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Knock Knock

by S.P. Miskowski (Goodreads Author)

4.04 of 5 stars 4.04 · rating details · 67 ratings · 28 reviews

At the center of S.P. Miskowski's novel-length fable are Ethel, Beverly, and Marietta, best friends stuck in the backwater of Skillute, Washington. Their neighbors and families are petty or poor or both; but when these townies warn the girls not to wander into Skillute's dense forest, they mean it. Something evil lurks there. The girls are not convinced. They wander into t...more

ebook, 303 pages

Published (first published July 31st 2011)

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Mar 27, 2012 Brett rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: advance-reader-copies, favorites, horror, have-read

Knock, Knock by S.P. Miskowski is a fascinating tale of what not to do and the consequences not only for you, but for others nearby.

Three young girls decide to perform an ancient ritual against the advice of one who knows better. They go to the center of an old wood and make their blood pact calling up 50 years of terror.

Fact of the matter is that Knock, Knock frightened me as few horror stories do anymore. It has a strong psychological affect on you and you find yourself jumping at what used to...more

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Apr 20, 2013 Regan rated it 4 of 5 stars

My Review / Thoughts:
I originally requested this book for review because it was listed as a greatsupernaturalthriller; evil spirits! It was an added plus that it was based in Washington State, my home. It was something I could sink my teeth into, and envision the location with ease.

I actually liked this book. The story was well written. The plot was entertaining. The author did a fine job with composition, grammar, and spelling. I was able to read it in three days total.

The detailed character d...more

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Jan 22, 2013 Ann Schwader rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: horror

If you're looking for old-fashioned (in the best sense) supernatural chills, & a way to scare yourself silly reading late into the night, Knock Knock is a great place to start. Though relatively low on the splatter scale, this atmospheric tale of revenant evil in a small Washington town delivers.

Even more remarkably, it accomplishes this by a tight focus on the lives of three childhood friends, all female. Told in short sections of shifting viewpoint, the novel moves briskly through time as...more

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Jul 18, 2012 Simon Forward rated it 5 of 5 stars

SP Miskowski was one of the authors who impressed me most on HarperCollins’ authonomy site (with her Red Poppies anthology). Because of the nature of the site I only ever got to read a sample, but it was superlative stuff. It’s a genuine mystery to me why it took me so long to get around to finding and reading something else of hers, but it’s no surprise to discover that Knock Knock is exceptional.

It’s fitting that, on a purely technical level, after several recent titles being liberally seasone...more SP Miskowski was one of the authors who impressed me most on HarperCollins’ authonomy site (with her Red Poppies anthology). Because of the nature of the site I only ever got to read a sample, but it was superlative stuff. It’s a genuine mystery to me why it took me so long to get around to finding and reading something else of hers, but it’s no surprise to discover that Knock Knock is exceptional.

It’s fitting that, on a purely technical level, after several recent titles being liberally seasoned with errors this one is the most flaw-free book I’ve read on the Kindle. Hats off to the editor then, who’s clearly done the author’s work justice. And it allows for a properly immersive read, without distractions. Which is what you want here, because it’s a world you will want to enter.

The territory is familiar and comes with the genre. Every sleepy small town in the US must have its own horror story. The town of Skillute is brought to life through the lives of several of its key inhabitants, especially the three friends – Marietta, Ethel and Beverley – whose solemn childhood pact comes back to haunt them over the years. Setting and characters are intertwined and both are richly observed. There’s a love of detail in the writing that compares favourably to the works of Ray Bradbury. Something Wicked This Way Comes perhaps being the most apposite comparison.

The fantasy element is not as overt for the most part, it kind of lurks in the background, creeping forwards and by the time it pounces the author has painted such a realistic and absorbing landscape and collection of portraits that the supernatural touches are credible and compelling.

The story does take its time. It’s a slow-burn, but I read it faster than other ostensibly pacier stories – I guess because I was lapping up the writing. And it’s the author’s careful grasp on the reins that renders the shocks more effective when they lash out from the page.

There’s a degree of gore and grimness, but it’s not that kind of horror. It’s smart, literary, beautifully crafted and although I have a few more titles in my To-Read queue I am going to have to be a lot quicker in seeking out more from the pen of SP Miskowski next time round.

SAF(less)

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Apr 02, 2012 Andrea rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle

This is the story of three girls who go into the woods one afternoon and make a blood oath to never have children. This story spans over 50 years of their lives and the horror that was unleashed when that oath was made as each of them end up having children.

