What do you think?
Rate this book
Knock Knock, Open Wide
Knock Knock, Open Wide
weaves horror and Celtic myth into a terrifying, heartbreaking supernatural tale of fractured family bonds, the secrets we carry, and the veiled forces that guide Irish life.
Driving home late one night, Etain Larkin finds a corpse on a pitch-black country road deep in the Irish countryside. She takes the corpse to a remote farmhouse. So begins a night of unspeakable horror that will take her to the very brink of sanity.
She will never speak of it again.
Two decades later, Betty Fitzpatrick, newly arrived at college in Dublin, has already fallen in love with the drama society, and the beautiful but troubled Ashling Mallen. As their relationship blossoms, Ashling goes to great lengths to keep Betty away from her family, especially her alcoholic mother, Etain.
As their relationship blossoms, Betty learns her lover's terrifying family history, and Ashling's secret obsession. Ashling has become convinced that the horrors inflicted on her family are connected to a seemingly innocent children's TV show. Everyone in Ireland watched this show in their youth, but Ash soon discovers that no one remembers it quite the same way. And only Ashling seems to remember its star: a small black goat puppet who lives in a box and only comes out if you don’t behave. They say he’s never come out.
Almost never.
When the door between the known and unknown opens, it can never close again.
Driving home late one night, Etain Larkin finds a corpse on a pitch-black country road deep in the Irish countryside. She takes the corpse to a remote farmhouse. So begins a night of unspeakable horror that will take her to the very brink of sanity.
She will never speak of it again.
Two decades later, Betty Fitzpatrick, newly arrived at college in Dublin, has already fallen in love with the drama society, and the beautiful but troubled Ashling Mallen. As their relationship blossoms, Ashling goes to great lengths to keep Betty away from her family, especially her alcoholic mother, Etain.
As their relationship blossoms, Betty learns her lover's terrifying family history, and Ashling's secret obsession. Ashling has become convinced that the horrors inflicted on her family are connected to a seemingly innocent children's TV show. Everyone in Ireland watched this show in their youth, but Ash soon discovers that no one remembers it quite the same way. And only Ashling seems to remember its star: a small black goat puppet who lives in a box and only comes out if you don’t behave. They say he’s never come out.
Almost never.
When the door between the known and unknown opens, it can never close again.
329 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 26, 2023
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 305 reviews
March 9, 2024
I'm obsessed.
September 27, 2023
Imagine Tana French writing a folklore-infused horror novel, and you have Knock Knock, Open Wide. This is a book that won’t be for everyone, simply because there is just a lot of stuff in it; it’s not one neat storyline, but a bunch that overlap and entwine, and there’s a lot of character work, details that could feel irrelevant if they weren’t so beautifully crafted. For me, it was one of those reading experiences where my delight increased as the story went along, where I thought more and more this was written for me! the more I read.
It’s about Etain, who is involved in a freak accident that leads her into a series of bizarre horrors, and how that night changes the rest of her life. It’s about Ashling, her daughter, and the woman Ashling falls in love with. It’s about a long-running TV series remembered differently by everyone who watched it (the kind of plot device I find irresistible even when done lazily – used unusually well here). It’s dark and sinister, but full of life and love, too.
I’d like more time to sit with Knock Knock, Open Wide but I am hopelessly behind on reviews with no prospect of catching up in the near future, so this will have to do for now. This is a book I absolutely adored, an instant favourite and a world I will return to.
I received an advance review copy of Knock Knock, Open Wide from the publisher through Edelweiss.
It’s about Etain, who is involved in a freak accident that leads her into a series of bizarre horrors, and how that night changes the rest of her life. It’s about Ashling, her daughter, and the woman Ashling falls in love with. It’s about a long-running TV series remembered differently by everyone who watched it (the kind of plot device I find irresistible even when done lazily – used unusually well here). It’s dark and sinister, but full of life and love, too.
I’d like more time to sit with Knock Knock, Open Wide but I am hopelessly behind on reviews with no prospect of catching up in the near future, so this will have to do for now. This is a book I absolutely adored, an instant favourite and a world I will return to.
I received an advance review copy of Knock Knock, Open Wide from the publisher through Edelweiss.
November 17, 2023
This was great! Alternately creepy as fuck horror and fun 2000s sapphic romance. I loved the integration of Irish folklore and the slice of life details from Dublin university life and the student theatre society. I found both modes equally compelling and was thrilled when they came together later in the book. The book's setup is that a young woman finds a corpse on the road in the middle of the night, thus begins her night of horrors that stretches into her children's lives decades later...
March 18, 2024
“Knock knock, open wide! Take us to the other side!”
Having appropriately finished this on St. Patrick's Day, Knock Knock, Open Wide is hands down my favorite read of the year so far, and so underrated seeing as I’ve yet to see much hype about this book!
Our compelling story starts in 1979 with a young woman named Etain Larkin encountering a corpse in the road on a dark, rainy drive through the Irish countryside. Not sure what to do, she hauls the body into her car and drives it to the nearest farmhouse where she is hoping to find help. What happens from there is where the nightmare truly begins. Decades later, a college freshman named Betty joins the university drama club after falling instantly in love with Ashling Mallen— whom readers eventually learn to be Etain’s daughter. Betty notices that Ashling has bitter feelings towards her mother and is secretive about her family history, a history with a connection to an unsettling Irish children’s TV program that features a mysterious black box with a secret.
