Tag: supernatural

The Twisted Dead (Gravekeeper #3) by Darcy Coates #paranormal #bookreview #suspense

On By Teri PolenIn Book Reviews29 Comments

Keira is ready for her life to return to normal. Though, to be fair, normal is a tall ask when your ability to see ghosts has landed you the job of groundskeeper in a small town’s cemetery.

When Keira receives an invitation to dinner at Dane Crispin’s crumbling ancestral estate, she knows she can’t refuse. The last living descendant of the Crispin family is reclusive. Keira only met him once…on the night he tried to kill her.

The mansion is steeped in history that is equal parts complicated and bloody. Keira senses the presence of restless spirits the moment she steps through its door. And Dane, waiting for her inside, wants to ask for her help. 

Although I missed the first book (I read book two and this is the third) in this series, that hasn’t prevented me from keeping up with what went on. The author does a good job of including details that bring the reader up to speed.

I recently read that Coates’s books can be categorized as cozy horror/paranormal. To me, cozies are those mysteries with adorable covers (especially when cats are included) and clever titles. When I read the reasoning behind it being classified that way, it made sense. There’s a mystery, a paranormal element, humor (seriously, Zoe should moonlight as a comedian), and no gore. I think even non-horror fans could appreciate this series.

A lot of things are happening in this novel. There’s progress in the ongoing story arc of who Keira actually is. She learns more about Artec and why she’s on the run from them. Mason’s reason for leaving medical school in his last year is revealed. And Dane Crispin may not be the baddie he seems – he may just be misunderstood. Considering he tried to kill Keira the last time they met, she takes a leap of faith in accepting his dinner invitation and helping him.

The slow burn romance, I’m talking glacier pace here, between Mason and Keira continues. Apparently they need to be hit over the head (maybe by Zoe, who has no filter) to realize how the other feels, because it seems obvious to everyone else. Harry, a very…eccentric character, also gets more page time, and I adore his dry humor.

This isn’t the last book, so I’ll be keeping an eye out for the next one. If you’re a fan of eerie, atmospheric books with a mystery, you can’t go wrong with this series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Spite House by Johnny Compton #paranormal #horror #TuesdayBookBlog

On By Teri PolenIn Book Reviews18 Comments

Eric Ross is on the run from a mysterious past with his two daughters in tow. Having left his wife, his house, his whole life behind in Maryland, he’s desperate for money–it’s not easy to find safe work when you can’t provide references, you can’t stay in one place for long, and you’re paranoid that your past is creeping back up on you.

When he comes across the strange ad for the Masson House in Degener, Texas, Eric thinks they may have finally caught a lucky break. The Masson property, notorious for being one of the most haunted places in Texas, needs a caretaker of sorts. The owner is looking for proof of paranormal activity. All they need to do is stay in the house and keep a detailed record of everything that happens there. Provided the house’s horrors don’t drive them all mad, like the caretakers before them.

The job calls to Eric, not just because there’s a huge payout if they can make it through, but because he wants to explore the secrets of the spite house. If it is indeed haunted, maybe it’ll help him understand the uncanny power that clings to his family, driving them from town to town, making them afraid to stop running. A terrifying Gothic thriller about grief and death and the depths of a father’s love, Johnny Compton’s The Spite House is a stunning debut by a horror master in the making.

I have a weakness for haunted house stories – especially atmospheric Gothic ones. When I was sent the NetGalley widget for this novel, I immediately downloaded it.

Unemployed Eric Ross and his daughters, eighteen-year-old Dess and seven-year-old Stacy, are on the run. For the past year, they’ve lived in cheap hotels and moved around every few days. Eric picks up odd jobs here and there where no one asks questions. Looking over their shoulder and being paranoid are now habits. Even young Stacy has been trained on an escape plan. When Eric receives an offer to stay in the Masson House, supposedly one of the most haunted places in the state, and keep a record of paranormal activity, he accepts the job. The money is almost too good to be true and will relieve their financial stress. Now he and his family just have to survive.

