The first time I picked up an Iain Reid book was at Target. It was called I’m Thinking of Ending Things, and the trailer for its Netflix adaptation had come up on my YouTube feed just a couple of days before. That trailer had looked compelling, but I’m a big believer in at least trying to read the book before seeing the movie. So, because it felt serendipitous, I bought the book and started reading it on the drive home.
The rest was, as they say, history. I read I’m Thinking of Ending Things essentially in one sitting, and when I revisited it several months later, it quickly became one of my favorite books of all time. This meant I had to read everything Reid had ever written, and they did not disappoint. Reid’s novels I’m Thinking of Ending Things, Foe, and We Spread are incredible books because of their immersive plots and relatable themes. (There will be small spoilers ahead so if you really don’t want to know anything at all then stop reading here! I promise not to give any major spoilers.)
The plots of Iain Reid’s books are very different. I’m Thinking of Ending Things follows a young woman visiting her boyfriend’s family as the trip unravels into something horrifying. Foe is set in the not-so-distant future and is about a couple’s relationship crumbling over the presence of a stranger in their home. We Spread is about an older woman named Penny who moves into a very sinister long-term-care facility. However, all these plots capture something that, in my opinion, few books truly can, which is a menacing atmosphere. The settings of these novels—dark country roads, a farmhouse, and a nursing home—are isolated and eerie. The slow burn of the novels enables the feeling of dread to build steadily to an uncomfortable climax before the reveal. And Iain Reid is a master at writing jaw-dropping plot twists. His foreshadowing is so on point that every time I re-read one of his novels, I find something new to ponder.
I also appreciate that Reid’s novels are light on gore. Some horror novels lean too heavily on shock value to create “horror.” While Reid does utilize shock and surprise, he does it sparingly. Mostly, the horror of his books comes from his isolated and uncanny settings. As a person who gets very easily grossed out, this makes Reid’s books perfect horror media for me. The way Iain Reid crafts his books to be so terrifying and yet so captivating is why I find his work so compelling.
Another similarity all of Reid’s books share is the complex relationships between their characters. I’m Thinking of Ending Things and Foe both focus on relationship dysfunction, while We Spread concentrates on a gentle relationship developing in a terrible setting. All these portrayals are fascinating to watch grow or wither. All sides of these relationships are examined, the good and bad, which makes them feel realistic and makes the reader invested in them. I personally love stories that are character-driven, which is another reason I really enjoy Reid’s novels.
But I think what makes Iain Reid one of my all-time favorite authors is the themes he explores throughout his work. His novels are not just terrifying psychological thrillers. Without getting into spoiler territory, they also explore fears of stagnation, breakups, and aging. His books are dark and twisted, but they are also cerebral and intelligent. Reid does not shy away from these heavy topics; he discusses them with a frankness that is very refreshing. In a strange way, I feel seen by these novels. When Reid’s characters worry about what other people are thinking or ponder past relationships, it makes me feel relieved that someone else has considered these things enough to put them in a novel. Knowing that some of my experiences have happened to others makes me feel relieved in a strange way.
Iain Reid’s novels, though terrifying on first read, bring me an odd amount of comfort when I go back and read them. I’m grateful he writes these books and would highly recommend all of them to fans of psychological horror, people interested in existentialism, and people who want to get into horror but don’t know where to start.