Equal parts horror story, murder mystery, and Sapphic romance, this book had me hooked on the multi-perspective storytelling and Irish folklore. The author's writing flows in such a way that is digestible and addictive. I was captivated by a Celtic lore that was completely new to me and I would be lying if I said I didn't stop every few pages to look up Irish terminology here and there. But oh this book was beautiful, creepy, mystifying, suspenseful, heart wrenching--there are a number of adjectives and feelings I could throw at this book to express my love for it.
Promise me you'll give it a read before the year's end! For me, it's officially a favorite and I will certainly be reading more from author Neil Sharpson!
Having appropriately finished this on St. Patrick's Day, Knock Knock, Open Wide is hands down my favorite read of the year so far, and so underrated seeing as I’ve yet to see much hype about this book!
Our compelling story starts in 1979 with a young woman named Etain Larkin encountering a corpse in the road on a dark, rainy drive through the Irish countryside. Not sure what to do, she hauls the body into her car and drives it to the nearest farmhouse where she is hoping to find help. What happens from there is where the nightmare truly begins. Decades later, a college freshman named Betty joins the university drama club after falling instantly in love with Ashling Mallen— whom readers eventually learn to be Etain’s daughter. Betty notices that Ashling has bitter feelings towards her mother and is secretive about her family history, a history with a connection to an unsettling Irish children’s TV program that features a mysterious black box with a secret.
Equal parts horror story, murder mystery, and Sapphic romance, this book had me hooked on the multi-perspective storytelling and Irish folklore. The author's writing flows in such a way that is digestible and addictive. I was captivated by a Celtic lore that was completely new to me and I would be lying if I said I didn't stop every few pages to look up Irish terminology here and there. But oh this book was beautiful, creepy, mystifying, suspenseful, heart wrenching--there are a number of adjectives and feelings I could throw at this book to express my love for it.
Promise me you'll give it a read before the year's end! For me, it's officially a favorite and I will certainly be reading more from author Neil Sharpson!
October 22, 2023
The beginning of this book is beautifully done, spine tingling and creepy, mysterious and weird, all emphasized by a rural Irish setting. There is a long middle section of the book where almost no supernatural elements exist at all, but then happily we get to circle back to a redux of the first story. These shifts in story and tone are its biggest weaknesses, but thankfully the real horror meat of the story is more than enough to sink your teeth into. Despite it all, this is still one of my favorite horror reads of the year.
I was very confused when I was about 10% into this book and went to add it to my goodreads shelf and saw the cover. The cover looked more like a YA novel, and it didn't have the incredibly atmospheric and haunting feeling of the book I was reading. Ultimately the book is a bit of a patchwork, but I still think the cover is a misfire. (The title is also terrible, doesn't match the cover at all, but also doesn't fit the rest of the book.)
The last third still isn't as good as the first--oh I wish I had ten novels just like the beginning of this book, just so unsettling and great--it's more predictable and does a little too much explaining and struggles to balance the characters it's spent all this time setting up with the new story. But luckily the creepy elements in the last third are still pretty damn creepy! Fantastic elements of Irish folk horror, many of which I was unfamiliar with, which made for a great reading experience when I was at the points where I didn't know what was going to happen next.
This would make a fun double feature with MISTER MAGIC as both have an extremely trippy/creepy children's show at their chewy center. Prose and tone are super different but the style of scares are surprisingly similar in that uncanny way.
I was very confused when I was about 10% into this book and went to add it to my goodreads shelf and saw the cover. The cover looked more like a YA novel, and it didn't have the incredibly atmospheric and haunting feeling of the book I was reading. Ultimately the book is a bit of a patchwork, but I still think the cover is a misfire. (The title is also terrible, doesn't match the cover at all, but also doesn't fit the rest of the book.)
The last third still isn't as good as the first--oh I wish I had ten novels just like the beginning of this book, just so unsettling and great--it's more predictable and does a little too much explaining and struggles to balance the characters it's spent all this time setting up with the new story. But luckily the creepy elements in the last third are still pretty damn creepy! Fantastic elements of Irish folk horror, many of which I was unfamiliar with, which made for a great reading experience when I was at the points where I didn't know what was going to happen next.
This would make a fun double feature with MISTER MAGIC as both have an extremely trippy/creepy children's show at their chewy center. Prose and tone are super different but the style of scares are surprisingly similar in that uncanny way.
March 18, 2023
I LOVED this book. Irish folklore, a creepy children’s tv show, a sweet queer love story, eldritch horrors, changelings, and much, much more. Plus, it’s funny!
April 14, 2024
5/5stars
This was absolutely incredible - such a strange little book with such a strange little cast of characters connected in such a strange way.
Also, between this and Imaginary Friend (my favorite book of all time) I guess I really like when horror book use TVs in their horror
This was absolutely incredible - such a strange little book with such a strange little cast of characters connected in such a strange way.
Also, between this and Imaginary Friend (my favorite book of all time) I guess I really like when horror book use TVs in their horror
October 19, 2023
I don't really know what I just read, but I really, really liked it. I think Neil Sharpson has made my must read list for any new books.
