With elements of gothic literature (and a few references to Wuthering Heights), this story could serve as a bridge to gothic...
When identical twins tell each other lies, the result could be deadly.
Piper has led a posh life in Winchester, England, with loving parents, popularity in school, and boyfriend Zak (the only character of color) at her beck and call. Her identical twin, Quinn, was raised by their eccentric, fortuneteller grandmother in remote Dartmoor, never attended school, and only saw their mother, Isobel, sparingly. Because Isobel kept them separated, the 17-year-olds first meet at her funeral. Quinn wants to know all about the father she never had; Piper wants to know Quinn’s mysterious background. The twins’ mutual curiosity and suspicion instantly set a mood of intrigue in this thriller, which alternates their perspectives in short, first-person chapters. Reluctantly agreeing to work together to piece together their pasts, Piper and Quinn discover a bond forged through shared dreams of darkness, an inheritance, and a family curse. Readers must constantly guess who is manipulating whom as secrets and lies mount in an effort to claim the inheritance—by any means necessary. Murky bogs, stormy moors, haunted woods, and supernatural beings add to the intensity and sinister atmosphere.
With elements of gothic literature (and a few references to Wuthering Heights), this story could serve as a bridge to gothic classics. Thriller readers may simply enjoy the creepy mystery. (Thriller. 13-17)Pub Date: Oct. 10, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-544-90048-6
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Clarion Books
Review Posted Online: July 16, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2017
Comfortingly familiar page-turning suspense.
A Tahoe blizzard is the setting of Parrack’s debut.
Seventeen-year-old Lottie, a White English girl who’s been repeatedly let down by her flighty Mum, isn’t happy about spending the night alone in a remote cabin with her quiet, nature-loving new stepsister, 15-year-old Black American Jade, while their parents go on their honeymoon. They’ve only met three times before and haven’t exactly clicked. Then again, it’s only one night. How bad could it be? Then the power goes out and the stranger arrives. Alex, described generically as Asian, is tall and charming and claims to have lost his way—he’s just a boy walking his dog. However, his story is full of holes, and before long Lottie suspects he’s hiding something. Just as she confronts him, a fire breaks out in the cabin, and Lottie, Jade, and Alex are forced out into the cold and snow with only each other to rely on; one night on their own turns into a dayslong struggle for survival. It’s unfortunate that encounters with a bear, a mountain lion, and an avalanche are nothing compared to the human threat stalking them through the wild white wilderness. Lottie’s first-person narration is generic, but the action is fast-paced, with just enough romantic tension between Lottie and Alex to keep it interesting, while the tentative nature of Lottie and Jade’s new sister relationship fades quickly as they learn to rely on and appreciate each other.
Comfortingly familiar page-turning suspense. (Thriller. 13-17)Pub Date: Sept. 6, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-72825-676-4
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: May 24, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2022
A creepy and thrilling mystery that skillfully includes timely social commentary.
Iris returns to the lake where her sister drowned, hoping to find the truth.
The Garren family vacations in Bad Creek, Michigan, every year. So do the ultra-wealthy, ultra-Christian Clavey family. In fact, it’s almost as though Bad Creek exerts a supernatural pull on people, a hunger for nostalgia and tradition. This year, 16-year-old Iris and her moms are back, even though Iris’ older sister, Glory, drowned there last year. The chapters rotate in close third person among the perspectives of Iris and two of her friends, Gum (whose mother is a Clavey) and Aidan (who didn’t even want to come back to Bad Creek to see his horror movie director father). June uses this structure to great effect, highlighting the characters’ differing perspectives and building up the drama. Iris believes that Glory was murdered, and she seeks to solve the crime. Gum, meanwhile, is haunted by the decaying ghosts of girls who have drowned in nearby Burt Lake. And Aidan struggles with his memories of what happened last year. The creepy, supernatural plot is intriguing on its own but also functions as an effective metaphorical exploration of conservatism, traditionalism, patriarchal structures, and the terror and allure of the old boys’ club. All the characters read as white.
A creepy and thrilling mystery that skillfully includes timely social commentary. (Horror. 13-17)Pub Date: June 17, 2025
ISBN: 9781324082934
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Norton Young Readers
Review Posted Online: April 19, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2025
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