The Berisha family, with roots in Albania, are one of the wealthiest and most respected families in New York. Headed by the patriarch, Zef, they run one of the largest import-export companies in the world. They also seem to be lucky. Any obstacle that appears in their path disappears. A building owner won’t sell? That structure burns down, clearing the way for the Berishas to purchase the land. A competitor stands in their way? A sudden heart attack takes him off the playing field.
Zef is married to Olga, whose beauty is admired by many, envied by others. They love each other, but they don’t live together, something that confuses their children. Zef’s oldest daughter, Maris, gets a glimpse of what might be going on. One day she sees her parents quarreling. When the encounter becomes heated, Zef seems to change form, surrounded by a cloud of black smoke. She has heard the rumors about a malevolent force ruling their lives. Does it have control over her father? And, if so, will this so-called “protector” control which sibling follows in Zef’s footsteps?
There are three heirs to the Berisha fortune – Dardan, the male heir, Maris, whose looks will never attract a suitor, and Nora, the youngest who seems to go with the flow. With Zef’s health failing, a transition will happen soon. While Maris is the smartest and most ambitious, tradition says the new CEO must be a man. Before that can happen, however, secrets must be shared, secrets that reveal the family’s dark past.
Alma Katsu sure knows how to send shivers up and down one’s spine! Even though we don’t see the protector, imagining what this creature looks like is even worse. She also handles sibling rivalry in such a way that readers will relate, particular those who are fans of Succession. Growing up together can bring children close together, but when a family fortune is the prize, conflict is sure to happen. In the Berisha family, those conflicts escalate and someone is sure to wind up dead.
If you aren’t a fan of the horror genre – confession, I usually steer clear – don’t let that prevent you from putting Fiend on your list. Pour a glass of wine – red, of course – and settle in.
Fiend
Alma Katsu
Top photo: Bigstock
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