous or exploitive, it is chilling as hell and I could not help but recoil in horror while reading these chapters. While I hesitate to call this first act entertaining, I will say that it held my attention more than any other novel has in recent memory and these scenes alone are worth the price the novel.
The second act brings us to the present and here is where the story bogged down for me. Aside from long bouts of exposition, the author seems to have lost his way when it came to creating tension. Over and over again he would build up a scene only to dilute it by either overwriting or telling us what’s happening rather than showing us. Fortunately, his characters were developed enough and his plotting intriguing enough to hold our interest during these periods. And it’s a good thing because he totally redeemed himself in the last act.
The ending of Lineage is a ball’s to the wall horror-fest that is unrelenting in terms of pacing and supernatural carnage. There are more twists and turns in this ending than a San Francisco street, and they are all unexpected and very satisfying. If any comparisons to Stephen King are made, it should be to the ending of Lineage and its coda, as they evoke the often prolonged and breath taking finishes of King’s novels.
If you are fan of 80’s and 90’s horror tales possessing strong characterization, well thought out plotting, and extended finishes with lots of bloody action then I can whole heartedly recommend, Lineage: A Supernatural Tale. Despite its flaws I enjoyed Lineage, and I think you will also.
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