The Case of Charles Dexter Ward

[Aubrey]

The Case of Charles Dexter Ward follows the titular Mr. Ward as he discovers old newspaper articles and journal entries regarding a long lost ancestor of his- Joseph Curwen. As he delves further and further into the history and secrets surrounding Curwen, such as how he lived for at least a century but never appeared older than 70, Ward's health takes a noticeable toll. The young man's family grows more and more concerned about him ever since his discovery of one of Joseph's personal journals, which leads them to contact the family doctor. The mysteries regarding grave robberies, spontaneous thunderstorms, and bumps in the night are now up to Dr. Willett to solve.

I greatly enjoyed this book and would personally rate it 5 stars. I felt that some aspects of the mystery were predictable, but their delivery still left an impact on me, which left me pleasantly surprised. Tense moments in this book suck the audience in and leave you with many questions- some of which remain unanswered- left to stir in your brain. I think it's necessary to acknowledge that H.P. Lovecraft wrote this novel and, because of this, many of his political and social opinions are ingrained in the text. These instances do not, in my opinion, overshadow the main narrative, but their inclusion can be jarring to say the least. If Lovecraft's discriminatory and racist beliefs turn you off from his work, I would understand and not recommend this book, but for willing readers, the mysteries within 'The Case of Charles Dexter Ward' make it a book you shouldn't skip out on.