2025 releases

Review: The Scammer by Tiffany D. Jackson

~ megs14malloy

The ScammerThe Scammer by Tiffany D. Jackson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

❤️💜❤️💜❤️💜❤️💜❤️💜❤️💜❤️

The Scammer is classic Tiffany D. Jackson. A true to life, hard-hitting YA Thriller with thought-provoking Social Horror elements and a compelling protagonist.

This story gets so intense and succeeded in getting my pulse absolutely racing in multiple places. A++ to the added twist at the end, which I did not see coming!

I’m getting ahead of myself though. What is this about?

This story follows Jordyn, who against her overbearing parents wishes, has given up her shot at an ivy league school in order to enroll at a prestigious, historically-Black college, in Washington, D.C.

She has her reasons for making this choice, but her parents don’t want to hear any of it. They practically disown her. By the time Jordyn is moving into her dorm she is ready for a fresh start, far removed from her parents.

She enjoys meeting her new roommates and all seems to be going well. Jordyn keeps a lot of her past to herself, but other than that, she feels like she’s found a place to belong and is making good friends.

But when one of her new roommate’s brother, Devonte, moves into their dorm suite after he’s released from prison, things start to vastly change.

It was supposed to be a temporary arrangement, to help him get back on his feet, but as time passes, Devonte shows zero signs of leaving. In fact, he’s inserted himself into the girls’ lives in disturbing and inappropriate ways. Jordyn seems to be the only one growing increasingly uneasy in Devonte’s presence, and soon she finds herself on the outside.

When one of her roommates suddenly disappears under frightening circumstances, Jordyn suspects Devonte had something to do with it, but how can she prove it?

She teams up with the university’s lone white student to try to get to the truth regarding her roommate’s disappearance. Unfortunately, they’re ready for her and Jordyn finds herself enmeshed in a nightmare she may never escape.

Watching Devonte come into this shared living space and do the things he did, it infuriated me at times. And by at times, I mean the majority of the time.

The way Jackson wrote this, it was like I was a fly on the wall watching it all go down, and as the danger escalated, I was powerless. I couldn’t do anything to help these girls. I imagine that may have been what Jordyn was feeling in a lot of these moments too.

I believe this is based on the case at Sarah Lawrence that began around 2010, but I don’t know too many specific details on that. This did make me want to research it further though, as I’m shocked something like this could happen on a University campus and it wouldn’t be stopped.

Jackson also did a great job developing Jordyn as a character. There were moments I wasn’t sure I liked her, some of her thought patterns bothered me, but as I learned all she had been through with her family and just her entire past, it started to make sense. I grew to really love her.

Also, I feel like she had such a great character arc, from her first day on campus until the shocking conclusion.

I would definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys an intense and twisted YA, or New Adult, Thriller. Bonus points if you enjoy social commentary, or have enjoyed any of Jackson’s work in the past. This has her signature style all over it and I love it.

Thank you to the publisher, Quill Tree Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. Tiffany D. Jackson is one of my favorite authors. I always look forward to her new releases and they NEVER disappoint.

I can’t wait to see what she graces us with next!

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Review: Forget Me Not by Stacy Willingham

~ megs14malloy

Forget Me NotForget Me Not by Stacy Willingham
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

**3.5-stars rounded up**

Claire’s older sister, Natalie, disappeared 22-years ago. This was a traumatizing event for young-Claire, and she’s carried heavy feelings regarding it ever since. It severed their family and nothing was ever the same.

In fact, after leaving home for college, Claire has never returned. She was more than happy to leave the past in the past, where it belongs.

She moved to a city and worked her way up as an investigative journalist. Recently, after not receiving a promotion she should have been a shoe-in for, she gave up her position and decided to do freelance work.

Unfortunately, securing that work has been more difficult than she anticipated, so when she receives a call from her Dad saying her Mom has been injured and can use her help, she decides to go to her aide.

Returning to her hometown after such a long period of time away churns up all sorts of buried emotions. Additionally, her estranged mother doesn’t seem all that happy to see her, like not at all. It hurts.

With nothing but time stretching ahead of her, and restless where she’s at, Claire decides to do a little digging. She’s an investigative journalist, after all.

She decides to go to visit Galloway Farm, the vineyard in South Carolina where Natalie had a Summer job just prior to her disappearance. The visit ends up turning into temporary work for Claire, who although she’s never been a farm hand, is excited about the offer of free room and board.