I didn’t get a strong Gothic vibe from this story, but it sure provides unnerving, atmospheric scenes. Shadows in corners, disembodied voices, possible spirit possessions, creepy ghost children, doors opening and closing on their own – all good things for horror/paranormal fans. Even though Eric is frightened, he puts his family first and is determined to stick it out and earn the small fortune promised if he completes the job. He’s a pretty stubborn guy and very protective of his daughters. Stacy’s ability to see and communicate with some of the spirits will send tingles down your spine.

While reading, I kept wondering what happened to send this family on the run, and when the reason is casually mentioned in a sentence, I immediately halted and said “Wait – what?????” It’s a shocker, folks. I’d also never heard of a spite house, but it’s a building constructed or modified solely to annoy the neighbors. I did a Google search, and there are several across the country.

This is an impressive debut, and an author to watch for horror/paranormal fans. I’m excited to see what Compton does next.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Bad Cree by Jessica Johns #bookreview #supernatural #horror

On By Teri PolenIn Book Reviews23 Comments

In this gripping debut tinged with supernatural horror, a young Cree woman’s dreams lead her on a perilous journey of self-discovery that ultimately forces her to confront the toll of a legacy of violence on her family, her community and the land they call home.

When Mackenzie wakes up with a severed crow’s head in her hands, she panics. Only moments earlier she had been fending off masses of birds in a snow-covered forest. In bed, when she blinks, the head disappears.

Night after night, Mackenzie’s dreams return her to a memory from before her sister Sabrina’s untimely death: a weekend at the family’s lakefront campsite, long obscured by a fog of guilt. But when the waking world starts closing in, too–a murder of crows stalks her every move around the city, she wakes up from a dream of drowning throwing up water, and gets threatening text messages from someone claiming to be Sabrina–Mackenzie knows this is more than she can handle alone.

Traveling north to her rural hometown in Alberta, she finds her family still steeped in the same grief that she ran away to Vancouver to escape. They welcome her back, but their shaky reunion only seems to intensify her dreams–and make them more dangerous.

What really happened that night at the lake, and what did it have to do with Sabrina’s death? Only a bad Cree would put their family at risk, but what if whatever has been calling Mackenzie home was already inside?

On page one, a young Cree woman awakens with a crow’s head in her hand. Tell me that doesn’t get a horror fan’s blood pumping. When Mackenzie blinks, the head disappears. Was it real? Just her imagination? Something she carried over from her nightmare?

Mackenzie is still grieving her sister’s death a year ago. She’s also carrying guilt from not traveling home for the funeral. Soon the dreams about a night before her sister died become overwhelming, and Mackenzie goes home for help in dealing with them. I immediately loved her family – loud, occasionally obnoxious, a little pushy, and unconditionally loving and supportive. The dreams don’t stop, but at least she’s surrounded by people who can help her work through them and offer insight. The mention of Cree beliefs, customs and traditions fascinated me, and I wouldn’t have minded more.

Gold stars to the author for the creepy imagery – it really grabbed me. The crow’s head in chapter one started with a bang, but pacing ebbed and flowed for me in places. Occasionally the plot lingered too long in a certain scene, and it pulled me from the story. But not the ending. It was very vivid and atmospheric – and also bittersweet.

Bad Cree is undoubtedly a horror story, but it’s also about a loving family dealing with overwhelming grief. I’ll definitely be looking for future titles by this author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

All Hallows by Christopher Golden #bookreview #horror #thriller #TuesdayBookBlog

On By Teri PolenIn Book Reviews30 Comments

With the 80’s nostalgia of Stranger Things, this horror drama from NYT bestselling author Christopher Golden follows neighborhood families and a mysterious, lurking evil on one Halloween day.

