The Shining Girls- Lauren Beukes & NOS4A2- Joe Hill

How many books about an anachronistic killer of women who is guided by magical objects to his victims can a person reasonably read? One apparently, at least without having the second feel somewhat a slog.  I read NOS4A2 first and, for that reason alone probably, liked it more than the Shining Girls.  The differences are relatively minimal, mostly boiling down to the fact that Beuke’s book has more literary pretensions, while Hill’s is more unabashedly horror.  If I had to chose one (and you should if you are so inclined to read either, there’s a limit to the pleasures of this type), the slight edge goes to NOS4A2 as the more fun read.