Suburban Hell

June 20, 2022
Kilmer’s debut, a playful but poorly executed horror send-up of suburban life, struggles to settle into a consistent tone in the lulls between some delightfully over-the-top moments. Amy Foster and her best friends, Jess, Melissa, and Liz, exist on the outskirts of the Whispering Farms subdivision’s social hierarchy. Their lives are turned upside down when the christening of the group’s She Shed opens a portal to hell and compassionate Liz is possessed by a demon. As Liz alternately shocks the neighborhood with dramatic new fashions and a don’t-care attitude, degenerates into a pallid husk of her old self, and tries to kill her friends and their children, Amy works to convince her doubtful friends that demons are real and that their friend group alone can save both Liz and the neighborhood. A melancholy subplot about the death of Amy’s sister years earlier adds little and Kilmer’s critique of suburban life lacks bite, as the neighbors are annoying at worst. The story flounders awkwardly in the space between comedy and chiller such that even the darkest scenes don’t evoke fear. There’s the kernel of a great story here, but Kilmer doesn’t quite pull it off. Agent: Holly Root, Root Literary.

January 1, 2023

Hoping to leave the pandemonium of the city behind, Amy Foster moves to the suburbs to raise her family. She soon befriends a group of women--Jess, Melissa, and Liz--who meet for wine and movies. When one of them suggests they build a "she shed," Liz offers her backyard. Their plans go off the rails when, during their drunken groundbreaking ceremony, they unknowingly invite a demon into their midst. When the demon possesses Liz, the group must save their friend, all while managing the PTA, raising their families, and looking for jobs. Kilmer's novel delivers with a darkly humorous look at the trials of living in an American suburb. Narrator Jaime Lamchick gives a wonderful performance as harried mother-turned-demon fighter Amy. Her performance ramps up the fun as she deftly switches between characters, from petulant housewife to deep-voiced demon. VERDICT Kilmer's entertaining debut strikes the perfect balance between horror, comedy, and housework. A great way to add humor to any horror collection; perfect for fans of Laurie Gelman's "Class Mom" series, Grady Hendrix, and Christopher Moore.--Elyssa Everling

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