The Devil in Silver by Victor LaValle (2012)

The Devil in Silver by Victor LaValle (2012)

A genre bending examination of the way society treats the mentally ill in America.

Laura’s Rating: 3/5 Stars

Plot: A large man known as Pepper is taken to a mysterious and decrepit looking building by three police officers. Rather than the police station that he expects to find himself in after a brawl, he is at the New Hyde Hospital psychiatric ward. Pepper isn’t mentally ill, but he’s stuck with the other patients. Pepper soon discovers that his fellow patients aren’t only haunted by their own minds, but by a horrible monster that stalks the halls of New Hyde.

Analysis: It felt like this book didn’t quite know what it wanted to be. There is a horror storyline, which comes second to a profile of what it’s like to be a psychiatric patient. There is commentary on the treatment of psych patients, while also pointing out that some people do need constant care, supervision, medication, etc. There is some meaningful perspective on the treatment of marginalized groups, but those nuggets are sprinkled throughout instead of acting as a central focus. Over halfway through the book, there’s a romance that is charming, but almost unrelated. The book was ultimately less horror and more an examination on discrimination due to race, socioeconomic status, and mental health.

The story was compelling, but certain sentences and phrases felt clunky or awkward. The writing could certainly use a bit of polishing. I wanted to like this book more, but it was kind of all over the place. If you’re looking for horror, I’d skip this. If you’re looking for a societal critique centered on treatment of the mentally ill, maybe check it out. Even then, I think The Devil in Silver could have been better.