I loved this psychological thriller/horror novel. I am not a big fan of horror novels but this one kept me glued to the pages and scared me all the way through because I never really knew what was going on until the very end. The author did a...more

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Jun 14, 2012 Bob Suggs rated it 4 of 5 stars

Creepy is as creepy things imply.

This book is about three young girls who make a blood pact in the middle of the woods. A simple act done in youthful glee, but something evil lurks in the shadows and it is awakened.

Start reading this one early in the day. Otherwise you'll be staying up late (like I was) and burning the midnight oil trying to finish the story before sleep invades.

A little jumpy in the beginning but S.P. really hits the ground running as the story moves along. Good character devel...more

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Dec 27, 2011 Christina (Ensconced in YA) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: librarything-wins

I won this book on Librarything in exchange for an honest review.

I'll start with this... I don't think I'll be able to sleep tonight. The buildup, the suspense, the darkness lurking behind every page is just right. I almost tabbed through the pages faster just because the buildup was too agonizing, I knew something horrible was going to happen and it was scaring my socks off.

The book starts off with three little girls making a blood pact in the middle of the woods in a small town. Then it spans...more

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Oct 09, 2012 Jen Meier rated it 2 of 5 stars

I received this book as a Library Thing give away. I will have to say that after reading the description I was excited to read it. Afterwards, though I have to say I was rather disappointed. It claims to be a horror book, but to be honest there wasn't a scary scene in the whole book. The author hinted at things that could have been very scary had it been explored. As soon as things turned a little suspenseful the author would just start a new chapter. The writing wasn't bad, and the book was ok,...more

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Jan 13, 2013 M Griffin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Knock Knock, a novel by S. P. Miskowski, follows a trio of girls, from the town of Skillute in western Washington state. We're introduced to Marietta, Ethel and Beverley at age eleven, follow their lives as they grow up to womanhood, see their connections to each other evolve and shift as the events of life and adulthood affect them individually and together. The girls hear horrible rumors of what happens to women who become pregnant, and resolve that this will never happen to them.

Marietta live...more Knock Knock, a novel by S. P. Miskowski, follows a trio of girls, from the town of Skillute in western Washington state. We're introduced to Marietta, Ethel and Beverley at age eleven, follow their lives as they grow up to womanhood, see their connections to each other evolve and shift as the events of life and adulthood affect them individually and together. The girls hear horrible rumors of what happens to women who become pregnant, and resolve that this will never happen to them.

Marietta lives with her aunt Delphine, who is something like the town mystic, herbalist and fortune-teller, and has an idea of a spell the girls might perform in order to ensure they're never burdened with motherhood. They find a remote, seemingly spot in the woods to perform the ritual, despite Skillute area legend that "Miss Knocks" lives in the forest and will chase children and possibly snatch them away. The discovery of strange bones half-buried in the wild, combined with the tales of Miss Knocks, leaves the girls more frightened of the woods and their own weird, occult-like ritual, than of the fear of eventual pregnancy which drove them out there in the first place.

All three girls remember that day. The memories have a different effect on each, with the passing of time. Miskowski examines the way fear of legends affects the living, not only in terms of the actual manifest "powers" of the force of legend, but also by the way our fear shifts us, opens us up to risks, and closes off possibilities.

We revisit the trio as they age, learn more about their family backgrounds, and see how they fit into their community. The familiarity of the settings and seeming normalcy of the characters heighten the effect of disquiet and strangeness when horrific elements intrude. Miskowski's strength is in the naturalistic depiction of characters and real-life events and settings, which is not to say she lacks skill in depicting the horrific or supernatural elements. It's that vibrantly lifelike sense of observing real human beings as their lives pass from the normal to the strange that heightens the effect of fear and unease when it occurs.

Knock Knock creeps up on the reader slowly, without flashy effects or a fast pace. I was won over by Miskowski's believable characters, and the realistic depiction of a supernatural intrusion into small town life. Miskowski has announced a forthcoming series of novellas based on this place and set of characters, the first of which is Delphine Dodd. The darkly effective creepiness Knock Knock is enough to make me want to see what more she does with the Skillute milieu. Recommended, especially for readers who favor suspenseful, slow-building psychological horror.
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Nov 05, 2012 James Everington rated it 4 of 5 stars

I first came across the author S.P. Miskowski when I read her really rather excellent short story A.G.A. in an issue of Supernatural Tales. So I thought I'd try her novel Knock Knock, particularly as it seems to be doing rather well for itself, getting nominated for the Shirley Jackson award and everything.

