BLACK HISTORY 365: The Between
3 min read
By Tananarive Due
Black History Yesterday, Today, and Forever: Feb 2nd Tananarive Due: A Trailblazer in Black Horror and Afrofuturism
“Black history is Black horror.”
Tananarive Due is one of the most influential voices in modern Black horror and speculative fiction. A master storyteller, Due has spent decades crafting chilling narratives that blend supernatural horror with deeply personal and social themes. Her work explores race, identity, trauma, and the supernatural, making her a leading figure in contemporary horror and Afrofuturism.

Book Review: The Between by Tananarive Due
A Psychological Horror That Crawls Under Your Skin
Tananarive Due’s The Between (1995) is a masterclass in psychological horror, blending supernatural dread with the real-life anxieties of Black existence in America. As her debut novel, it laid the groundwork for her reputation as one of the most compelling voices in modern Black horror.
Plot Overview (No Spoilers)
Hilton James should have died when he was a child. He nearly drowned in the ocean, but a mysterious twist of fate—or something far more sinister—granted him a second chance at life. Now, years later, Hilton is a devoted husband, father, and social worker, but his life begins unraveling after his wife, Dede, a judge, starts receiving racist death threats.
Hilton’s past and present blur as he suffers from terrifying nightmares, memory blackouts, and visions of his own impending doom. Is he losing his mind, or is something supernatural at play? As the walls between reality and nightmare collapse, Hilton must confront the question: Did he ever truly survive as a child, or has he been living on borrowed time?
What Makes The Between Stand Out
Blending Horror with Reality – Due doesn’t just scare you with ghosts and supernatural forces—she taps into real fears: racism, mortality, and the fragility of the mind. The novel’s horror is both psychological and deeply social, exploring the stress of navigating a world that is already against you A Different Kind of Haunting – Unlike traditional haunted house stories, The Between is about being haunted by your own life, your past, and the inexplicable forces that dictate your fate Powerful, Lyrical Writing – Due’s prose is gripping, pulling you into Hilton’s unraveling psyche with vivid descriptions and tension that tightens like a noose Unreliable Reality – Readers will constantly question what’s real and what’s imagined, making for a suspenseful and mind-bending experience.
Who Should Read It?
Fans of psychological horror and supernatural suspense, Readers who enjoyed The Shining by Stephen King or Beloved by Toni Morrison, Anyone looking for Black horror that isn’t just about the supernatural but also about real-world fears
Final Verdict: 5/5 Stars
The Between is an unforgettable, chilling debut that cements Tananarive Due as a literary force. If you love horror that lingers in your mind long after you’ve turned the last page, this book is for you.
Discussion Time
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