It’s Halloween night, 1984, in Coventry, Massachusetts, and two families are unraveling. Up and down the street, horrifying secrets are being revealed, and all the while, mixed in with the trick-or-treaters of all ages, four children who do not belong are walking door to door, merging with the kids of Parmenter Road. Children in vintage costumes with faded, eerie makeup. They seem terrified, and beg the neighborhood kids to hide them away, to keep them safe from The Cunning Man. There’s a small clearing in the woods now that was never there before, and a blackthorn tree that doesn’t belong at all. These odd children claim that The Cunning Man is coming for them…and they want the local kids to protect them. But with families falling apart and the neighborhood splintered by bitterness, who will save the children of Parmenter Road?

New York Times bestselling, Bram Stoker Award-winning author Christopher Golden is best known for his supernatural thrillers set in deadly, distant locales…but in this suburban Halloween drama, Golden brings the horror home.

All Hallows. The one night when everything is a mask..

It’s been a while since I’ve read a Christopher Golden novel, and now I’m asking myself why.

One neighbor having a big Halloween Party, another hosting the last year of the Haunted Woods display, kids trick-or-treating – Parmenter Road is the place to be on Halloween. But those who survive the night will change their minds the next morning and count themselves lucky to be alive.

This is the type of neighborhood where everyone knows your business – or at least they think they do – and rumors abound. Most have some truth behind them. Many of these characters display some of the worst human traits – infidelity, alcoholism, pedophilia, bigotry, and homophobia to name a few And that’s in addition to The Cunning Man and the strange children combing the neighborhood that night. There’s certainly no shortage of horrors in this novel.

With multiple POVs (more than eight adults and teens), it was a little difficult to keep up at first. With each character dealing with their own perilous circumstances, it didn’t take long to distinguish between them. I love the setting – Halloween night in the mid 80s, a fairly small neighborhood surrounded by a forest, creepy children running around begging other kids to shelter them until midnight – it’s perfect. Honestly, I’m surprised this didn’t release in the fall instead of January. Several reviewers struggled with pacing, but I didn’t mind the slower pace in this case, and most of the story takes place in one night.

As a warning there are gory, disturbing, and heartbreaking scenes alike, so be prepared. Some aren’t for the faint of heart. This may be more of a slow-burn horror story, but I plowed through it in two sittings. So much time between Golden novels won’t happen again.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Good Liniment (The Hat #5) by C.S. Boyack #supernatural #paranormal #mystery #bookreview

On By Teri PolenIn Book Reviews62 Comments

Someone is murdering members of the local witches coven. They turn to Lizzie and the hat for their unique skills that might help eliminate the killers.

A religious zealot might be a monster, but is still a human being. This task isn’t the same as staking vampires or shooting zombies. It isn’t the usual project Lizzie takes on for her night work.

This all takes place during a recovery period for Lizzie. She needs to keep her cover band together and find a new way of getting them gigs. More bands and less venues are making finances tight. The hat didn’t make things easier during her absence, by spreading rumors about why she took her sabbatical.

Someone killing others over a point of view insults Lizzie’s sensibilities. She has secrets to keep. Her employers have secrets, too. It doesn’t make for a comfortable working environment, but she agrees to do what she can.

Convincing her strong willed employers to stay indoors during all this poses another problem. Can she keep them alive long enough to finish her task?

Good Liniment is full of magic, magical creatures, and an entire underground community living amongst us.

Lizzie and the hat – they’re among my favorite characters this author has created, so I always look forward to accompanying them on their supernatural adventures. This time someone is murdering witches.

The end of the last book saw Lizzie needing to get away for a while, and she’s now staying with her parents. But the hat isn’t with her. How he makes his way to her is both amusing and creative. It also gives Kevin the vampire an opportunity to make an appearance, and any time he shows up chuckles are guaranteed. Officer Joe Yoder also makes a welcome appearance. A new character, Noodles, easily made my list of favorites. He’s not exactly your typical pet, and it’s hard to describe exactly what he is – you’ll just have to read the book and discover for yourself.