The idyllic escape quickly moves in a more mysterious direction though after she stumbles across the owner’s wife’s old diary stashed away in her cottage. Originally thinking it’s just a tale of young love, Claire is surprised when the diary reveals much darker truths involving unsolved crimes and missing persons.

I really enjoyed my time reading Forget Me Not. Stacy Willingham definitely knows how to write a compelling and suspense-filled story. I always anticipate her latest releases, and so far, I’ve never been let down.

I read this via audio, and it does feature dual narration, with one of my favorite voice artists, Karissa Vacker, voicing Claire, and Helen Laser voicing the diary bits. I appreciated that the publisher chose to use the two narrators as it really helped to make the separate sections distinct.

This also features a couple of my favorites tropes, the MC returning to her hometown after a long-time away and the found diary, so it was sort of fated to work for me.

I also tend to love mystery stories that follow journalists, because it feels natural for them to be digging into things the way they do. It doesn’t seem forced, or far-fetched. It’s literally part of their jobs and they have the training and experience to do so.

I felt bad for Claire as a character. My heart definitely went out to her. She lost her sister, a person she idolized, and through that also ended up losing her Mom and Dad. They separated, and her family unit all went their separate ways. She felt very alone.

The intensity builds steadily throughout. It pulls you in and while I did guess a few of the big twists that were revealed, there were many more that I didn’t see coming.

This is def entertaining and I would recommend it to Mystery, Thriller and Suspense Readers. I’m not sure how memorable it’ll be for me long term, but it was very fun.

It’s a bit culty, a bit cringey domestic drama and dark family secrets. It’s got a lot going for it, honestly, for those of us who love messy relationship dynamics.

Thank you to the publisher, Macmillan Audio, for providing me with a copy to read and review.

I’ve enjoyed all of Willingham’s books and will be anxiously awaiting whatever she writes next. I can’t wait to see what she has in store for us.

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Review: The Cornish Christmas Pantomime Murder (Nosey Parker #9) by Fiona Leitch

~ megs14malloy

The Cornish Christmas Pantomime Murder (A Nosey Parker Cozy Mystery, #9)The Cornish Christmas Pantomime Murder by Fiona Leitch
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

**4.5-stars**

❤️💚🤍❤️💚🤍❤️💚🤍❤️💚🤍❤️💚🤍

The Cornish Christmas Pantomime Murder is the 9th-book in the Nosey Parker Mystery series by Fiona Leitch. This is my favorite currently-running Cozy series. I absolutely adore it and look forward to each new installment.

For someone who tends to shy away from commitment, to be here at book #9, already anxiously anticipating the next, is definitely saying something.

These books follow Jodie Parker, who resigned from the Metropolitan Police in London after a close call and returned to her native village of Penstowan, in Cornwall, with her daughter, Daisy, to live a simpler life.

Even though she now runs her own successful catering company, old habits are hard to break and Jodie has helped the local police with some challenging cases. It’s through this that she first met her beau, DCI Nathan Winters. Her Pomeranian, Germaine, rounds out their crew.

This mystery, set around the Christmas holiday, begins at the local theater where the amateur dramatics group, the Penstowan Players, are putting on their annual pantomime. Both Jodie’s daughter, Daisy, and her mother, Shirley, are taking part.

Jodie got away with not participating by agreeing to cater the Opening Night Party. Unfortunately, before the party can even get started, in fact, barely halfway through the show, a cast member’s murdered body is found in the wings.

The show cannot go on. The police swiftly take control of the scene and an investigation begins. And just because she’s not formally with the police anymore, doesn’t mean Jodie’s not going to be asking some questions as well.

This was another fabulous installment. I love this series so, so much. Settling in with each consecutive book feels like reuniting with old friends.

This cast of characters fills my heart to the brim and then some. I love their cheeky humor and the mysteries are always engaging. Jodie and her family are such a focal point in the stories, and I appreciate so much how Leitch has portrayed their relationships.

This one kicks off very quickly, which gave plenty of time for the investigative portions, which is something I tend to look for in my Cozies. Other things I frequently look for that Leitch excels at are the humor and the small village vibes.

I also liked the number of different suspects we had in this mystery, as well as their varied potential motives. It made it a fun and engaging mystery to try to solve.

Finally, I love that this series doesn’t take itself too seriously, but it’s still incredibly well-written, paced and plotted. Fiona Leitch is a true gem in the Cozy space.

I’m really hoping for more; meaning, I hope it never ends!

Thank you to the publisher, One More Chapter, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I will patiently be awaiting news on Book #10!!!

