American Crow by Ryan Burruss
Counterpoint (October 6, 2026)
Reviewed by Janelle Janson
American Crow was such an interesting read, even if it didn’t completely hold me all the way through.
Set in 1952 in Brookshire, Maryland, the story follows a newly built suburb full of World War II veterans and their families. On the surface, it’s the postwar American dream: new houses, families, stability, and a chance to start over. Underneath all of that are people carrying trauma, anger, nightmares, violence, and things they’d much rather keep buried.
Then, a mysterious bookbinder shows up, leaving handmade books around the neighborhood, books that seem to know the secrets people are trying to hide. From there, the story gets increasingly strange and supernatural.
One of my favorite things about American Crow was the close-knit community feel. There’s a strong sense that everyone in Brookshire is carrying something beneath the surface, and the secrets hidden behind those tidy suburban homes give the story a lot of its tension. The plot itself also feels really unique, and the whole bookbinder-and-secret-books set up immediately pulled me in.
The writing was the biggest highlight for me. It’s literary, atmospheric, and beautiful without feeling overly dense. I could easily see this working for readers who normally gravitate toward historical fiction, or even people who love classics and enjoy a more traditional style of prose.
The first half was the strongest part of the book for me. This is definitely a slow burn, and I started to lose some interest around the halfway point. As the story went on, the central theme around trauma and the supernatural started to feel a little cliche.
There are some Stephen King vibes here, especially in the close-knit community, damaged characters, and the way something supernatural works its way into problems that are already there. But American Crow still feels very much like its own thing.
Even with those issues, I’m glad I read it. Burruss can absolutely write, and there’s a lot here to admire, especially in the atmosphere, setting, and character work.
If you’re a fan of slow-burn supernatural fiction, historical fiction, small-town secrets, or more literary horror, I’d still recommend picking up American Crow.