During Lizzie’s absence the band had to take on other jobs to pay the bills. The hat had to come up with a reason for her time away – which isn’t true, but to her credit she goes with the flow. During the course of their investigation, Lizzie experiences something that had me on edge for several pages – I was worried, folks. But no spoilers here. They’ve hunted all sorts of supernatural creatures in the past, but this time is different – their target is human.

As with all the books in this series, the banter between Lizzie and the hat is amusing and snarky. Sometimes they’re like an old married couple. If you’re looking for an entertaining, quick read, paranormal mysteries, and quirky characters (human and supernatural alike) that stick with you long after reading, add this series to your list. The books work fine as standalones, but starting from the beginning allows a broader understanding of this world and its characters.

A Peril in Ectoplasm: Just Once More by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene #bookreview #novella #paranormal #thriller #TuesdayBookBlog

On By Teri PolenIn Book Reviews65 Comments

In 1920s Florida, Spiritualism enjoys renewed interest. Daphne Moultrie, the most powerful medium of her time, receives a warning from the other side, “Find her, and keep her with you. Or you will die.” All Daphne knows about this girl is what her crystal ball showed her — a four-leaf clover, and each leaf had a human eye.
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Meanwhile, Daphne’s fiancé has designs of his own. He pressures her to continue séances for a strange and very demanding woman. With each of those séances, Daphne becomes weaker and closer to death.
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This novella captures the Roaring Twenties, as only acclaimed author, Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene can. Settings, descriptions, and language all come to vibrant life. The ensemble cast has a number of characters, including one you will love to hate. It’s a genre mash-up, part mystery, part suspense, with a dash of light horror.

As a fan of this author’s paranormal series, Atonement, Tennessee, I was excited to see her venture into that genre again.

I love the Roaring Twenties Florida setting for this story. For some reason, that time period has always appealed to me. Daphne Moultrie is a powerful medium, but the séances take their toll on her and she’s becoming weaker – they’re potentially life-threatening. Despite this danger, her supposedly loving fiancé, Crespo, insists she conduct séances for a demanding and horrible woman so she can speak to her deceased son. I didn’t care for Crespo at all. He’s a fortune hunter who puts money above the welfare of Daphne, but I admit he did show up for her near the end. Still, she should send him packing in my opinion.

My favorite characters are Clover, who has a sweet love story with her deceased fiancé and finds a real home with Daphne, and Maisy, a housekeeper who’s cared for Daphne for years. Both are very protective of Daphne and also don’t care for Crespo. Clearly they’re good judges of character.

The vivid writing allowed me to easily picture the beautiful, swaying Florida palm trees and gorgeous sunrises, as well as the thrilling and eerie séance segments. The buildup to the spine-tingling end scene is well worth the wait. This is a quick read I highly recommend to paranormal/supernatural fans.

The Haunting of Chatham Hollow by Mae Clair and Staci Troilo #bookreview #supernatural #mystery

On By Teri PolenIn Book Reviews50 Comments

One founding father.
One deathbed curse.
A town haunted for generations.

Ward Chatham, founder of Chatham Hollow, is infamous for two things—hidden treasure and a curse upon anyone bold enough to seek it. Since his passing in 1793, no one has discovered his riches, though his legend has only grown stronger.

In 1888, charlatan Benedict Fletcher holds a séance to determine the location of Chatham’s fortune. It’s all a hoax so he can search for the gold, but he doesn’t count on two things—Victor Rowe, a true spiritualist who sees through his ruse, and Chatham’s ghost wreaking havoc on the town.

More than a century later, the citizens of the Hollow gather for the annual Founder’s Day celebration. A paranormal research team intends to film a special at Chatham Manor, where the original séance will be reenacted. Reporter and skeptic Aiden Hale resents being assigned the story, but even he can’t deny the sudden outbreak of strange happenings. When he sets out to discover who or what is threatening the Hollow—supernatural or not— his investigation uncovers decades-old conflicts, bitter rivalries, and ruthless murders.