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Review: A Magic Deep and Drowning by Hester Fox

~ megs14malloy

A Magic Deep and DrowningA Magic Deep and Drowning by Hester Fox
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

**3.5-stars rounded up**

A Magic Deep and Drowning is set in the Dutch Republic in 1650. We follow 20-year old, Clara, who at the start of the story discovers a rotting whale carcass washed ashore. Surely, a bad omen.

Clara dismisses this thought though. She’s a sensible girl, not one to rely on superstitions and old wives’ tales. Her sensibilities seem rewarded when she shortly thereafter receives a proposal from a wealthy merchant.

This is what she’s been waiting for. A chance to flee her parent’s psychologically traumatic household. I won’t get into the details of how terrible her parents are. I’ll let you discover that fun bit of information for yourselves.

However, before her fate is sealed, Clara has a chance encounter with another handsome young man. His name is Maurits, and Clara feels compelled to be near him. It seems Clara has an important decision to make.

Should she go with the safe bet, the marriage she’s been raised for, or chase after the man the sparkling eyes the color of the sea, the man she can’t stop thinking about?

This was good. It’s not my typical read, but I always enjoy Hester Fox’s writing and ideas. As an allegory for climate change, I thought this was nicely done. It’s subtle, and didn’t interfere with the overall fairytale retelling.

I also enjoyed the other folklore elements Fox included. While it’s mainly a retelling of The Little Mermaid, but gender-flipped, there were also many other folkloric beings involved in the plot.

I did feel for Clara as a character. As mentioned above, her parents weren’t great. She deserved so much better. Her home life was pretty insufferable and I feel like she had to make desperate choices in order to get out of that situation.

She was still so young, forced to make these life choices for herself in regards to her path. Love or safety? Convenience or risk? These weren’t easy choices, and she had zero support.

In the midst of all of this, she also ends up getting dragged into this war amongst mythological beings and humans, basically, as she was part of a deal that was struck years and years before.

I picked this up because it had Hester Fox’s name on the cover. I didn’t really know what it was all about. I’ve read 4-other books from her and have really enjoyed them all. Granted, this won’t stand out as a favorite from her for me, but I’m still glad I picked it up.

I can appreciate the beauty of this story and the fact that she went in a different direction with it. Regardless of the topics explored, she always writes with such conviction and passion. You can feel it. That she truly cares about what she is writing. Every book feels like a heavy-dose of research went into it, and I have no doubt that is also the case here.

Even though this is a little out of my comfort zone, I would highly recommend it to Readers who enjoy fairytale retellings, or stories with strong mythological or folklore elements. There’s a lot packed in here in that regard, and I know so many will enjoy it.

Thank you so much to the publisher, Harlequin Audio, for providing me with a copy to read and review. The narration by Lauren Ezzo truly swept me up into the story. Well done!

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Review: All My Bones (An Old Juniper Bookshop Mystery #2) by P.J. Nelson

~ megs14malloy

All My Bones (An Old Juniper Bookshop Mystery, #2)All My Bones by P.J. Nelson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

All My Bones is the 2nd-book in P.J. Nelson’s An Old Juniper Bookshop Mystery series. I enjoyed the 1st-book, Booked For Murder, when I read it in December of 2024.

I adore Cozy Mysteries, and loving finding new series to follow along with as they’re released. In these books, the small town and bookshop vibes definitely deliver the type of cozy vibes I’m generally looking for.

In this series, we’re following Madeline Brimley, who has returned to her hometown of Enigma, Georgia, after the passing of her Aunt Rose, as she’s inherited Rose’s property, including the Old Juniper Bookshop.

An actress by trade, Madeline initially has mixed feelings about going back to the small town. Leaving the theater circuit in Atlanta behind is though, but she decides to give it a shot nevertheless.

We saw a lot of development of her character in that 1st-book, and that trend continues here. She’s now well-established back in Enigma, having made friends and other connections. She seems comfortable in her new life, and it makes me happy to see it.

The mystery in this installment centers around a body Madeline discovers while trying to plant azaleas in the garden in front of the shop. Her friend, Gloria, the local episcopal priest, is with her at the time of the morbid discovery, and soon becomes the prime suspect.

Madeline knows that Gloria wouldn’t hurt a fly, and certainly isn’t responsible for this body buried in the garden, but now she needs to prove it.

I’m so happy I continued on with this series. After the 1st-one, even though I enjoyed it a lot, I was on the fence as to whether I would pursue any follow-up books.

