“I like this one,” I said. “It feels like home already.”

Theme Music is what every thriller/horror novelist wishes they could write.

It's obscure, unapologetic and knife-wielding. The author's writing is extremely sharp it terrified me. And that rarely occurs.
Without further ado, welcome to the Wheeler House.
The layout of this place is so wonderfully detailed throughout the story and, just like any of the characters that dwell inside it, has an extraordinarily haunting sense of self.

From Dixie's recollection, this is the house where her father grabbed an axe and massacred her family at the breakfast table as Badfinger's Baby Blue played in the background.
Little does she know that coming back to her childhood home, twenty five years later, will dredge up sinister memories and, most importantly, the awful truth of what really happened on the day of her family's massacre.

This book is truly boundary-breaking. It just knew how to be a thriller and a horror novel. In her debut, Vandelly proves herself as a master of both.
I enjoyed everything that came after the final revelation. It felt like something out of a Wes Craven movie.

The horror element explains the aftermath of our heroine's past trauma and how it psychologically affects her in the present. It also felt almost necessary. I doubt that the lack of this genre in this book would've reached the same purpose or engraved the same emotions into the reader.

What was also interesting was the horror of the ways Dixie's guilt -as to her father singling her out as the sole survivor of her family's murder - manifested itself. I've seen my share of horror movies, but this book went beyond; what's more terrifying than our worst nightmares infiltrating themselves into our real lives?

Theme Music by T. Marie Vandellay
Available now
Content warning: Seriously gruesome and detailed descriptions of violence and violence against children.
Theme Music is one of the most banapants books I’ve read this year. When Dixie Wheeler’s family home comes up for sale, she jumps on the chance to buy it back. But Dixie’s house is a stigmatized property; it’s the house where her father brutally murdered her entire family when she was only 1 year old. Leaving out this key fact from her boyfriend Garrett leads to Dixie moving in to the house on her own. With the help of crime scene photos and an uncle who died leaving the contents of the house in storage, Dixie meticulously reconstructs the house as it was before the murders. Strange noises, objects moving around the house, and an overwhelming feeling of oppression lead Dixie to believe that the house may be haunted by her murdered family members. When a reporter comes to the house seeking an interview, Dixie’s reaction triggers a life altering series of events that will lead Dixie to question her entire childhood and everything about her family’s murders.
This is one of those books that’s really hard to discuss without giving out any spoilers. T. Marie Vandellay does an impeccable job of keeping you wondering page after page about what the hell is going on?!? Is Dixie dealing with a mental illness? Is her family trying to communicate from beyond the grave? If her father didn’t murder her father as some believe, who did? Why? There were a few parts that I had to suspend belief and the dialogue was a little stilted in parts, but overall it was a horror-filled, suspenseful page turner.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions are my own.

I really wanted to love this book, but it fell a little flat for me. The subject was definitely interesting, and I couldn't wait to read this. The main character wasn't very likable, and I feel like if she would have been developed a bit differently, this book could have been great.

A Chilling Murder Haunts a Young Woman’s Life

On Thanksgiving morning, Dixie Wheeler’s father killed her brothers and mother with an ax before slitting his own throat. Seated in her highchair, Dixie witnessed the whole thing, but at twenty-seven she still can’t remember exactly what happened. Her life has been haunted by the killings even as an adult she can’t quite believe her father could have done such a thing.

In spite of her mental health issues, Dixie is finally in a stable relationship with Garrett. They’ve been living together and now plan for permanence and want to buy a house. Although she knows she shouldn’t, Dixie can’t help visiting one of the houses for sale. It’s the house where her family was murdered. Against Garrett’s wishes, Dixie moves into the house and furnishes it with all the furniture stored by her aunt and uncle from the time of the murders.

Once she moves in, strange things begin to happen. Are the ghosts of her family trying to contact her, or is she losing her mind? The longer she lives in the house the more she wonders if her father was the murderer. Now she needs to revive the old case to find out.

The plot is a clever twist on the murder of an entire family. However, be prepared for plenty of blood from the prologue until the end. I didn’t mind it, but it is rather violent. Dixie is a character it’s sometimes hard to understand. She has a wry wit that is amusing, but at times her mental state seems out of control.