This time, solving the mystery isn’t about meeting his deadline. It’s about not ending up dead.

Hauntings, mediums, ghosts, séances – it’s like the authors wrote this book just for me. And that cover is everything.

Having read several of Claire’s and Troilo’s books, I’m a big fan of both authors. When I learned they’d co-written a book together, there was no doubt I’d jump at the chance to read it. I didn’t even need to know what it was about.

This story is told in a dual timeline that flows seamlessly. Alexa read this book to me, and I was never confused about which time period I was in. Money is a powerful motivator, and Ward Chatham’s fortune has been a source of greed for over a century. In 1888, Benedict Fletcher is certain he’ll be able to locate the gold after holding a fake séance. What he doesn’t count on is true medium Victor Rowe in attendance and Chatham’s ghost actually making an appearance. And he’s not a spirit you want to mess with. Cue the chaos.

In 2022, the gold still hasn’t been found after a little over a century. With a Founder’s Day celebration on the calendar, a paranormal research team wants to reenact the séance that raised Chatham’s spirit and resulted in several deaths that may or may not have been coincidental.

Both authors have a gift for creating loveable characters, and this novel is no different. With his feelings on spiritualism, ability to sniff out charlatans, and calm demeanor, Victor is my favorite character. I was delighted with the way his story plays out. Aiden is also a favorite, but it’s his grandmother Julia who always has the last word and his dog Levi who steals his scenes.

I generally listen to books while doing chores around the house, but when it came time for the final séance I had to sit down and give it my full attention. I couldn’t wait to see what happened and even caught myself holding my breath at times. And what a scene! Atmospheric, exciting, unexpected – and that’s all I’ll say about that. No spoilers here.

Fans of both authors and readers of supernatural mysteries alike will enjoy this novel. Now I want to know when the next co-authored book is releasing.

Guest Post – The Last Drive by John W. Howell #newbook #timetravel #thriller #suspense

On By Teri PolenIn Promotions60 Comments

It’s Friday – woohoo! Everyone deserves a treat on Fridays, and today I’ve got one for you. John W. Howell, author, tour guide, and pet lover, is here with his new release, The Last Drive. I loved the blend of genres with the first book in this series, Eternal Road: the final stop, so I was thrilled when I learned he was writing a sequel. Now I’ll let John take it away!

I am so pleased to be with you today, Teri. I want to thank you for helping spread the word about The Last Drive. Each year you host the best Halloween feature, Bad Moon Rising. It always impresses me that you have all those talented authors visit throughout the month of October. It is also entertaining reading the answers to your questions and I always learn a little more about your guests. Most of your authors write in the horror genre and I’m sure they would appreciate the kind of horror that Lucifer can conjure  up in my book.

Here is the blurb and then we can get to a short excerpt from the book.

The Blurb

In the sequel to Eternal Road – The final stop, Sam and James are reunited to look for two souls, Ryan and Eddie. Ryan was killed in Afghanistan, trying to avoid a schoolyard with his crippled plane. Eddie Rickenbacker, Ryan’s hero, is to guide Ryan to his Eternal Home, and now both are missing.

The higher-ups believe that there has been some interference in Ryan and Eddie’s journey by Lucifer, so Sam and James have the task of finding Ryan and Eddie to get them back on the road despite the evil interference. Unfortunately, the machinations designed to prevent Ryan and Eddy from completing their journey takes the pair to horrifying testing grounds. The places visited represent the best work of the Devil. They are the trenches of World War I in France, gladiators at the Roman Coliseum, the sinking Titanic in 1912, Hiroshima 45 minutes before the bomb, and the Auschwitz concentration camp in 1943.