Knock Knock uses a familiar horror novel device - that of setting a novel firmly in one small, American town and telling of an evil that affects multiple generations in that town. In this case...more I first came across the author S.P. Miskowski when I read her really rather excellent short story A.G.A. in an issue of Supernatural Tales. So I thought I'd try her novel Knock Knock, particularly as it seems to be doing rather well for itself, getting nominated for the Shirley Jackson award and everything.

Knock Knock uses a familiar horror novel device - that of setting a novel firmly in one small, American town and telling of an evil that affects multiple generations in that town. In this case the setting is Skillute, a backwater American logging town, and the novel begins in the Sixties and progresses to the modern day. Miskowski uses this setting to great advantage, both as a realistic backdrop and as a place where it seems quite natural tall tales and superstitions would spring up. The story tells of three female friends from Skillute, and how a childhood pandering to one of these local superstitions brings an old evil back... I mention they are all female purely because this seems to me a novel very much written from a female, feminist perspective - ideas about women, pregnancy, and children drive the plot, although that's not to say there aren't some sharply drawn male characters too. In this sense it's quite original, and it gives the book an structural and thematic coherence that underpins the disturbing and grotesque events brought about by the girls unintentionally awakening an evil spirit.

This is a slow-burn novel, with the significance of certain events at the start of the book not being entirely clear. In this way the tense, oppressive atmosphere builds - Miskowski is great at generating eerie imagery, particularly when describing the woods and forest around Skillute. When the scares come, she can do more with a single, stark line than most authors can in pages and pages of poorly written gore.

If I had one issue with this book, it was the nagging feeling that all of the character's actions didn't matter that much in the end - that the disturbing events of the book were preordained no matter what they did, and that they were just caught up in it all with no agency or control. (I think this is a perfectly legitimate way to approach a short story, but maybe for a novel some sense that the characters actions might affect the outcome is needed.) A minor gripe, but there we are. Knock Knock is certainly worth reading and certainly worth the acclaim it seems to be getting. Even better, I see that S.P. Miskowski is also to release a series of novellas set in the same town, with the first, Delphine Dodd, available now. As I mentioned, one of the great things about Knock Knock is it's setting, so I'll certainly be keen to see what other dark tales are being told there...(less)

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Jun 04, 2012 Chance Maree rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: horror, fantasy, kindle

I have a sense of unfairness while reviewing Knock, Knock as I read it on the heels of a far deeper novel and the prose here pales in comparison. I'll be as objective as possible, while being subjective as necessary.

Fantasy/Horror, with no other pretensions. The scene is an impoverished town in northwest USA, near Seattle, but the ambiance could just have easily been anywhere Appalachian or backwater, Deliverance banjo dueling Tennessee. After awhile, those kind of towns are difficult to find i...more I have a sense of unfairness while reviewing Knock, Knock as I read it on the heels of a far deeper novel and the prose here pales in comparison. I'll be as objective as possible, while being subjective as necessary.

Fantasy/Horror, with no other pretensions. The scene is an impoverished town in northwest USA, near Seattle, but the ambiance could just have easily been anywhere Appalachian or backwater, Deliverance banjo dueling Tennessee. After awhile, those kind of towns are difficult to find interesting. Does hillbilly witch lore exist in the northwest? It would feel more authentic if the ritual details sprung from an American Indian heritage. In any case, additional details of the spells, herbs, and superstitions would have helped deepen the effect. But I digress. Desperation. Poverty. Accents. Lack of education. Got it.

Placement of the story during a time of transition when witchcraft is essentially dying out is interesting. The generational baton was passed to Marietta, and rejected. In fact, her family's magic appeared no stronger than snake oil, at which point I wondered whether the novel would go the way of Witches on the Road Tonight, where the witch lore was revealed to be mere superstition and stage shows. Miskowski, however, toys with the idea a bit before whipping off the veil and revealing that the evil in her novel is quite real. By this time, the lone witch is over her head and the final battle fulfills the promise that was fumbled in Witches on the Road Tonight. Like The Exorcist, we are left with the chilling thought that upcoming generations have no protection against evil entities with a maniacal desire for life. All that, and murdered children, babies, and puppies. How could I not care? 3.5 stars.

