I loved the concept of Malerman's newest book, separating males from females in their formative ages, however, it fell a little short of my expectations. I was hoping for more thrilling and/or psychological consequences to this experiment. The author does develop the main characters nicely and makes the reader really care for them, which is also something I always look for in a good book. While the book took quite some page turnings to get into, it does become exciting and makes the reader want to finish quickly.

While I enjoyed every minute of Kate Hope Day's debut, Inspection is a novel I almost quit reading on more than one occasion. The premise is decent, and you connect with the characters almost immediately. The problem is that nothing happens for a good two-thirds of the novel. Josh Malerman spends that much time showing the reader his school, what it is like for the students there, and why some staff members may have a problem with it. In other words, the first two-thirds are boring.

Once Mr. Malerman introduces readers to the girls' school, the story takes off like a rocket. Suddenly, we are able to see the entire picture and get an idea of where the story is going. We understand the true horror behind the schools' establishment, and we recognize the manipulative greediness of the headmaster and mistress. The story also gets dark - so very, very dark. While Mr. Malerman avoided showing the monsters in his previous novel, Bird Box, in Inspection we don't just see them, we get into their minds and see the world from their eyes. We also see the steps the kids are willing to take in order to gain control of their lives, and it is not pretty. Or tidy.

Inspection is the type of novel I am glad I finished but did not necessarily enjoy. The ending is nothing like I thought it would be. The story went to places I was not expecting, and I am glad it did if only because it improved a subpar novel. I did not enjoy the slog to get to that point though, and the shock and awe of the ending only moderately overcome the tedium of the story's beginning. That ending certainly allows the story to earn its place in the horror genre, but the true horror is getting through the monotonous first two-thirds of Inspection first.

This was not quite what I expected, but it was a thrilling read with some really dark turns. What happens when a group of boys and a group of girls, both raised without knowledge of the other gender find out their life is a lie? Also, D.A.D. and The Corner were chillingly sinister...
*note: this is my first Josh Malerman book, and I haven't read or seen Bird Box yet.

LitReactor.com review by Chris Shultz

he release of the Netflix original adaptation of Bird Box sealed Josh Malerman's status as a major horror author. And that much he is, a writer with a seemingly innate knack for playing into humankind's universal fear of the unknown, including the dark mysteries residing within our own hearts and minds. This talent is on full display in Malerman's latest novel, Inspection, out now via Del Rey Books.

The premise of this book is this: a pompous married couple, Richard and Marilyn, set up a human experiment deep within the woods of Michigan. They believe that preoccupation with procreation and sexual pursuits are humanity's biggest distractions, and that, if boys and girls grew up without any knowledge of one another, they would undoubtedly become the greatest thinkers and inventors the world has ever seen. Thus, they set up camp in two old towers, hidden away from society and mere miles apart from each other. Calling these buildings the Turrets, Richard and Marilyn set about raising 26 boys and 26 girls, respectively, naming them only after letters of the alphabet—known, collectively, as the Alphabet Boys and the Letter Girls. A team of ex-cons and desperate teachers help keep the Turrets running, while Richard and Marilyn, known as D.A.D. and M.O.M. or, broadly, the Parenthood to their "children," preside over their buildings with increasing megalomania.

For years, the plan seems to go off without much of a hitch, though two Alphabet Boys and one Letter Girl have been sent to "the Corner," a mysterious punishment area the children dread more than anything in their lives. The novel's action proper begins at the onset of the "delicate years" (puberty), a time the onsite psychologist Dr. Burt (of whom the children are not aware) insists will lead to significant changes within the Turrets. And she's absolutely right, though not so much because the boys and girls transition into young adulthood, but rather because of oversights on the part of the Parenthood. For the Alphabet Boys, the catalyst for the experiment's compromise comes in the form of a novel called Needs, written by jaded author Warren Bratt, employed by the Parenthood to pen propaganda leisure novels for the boys. In this opus, Bratt reveals the existence of women. For the Letter Girls, it all starts when K, who possesses a photographic memory and an unbreakable thirst for knowledge, accidentally spies the top of the boys' Turret from high atop her own tower. The lies and deception eventually come to light, and it's pretty horrifying, both psychologically and on a gut level.

