Why people recommend it
The Fiend is a suspenseful novel written by Margaret Millar. On The Book Review podcast in an episode titled A Memoir From the Hard-Working Heartland released on July 18, 2024, Tina Jordan shared her thoughts on having just finished reading the book. She explained that the story is set in a very small town in California and follows a young man who has recently returned after serving prison time for being a pedophile, noting that he goes to live with his brother upon his release. Jordan discussed the premise of the novel without giving away major plot details, focusing instead on the tense atmosphere generated by the small-town setting and the societal friction caused by the protagonist's return. Her mention of the book on the podcast provided listeners with a glimpse into Millar's exploration of dark themes, community dynamics, and moral panic in a mid-century American setting. The commentary highlighted Millar's skill in crafting unsettling psychological dramas that examine human behavior under extreme social pressure. Jordan's brief overview drew attention to the author's ability to examine complex and uncomfortable subjects within the framework of a tightly paced suspense narrative, reminding podcast listeners of Millar's significant contributions to the genre of domestic and regional crime fiction.
Who recommended it
- Tina Jordan Recommended
Tina Jordan — 1 mention
“I just finished one called the fiend which is about set in a very small town in California where a young man who served some prison time for being a pedophile has come back to town and he's living with his brother”