September 11, 2023
“What do you think happens when you die?” he asked her. She did not need to think. “Nothing,” she said. “Blackness. Silence.” He gave a deep, shuddering sigh. “Sweet merciful Jesus,” he whispered. “We should be so lucky.”
You know me, I'm always on the hunt for that next thriller/horror story that'll make me regret being alive. Or you know, sleep with the lights on. Same difference. With a cover like this, I knew that I was going to be wowed and check underneath my bed before I go to sleep.
This one started off in the most amazingly weird way. A newly engaged woman finds a corpse on the side of the road and she thinks that putting the body inside of her car would be the best choice of action. Then it gets weirder from there. Things are never what they seem in this book and my brain exploded at the end of all of this. Good or bad, I'm not even sure.
When the author introduced more characters it was kind of confusing. Then you finally find out who they are and then you are left with this omg moment. It was genius on Neil's part. That's what I loved most about this book was finding out how all these characters interconnected with one another. It was a lot of demented fun. And then the last twenty percent happened and that was the wildest time I have ever had. Phew.
Knock Knock, Open Wide was an okay read. There were parts that really had my mind reeling and then it slowed down to the point where I thought about not finishing this up. I'm glad I did though. Others will absolutely go crazy over this book. I think I would have been more obsessed with this book if I haven't been reading the craziest horror novels lately.
You know me, I'm always on the hunt for that next thriller/horror story that'll make me regret being alive. Or you know, sleep with the lights on. Same difference. With a cover like this, I knew that I was going to be wowed and check underneath my bed before I go to sleep.
This one started off in the most amazingly weird way. A newly engaged woman finds a corpse on the side of the road and she thinks that putting the body inside of her car would be the best choice of action. Then it gets weirder from there. Things are never what they seem in this book and my brain exploded at the end of all of this. Good or bad, I'm not even sure.
When the author introduced more characters it was kind of confusing. Then you finally find out who they are and then you are left with this omg moment. It was genius on Neil's part. That's what I loved most about this book was finding out how all these characters interconnected with one another. It was a lot of demented fun. And then the last twenty percent happened and that was the wildest time I have ever had. Phew.
Knock Knock, Open Wide was an okay read. There were parts that really had my mind reeling and then it slowed down to the point where I thought about not finishing this up. I'm glad I did though. Others will absolutely go crazy over this book. I think I would have been more obsessed with this book if I haven't been reading the craziest horror novels lately.
February 28, 2024
Knock Knock Open Wide by Neil Sharpson
Genre: Horror
Subgenre(s): Folk Horror // Psychological // LGBTQ+
Horror is hereditary in this carefully laced together tale of folk horror by Neil Sharpson. Knock Knock Open Wide sews an Irish fable over a sun-soaked tapestry that will undoubtedly trigger an open-minded reader’s sense of pareidolia while keeping them rooted in a modern and familiar setting. Sharpson weaves a sharp narrative through three generations of women who are mere vessels for a much larger tale of soul-rending folk horror as old and wicked and unflinching as time itself.
We follow Etain Larkin and her daughter, Ashling Larkin, over dueling timelines set in Dublin, Ireland between the 1980s and early 2000s. Knock Knock Open Wide is a story of mortals caught amidst a ritual beyond their comprehension yet refusing to be a stitch in the pattern. Not unlike the film, Midsommar, this acid trip of a horror novel will undoubtedly leave its teeth marks on your mind, and heart, while making you question every shred of information you uncover. It puts the reader in the position of a cold-case investigator, or more simply put, it feels like viewing a documentary on the occult where myth and murder bleed across time and muddy up the truth. At the center of it all, there is a children’s television program, similar to Mr. Rogers (minus the relentless wholesomeness), which appears to be the epicenter of this mystery.
Sharpson conjures up a story where the supernatural mingles with the natural and is delivered to the reader in a concise way, but not without style or unique flare. There were large portions of this book that also reminded me of the writing style of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson which worked deliciously for me. There was a journalistic lens through which such a preternatural story could be filtered through. That is not to say this book wasn’t confusing in certain aspects, but it was clear that was a feature, not a glitch in the fabric of the work. Its clear format, supported by rhythmic prose that never lacked merit or flavor, kept me engrossed while its diverse cast of characters fully formed in my mind’s eye. Its lush Irish setting and visceral elements of horror were excellent and felt, at times, so visually compelling that I couldn't help but think this would make an incredible film produced by A24.
In a saturated market of shallow horror, Knock Knock Open Wide challenges you to look under the bed, to drive down the path, alone, through the woods in the dead of night, and be willingly consumed by what lies in waiting. Sharpson’s writing isn’t just carefully plotted, well-crafted prose either… it’s evocation. Reading this book felt like unearthing a dusty VHS of a recorded-over horror film from halcyon days past that you know you shouldn’t watch, but everyone else is asleep and so you do and cannot look away. You let it in. Let it haunt you, because deep down, under the flesh, just beneath the sinew but above the bone, we, those of us drawn to the macabre, to the unknown, to what frolics in the dark, suspire for this; basking in the hazy glow of our television screens or the fading light above the pages of our books.
