Despite the title creeping me out, I have to say that "The Insect Farm" will no doubt be on my list of the most chilling novels I've ever read.  Yes, there was some talk of insects, but that was not the story. Two brothers, born six years apart. The younger brother, Jonathan, adored his older brother when he was small. A brother that always wanted to play with him, do things he wanted to do. However, as the years passed, Jonathan's brother Roger never really matured. Roger has an intellectual disability and functioned at about the age of eight years. He is a simple man now. A man who loves his daily routines, and has an obsession with insects. The small ant farm his father provided him with as a childhood pastime has now morphed into an elaborate 'insect farm' that filled an entire shed. He is quite obsessed with his little creatures and has created a world that fills all his free time - when he is not at his school for people with special needs. Jonathan, on the other hand, is very intelligent and has gone off to university. While at uni he met and fell in love with Harriet, a musician. One day, during term time, he gets a phone call to say that his parents have perished in a tragic house fire. Knowing that Roger needs someone to live with him and care for him, Jonathan dropped out of university and went back to his home town to set up new living accommodations for himself and Roger. He was honouring a promise that he made to his parents years ago, that he would care for Roger when they were no longer able to do so. He marries Harriet at a quickly planned civil ceremony, and starts work at a local library. Meanwhile, the lovely Harriet returns to university. They make their long-distance relationship work and look forward to seeing each other whenever they can. Jonathan though, is a deeply jealous man and abhors the thoughts of Harriet meeting people and having fun at university. Life throws Jonathan a life-altering curve ball. To say more would, no doubt, ruin the experience for prospective readers. In my opinion, the prologue of this novel should have been an epilogue. In the years after this unthinkable occurrence, we follow the mundane, though guilt-ridden years as the two brothers age. As year follows year, we wonder if Roger is more cannily intelligent than he appears. The affection and loyalty shared by the brothers is ever present. But, we wonder if Jonathan and Roger trust each other...  We the reader knows that one of the brothers is a murderer... Which one? Though I was not surprised at the grand reveal, this book did chill me to the bone. I was unsure whether to pity the brothers, or to fear them. The author did a fantastic job with his characterization and descriptions. The ending was haunting and will remain in my memory.  A cleverly constructed thriller. Highly recommended! 4.5 stars rounded up