There's much to love about Inspection. Malerman's sparse yet evocative prose helps move the narrative along, which is good since, in other hands, the same idea could have ended up being quite bloated. Characters both good and evil are completely fleshed out, with the latter especially believing themselves to be the heroes of the story, convinced their deplorable deeds are just. Malerman handles the point-of-views of his adolescent characters adeptly, capturing the heartache, confusion, longing, and ever-shifting quality of self-esteem that comes with the onset of puberty, especially as it applies to these extraordinary pre-teens, who live strange and extremely sheltered lives. Much of the novel relies on atmosphere and mystery, for "quiet" horror fans, but for those who appreciate some Grand Guignol levels of violence, Malerman has you covered there too.

And yet, there's a pretty big oversight that mars Inspection, not detrimentally, but enough that it's well worth discussing. It seems logical that Richard and Marilyn wouldn't consider the sexuality of their children, given they have other conservative and outdated views on human interaction. They may very well believe queerness to be a choice, rather than something genetic. The inevitability that at least a few of the Alphabet Boys and Letter Girls would be gay and thus "distracted" from their studies, given their attraction to members of the same sex, should have been the catalyst that destroyed the Parenthood's experiment, but it isn't. The two main kids in the narrative, the boy J and the girl K, are straight, and if any of the other children are queer, the matter isn't discussed.

One may argue that, because the children are only at the cusp of puberty, they're not yet thinking about anything remotely sexual, and thus the question of sexuality remains a non-issue, but the truth is, kids as young as three years-old begin to "explore" their bodies and become curious about the bodies of others their own age, long before they really understand the concept of procreation or even of sexual experiences. And if sexuality is indeed a spectrum, even those boys and girls who aren't primarily gay or lesbian might still find themselves experimenting with members of the same sex, simply because those biological "needs" that Warren Bratt writes about need to be met. Even without understanding the concept of human procreation (the boys and girls believe children grow on trees), the even more basic desire for pleasure and gratification would have certainly come into play within the walls of the Turrets long before the "delicate years" and the beginning of the novel's narrative, and would have thus crumbled Richard and Marilyn's ill-conceived plan before Warren Bratt's tell-all and K's enduring curiosity.

And yes, there's a good amount of disbelief-suspending that goes along with reading any horror/fantasy/sci-fi novel. That's certainly the case with Inspection, given the relative improbability of its main scenario coming to fruition in the first place. But as is often the case with speculative literature, the overall story is meant to be a parable, and whether or not its premise is entirely plausible isn't that important when compared to the overall message the author wishes to convey. This is also the case with Inspection, as Malerman seems to be skewering the dusty ideas plaguing society (or that have long-plagued society), namely the typical, predetermined roles the sexes must play, the idea that boys naturally only see girls as objects of sexual conquest, and that separating the sexes is ultimately better for all parties involved (something we do in reality via boys-only and girls-only schools, though these students are at least aware of the others' existence). But even in this microcosm of society, ignoring the reality of queerness entirely just feels like a grossly missed opportunity to take the themes already present in the novel even further. It's a missing piece of the puzzle, an overlooked aspect that would have enriched, rather than weighted, an already intriguing idea.

But Inspection is still a worthy read, one that, despite its flaws, upholds Malerman's premiere horror author status. All that is good about it, stated above, remains intact, even if it's not entirely a knockout.

In many ways, I think this book failed to live up to it's assigned genres and summary. I think this is an excellent young adult thriller. I do not think this is a horror book and I felt that it missed many opportunities to add more dimension to the story. How were the boys being pushed to excel? It must have been more than just not getting to know about girls, right? The first half of the book was so slow, it would have been a great place to include some punishments for failing to learn or what techniques were being utilized to get the boys to achieve higher levels. Something. Even when the boys skip studying to go for a walk in the trees, D.A.D. takes it as a good thing. This doesn't mesh with the goal of creating super humans. Thankfully after the first half of the book things speed up a bit. I was also extremely let down by the how the situation was resolved. I won't spoil it but I expected better from these kids.