When I was offered access to this one a little early though, I found that I did really want to continue on. This was such a strong installment too. I really hope we get more Old Juniper Bookshop Mystery stories, because I’m having a lot of fun with this cast of characters.

Madeline has grown so much, and I love how grounded she feels now in her new life in Enigma. She’s making good friends, and I feel like she is a valued member of their community. The bookshop caters to the local college crowd, and I also enjoy those vibes.

I appreciated how quickly Nelson kicked off the mystery in this one. It all happens so quickly at the beginning, the discovery of the body, which allows plenty of time for the subsequent investigation.

It was fun going along with Madeline as she tried to work out the whodunit, in order to save Gloria from going down for the crime. I feel like her close relationship with Gloria definitely upped the stakes for her, and gave the plot an additional sense of urgency.

I would recommend this series to Cozy Mystery Readers, particularly if you enjoy ones centering around bookstores, or libraries. Additionally, I would recommend the audio format if you have access to it. The narration perfectly matches Madeline’s character and I love it!

Thank you to the publisher, Minotaur Books and Dreamscape Media, for providing me with copies to read and review. If a 3rd-book releases, which I’m really hoping for, I’ll be the first in line to read it!

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Review: How Bad Things Can Get by Darcy Coates

~ megs14malloy

How Bad Things Can GetHow Bad Things Can Get by Darcy Coates
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

How Bad Things Can Get, which features an online influencer hosting a retreat on a private island, started out mildly intriguing for me and then promptly fell right off the cliff into eye-rolling, when will this be over, territory.

Glancing over some other reviews after I finished, I’d definitely say I’m in the minority opinion on this one, so please take this review with a grain of salt, because that’s what I am: salty.

I’m starting to think Darcy Coates maybe just isn’t an author for me, and that’s okay. This is the 3rd-book I’ve tried from her, and they’re not going well.

This had a bit of promise in the beginning, as our characters arrived at this island, I liked the excitement of that. As it started unfolding though, it felt so all over the place; chaotic and not ever able to capture my attention.

It was a bit Beast Games, mixed with the Fyre Festival and just a little sprinkling of the live-action Scooby Doo, when the gang heads to Spooky Island.

If this sounds like a mess, it is. It is.

There was one really fun, creepy scene on a beach though, involving naked people and some deaths. I liked that bit, but one scene does not a successful book make. The characters drove me nuts, the direction it took made my eyes glaze over, it just didn’t work for me.

Nevertheless, others are enjoying this one, so don’t take my word for it. Check it out for yourself.

Thank you to the publisher, Poisoned Pen Press, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I’m sure many Readers will love this one. Sadly, it just wasn’t for me.

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Review: What Stalks the Deep (Sworn Soldier #3) by T. Kingfisher

~ megs14malloy

What Stalks the Deep (Sworn Soldier, #3)What Stalks the Deep by T. Kingfisher
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

**3.5-stars rounded up**

What Stalks the Deep is the 3rd-installment in the Sworn Soldier series by one of my favorite authors, T. Kingfisher.

I adore this series and have a soft spot in my heart for its protagonist, Alex Easton.

Kingfisher has yet again infused Alex Easton with the perfect amount of humor and frankness. Getting a story from Alex’s perspective, is like sitting with a friend while they tell you horrifying tales from their most recent vacation.

In this book, we follow along with Alex as they travel to the United States, and to West Virginia specifically, to visit a coal mine with a little something extra going on.

Alex has zero desire to make this trip to a purportedly haunted coal mine, but they feel compelled after they’ve been asked by their old friend Dr. James Denton. Denton’s cousin, Oscar, went missing while exploring the abandoned mine and he’s desperate to find him.

This was another very fun installment for this series. It really switched it up as far as the setting, and the type of mystery we were investigating.

I loved that it was set in West Virginia and that Kingfisher even included the journey there, because that journey helped pull me in even more to the story and got me fully invested.

The abandoned coal mine was definitely creepy for me, as caves or mines are one of my personal fears. They simultaneously fascinate me and terrify me.

I’m a bit claustrophobic, so even reading of these types of situations can get my pulse racing. Exploring it along with Alex though did make it feel a bit more safe, and fun.

Unfortunately, the way the truth of what was happening was delivered is sort of a pet peevey thing for me. I didn’t like it. I can’t really describe what I mean without spoilers, but it’s a kind of trope I just don’t care for, and I was a bit disappointed to find it here.