I was disappointed in the police investigation from the original murders. It seemed so riddled with errors as to be unbelievable. It’s also fairly easy to guess what happened, because there are so few living characters. Still it’s an engrossing read.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

The tone of this book doesn't fit the subject matter. Dixie is too glib and sarcastic to really sell the premise of the story: ghosts, murder, possession, haunting, etc. From the very beginning, the style of writing put me off balance, sounding like how a teenager embellishes the true crime documentary they watched over the weekend when they recount the grisly details for their friends. And this is supposed to be a character we not only understand but support? Plus, we very quickly dive into the usual thriller tropes: alcohol abuse, hallucinations (or other miscellaneous unreliability in our narrator), forced isolation. Plus, as she interacts with characters from the gruesome mass murder that kicks off the whole thing, the conversations are forced and don't make sense. If Dixie was more believable, I could get behind this book (honestly, the premise sounds cool) but as it stands, it's not for me. It wasn't scary or gruesome or even thrilling; Dixie was just a whiny stereotype at the center of what could have been a great story..

Synopsis: Dixie has a very heavy past. Her entire family was slaughtered when she was merely 18-months old. The killer - her father, who took his life as well. Now a grown adult, she still struggles with finding closure with everything that happened and when she stumbles across a real estate listing for her old family home, she decides to give living there a shot. But the dark history this house holds proves to be affecting Dixie. Can she find the closure she needs or will this house lead her to a similar fate that ended the lives of all her family members?

This plot is incredibly intriguing. I'm okay with gory, horror thrillers. And this is exactly what it was. I also love semi-cold cases that are revisited with new eyes and explored. It was a wild and dark ride to follow Dixie into the past and see what "actually" happened to her family.

But what bothered me was the maturity level of Dixie - or should I say lack-there-of. She just seemed too unreliable. There were parts of this book that were visibly horrific that asked for a reaction out of Dixie; and either Dixie related too dramatically or too sterilely that you couldn't get a grasp of her emotional state (it waivered too much).

And in fact, this immaturity was present in the police investigation and most other relationships in the book. A lot of the procedural elements of this case/crime were too basic and too novice. As someone who reads a lot of procedural crime novels, it seemed a bit farfetched and lazy that there wasn't more effort exerted by the detectives.

Ultimately, it was okay. If you are squeamish about gory and horror, then I very firmly suggest you don't pick this up, It is very visual in descriptive language about the deaths of Dixie's family.

It definitely kept me reading from beginning to end, except at night. I couldn't read this book at night. (I'm a scaredy-cat.) The descriptions of the murders are very graphic. So be prepared for a lot of blood and gore. Theme Music kept me guessing the whole way through. I thought quite a few different conclusions, but I didn't see the ending coming as it did.

If you like ghost stories and murder mysteries, then this psychological thriller is for you.

I received an ARC of this book for my own review.
I loved this book. It was an edge of your seat psychological thriller. The pages kept turning and I could not put it down. It was riveting, I didn't figure it out till the reveal. Just a really good book.

I received this Kindle Edition of Theme Music from Penguin Group Dutton and NetGalley in exchange for my review.

Dixie Wheeler was the sole survivor of her family’s murder on Thanksgiving morning. While the family was having breakfast, her father went outside and got an axe. He killed his wife and three sons and before he committed suicide. The press nicknamed her “Baby Blue” because of the song that was playing on a continuous loop when she was found.

In a gruesome desire to connect with her family, she moves in to the house 25 years later. Dixie painstakingly recreates the decor with their salvaged furniture, using old family photos as her guide.

She is torn between believing her father was innocent, and convincing herself that he not only was guilty, but that his ghost is still evil. She obsessively pours over crime scene photos and recreates the bloody scenes in her mind repeatedly. Her behavior alienates her boyfriend and her family. Dixie can’t stop her erratic thoughts.

The story is gruesome and graphic. Unfortunately, this book was too dark for me and it is the first time that I could not finish reading an ARC. *Despite the fact that it was gory, it kept pulling me in. I may pick this one up again soon. Perhaps a beach read as opposed to a bedtime read? You know, so I can sleep!*

If true crime and supernatural heebie jeebies are your jam, then this is the book for you. Yes, it’s a novel, not true crime, but it reads like true crime in a lot of ways as it unravels what happened the day Dixie Wheeler’s family was slaughtered in their kitchen.