This book is for you if you like plenty of action, strong characters, time travel, and a touch of spiritual and historical fiction. So, join Sam and James as they try to find the missing souls while staying one step ahead of the Prince of Darkness, who is determined to destroy all that is good.

An Excerpt.

“We head down that tunnel there and see what’s going on. Before that, though, you better get us back on time, or we’ll be invisible.”

James stops. “Let’s think about this for a minute. If we’re invisible, we can come and go as we please.”

Sam nods. “Yes, but we won’t be able to interact with Eddie or Ryan.”

 “I guess so. Okay, take my hand again. I’ll get us back at the current time.”

“Hey, watch it.” Sam and James appear right in front of a guy carrying a few drinks.

“My gosh. Sorry. We weren’t watching where we were going.” The man looks at Sam and James and continues on his way.

Sam watches the guy go down the hallway. “That could have been embarrassing.”

“Tell me. It would have been worse if we’d spilled those drinks. We’d be having a way different conversation with that guy right now.”

Sam points. “Let’s get to some seats.” James follows Sam into the tunnel. Right away, they spot a couple of seats almost at ground level and claim them. “I hope these don’t belong to anyone.”

James shields his eyes as he scans the field of play. “Check the field. Green Bay has the ball. I wish we had some binoculars. We’re quite far from the action.”

Sam puts her hand on James’s shoulder. “Well, do they have the ball?”

“Yes. You can’t mistake that green G on the helmet. For definite, they have the ball.”

“Is Ryan playing quarterback?”

James shakes his head. “I can’t be sure. All they have are numbers on the jerseys. No names.”

“Well, that’s handy. Who’s the regular quarterback?”

“Bart Starr.”

“Do we know his number?”

“I don’t have a program. Maybe I can go out and buy one.”

“You have money?”

“Shoot. I forgot. In Heaven, we have no beer.”

“What?”

“It’s a song. What I mean is, we have no money.”

A guy behind Sam taps her on the shoulder. Sam turns around, and the man apologizes. “I couldn’t help but overhear. Bart Starr is number fifteen, and he’s not playing right now. Lombardi put in a guy named Bratkowski. I guess he’s giving Starr a rest.”

A Link to the Trailer

You Tube https://youtu.be/HEUninXiibI

Buy Links

The Last Drive is available in paper and Kindle editions on Amazon. Here are the universal links. The Kindle edition is on sale for 99¢ through mid-February.

Kindle https://mybook.to/FYmkKr

Paper https://mybook.to/BCsWV

Author Bio

John is an award-winning author who after an extensive business career began writing full time in 2012. His specialty is thriller fiction novels, but John also writes poetry and short stories. He has written Six other books that are on Amazon in paperback and Kindle editions.

John lives in Lakeway, Texas with his wife and their spoiled rescue pets.

Author links

Blog Fiction Favorites, http://johnwhowell.com/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/john.howell.98229241

Twitter –https://www.twitter.com/HowellWave

Goodreads –https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7751796.John_W_Howell

Amazon Author’s page –https://www.amazon.com/author/johnwhowell

BookBub – https://www.bookbub.com/profile/john-w-howell

Eternal Road Buy links

Kindle Universal link  mybook.to/EternalRoad

Paper universal link mybook.to/Eternalroadpaper

Lunar Boogie (The Hat #4) by C.S. Boyack #bookreview #urbanfantasy #paranormal

On By Teri PolenIn Book Reviews63 Comments

Lizzie and the hat are back in action, only this time they’re up against the most tragic monster of all, a werewolf.

This adventure is more like hunting an animal, and the werewolf is unlikely to come to any of their musical performances. This puts Lizzie out in the dark corners and wooded areas of the city. It may be more beneficial to get the monster to hunt Lizzie than to stalk him on his own turf. All she has to do is be quicker on the trigger than the wolf is on his feet.

At the same time, the police think they’re after a serial killer. Lizzie tries to keep them alive while also keeping them out of her way. As the body count rises, so do the pressures. It doesn’t help that people are blaming Lizzie and the hat for the killings. This involves an urban myth about them that the locals call Hellpox.

