Book Review: Monsters by Emerald Fennell

Title: Monsters
Author: Emerald Fennell
Published: 3rd September 2015
Publisher: Hot Key Books

I was so so intrigued to read Monsters after reading the fairly grisly synopsis and grisly is what I got!
Monsters in sum is the story of a twelve-year old girl who has what I would call an unhealthy interest in murder and all things grewsome for a child. When her parents die, she really isn't too bothered and means that she now lives with her Grandma apart from during the summer holidays where she goes down to Cornwall to stay with her Aunt and Uncle at their hotel. This summer is a little different though as there is a murderer loose and as you would expect most people are horrified, but not this little girl. She wants to find out who did it. Things get more interesting for her when Miles stays at her Aunt and Uncle's hotel and together they set out to find the murderer. 
Monsters surprised me in that I didn't know what to expect, but wasn't expecting to like it as much as I did! We never know the main characters name, but this does not stop you from becoming completely and utterly morbidly engrossed in the story. I was also surprised that I enjoyed this so much as there are SO many hateable characters in this one book. Some of them even made my blood boil. Although it is good for writers to create likeable characters, I think it is even more brilliant when they create a character, or in this case characters that you don't like as it just gets me so involved emotionally in the story and desperately wanting them to get their comeuppance. Monsters really is the perfect title for this book. Miles in particular is a child that you do NOT want to meet and if I'm being honest I don't think I want to meet any of the characters in this book.
The writing style of this is actually really clever, because although it is blunt, there is a really grisly undertone as to what is happening beneath the surface. Undercurrent themes of abuse are referenced to and it definitely gives you that uncomfortable feeling whilst you are reading. This definitely isn't for younger readers!
Despite all that though, I could not put this book down. It may be a bit gruesome and grisly, but that is what makes this so compelling. If you are looking for a Halloween read (as it's not far away) I could not recommend this book enough. I definitely want to read more from Emerald now; she definitely stands out from a lot of other writers out there.