ARC Review: When I’m Dead

 I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself.

When I’m Dead by Hannah Morrissey

One teenage girl is found murdered. Another teenage girl, the daughter of a police officer and a medical examiner, disappears. Is she kidnapped, dead, or the murderer of the first girl?

This is a dark book. The town, Black Harbor, is described as a place you’d never want to live in, almost a cesspool of violence and unhappiness. The characters are deeply troubled and struggling through their days. 

The mystery is a twisty one, with a lot of surprises along the way, and an ending I definitely didn’t see coming. I don’t know if I would choose to revisit Black Harbor, but this was a good book. 

ARC Review: People to Follow

 I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself.

People to Follow by Olivia Worley 

A group of social media influencers land on a deserted island to film a new reality show. But when one of them is found dead, and they start getting strange messages threatening to reveal their secrets and cancel them, things turn scary fast. Will any of them make it off the island alive?

This was a good read for Spooky Season, and I absolutely love the trope of deserted space where the killer is one of them. The secrets being revealed adds another layer and ups the suspense even more. I also did not see the ending coming, which I love. I would recommend this book. 

ARC Review: West Heart Kill

 I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself. 

West Heart Kill by Dan McDorman

This is a mystery that defies definition. There are murders, suspects, motives, and a detective. But this book is also a play, a history of mysteries, breaking the fourth wall, and playing around with perspectives. 

I honestly don’t know what else to say about this book. It is clever, but the ending felt a little full of itself. There are a ton of complex characters, but sometimes I got confused who was who. I liked this book, but didn’t love it like I had hoped to. 

Review: The Burning Girls

 I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself. 

The Burning Girls by C.J. Tudor 

Reverend Jack is forced into a new start when a tragedy occurs at her church. Moving with her teenage daughter Flo to a small village, they learn the local story of The Burning Girls, martyrs who were burned to death and who appear when there is trouble coming. They also learn of two girls who went missing from the village in more modern times, and the former reverend who killed himself. As trouble does in fact descend upon them, Jack and Flo must solve the village mysteries to protect themselves.

This was a book full of twists I did not see coming, which I absolutely loved. I don’t think I called a single part of the book, which is always exciting. The characters were really complex, as were their views on things like religion, honor, and morality. I would recommend this book. 

ARC Review: Thin Air

 I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself.

Thin Air by Kellie M. Parker

A group of students vying for a scholarship find themselves trapped with a killer on a plane to Paris. No one can help them until the plane lands, and they must decide who they can trust in order to save themselves. 

This book, by virtue of the setting and plot, was full of suspense and scares. Everyone is seemingly in danger at every moment, and Parker doesn’t pull any punches. Each contestant also has three deep dark secrets the killer knows, which adds another level. This is a good read, especially for Spooky Season. 

Review: The Locked Door

 I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself.

The Locked Door by Freida McFadden

Nora is the daughter of an infamous serial killer, a secret she has kept hidden from everyone in her current life. But when someone starts killing women in the exact sane manner her father did, Nora fears for her secret and her life as she knows it.

McFadden always delivers, and this is no exception. The suspense is palpable from the first chapter. The flashbacks are super effective and really creepy. There’s even a well done love story sprinkled throughout. And the twists! The twists are so good. I would definitely recommend this book. 

ARC Review: A Haunting on the Hill

 I received an ARC of this book from the publisher and Novel Suspects in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself. 

A Haunting on the Hill by Elizabeth Hand 

This is the first book approved by Shirley Jackson’s estate, and while it is not as scary as the original, it is definitely an eerie creepy read. 

A group of people dedicated to putting on a brand new play rent out Hill House for two weeks. While they are there, the play really seems to come alive, but meanwhile mysterious and frightening events are happening in the house around them. Refusing to leave, the group finds themselves trapped in a psychological nightmare full of huge black hares, disappearing carvings, and secret doors, culminating in a truly terrifying event none of them saw coming. 

This was a well done spooky season read, full of truly frightening moments and an overall sense of dread. The characters are complex and really interesting, as are their relationships to each other. The play within the story is particularly interesting as well. Definitely read the original book, but pick this one up as well. 

ARC Review: The Night House

 I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself. 

The Night House by Jo Nesbo

Strange spooky things are happening around Richard. One classmate is sucked into a telephone, another is turned into a cockroach. But no one believes Richard, who is considered the town bully. It is up to him, and a girl named Karen, to prove what is going on and save their town. 

This book has so many layers it’s amazing. I can’t go into more detail without spoiling some extremely creative writing, but just know that when I thought I had something figured out, Nesbo proved me wrong in the next part. The twists were so good and so effective, and the scares were very scary. This is a great book for spooky season.