Inspection by Josh Malerman has his signature bleakness. Birdbox is one of my all time favorite books, so I couldn't wait to read Inspection. It was more of a slow burn for me. The payoff made it completely worth it! I was completely sucked into the world of J and K and the Parenthood. This was a very unique tale. Thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for a copy of the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

My thanks to Random House Publishing and Ballantine books.
I have this love/hate/whatever relationship with Mr. Malerman. I love his story ideas. I love them so much that even when I know I shouldn't read his stuff, I still do. Except for Unbury Carol. Nope, the title makes me gasp for breath!
Inspection was weird for me. I really hated the first 70% of this book. That's not to say that I hated the story or the character's. I personally loved the kids in this book. The story was slow, and just when it started to pick up, it switched p.o.v.'s, and slowed down again. That is my main issue with this book. It was such a slow paced book. I knew though that I was gonna have to suck it up if I wanted to get to the good bits. Hah! Thing is that nobody should ever have to suck it up! We should be entertained throughout. The last 30% was great. It was all I wanted it to be. That's a sorry darn thing though. Everyone who reads this will be wanting that ending. I love a good ending. But, when a story is so darned tedious, I want more. Yes. I did get the ending I hoped for, but I also needed more. It was a bloody end, but then what? What happened after? What did M.O.M. & D.A.D. have planned for these alphabet kids! Damn it! What? So, maybe I should.have posted a spoiler, but if you can figure out the book from this idiotic review, then send me your address, and I will show up at your house, knock you down, and stick gold and silver stars on your forehead. Also, one on your butt just for making me take the time out.
Would I recommend this book. No. I have books that I spend real money on just to have extra copies to give away. This is not one of them. I'm not really sure why some author's think it's o.k. to bore the crap out of their audience, and then heat it up at the end. My favorite authors have always kept me
entertained from start to finish. Also, for every darn and crap...Just know I toned it down for this #$%&&3 review. In my head I was cussing like a sailor on shore leave who is told to visit their mama instead of the ho-house!

Inspection is an interesting novel when stacked alongside Malerman's other works. Especially after his straight-up horror bonanaza On This, the Day of the Pig earlier this year. This novel has a distinct dystopian feel and raises some interesting philosophical questions. While there is a little in the way of plot similarities, while reading Inspection, I couldn't help but notice some tonal similarities to Hugh Howey's Wool series.

I was totally enthralled with the world Malerman has built in Inspection, but I can see how this book could be divisive among horror fans, much like Unbury Carol was upon its release. At times it can be difficult tracking the many characters as they are referred to by a single letter. Each of the major character has personalities that help distinguish them from one another, but when some of the supporting characters are introduced, it can be a little difficult to keep things straight.

Malerman weaves some interesting mysteries throughout. Why were the two tower's kept seperate? What is the ultimate goal of the Parenthood? Just what is waitingnfor the Alphabet Boys and Letter Girls in The Corner?

One thing is certain when you pick up a Malerman book. You never know what to expect, other than you are going to get a glimpse into the imagination of one of the horror genre's most creative and unique voices.

Inspection is so interesting. Dystopian with a mix of Divergent and Hunger Games. The idea of naming kids using only one alphabet letter is so futuristic in my mind. Do they name them this way to make them easier to forget? I know these boys and girls are intended for a higher purpose, but they are all expendable, too. The shock of discovering the existence of an opposite sex is just too much! I would be speechless and extremely curious. I found myself invested in the characters and the outcomes of their situations. I just had to keep reading until the end. It's a great read with a complexity I wasn't expecting as well as a thrilling vibe! Highly recommended! Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

While Inspection is only my second Josh Malerman, I’ve read enough and heard enough to know it is a crapshoot every time you pick up one of his books. With this author, you just never know what you’re going to get—an inevitable consequence of his creativity and unpredictable writing style. And unfortunately, this time I took a risk, but it didn’t pan out.