When Dixie moves back into her childhood home as an adult, and begins sifting through what really happened to her family, an insane, creepy, gore-filled spiral begins, making you question Dixie, everyone she knows, and yourself. There are moments that are truly terrifying and moments that will make you question the wisdom of having a snack while reading, and all of those moments add up to a book that is fun to read, even as it breaks your heart and turns your stomach.

I received a free e-copy of Theme Music by T. Marie Vandelly from Net Galley and Dutton Books in exchange for my review.

The thought of moving into a house where a mass murder took place is terrifying to me. Especially if the victims of the massacre were my family. However, this is the scenario Dixie Wheeler has willingly placed herself in.   

At the age of one, Dixie Wheeler suffered an unimaginable loss which has haunted and shaped her life. She is the sole survivor of her family’s murder at the hand of her father. When Dixie’s family home and the scene of the massacre is listed for sale, her longing for a connection with her family outweighs her common sense – she moves in. Very soon the house begins to feel as if it has a life of its own. Drawing Dixie farther away from reality. Will Dixie be able to confront her demons before they consume her?

To say that Dixie has had it rough would be an understatement. From the age of one the cards have been stacked against her. While she has managed to lead a fairly normal and productive life, her life seems stunted. Almost as if she is stuck in neutral. Although she was raised by her aunt who loves her, there is something lacking from her life - an emptiness. This emptiness is palpable. Readers will experience Dixie’s loneliness and isolation. Although she is in a committed relationship and has familial support, seclusion and sadness still linger. I found Dixie frustrating but I could not help feeling sympathetic. I understood her need to move into her old family home, but I also thought it was incredibly foolish. The competing feelings of frustration and sympathy made Dixie intriguing and complex. My absolute favorite reads always feature a lead character who made me feel multiple emotions. Dixie Wheeler is great example of a multifaceted and complex character.

I cannot wrap up this review without discussing Dixie’s childhood home. One would assume the home is creepy and dark. However the house has been renovated and modernized to appeal to buyers. Vandelly describes doors which do not close and strange noises, but these things are not what make the house seem haunted. Instead Dixie’s feelings, the changes in her behavior, and character development are what make the house sinister and eerie.

Theme Music contains many special quirks which culminate into a riveting and original work of crime fiction. I have read several books which attempt to blend horror and crime fiction. There are few authors who get it right, Vandelly got it right. Although the pacing was a bit slow at times, the story simmers with tension. By incorporating the perfect balance of elements from both crime fiction and horror, Theme Music will satisfy fans of both genres.

Murder and Moore Rating:
4 out of 5 Stars

Just finished this, thanks to @Netgalley. I must warn you, this book is intense and extremely disturbing at times!! It kept me guessing until the end, and I had to put it down sometimes because I was just too creeped out. That doesn’t happen to me with books very often. Here is the synopsis:

Dixie was just a baby when she was the only surviving member of her immediate family. They were all axed to death in a blood bath that she has no memory of. Now an adult, Dixie decides to rent the house it happened in, get her family’s belongings out of storage and recreate the scene. She’s hoping that by looking into the case, she can find some closure and move on. Unfortunately, unseen forces within the house don’t want her to forget and strange things begin to happen within the home: belongings disappear, Dixie loses time, strange sounds and visions begin to haunt her. As she digs deeper into the case and people around her begin to disappear, it becomes clear that the past isn’t going to let her forget.

The creep factor is 10000000% and I give this book a very solid 4.5 stars!!!! If you are brave enough, READ THIS BOOK!! It will keep you up at night, in more ways than one!!

Firstly fair warning to anything picking it up. It is pretty gory. I found it was done in a way that mostly still served the story so I was able to push past it but it may turn some people off.
This book had me hooked from the very begging. It reminded me of a Stephen King novel. The book is fast paced and with a well developed main character. The book did such a good job of keeping you on your toes. Just how off the deep end has Dixie gone? I thought I had figured out where this book was going but then it kept throwing curve balls at me which I loved.
This is one horror fans should not miss.