Though full of horror and suspense and thrilling psychological dread, Knock Knock Open Wide is also a story about being perceived by those bound by blood or closest to us by choice. While I cannot elaborate on this aspect without compromising the magic trick the author pulls off, I can, however, say that this theme and element of the story awakened something forgotten within me and reminded me that we can find solace and self-worth through the eyes of those most dear to us. I know there are others out there who could benefit from this latent understanding too. Just be careful what you let creep inside.
“What do you think happens when you die?” He asked her. She did not need to think. “Nothing,” she said. “Blackness. Silence.” He gave a deep, shuddering sigh. “Sweet merciful Jesus,” he whispered. “We should be so lucky.”
Huge shout out to my rep at Tor Nightfire for providing me with an advanced reader’s copy of the book. Get your hands on this gorgeous hardcover while you can, folks!
Knock Knock Open Wide by Neil Sharpson
Star Rating: 5/5 Stars
WGB Score: 99/100
Review by Nick Kimball
Genre: Horror
Subgenre(s): Folk Horror // Psychological // LGBTQ+
Horror is hereditary in this carefully laced together tale of folk horror by Neil Sharpson. Knock Knock Open Wide sews an Irish fable over a sun-soaked tapestry that will undoubtedly trigger an open-minded reader’s sense of pareidolia while keeping them rooted in a modern and familiar setting. Sharpson weaves a sharp narrative through three generations of women who are mere vessels for a much larger tale of soul-rending folk horror as old and wicked and unflinching as time itself.
We follow Etain Larkin and her daughter, Ashling Larkin, over dueling timelines set in Dublin, Ireland between the 1980s and early 2000s. Knock Knock Open Wide is a story of mortals caught amidst a ritual beyond their comprehension yet refusing to be a stitch in the pattern. Not unlike the film, Midsommar, this acid trip of a horror novel will undoubtedly leave its teeth marks on your mind, and heart, while making you question every shred of information you uncover. It puts the reader in the position of a cold-case investigator, or more simply put, it feels like viewing a documentary on the occult where myth and murder bleed across time and muddy up the truth. At the center of it all, there is a children’s television program, similar to Mr. Rogers (minus the relentless wholesomeness), which appears to be the epicenter of this mystery.
Sharpson conjures up a story where the supernatural mingles with the natural and is delivered to the reader in a concise way, but not without style or unique flare. There were large portions of this book that also reminded me of the writing style of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson which worked deliciously for me. There was a journalistic lens through which such a preternatural story could be filtered through. That is not to say this book wasn’t confusing in certain aspects, but it was clear that was a feature, not a glitch in the fabric of the work. Its clear format, supported by rhythmic prose that never lacked merit or flavor, kept me engrossed while its diverse cast of characters fully formed in my mind’s eye. Its lush Irish setting and visceral elements of horror were excellent and felt, at times, so visually compelling that I couldn't help but think this would make an incredible film produced by A24.
In a saturated market of shallow horror, Knock Knock Open Wide challenges you to look under the bed, to drive down the path, alone, through the woods in the dead of night, and be willingly consumed by what lies in waiting. Sharpson’s writing isn’t just carefully plotted, well-crafted prose either… it’s evocation. Reading this book felt like unearthing a dusty VHS of a recorded-over horror film from halcyon days past that you know you shouldn’t watch, but everyone else is asleep and so you do and cannot look away. You let it in. Let it haunt you, because deep down, under the flesh, just beneath the sinew but above the bone, we, those of us drawn to the macabre, to the unknown, to what frolics in the dark, suspire for this; basking in the hazy glow of our television screens or the fading light above the pages of our books.
Though full of horror and suspense and thrilling psychological dread, Knock Knock Open Wide is also a story about being perceived by those bound by blood or closest to us by choice. While I cannot elaborate on this aspect without compromising the magic trick the author pulls off, I can, however, say that this theme and element of the story awakened something forgotten within me and reminded me that we can find solace and self-worth through the eyes of those most dear to us. I know there are others out there who could benefit from this latent understanding too. Just be careful what you let creep inside.
“What do you think happens when you die?” He asked her. She did not need to think. “Nothing,” she said. “Blackness. Silence.” He gave a deep, shuddering sigh. “Sweet merciful Jesus,” he whispered. “We should be so lucky.”
Huge shout out to my rep at Tor Nightfire for providing me with an advanced reader’s copy of the book. Get your hands on this gorgeous hardcover while you can, folks!
Knock Knock Open Wide by Neil Sharpson
Star Rating: 5/5 Stars
WGB Score: 99/100
Review by Nick Kimball
June 24, 2023
Aw man. I wanted to like this one more than I actually did. It sounded so good, too.
There's a popular and super creepy children's program threaded throughout the book that teaches kids to be afraid of misbehaving or else Puckeen, an unseen entity that hides in a black box on the set of the show, will come out and get them.
There's a young woman named Etain who, on her way home from a party, comes across a dead man in the middle of the street being eaten by a stray dog and decides to drive the body to a nearby farmhouse, where she ends up being held for days before somehow making her way back home to her mother and fiance, forever changed by the trauma of it but unable or unwilling to discuss what took place there.
And then there's Etain's daughter Ashling, 20 years later, who struggles to understand and undo the strange curse that's been haunting her family ever since that night.