Pull on your boogie shoes and join the hunt. Designed as an afternoon read, this one is tons of supernatural fun. 

I’ve been a fan of this paranormal series from the first book, so I was excited to spend some more time with Lizzie and my favorite hat.

The plot is centered around the Sausage Maker, who racks up a few bodies by the end of book. In addition to Lizzie and the hat’s search for the culprit, police lieutenant Joe Yoder is also in pursuit. My heart went out to Joe, who’s still grieving his wife’s death but continues to talk to her.

One of my favorite things about this series is the clever banter between Lizzie and the hat, and it’s always good for several laughs. Another moment that caused me to let out a very undignified snort was vampire Kevin and his sign regarding the Sausage Maker. Trust me – you’ll just have to read it. I was happy to see him make another appearance in this series and hope to see more of him in the future.

Many reviewers have mentioned this book ventures into a darker territory than the others, and that’s fine with me. I’m a fan of dark stories, and I’m anxious to see where the author takes us next. All of these quick reads can be read as standalones, but I’d recommend reading them in order. If you’re a fan of quirky paranormal stories with a dose of humor, you can’t go wrong with this series.

After Dark with Roxie Clark by Brooke Lauren Davis #bookreview #mystery #ghosts

On By Teri PolenIn Book Reviews24 Comments

From the author of The Hollow Inside comes a twisty, thought-provoking YA thriller about grief, family, and what happens when true crime hits a little too close to home.

Roxie Clark has seen more dead bodies than your average seventeen-year-old. As a member of the supposedly-cursed Clark family, most of her ancestors have met tragic ends, including her own mother. Instead of fearing the curse, however, Roxie has combined her flair for performance and her gruesome family history into a successful ghost tour. But her tour never covers the most recent body she’s seen-her sister Skylar’s boyfriend, Colin Riley, found murdered in a cornfield.

A year after the murder, Roxie’s desperate to help Skylar find closure and start to heal. Instead, Skylar becomes fixated on finding the killer. As the sisters dig into what really happened, they discover that more than one person has been lying about that night. And the closer they get to the truth, the more Roxie starts to wonder if some scary stories might be better left untold. Brooke Lauren Davis offers another thought-provoking and eerily satisfying tale, perfect for fans of Kara Thomas and Cruel Summer.

A teen who turns her gruesome family history into a ghost tour? As someone who’s been on several, I couldn’t get my hands on this book fast enough.

With her love of all things spooky and creepy (the girl has a real talent for decorations), Roxie immediately captured my heart. The women in the Clark family seem to be cursed (it goes back for generations) and have met untimely and sometimes brutal demises. As a history lover, Roxie does her research and turns these stories into a popular ghost tour. Maybe she occasionally embellishes a tad, but it only adds to the intrigue. She has a tough outer shell, but I loved how her vulnerabilities are gradually revealed, which only makes it easier to relate to her character.

Roxie’s best friend Travis is also a bit of an outcast – his personality isn’t exactly the warm and fuzzy kind. His brother Riley was the boyfriend of Roxie’s sister, Skylar, and Riley was found brutally murdered a year ago. Roxie has tried being supportive, but she and Skylar are polar opposites and see the world in completely different ways. As a result, their relationship is all kinds of messy and can alternate between loving and combative in the blink of an eye. Skylar is withdrawn and still grieving, but an unexpected discovery inspires her to launch her own investigation into Riley’s death. And it soon reveals wave after wave of secrets and surprises. Even though most of the clues were right in front of me, the mystery kept me guessing. I even yelled at the book at one point because I didn’t want to believe a revelation, and I plowed through it in less than two days.

Charmingly campy at times, occasionally amusing, and heavily atmospheric, this was a perfect Halloween read. I’d take Roxie’s ghost tour anytime.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.