The Comfort of Monsters

More about the book

Set in Milwaukee during the summer of 1991, this remarkable debut novel follows two sisters—one who disappears and the other left to cope with the aftermath. Teenage Dee McBride vanishes, and nearly thirty years later, her sister Peg remains haunted by the mystery. As their mother lies on her deathbed, desperate for closure, the family hires a psychic to help locate Dee’s body, hoping to find some peace. The psychic's arrival forces Peg to confront her past, recalling the carefree days before Dee's disappearance, during a summer overshadowed by the chilling crimes of serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer. Peg's fragmented memories become a source of confusion and self-doubt, prompting her to question her role in Dee's fate. She grapples with unsettling inquiries: Could she have done something to prevent Dee's vanishing? Who is truly responsible for their family's tragedy? How do our memories shift when we articulate them? What does it mean to bear witness in a world where our narratives can be doubted? This heartbreaking page-turner explores a family's quest for answers amid uncertainty, urging readers to reflect on the complexities of memory and truth.