Book Review: Boys in the Valley by Philip Fracassi

I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.

Boys in the Valley by Philip Fracassi

Mogsy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars 

Genre: Horror

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: Nightfire (July 11, 2023)

Length: 352 pages

Author Information: Website

Boys in the Valley is an exceptional historical horror novel that takes place in turn of the century Pennsylvania at the St. Vincent Orphanage for Boys. Taking full advantage of the claustrophobic confines of this setting, author Philip Fracassi delivers a gripping and atmospheric supernatural chiller that weaves together the elements of suspense, mystery, and terror.

Following the murder-suicide of his parents, our protagonist Peter first came to St. Vincent’s as a little boy. Now sixteen years old and one of the orphanage’s older wards, he has taken on the role of big brother for many of the younger children. Recognizing Peter’s leadership skills and compassion, his mentor Father Andrew has even started preparing him to become a priest one day. Yet deep in his heart, Peter isn’t so sure it’s what he wants. Over the past seven years, on the frequent trips with Father Andrew to run errands at the nearby Hill Farm, Peter has befriended the farmer’s daughter Grace. As his feelings for her have deepened over time, Peter now wonders if Grace might be his future instead of priesthood.

Then one night, the local sheriff shows up at the door of the orphanage with a group of his men and a wounded captive in tow. The injured prisoner, ranting and raving in a frenzied and unnatural way, was said to have been shot and captured during a satanic ritual. Upon removing his clothes to view his injuries, strange symbols are also revealed to be carved into his skin. Despite the priests’ attempts to treat the prisoner and exorcise his madness, the man dies, unleashing an evil upon the orphanage that seeps into the boys of St. Vincent like a poison.

Reading Boys in the Valley, I felt like the plot was divided into three phases. In phase one, Fracassi sets the stage and prepares readers for everything that follows, beginning by introducing Peter and those around him. There are many residents at the orphanage, but among them are several who stand out and play major roles in the story: David, who, like Peter, is one of the older boys but is much more misanthropic; Brother Johnson, a bad man with a criminal past who works at St. Vincent; Bartholomew, one of the orphans who…well, actually, let’s leave him as a surprise for readers going into the book! As well, this part of the story also paints a picture of the grim life at the orphanage. The head priest is a controlling and rigid disciplinarian whose word is law, and any boy who goes against it is thrown into “the hole”, a deep pit dug into the cold grounds of the property to serve as a prison cell.

The arrival and death of the injured prisoner kicks off the next phase, in which Peter beings to notice disturbing changes come over his fellow orphans. But even with a gruesome killing in this section that ratchets up the heart-pounding tension, I have to say this was my least favorite part of the book. First, I felt the plot dragged on for longer than was necessary while the boys started to divide and conquer and take sides in Lord of the Flies fashion. Second, here we also lose some of that delicious and eerie atmosphere as the narrative leans slightly more heavily on graphic violence and gore to get its kicks.

The third phase though, was by far the best. I have seen the Boys in the Valley compared to the Midnight Mass, and if you are familiar with that show and its final episodes, then you too might be able to understand the comparisons and why they feel so fitting. Peter and his boys’ final fight for survival was just insane, and all the pressure that has been building up now has nowhere else to go but to explode in a spectacular way. While I am neither Catholic nor religious, I also felt deeply moved by the ending, the path which Peter ultimately chose to pursue as well as the meaning in the aftermath of that choice.

In fact, I would love to see this book be made into a movie. Philip Fracassi’s prose was both descriptive and evocative, painting a vivid picture of the eerie orphanage and the terrors unleashed within. As a horror novel, it was certainly effective, but the story also shone as an exploration of friendship and courage, of salvation and sacrifice. Whether you are a fan of horror or historical fiction, or are simply hankering for a captivating story, Boys in the Valley will thrill and haunt you.