Perhaps it was the writing. While adequate, and edited---nothing magical. Far too many repetitious phrases used to describe certain characters or situations. I winced and wished Miskowski would had reached more often for a thesaurus. That is the unfair part. I've allowed previously read novels to hinder my enjoyment of this one. Still, Knock, Knock is a worthwhile read for witch lore horror fans. (less)

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Mar 07, 2012 Steve rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: e-books, horror

In Michael Moorcock’s book on Fantasy, Wizardry & Wild Romance, there is a chapter devoted to the geography of Fantasy, its foundational importance to casting its spell. If such a book were written on Horror, what makes it tick, etc., a similar chapter would certainly be called for. In S.P. Miskowski’s remarkable first novel, Knock, Knock, the geography of the Pacific Northwest, with its dark woods, small and dying towns, and its attendant folklore, is prominent. Miskowski’s creation, Skillu...more In Michael Moorcock’s book on Fantasy, Wizardry & Wild Romance, there is a chapter devoted to the geography of Fantasy, its foundational importance to casting its spell. If such a book were written on Horror, what makes it tick, etc., a similar chapter would certainly be called for. In S.P. Miskowski’s remarkable first novel, Knock, Knock, the geography of the Pacific Northwest, with its dark woods, small and dying towns, and its attendant folklore, is prominent. Miskowski’s creation, Skillute, Washington, is not unlike King’s Derry, or Faulkner’s Yoknapatawpha County, but there are also hints of Hawthorne and Flannery O’Connor. Miskowski is as American (in the literary sense) a Horror writer as you’ll find.

The story starts out in the late sixties, coming forward to the present day. It centers of a childhood oath, made in the woods, by three girls, Ethel, Beverly, and Marietta, and the dark consequences that follow. The dark consequences are not so much rooted in the oath or spell (Marietta is something of an apprentice witch for her aunt), but in the location – a patch of haunted woods – where the oath takes place. It seems the woods contain a story about a ghostly phantom, “Miss Knocks,” who will get you “with her long, long arms.” It’s the kind of boogeyman story that exists just about everywhere. (We had one such story in Northern Virginia, about a murderous guy named “Stumpy,” who ran around on his hands, with a knife clinched between his teeth. Then there was the Bunny Man…)

As spookey silly as such stories are, they can often contain a kernel of truth. In “Miss Knocks” case, it’s more than a kernel. What unfolds is a generational story (with one flashback to the origins of “Miss Knocks”) that spans over 50 years. Miskowski, in very clean, tight prose accurately shows the cultural changes impacting this small logging community, while never losing track of her characters (and I found myself liking most of these characters, even the annoying ones.) There’s murder and mayhem and supernatural revenge, but blended in such a way that there were times I wondered if this story was more along the lines of a modern day fairy tale. Whatever the case, it can be humorous but also horrific. The ending, involving a character I particularly liked, was sad, but from a writing point of view, accomplished. Miskowski is no sentimentalist, and she knew a tragic circle had to be closed. All in all, this is a first novel that doesn’t seem like a first novel. Highly recommended.

[Note: If you’re lucky enough to have read, and liked, any of the novels by the late Michael McDowell (The Amulet, Cold Moon Over Babylon, or The Elementals), Miskowski is a writer you need to check out.]
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Apr 15, 2012 Angel McCoy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Angel's Adjectives: Hoary and honest

KNOCK KNOCK comes off the pages with all the menace of an old cautionary tale that has yet to be watered down for a modern, more tender culture. There's nothing tender about Miskowski's treatment of her characters. With bald honesty, she paints a picture of rural America that leaves you shivering. I hesitate to call any of her characters heroes. They are, rather, antiheroes, examples to future generations--who probably won't do anything differently either--of...more

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May 22, 2013 Ingrid rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Horror Lovers

Recommended to Ingrid by: John Claude Smith

Shelves: favorites

What an amazingly horrific read! Well crafted, the author grabs you on page one and doesn't let you escape through twists and turns, down literary tunnels that you have no idea where they will lead and then, when I finally figured out what horrifying twist the story was going in, like the train wreck I knew was about to happen, I couldn't tear away.

This book is truly destined to be a horror classic. Well done, S.P., well done!