Sounds wild, right?! While the book definitely has its moments - creatively blending the Irish forklore and horror aspects - it bounced too frequently between Etain's storyline and Ashlings, sometimes going a little too heavy on Ashling's relationship with her girlfriend, which frequently interrupted the flow and had me questioning why so much time was being spent on it when it didn't appear to be immediately connected to the spookier parts of the storyline.
I'm so disappointed. Usually I end up loving Tor books. But this one really dragged for me. So much so that I nearly DNFd it three times. While I don't regret sticking it out and seeing it through to the end, it's not one that will linger with me. There weren't any 'gasp' moments that shocked or wowed me. Honestly, looking back, DNFing wouldn't have necessarily been a bad thing.
There's a popular and super creepy children's program threaded throughout the book that teaches kids to be afraid of misbehaving or else Puckeen, an unseen entity that hides in a black box on the set of the show, will come out and get them.
There's a young woman named Etain who, on her way home from a party, comes across a dead man in the middle of the street being eaten by a stray dog and decides to drive the body to a nearby farmhouse, where she ends up being held for days before somehow making her way back home to her mother and fiance, forever changed by the trauma of it but unable or unwilling to discuss what took place there.
And then there's Etain's daughter Ashling, 20 years later, who struggles to understand and undo the strange curse that's been haunting her family ever since that night.
Sounds wild, right?! While the book definitely has its moments - creatively blending the Irish forklore and horror aspects - it bounced too frequently between Etain's storyline and Ashlings, sometimes going a little too heavy on Ashling's relationship with her girlfriend, which frequently interrupted the flow and had me questioning why so much time was being spent on it when it didn't appear to be immediately connected to the spookier parts of the storyline.
I'm so disappointed. Usually I end up loving Tor books. But this one really dragged for me. So much so that I nearly DNFd it three times. While I don't regret sticking it out and seeing it through to the end, it's not one that will linger with me. There weren't any 'gasp' moments that shocked or wowed me. Honestly, looking back, DNFing wouldn't have necessarily been a bad thing.
June 27, 2024
un·put·down·a·ble
/ˌənˌpo͝otˈdounəb(ə)l/
adjective INFORMAL
- (of a book) so engrossing that one cannot stop reading it.
Genres: Literary/Folklore/Horror/Thriller
Subgenres: LGBTQ+, Psychological, Mythology, Mystery, Dark Fantasy
~ One month to the day that I finished this story, and I can honestly say that I’ve thought of it every day since. ~
Knock Knock, Open Wide is a merging of really two stories coalescing artistically into a tale that could be told around a campfire where all ears listening want to stay awake until sunrise to know what happens — and because no one in their right mind would sleep soundly after.
Please gather and pour a stiff drink, you’ll need it.
This story begins with a wide lens, dread-filled, tragedy befalling Etain Larkin one rainy night on the Irish backroads set in the 1980’s. From page one I was drawn into the nostalgic world Sharpson paints with evocative description. We all have our secrets, but the crew in KKOW shows how much some of those Skelton(s) in the closet can fester and rot. IYKYK.
Getting into the storyline of Betty and Ashling, the indication that each character had their own story to tell was evident. Comedic dialogue and Drama Club antics added a welcomed fervour to the scope. While reading, I had no issue picturing the scenes in my mind. Even with a few shifts of timeline and recollections, they felt more like changing lanes on a highway, still on track to the destination (and above the speed limit).
Elements of folklore and cosmic horror melded with synchronicity with the undertones of familial damages, some beyond repair. Queer-normative characters I cheered and cried for. Lore that reaches further than a spooky children's TV show and steps into a world beyond our known boundaries. And an ending that made me lay on my bed staring at the ceiling for an inordinate length of time.
Sharpson proved with anthropomorphic prose that world-building need not be stretched thin to have an impact. Here’s a taste:
Readers seeking a slasher-style story will not find one here. But what is clear is, this is a close to True North compass marker for a new age in horror stories, that I want to read more of.
So go ahead, take a look inside and…
Knock
Knock,
Open
Wide
I made 170+ highlights on this book - here are but a couple of my favourite quotes:
/ˌənˌpo͝otˈdounəb(ə)l/
adjective INFORMAL
- (of a book) so engrossing that one cannot stop reading it.
“Time to fall.”
Genres: Literary/Folklore/Horror/Thriller
Subgenres: LGBTQ+, Psychological, Mythology, Mystery, Dark Fantasy
~ One month to the day that I finished this story, and I can honestly say that I’ve thought of it every day since. ~
Knock Knock, Open Wide is a merging of really two stories coalescing artistically into a tale that could be told around a campfire where all ears listening want to stay awake until sunrise to know what happens — and because no one in their right mind would sleep soundly after.
Please gather and pour a stiff drink, you’ll need it.
This story begins with a wide lens, dread-filled, tragedy befalling Etain Larkin one rainy night on the Irish backroads set in the 1980’s. From page one I was drawn into the nostalgic world Sharpson paints with evocative description. We all have our secrets, but the crew in KKOW shows how much some of those Skelton(s) in the closet can fester and rot. IYKYK.
Getting into the storyline of Betty and Ashling, the indication that each character had their own story to tell was evident. Comedic dialogue and Drama Club antics added a welcomed fervour to the scope. While reading, I had no issue picturing the scenes in my mind. Even with a few shifts of timeline and recollections, they felt more like changing lanes on a highway, still on track to the destination (and above the speed limit).