In a word, Inspection is strange. At the heart of this tale is a mad scientist couple seeking to raise a group of children to be the best that they can be, and in order to create these little geniuses, they have developed an experimental program called Parenthood and set up shop in the middle of the wilderness. As infants, twenty-six boys and twenty-six girls, each named for a letter of the alphabet, were placed in their respective facilities, separated by sex. Overseen by Richard, also known as D.A.D. to his charges, the Alphabet Boys have no idea that the girls exist—or any female, for that matter. Likewise, the Letter Girls who are tended by Marilyn, nicknamed M.O.M., are completely unaware of the existence of men or the outside world. Small differences in their education aside, both groups are raised without knowledge of the opposite sex, or any form of religion.

However, as the children gradually approach puberty, what happens when they start questioning their guardians and become more curious about the world around them? In the boys’ tower, 12-year-old J wants to be obedient and please his D.A.D., knowing that bad behavior gets children sent away to the “Corner” where they are never seen again. But at the same time, he can’t help but look out at the trees and imagine something more beyond. Meanwhile, in the girls’ tower, similar suspicions are starting to arise in K, whose boldness and intelligence has always led her to seek out answers. As expected, her quest for the truth eventually leads her to discover her male counterpart J, but it’s when their two storylines converge that things finally start to get interesting.

Still, as you can probably gather from the novel’s description alone, it’s complicated. To Malerman’s credit, his imagination knows no limits, and his ability to come up with these incredible ideas and push the boundaries of horror is what makes for fantastic reading for fans of the genre. I certainly don’t dispute the originality of Inspection, and I think that its premise makes for an intriguing thought experiment.

But that’s just it: this whole book is a singular great concept that sadly never materializes into anything I would call a coherent or engaging story. And yes, while I did say that things got interesting eventually, by the time it actually happens it was much too late. To call this book a slow-burn would be much too generous—it’s really more of a no-burn. If you were able to stay focused for the entire first half of the novel, then kudos to you. Unfortunately, I was unable to say the same, finding J’s depthless and rambling sections especially challenging to slog through. Only the occasional breaks provided by the perspective of Warren Bratt, an author hired to write all the “educational” books the Alphabet Boys read, kept me motivated enough to continue.

Also, calling this one a horror would be a bit of a stretch. It lacked the suspense and intensity I was expecting, which in turn fed into the slowness of the pacing. On another level, it put a distance between the reader and the characters, which made it even more difficulty to get into the story. Things looked up once we were introduced to K’s perspective, possibly because I felt Malerman gave her a more compelling personality, but again, this improvement felt inadequate, coming in much too late in the game. The bloodbath of the ending was almost laughable in its absurdity and desperation, mainly because by that point, I just couldn’t bring myself to care anymore.

Honestly, I don’t know what could have made the book better. Its innovativeness and originality notwithstanding, the premise alone kind of dooms the story, I think. Some ideas are just better on paper than in execution, and I believe Inspection is a prime example. While this probably won’t prevent me from trying more of Josh Malerman’s books because I will always be drawn to unique stories, but I’m sad to say I was sorely disappointed by this one.

INSPECTION is a wildly imaginative and thought-provoking tale!

What would happen if boys were raised without any knowledge of the opposite sex? That's the basic premise behind this book, (there's more to it, but I won't get spoiler-y.) Just think about that for a minute, think about what would be involved. How to explain where the boys came from, for instance? How to explain puberty and changes to the body? The answer to those questions and more is easy. You LIE. And what happens when those lies are discovered? You'll have to read INSPECTION to find out!

I've never read a story quite like this before. That's a good thing. Josh Malerman's work may not always work 100% for me, but at this point, I know that I can always count on him for an original tale.

There were a few moments when the narrative took a completely different direction, the first one worked for me and worked well. But the second one? Not so much. I didn't think that much of a change was totally believable and I deducted one star for that. Don't get me wrong: I did enjoy the denouement, but I don't think it will work for everyone.

I had a LOT of fun reading this and stayed up way too late last night to finish it. When I'm willing to sacrifice the next day at work, to stay up reading- because I just <b> have to know? </b> That's a sign of a great book to me, and if you decide to try out INSPECTION? It might be good to arrange to have the next day off.

Recommended!

