Summer Sons

“Edward said that his research was spurned by his own, how did he describe it, spooky childhood experience in the hollers…” No one was supposed to know about those childhood experiences, and “spooky” didn’t begin to cover the horror crawling out of his memories like an oozing swamp.As kids Andrew Blur and Eddie Fulton are inseparable. From swearing blood brotherhood at age eleven to applying “for the same graduate program” to work on the same thesis, “friends meant nothing in comparison to what [Andrew] and Eddie were to each other.” Subsequently, Andrew is demoralized when Eddie leaves for college early and refuses to allow Andrew to join him right away at Vanderbilt. More puzzling, Eddie gets a housemate, Riley Sowell, when Eddie does not need the money from another to help with the rent, having inherited a fortune from his deceased parents. Most shattering, however, is the fact that Eddie allegedly commits suicide while at college before Andrew arrives. It is a death which overwhelms Andrew, one he refuses to believe, and he becomes determined to get to the root of the truth of what happened to his best friend who has left his fortune to Andrew.SUMMER SONS (2021; 384 pp.) is the first novel by writer and critic Lee Mandelo and it is being heralded as a successful Southern gothic tale of the supernatural and much more.Mandelo quickly establishes the tenor of SUMMER SONS as Andrew, filled with grief, makes clear to university officials his intention to carry on Eddie’s thesis work on “regional occult folklore.” More significantly, it quickly becomes apparent Andrew is plagued by a ghost/haunt/revenant which is trying to gain possession of him. Its occasional grisly appearance is quite startling. SUMMER SONS, however, is much more than a horror novel. The book frequently takes on aspects of a mystery as it is riddled with puzzles as Andrew tries to find out what happened to Eddie and who may be responsible, while often discovering important work, books he utilized, and personal items belonging to Eddie have all disappeared.SUMMER SONS is also deeply concerned about relationships. There is an on-going thread in the novel concerning Andrew and Eddie in regards to a critical and horrifying experience they shared when younger as well as a question as to what their bond truly was and whether it transcended mere friendship. Andrew not only inherits Eddie’s fortune, but Eddie’s roommate, Riley Sowell. In his pursuit of truth, Andrew also begins to get involved with Riley’s cousin, Sam Halse, a garage mechanic and drug deliverer as well as the head of a “rough crowd” of hard drinking, drug taking, drag racing twenty-some year-old males which Eddie became a part. These relationships all put Andrew at considerable and increasing unease.SUMMER SONS is a very slowly paced novel which is likely to put off readers who just want to get on with the story and engross themselves purely in the horror of the novel. There is also a somewhat considerable amount of repetition throughout the work as Andrew meets dead end after dead end. However, the pace Mandelo adopts allows for readers to get to know the story’s characters in rich detail and to both care and speculate about them. Mandelo skillfully knows when to insert a truly chilling moment into the story and how to slowly escalate the tension involving the paranormal which Eddie and then Andrew both investigate and which obviously involves both of the boys, especially Eddie, on a very personal level.Also tying the book’s personal relationships to the supernatural elements and the aura of mystery which surrounds the novel is Andrew (and formerly Eddie’s) “sixth-year Ph.D” peer mentor, Thom West, who is “doing research on occult fiction and the Southern gothic,” and academic adviser, Dr. Jane Troth. The author’s insight into academic life at Vanderbilt adds a further layer to the story.As the chronicle of SUMMER SONS continues to move forward small revelations and clues begin to be exposed about the phantom which threatens Andrew and the hidden and oft times pernicious backgrounds and motivations of some of the characters. Additionally, Andrew takes an essential step accepting his sexuality as well as acting upon it with one of the characters who may very well surprise readers.Mandelo quickens the pace of the novel for the latter portion. Events begin to take on a more sinister character—both supernaturally and in real life—tied together as they have been throughout the novel. The discovery there is more than just a ghost involved in the story involving Eddie and Andrew but the lives of generations of two local families heightens the book’s tension. As such, in a process of elimination, the truth about Eddie’s death and the awesome evolution taking place within Andrew becomes more and more clear and ominous.Readers’ patience will be more than fulfilled as SUMMER SONS has a deadly, fiery, nail-biting climax which results in mysteries solved and also brings the book to a most satisfying and promising end. For a debut novel, Lee Mandelo makes quite an impact.