Elements of folklore and cosmic horror melded with synchronicity with the undertones of familial damages, some beyond repair. Queer-normative characters I cheered and cried for. Lore that reaches further than a spooky children's TV show and steps into a world beyond our known boundaries. And an ending that made me lay on my bed staring at the ceiling for an inordinate length of time.
Sharpson proved with anthropomorphic prose that world-building need not be stretched thin to have an impact. Here’s a taste:
“A rainstorm had a bit of wild vitality to it. But now with only a lethargic drizzle overhead, the charred remains of [redacted]’s home, jutting out of the weeds like a lower jaw full of rotten teeth, seemed unbearably morose.”
Readers seeking a slasher-style story will not find one here. But what is clear is, this is a close to True North compass marker for a new age in horror stories, that I want to read more of.
So go ahead, take a look inside and…
Knock
Knock,
Open
Wide
I made 170+ highlights on this book - here are but a couple of my favourite quotes:
"You have to get the devils drunk before you can hear the gossip in Hell.”
“Time is not stone. Days can be years if lived wisely. Years can be lifetimes. Find your joy where you can. Live now. Live well.”
“Memory was ephemeral. Hatred was a rock.”
“Human life is quite delicious.”
November 7, 2023
“𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐟𝐢𝐭 𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞.”
This was the most peculiar, hypnotizing and unique book I have ever read!
I was utterly captivated by the author's unique prose, the complex and distinct characters, the intricate tapestry of familial and relational dynamics, and the manifold other narrative facets. It's safe to say that I've fallen under the spell of this literary gem and I foresee its enduring presence in my thoughts for the foreseeable future🖤
This was the most peculiar, hypnotizing and unique book I have ever read!
I was utterly captivated by the author's unique prose, the complex and distinct characters, the intricate tapestry of familial and relational dynamics, and the manifold other narrative facets. It's safe to say that I've fallen under the spell of this literary gem and I foresee its enduring presence in my thoughts for the foreseeable future🖤
September 16, 2023
This story is wild! I loved the creativity, creepiness, and structure! There are several different storylines going on that I liked because it gave this story extra dimension. I loved how odd this tale was. Right from the start, I knew I was getting into a really cool horror.
This author included some takes on Irish folklore, which really added to the tale. I always love when there are different aspects happening that get tied together in the end. Overall, I found this a unique and satisfying horror!
Out October 3, 2023!
Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!
This author included some takes on Irish folklore, which really added to the tale. I always love when there are different aspects happening that get tied together in the end. Overall, I found this a unique and satisfying horror!
Out October 3, 2023!
Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!
October 4, 2023
Love conquers all… and then you die. Or do you?
February 1, 2024
I really wanted to like
Knock Knock, Open Wide
since the premise sounded tight up my alley.
Yet, not surprisingly, it failed to live up to my expectations.
This is not the first book I've read to feature a creepy children's program where the main character has some supernatural powers, yet like the last book that did this, the way this element was woven into the narrative was confusing and made no sense.
There's elements of Irish folklore and magic that sounded so promising, but got dulled and brushed aside by the unnecessary addition of a romance between Ashling and her lover.
Look, I'm not against romance (when it belongs in the story), but the narrative soon began to read like a lesbian love story instead of a horror tale.
None of the romance and sex scenes added to the narrative, and as some reviewers noted, it actually disrupted the flow of the story, which by the end, made muddled, if any kind of sense.
The scary parts were creepy with potential to be something more...but I don't think the author knew what or where he was going with it because midway through he realized he wanted to write a romance instead.
I'll just read the Irish folktale instead.
Yet, not surprisingly, it failed to live up to my expectations.
This is not the first book I've read to feature a creepy children's program where the main character has some supernatural powers, yet like the last book that did this, the way this element was woven into the narrative was confusing and made no sense.
There's elements of Irish folklore and magic that sounded so promising, but got dulled and brushed aside by the unnecessary addition of a romance between Ashling and her lover.
Look, I'm not against romance (when it belongs in the story), but the narrative soon began to read like a lesbian love story instead of a horror tale.
None of the romance and sex scenes added to the narrative, and as some reviewers noted, it actually disrupted the flow of the story, which by the end, made muddled, if any kind of sense.
The scary parts were creepy with potential to be something more...but I don't think the author knew what or where he was going with it because midway through he realized he wanted to write a romance instead.
I'll just read the Irish folktale instead.
October 30, 2023
not for me i guess 🤷🏼♀️ it started off strong but then just got disastrously slow & sort of boring. it was well written however and i think this could be enjoyed by horror fans who are looking for something less spooky and more focused on generational family tales
December 21, 2023
Anti-fat writing and an ending that didn’t make sense. Loved the folklore and horror elements but a disappointing read overall.
October 12, 2023
"Oh, I'm going to fall for you, Betty thought to herself wearily. Fuck. I'm already in the air, plummeting down the side of the building."
Knock Knock, Open Wide is a Celtic horror story by Neil Sharpson.
Thanks to Tor Nightfire for sending me a copy!
Told through three different timelines, this weaves folklore with modern dread, twists and turns and generational trauma.
It's also surprisingly tender and sweet, with a love story that made my queer heart soar.
Ashling Mallen is determined, obsessively so, to find out what happened to her twin sister Niamh, who disappeared 14 years ago.