*Thanks to Del-Rey and NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it.*

After reading Bird Box I knew I had to get my hands on this new title by Josh Malerman. I thoroughly enjoyed his previous ones and this one lived up to the hype. While this was more a slow burn till the last quarter or so I was still majorly engrossed by his writing. I enjoyed the use of alphabets for the children and showing just how detached the "parents" stayed.This novel was very unique and outside the box. While not as fast paced as Bird Box I really enjoyed it and his world building leading up to a fantastic finish!!!

A weird, fascinating, disturbing story about boys and girls raised in isolation, each kept in complete ignorance of the opposite sex, test subjects in a years-long experiment to see if being raised without distraction will yield geniuses. This book is crazy in the best sort of way!

Phew. How do I begin.... this is my third Malerman. I started with Bird Box which I loved... until the ending where I had some issues but a solid read and was then enthralled with his writing. Black Mad Wheel was my next and woah, this was quite the read but I again had issues with the ending. Then here comes Inspection and I could NOT help but request this because I'm utterly fascinated by Malerman's mind. Like dumbfounded and I can't quite get enough. This one had a bit of the opposite effect for me - I quite liked the ending but it was the rest of it that didn't quite hit the mark for me.

It took me 8 days to read this and if you know me, that is a long time to read a book for me. I kept putting it down but something kept making me pick it back up. Each Part got more and more interesting and like with all of his work, I just needed to know where the hell he was taking me. You definitely cannot expect to figure his books out and quite frankly that is what I adore about him as a writer. I just wish I could get fully satisfied with any of the reads. Now, maybe it's a good thing that I'm always a bit baffled and left confused and scratching my head like a monkey.

The concept of this is extremely cool. Two towers, two sets of children, named by the letters of the alphabet and set in quite the interesting world where there's a bit of a regiment. But like with any experiment, something is bound to go wrong.. I mean, this is where we learn from our mistakes right?

I don't know you guys. I can't quite put my finger on it. I don't quite put this in the horror category but there is that underlying sinister tone I felt throughout the read - it just never flourished into a big ... anything... for me to really feel its bite.

Regardless, I'll still pick up anything by Malerman. Why? Because as aforementioned, his mind INTRIGUES ME GREATLY. I give all the props to him for his uniqueness as all of his books are distinctively different from each other... so I have high hopes the next one will take a chunk out of my horror heart.

Thanks to the publisher and to Netgalley for the free ebook copy in exchange for my honest review.

I'll start by saying that there is no doubt Malerman knows how to weave an incredibly unique story with plenty of creepy elements in it. Something that is always refreshing for avid readers of the horror and thriller genres. INSPECTION is definitely a slower burn read, so that is something I think is good to know when you pick this up.

J is a student at an isolated and prestigious school for boys. He's only ever known men and their headmaster they see as their father (appropriately known as D.A.D). On the other end of this forest is a similar school for girls. K is a student that is been having the same questions as J - is there more outside this school? Why aren't they allowed to leave?

After seeing some reviews and talking to other readers about this one there is more and more that I'm noticing that may not have felt so prominent when I was reading. The concept of the book, as I stated, is very unique and you have give credit to Malerman for always coming up with something new and inventive. I think this was more so the execution that didn't quite work for me. I think the pacing kind of threw off the sinister vibe I was hoping for, I mean, schools stranded in the middle of the woods? Sounds like it could be incredibly scary and isolated. I will say, that I loved the ending. I wasn't expecting it and I think he did a great job tying everything together (without it being too perfect).

If you're a fan of suspense novels and a little apprehensive about diving into horror, then this is a good one to start with. I will continue to pick up Malerman's other books and I look forward to seeing what others thought!

A thought experiment takes place in a remote wooded area: in one tower, 26 boys, named a-z, are "raised" by their D.A.D. to be super geniuses through rigorous study and shelter from the outside world. In another tower, 26 girls, raised by M.O.M., to be geniuses, also sheltered. The boys and girls know nothing of the others' existence...or that there's such a thing as "the opposite sex." All goes to plan until around the boys' and girls' 12th birthdays, when two children, J (boy) and J (girl) begin questioning their existence, which stands to threaten their lives, and the entire Alphabet Children endeavor.