This is a book that I pre-ordered last summer because the synopsis absolutely gripped me and the cover was BEAUTIFUL but (in a shocking plot twist that surprises nobody) it took me almost a year to pick it up. Part of me wishes that I had read this at school when it was first released since it has a very ~dark academia~ vibe that I didn't really expect going in and the haunting, ghostly nature of the story would've been a good spooky season read, however, I almost think that reading this outside in summertime on a gloomy day was almost better. It took me a while to get invested in the story, but once I hit the 50 or 60 page mark: I. could. not. put. this. book. down. (The bonfire scene is what hooked me). This book is a reflection of its promotional tropes to a tee and the vibes were messy, chaotic, somber, reflective, hazy... the best of everything the ~unhinged, queer, twenty-something~ genre has to offer. This is a vibe that I love on paper and love about 50% of the time in practice and what really separates the good ones from the bad are the hook and the themes; in other words, the plot point that sets the story in motion. A murder mystery? You got me. Supernatural curses? Yep, I'm here. Surprisingly nuanced insights into academia's problematic nature? Sign me up.I loved the vast representation in this book from a trans-masc character with ALL the best lines, a cast of troublemakers who won't stand for homophobia (and might be a little *flicks wrist* themselves), poly rep, and... of course... the genre's staple: repressed main character with extremely intimate bestie who he is definitely in love with where everybody in both their lives is just waiting for them to kiss and get it over with but of course murder gets in the way and said feelings are never given an adequate resolution because, ya know, ~death~ and whatnot. One day I'll re-read this book with a rainbow highlighter and make a powerpoint presentation to serve as a blueprint for all future MC's to find out if their platonic besties are quite as platonic as they think they are. MEN. I lament the fact that sapphic dark academia doesn't quite let their protagonists repressedly pine to the extent that mlm ones do (the closest we've ever gotten that I've found so far is A Lesson in Vengeance by Victoria Lee that nailed it on the toxic relationship aspect but dropped the ball on pining) so when you're picking up a book one day with a bunch of lesbian's drag racing to procrastinate a murder investigation with a shit tone of sexual tension, that may or may not be me under a pen name.Despite the fact that I guessed the villain pretty early in the novel, this was still an extremely interesting and enjoyable romp of a story with plenty of fast-paced, adrenaline rush scenes sandwiched around plenty of grief, pining, and spooky stuff to keep me up until 2:00 am reading. If you liked If We Were Villains by M. L. Rio, you're gonna eat this shit up. No notes.

I gave four stars on this one. It wasn't a bad read, but it wasn't that good either. Was long winded when it really didn't need to be long winded. The protag was a really confused man that confused me no end on why he was confused.Andrew was, and dare I saw it? A bit toxic. A bit queer. And yes, he was in mourning for his 'friend' after all thats happened. He was still toxic AF.Riley? I think... he was Transmasc? I was confused on the writing there on him over that.Sam? He could of been an amazing character over Andrew really. Again: Toxic, calling Andrew 'Princess' when there really wasn't a need to call him that.There was drug use. Fast cars whtn didn't really appeal to me, but the lack of writing on said fast cars didn't... ring with me at all.The haunting on the other hand? It was gripping. Terrifying. But yet? It felt lacking.Del? She was so damn rude. Then got more rude after therapy to Andrew. And he was just like -shrugs- over everything like he just didn't care.Went in this book for something that would make me read it again in the future. I've read it once and I'm over it.

It took me a long time to get into then I was hooked and it would have been 5 stars if not for the disappointing ending. Didn't leave much resolution in terms of the main pairing.

Who would have thought this queer Southern gothic dark academia whodunit would have latched onto my heart so thoroughly. I'm not super into horror, but Andrew and Riley and Sam Halse quickly became so precious to me. The first part is pretty disorienting, but it's clearly supposed to be. Work through that and you'll find yourself deeply invested in this world of culture clashes, class tension, drag racing, academic intrigue and unexpected romance. tw/cw for a few gory scenes, but nothing gratuitous for a gothic novel.

Tense, dark and southern gothic, this book is basically Ronan Lynch’s dream book. There are fast cars and hot guys and murder aplenty

I love this book more than I can say. It is unhinged and creepy, utterly gripping and atmospheric. I almost read it in a single sitting, and my heart was racing the entire time. If you loved the Raven Boys or The Foxhole Court, or you are looking for a queer Gothic Horror story about love and obsession, you NEED to read this book.

“He resisted the gravitational force out of long habit, passing the wreck before the intrusive specter even had the chance to freak his stride.”Unusually this jumps straight into chapter one following Eddie’s death, with Andrew collecting his Challenger from the impound lot. Haunted by his friend’s untimely death, and the weird things left to him, Andrew struggles with the brief six months of life Eddie lived without him.Fast paced street racing, supernatural mystery and intrigue. I was pleasantly surprised, this book was not what I expected.“Their union was not the pleasure he’d imagined it might be.”Loved the gothic style haunting with the revenant. Words flowed beautifully, with vivid sights, sounds and smells.Slow burn. It did drag a touch in the middle. 4.5⭐️

Lee Mandelo is good at setting a creepy, mood with the main narrative mystery(What happened to Eddie?) and the secondary story of academic politics.The toxic masculinity, fast cars, and long looks between pretty boys who get in fights rather than admit their feelings doesn't add to the story and feels like it's part of another story entirely.

Da ich nicht wusste, ob und wann es auf deutsch übersetzt wird, habe ich es auf Englisch bestellt. Es ist echt gut geschrieben, die Story ist creepy (wie sie auch sein soll) und ich hatte viel Spaß beim Lesen!