Something happened when they toured the set of Puckeen, a television show in Ireland that features a black goat puppet that lives in a box and only comes out if a child is misbehaving. It supposedly hasn't come out since the 60's.
Or has it?
What Ashling finds out is something far more sinister (and complex) than she ever expected.
"Knock, knock, let us in!
Puckeen, take us for a spin!
Knock, knock, open wide!
Take us to the other side!"
Knock Knock, Open Wide is a Celtic horror story by Neil Sharpson.
Thanks to Tor Nightfire for sending me a copy!
Told through three different timelines, this weaves folklore with modern dread, twists and turns and generational trauma.
It's also surprisingly tender and sweet, with a love story that made my queer heart soar.
Ashling Mallen is determined, obsessively so, to find out what happened to her twin sister Niamh, who disappeared 14 years ago.
Something happened when they toured the set of Puckeen, a television show in Ireland that features a black goat puppet that lives in a box and only comes out if a child is misbehaving. It supposedly hasn't come out since the 60's.
Or has it?
What Ashling finds out is something far more sinister (and complex) than she ever expected.
"Knock, knock, let us in!
Puckeen, take us for a spin!
Knock, knock, open wide!
Take us to the other side!"
June 23, 2024
This was SO fun. I went to Dublin about a month ago, and I wish I’d been reading this while I was there. Between the Puckeen lore and the Irish folklore, I had an absolute blast reading this. The love story was also pretty great too.
I enjoyed Mister Magic, but this “haunted kids TV show” story surpasses it in every way.
I enjoyed Mister Magic, but this “haunted kids TV show” story surpasses it in every way.
September 6, 2023
Prepare to be frightened!
Neil Sharpson has taken Celtic Myths and lore and created a horror story that will haunt you...forever.
After a strange engagement, Etain Larkin find a mutilated corpse on her way home from her betrothed. She decides to take the corpse with her, a choice that begins a night of horror and terror that she never reveals to another person.
Alternating between the story of Etian as a young woman is one of twenty years later when new drama student Betty falls in love with Aishling. It's not long before Betty learns that Aishling's mother Etain is not all that she seems. Creepier yet, is the story of Puckeen - a children's television show that might be the answer to all that keeps us up in the night. If you are ready, take on this book. But make sure you have plenty of lights on!!!!
#torPublishing #Knockknockopenwide #Neilsharpson
Neil Sharpson has taken Celtic Myths and lore and created a horror story that will haunt you...forever.
After a strange engagement, Etain Larkin find a mutilated corpse on her way home from her betrothed. She decides to take the corpse with her, a choice that begins a night of horror and terror that she never reveals to another person.
Alternating between the story of Etian as a young woman is one of twenty years later when new drama student Betty falls in love with Aishling. It's not long before Betty learns that Aishling's mother Etain is not all that she seems. Creepier yet, is the story of Puckeen - a children's television show that might be the answer to all that keeps us up in the night. If you are ready, take on this book. But make sure you have plenty of lights on!!!!
#torPublishing #Knockknockopenwide #Neilsharpson
August 12, 2023
This is a fantastic novel that features Celtic folk horror, cosmic horror, and family dysfunction all rolled into a narrative that you will feel in your bones.
Set in Ireland and featuring some very disturbing legends, this book wraps its coils around you like razor wire and slowly cuts away at your heart.
Changelings, a priest who is anything but holy, dead bodies piling up throughout are all included. But Puckeen rules them all.
Puckeen is a children's program. Yet it is the most horrifying part of this book. And I would love to tell you about it. But nothing I can write could come close to the creepiness you will feel as you read. This novel drips dread and terror. It covers about a decade in the lives of several people but the author does it in such a way that it's never distracting.
You definitely need to read this book. It's outstanding and I highly recommend it.
I received an ARC of this book with no consideration. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.
Set in Ireland and featuring some very disturbing legends, this book wraps its coils around you like razor wire and slowly cuts away at your heart.
Changelings, a priest who is anything but holy, dead bodies piling up throughout are all included. But Puckeen rules them all.
Puckeen is a children's program. Yet it is the most horrifying part of this book. And I would love to tell you about it. But nothing I can write could come close to the creepiness you will feel as you read. This novel drips dread and terror. It covers about a decade in the lives of several people but the author does it in such a way that it's never distracting.
You definitely need to read this book. It's outstanding and I highly recommend it.
I received an ARC of this book with no consideration. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.
March 13, 2024
i wonder if a working knowledge of irish folklore would have deepened my understanding of this one, but wonder how i could have enjoyed it more. it boggles my brain that some books get hyped for splashing around in the same puddles as books like this. the premise is cool. the characters are lovely and recognizably human, their interactions are sad, sweet, funny, horrifying, the whole spectrum. the plotting! i’ve nursed a suspicion that split timeline books are easier to write, because a there are a lot of them in the thriller/mystery/horror genre and a lot of times feel like two mostly done novellas stitched together to delay revelations in the story being told and add tension, but when it’s done thoughtfully (like this book) it’s such a wellspring of pleasurable ahas and insights into the events that you wish the book never ended. i had so much fun reading this book that i was bereft when it ended and seriously considered starting it over.
