Skip to content

DAY FOUR

Written By:

Ed Fortune
day-four-review

DAY FOUR

Day Four is the sequel to Sarah Lotz previous chiller, The Three, but one that’s designed to work entirely on its own, and you could easily get away with reading them in the ‘wrong’ order. The connections are both obvious and subtle, and they both share the theme of claustrophobic transport; The Three is a tense drama that revolves around planes, Day Four is set on a cruise ship.

The comparisons stop there, however. The Three is a creep-fest, whereas Day Four is a slow burn thriller. Day Four is entirely set on the incredibly tacky cruise ship The Beautiful Dreamer, which has stalled somewhere in the Gulf of Mexico. As you may gather from the title, much of the action takes place on day four of the journey. Lotz introduces us to a variety of strange and interesting characters, each with their own unique perspective and take on life. We meet the PA to a celebrity psychic, a chambermaid, an elderly couple and a man called Gary. Each has their own story to tell and their own secrets to keep.

The plot proceeds at a leisurely pace, rather like a working cruise ship, and the narrative is stitched together from multiple points of view. The story flits from one person to another, building up a steadily disturbing narrative. Lotz taps into the everyday and mundane fears we have here; the revulsions and disruptions that make a normal day unpleasant. Inevitably, things get worse as the tale heads from claustrophobic thriller into spooky thriller.

Each horrible moment is driven by despair and the fear of death, making this a dark yet compulsive experience. It is very much a slow burn of a book; Day Four is, oddly enough, not meant to be read in a day. With a large cast of characters and a series of weird things going on, the meandering pace works best when you slow down and take your time to absorb each nasty thing that’s happening.

If you’re looking for a nice and spooky holiday book, but don’t have room in your bag for a Stephen King style shelf-breaker, then this is the next best thing. Densely packed and built for pleasure, Day Four is a cruise you’ll never forget.

INFO: DAY FOUR / AUTHOR: SARAH LOTZ / PUBLISHER: HODDER AND STOUGHTON / RELEASE DATE: MAY 21ST
 

Ed Fortune

You May Also Like...

First-Look Images and Sizzle Reel for Disturbing Shocker CARA

You can now get your first look at the upcoming disturbing kitchen sink horror film CARA, directed by Hayden Hewitt (Lips) and starring Ellie O’Hara, Johnny Vivash, Laurence R. Harvey,
Read More
chinese remake of anaconda drops trailer

ANACONDA Trailer Grants First Look At Remake Of 1997 Horror Flick

Three sequels and a spinoff-crossover film wasn’t enough for the 1997 creature feature Anaconda, which not only has a new movie in development, but is getting a Chinese remake! From
Read More
black widow star scarlett johansson in talks to lead new universal jurassic world film

Scarlett Johansson In Talks To Join JURASSIC WORLD Film

Another MCU star appears to be taking up the reins for Universal’s new Jurassic World movie: two-time Oscar nominee Scarlett Johansson is reportedly in talks to lead the franchise that
Read More

Exclusive Reveal! Titan Comics to Deliver Prehistoric Hysterics in First 2 DUMB DINOS Collection

Titan Comics have exclusively revealed to STARBURST that they’re gearing up to publish the first-ever collection of the hilarious cult digital comic strip 2 Dumb Dinos, and we’re not the
Read More

New Dates For Lovecraftian Key of Dreams

Key of Dreams has announced new spaces for its titular immersive luxury horror event. The critically acclaimed company is known for its overnight experiences that dunk you into a strange
Read More

FAB Café to Host Free Film Screening of New Indie Comedy SECRETS OF A WALLABY BOY

We’re well known for our championing of truly independent filmmakers here at STARBURST, so it’s doubly exciting to be writing about one of our own! After joining the crew in
Read More