A horror novel that starts off with a bang--or a grisly murder, as the case may be--seems to be the norm in much of mass market horror. This is particularly true of Richard Satterlie's Agnes Hahn, a new release from Medallion Press. At the outset, Agnes is arrested for an absolutely brutal murder, except she doesn't seem to understand what she's done (much less why she's being charged for it). Reporter Jason Powers investigates a murder that even Agnes doesn't seem to understand and, in doing so, unravels some disturbing facts about Agnes's family history. He discovers that her family is far from normal, and he also concludes that he might've bit off more than he can chew.

I'm happy to give Satterlie credit for excellent structuring in his novel, with all of the ingredients that create successful storytelling . . . usually. He seemed to have a handle on twists, turns, wrinkles, surprises etc (I won't point them out to avoid giving spoilers). I couldn't place my finger on any plot point and say I saw that one coming a mile away! Despite his efficiency, the novel was still not one that will reach out and grab you by the throat, as Satterlie seems to intend. One could liken Satterlie to a quarterback who manages the game simply by not making any mistakes, and doesn't provide something sensational. Indeed, he meticulously handles his plot points, and seems to have mapped everything out in order to make sense, but the novel still failed to strike the nerve that is essential to telling a horror story.

Except that it's not a horror story. Not exactly. If you check the spine, you'll notice that 'horror' is printed in big capitol letters. In fact, Medallion is one of the few mass market publishers who are still willing to print 'horror' on their book spines. Such marketing creates certain expectations, particularly if you're a fan of traditional horror. In an odd turn of events, this book really does seem more like a psychological thriller than a horror story. To me, grisly murders and a cracked character doesn't make a horror story's wheels turn the way mood and atmosphere do. The same can be said of having an investigative reporter character in a leading role. They appear in an awful lot of horror or, ahem, 'psychological thrillers' today. Again, it isn't that there is something particularly wrong (or particularly great for that matter) with the book. It just misses the mark that it seems to aim for and seems like a rehash of other books on the market.

If you pick up a copy of Agnes Hahn, make sure you know what you're meaning to buy first. If you're meaning to buy a traditional horror novel, as it seems to present itself, you might be disappointed. But if you're looking for something cerebral, you might be in for a pleasant surprise. Overall, I give the novel an average rating. Not incredible, but still worth the read.