June 22, 2023
I received an arc of this book through Netgalley and Tor Publishing Group in exchange for a review.
This book is atmospheric; the author does a wonderful job of setting the scene… it’s creepy, it’s gothic, it screams legend and myth, and it has piqued my curiosity around Irish history and folklore.
I won’t lie, there were moments, especially in the chapters from the past, that were confusing and felt like I was either tripping on hallucinogenics, or delirious with fever. Once I embraced the sense of confusion, it really added to the spooky vibes of the story - so I don’t consider that to be a bad thing, necessarily.
Some parts of this book remind me of the show Midnight Mass on Netflix - the religion, priesthood, mysterious disappearances, and the supernatural elements.
Overall I enjoyed this and finished it in a day.
This book is atmospheric; the author does a wonderful job of setting the scene… it’s creepy, it’s gothic, it screams legend and myth, and it has piqued my curiosity around Irish history and folklore.
I won’t lie, there were moments, especially in the chapters from the past, that were confusing and felt like I was either tripping on hallucinogenics, or delirious with fever. Once I embraced the sense of confusion, it really added to the spooky vibes of the story - so I don’t consider that to be a bad thing, necessarily.
Some parts of this book remind me of the show Midnight Mass on Netflix - the religion, priesthood, mysterious disappearances, and the supernatural elements.
Overall I enjoyed this and finished it in a day.
May 24, 2024
3,5 stars, rounded down for now because I really wish I'd liked this more.
It was good almost the entire way throughout, but became very messy by the end. So many plotlines and characters introduced but ending up playing no role in the story;
I almost feel like I need to re-read it to make sense of a few of the mysteries.
In general, I just don't think the author juggled the MANY elements and characters and plotlines of the story all that well. There is A LOT going on in here, and I think this is a jack of all trades, master of none situation.
I'm bummed about not liking this more, and I do think that a re-read could possibly bump this up. Maybe in the future.
It was good almost the entire way throughout, but became very messy by the end. So many plotlines and characters introduced but ending up playing no role in the story;
I almost feel like I need to re-read it to make sense of a few of the mysteries.
In general, I just don't think the author juggled the MANY elements and characters and plotlines of the story all that well. There is A LOT going on in here, and I think this is a jack of all trades, master of none situation.
I'm bummed about not liking this more, and I do think that a re-read could possibly bump this up. Maybe in the future.
April 14, 2024
4.5 ⭐
This was an utterly absorbing read that had childhood and family trauma, abduction, mental health, and survivors' guilt intertwined into a fascinating and deeply, deeply creepy tale of folklore, terrifying priests, effing creepy demon creatures (dogs? goats? both at the same time??) And it's all somehow mixed perfectly right along with a possessed / demonic / haunted children's tv show.
I don't know how Sharpson managed to make this all come together, but the book just keeps on building and building on the mystery and I was there for every word, and it all works. Several points where I joyfully and maddeningly was asking "what the bloody hell is going on?!?!" and just kept right on reading when really I do need to try and get some sleep at least every couple of days or so...
It's also had a really lasting effect (and for me that's the best kind of read of all, the ones that stay with you) that has made me feel pretty terribly confused and conflicted about the two childhood shows I watched here in Canada as a child: Mr. Dressup (which prominently featured a 'tickle trunk'!) and The Friendly Giant... This book has literally messed with my memories of my own childhood, and the family dynamics were probably more relatable than I'd care to admit as even though some of their behaviours are despicable, they are also understandable.
"It should have been you. She wondered when her mother’s voice had become her internal monologue."
This was an utterly absorbing read that had childhood and family trauma, abduction, mental health, and survivors' guilt intertwined into a fascinating and deeply, deeply creepy tale of folklore, terrifying priests, effing creepy demon creatures (dogs? goats? both at the same time??) And it's all somehow mixed perfectly right along with a possessed / demonic / haunted children's tv show.
I don't know how Sharpson managed to make this all come together, but the book just keeps on building and building on the mystery and I was there for every word, and it all works. Several points where I joyfully and maddeningly was asking "what the bloody hell is going on?!?!" and just kept right on reading when really I do need to try and get some sleep at least every couple of days or so...
It's also had a really lasting effect (and for me that's the best kind of read of all, the ones that stay with you) that has made me feel pretty terribly confused and conflicted about the two childhood shows I watched here in Canada as a child: Mr. Dressup (which prominently featured a 'tickle trunk'!) and The Friendly Giant... This book has literally messed with my memories of my own childhood, and the family dynamics were probably more relatable than I'd care to admit as even though some of their behaviours are despicable, they are also understandable.
March 8, 2024
I have thoughts.
The emotional sucker punch of the last chapter taking place at night that same sex marriage was legalized in Ireland and me crying in the club.
The emotional sucker punch of the last chapter taking place at night that same sex marriage was legalized in Ireland and me crying in the club.
Read
April 15, 2024Yeahhhh…… this book isn’t going to be for everyone. It starts with a spooky bang and then takes a massive, slow, detour into a sapphic love story before picking up again. I enjoyed it though.
March 10, 2024
It's been a while since a book has creeped me out as effectively as this one did. I loved it.
June 3, 2024
Ok you KNOW I’m gonna love it when I spend at least half of the book with a look of both awe and horror
Displaying 1 - 30 of 305 reviews