Thin is the Skin by P.J. Burgy: A Valley of Subdermal Horror

Hidden behind a dark forest and guarded by a massive fence and modern security systems lies The Valley. Overseen by the peculiar landlord Max, the gated community is home to burdened attorney Liam, his second wife Bianca, and his two children: Hannah, the flippant rebel, and Ty, a budding documentarian with a fascination for the macabre. Alongside, we find a seclusive cat lady, a gullible guard, the mysterious LaCrosse family, and the recent arrivals, Molly and Trudy. Together, they form the dramatis personae of Thin Is the Skin.

Going into detail would already risk spoilers, as the backstories and interconnections between the characters are what make this novel truly remarkable. p.j. burgy, whom I had previously associated primarily with genre writing, excels at breathing life into the Valley. Roughly a third of this voluminous book passes before the darker side of the community comes into light.

Until then, we learn about the characters’ hardships and peculiarities: the fate of Liam’s first wife, Hannah’s romantic entanglements, and, perhaps most affecting, the suffering of Bianca, lovelingly called Anka, who struggles even to leave her home. A routine police operation gradually uncovers disturbing aspects of the Valley’s past, and a growing sense of unease lingers beneath the surface. p.j. burgy,is a master of foreshadowing, maintaining tension without resorting to overt horror.

Instead, the author uses atmospheric description and clever narrative techniques to presage what lies ahead. Combined with lifelike characters and a strong prose style, this results in an unsettling scenario that wrenches our guts more powerfully than some splatter films.

That said, this novel is not for the faint of heart. Burgy is known as a horror author and is more than capable of writing action-loaded (body) horror sequences. In fact, some passages are pretty gory, and especially the scenes of sexualized violence can be particular. Burgy is able to put us into the mind of true madmen and gives us the chills by intentionally using the right dose of violence. The content notes are there for a reason. Yet these moments never lapse into voyeurism or gratuitous shock effects. They are more of an exploration of human troubles, trauma and its (horrible) consequences.

All that is embedded into a supernatural element that takes some time to truly break through. From the beginning, there are hints that something supernatural might be at work, but the truth only gradually unfolds. When it does, the revelation feels both original and thematically resonant, touching in unexpected ways on questions of identity. 

While the characters and plotlines are already strong, the true accomplishment lies in burgy’s ability to sustain engagement across nearly 450 pages. burgi is writing with ease and lets the pages fly by. Most impressive was the fact that I never lost the plot, even with long breaks between my reading sessions, and I am not known to follow storylines very well. It’s impressive that Burgy can playfully keep multiple timelines and themes completely under control and deliver a seamless reading experience.

Though I hesitate to compare Thin Is the Skin to the giants of modern horror literature, it clearly stands out within the crowded field of supernatural thrillers. It is not only extraordinarily well written, but also something more than “just” entertaining fiction. One easily forgets that this is an independently published book. While a traditional publisher might have adjusted pacing or polished away the occasional typo, the work is unafraid of some rough edges, which adds to its authenticity.

Thin is the Skin was easily one of the best reads this year for me and is highly recommended. If you can stand some gore and can deal with depictions of sexual assault, The Valley is the place to go. I can’t wait to find out what Burgy has in mind for future publications.

Thin is the Skin by P.J. Burgy 

Supernatural Thriller – Horror, Suspense, Mystery

⚠️ Content Warning⚠️

Sex, Violence, Drug Use, SA, Suicide

The massive forest surrounding The Azure Valley frightens Bianca. A sense of longing and dread permeates the air drifting through those tall trees, chilling her to the bone. She can’t even look at it. And so, she draws the curtains tight, thankful for the high fence out back, and retreats into the comforting façade of electric light and air conditioning.

Whatever unseen force prowls in the darkness outside cannot reach her here. Her husband Liam is patient but doesn’t understand. Bianca doesn’t either. All she knows is she doesn’t belong here. Not in The Valley. Not in this house with Liam. No, this life was never meant for her. Liam’s adult daughter Hannah has no problem reminding Bianca of that fact as often as possible. This isn’t her world. She can’t even tend to her once beloved garden, the vines strangling her beautiful flowers since the day she fled from a distant, mournful wail echoing from the mountains above. A stir of a memory.

One day, a strange woman appears in The Azure Valley who seems to know Bianca. Why does this strange woman disturb everyone she encounters except for Bianca? Who is she and what does she want? And what has Bianca forgotten?

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