However, with this being said, this is 100% personal taste, and there were many other aspects of this story for me to enjoy. While the explanation and concluding bits weren’t my favorite as far as this series goes, it’s still a great read and I would recommend it to Horror Readers.

I’d also recommend the audiobooks for the entire series, should you have them available to you. They’re all narrated by Avi Roque, who has become Alex Easton to me. I love, love, love the way they deliver these stories, it’s just the perfect cadence and tone to bring them to life.

I’m still not sure how many books are planned for this series. This might even have been the last one, but I certainly hope it wasn’t. With this type of story, the possibilities are absolutely endless for the things that Alex could explore, and I’d be down for every one.

Thank you to the publisher, Tor Nightfire and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review. These punchy Horror Novellas are not to be missed!

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Review: We Won’t All Survive by Kate Alice Marshall

~ megs14malloy

We Won't All SurviveWe Won’t All Survive by Kate Alice Marshall
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

**3.5-stars**

Kate Alice Marshall does a lot of things. She writes across all age ranges, and her themes and vibes are always new and exciting. I anxiously anticipate all of her releases, as I never know what exactly I’ll be getting into next.

We Won’t All Survive is a YA Thriller that features a strong survival element, a mystery and a reality game.

This story follows Mercy Gray, who gained notoriety 2-years ago after being hailed a hero during a mall shooting. The incident left her with serious medical debt however, and her fair share of guilt for some of her choices that day.

When Mercy gets offered the chance to compete on a survivalist reality show with a huge cash prize, she sees it as a chance to get out of debt and maybe even put her younger sister through college.

The show is being hosted by billionaire-turned-TV-host Damien Dare, and nothing is really known about it. It’s been kept very hush-hush.

When Mercy and the other contestants arrive at the off-grid location for the start of the competition, they immediately sense something is off. They’ve arrived on schedule, but it appears the crew hasn’t.

They find the set empty. It’s a literal ghost town. Suddenly, just as they’re trying to decide what to do, the gates close without warning, trapping them inside. Is this just part of the show, or is something more sinister at work?

When one of the contestants ends up dead, it’s clear the survival element of this show is no joke. They’re literally in a fight for their lives. Will anyone make it out alive?

We Won’t All Survive is a quick, entertaining read. It’s very Close Your Eyes and Count to 10, but for teens, so if you enjoyed that one, this is definitely worth checking out.

I do tend to love any novel incorporating a reality show element, and I appreciated that about this as well, though I’m not sure how memorable it’ll be long-term.

I thought the set-up was fun and liked learning about the situation these characters found themselves in. It did have some fairly intense scenes and I liked trying to figure out what was actually going on, and who was to blame.

There was some interpersonal stuff I wasn’t crazy about, but overall it did manage to keep me invested and focused. Just a bit of the drama amongst the characters seemed a little silly in light of the circumstances they found themselves in.

Like how about we focus on all staying alive and then we can deal with all this other BS if we actually get out of here?

With this being said, I did like Mercy as an MC. She had an interesting backstory, which was fed to us piece meal over the course of the story, and I enjoyed learning her whole story. It definitely gave clarity to many of her choices.

Overall, even though this isn’t my favorite book from this author, I still had a fun time reading it and would recommend it. This would be a great book to take on vacation, or just binge read on the weekend due to it’s compelling action and fast pace.

Thank you to the publisher, Viking Books for Young Readers, for providing me with a copy to read and review. Kate Alice Marshall is so talented and I’ll continue to pick up everything and anything she writes!!

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Review: Other People’s Houses (DC Morgan #3) by Clare Mackintosh

~ megs14malloy

Other People's Houses: A Novel (DC Morgan, Book 3)Other People’s Houses: A Novel by Clare Mackintosh
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Other People’s Houses is the 3rd-installment in the DC Morgan series by Clare Mackintosh. This is a Police Procedural Mystery series starring one of my current favorite detectives, DC Ffion Morgan.

I have really enjoyed the previous novels, and this latest in the series didn’t disappoint for a moment. I loved being back with Ffion and tackling another head-scratching case.

The mystery revolves around a luxurious, exclusive community known as The Hill. It’s the type of neighborhood many would desire to live in for it’s comfort and safety.

It seems that The Hill is now a target though, as some of the homes have been burglarized. DS Leo Brady, who Readers will recall from the previous books, believes that the criminal is looking for something in particular.

At the same time all of this has started to go down, across the lake from The Hill, DC Morgan is called to investigate after an estate agent’s lifeless body is recovered from the water. It’s clear she died under nefarious circumstances, but the whodunit and why are unclear.

