At first Marisha Pessl's horror-mystery Night Film tries a little too hard to draw you in. The book is quick to showcase whatever documents the characters are looking at: police reports, websites, newspaper clippings. This could be fun texture if done right but these extras don't show us anything that isn't covered in the narrative (and with their glossy stock photos they look like something from a '90s computer game). Luckily, as the book goes on these intrusions become less prominent and the story is able to shine on its own. When Ashley, daughter of a famous horror director, kills herself, three super-fans join forces to find out the truth behind her death. The best thing about the book is that it always takes the weirdest route to its destination. Even when it's at its scariest, it's hard to not grin at how much pulpy fun it is.
