This is a refreshing tale, a modern-day parable, more novella than novel as it comes in at approx 65 pages [approx. because it is only available as an e-book]. In the Foreword, Anita Kovacevic explains her inspiration for the story: one word read in one of her favourite stories, one word which was seemingly unimportant, but which inspired this story. Threshold.

From page one, the tone is unusual. It’s almost as if you are being told a bedtime story. An elderly lady takes her dog for a walk, past the grand decaying house on the block. In a gust of wind, a piece of paper drifts to her feet. It is a letter from the man who once owned the house, but who has not been seen for years: Josephus Clarence Thibedeaux III. The letter is his will, bequeathing the house to the first person who enters the house and comes out again. Alive.

It is at this intriguing point that the story diverts, to the life story of Joseph Thibbit. Stick with it though, and you come to the climax, the television programme ‘Urban Legend’, run by media mogul Ken Scott. Into the media whirl steps nice guy Mike Simmons. Will he go into the house, and will he come out alive? Is there secret treasure inside, a monster, something magical? We see the action through the eyes of TV producer Sally Jenkins.

This is an entertaining tale about the downfall of greed, and a reality show which gets its comeuppance.

If you like this, try:-
‘The House on Cold Hill’ by Peter James
‘The Quick’ by Lauren Owen
‘Frog Music’ by Emma Donoghue

‘The Threshold’ by Anita Kovacevic [UK: Lulu] Buy now

And if you’d like to tweet a link to THIS post, here’s my suggested tweet:
THE THRESHOLD by @Anitas_haven #bookreview via @SandraDanby http://wp.me/p5gEM4-1Gh