Inspection is literary fiction that reads like dystopia, the prose slowly burning, revealing only what is necessary to readers, and to the characters, as the stories of J and K unfold. While the characters' names consist of only one letter, their personalities and traits are well developed, their inner thoughts laid bare to us. Engaging, suspenseful, and brutal, Inspection may just be Josh Malerman's best work to date. It will surely be on a number of "best of 2019" lists when the time comes!

Ok, so I’m probably one of the few readers out there that actually has not yet read Bird Box. I’ve certainly wanted to after seeing tons and tons of readers that loved it and now going on to make it to the screen with a major actress like Sandra Bullock. So when seeing that Inspection by Josh Malerman was coming out I wanted to beat the masses and read the next hit first…well….not so much.

Inspection really feels more dystopian than horror which to me shouldn’t be a bad thing as I love a good dystopian read too but only when the creativity of the world is blended well with plenty of action and intrigue. Inspection had the creativity but seemed to stall out there with an incredibly slow pace which leads to me losing interest and not becoming invested.

The idea behind Inspection of having boys named with all the letters of the alphabet and raised by D.A.D then finding out about girls in a separate location and their M.O.M. had potential. The whole thing gave me a bit of a Maze Runner vibe so I had high hopes but instead finished with more of a bah humbug feeling than excitement. I won’t let this deter me from trying Josh Malerman again but Inspection was only so-so to me.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

This was a pretty average thriller for me. It wasn't superb, but it wasn't terrible either. There just wasn't anything outstanding for me. The dystopian feel of the plot was interesting, but nothing else seemed to grab my attention or coerce me to continue reading.
Generally, I enjoy thrillers that have some kind of wow factor. Engrossing characters, an engaging plot, exceptional writing, or any other factor that would compel to read. If a thriller has at least one of these, then I'll usually enjoy it. This book did not have any of these factors.
This could be a good read if your new to thrillers and enjoy thrillers with aspects of science fiction or dystopia.
*This book was given to me by Net Galley for review purposes.*

This is a good three star. I enjoyed the book. It reads like a dystopian but it isn’t. I liked that we are thrown into the Turret without any knowledge of what is going on and where they are etc. Information is doled out a little at a time and you figure things out as you go. The pacing was a little slow for me at times. Overall though it is an interesting story with a little suspense and mystery.

Rating: ★★★★★

Review:

Thanks to Del Rey Books and the author for an advance review copy of Inspection in exchange for an honest review. Receiving this ARC in no way influenced my thoughts or opinions on the novel.

But if there was one thing the Parenthood taught them, it was that a boy and a girl couldn’t be brave unless they were scared of something to begin with.

I’m sure most of you have, by now, seen Bird Box on Netflix. It was only a world-wide phenomenon for the streaming service, a great depiction of a fantastic story, and an excuse for several people to blindfold themselves while doing daily tasks.
But ask those of us who read the novel before a movie was even being discussed, and we would tell you what a magnificent work it was, how Malerman deserved a movie deal, and how we couldn’t wait to see what would come next from the author.

Well, here is the next big thing in Malerman’s catalog. Though I enjoyed Unbury Carol and have yet to get to Black Mad Wheel, just the synopsis of Inspection had me hook, line, and sinker. And now, having binged through the novel over the past couple of days, I can safely say this is the author’s best work to date. The absolute originality of the story, the craftsmanship that went into holding my undivided attention, and the surreptitious reality of the characters’ situations blew me the f^*k away.

Malerman’s use of the written word and the punctuation within paragraphs to fine-tune the pace, along with the capitalization of key words in certain situations just kept you wanting more. He had me at every turn, craving to know what happens next; buying time when possible to just read one more page.

One more page…just one more.

What happens, Warren wondered… when a man feels so much guilt that he must perform self-surgery, must remove it from his body? And what does that man do with it once it’s gone? And what does he do with the empty space?

His world-building is claustrophobic yet there is this huge world yet to be explored, and the characters will have your emotions performing back-flips. Not since King’s The Loser’s Club has a group of kids had me so engaged in their story, their fight for survival and truth.

I can continue on for days about how Inspection gave me the ride of my life, but I’ll just let you find out for yourself why this book is so special.