As a debut novel for this author, I would say it was definitely a home run! I was throughly engrossed and couldn’t wait to see what was coming next.

This book is full of suspense and kept me on the edge of my seat! Five stars! Highly recommend!

I saw this book posted all over Goodreads in people's to read piles.
The title of the book didn't exactly catch my eye but the description did. Especially it being this authors debut novel I had to read it! This is my first NetGalley booked I've read and I'm SO happy I did.

First of all, it kept me going from word one. I love the way she has told this story and of course building up to the ending was the best I've read in a long time.
Dixie is a great character although she did have some some confusing bumps in the road. I do wish Garrett was more involved in the entire story.
I can't wait to read more of this author's stories. Thank you NetGalley for such a great book.

Before reading this book I do want to let my fellow readers know there are extremely graphic violence descriptions of murder scenes and narration about it as well! Dixie Wheeler lost her entire family to a brutal murder on Thanksgiving Day. The murder took place in the kitchen by her own father who then killed himself. Dixie who was a baby was unharmed and found sitting in her high chair covered in blood by her oldest brothers friend who also happened to be a neighbor. She was taken in by her aunt and uncle and they raised her. She’s forever known as baby blue after the name of the song that was playing when the police came and rescued her. Twenty five years later Dixie is still baring the emotional scars of the events that took place in her childhood even though she was to young to remember what took place. Searching the internet for a home to purchase with her boyfriend she stumbles across her childhood home where her father murdered her family. The house has been renovated. Dixie decides to move into the home a rent to own situation , she hopes moving in will bring some memories back and possibly help her deal with some of the demons that still haunt her. Once she moves in she starts unraveling, she decorates the house to resemble what it look like while her family live there , including some of the actual furniture they had , she begins to notice odd things happening in the house slamming doors missing items, is the haunted or is she losing her mind? As Dixie gets closer to uncovering the truth behind the murders ghosts from her past appear and she starts to wonder did her father really murder her family and is she losing her mind? Oh my gosh this book was everything!! The writing completely consumed me the main character had me just as confused as she was! The story had me hooked I can’t say enough I give this five stars and more!

This book is majorly creepy and disturbing, and I couldn’t put it down. Dixie Wheeler, now in her 20s, was just a baby when her entire family was murdered in front of her by her father, who then committed suicide. Dixie moves into her old house where the murders took place and things get...weird. Is the house haunted? Is Dixie not the person she appears to be? This book has gore and a very suspenseful ending, it isn’t for people who dislike horror books. But I enjoyed this creepy story and how it wrapped up.

I was so excited to get an early copy of Theme Music. Then I read it, and now I'm excited that it's over.

I'll start by telling you the things I liked. The writing style is engaging and the pace is quick.

Yup, that's it. Now the things I didn't like.

We have an entire cast of unlikable and/or seriously stupid characters. I know I should've felt empathy for Dixie, but I couldn't because her personality grated on my nerves throughout the entire story. Yet every single person she encounters accepts and/or excuses her erratic, strange, rude, questionable, totally insane behavior. Her boyfriend is a doormat. The woman living next door is a combination of a Stepford Wife and Ned Flanders. Her extended family rivals The Hillbillies and the retired cop treats her like a precious, fragile doll. It was all too much.

When we got to the first major twist, I was relieved she'd finally figured it out because I was tired of shouting it at her as I read.

The detectives who handled the original case had to be lazy and/or dumb, and we never see much, if any, investigation into the current disappearances and murders.

The plot is wholly implausible.

The ending made me shout, "Seriously?!", and I probably made a lot of facial expressions reflecting feelings that are inappropriate to describe here.

Of course, this is just my opinion. I don't like peanut butter, but that doesn't mean no one else does.

Amazing from the very first page, this thrilling novel had a huge grip on me from the beginning to the end. And wouldn't let go for days afterwards.

Promising idea, but missed the mark for me...

I was initially drawn in with the graphic subject matter, but the pacing, unlikeable characters, and the easy to solve whodunnit aspect had me skimming the second half of the book. The middle was especially sluggish, as I felt like it comprised mostly of Dixie wandering around her family home and not being at all concerned with the fact that she was hallucinating her dismembered family members in front of her!

Overall, a disappointing debut and not one I'd recommend.