If you like the “Living Doll” episode of The Twilight Zone (and who
doesn’t?), you may like Ms. Jensen’s work. Her style is a cross between Rod
Serling, Virginia Andrews, and John Saul. Her stories are populated with evil
dolls, creepy and psychologically violated children, twisted figures of
authority, and ancient curses. Below all that, a deeply subversive current
runs, and that is the key to her unique oeuvre. The troubling tone of
Ms. Jensen’s work has always held great appeal to me, as have the strange,
fairy tale-like covers of the publisher.
She is rarely mentioned by industry stalwarts, she doesn’t get Stephen King
cover raves, and she is sometimes dismissed by “serious” commentators on the
genre. Personally, I find her to be highly underrated and a well kept, “dirty
secret” (in a good way).
August 10, 2009
