I read very little horror fiction, but I make an exception for Zoje Stage’s novels. Maybe it helps that her work often treads the line between psychological thriller and horror. But regardless of how you categorize them, it's undeniable that her books will keep readers up at night. Her latest, SOMETHING OF A CALLING, is no exception, introducing elements of climate fiction in a way that's both intriguing and more than a little unsettling.

Detective Andy Cooper, who is in her mid-50s, pretty much has given her entire adult life to the police department in Longdan, Pennsylvania, a mid-sized town near Pittsburgh. That became especially true after her young daughter was killed in a drunk-driving accident years ago, followed by the end of her marriage. Now, after three decades on the force, Andy is unsure what her next chapter looks like, especially since it feels like her world has shrunk down so that it's little more than work. Who will she be in retirement?

"SOMETHING OF A CALLING is a unique character study of a woman on the verge of a major change in her life. It's also a pretty terrifying portrait of a world out of balance, a disturbance that seems to be coming home to roost right in Andy's backyard."

The plot device of “retiring detective gets handed one last case…and it's a doozy!” is a well-worn trope at this point. But Stage isn't afraid to go there, and she does so right on the first page. Out for a routine kayak ride on Lake Longdan, Andy spots a body floating in the water. She phones it in just like a civilian would, but her curiosity gets the better of her. As she paddles just a little closer, she's surprised to notice that the victim's body appears to have been…chewed?

Andy only grows more intrigued --- and concerned --- when a golfer's body shows up on the local course, again appearing to have been attacked by animals. In this case, however, a shoe print is also nearby. Could this be the work of a human or humans? Or is there something stranger going on? As increasingly similar cases --- not just around Longdan but elsewhere, too --- come to light, Andy finds herself both relieved not to have responsibilities and reluctant to hand those reins over to her soon-to-be former colleagues. 

Meanwhile, a slightly older woman, Fiona, has parked the van in which she lives right on Andy's street. Andy's neighbors are concerned about vagrants, but she feels an immediate connection with Fiona, whose warm and friendly presence helps alleviate the loneliness that she feels and fears. But as the days pass and the body count rises, Andy can't help but wonder if Fiona has anything to do with this. If so, what will she do about it?

SOMETHING OF A CALLING is a unique character study of a woman on the verge of a major change in her life. It's also a pretty terrifying portrait of a world out of balance, a disturbance that seems to be coming home to roost right in Andy's backyard. This is an intense read, as well as a quick one. Its small trim size and larger type size make it a book that readers will be able to devour in an afternoon or evening…provided that all the lights are on and the doors are locked.