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Sep 28, 2011 Paul (rhymes with "tall" ... why is that so hard f Fenton rated it 5 of 5 stars

Knock Knock is a superb horror story, psychologically tense and tightly executed. The tale spans the lives of three women in a small town in Washington state, beginning with the mistake they made one day of awakening the vengeful spirit of "Miss Knocks". I found myself frequently holding my breath while reading the last few chapters. In hindsight, this might be why my fellow commuters were giving me strange looks. If you liked The Shining or The Ring, you should check out Knock Knock.

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Feb 21, 2012 Carol Brannigan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: e-book, er-arc

This was a great read. The masterful part of the story was not so much the plot- as the basic element has been done multiple times- instead it was the intensive character development and tension build-up that gives it an edge.

I was pleasantly surprised by just how well this was written. I felt as though I knew each character not only from their own perspective but from the other characters as well.

A well done piece of horror wrapped up in the history of a town.

Recommended.

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Feb 21, 2012 Kathy Hiester rated it 5 of 5 stars

After I started this book and quickly realized that I could and in fact was psychologically scarred. This book was alarmingly horrifying. Knock Knock starts off with three little girls making a blood pact in the middle of the woods in a small town and then builds up the suspense and the darkness lurking in each of their lives.
5 Stars

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Oct 28, 2012 Ennis Drake rated it 5 of 5 stars

My first thought after delving into Miskowski's "Knock Knock" was: This is modern Americana worthy of the name.

A significant piece of literature almost biographic in the revelation of its characters, and utterly engaging in its portrayal of a "small town mythology", the lure of "Knock Knock" is irresistible (and does not leave the reader unrewarded). But make no mistake, this is horror. . .and it is this undercurrent of the supernatural that weaves and binds Ethel, Beverly, and Marietta (the no...more

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Jan 11, 2012 Tona rated it 4 of 5 stars

After I started this book and quickly realized that I couldn't read it before bed. This book was physiologically horrifying. The build up in each women's life was terrifying. They each make a magical pact to not have children then each one does. Evil is spread through time and none of the women are safe.

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Jul 30, 2012 Erin Aiello rated it 4 of 5 stars

An excellent, bone-chilling read. Solid writing. Starts out a little slow (but still engaging) and then really, really picks up in the second half. Want to read more by this author.

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Oct 15, 2012 Lori rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: scary

Freaky. The book follows 3 young girls who make a pact, what happens to them and how history of the land plays a part in their lives. It's not YAL, but could be.

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May 30, 2012 Michelle rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013readinglist, horror

Amazingly creepy and believable evil. Yikes. Three friends: Ethel, Marietta, Beverly. A weird oath to never have babies...but they do and it turns ugly.

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May 20, 2013 Dan Hart rated it 5 of 5 stars

I am at a loss as to how to review this book without spoiling anything. I loved all of the characters, especially Marietta. I adored how even the most trivial event or thought contributed to the characters' mold. In short, I very much enjoyed this.

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Oct 11, 2012 Chris Diani rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Spooky, gripping, and suspenseful; read this one late at night for an extra frisson of dread. Loved the shifting narrators and the run-down backwoods setting. Reminded me of some of Stephen King's best stories, but with a distinct female voice. Highly recommended.

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Mar 08, 2012 Liam Cole rated it 5 of 5 stars

Tour de Force. Gripping suspense with an edge of your seat build. Strong character development.

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May 26, 2012 J.M. Powers rated it 4 of 5 stars

Visual, chilling, and kept me up at night.

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Nov 04, 2012 Don rated it 2 of 5 stars

I hated only giving two stars for this, but for a horror novel, it was slow and repetitive with a very banal ending. Otherwise, for fiction, the the prose is great and has great editing.

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Apr 20, 2013 Rachel rated it 4 of 5 stars

Scary! Miskowski weaves the mythology of this story together in a masterful way. I was on the edge of my seat at the last 20 pages. My husband turned off his light but I soldiered on to finish. Suspenseful and fun!

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May 23, 2013 James Campbell rated it 5 of 5 stars

May 19, 2013 Sarah marked it as to-read

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About S.P. Miskowski

Author of KNOCK KNOCK, published by Omnium Gatherum Media and shortlisted for a 2011 Shirley Jackson Award. A three-novella series set in the world of KNOCK KNOCK is also published by Omnium Gatherum: DELPHINE DODD (2012), ASTORIA (2013), and IN THE LIGHT (2013) share themes and characters with the novel but spin off into different story lines.

My short stories have been published by Supernatural T...more

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