As the two cases collide, Ffion and Leo end up digging deep into the lives of people who would prefer to keep their secrets just that, but it’s hard to solve the cases without the info. Therefore, against The Hill resident’s wishes, individual comforts will finally need to be sacrificed.

How is it all connected, and will our detective duo be able to find the culprit before anyone else loses any property, or worse, their life?

As with the other installments in this series, I flew through this and was completely engaged the whole time. As mentioned above, I do love Ffion and the backstory that Mackintosh has created for her.

I also enjoy her relationship with Leo and the strength of their partnership. They work very well together and it’s always fun seeing them be collaborative with their investigations. Ffion’s rescue dog, Dave, is back again as well and plays a big role in this story.

This mystery had a lot of moving parts, and I found it all very intriguing. The Hill was a fun backdrop for the investigation, as both Leo and Ffion were very much outsiders from that world. It was filled with juicy drama that I was eating up.

We also had some more forward progress in Ffion’s personal life, which I’m fully invested in at this point. I feel like I’ve really come to care for her as a character and I definitely want her to find happiness and fulfillment outside of her job.

I’m not sure how long this series is slated to be, but it seems like we’ll at least be getting a 4th-book. I’m certainly hoping so. There are so many great aspects to these books, and the combination of them all together, the fantastic characters, beautiful setting and always intriguing mysteries, sets this series apart for me.

I would definitely recommend this to any Reader who enjoys a Police Procedural Mystery. The audiobooks are also fantastic, and if you have access to them, are a great option for taking in this series.

Thank you to the publisher, Sourcebooks Landmark and Highbridge Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review. I love this series and hope it continues on for a long, long time. I’ll be ready for every one!

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Review: The Place Where They Buried Your Heart by Christina Henry

~ megs14malloy

The Place Where They Buried Your HeartThe Place Where They Buried Your Heart by Christina Henry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Christina Henry is one of those authors whose latest releases I always anticipate. I don’t love them all, some definitely work better than others, but what I really appreciate is how varied her stories are and the risks she’s willing to take.

I feel like a lot of authors, including many of my favorites, have a very distinct style, some may even say formula, for knocking out novel after novel. For Henry, I feel like even her style varies depending on the story she is developing.

Regardless of my final feelings on any of her books, I am always impressed with her breadth of ideas and ability to create such rich stories again and again.

The Place Where They Buried Your Heart will stand out as one of my favorites from her in terms of how memorable it is and how much I have continued thinking about it after completion. While I didn’t love all aspects of this story, particularly towards the end, it truly got inside my heart.

In this story, set in a Chicago neighborhood, we have the typical set-up of a creepy house at the end of the street. We all know one of these houses. There are local stories about it, usually involving terrible things that have happened there. Kids either avoid it, or dare each other to go inside.

That’s what happens in this case. When Jessie’s little brother, Paul, is annoying her, she thoughtlessly dares him to go inside, which he does with two of his friends.

Unlike his friends though, Paul never comes back out. Upon searching, he’s completely disappeared. It’s like the abandoned house has actually consumed him.

Wracked with guilt, we follow Jessie, in the aftermath of this terrible day that truly shattered her family unit. Even as Jessie grew up, she never left the street though, never giving up hope that she could one day find out the truth of what happened to her baby brother.

As the years pass, the house continues to be a menace to the neighborhood. I loved when Jessie really started digging into the past of the house, and trying to figure out the evil that lays at the heart of it.

In fact, there were many aspects of this that I loved and appreciated, but a few others that I didn’t care for as much. Most specifically, for me the concluding portions felt too simplified in their resolution and quite anticlimactic after the great build.

It’s also a heavy story. I’m not saying that as a judgement. I love a grief-focused Horror story. I just want to prepare unsuspecting Readers, who may be anticipating a straight, fun-filled Haunted House tale.

There’s a lot going on with Jessie and her family. Her relationship with her parents, it’s not great. None of them ever really healed from Paul’s disappearance, so there’s some pretty toxic interactions going on amongst the three of them. Jessie was able to find solid relationships outside of her home though, and I really liked the found family elements Henry included.

Additionally, the atmosphere, mystery and descriptions of the house were very well done. Though ending rubbed me the wrong way, overall it’s a great read.

Thank you to the publisher, Berkley, for providing me with a copy to read and review.

Christina Henry is an incredible talent and I will continue to look forward to everything she writes in the future!

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